A curtain of rain covers the sky and the earth, and August is already the most intense period of the rainy season.
In the blink of an eye, another week of wind and rain came. During this week, Avet allowed the wind and waves to rise and sat firmly on the Diaoyutai. He just waited quietly for the two most important news from the north and the east.
The Tarasco people on the south bank organized several naval attacks, but the thunder was loud and the raindrops were light. Only three or four thousand Militia were brought in to harass them, and they were scattered upstream and downstream for several days, exerting psychological pressure on Mexica People.
Xolotl was a little worried. "Xilotepec city has rebelled. If Tarasco people cross the river in large numbers, where should we retreat?"
Avet smiled slightly, "Child, you don't have to worry. Marching and fighting not only depends on the strength of both sides, but also the fighting will of both sides."
"Otomi People is defending their homeland. They will not hesitate to sacrifice and do everything they can to stop Mexica's army. Tarasco and Tlaxcalan are just strategically cooperating to attract our military strength, thereby relieving Otopan City and preventing Otomi People from perishing."
"With such a purpose, the Tarasco people will not have an excessive fighting will. They can at best fight with the wind and take advantage, so that they will not cross the river in large numbers and fight with us who occupy the terrain. That would be to draw chestnuts from the fire for Otomi People, and the casualties will be too heavy."
"But if the king retreats and Otomi People is attracted by the opportunity to encircle and annihilate us, he will most likely choose to let the king go and attack our retreat southward. At this time, our geographical advantage will be wiped out by the flanking attack. With Otomi People as the vanguard, the Tarasco people will also seize this opportunity and cross the river in large numbers. They will respond to Otomi People from the north and south, thereby completely wiping us out."
"If my guess is right, the king's messenger will be here soon." Avet paused, then revealed an unpredictable smile.
"Avet, what you said makes sense!" The young man agreed very much.
"Child, you are not allowed to call me by my name, you have to call me teacher!" Avet had a straight face and reached out to pinch the boy's face.
The daily exercise had taken effect, and the boy jumped away quickly. It seemed that the mood of his teacher and friend had not calmed down yet, so he might as well go hide in the guard camp for two more days.
In less than two days, the king's messenger arrived as expected.
". You have successfully stopped the enemy last time, and you must continue to hold on. Tlatoani has generously given you land and wealth. You are not allowed to retreat even half a step without the king's order. You must defend the north bank of the Lerma River until Otopan City falls. When you return to the capital, you will be the first contributor to this expedition! You will be promoted to deputy king and rewarded Chinampa."
The messenger first made a majestic announcement in the big tent. Then, he congratulated the king's brother with a smile on his face, hoping that the future deputy king would live up to the king's heavy responsibility and trust, continue to persevere, and win the first victory in the expedition.
Avet bowed his head to the king's will for the last time. With a firm look on his face, he respectfully crossed the letter talisman and the wooden plank. There was a determination on his face that would last until death, and an eagerness to look forward to the future until the messenger left.
Then, he smiled at Xolotl, "The king is ready to withdraw his troops."
The commander immediately followed the King Shimokuni's order and asked the officers who were loyal to him to convey the new military order. The Samurai officers immediately prepared supplies and prepared for retreat.
The next morning, another huge fleet arrived from the capital. Avet mobilized the influence of his maternal family and collected as many boats as possible from Lake Texcoco. This time, another hundred large boats and four hundred small boats were assembled, carrying only basic food and the lowest rowers.
Now, he has 300 large boats and 1,000 small boats in his hands, with a maximum carrying capacity of 17,000 people.
The fleet of the Tarasco people was frightened by the overwhelming superiority of the Mexica fleet. They all restrained their activities and hid deep in the Lake Cuitzeo of Unicom Lerma River, sheltering next to the fortress in the Tarasco hinterland.
At this point, everything is ready except for the east wind, and the young man is eagerly looking north.
On the evening of the next day, the "east wind" finally came from the north. The dusty Acap had obviously lost weight and no longer had a graceful posture. However, when Xolotl looked into his eyes, his eyes were bright and dazzling.
