Chapter 8 Grandfather

Everyone stopped talking and went out to greet him together.

Standing at the entrance of the hall, Shulot saw an old man in his fifties approaching him.

The old man has a pair of eagle-like eyes, and wherever his sharp gaze falls, it makes people feel chills. Time has left deep scratches on his face, blending with the bright red lines on his face, portrayed on the majestic and indifferent face, making people not feel old, but instead has a kind of magic that is not like the world.

The old man wears a formal long obsidian crown. The long crown looks very heavy, the crown is wide, and directly in front of it is the "face" lined up with precious stones. The "eyes" of two big rubies are scanning the world as the old man walks. On the top of the crown are countless long green feathers half a meter long, and behind the crown are dense blue short feathers, which expand neatly like a brilliant sun.

When Shulot looked at the heavy high priest's crown, he felt his head ache. Akap and Olosh seemed to have been stabbed by something, and they lowered their heads not daring to look directly.

Under the sunlight, the old man gradually approached, and the light flickered, almost blinding Shulot's eyes.

He was wearing a red cloak with a circle of red feathers inlaid on the outside, a golden sun engraved on the cloak, and a gorgeous robe inside, with gold grains and silver grains on the front and back, inlaid with the light of the sun and the moon .

A dazzling necklace hangs from his neck, which is composed of the top-grade obsidian, and there are countless golden sand-like clear light spots inside. The bracelet and anklet are also made of pure gold, and the golden light shimmers when walking.

The Mexicans don't care about the monetary value of gold, but simply admire the color of the sun.

The old man walks slowly and steadily, as if bearing some kind of "divinity". Akap bowed his head and stepped forward, wanting to give him a hand, but seeing the old man tilted his head slightly, and he didn't see his angry eyes watching him, so he immediately stood with his arms folded and waited aside.

The crowd lowered their heads and waited quietly on both sides until the old man walked slowly into the side hall, then they filed in and surrounded the old man.

The air became quiet at once, until the old man stopped and turned around, his sharp eyes fell on Xiusoke's face, Xiusoke lowered his head and let himself be lower than the old man's eyes.

"Xusock, the Priest Assembly has decided to mobilize a mixed group to participate in the coronation war. You will be the leader of 8,000 people and lead them to fight for the king and the city-state."

Olosh raised his head and let out an uncontrollable cheer. Then he was stabbed by the old man's eyes and lowered his head again.

"Yes! High Priest. I will fight for the city-state and the king!"

Hearing this reply, a faint smile appeared on the high priest's stone-like face. Then his eyes swept over Akap and Olosh. "Xuesoke, I have something to talk to you alone."

Akap and Olosh made a godly ceremony, pushed the door out consciously, and then closed the door.

The high priest Xiutel took off the obsidian crown on his head and slowly placed it on the stone table, revealing his gray hair. As if some kind of heavy divinity had been removed, he was able to take a breath at this moment, and the expression on his face became more vivid.

Xiulot stepped forward and touched the stone crown, it was really hard, and tried to hug it again, it was so heavy. It should be made of real stone. It seems that being a high priest is really hard work, and my grandfather is in good health.

Xiu Suoke hurriedly stepped forward to help, and helped the old man take off the thick and long cloak, the solid necklace, and the pure gold bracelet. Only then could Shulot see that under the dazzling and tall priestly attire was a thin, weather-beaten old man.

The high priest Shuttle sat on the ground relaxedly, his thin body finally became a little rickety. He patted the place beside him and let Xiulot sit beside him, stroking his grandson's head with his left hand naturally. He took his son Xiu Suoke with his right hand and asked him to sit opposite, two big ones and one small one, making a perfect contrast.

There are no outsiders anymore, and I can finally say something private.

"The city-state decided to mobilize a regiment of 8,000 men and ten battalions, half of which were elite battalions from the city-state and half of which were civilian battalions from the countryside. That is, 4,000 warriors and 4,000 militiamen."

