Aztec Eternals

The continuous drizzle fell from the sky, wet the tall flags, and fell on the strong bluestone fortress. After being scoured, the bluestone has already become smooth and difficult to climb. The raindrops meandered down and merged into the rushing Leman River, passing by the boats on the river.

In front of Tarasco's estuary fortress, at a distance of a hundred meters, five or six Mexica boats were swaying and spying. This is a daily routine reconnaissance by the enemy in the north, and the defenders of the fortress have long been commonplace.

Shulot stood alone on the bow, carefully observing the shape of the fortress at the mouth of the river.

Since it's a personal investigation, of course you can't carry the commander's flag on your back, and you can't take a big boat. The young commander was wearing a simple civilian warrior uniform, carrying the usual Mexica longbow on his back, and wearing an obsidian dagger that never left his body. Like an ordinary young warrior, he scouted with the ship in high spirits. And behind him, the tall samurai commander also carried a longbow, standing firmly in the center of the boat.

Xiulot watched for a long time, his expression gradually becoming serious. He straightened his arms, crossed his thumbs, and used his fingers as a reference. He gestured for a while, then frowned deeply.

The city walls of the Hekou Fortress are astonishingly six meters high. At this height, the rolling stones and bows and arrows of the defenders are extremely lethal. Judging from the number of defenders side by side, the width of the top of the fort wall is also five or six meters, and the width of the bottom is at least eight or nine meters. The outside of the fortress is covered with bricks, and the bluestone foundation is exposed on the top. On the thick walls, deep and complicated yellow patterns are engraved, revealing traces of ancient vicissitudes.

After a while, Xiulot recognized that this was a mysterious symbol engraved by the priest of Tarasco, which represented the blessing of the Mother Earth Goddess Kvelava Peri, implying the use of the power of the earth to strengthen this crucial fortress. It seems that the Kingdom of Tarasco has been operating in the estuary fortress for a long time and attaches great importance to its defense.

The young commander thought for a moment, and then he gave an order softly to the warrior commander behind him.

"A half circle around the fortress along the Leman River, I want to see the specific terrain!"

Berthard nodded slightly, without saluting, to avoid revealing Xiulot's identity. Soon, five or six small boats swung their oars and circled around the fortress like swimming fish.

After looking back and forth twice, Xiulot took a breath. Although he had already heard about it from the scouts, seeing the terrain with his own eyes still made him feel cool. Surrounded by the river on three sides and facing the ground on one side, the Hekou Fortress is truly easy to defend but difficult to attack.

The fortress is bounded by the broad Leman River to the north and Lake Quetzeo to the west. The estuary channel between rivers and lakes is only thirty to forty meters wide and hundreds of meters long, completely within the strike range of the fortress. There is no north gate in the fortress, but there is a water gate on the west side, which connects to Lake Quetseo, and the defenders can attack from here at any time to cut off the passage of the river and lake.

To the east of the fortress is the land on the river bank, but there is a natural moat, which is also five or six meters wide. Similarly, for the convenience of defense, the fortress does not have an east gate, but only a south gate that can be vaguely seen, which is convenient for the passage of the brigade of warriors. Outside the south gate, there are two circles of wooden fences for blocking, both of which are within the range of long-range strikes from the city head.

The young commander secretly calculated in his heart. The Hekou Fortress is two or three miles from east to west, and two or three miles from north to south, so the area is about two square kilometers. It is actually a small city. This kind of military city can station 10,000 to 20,000 people, relying on the natural terrain and acquired fortresses, it is really difficult to capture. If we attack the city by force, we don't know how many casualties will be incurred.

Shulot raised his head again and carefully observed the top of the city. Rolling logs and stones are piled up on the city wall, and tall watchtowers are erected. There are also thick shields on the top of the wall to protect the shooting archers. The remaining militiamen, holding bronze spears and forming a group of hedgehogs, were looking at the Mexica boats on the river.

"Although the Tarascos only have ordinary single bows, they have a large number of armor-piercing copper arrows, which can completely kill leather armored warriors at a distance of 20 meters."

Shulot thought secretly, with a heavy heart. He looked at the flags flying above the city, one side was the banner of the gods of the sun, moon and stars, the other was the "Ukuscha" flag symbolizing the royal family, that is, the eagle flag with wings spread, and the last one was the flag of the local nobles, the family crest. It is "Ospe", the green crocodile.

The meaning of these flags is that under the dual jurisdiction of the gods and the king, the local "crocodile" nobles actually control the fortress here.

"The king's flag can be planted on the fief of the border nobles. It seems that the degree of centralization of the Tarasco Kingdom is indeed higher than that of the Mexica Alliance. The mighty crocodile can be used as the family crest. The person who entrusted this place must be a A true nobleman."

