Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 817

Episode 817: Siege of Tenochtitlan (3)

Starting with Tlaxcaltec, the size of the conquering army grew frighteningly with the addition of indigenous people who had a grudge against Mesica.

“What is the approximate size so far?”

“About 60,000 people including the natives and the conquering army.”

“When we arrived at the beachhead, there were about 30,000 people, right? And when we broke through the jungle and set off again, it was about 20,000?”

“That’s right. “About 40,000 new people have joined.”

“It’s good that he’s gotten bigger…”

Lee Jing-ok couldn’t hide his worry as he stroked his thick beard.

“I don’t have to worry about supply, but everything else is a problem…”

A strong group called Tlaxcaltec joined, and the tribes that joined after them were also large tribes, so supply wasn’t a big problem.

This was because most of the tribes joining the conquest army brought their own food and weapons, so they had less to worry about the most problematic areas: food and armament.

* * *

The indigenous warriors who joined in this way paid attention to the logging swords used by the warriors of the defective tribes who joined the conquering army first.

This was because it was a much stronger blade than the macuahuitl they used.

Most wooden shields lose half when swung once, and swinging at a person produces similar results.

The macuahuitl they used could have produced similar results if it were not a shield. However, there was a difference in the input force. The logging sword was able to create deeper wounds with less force than the macuahuitl.

The leadership of the conquering army, who knew well that the indigenous people were very fond of the logging island through the case of the defector tribe that joined first, used this logging island as a political tool.

The logging sword was given to the commanders and tribal leaders of the newly joined indigenous tribe warriors, starting with the Tlaxcaltec.

Those who received a new, sharpened logging sword that no one had used yet and a leather scabbard with a beautiful pattern engraved on it – of course, by searching for dexterous soldiers – expressed their gratitude with big smiles.

What is interesting is that the logging sword gifted by the conquering army became a symbol of authority.

This was thanks to the fact that the logging sword was not just handed over casually, but was handed over with great courtesy and a carefully crafted scabbard.

The commanders who received the logging sword showed off themselves by holding up the logging sword to their subordinates, and the leaders also acted similarly.

“purple! “Those strangers offered this to me as a sign of respect!”

* * *

The biggest problem faced by the suddenly large conquering army was identification of enemies and confusion in the command system.

Among the Mesica warriors, those who took prisoners wore the Cueshtecatl, a colorful full-body uniform dyed red, yellow, blue, or green.

And as they accumulated more merit, they became jaguar warriors or eagle warriors, and as they became officers or kuachikes, they wore more ornate decorations on their backs.

However, the warriors who had not yet achieved any feats wore only white quilted vests and short cape underwear.

When I first fought the Messika warriors, this wasn’t a big problem.

Most of the warriors of the tribe to which the defectors belonged were barefoot in their underwear, and the conquering army solved the problem of identification by providing them with military uniforms that had been stored in supplies.

However, this became impossible as indigenous people joined in large numbers.

Tlaxcaltec warriors, like the lower-class warriors of Mesica, wore only white quilted vests and short cape undergarments. The only difference was the headband and headdress worn around the head.

“If they were just one-on-one, the headgear would be enough to distinguish them, but the problem is that now we have multiple forces mixed together. “It is impossible to tell whether the group targeted by the fire wagon or artillery is friendly or enemy.”

The commanders all nodded at Lee Jing-ok’s point. Lee Jing-ok stroked his beard and continued speaking.

“Delivering orders is also a problem. “We have taken command, but we can’t communicate, so we can’t hold on to it.”

This language issue had been a concern since the first conquest plan was made.

But there was only one answer.

-Actively utilize defectors and their tribes.

The decision was made based on the fact that although the tribes of the defectors were all different, they could communicate to some extent.

-When the commanding officer of the conquering army issues an order, the defectors interpret and deliver it.

-If the number of allied tribes increases, the defectors will only serve as interpreters, and the warriors of the defected tribe will serve as messengers.

This was the initial plan. However, the number of indigenous people who actually joined the conquering army far exceeded expectations.

As the scale grew larger than expected, the language problem also became more serious.

Although it was based on the same Nahuatl language, each tribe spoke differently. Of course, since the basis was the same, it wasn’t that we couldn’t communicate at all. However, it was impossible to understand the exact meaning correctly and quickly.

If we made a mistake, we could have achieved a surprising victory rather than an easy victory in a situation where we had superiority in numbers and firepower, or even a draw, or even a defeat.

“Of course there is no draw in war. However, it is unacceptable to engage in a longer-term war than necessary. “Let’s think of an answer.”

The staff and commanders racked their brains and pondered over Lee Jing-ok’s order.

“It’s useless to try to be pretentious…”

“The same goes for armbands. “It may be noticeable in a close combat, but it is impossible to detect in a long-distance artillery battle.”

“Still, I need an armband. “Because you can’t avoid hand-to-hand combat at all.”

While various words were being exchanged, Kim Soo-jik, one of the staff members, came forward.

