A curtain of rain covers the sky and the earth, and August is already the most intense period of the rainy season.
In the blink of an eye, another week of wind and rain came. During this week, Avitt allowed the wind and waves to rise and sat firmly on the Diaoyutai. He just waited quietly for the two most important news from the north and the east.
The Tarascans on the south bank organized several naval attacks, but the thunder was loud and the rain was light. Only three to four thousand militiamen were brought in to attack, and they were scattered upstream and downstream for several days, giving Mexica
People exert psychological pressure.
Xiulote was a little worried: "The city of Xilotepec has rebelled. If the Tarascans cross the river in large numbers, where should we retreat?"
Avitt smiled slightly: "Kid, you don't have to worry. Marching and fighting not only depends on the strength of both sides, but also the fighting will of both sides."
"The Otomi people are defending their homeland. They will definitely sacrifice their lives and do everything they can to stop the Mexica army. The Tarasco and Tlaxcala people are just strategically cooperating to attract our military strength.
This will relieve the siege of the city of Otopan and prevent the Otomi people from perishing."
"With such a purpose, the Tarascans will not have too high a will to fight. The most they can do is fight with the wind and take advantage, so they will not cross the river in large numbers and fight with us who occupy the terrain. That way.
This is for the Otomi people to draw chestnuts from the fire, and the casualties will be too heavy."
"But if the king retreats and the Otomi people are attracted by the opportunity to encircle and annihilate us, they may choose to let the king go and attack our back path south. At this time, our geographical advantage will be wiped out by the attack. The Otomi people will do it
The pioneers, the Tarascans, will also seize this opportunity and cross the river in large numbers. They will respond to the Otomi people from the north and south, thus completely wiping us out."
"If my guess is correct, the king's messenger will be here soon." Avitt paused and showed an unpredictable smile.
"Avit, what you said makes sense!" The young man agreed very much.
"Child, you are not allowed to call me by my name, you have to call me teacher!" Avitt said with a straight face and reached out to pinch the boy's face.
The daily exercise had taken effect, and the boy jumped away quickly. It seemed that the mood of his teacher and friend had not calmed down yet, so he might as well go hide in the guard camp for two more days.
In less than two days, the king's messenger arrived as expected.
"... You have successfully stopped the enemy last time, and you need to continue to hold on. Tratoani has generously given you land and wealth... You are not allowed to retreat even half a step without the king's order. You must defend the north bank of the Leman River until Otto
Pan City has fallen... When you return to the capital, you will be the first hero of this expedition! You will be promoted to deputy king and rewarded with Chinampa..."
The messenger first made a majestic announcement in the big tent. Then, he congratulated the king's brother with a smile on his face, hoping that the future deputy king would live up to the king's heavy responsibility and trust, continue to persevere, and win the first victory in the expedition.
Avit bowed his head to the king's will for the last time. With a firm look on his face, he respectfully tied the letter and the wooden board. His face showed determination until death, and eagerness to look forward to the future until the messenger left.
Then, he smiled at Shulot: "The king is ready to withdraw his troops."
The commander immediately withheld the king's order and asked the officers loyal to him to convey the new military order. The warriors immediately prepared supplies and prepared to retreat.
The next morning, another huge fleet arrived from the capital. Avitt mobilized the influence of his maternal family and collected as many boats as possible on Lake Texcoco. This time, another hundred boats were assembled.
, four hundred small boats, carrying only basic food and the most basic rowers.
Now, he has a total of 300 large boats and 1,000 small boats, with a maximum carrying capacity of 17,000 people.
The Tarascan fleet was frightened by the overwhelming superiority of the Mexica navy. They all restrained their activities and hid in the depths of Lake Quiceo connected to the Leman River, sheltering next to the fortress in the hinterland of Tarasco.
At this point, everything is ready except for the east wind, and the young man is eagerly looking north.