"This time I suppress all the elders and let you be the leader of the expedition." The old man's eyes were still sharp. "You must seize this opportunity and get enough combat exploits."

"When you come back, I will have a reason to upgrade you from a second-level hereditary nobleman to a third-level honorable nobleman. After a few years, you will be able to become the city-state administrator as you should." The high priest said majesticly. destiny.

Xiu Suoke nodded, but hesitation appeared rarely: "This battle is not easy to fight. The Otomi are unlikely to fight us head-on. The king's decision seems a bit hasty."

The high priest nodded, "Every decision the king makes is naturally the king's responsibility. But I will send a messenger to him so that you can avoid meaningless siege battles."

"What you need to do is to find a suitable time to fight head-on with the Otomi people. Don't care about casualties! I only want you to come back, and I only want enough results. Warriors are like blooming flowers, always withering Somewhere. The civilians are even weeds in the field, even if they die, they will continue to emerge. Only you are the cocoa tree blessed by the gods, and you are destined to assume the responsibility of leading the city-state!"

Xiusoke remained silent and did not answer. The high priest put his right hand on his shoulder, looked at his son's resolute face, and said softly, "I know that because of your background, you have some childish feelings for commoners and low-level warriors. Since I was a child, I couldn't By your side, teaching you the way of nobility, but letting your mother give you too many common people's weak emotions."

"However, it is impossible for trees and weeds to be at the same height. As a priest, the Islamic law stipulates that I cannot formally marry a wife. But as the blood of the Sun God, I must cultivate a big tree for the family to shelter from wind and rain. You were born with the future on your shoulders. Go to fight! Victory must be watered with life.

The warriors of the city-state don't care if their leader is a bastard or not. What they care about is whether you are brave enough and whether you have enough blood of the enemy on your hands! "

Xiu Suoke finally nodded, looked into his father's eyes, and said loudly: "I will, father!"

Xiulot pretended to be a rag doll and listened to the teaching of discord between the three views, all his attention was focused on his grandfather's robe. How these gold and silver grains are inlaid on the cotton cloth, to the touch, it seems that some kind of precision silk weaving technology and natural viscose are used. Maybe it could be used to make a cloth visor?

So the high priest Xiutel's gaze finally shifted to his grandson beside him. "How are you going to arrange Xiulot?"

Xiusoke looked at his son lovingly, and said, "Sholot has just returned from hunting. When I go out, I plan to let him have a good rest at home, and I can also learn the knowledge of priests from you."

The high priest Xiutel pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said: "No way. Let Shulot go with you, and the knowledge of the priest can be supplemented later. After counting the results of this capture, I will promote Shulot to the official position. Priest. Then in this war, you arrange a few prisoners for him, so that when he comes back, I can promote him to the second-level priest 'Pamite'."

"But Shulot is only twelve years old. Such a young second-level priest."

"Bring him! Shulot is good at mathematics and can help you calculate your food and grass. With mathematics and military achievements, it is enough to convince the public. What's more, I am here."

Saying that, the high priest lowered his head lovingly and pinched Shulot's face. The movement is very light and does not hurt at all. "Sholot, you have been smart since childhood. You are our hope and the hope of the family. Listen to your father carefully, I know, you actually know everything."

"Twelve or thirteen-year-old second-level priests, in two years, I will make you the youngest fifth-level 'coyote priest'. This way, when I leave, you can take my place. Shulot, You have to remember."

The high priest looked into the boy's eyes, as if he wanted to convey something with his eyes.

"You were born extraordinary, and there is a vision in the sky! You are also a descendant of Acama Pichitli, the king of Mexica in the past, with the same blood as you! Your future has infinite possibilities, and I will seize every opportunity for you. a chance!"

"And my future," the old man finally whispered to himself, "is only a few years away from the kingdom of God."

Note: Acama Pichitli is the grandfather of Montezuma I, the fourth ancestor of Tisok, the fifth ancestor of Shulot, and the source of the royal family of Mexica.