Chapter 525 The High Priest Goes East, Farewell

There was a bonfire burning in the simple tent, which reflected a little warmth on the faces of the grandfather and grandson. The clear moonlight fell from the zenith and fell into the eyes of the very similar eyebrows, leaving two soft lights.

After a while, the high priest gathered his emotions and asked with a smile.

"Xulot, my child. You have gathered so many people, will you have enough food?"

Hearing this question, Shulot's expression froze. But there was no need to hide it from my grandfather. He pursed his lips and said frankly.

"Grandfather, the food in the army is indeed a bit tight. Fortunately, when we conquered Shuigu City, we got a large amount of food. Cholula State was rich, and we plundered several more batches one after another. Coupled with the demand for Cholula City, we can roughly Support until the autumn harvest. The southern part of the kingdom is stepping up the construction of catamaran canoes and increasing water transportation. In another two or three months, when the captives are shipped back in batches and the kingdom's food continues to be delivered, there will be enough surplus."

Nowadays, the food carried by the southern waterway can barely cover the consumption of tens of thousands of captives during their transportation. The military towns along the Talsas River are all in the field. After the autumn harvest, things should be slightly better.

"Well, before I came here, I just issued an edict to deliver a batch of food to the South Army Corps. It's about enough for 20,000 people for a year."

Hearing this, Shulot looked happy. The high priest smiled slightly and gave instructions carefully.

"Xulot, my son. The Southern Route Army has hit here and completely wiped out the south of Tlaxcala. It has completed the requirements of the Eastern Expedition! Next, you slowly accumulate food and grass, transport the population well, and deal with Qiaolu Pull the city, and be careful of the combined forces of the Mixtec and Zapotec people. Don't rush north again! "

"grandfather?"

Hearing this, Shulot opened his mouth and wanted to say something, but was stopped by the high priest's hand.

"The king on the northern route has an army of 80,000, which is enough to completely suppress the Tlaxcala people in the north, and surround the remaining three snake cities. The three snake cities are connected into one, occupying natural dangers, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Especially The Cloud Snake City in the mountains is located one to two hundred meters high. It is an almost unstoppable fortress, even more dangerous than the Otopan Mountain City!"

".They are the ancestral land of the Tlaxcala people, equivalent to the capital of the Mexica League. The defenders in the city are determined and have no way out. They are by no means easy to conquer. As for how long it will take to besiege these three cities, and how to capture them , that’s the king’s decision!”

"Yun She City is one to two hundred meters high, which is more dangerous than Otopan Mountain City?!"

Hearing this, Shulot frowned and remained silent. He has never seen Cloud Snake City, but he has been to Otopan Mountain City. With the siege capabilities of this era, even a two-pound bronze cannon would probably be unable to attack such a mountain city. Maybe we still have to rely on a long siege to find an opportunity.

In fact, the later Montezuma II was trapped under several fortified cities of the Tlaxcalans and was besieged for several years. Subsequently, the city-states and vassals within the alliance launched a premeditated rebellion, and he was forced to withdraw his troops to quell the rebellion, but his success fell short. From then on, his prestige dropped to the bottom, and he could no longer command the legions of various states, and even the royal legions directly under him were difficult to control. In this situation where he lost military morale and all the states rebelled, he took the initiative to welcome the white-skinned "Quetzalcoatl" from the East and entered the magnificent lake capital, hoping to restore his prestige in the name of the god.

The high priest looked at the thoughtful Shulot and smiled gently. He thought for a moment and asked again.

"Xulot, my child, food is the foundation of everything. You must always pay attention to the army's food reserves. Outside Shuigu City, there is a large area of ​​cultivated farmland. What is the specific situation?"

"Grandfather, the South Route Army Corps has been maintaining a three-month supply of food. I still have 90,000 young captives in my hands who have not yet been transferred. They have gathered in this area and cultivated a total of 500,000 acres of ripe land! It is still June, and the corn It’s too late to plant pumpkins, but it’s a good time. The army will continue to use prisoners and plant more pumpkins to keep them hungry. As long as they wait until the autumn harvest in September or October, the food supply of the South Route Army will be relieved!”

Ninety thousand young and strong, cultivated half a million acres, about five or six acres per capita. This is the labor of being a prisoner, and it is considered very good to be able to do it to this extent.

The fact that the Mexica Army was able to use prisoners to farm outside the city of Shuigu without worrying about attacks from hostile tribes showed that the army's control over this area was already very stable. As the commander-in-chief, Xiulote was able to put aside the hatred of his old enemy and allow the Mexica Legion to accept the Tlaxcala people, which further revealed the prestige and ambition of the king!

