Aztec Eternals

The sunset is far away, night is approaching, the busyness of the capital gradually subsides, and a group of people set off on their way home. On the way home, surrounded by warriors and passers-by saluting, Xiulot's thoughts were racing.

The artisan district is located in the northeast of the capital, with criss-cross waterways. In Mexica society, the status of craftsmen is actually higher than that of merchants and farmers. They are far away from wars, their lives are relatively prosperous, and their communities are full of order. And skilled feather craftsmen will be unanimously sought after by all nobles, and even be exempted from tribute and corvee.

Shulot walked beside the gurgling waterway, with the rushes and flowers swaying in front of his eyes, the melody of ocarina and conch playing in his ears, and the aroma of corn and black beans wafting from his nose.

A smile gradually appeared on the boy's face.

"Samurai and craftsmen are the most stable foundation in the imperial pyramid and the source of power for the war machine."

Soon, everyone returned to the high priest's mansion. Shulot went to pay respects to his grandfather.

In the main hall, the burning bonfire illuminates the surrounding murals, reflecting the vague and tall figures of the gods, and the patron saint looks down on the common people on the earth in the light. The high priest Shuttle, dressed in casual clothes, had returned from the temple. He pushed everyone back majestically, then smiled gently, and patted the young man's head.

"My child, you have been quite tired during this period, so it's good to relax and rest. The teaching method has been on the right track. You can walk around, visit the capital city and its surrounding areas, and you can also go to the nearby sacred mountains and holy lakes. But you must Bring your guards!"

Afterwards, the high priest looked at Bertard, and the vicissitudes of the warrior commander nodded. The high priest continued to instruct.

"With God's will as the core, the general legal framework has been established. The new law will absorb the existing customary provisions, and the specific details will be filled in slowly. After the new year, the commercial law that suppresses the interests of businessmen will be implemented first, and then the behavior of civilians will be governed. The law of the common people, and finally the law of the nobility, which restrains the power of the nobility. The law of priests is implemented internally, and nobility at all levels can suggest, but have no right to manage.

Village priests from all over the country will come to the capital after the New Year to understand the will of God. They will 'co-manage' the village with the nobles throughout the Texcoco Lake District. In order to ensure the friendship and cooperation of the nobles, the temple guards have been expanded, and the warriors of the royal family will also gather after the new year. "

Speaking of this, the high priest smiled gently, and regarded life as nothing in peace.

"My boy, as you used to say in a funny saying, kill the turkey and make the monkey docile. The priests of the Twelve have selected several high sacrifices of Tlacopan. Prince Totoki knows the truth , has also nodded in acquiescence.

These offerings have a large number of enfeoffed villages on the western shore of Lake Texcoco. They withheld the Alliance's tribute and regarded the priests as nothing. Once the Nobility Law is enacted, the Temple Guard moves under the direction of the local priests.

Child, you have a special status! Don't go to the villages of the West Bank city-state of Tlacopan until the weeds are uprooted. "

Shulot nodded calmly. He suddenly remembered Bravo, a wise middle-aged priest whom he had met in the village of Tlacopan. The boy casually mentioned it to his grandfather and recommended it. The high priest nodded slightly, and simply wrote down the name.

"The compilation of religious books is still going on, and the fundamental teachings will take a long time to perfect. The ten commandments of King Moshifa you mentioned last time are very good, but they need to be revised and supplemented. The priests decided to add these to the mythology, As the patron saint, the contract promised to the Mexica people is called the Twelve Precepts of Huxin Island."

Having said that, the high priest pondered slightly. He chanted slowly and loudly with the primitive accent of a priest.

"The first rule is that there is only one God, and God is omnipotent. The second rule is that the gods are obedient gods, and later they will become saints, gradually forbidding idols. The third rule is that the name of God is supreme and should not be used in vain. When you swear by the name of God, you must obey it. Article 4: Praying and respecting the gods. Three rituals a day, one rest every ten days, great rituals. At least once in a lifetime, go to the holy temple to pay homage.

Article 5: Honor your parents and obey your priests. Article 6: It is forbidden to kill, but it can be sacrificed to the gods and participate in the battle of gods. Article 7 prohibits adultery and restrains few desires. Article 8, theft is prohibited, theft is the same crime as cowardice. Article 9, perjury is prohibited, honesty and trustworthiness, regular repentance. Article 10: Don't be greedy for others, and dedicate yourself to the gods. "

Xiuluo nodded, these are all due meanings.

