Aztec Eternals

The sun goes west, and the light is sparse. The crowd stood on the edge of the mountain, and the February wind was blowing, neither cold nor hot. The march on the tropical plateau is relatively easy, and the need for warmth is not high, so there is no need for too much baggage.

As far as Shirot could see, a faint march of smoke was raised in the sky. Even though more than half a month has passed, the escorting team of Turks captives is still endless, winding out of the mountains in the southwest. Looking closely, the prisoners who came out of the mountain became thinner and thinner, and it was obvious that they had been marching for a long time.

The king pondered for a moment and spoke lightly.

"Ezpan, I once said that if you can get 100,000 people, you will be the first hero of the Southern Expedition! Now, how many people have you gathered?"

"Your Majesty, for more than a month, the army has gone deep into the mountains to clean up the mess after General Black Wolf's sweep, and the capture is extremely rich!"

Ezpan saluted respectfully and replied in detail.

"In the Hand Snake Basin, nearly 30,000 prisoners have been captured, and at this time they have been fully escorted to the Apa Plain. These people include the entire shield tribe, the family members of the Palm family, and the mountain people of various tribes. To the south of Yeshan Village, in the mountains About 20,000 people have been arrested in the Kong Dao and the valley, and they have just been transported out of the mountains. The group of prisoners who are now passing through Kanhe Village is basically this group. Going further south, General Keka is on the beach two hundred miles outside Palm Bay. , gathered 30,000 refugees before and after. Most of these people have reached the Hand Snake Basin. In a few days, they will come out!"

"Oh? So, that's 80,000 Tekes mountain people? It's a little more than the Tingkou captured by the Northern Expedition!"

Shiroute smiled. The Tekes are a farming tribe in the mountains and valleys. They are familiar with the cultivation of the fields. The population is much larger than the Guaquili who hunt. Of course, the fighting power of the Turks tribe warriors is much worse than that of the dogs. He patted Ezpan's shoulder kindly and said with a smile.

"Not bad! Very good! It's a pity that the small goal of 100,000 people is still a little short. I was going to give you a big reward..."

"Ah! Your Majesty, there are still a lot of tribal people hiding in the mountains and along the coast of the southwest. They lack food, they don't even have food to grow, so they can't stay in the mountains for a long time. Wait a month or two at most, and these people will starve to death. , or we have to go out to the mountains and surrender. And we have the food tribute from the various ministries of Colima, and we can bring them all back! ... At that time, we may be able to gather 90,000 to 100,000 people..."

Hearing that the reward was about to pass by, Ezpan's eyes were a little red, and he hurriedly said.

There are more than 100,000 people in the various ministries of Southwest Coalcoman. After repeated raids, 80,000 people were looted, which was actually close to the limit. He originally planned to go to the borders of the Colima Mountains in the west, and then looted 20,000 people to gather the "small target" of the king. But now, the various ministries of Colima are obedient to the kingdom, send noble ladies to accompany His Majesty, and provide a lot of food, but it is not easy to do it.

"Well, let's say it's 90,000 people, but it shouldn't reach 100,000."

Shilot smiled, thinking about the arrangement of the Ninety Thousand Turks Mountain People. He leaned sideways, looking at the red sun that was gradually heading west, holding the fate of tens of thousands of people in his hands.

"Before the Southern Expedition, there was a gap of 80,000 for military merits to grant Tian and slaves. There were 20,000 rebels in Zicao City, 10,000 in Apa City, and a total of 10,000 rebels in the southern nobles who resisted reforms. That's 40,000 serfs. Then, take another 40,000 serfs from the Turks captives to fill the gap before!"

Ezpan lowered his head to listen, his heart shaking. In the face of the king's reduction of seals and reforms, the entire Zicao County has a population of more than 200,000, one-fifth of them rebelled before and after, and 40,000 people were demoted to serfs. This time the southern expedition came down, and the old nobles in the south were completely wiped out.

"Well, 40,000 Tecos serfs. There are 30,000 prisoners in the Hand Snake Basin, most of them are the backbone of the big tribes who resisted, and 20,000 were demoted to serfs. The mountain tunnels and the seaside refugees each sent 10,000 serfs. The remaining 50,000 people, just According to the flag team in the north. With more than 4,000 people as a team, 12 flag teams and dozens of villages are formed, and they are concentrated in the Apa Plain!"

"Follow your will, Your Majesty!"

"The kingdom will soon dispatch priests to manage these flag team villages and spread the faith of the Lord God! Each flag team will send 250 pieces to form a 3,000-strong Tekos tribal militia, attracting experienced tribal warriors. Ezpan, After the southern expedition, you will lead the Second Pike Legion to settle in the Appa Plain and guard the southwest for me! I will also temporarily hand over this Tecos tribal militia to your jurisdiction!"

