Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 818

818. Siege of Tenochtitlan (4)

The force under Akon, granted this final opportunity, numbered slightly over 80,000.

“Hoo~.”

Akon sighed, shaking his head as he surveyed the Mexica warriors arrayed before him.

“Is this all of them? How many are there in total?”

Akon’s subordinate answered, “A little over 80,000.”

“Hoo~.”

Akon sighed again at the answer.

The condition of the Mexica warriors was, to put it mildly, miserable.

The ranks of the Jaguar Warriors, Eagle Warriors, and the Cuachicqueh [shorn ones, an elite warrior society], considered the true elite, had thinned considerably.

The same was true for the lower-ranking warriors.

To compensate for the dwindling numbers, they had conscripted not only slaves but also boys from the Calmecac [priestly training school] and the Telpochcalli [warrior training school].

The problem lay in the morale of these hastily assembled warriors.

The boys, lacking combat experience and unfamiliar with the true horrors of the expeditionary forces, faced the coming battle with a mixture of excitement and trepidation.

However, the slaves and other warriors were utterly demoralized.

Not only the warriors who had barely survived previous battles but also the boys and slaves who had served in supply roles on the front lines were consumed by fear.

And it wasn’t just the survivors. Even seasoned warriors grew increasingly demoralized as they witnessed the reactions of those returning alive.

As Yi Jing-ok had intended, fear had taken root and spread among the defeated.

“Can we even mount a proper operation with these men?”

Akon shook his head, posing the question to himself.

“Impossible.”

Akon, having witnessed the pathetic state of his command, began to consider which operation offered the highest probability of success.

“Dividing the unit is out of the question. The moment we split them up, countless men will desert. We have to move as a single mass.”

Thanks to their conquest wars against neighboring countries, the Mexica warriors possessed knowledge of various tactics.

Night attacks, ambushes, flanking maneuvers, and so on.

They knew and could execute these tactics, but a crucial prerequisite was missing:

-Well-trained, experienced warriors with high morale.

Among those before him, the experienced warriors were demoralized, while the enthusiastic boys lacked experience.

Separating the demoralized veterans would only lead to mass desertion. Deploying inexperienced boys for night attacks or ambushes would likely result in them becoming overexcited and mistiming their actions.

“In the end, we have to stick together as one mass. Next, we need to consider where to fight… No, we have to anticipate where the enemy will come from first.”

After careful deliberation, Akon chose the southeastern area of Lake Texcoco.

This area was a peninsula jutting out towards Tenochtitlan.

Akon raised his hand, pointing to the area and explaining to his subordinates, “Those foreigners move around in vehicles pulled by strange beasts [horses]. The eastern and western sides of Lake Texcoco are crisscrossed by rivers, hindering their vehicles’ movement. But this place is dry land, free of such obstacles. Those allied with the foreigners will guide them here.”

“That’s true, but… considering their direction of approach, they might come from a slightly more easterly direction.”

“As I said, the rivers make it difficult for them to move there. However, this place is also dry land and the closest point to Tenochtitlan. Furthermore, a causeway connects it directly to the city.”

“Ah….”

As his subordinates nodded, Akon continued, “We will fight there with our backs to Tenochtitlan. And we will cut off the causeway.”

“Yes?”

Akon, noticing his subordinates’ surprise at this unexpected and drastic decision, pointed to the assembled warriors.

“Do you think these broken men can fight properly?”

“….”

“We can’t execute complex tactics with these undisciplined troops. It would be a relief if they were merely undisciplined. Most of them are only thinking about deserting at the first opportunity. That area is surrounded by the lake on three sides, leaving them nowhere to run. If we cut off the causeway just before the battle, their only chance of survival will be to fight and win.”

“….”

Akon’s subordinates remained silent, fully aware of the dire situation.

Those with high morale lacked combat skills, while those with combat skills were utterly demoralized.

In this situation, they had no choice but to resort to extreme measures to force them to fight.

“Then go back and prepare to move with those idiots.”

“Yes.”

Akon’s subordinates moved in groups of three or five towards the units they would command.

As they moved, one muttered quietly,

“We’ve become like prisoners in a gladiatorial match….”

Around the end of the dry season, a festival was held in front of the Great Temple. The most popular event was the gladiatorial contest.

Captured enemy officers competed against Mexica warriors. The enemy officers were given a Macuahuitl [a wooden club with obsidian blades] without blades, while the Mexica warriors wielded Macuahuitl with proper blades.

The armament was unequal, and it was a one-against-many format—although formally one-on-one, the prisoner had to face the Mexica warriors until death—so it usually ended with the enemy officer’s demise.

If a prisoner survived and emerged victorious, he could become an officer in the Mexica army.

Therefore, Akon’s subordinates likened their situation to a gladiatorial match.

The foreigners’ weapons were powerful and merciless. Compared to those weapons, their own were like Macuahuitl without blades.

In other words, they were in a desperate situation, like prisoners in a gladiatorial match, clinging to a single ray of hope.

* * *

Because of these circumstances, after crossing the lake and setting up camp, preventing desertion became paramount.

