Mourning is everywhere, and the smoke is curling.

The camp of the expeditionary force of the kingdom of Hongshutizgan was full of terrible mess.

The traverser team led by Director Ma had just completed the fruitful united front work before this, and pulled the second Spanish fleet in Port Veracruz into their camp, thus cutting off Cortés' back road and making their own side invincible.

As the saying goes, a gentleman doesn't use a knife to kill people, and the experienced Director Ma just relied on his tongue to make Cortez, who had already turned over and got out of trouble, and even made great strides, once again from the peak of glory to the place of desperate death.

Who knew that they had just returned to the camp with great ambition, and the tragic situation they saw in front of them gave the traversers a hard blow!

Once again, they underestimated historical figures.

Hona. Cortés, the great conqueror of European history, is truly extraordinary.

-- When the traversers confidently marched to Puerto de la Cruz with most of their own combatable soldiers, as well as a large number of "civilian weapons developed by modern terrorists", they confidently marched to Puerto de la Cruz. Cortés, who was far away in the city of Tenochtitlan, as if telepathically, urgently broke away from the battlefield in the Valley of Mexico, and rushed hundreds of miles with more than 200 cavalry, and attacked their camp in the seaside jungle in one fell swoop!

In fact, if it had not been for the timely arrival of the main force returning from the port of Veracruz, Cortés had to take advantage of the victory and take advantage of the speed advantage of the cavalry to escape. Then, this negligent expeditionary force will really be in danger of being wiped out of the base camp if it is not done well.

Even if Cortés' cavalry had not done their job, the wounds inflicted on the camp by the attack would have been extremely severe.

-- More than half of the tents were burning in flames, the black smoke that lingered made people cough repeatedly, and the frustrated wounded moaned in bandages...... Looking at the tragic situation in front of him for the rest of his life, the corners of Director Ma's mouth couldn't help but twitch for a while.

“…… Hell, someone set it on fire...... Although not many people died, the granary was almost burned down. Fortunately, we have a cross-dimensional logistics line, otherwise we would really have to go hungry next......" He turned his head sharply and looked angrily at the person in charge of the camp who had stayed at the camp during the meeting, who looked disgraced at this time, "...... Didn't you leave two thousand people? Why can't you even look at your home?! ”

“…… This one...... Just before the Spanish cavalry arrived, a group of Aztec troops came and defected to ......"

Wen Deji explained with a bitter face, "...... Everyone was busy dealing with and interrogating them, and who knew that Cortés' cavalry was actually following behind......"

To tell the truth, although the defensive battle commanded by Wen Desi was indeed ugly, he also had his own difficulties.

-- In the circle of Indian civilization in Central America, the people of Honshutizgan have never been known for being warlike. Although the Traveler equipped them with time-ahead stainless steel swords and high-performance metal cut-resistant suits, they could not give them the morale, quality, and conviction of a victorious division.

In the past, the several battles experienced by this expeditionary force were actually one-sided crushing operations, and they were already doomed to victory before the war, and they had not fought any hard battles at all, so naturally they did not play much of a training role.

In addition, the Native Americans did not have horses to ride, so although Wendesi set up a sentry on the periphery of the camp, due to his lack of real military experience, he forgot to take into account that the legs and feet of these scouts were too slow, and after discovering the Spanish cavalry, before they could run back to call the police, the Spanish cavalry led by Cortés had already rushed into the camp, slashed and set fire everywhere.........

What's even worse is that in the camp of the expeditionary force of the Hongshutizgan Kingdom at that time, in addition to the 2,000 soldiers originally pulled out of Hope Port, there were several times as many porters and coolies, plus many scattered people who had been picked up from the Zutara Valley before, and the Tlaxcala refugees who came with Sicautkato Jr., all of them added up, and the total number was as high as tens of thousands.

With so many non-military personnel, it looks more like a refugee camp than a military camp. However, these non-military personnel do not know how to obey orders, and they do not have much combat effectiveness. When the enemy raids, it's basically a drag bottle that will only add to the mess and won't help.

As a result, under the surprise attack of the Spanish cavalry, the refugees gathered in the camp were frightened by the horses, and in an instant they were scurrying around like headless flies. The troops left behind by the expeditionary force, who were caught off guard and lacked experience, suddenly encountered great trouble, and for a time were shocked by the chaotic flow of people, and some of them even died in shame because of trampling on each other......

In the face of this chaotic situation, which is called every day and the earth is not spiritual, Wen Desi, the left-behind chief officer who lacks actual combat experience, is also helpless.

Fortunately, Director Ma, as a leading cadre of a special department who has traveled all over Shijie and even in different time and space all year round, has long seen a lot of all kinds of strange things. So after scolding him violently, he still coughed a few times and asked reservedly.

