Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 765

Episode 765 Encounter (10)

The imperial army and the Aztecs faced off around the imperial army’s coastal beachhead.

The Aztec warriors surrounded the beachhead in a semicircle.

Imperial military officers inspected the formation of the Aztec warriors surrounding the bridgehead and identified loopholes.

“It looks quite chaotic, doesn’t it? “It seems like you don’t know much about war.”

The older, more senior military officer shook his head at the words of the junior military officer.

“no. If you look closely, you can see there are some guys with unique outfits here and there, right? Those guys must be commanding the surrounding soldiers. “There is a chain of command.”

“Oh, I see.”

The senior military officer, who pointed out the intermediate warriors, the Eagle Warriors and Jaguar Warriors, who were positioned in the middle of the camp, lightly licked his lips and continued speaking.

“Sweet. “Anyway, it’s a perfect target.”

The eagle warriors and jaguar warriors covered their entire bodies in jumpsuit-like clothing with attached tops and bottoms. There were eagle warriors wearing clothes dyed in eye-catching primary colors and wearing wooden eagle heads or jaguar heads on their heads. Below the jaguar warriors were middle-level warriors wearing cueshtecatl.

Intermediate warriors were those who wore tlaiustli, a full-body uniform similar to that of eagle warriors or jaguar warriors, and a cone hat of the same color as the clothes they wore on their heads.

These mid-level warriors wore full quilted armor with a butterfly-shaped decoration on their backs, depending on the number of prisoners they had captured.

Thanks to this gorgeous outfit, the middle-level warriors and Eagle Jaguar warriors could be seen at a glance even among the low-level warriors wearing only quilted vests.

“But don’t you think the soldiers are spaced too widely apart?”

“I guess it’s because of their weapons. That stone-bladed club seems to be the main weapon, but if it looks like that, swinging it is all you need. Stab is impossible. In that case, we need to leave space like that to be able to fight properly.”

The senior officers could not hide their disappointment when they mentioned the macuahuitl, the main weapon of the Aztec warriors.

“Isn’t it true that the attack of the Bigyeokjincheonroe is a bit weak?”

“If it’s a sloppy quilted vest like that, a boxcar would help.”

* * *

While the empire’s junior and mid-level officers were observing those surrounding them, the high-ranking commanders near Admiral Ahn Sang-soo were observing those surrounding Montezuma I.

“If you look at the clothes they are wearing, it looks like the person sitting in that palanquin is a king or someone of quite high status.”

“I agree. Anyway, I’m a little worried about that unit. “I’m pretty sure it’s the Royal Guard or elite troops.”

The unit designated by high-ranking commanders was an elite unit of the Aztec Empire called Cuachique.

Anyone who captured five or more prisoners in battle could become an officer or an elite warrior called Kouachik.

And the unit in which these Kouachiks gathered was Kouachike.

Like the jaguar warrior and the eagle warrior, they wore green-dyed tlaiustli and shoppilli, decorations attached to their backs.

As a unit made up of elite warriors, Kuachike displayed fairly strict military discipline.

“Do you see it back there? “I see a sling and a bow.”

“The tool attached to the window is unusual. It probably increases the distance the spear flies. Looking at the slings, bows, and tools attached to that spear, there are also long-distance projectile weapons. “It’s clear that they are more familiar with large-scale battles than those we saw in Shinji.”

“Sling… When I was young, I played a part in the local stone war with that.”

The voices of the Imperial Army’s high-ranking commanders, who were conversing while observing the sling and bow atlatl (thrower), were quite carefree.

This was because they had a strong belief in it.

“Even so, it would only be a target in front of a freight car or long gun, Bigyeokjincheonroe.”

“I agree.”

Admiral Ahn Sang-soo smiled bitterly at the conversation coming from behind him.

‘Are they helpless soldiers? Rather than thinking about peaceful dialogue, I’m thinking about how to win in a fight…’

Admiral Ahn Sang-soo, who was smiling bitterly at the belligerent conversation heard around him, immediately shook his head.

‘It’s not a situation to curse at others. Because it’s the same for me too.’

As soon as he saw the soldiers led by Montezuma I, he guessed whether they could be dealt with with the ammunition he had now brought to the beachhead. That wasn’t all. As soon as I found Montezuma I, my first thought was the possibility of assassination.

‘If I shoot the author, I can immediately turn the situation around, right?’

* * *

It was the same for the Aztecs when it came to assessing the level of their opponents.

“What do you think?”

Tlacochicalcatl, who was standing next to the palanquin, answered Montezuma I’s question. Tlacochicalcatl, who wore a bizarre helmet modeled after the skull-shaped goddess Chichimitl, immediately responded to Montezuma I.

“If you give me the command, I will attack you immediately and kill you as a sacrifice.”

“I am worried that they are standing so proudly even though their troops are much smaller than ours.”

“It’s a bluff. Until now, there has been no enemy that has not fallen under the onslaught of our warriors. And even now, in Tenochtitlan, people are praying for our victory.”

In response to Tlacochicalcatl’s answer, Montezuma I looked around and muttered.

“And he wants to fight more than anyone else.”

Where the Aztec warriors were encamped, priests armed just like the warriors were glaring at the strangers.

Just like the Aztec warriors, the more prisoners they captured, the more their priests’ uniforms changed.

A capable priest who took more than six prisoners wore tlaeuistli dyed yellow or red and a coyote helmet on his head.

“Just give the Tlatoani command. “I will subdue them immediately.”

At Tlacochicalcatl’s urging, Montezuma I looked to other high-ranking officers – Tlacatecatl Huiznahuatl and Ticocahuacatl.

