Aztec Eternals

The morning sun is faint, showing from the far east, illuminating the bright and tortuous road ahead. Soon, thick smoke rose from the front of the eyes, and the clamor of people sounded again in the mining area.

Shilot stood at a high place, looking at the busy mining area, as if looking at the new shoots sprouting in the soil, imagining the appearance of a towering tree. After a long time, the king took a deep breath.

Even though he has the vision to transcend the times, he can write down the technology tree of the oracle, and draw up a grand blueprint planned for a hundred or even two hundred years. But at this moment, it is still necessary to return to the reality of lack of scientific and technological theory and professional talents, and start from scratch from scratch.

The advancement of science and technology requires various foundations. Education requires ten generations to cultivate talents, technology requires decades of continuous accumulation of experience, and society requires a century of development to cultivate the soil for new changes. Everything will take a long time.

Xiulote looked calm, and looked at the fiery red morning sun again. Only then did personal guards be dispatched to summon Ezpan.

With the discovery of coal, the importance of the Chingambat mine increased again. For now, coal can replace wood for fire, and coke can replace charcoal for metallurgy, thereby further liberating manpower and improving metallurgical efficiency. Moreover, coal mining is far easier than copper mines, and it is worthwhile to arrange manpower immediately.

Considering these, Shilot decided to expand the number of miners and samurai again, establish a mining town here, and build a bronze and gunpowder workshop. Chingambat will be the first industrial zone in the kingdom to focus on planning and development. Under such a perspective, as the head of the area, although Nekali, who was an elite scout, is loyal and hardworking, he is still slightly lacking in experience.

In these days of local coking, Ezpan personally participated in the production and performed very well. He has the experience of a miner, has a deep understanding of the mining industry, has a quick mind, and is very flexible in mythological beliefs... In the king's heart, this seems to be a more suitable candidate.

While Shulot was thinking, Ezpan was already smiling and walked quickly. He was still wearing the costume of the commander of the Mexican army, with the main **** amulet of the sun hummingbird hanging on his chest, and he respectfully knelt down and salutes four or five meters away.

"Your Highness, your loyal guardian salutes the incarnation of the sun! The rising sun is born, just like your glory!"

Shiroute smiled lightly, but his heart was quite comfortable. He waved his hand, signaling the loyal guard to get up.

"Ezpan, you have been very effective in assisting me in coking these two days... What reward do you want?"

"His Royal Highness, for the past two days, I have been filled with the joy of serving the gods! Being able to dedicate to you is the greatest reward!"

Ezpan bowed his head again. He has now been promoted to a hereditary nobility, and he is also the commander of the Tarrasco Legion that controls ten thousand people. Status and power are both at the same time, and wealth and beauty are naturally indispensable. In front of His Highness at this moment, there is really nothing to ask for.

"Hmm. Ezpan, what do you think of the mining area?"

"How is the mining area?"

Ezpan was stunned for a moment, and the unbearable teenage memories came back to his mind again. Soon, he restrained his emotions, looked at His Highness's face, and replied with consideration.

"His Royal Highness gave the guidance of the gods, and the mining area has the blessings of the gods. It will naturally contribute to the prosperity of the kingdom and contribute a steady stream of power!"

"very good!"

Shirot nodded with a smile, and then said lightly.

"Ezpan, you have been in the mining area for many years, and you are very familiar with this place. I attach great importance to this place and plan to expand the mining area... Do you want to be the general manager?"

The calm words were like thunder, and suddenly exploded in Ezpan's heart. In an instant, he was horrified, fell to his knees suddenly, raised his left hand with only four fingers, and swears earnestly to the gods.

"His Royal Highness! Witness of the Lord God, my loyalty to you has already been infused into the blood! I am willing to hold a weapon and shed the last drop of blood for you, and I am willing to hold a shield and defend your majesty with my life... Your Highness, I have no second thoughts. !"

Shulot was expressionless, and all kinds of thoughts rushed through his heart.

Although Ezpan was born as a miner, he seemed to be extremely repelled here. Miners have always been regarded as the bottom of society, but warriors are the backbone of society. No matter how much the king values, in people's hearts, the general manager of the mining area is not a glamorous and noble position, but the real army commander is the apex of society that everyone yearns for. Ezpan is now the commander of the feudal country and the earliest benchmark among the Prepecha people. If he was transferred from the legion to manage the industrial and mining area, in the eyes of everyone, it would be no different from berating.

More importantly, the industrial zone determines the future of the kingdom! Under this wild foundation, if you want to develop industry and mining, the person in charge must be willing and wholeheartedly involved. He must have the strongest and most active execution! It is impossible for Shilot to hand this position to a person who does not pay attention to the industrial area.