“…… That's right...... Comrade Xiaowen, did you just say that some Aztecs came to defect? What's going on here? ”

“…… This one...... There are about a thousand Aztec warriors who have fled here today, led by our old friend Kuochtmok...... Although they have caused us a lot of trouble this time, they have also brought us the latest news on the battlefield in the Valley of Mexico. ”

Wen Deji sighed and said in a low voice, "...... Cortés and his allies had successfully stormed the city of Tenochtitlan, and the new Aztec emperor, Kuitlahuak, had been poked in the stomach with a javelin ten days earlier, and it was not long before he died. Next, Cortés installed a puppet emperor for the Aztecs, and Kuytrahuak passed the throne to Kuohetmoc before his death......"

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On the other side of the camp, our protagonist Wang Qiu, also with a heavy and complicated mood, once again came to Xue Ji Dailan's side.

Although in the days before this, he had been trying his best to hide from Yukie Delan, so that she would not know the bad news about her family, so as not to stimulate the girl's heart. But today, with the Aztec rout fleeing here, some things can no longer be hidden.

Fortunately, the small camping tent that Wang Qiu built for himself was not burned down when the Spanish cavalry attacked because of its inconspicuous appearance.

And Xue Ji Dailan, who learned the bad news of her hometown, sat on a big rock outside the tent, seemingly quietly waiting for Wang Qiu's return.

At this time, Xue Ji Dailan was only wearing a loose white shirt, and she didn't wear the rainbow-colored plastic hairpin she liked on her forehead, but she just let her straight black hair hang down, her haggard face was extremely pale, and the corners of her eyes could vaguely be seen to be a little red and swollen......

Seeing this, Wang Qiu couldn't help but bow his head and sigh, slowly came to her side, sat down side by side, although he wanted to say something, but he really didn't know how to speak, so he just sat silently, and at the same time held her slightly trembling little hand. …,

After a long time, Xue Ji Dailan slowly opened her mouth, her expression was blank, there was no joy or sorrow, and her voice did not fluctuate.

“…… My father, the great commander of Emperor Montezuma, had twenty-two sons and thirty-five daughters. Among them, there are more than 40 children who have grown up. They are all my brothers and sisters. ”

Wang Qiu just sat quietly on the side, patiently listening, and did not make a sound.

“…… Although this huge family is not very harmonious. My brothers have never stopped fighting openly and secretly for power, and my sisters are jealous of each other, and they often play some small tricks with each other. One of my sisters, in order to compete for my father's favor, also drove me out of the court, forcing me to become a priest serving the goddess Ikahir...... But, after all, they are all relatives who are related to me by blood! ”

Speaking of this, Xue Ji Dailan's face couldn't help but show a little nostalgia. But in the next moment, it all turned into heart-rending grief.

“…… I remember when I left Tenochtitlan a few months ago, dozens of brothers and sisters went together to see us off outside the city. But now they are dead! All dead! Not a single person survived!! I'm the only one left...... Wow wow wow ......"

She finally couldn't hold back her emotions anymore, and threw herself into Wang Qiu's arms, crying bitterly.

“…… It's okay, cry, cry as much as you want! As long as I can cry out...... You're still with me......"

Wang Qiu, who is not very good at comforting people, hugged this trembling warm body tightly, and stroked her smooth and silky hair with her fingers slightly awkwardly, as if to completely sweep away the gloom in her chest, and exhaled a long breath.

The girl's body is fragrant and soft. But the situation at this time makes people not have a trace of nostalgia.

Before that, Kuohtmoc had already told him a lot about recent events, including the extinction of the Aztec orthodox royal family.

-- In the midst of the great revolt to expel the Spaniards, the Emperor Montezuma, who had been reduced to a meat ticket, was first wounded by the rebels with stones, and then strangled to death by the desperate Spaniards. As for the queen concubines who were also trapped in the palace, as well as the dozen or so young princesses who were not married, they were first ravaged and ruined by Spanish soldiers in turn, and then in the melee of the Aztecs storming the palace, all of them were killed by the mob, and none of them survived.

Then, as soon as the new and unjust Emperor Kuytrahuak ascended the throne, he ordered the execution of the remaining sons of the late Emperor Montezuma. Two of the princes were executed by Kuauchtmok himself as a pledge of allegiance to the new emperor.

Zuihou, in the brutal street battle in which the Aztec rebels and Cortés' Spanish expedition team joined forces to capture the city of Tenochtitlan, nearly half of the city's citizens were killed and wounded, and the wealthy nobles were no exception. Several of the sisters of Princess Snow Princess's marriage died during this period. Even Cuauchtmok's wife, the eldest princess under the knee of Emperor Montezuma, escaped from the city in a canoe with her husband's breakout force in her two children, but she was unfortunately separated in the process of fleeing, and now her fate is probably more than lucky.

A large family that was originally thriving, almost in an instant, only a single seedling was left like Xue Ji Dailan. For a girl who has just turned 14, how can he not feel lost, hesitant and afraid?