Seeing that they too had similar expressions, Montezuma I felt a headache.

Whenever the Aztecs went to war, it was customary for the emperor, Tlatoani, to personally go to his father’s palace. And it was Montezuma I who enthusiastically led foreign expeditions.

Thanks to this, the warriors thought that Montezuma’s movements were a war.

Warriors, who had the opportunity to rise to a higher rank by capturing prisoners on the battlefield, were still hoping for war.

‘If I hesitate here, the warriors will not be loyal. But…’

However, after seeing the dagger the last time, it was not easy for Montezuma I to decide on war.

‘There is nothing we can do about it…’

Montezuma I, who realized that he was being tricked, gave an order.

“Let’s try provocation first.”

“yes!”

* * *

“Woooo~!”

The Aztec warriors, who received orders through messengers, began to provoke the imperial army camped at the beachhead.

Starting with loud booing, the Aztec warriors provoked the imperial army with all kinds of swear words, curses, and sarcastic gestures.

But surprisingly, the effect was minimal.

“What are they doing?”

“Can’t you tell just by looking at it? “It’s a provocation.”

Although they could not understand what was being said, they were imperial soldiers who sensed that it was a provocation based on the way they were doing it. However, at the provocation of the Aztec warriors, the imperial soldiers, especially those from the home base, laughed or looked dumbfounded.

“Are you provoking me here? “Right now, I’m doing something that only happens at the local Seokjeon.”

For the imperial army, which had been worn down through previous battles with the Ming, provocation was a foolish act.

‘If you’re going to fight, you should fire shells and bullets at them as soon as you see them. Why are you doing something provocative? ‘It’s a waste of time.’

This was the mindset of the Imperial Army from here.

Rather, it was the imperial soldiers from Shinji who were upset. This was because they were accustomed to tribal battles, where provocations right before a battle were common.

“Oh my gosh, these damn things!”

“Hey, catch it! catch!”

“Where on earth did you learn this strange dialect?”

The soldiers from the main branch had to sweat hard to stop the soldiers from Shinji who tried to pull the trigger at any moment.

“What are you doing when there is no order? Do you want to take a pay cut? No, I won’t give you a pay cut, but rather a demotion!”

The soldiers from Shinji immediately came to their senses when they heard a shout from a nearby commander. For the soldiers from Shinji, who had become more loyal to capitalism than anyone else, pay cuts and demotions were something they hated more than death.

“Oh no! “I’m sorry!”

“Where on earth did you learn that dialect?”

* * *

Meanwhile, Montezuma I’s expression became more serious as he sat in the palanquin and watched the imperial army’s reaction.

There was a reaction to the warriors’ provocation. However, the reaction was smaller than expected and soon calmed down.

‘It means that not only upper-level warriors but also lower-level warriors do not get excited easily. ‘This is giving me a headache.’

Montezuma I knew well through his past experiences that the most dangerous enemy was one who was not easily excited and kept his cool.

“Hmm…”

Montezuma I, who confirmed once again that his opponent was not an easy one, looked at the high-ranking officers around him.

Montezuma I, seeing the serious expressions on the faces of his seasoned high-ranking officers, made up his mind.

“Prepare an escort. “I will meet you in person.”

“Tlatoani! “It’s dangerous!”

“It’s not possible!”

All the surrounding officers tried to stop him, but Montezuma I was adamant.

“I have to get out! Prepare an escort!”

Following a firm order from Montezuma I, the officers prepared a bodyguard.

After a while, the Aztec camp split to the left and right, and the palanquin carrying Montezuma I came forward.

The palanquin carrying Montezuma I, heavily guarded by Cuachique, slowly moved toward the bridgehead.

“Their leader is moving, so I guess I should go out too.”

“I will prepare an escort!”

Admiral Ahn Sang-soo, who saw Montezuma I’s movements, also left the bridgehead surrounded by guards.

Montezuma I and Admiral Ahn Sang-su faced each other in the middle ground.

Montezuma I got off the palanquin and introduced himself by raising his hand to his chest.

“I am Tlatoani Montezuma of the great Aztec.”

Admiral Ahn Sang-soo, who understood the meaning through gestures even though he could not speak words, also answered by placing his hand on his chest.

“Ahn Sang-su, Admiral of the Korean Federal Empire.”

‘Aztec Tlatoani Montezuma.’

‘Korean Federal Empire? Naval Admiral Ahn Sang-soo?’

As they faced each other in silence while analyzing the other person’s intentions, Admiral Ahn Sang-soo released the general’s sword he was wearing at his waist and held it out.

When Admiral Ahn Sang-soo held out his sword, Montezuma I ordered the warrior next to him to accept the sword.

Slurp.

“Hoo!”

Montezuma I, who pulled out his sword from its scabbard, exclaimed with admiration as he looked at the well-made general’s sword.

‘You handed over a weapon? And judging by the reactions so far, it doesn’t mean they’re going to fight. But you can’t just trust it.’

Montezuma I desperately thought.

‘In some ways, this is the middle of enemy territory. We must draw the enemy towards us. Then…’

Montezuma I raised his hand and pointed at himself and Admiral Ahn Sang-soo and then pointed in the direction of the capital.

“You and I are going to Tenochtlan together.”

Admiral Ahn Sang-soo, who saw Montezuma I’s gesture, nodded and answered.

“I will go with you.”

After reaching an agreement through gestures, both sides returned to their camps.

Admiral Ahn Sang-soo, who returned to the beachhead, gave orders to his subordinates.

“I move with them. Prepare the soldiers. “Contact the fleet and tell them to send troops to guard the beachhead.”

“yes!”