"Thank you for your reuse, Your Majesty!"

Ezpan was overjoyed. He will be the first legion commander in the entire kingdom to have more than 10,000 troops, guarding the frontier for the kingdom!

Shulott nodded. He looked around the field, and the Apa Plain was full of green life. The uncultivated soil is extremely fertile, and the rivers in the mountains bring stable water sources. This is a land of abundance like Bashu. As long as it is managed well, it is the logistical granary for the kingdom to conquer the world.

"Ezpan, the Apa Plain is surrounded by mountains, and the fertile fields are thousands of miles. I traveled all the way, from the city of Apa in the east of the plain to the pottery town (now Tepalcatepec) in the west, 150 miles from east to west. And from Bo in the north of the plain From the Hecun area (now Los Tazumbos) to Caolin Village in the south, it is 130 miles from north to south. Roughly speaking, it is eight million acres of fertile fields!”

"Yes, Your Majesty! The Apa Plain is indeed fertile and suitable for cultivation. The forests here are lush, and there are flocks of birds and beasts. There are many rivers flowing down from the mountains and connecting the four directions. They are natural artesian canals and can easily irrigate the coast. River (Grada) has sufficient water throughout the year. It flows from the large lake in the northern mountains and crosses the entire plain. It is the largest river. In addition to the Gran River, there are the Ti, Bo (Buenavista) and Tao Rivers. (Tepalcatepec)…”

Ezpan replied respectfully. In the Tarasco era more than ten years ago, he had fought in the southwest for many years, conquering the Tecos, and was very familiar with the terrain here. At this moment, he was in front of the king, telling the details of the Apa Plain one by one.

"Clay Town is the western boundary of the plain and is located on the bank of the Tao River. It is rich in clay and can produce high-quality painted pottery. To the northwest of the town is the source of the Tao River, the Olive Lake (Losolives). Around the lake, there are strange fragrant trees standing. Resin and frankincense. Every village near the mountains produces furs and feathers..."

Sherlot listened patiently. He became more and more convinced that Ezpan was the most suitable person to develop the Apa Plain for him and guard the southwest.

You must know that the Apa Plain covers more than 3,000 square kilometers, which is about half of the area of ​​the Chengdu Plain. Even in this era, the area of ​​the entire plain that can be reclaimed as farmland is more than 2,000 square kilometers. Calculated on the basis of 2,500 alliance small acres per square kilometer, there are 5 million acres of arable land here.

Counting fallow, 5 million mu of land can be cultivated with 2 million mu of Milpa farmland. On the basis of 10 acres of farmland per mouth and 4 acres of cultivation, the entire plain can support at least 500,000 people! This is still based on this era, in terms of lower productivity. When metal farming tools and fertilizers are widely used, these irrigated fields with sufficient water sources will have a new leap in the yield per mu, which will support a doubled population!

After a long time, Ezpan finished speaking. Shirot nodded with a smile.

"Ezpan, the Apa Plain is fertile, but it has not been effectively developed in the past hundred years. Do you know why?"

"His Royal Highness, this place was originally the land of the various Turks tribes, and it was occupied by the Tarasco Kingdom after repeated conquests. For decades, this place is located on the border, and there have been endless wars. The Prepecha and the Turks attacked and killed each other. , the villages along the river were difficult to flourish. In the Tarasco era, the focus of southern reclamation was mainly in the cities of Apa and Curamo.”

Ezpan pondered for a while, then tried his best to answer based on his experience.

"In addition, the Apa Plain has fertile soil and sufficient water resources, so there are many trees and lush weeds. Without sufficient manpower or metal tools, reclamation is not easy. And the long Gran River is turbulent, and there will be floods in the rainy season. Many tidal flats that are difficult to develop have been created."

"Yes, you are right." Gu

Shilott laughed in satisfaction. Then, he smiled and looked serious.

"Now, the Koalkoman Mountains in the southwest have been pacified, and the Tecos tribes are out of ten. The Kolyma Mountains in the west are submissive and will not be harassed again. You lead the legion to guard here, and the Apa Plain can be reclaimed with peace of mind. Become a big granary in the hinterland of the kingdom! As for the bronze tools for felling and the bronze farming tools for farming, I will transfer them from the northern kingdom to you!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Ezpan fell to his knees and saluted in awe. Then he got up and asked.

"Your Majesty, after the expedition to the southwest, where are the frontiers of the Legion's reclamation?"

Hearing this, Shirlot pondered for a moment, took the map from Bertard, and drew the long-planned boundary.