Several attempted deserters were caught and executed each day.

As this continued, the Mexica people grew increasingly weary.

“When are those foreigners coming?”

“It would be better to just fight.”

Just as the exhausted Mexica warriors were on the verge of giving up, the expeditionary forces and their tribal allies appeared.

The coalition forces, arriving in the afternoon, established their camp a considerable distance from the Mexica position.

“I don’t know who the enemy commander is, but he’s a cunning fellow. As expected….”

Akon observed the coalition forces’ encampment with a bitter smile, admiring their strategy.

They had positioned themselves at a distance, visible but too far to engage. Even if the Mexica warriors charged immediately, the coalition had secured enough time to prepare a defense.

“I don’t know who the enemy commander is, but he is skilled in war.”

However, some only grasped the basics, particularly those who hadn’t experienced the previous battle of Tenochtitlan. One of them voiced his opinion to Akon.

“Wouldn’t it be better to attack now? They must be tired from their long journey.”

“Do they look tired to you?”

At Akon’s question, the officer pointed to the coalition forces actively moving and constructing their encampment, his voice trailing off.

“But, generally….”

“They are not opponents to be judged by generalities.”

“Then, what about a night attack….”

“I forbid it. We lack the numbers and quality of warriors to execute a night attack. We must settle this with one, decisive battle.”

At Akon’s firm response, the Mexica warriors were forced to remain in their defensive positions.

* * *

Meanwhile, Yi Jing-ok, standing on a cart and observing the Mexica camp through a monocle, exclaimed softly.

“Hoo~. A last stand… The enemy commander is prepared for a desperate fight.”

A staff officer, observing the enemy camp beside Yi Jing-ok, spoke, “Shouldn’t we be wary of those prepared for a desperate fight?”

Yi Jing-ok replied with a wry smile, “Since they are going to rush at us desperately, we will have to crush them desperately. Don’t we have that capability?”

“That’s true.”

“However, we need to pay attention, as you said. Let’s rework the plan.”

“Yes.”

* * *

The next day, early in the morning, the coalition forces began their battle preparations.

First, the expeditionary forces ate a hearty meal. Then, they launched the airships [likely referring to some kind of lighter-than-air craft].

“Oh~ Oh oh~.”

As the airships carrying soldiers ascended, the indigenous members of the coalition watched with awe and admiration.

The indigenous leaders, equally impressed, shared the same thought.

‘They possess such mysterious things! Joining forces with them was a wise decision!’

‘They are beings with godlike abilities!’

‘If we harbor other intentions, we might face dire consequences!’

The leaders, witnessing the airships, mentally surrendered any rebellious thoughts.

Once the airships were in position, the coalition soldiers left their encampment and began to advance.

Thump thump thump thump.

To the rhythm of drums played by the coalition drummers, the soldiers marched forward.

“They’re coming….”

The Mexica warriors, witnessing the coalition’s advance, swallowed hard and gripped their Macuahuitl tighter.

However, their eyes were filled with despair.

It was because of the airships in the sky.

‘People are floating in the sky? Isn’t that only possible for gods?’

‘Do they possess the power of gods?’

‘Are we fighting against those with the power of gods?’

“Hoo~. Heup.”

Akon took a deep breath, analyzing the situation as he watched the advancing coalition warriors.

“Should we wait? Or should we strike? Judging by their formation, they don’t seem inclined to attack first?”

As Akon observed, the vanguard of the advancing coalition consisted of indigenous troops, with the expeditionary forces positioned behind them.

At Akon’s question, his subordinates offered their opinions.

“Wouldn’t it be better to wait?”

“How about scattering the warriors to the left and right and advancing? Even those young brats can manage that.”

“Hmm….”

“We must charge unconditionally. Given their weapons, remaining clustered like this is dangerous. We must close the distance as much as possible, especially considering that magical device floating in the sky. We might be defeated before the fighting even begins if we’re not careful.”

At those final words, Akon made his decision.

“That’s the key. Good! Charge! Break through the front lines and push forward!”

“Yes!”

Shortly after, a loud conch shell trumpet and drumbeat echoed from the Mexica camp. Simultaneously, the Mexica warriors roared and surged forward.

It was a desperate attempt to forcibly raise the morale that had plummeted at the sight of the airships.

Yi Jing-ok, seeing the signal from the airships, observed the enemy camp through his monocle and smiled.

“That’s right. You have to move like that.”

* * *

This is a map of Lake Texcoco.

The area protruding at the bottom 5 o’clock direction is where the battle took place.

Author’s words.

Hello?

This is Gukbbong, the writer of ‘Black Company Joseon.’

I am sorry to inform the readers who love ‘Black Company Joseon.’

I will be taking a day off tomorrow.

I am scheduled to hear the results of my mother’s additional examination and biopsy tomorrow.

I can only hope that the biopsy results come out well.

I cannot hide my apologetic heart for taking a break.

Please continue to love ‘Black Company Joseon’ in the future.

I will do my best.

Gukbbong Dream.