After confirming the flag signals from the beachhead, additional sailors from the fleet came ashore.
While one group of soldiers stood guard, the soldiers at the beachhead busily loaded cargo onto wagons.
“Water and food in the middle of the wagons!”
“Secure the mounted firearm supports firmly to the wagons!”
“Keep ammunition canisters near the mounted firearms so they can be used at any time!”
“Don’t load all the gunpowder for the launchers in one place! If that explodes, the launchers will be nothing but scrap metal! No, you’ll all be dead too!”
The commanders were most concerned about loading the mounted firearms onto the wagons and the gunpowder for firing the explosive shells.
They were entering dangerous territory where anything could happen. The slightest mistake could instantly turn dangerous ground into deadly ground.
If trouble erupted, they would need to use the wagons as shields to escape. The mounted firearms would play the most crucial role in such a scenario. That’s why the commanders carefully designated positions, contemplating where best to secure the firearm supports on the wagons.
Of course, there were manuals for this, but variables existed depending on time and place. This is what the officers were contemplating.
The same applied to the gunpowder for launchers. If they loaded it onto a single wagon for convenience and it was washed away by water or caught fire, the launchers would become useless.
Actually, being washed away would be fortunate. If the gunpowder were gathered in one place and struck by a fire arrow or caught fire, hell would break loose.
For these reasons, the commanders meticulously managed the loading of cargo onto the wagons.
Montezuma I and his senior commanders, having returned to their main camp, watched the Imperial army’s movements with eyes full of curiosity.
What captured their attention were the draft horses pulling the wagons and the wagons themselves.
“To think such large beasts exist…”
***
The draft horses first imported by Hyang had grown larger and gained better endurance through continuous breeding improvements.
The hardships faced by the stable managers and breeders to achieve this result had been tremendous.
The situation had been so dire that there was a saying: “No matter how large and strong a horse you import, they only produce smaller offspring.”
To solve this problem, stable managers and breeders intensively raised horses on the Gaema Plateau and the plains of the northeastern region. Furthermore, they tracked down and hired many Jurchen people, who were rumored to be skilled in raising horses.
As a result of these efforts, the draft and war horses brought to Joseon began to gain fame as excellent steeds.
***
“Indeed, traveling would be convenient using such beasts and tools.”
Montezuma I nodded at his subordinate’s words.
Paradoxically, the Aztec Empire and nearby regions had no wagons. In fact, the wheel itself did not exist.
Goods were transported entirely by people carrying them.
Therefore, not only Montezuma I but all the Aztecs present couldn’t take their eyes off the wagons.
What followed was desire.
“I want to take those…”
“How could we seize them?”
Unaware of the Aztecs’ covetous gazes, the Imperial army made thorough preparations. Once preparations were complete, Admiral Ahn Sang-su, mounted on horseback, took position at the head of the troops.
Seeing the Empire’s preparations finished, Montezuma I issued an order.
“Return to Tenochtitlan.”
***
The warriors led by Montezuma I and Admiral Ahn Sang-su’s troops arrived at Tenochtitlan nearly 20 days after departing from the beachhead.
“Further than expected…”
With a considerably tired expression, Admiral Ahn Sang-su traced back the journey to reach this point and his expression became troubled.
“If things go wrong and we have to retreat, it’ll be quite arduous.”
Passing through the jungle bordering the coast had been relatively easy. It was thanks to many people moving together and forging a path.
The problem was the mountain range they encountered after leaving the jungle.
They lost a significant amount of time traversing the mountain range that, in history before Hyang’s intervention, was called the “Sierra Madre Oriental.”
What consumed this time were the wagons the Imperial army brought along. Even with strong draft horses pulling them, the rough and narrow paths themselves were time-consuming obstacles.
Consequently, only after a desperate struggle, with Imperial soldiers also pushing and pulling the wagons, were they able to cross the mountain range.
Through this ordeal, the Imperial commanders began to view the Aztecs with fresh eyes.
Greeting the Imperial army after crossing the jungle was a massive Aztec supply unit.
Seeing the enormous scale, which appeared to be several times larger than the combat unit traveling with them, Admiral Ahn Sang-su and his commanders opened their notebooks.
- Proper supply system exists.
- However, no wagons observed.
As time passed, the Imperial army gave the Aztec army’s system, especially their supply chain, a deduction in their assessment.
This was because ‘wagons did not exist.’
Aztec supply soldiers walked with baskets full of supplies, the straps around their foreheads, holding them with both hands.
Seeing this, the Imperial commanders and soldiers all clicked their tongues.
“Tsk! They can’t carry much that way!”
“Tsk tsk! Don’t they even have A-frame carriers?”
“Not only no wagons but not even A-frame carriers…”
However, these low evaluations changed once they entered the mountains.
The Aztecs, who had their hands free by using straps to hang baskets from their heads, could move easily even on steep slopes. In contrast, the Imperial army had to unite horses and men to move wagons when encountering steep inclines.
Going through this struggle, the Imperial commanders opened their notebooks again.
- Large quantities of A-frame carriers needed for smooth supply.