In polytheism, the gods are just the helpers of people, some kind of existence with extraordinary power and worthy of awe. The gods have concrete images, flaws, and desires. People can also ignore, fear or hate gods. Because in essence, man and god are equal to each other. This is a personal freedom of belief.

In monotheism, however, God becomes the supreme authority. He established laws and morals, beyond doubt, to guide people's lives. People love him wholeheartedly and obey his church. It is an organized collective belief.

This is the most essential difference between polytheism and monotheism. The polytheism is loose and free, while the monotheism is organized in a centralized manner, and the combat effectiveness of the churches and believers will be very different.

In monotheism, the god is supreme, distant, holy and untouchable. Therefore, instead of setting up idols, one god is elevated to the supreme conceptual god. And the group of priests, as the only link between gods and humans, naturally became a clergy class with power granted by gods, and a powerful organization with supreme religious authority and huge interests!

The future religious reform in Europe is to disintegrate the powerful theocracy and return power to the secular.

"Religion is an upside-down worldview. It is not God who created humans, but humans who created God according to their own needs."

Shulot recalled the words of the future philosopher, with mixed emotions and full of emotion.

"Now, in this ignorant land, we will establish a powerful kingdom of God on earth in the name of God!"

Then, the high priest thought for a moment, his face extremely serious.

"Article 11, reincarnation once every fifty-two years at the end of the day, all souls are judged. Warriors who died fighting for God, women who gave birth and died, first ascended to the kingdom of heaven and lived at the top. They can be reincarnated in the world and enjoy endless beauty. Piety Believers follow closely behind, living at the bottom of the kingdom of heaven. They pray and accumulate merit, and gradually move to the top.

The unbelievers and heretics fall to the land of death. They seek long-term relief in the wind knife and cold disaster, and only conversion can save them. The felons fall into the lowest level of Hell, where they will suffer eternal torments and gradually burn their guilt. Only the high priest can save him back to the land of death. "

Hearing this, Shulot suddenly raised his head, and the hall was solemn for a moment.

His face is solemn, this is the true Mexica religion view of life and death, to solve the problems of believers' salvation, reincarnation and afterlife. Here, the priests and elders left a lot of independent interpretation rights. And the warriors who died for the battle of gods are included in the highest top level after death. In the foreseeable future, the Mexica monotheism will have infinite aggression and combat.

Sure enough, the grandfather pondered for a moment and continued to chant aloud.

"Article 12, every fifty-two years in the reincarnation calendar, the Great Temple will listen to God's will and ignite the sacred flame. Then, the twelve priests will announce God's revelation to all believers and pass the holy fire everywhere .God’s decree will serve as the highest instruction and the fastest ladder to the kingdom of God! At the end of the reincarnation in 1453, God’s decree is: the Mexica Alliance must conquer the world!”

Hearing this, Xiulot finally looked at his grandfather in shock, his face full of disbelief.

"Fifty-two years of reincarnation? Regular jihad?!"

The high priest also nodded majestically. The old man didn't change his face, and endless blood rushed from the future.

"This is the meaning of the elder. He praised your concept of God's War and agreed to gradually reduce the costly human sacrifices. The priests and elders decided to increase the number of priests accompanying the army, and first popularize the concept of God's War in the army to strengthen the warriors The will to fight will increase the strength of the war after the autumn harvest."

Having said that, the high priest gently touched the boy's head again. The old man felt the softness of the black hair with the palm of his hand, just like the child's heart.

"My child, you have to be prepared. This year's Tarasco conquest war will be extremely cruel. Tarasco people are complete believers in alien gods and believe in the evil moon goddess. In the war of gods, no one Will keep it!"

Shulot pursed his lips and bowed his head in silence. The high priest smiled and changed the subject.

"When the world is conquered, the temple's decree can be changed to self-cultivation. Or promulgate decrees to weaken the great nobles everywhere. Also, the four-character short poem you recited last time is very good. In the ancient West, there was really business and Is Zhou’s city-state alliance? Shang’s alliance is really similar to our Mexica! How could the powerful Shang perish to the weak Zhou?

Based on your suggestion, the priesthood is already revising the history of the Alliance, writing myths. We would include the Olmecs of rubber, the Teotihuacans of the gods, the Tula Toltecs of artisans in the ancestral lineage of the Mexica! Totonac must surrender the remains of the Olmecs and is not allowed to claim to be descendants of their ancestors.

We Mexica are going to be the only heirs of the ancient civilization, an alliance destined to rule the world! And so do you, my child! "

Speaking of this, the high priest Shuttle laughed loudly, his old voice was full of youthful majesty. Immediately, he hugged Shulot into his arms, interrupting the boy's thoughts.