Even though the members of the royal family seem to be indifferent under the erosion of power, they are relatives who are related to Xue Ji Dailan after all! …,

However, as fate would have it, her family had lost their lives in just a few months, and her hometown had been reduced to ruins and slaughterhouses.

Is it next to avenge your loved ones? However, the usurper Kuytrahuak, who ordered her brother's execution, had already died on the battlefield. The Spanish commander, who strangled her father, had long since turned into a human skin drum. Now there is only one Cortés left, who has not yet been subjugated.

As for the indirect murderers...... The people who were still standing by her side at this time were more or less involved in the fall of the Aztec royal family—Kuauchtmock was forced to kill two of her brothers with his own hands on the orders of the new emperor; Although the Travelers were never enemies of the Aztecs, it was they who brought the Spaniards into the city of Tenochtitlan......

Wang Qiu didn't know what kind of terrible appearance he would become when he encountered such a situation that was close to Shijie's destruction...... Well, nine times out of ten, I'm afraid he will be more weak, helpless and confused than Xue Ji Dailan at this time.

So, he just quietly hugged Snow Ji Dailan and let the poor Aztec girl cry in his arms.

I don't know how long it took to cry before Xue Ji Dailan raised her head with tears in her eyes, and looked at Wang Qiu's eyes with a weak and helpless expression.

“…… My dear, my mother once told me before her death that a woman can only survive by relying on a man. And now, the only one I can rely on is you! Xue Ji Dailan said this with a slight choked voice, and at the same time, without warning, she used all her strength to hug Wang Qiu's neck tightly, almost strangling him to the point of being out of breath, "...... Promise me that no matter what happens, you will never be separated from me! ”

“…… Ahem, don't worry, I will never abandon you. Even the cruelest fate cannot separate us! ”

Wang Qiu slightly broke free of a little breathing space, and then promised solemnly, while secretly making up his mind.

Although he doesn't think he's a saint, he has to be responsible for it when he gets a girl, and he still has this as the basic discipline of a man.

The so-called eternity, the sea is dry and rotten, and it is unforgettable...... In fact, in the final analysis, it is still a sense of responsibility to be a human being.

Hearing this assurance, Yukihime Dailan suddenly let out a relaxed breath, her face flushed slightly, and then closed her eyes again.

And Wang Qiu lowered his head willingly, letting his lips slide off Xue Ji Dailan's forehead, through the soft eye sockets, the high bridge of the nose, until the pair of moist, fragrant, but slightly cold red lips.

So, Wang Qiu gently sucked Xue Ji Dailan's lips and sent her warmth with his lips and tongue......

……

That night, after only a very brief discussion, the traversers, who had adopted a system of collective leadership in military operations, unanimously made the decision to return west and enter the valley of Mexico to engage Cortés in battle.

-- In the previous united front work, the role of various negotiations and intrigues had been brought into full play by the traversers, but at the same time, the enemy had been forced into a corner. Next, all the little tricks no longer work, and the only way to do it is to rely on each other's military strength!

“…… Please rest assured! Not to mention just a historical celebrity, even if it is a god, we can kill you! ”

Next to the burning bonfire, Wang Qiu patted his chest with his hand with a confident face, and assured Director Ma.

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Under the red sunset, the Spanish cavalry, which had just won a victory, also embarked on a retreating journey.

With the muffled sound of horseshoes kicking stones, both men and horses were bathed in the dim twilight, pulling their long backs on the ground. …,

Cortez staggered on horseback, with an extra scar on his face, and there was no trace of joy in his expression of victory.

In the previous raid battle, which was perfectly grasped in terms of timing and breakthrough, he only paid the price of fifteen cavalry deaths, and broke through the Chinese camp in one fell swoop, killing no less than hundreds of enemies, creating great chaos, and burning the opponent's food stockpiles with a fire.

However, such a tactical victory could not hide the desperate situation in which they had fallen strategically.

Several cronies who had narrowly escaped from Puerto Veracruz had already cried to Cortés about the upheaval in the rear - Commander García, who commanded the fleet on Hispaniola, suddenly turned around after some negotiations with the Chinese, disarmed a small force he had left in the port, and publicly declared Cortés a traitor wanted by the Kingdom of Spain, and anyone who continued to cooperate with him would be punished for treason!

The retreat that he finally found has been cut off again, and if he wants to return to his hometown and live, he must fight with his life!

“…… Castillo, please gather your army at once, and gather our allies to fight the Chinese to the death! ”

A few days later, in the wilderness on the outskirts of Tenochtitlan, facing Castillo, who greeted him on his triumphant return, Cortés proclaimed with a gloomy face, his words full of sinister air: "...... Either defeat them and become the conqueror of Mexico and the hero of Spain; Either they were taken prisoner and hung on the gallows on charges of treason...... Other than that, there is no third option! ”