"This is the future Minister of Industry of the Empire..."

The king shook his head in his heart, stared at Ezpan silently for a moment, and then said with a smile.

"Forget it... Ezpan, I naturally know your loyalty. I am very relieved that the legion is handed over to you! You have followed me for many years, and it is time to start a family. There are still unmarried Mos in the Holy City lineage. Xijia noble girl, I have already said hello. You are ready to marry one of them as your wife before the end of the year..."

Hearing this, Ezpan felt relieved. But soon, the king's plain words came again, making him sweat like rain, fighting with his hands and feet.

"Ezpan, you know my ambition... As a loyal legion commander of the Alliance, you can accept bribes, but you can't get too close to the old nobles of Tarrasco... Your future will be of great use. of!"

"Ah, Your Highness! I... I'll go back now, return the old and expensive property, and send the beauties in the south..."

"Good! You need to have that awareness, but don't take action."

Shirot watched for a moment, then instructed lightly.

Since entering the capital of the lake, the old nobles of Tarrasco have shown the softest posture, trying to make friends with the upper forces of the kingdom and find opportunities to integrate into the ruling class. Among them, the southern aristocrats who reserved land and wealth were the most generous and active.

As a descended general from Tarrasco, Ezpan was armed with heavy troops, and naturally became the object of the southern nobles' active wooing. Treasures of Chinese clothing, beauties of spices, all of them have everything they like. All of this was seen by the kingdom's intelligence personnel, and there was some secret information that came from the confession of the priest who intended to guide him.

Although Ezpan is not showing any signs of infidelity now, the king still wants to beat him a little. This is both an immediate reprimand and a lasting love. And smart people can understand the meaning of it as long as they think a little.

The king smiled lightly. He took a step forward, shook the other's hair, and spoke a little softly.

"Ezpan, my loyal guard, you are a wise man, take good care of your subordinate generals for me! As for the old nobles in the south... don't startle the snakes."

"Your Highness, follow your will!"

"Go down!"

Under the calm gaze of the king, Ezpan took a dozen steps backwards before turning around and leaving. The sun rose into the sky, and his body was soaked with sweat, but his heart fell to the ground like a big rock.

"The new sun rises into the sky, more and more radiant, but also extremely hot!"

Ezpan looked at the sky above his head, sighed with emotion, then continued to lower his head and returned to the busy coking scene. The second batch of coke at the mine is being smelted.

The golden October passed in the harvest, and the peaceful November arrived in the sunshine. Tributes for the autumn harvest have just been collected and shipments usually begin in mid-November. This year's harvest was good, and the kingdom's farmers could finally take a breather. They enjoy the hard-won peace, the security without war, and the satisfaction brought by the abundance of food.

In leisure time, religious ceremonies are the most important sustenance. The chanting of prayers echoed throughout the Lake District, and the faith in the Lord God began to lay its foundations.

In the Chingambat mining area, the flag of the Black Wolf is still flying high. The warriors, artisans, miners and grains supported by the capital have all arrived, and the expansion of the mining area has begun immediately. There are 2,000 elite soldiers stationed in the main copper mining area, of which 500 people are wearing bronze armor, which can suppress the rebellion of less than 10,000 people in time. A large number of scouts were also dispatched to monitor the movements of the troops within fifty miles.

There is also a small interlude. On the edge of the copper mines, scattered scouts captured several Trapanic traders who were watching.

Originally, it was customary for foreign businessmen of unknown origin to be caught in such places to be treated as foreign spies and beheaded directly on the spot. As a result, the head of the businessman shouted loudly, saying that he had seen His Majesty! After some discussion among the scouts, they left him alone for the time being and escorted him to the center of the mining area to meet the supreme king.

"You said you saw me?"

Shulot was expressionless and stared at the pale, slightly chubby businessman in front of him. He felt vaguely familiar, but he couldn't remember it for a while.

"Ah, yes, Your Majesty... no, Your Majesty!"

The slightly fat businessman looked nervous and sweated profusely. He glanced at Ezpan, who was guarding next to him, with some fear, raised his left hand with only three fingers left, and answered cautiously.

"More than half a year ago, the city of Ivacio in the east... I reported to you about the reinforcements of the Mexica!"

"Ok?"

Only then did Shirott remember. He glanced at Ezpan, who nodded affirmatively.

"Your Highness, this businessman is quite cunning..."

"Ok."

Shulot was expressionless and looked at the businessman who was lying on the ground coldly.

"The kingdom has issued a decree to ban Trapanic merchants. Which force did you come here for?"

Following the king's words, Ezpan pulled out the obsidian dagger, pressed the merchant to the ground, and then grabbed the opponent's right hand.