"Xulot, you are a born handsome man and an outstanding king."

The high priest's face showed genuine relief. He stretched out his withered palm and touched his grandson's head again after many years.

At this moment, he looked at the heroic young man, with many emotions tumbling in his heart, and many thoughts that he wanted to express. But when the words came to his lips, he was silent for a long time, but only left a few sincere instructions, with tenderness in his eyes.

"My child, you still have a long way to go. Walk steadily and don't be in a hurry. If you are in a hurry, you will take detours. I know that there is always an unknown mission hidden in your heart. But you You are still young and have enough time to realize it. Don’t bear too much on your own. There will always be someone who can share the burden for you and is willing to pay for you. From now on, you have to go on well.”

The high priest's voice gradually became lower and lower, almost unheard. In the end, he just rubbed his grandson's head lovingly, just like he often did when he was a child.

Feeling his grandfather's touch, Shulot was stunned for a long time, feeling soft in his heart.

He vaguely remembered that the last time his grandfather touched his head was before the Western Expedition to Tarasco. The last time was during the great sacrifice of the capital in the lake. He was released by the elders and his grandfather rushed from the holy city of Teotihuacan. And going back further, he returned with Olosh from the captives. He sat beside his grandfather, together with his father, and listened to his grandfather's expectations and arrangements.

Time flows like water, turning the boy into a young man and the middle-aged into the old. The middle-aged priest who once held up the young baby, laughed heartily, and named himself when he was born is now old. He has white hair, a slightly hunched back, and strokes himself with his skinny hands, with a smile on his wrinkled face

He is old, but only his eyes are still so deep, filled with deep love and heart-wrenching attachment.

Xuluot stared at his grandfather blankly, and an inexplicable shadow floated in his heart. At some point, his eyes were moistened and he called out in a low voice with some fear.

"Grandfather? You will always be here, right?"

"Yes. My child, I will always be by your side."

Speaking of this, the high priest lowered his head slightly and turned sideways. His face fell into the shadow of the campfire, but he could not see it clearly.

"Xuluot, I am a little tired after a long journey. Let's sleep in your tent."

"Okay, okay!"

Xuluot nodded repeatedly. He pursed his lips and whispered.

"Grandfather, I will sleep with you"

"No need. You are grown up and now you are the leader of an army. You must always maintain your dignity."

The high priest raised his head, with brilliance in his eyes and a gentle smile on his face.

"Besides, I have to think about how to negotiate with the priests of Cholula tomorrow."

"Okay."

Xuluot hesitated for a while, looked at his grandfather's smile, and nodded. He stood up, looked at his grandfather again, and then turned to leave the tent.

The campfire in the tent has not been extinguished, and a hunched figure is projected on the thick tent. The figure sat alone facing the campfire for a long time, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Xiuluot returned to the side tent and slept for a while. He thought of his grandfather's eyes, but he couldn't fall asleep. Finally, he simply got up again and went to the main tent. The campfire in the tent was still not extinguished, but the figure had already fallen asleep.

"Well, grandpa is old. He is probably alone and afraid to sleep in the dark."

Through the cloth tent, Xiuluot looked at the campfire and saw the approximate position of his grandfather. Then, he walked to the other side of the tent and lay outside the tent with his clothes folded. The night in late spring was not cold. The clear moonlight fell on his face, like a guiding light, and like a projection of another world.

Xiuluot and his grandfather were separated by a layer of cloth tent, and he could vaguely hear his grandfather's breathing. He was relieved and fell asleep quickly under the gentle moonlight. That night, he slept peacefully without any dreams. Because, his grandfather was right beside him, just a stone's throw away.

The next morning, the high priest dressed neatly, holding a staff, and set out on the road to Cholula.

"High priest, the Southern Legion, 50,000 troops, are just outside Cholula!"

Xuluot straightened his back, confident. He stood in front of his grandfather, held his old hand, and said with concern.

". You can talk to them! Cholula City has no choice. And with me here, they will never dare to offend you!"

Hearing his grandson's words, the high priest's eyebrows curved, and a sincere smile appeared on his face.

"Okay!"

".Grandfather, you go and come back quickly, come back early."

".Okay!"

The high priest nodded slowly, as if he was promising the oath of his ancestors. Then, he looked deeply at his grandson, and turned away with a smile. And beside him, dozens of temple warriors guarded him closely, like his shadow.

As I wrote, my eyes became moist (﹏) Woohoo