The young man felt the long-lost embrace of his grandfather, felt the thin and firm body under the divine robe, and felt warmth flowing in his heart. After a while, he calmed down, hesitated for a few breaths, and then asked in a low voice.

"Grandfather, who is higher and who is lower between the king and the priesthood? How do the nobles and priests coordinate?"

The high priest put away his smile and thought seriously.

Behind this issue is the relationship between religion and secularism, the struggle between theocracy and kingship, and the main internal conflict in Eurasian countries, except for the unique civil celestial dynasty.

"This is also what I am worried about. According to the habit of the alliance, the patron saint bestows the sacred scepter on the priesthood, and the priesthood then transfers the scepter to the king. And the great Montezuma I once made another scepter and directly held power .

Now the elders dominate the world and stand at the top of theocracy. Then the power of Mexica is that the main god bestows on the twelve-member priesthood, the priesthood bestows on the king, and the king bestows on nobles everywhere. The great nobles are independent and self-governing in the fief, so only the priests can intervene in the name of God.

Once the elders go to the Kingdom of God, the nobles will inevitably fight back for their own interests. And the king's attitude will be difficult to judge at that time! The priests need a supreme pope, and the Mexica also need a real king to rule the priests and nobles at the same time, and maintain the balance of the two classes! "

Having said that, the old Shuttle lowered his head and looked at the boy in his arms. His eyes were filled with a bright look, full of high expectations, which made Shulot's eyes hurt. The boundless pressure came from grandfather's eyes. The young man was silent for a while, then nodded slowly, and his shoulders became heavy in an instant.

The high priest smiled with satisfaction. Then, he lowered his voice meaningfully.

"Currently, the twelve priests will fully assist King Avit, obey the king's order, and expand the power of the center. The center needs to gain control over the nobles, which is the common interest of the king and the priests.

Shulot, the teaching work is on the right track, next you need to participate more in the king's military and political councils, and master a reliable army that is only loyal to you! I will give you my utmost support, as does the city-state of Teotihuacan. The Mexica Alliance has always valued the heir's military talent and war power, which is the highest source of legal principles!

As for the rest of the time, you can spend more time with the king's daughter, your fiancée. That's the king's only weakness! Son, don't complain about your grandfather's arrangements. Power is always above everything else, and your marriage is not autonomous. When you reach a high position, you will naturally understand your grandfather's good intentions! "

In the end, the high priest's smile remained the same, but he spoke to himself silently.

"As for those other voices from the royal family, my children, I will pave the way for you."

Shulot thought silently. He felt his grandfather's warm embrace, but he didn't see his grandfather's cold eyes. The inheritance rules of the alliance are similar to the Ottoman inheritance law. Only by showing enough war power can the throne be secured. Therefore, Avit also had to conduct a successful coronation war to gain the complete conviction of nobles and warriors.

The boy cherishes the friendship with Avette, loves pure girls, and doesn't want to bring political considerations into it. But the real world forced him to do so. In the brutal power struggle, only the truly strong can retain a trace of warmth with difficulty.

"Now, the strength that really belongs to me is only five hundred Longbow Guards, mostly from civilian followers. Then there are four thousand Teotihuacan warriors, under the firm control of my father and Teacher Olosh. Finally, the Commander-in-Chief The more than 10,000 warriors who have fought against me will have an obedience to me. But this obedience will only work when the situation is overwhelming.

I need a really loyal core. The warriors have long belonged to different noble groups, and the powerful noble battle group is difficult even for the king to command. The power of the royal family will have other voices, and this power can only come from the common people, from neglected groups. They will use new weapons and organizational forms to compete with powerful traditional warriors! "

Shulot straightened up with a solemn expression. In front of his eyes, formation warriors holding longbows and loose militiamen holding longbows appeared. Then, he thought of the Mexica elite warriors holding batons and shields on the banks of the Leman River, fighting against the Tarasco militiamen with bronze spears. The itinerary is more important.

The high priest also sat upright, with gray hair. The old man's eyes are full of warmth and coldness, light and shadow. He thought about the future bloody fire and battle of gods, planned the ruthless dagger and poison, and thought of the young man who was going to the supreme. He smiled slightly.

Beside the burning bonfire, the grandparents and grandchildren smiled at the same time, facing each other solemnly, and then nodded slightly. Their thoughts are like eagles spreading their wings, flying to the same but different lofty future!