Shulot looked at the flag and analyzed it for a while, then observed the strong fortress again. He watched it for a moment, thoughtful, and many classic battle examples flashed across his mind. Finally, the young commander turned his head and said to the warrior commander.

"Botard, let's get closer and take a closer look at the water gate!"

The boy's voice drifted in the wind, and gradually became inaudible until it reached the top of the river mouth fortress. Under the fluttering three flags, among the surrounding warriors, two Tarasco nobles in combat uniforms were sitting cross-legged on cotton blankets, discussing matters opposite each other.

"General Kukuna, the main force of the Mexica navy has left, and the kingdom's navy has assembled. It's time to send out a large army and teach the enemies on the north bank a lesson!"

A majestic round-faced nobleman said loudly, with a majestic expression while speaking, bossing around. He wore a delicate bronze necklace and a dark gray crocodile-skin hat inlaid with purple copper, which made him look noble.

"Respected Captain Russian, now is indeed a good opportunity for the navy to dispatch. However, the mobilization of the legion is insufficient, and the southern camp has just been lured into an ambush by the Mexica. It may be difficult to dispatch with the loss of 700 warriors and 3,000 militiamen. The army is going north."

General Kukuna bowed his head slightly, and greeted the round-faced nobleman. He looked respectful, not tall, dressed relatively plainly, and had a conspicuous aquiline nose. Or, in Prepecha terms, "turkey nose."

Yes, in Prepeca, the word "kukuna" means turkey, just as "Ospe" means crocodile. In this era, the names of nobles often come from animals, ancestors, myths or gods, and they often have corresponding responsibilities. The name "Ospai" means the inheritance of the navy, and "Kukuna" is obviously just the commander of the militia or low-level warriors.

It is worth mentioning that in the Nahua language, the name of the turkey is "Kokolo", which is very similar to the "Kukuna" in the Prepecha language. This similarity in pronunciation proves that the Mexica and the Prepechas actually have very similar ancestral origins, both from migratory dogs in the far northwest.

In the Yucatan Mayan language, the title of turkey is "Urum" or "Das", which is completely different from that of the Mexica tribes.

Hearing what General "Turkey" said, the round-faced nobleman gave him a dissatisfied look, and shouted loudly.

"The nobles in the southern fortress are land tortoises who can't fight in the field. They only dare to hide behind the camp and let the murderous Mexica ravage and plunder the people of the kingdom! The river mouth fortress is under the control of my navy, so it should be Have the courage to attack and bite like a crocodile!"

"Kukuna, it is because you lack the courage to fight that you lost the wooden fort on the north bank so quickly, and you didn't even set fire to destroy the wooden fort, allowing the Mexica to easily gain a foothold! Fortunately, you still have three hundred warriors and thousands of militiamen in your hands, and you still have a chance to make up for your mistakes."

Kukuna lowered his head and remained silent when he heard the words from the leader of the Russian faction.

"I have gathered 20,000 militia sailors, 3,000 elite warriors, and more than 2,000 warriors from the southern fortress. I can raid the three wooden forts on the north bank at any time. As long as His Majesty Su Angua's royal army arrives, Or support from Lake Chapala arrives, and we can cross the river and drive the Mexica out of the North!"

Hearing this, Kukuna turned pale with shock. he finally exhorted.

"Respected head of the Ospai, His Majesty gave you three thousand warriors and tens of thousands of militiamen, so that you can firmly guard the fortress at the mouth of the river. It controls the passage of Lake Quetzeo and also protects the hinterland of the kingdom along the lake. There must be nothing to lose!"

"The Mexica have always been good at fighting, and their infantry are strong and elite. Now, they have a more powerful bow that can shoot and kill warriors from more than 100 meters away. The rapid fall of the wooden fort on the north bank is precisely because of these large bows. Due to the bow!"

The round-faced aristocrat originally showed disdain, but he became interested when he heard about this place.

"Kukuna, I heard from the warriors who came back, but I just don't believe it. Now you are saying that the Mexica really have a big bow that can shoot from a hundred meters away and penetrate the leather armor of the warrior? What is that? What does it look like?"

Kukuna tried hard to recall, describing intermittently.

"A very large and long bow, like a curved wooden pick, is estimated to be two meters long, and can be stretched to one meter. When the big bow shoots, the arrows are like shooting stars, fast as lightning, and unstoppable, Commander Ospai, yes These longbow defenses, although the three wooden forts on the north bank are short, they definitely cannot be broken by 20,000 to 30,000 people!"

Ospie shook his head and chuckled, picked up the tequila wine on the blanket, and drank it down. He ignored Kukuna's nonsense, treating it as an excuse for the loser.

Kukuna was worried, but his words could not convince the legion commander. He looked around, and his eyes were suddenly attracted by five or six small boats on the river. He watched the boats get closer and closer until they were only fifty meters away from the water gate on the west side. Several warriors on board, risking being shot with bows and arrows, were spying on the details of the fortress.