The three of them sat cross-legged. The tent was closed tightly like last time, the bonfire was flickering, the wind and rain were the same, but the excitement was different.
"We can't wait any longer, now is the time!" Acap shouted excitedly in a low voice.
"The news of the Xilotepec city's rebellion came, and the food route was subsequently cut off. City-State Legion was in an uproar, and the morale of the thirty thousand Samurai troops was in chaos. Within a week, the City-State Legion Commander people gathered several times and proposed retreat. The last time, even the directly affiliated officers were persuaded.
Because there are only three and a half weeks of food and grass left in the camp, and it will take at least two weeks to return to Xilotepec city. It is not known when the supply line in the rear will be restored, and Brigade General teams of Otomi People can be seen everywhere in the mountains and forests.
The king could no longer hold back and could only nod in agreement. Finally, he sent a wave of persistent messengers to you, and then began to clean up the camp, collect the scattered legions, and prepare to return to the Xilotepec camp.
I finally had a secret conversation with the leader Xoloc. The leader has already gathered the four thousand Samurai under his command, and will always follow the king and stay close to Tizoc, waiting for our arrival!"
Avet also nodded with suppressed excitement. "The army has been packed up and can board the ship and return eastward at any time. My loyal two thousand family Samurai has joined the new batch of reinforcements assembled in the capital and will soon support the Xilotepec city camp."
"Let's take the ship owner to capture the reinforcements first, and then capture the Xilotepec camp to cut off the king's return. If it goes well enough, we will capture the nearest mountain camp and say goodbye to my brother there!"
After saying that, the three of them held their arms firmly, with burning flames in their eyes.
Xolotl stood in the middle, his arms sore from being grabbed by the excited two people. His eyes were twitching, and he couldn't help shouting loudly.
"Main God bless you! Tizoc is just an old grass rat, don't be too excited. Young Divine Eagles, their eyes are on the whole world, and the world belongs to us!"
After hearing this sentence, Avet and Acap were slightly startled, then laughed heartily and hugged the young man vigorously into their arms.
"Okay! Okay! The world belongs to us!"
The world is in my arms, my heart is like fire. I have no dreams all night, and I have a great fighting spirit!
Early the next morning, Avet broke camp and boarded the ship.
After the battle across the river, he had 14,000 Samurai and 13,000 Militia in his hands, and the maximum transport capacity of the navy was 17,000 people. The commander left 10,000 Militia to garrison five camps and ordered them to retreat or surrender as long as they held out for two days. When retreating, try to follow the river to the upper reaches of the east, so that when the fleet returns, they can be picked up as quickly as possible.
Next, 14,000 Samurai and 3,000 Militia boarded the fleet. The army only carried two weeks of food and grass and quickly headed east upstream. Samurai and Militia took turns to take over from the oarsmen and kept sailing. At this speed, it is estimated that it will only take ten days to reach the vicinity of the Xilotepec camp.
Standing on the big boat, it was windy and rainy, and the journey was long. Xolotl looked at the camps on the north bank for a while.
Under the orders of Avet, Militia set up flags everywhere, and the commander's flag stood at the highest point of the mountain stronghold, temporarily confusing the enemies on the south bank. There was still more than a month of food and grass in the camp.
The Militias stood in silence at the camp, watching the fleet go eastward with low morale. Nearly a hundred loyal Samurais also stayed inside, maintaining the most basic order. Their fate was to sacrifice and wait.
The big boat started, the two sides passed by, and the river surged. Xolotl's heart was filled with cold hardness, which was the cruelty of reality. He took one last look at the south bank, and the Tarasco king's flag still stood high, and Priest's Divine Altar were vaguely visible, while Samurai and Militia were scattered.
When can we meet again? There is a warm smile on the corner of the young man's mouth, which is the expectation and confidence of the future, as if the hot flame drives away the coldness.
"When we meet again, it will be a complete conquest!"