On the evening of the next day, the "east wind" finally came from the north. The dusty Akapu had obviously lost weight, and his graceful posture was no longer the same. However, when Shulot looked into his eyes, his eyes were bright and clear.
God, exuding a dazzling spirit.
The three of them sat cross-legged. The tent was closed tightly like last time, the bonfire was flickering, the wind and rain were the same, but the excitement was different.
"We can't wait any longer, now is the time!" Akap shouted excitedly in a low voice.
"The news of the rebellion in Xilotepec came, and the food route was subsequently cut off. The city-state army was in an uproar, and the morale of the 30,000 warriors was in chaos. Within a week, the city-state army commanders gathered several times and proposed a retreat. The last time, the company directly under
The officers were also persuaded.
Because there are only three and a half weeks of food and grass left in the camp, and it will take at least two weeks to return to Xilotepec City. It is not known when the supply line in the rear will be restored, and Otomi guerrilla teams can be seen everywhere in the mountains and forests.
The king could no longer hold back and could only nod in agreement. Finally, he sent a wave of persistent messengers to you, and then began to clean up the camp, gather the scattered legions, and prepare to return to the Xilotepec camp.
I finally had a secret conversation with Captain Tiusok. The captain has already gathered the four thousand warriors under his command, and will always follow the king and stay close to Tisok, waiting for our arrival!"
Avitt also nodded with suppressed excitement: "The army has been packed up and can board the ship and return eastward at any time. Two thousand of my loyal family warriors have joined the new batch of reinforcements assembled in the capital and will soon support the army of Xilotepec City.
camp."
"Let's take the ship to capture the reinforcements first, then capture the Xilotepec camp and cut off the king's return. If everything goes smoothly, we will capture the nearest mountain camp and say goodbye to my brother there!"
After saying that, the two hugged each other firmly, with burning flames in their eyes.
The boy was caught in the middle and had the illusion of being a ham in a sandwich. He couldn't help shouting for help: "Tisoke is just an old grass rat. Don't be too excited. The young condors have the whole world in their eyes."
!”
After hearing these words, Avitt and Acap were slightly startled, then laughed heartily and hugged the boy even harder.
The world is in my arms, my heart is like fire. I have no dreams all night, and I have a great fighting spirit!
Early the next morning, Avitt broke camp and boarded the ship.
After the battle across the river, he had 14,000 warriors and 13,000 militiamen in his hands, and the maximum capacity of the boat division was 17,000 people. The commander left 10,000 militiamen to garrison five camps and ordered them to only hold on for two days.
day, you can retreat or surrender on your own. When retreating, try to follow the river to the upper reaches of the east, so that when the fleet returns, they can be picked up as quickly as possible.
Next, 14,000 warriors and 3,000 militiamen boarded the fleet. The army only carried two weeks of food and grass, and quickly headed east upriver. The warriors and militiamen took turns to take over the oarsmen, and the boat kept moving. At this speed, it is estimated that it only takes
In ten days, you can reach the vicinity of Xilotepec Camp.
Standing on the big boat, the wind and rain were blowing, and the journey was long. Shulot looked at the camps on the north bank for a while.
Under Avitt's order, the militiamen planted flags widely, and the commander's flag was also erected on the highest point of the mountain stronghold to temporarily confuse the enemies on the south bank. There was still more than a month of food and grass in the camp.
The militiamen stood in silence at the camp, watching the fleet go eastward with low morale. Nearly a hundred loyal warriors also stayed among them, maintaining the most basic order. Their fate was to sacrifice and wait.
The big boat started, the two sides passed by, and the river was surging. Shulot's heart was filled with cold hardness, which was the cruelty of reality. He took one last look at the south bank, where King Tarasco's flag still stood high, and the priests'
The shrine is vaguely visible, while the samurai and militiamen are scattered.
When can we meet again? There is a warm smile on the corner of the young man's mouth, which is the expectation and confidence of the future, as if the hot flame drives away the coldness.
"When we meet again, it will be a complete conquest!"