"Ezpan, the southwestern border of the Apa Plain, set up three important military fortresses, and gradually built stone forts. The western important place is the pottery town, which controls the passage to the western mountainous area; the southwest important place is this hill He Village, upgraded to Kanhe Town, builds camps to guard the southwest mountain pass; the southern important area is Caolin Village, upgraded to Caolin Town, to handle the southern mountain pass. In addition, every year, troops are sent into the mountains to recruit surrender and gather the mountain people!"

Ezpen thought for a moment and nodded respectfully. After the establishment of the three military towns, they controlled the large mountain passes and completely surrounded the Apa Plain.

"As for the northern boundary of the plain, it is located 60 miles northwest of Bohe Village, El Hueso in the northern mountain pass. Build a military town here to guard against the Chapala Lake District!"

Shegu Village in the northern mountain pass is almost the northernmost part of Zicao County, almost the same latitude as the Appachingan mining area. The terrain is undulating, the rainfall is not abundant, there are large sandy areas, and grapes will be produced in later generations. However, more than two hundred miles north from Snakebone Village, is the vast Chapala Lake. When you conquer the northwest and conquer the Chapala Lake District, you can go all the way from here.

Sherlot looked north. Eagles fly in the sky, and the desire to hunt never stops. After a southern expedition, it is estimated that there will be a gap of 20,000 to 30,000 serfs. The kingdom's military machine never stops, and after the autumn harvest this year, there will definitely be a new war!

"Your Majesty, the four military cities are the borders. What should we do with the prosperous Hand Snake Basin?"

Ezpan thought for a while and asked cautiously.

Shirot pondered for a while. The Hand Snake Basin is isolated in the mountains, with difficult logistics and high maintenance costs. It is very close to the Colima Department, and once there is a change... It will take a while before the king makes a decision.

"The border of the kingdom is temporarily stopped at the Apa Plain. Only when you reclaim the Apa Plain, with sufficient food and population, and dense villages and farmland, can you expand into the mountains again. This basin will be idle first. Just set up a few Set up the outpost and leave some people to recruit the tribes in the mountains! Ezpan, when gathering the tribes, pay attention to maintaining the relationship with the Colima tribe!"

"Follow your will, Your Majesty!"

"Yeah. After dealing with the captives and arranging the reclamation of the Apa Plain... This unforgettable southern expedition should end here."

With a solemn expression, Scholot was silent, staring at the western sky. After a long time, until the red sun reflected through the Kan River, he did not look at Legion Commander Ezpan.

"Ezpan, the Rabbit Moon has come, the last month of the 260th Holy Year. The old cycle is about to end and the new one is about to begin."

"Yes, Your Majesty. The Rabbit Moon is the Moon of Sacrifice, the Moon of Courage, and the Moon of Doom. Witness to the Lord God! I would like to dedicate my loyalty to you and fight for you with fearless courage!"

Ezpan suppressed the excitement in his heart. He raised his left hand with only four fingers and swore to the king.

Shirot nodded slowly. He whispered to himself, but Ezpan could hear it.

"In ancient mythology, the cycle of time never ends. The primordial **** awakens in the moon of the end~www.readwn.com~ divides the world into dream and reality, and leaves the seeds of connection. When people are in When you fall asleep in spring, the world of dreams will wake up in your heart..."

Although he didn't understand the king's emotion, Ezpan still listened silently. This is a closeness that has never been seen before, making the image of the king come alive.

"Ezpan, I have a dream of an empire in my heart. I know what it looks like, everything is vivid, it keeps pushing me forward, and it keeps telling me where to go!  …"

"Your Majesty, no matter where you go, I will follow you loyally!"

"Very good, let's go on the road together! After all, the time of mortals is short, and we don't have much time..."

Speaking of this, the king paused, his eyes were as bright as flames, and he stared at the former general.

"Ezpan, reclaim the Apa Plain, set up military town checkpoints, spread the teachings of the Lord God, and appease the people of the tribe. You should do less fearless killing, focus on food production, and focus on appeasing the Fire River City... Southwest affairs of the kingdom , I'll give it all to you!"

"Your Majesty, thank you for your trust! The Lord God bears witness, I will do my best for you and be loyal until I die!"

"Okay! Ezpan, I trust your loyalty. Develop the southwest plain for me, which will be the rear of the kingdom."

Shilot pondered for a moment and made a decision. Although it did not achieve the small goal of gathering a population of 100,000, Ezpan's merits and qualifications are already worthy of reward.

"When I return to the capital, I will be rewarded for meritorious deeds. Ezpan, you are the entire kingdom, the third honorable noble after Bertard and Orosh!"

"Ah! Your Majesty! You are my only sun, my only light! God bless my king and burn forever!"

The red sun sets in the west, reflecting the Apa Plain. The sky and the field are red, like a fiery fire, igniting the heaven and earth in the southwest.