"Ah, ah! Your Majesty, I have not been assigned by any force... Ah, don't cut it, don't cut it! I'll explain! The kingdom forbids the trade of copper mines. I'm here to see if I can get it from my previous path. Some copper mines, and sell them to the west!"

"Ok?"

Shilot waved his hand, and Ezpan stopped. The sharp obsidian blade had already pressed on the businessman's little finger, and a faint blood line infiltrated from the tip of the blade, accompanied by the lowly and miserable howl of the businessman's fear.

"West? You mean the Colima Mountains?"

"Yes, yes, Your Majesty! The Colima tribes are close to the Trapanic tribe, and there are frequent trade exchanges between the tribes... I have traveled to the west of the Colima Mountains in a small boat..."

"Huh? ... Colima ... boat?"

Shulot was slightly moved, and asked majestically.

"Businessman, have you sailed on the Great Western Lake?"

"Yes, Your Majesty... I started from Zivatlan and went all the way to the northwest along the shore of the lake. After passing the mouth of the Balsas River, and continuing on for three or four hundred miles, it is the Colima Mountains."

"The mouth of the Balthus River, three or four hundred miles of sea..."

Shirot's expression moved. In the south, Lithospermum County is on the banks of the Balsas River, and about two hundred miles south is the mouth of the river. This route is surprisingly suitable! It is more convenient and easier than the mountain road in the southwest, and it also saves Chapala's expedition than the waterway in the northwest... The king nodded slowly and decided the fate of the merchant.

"Businessman, what's your name?"

"Ah, Your Majesty, my Mexica name is Trali, 'the dirt of the earth'...I am from the Trapanic tribe of Sihuatlan, my father is the head of the village of the plains, and I am the second son in the family ..."

Hearing the king's question, Tralee breathed a sigh of relief, the dead man's name was not something people would care about. He explained one by one.

"Trally, I give you a chance to serve the great alliance and the holy royal family."

The king spoke lightly. Tralee's eyes suddenly lit up. The Tarrasco Kingdom has perished, and the old backers have collapsed. A businessman cannot be without the powerful and powerful, and being able to directly serve the king of the alliance is the dream of an ordinary businessman like him. Just worry about being eaten and wiped... No, in this situation, he has long been bitten by a beast.

"Ah, Your Majesty! Witness the supreme Lord God, I am willing to die for you!"

Tralee shouted with all his might, even tears welling up in his eyes.

Shirot's expression was unmoved. A businessman's oath is meaningless. Only interests and threats can be effectively controlled. He looked at the captain of the scout who was escorting the merchant.

"What about his companions?"

The captain of the scout was stunned, then bowed his head and replied respectfully.

"His Royal Highness, they have already been sent to the kingdom of God as usual."

"Well, then return him and his companion's belongings to him together."

"As you order, Your Highness!"

Sherlot looked at Tralee. Hearing the words of the scout captain, there was no sadness on the merchant's face, but a faint hint of joy, just as he had done in Ivacio City before.

"Well, well, it's a natural leader. Colima, Trapanic...and maybe a windfall."

Sherlot thought calmly, and then ordered in a low voice.

"Trally, I will give you all your belongings, and even give you a hundred catties of copper!"

"Ah, this, thank your Majesty for your generosity! I will definitely do it for you..."

Tralee's eyes flickered, and he hurriedly bowed to the ground.

"I have an order for you!"

The king interrupted the merchant's words with a majesty that could not be disobeyed.

"You have to go from the waterway to the Colima Mountains in the west to trade with the local nobles. I will send a few Mexica warriors with you! You must not hide the waterway signs and tribal conditions along the way!"

"Ah, Your Majesty, this, this..."

Tralee looked terrified. This kind of spying mission, caught by any force, is a dead end.

"As long as you complete this task~www.readwn.com~, you will be able to gain a foothold in the alliance, become one of the merchants permitted by the royal family, and be able to legally trade some materials controlled by the alliance. Even, in the near future, with the support of the alliance, You still have the opportunity to return to your hometown and become a real power fief aristocrat!"

Tralee's heart beat faster. Then, a cold and majestic voice came from above his head again.

"If you can't complete this task...even if you flee to the horizon, the Alliance's scout team will send you where you need to go!"

"Ah, Your Majesty! Willing to die for you!"

Shulot nodded, and the other party finally made his due choice. He left his last words and turned to leave.

"Ezpan, I'll leave the rest to you!"

"According to your will, my supreme sun!"

Ezpan bowed his head respectfully. It was not until the figure of the king disappeared from view that he raised his head and looked at Tralee, who was terrified. The footsteps of the times are rolling forward, and everyone needs to make a choice, including himself.