General Turkey observed carefully and was attracted by the tall warrior headed by him. The warrior looked majestic and stood solemnly, with a Mexica longbow behind him. And the young warrior standing in front of him also had a longbow. The six guards around also had rare longbows in their hands.

Kukuna shouted eagerly.

"Captain Ospai! Look, that's the scouting fleet of the Mexica!"

Ospei glanced at it and said casually.

"The scouting fleet of the Mexica comes here every day, and there are only five or six of them each time. Kukuna, as a warrior, you should learn to be calm and not open your mouth. Listen to me!"

The round-faced nobleman pondered, with a serious look on his face.

"Kukuna, I just had an idea. You have been stationed in the north for several months, and you have not disturbed each other with the Otomi people, and you have a tacit understanding. In this way, when you go to Ottopan City, whether food or copper Weapons, the Kingdom can promise them. I only want the Otomi to send troops quickly, and together with the Kingdom to attack the Mexica! By the way, after the wooden fort on the north bank is recovered, they can also be returned to them. The Man River is the boundary!"

Kukuna's face froze, he didn't care about the longbow, and said in surprise.

"Head of the Russian faction, without His Majesty's permission, how dare I give up the land on the north bank of the Leman River during negotiations!"

Russian Pai shook his head, his tone was flat, with a touch of sarcasm.

"Kukuna, you have already proved with your own record that the wooden fort on the north bank cannot be defended. The Kingdom controls it, but it is only wasting its troops needlessly. What's more, the priority now is to defeat the Mexica forward. , to prevent the enemy from gathering more and more! As for the promise at this time, of course we have to wait until the end of the war before deciding whether to abide by it."

Kukuna thought about this proposal and felt that it was quite feasible. The commander's willingness to send troops seems to have become more determined. In a hurry, he pointed to the Mexica boat in front of the water gate and shouted loudly.

"Look, Commander, that's the longbow of the Mexica!"

Russian Pai was slightly taken aback. He turned his head, squinted, and carefully observed the Mexica boat. The eyes of the round-faced noble skipped over the young man who was looking at the bow, and stayed on the tall and quiet warrior with vicissitudes of life, and then looked at the huge longbow behind him.

"Is there really such a big bow?! I don't know how powerful it is!"

According to the height of the samurai and the length of the boat, Ospie gestured with his fingers. Immediately, he looked at the most conspicuous vicissitudes of life warrior, his eyes brightened.

"This warrior has a steady figure. Standing on the swaying boat, he can stand still. He must be a warrior with high martial arts skills! He is dressed in civilian clothes and has no family crest. , reckoned to be a samurai battalion commander of civilian origin!"

The round-faced noble showed belligerent excitement. His majestic body stood up suddenly, and strode away, leaving a majestic and casual order.

"Kukuna, guard the water gate, I'll go back as soon as I go! I haven't played in battle for several months, today I have to exercise my muscles and bones, and capture this warrior back. I just want to ask what's going on on the north bank, and see what the longbow is. What power!"

Berthard stood in the middle of the boat. He kept watch over Lake Queteo and the Leman River, for the possible Tarasco fleet in the distance. As long as the enemy's navy approached within two miles, he would bring His Highness back without hesitation.

Shulot looked at the top of the fortress, and a round-faced warrior suddenly stood up, looked down for a moment, and then disappeared. The young commander didn't pay attention, and continued to observe the water gate more than 50 meters away.

The shape of the water gate is quite large, with a width of seven or eight meters and a height of about three or four meters. Below is a waterway that is also seven or eight meters wide, which can accommodate two canoes with a width of three meters. The waterway extends all the way, and it is not clear where it leads to the fortress, nor how the internal defense is. This water gate is really a wide marching passage.

While Xiulot was thinking, a "creaking" sound of wood rubbing suddenly came from his ears. The young commander was stunned for a moment, and the water door that had been closed all day suddenly opened wide! Hundreds of enemies rushed out in boats. The warriors of Taras swung their weapons with murderous intent.

The first dozen or so small boats approached like arrows, and they arrived in the blink of an eye. It was loaded with two sailors and six warriors, and the shining bronze spears were raised and ready to stab. Then came two parallel boats, each carrying ten sailors and thirty warriors. One of the large boats was extraordinarily gorgeous, with a high platform decorated with crocodile heads on it, and a majestic round-faced warrior was sitting on the top, with a spear flag in his hand pointing at His Highness's boat.

Bertard was shocked. He reacted the fastest, pushed His Highness down on the boat, turned his head and shouted eagerly to the rowing guards.

"Go, go!"

Note: As I said before, this chapter has been owed for a long time, I guess it has been more than a month, I have not dared to forget it, and I finally paid it back today. Later, more updates will be added one after another, and rewards will be accumulated. (_)