***
Admiral Ahn Sang-su, worried about potential situations while retracing the path they had taken, turned to his subordinate officers.
“Did you survey properly?”
“Yes, sir.”
As they struggled through the jungle and mountain range, the Imperial officers had been busy.
On one hand, they had to command soldiers wrestling with the wagons, and on the other, they used compasses and surveying tools to record their route and surroundings.
This was due to Admiral Ahn Sang-su’s orders.
“All commanders shall record geographic information about the route we’ve traversed.”
“All commanders, sir?”
“All of them. If things go wrong and we need to escape, the more people who know the way, the better for survival.”
Following Admiral Ahn Sang-su’s decision, the commanders recorded geographic information and established their own landmarks to document.
Of course, some officers looked distressed.
“Oh no, I was terrible at mapmaking and map reading…”
“Are you really in the navy? The most important thing for survival in the middle of the sea is knowing your position, isn’t it? You can’t do that?”
If there was any fortune, it was that they were all from the Imperial Navy.
Determining one’s position was a basic skill for Imperial Navy officers to survive at sea, where landmarks didn’t exist.
Thanks to this, the commanders methodically collected information about their route in response to the admiral’s orders.
***
Seeing Tenochtitlan drawing closer, Admiral Ahn Sang-su lightly clicked his tongue.
“Tsk! Its defensive capabilities must be unmatched.”
Tenochtitlan was built on an island in the middle of a vast lake.
To enter Tenochtitlan, one had to use causeways and bridges. Most passages were barely wide enough for a single wagon to pass.
“Hmm…”
Watching the Aztec warriors and Montezuma I entering first, Admiral Ahn Sang-su pondered deeply.
‘If we divide our forces, we might be defeated separately, but if we all enter at once and the passage is cut off, we’ll be like rats trapped in a cage.’
After contemplating the optimal approach, Admiral Ahn Sang-su made his decision.
‘We’ll divide our forces!’
***
According to his decision, Admiral Ahn Sang-su divided his troops.
He organized a cavalry unit with 10 mounted officers, and 5 wagons mounted with firearms along with 2 companies (250 men) would accompany the admiral.
“The remaining forces shall form a circular fortification using the wagons and maintain utmost vigilance.”
“Yes, sir!”
After giving orders to his subordinates who remained behind, Admiral Ahn Sang-su rode toward Tenochtitlan.
***
Guided by a warrior waiting for them at Tenochtitlan’s gate, the admiral’s party finally entered the city.
Seated on horseback, Admiral Ahn Sang-su carefully observed his surroundings.
‘The city is well-organized.’
Not only the admiral but also the accompanying officers and soldiers surveyed their surroundings with faces mixing tension and curiosity.
Meanwhile, the Aztecs residing in Tenochtitlan also crowded the streets, observing these unfamiliar foreigners with eyes mixing wariness and curiosity.
As they observed each other, the admiral’s party arrived at the city center.
“Wow…”
Seeing the massive pyramids situated in the city center, Admiral Ahn Sang-su unconsciously let out an exclamation.
“Similar to the pyramids I saw when I visited Alexandria before.”
Passing by the pyramids housing temples, Ahn Sang-su’s party arrived at Montezuma I’s palace and entered with a small escort of guards.
“There might be an ambush. Pay special attention.”
“Yes, sir.”
The guards, responding briefly to their commanding officer’s orders, moved while scanning their surroundings.
***
A banquet was being prepared in the great hall of Montezuma I’s palace.
Seeing Admiral Ahn Sang-su’s party enter the banquet hall, Montezuma I gestured for them to take their seats.
While Ahn Sang-su’s party settled into their places, Aztec nobles and priests also entered the banquet hall.
As people filled the hall, food was soon brought in.
It was the beginning of a tragedy.
***
“Gasp!”
Admiral Ahn Sang-su, seeing the food brought by attendants, jumped up from his seat in horror. He wasn’t alone. All the Imperial people who had come with Admiral Ahn quickly rose from their seats in shock.
The meat accompanying large tortillas was clearly human. No, on the large platter, a human arm had been placed whole.
“What damned creatures are these! How can they wear human faces and commit such atrocities!”
Enraged, Admiral Ahn Sang-su glared at Montezuma I and shouted.
“Have you ever seen such disrespectful people!”
On the opposite side, Montezuma I was equally furious.
It was extremely rude to become angry when offered sacrificial meat after a religious ceremony.
“Subdue those disrespectful ones! They will be used as offerings to the gods!”
At Montezuma I’s shout, Aztec warriors rushing in immediately charged toward Admiral Ahn’s party.
In that instant, the guards drew their pistols from their waists and pulled the triggers simultaneously.
Bang! Rat-tat! Bang!
With loud gunshots, the Aztec warriors at the front fell.
“Escape!”
“Protect the admiral!”
The guards who had surrounded Admiral Ahn Sang-su ran through the corridors of Montezuma I’s palace.
“Enemy!”
Bang! Rat-tat!
“Reload!”
The guards skillfully reloaded their empty pistols while running.
“Gunfire!”
Meanwhile, outside, Imperial soldiers who heard the gunshots began preparing for battle.