“How about having a little one?”

“Kid?”

Since ancient times, it has been used as a means of identifying enemies and confirming rank by attaching it to the helmets of soldiers or military officers.

This continued in the Imperial Army, and the Imperial Army’s helmets and uniforms and the Imperial Navy’s uniforms also had a little squirrel on them. However, as gunpowder weapons became more common, the pins attached to helmets became small and simple black thread decorations. However, the little ones wearing military and formal hats were at the peak of their splendor.

“It’s okay… it’s okay, but…”

While many commanders, including Lee Jing-ok, were shaking their heads, there were also those who raised objections.

“It’s a good method, but it’s hard to recognize it from a distance, even for little ones. And getting feathers for the little ones is not an easy task. Look at the indigenous people out there. “There are many tribes who only wear headbands because they do not have headdresses made of feathers.”

“Of course there would be a problem with feathers. So I thought of something else.”

Kim Soo-jik explained the little girl he was thinking of.

-Take light and elastic tree branches and roll them into a ring shape, then attach a sack. The size of the ring is about the size of a human head.

-Wrap fabric around round tree branches and dye them.

-Aboriginal people attach the dyed hair like this to the back of their hair ties.

“… they dye their hair with dyes that are easily available here and then divide the natives into groups based on this color. Because of the large size of the little one, it is possible to identify it from a distance, especially in the case of monks. “If a monk can make a clear decision, conducting becomes easier.”

After hearing Kim Soo-jik’s explanation, the commanders all shouted in one voice.

“This is the best answer!”

In this way, the indigenous warriors who joined the conquering army came to wear large pins on the back of their heads.

* * *

The conquering army headquarters divided the joined natives into four groups.

The largest number, 10,000 Tlaxcaltec warriors, was divided into two groups of 5,000 each, and the other tribes were gathered into two groups.

And each of the four groups thus divided wore a pin dyed in green, red, yellow, and blue.

“It’s definitely visible at a glance!”

The conquering army, which organized the natives, trained them to move to the sound of drums.

Based on the drum sound signals used by the Tlaxcaltec warriors, which can be said to be the core of the indigenous forces, the conquering army created four signals.

Forward, retreat, turn left, advance, turn right, advance.

“If you just listen to this properly and move, you won’t have any trouble.”

As Lee Jing-ok said, the indigenous warriors soon became accustomed to the sound of drums.

As the native warriors began to move in unison to the sound of the drums, Lee Jing-ok summoned his subordinate commanders again.

“Now let’s go to George.”

“Yes General!”

* * *

Ten days later, the combined forces of the conquering army and the natives arrived in Tenochtitlan.

“I was waiting for you as expected.”

Lee Jing-ok, who was on a horse and looking ahead with a telescope, muttered in a calm voice.

To defend Tenochtitlan, located within Lake Texcoco, numerous Mesican warriors lined up and waited for the conquering army.

Lee Jing-ok, who confirmed the Messika warriors who had lined up and prepared for battle, gave orders to his subordinates.

“Today is not a good day for fighting. It was already very late and the soldiers were exhausted. “We are still far from the enemy’s stronghold, so we camp here today.”

“All right.”

“Oh, there will definitely be a night raid. “Make sure you prepare properly for that as well.”

“Yes general.”

According to Lee Jing-ok’s orders, the Allied forces built a camp in preparation for a night attack.

After pitching a tent and eating dinner, the Allied forces divided their forces and took turns resting and guarding.

However, the night attack that everyone expected did not occur.

Even the Messika warriors were not in a position to conduct a night attack.

* * *

Akon, who escaped through the crossfire of the conquering army with all his might, returned to Tenochtitlan with all his might.

When he got hungry, Akon raided nearby villages to fill his stomach and returned to report his defeat to Montezuma and other leaders.

“lost?”

“I lost! “The operation was good, but…”

Akon desperately made an excuse to save his own life.

“The greatest responsibility for the defeat lies with Atrukut! “He misled his command and was unable to give our troops a chance to attack!”

Archon desperately made an excuse, shifting the blame to Atrkut, who was obviously dead since he had not yet arrived.

“The operation was definitely good….”

“That’s right.”

Perhaps the Archon’s excuses worked, but Montezuma, the other nobles, and the priests did not hold the Archon accountable any further.

“Then what should I do next?”

Acon immediately answered Montezuma’s question.

“It’s a negotiation.”

“Negotiation?”

“yes. The weapons the foreigners have are more powerful than ours. This must be acknowledged. But they have to come a long way to get here. The long game will be difficult. Just once! “You just have to win once and then you negotiate!”

Montezuma accepted Archon’s opinion and prepared for the final battle.

And Akon was again appointed as the commander to lead the battle.

“I will give you one last chance.”

Acorn gritted his teeth and responded to Montezuma’s warning.

“I will do my best!”

‘Defeat is death!’

Whether the heart was taken out as a sacrifice or lost to the conquering army, the price of defeat was death.