As even the priests fell dead, no more Aztec warriors dared to step forward.

While the Imperial weapons played a role in stopping the Aztec warriors’ charge, fear was the greatest factor.

From the Aztec expansion period through the subsequent “Flower Wars” and various other conflicts, death was not unfamiliar to Aztec warriors.

But in battle with these foreigners, Aztec warriors experienced for the first time what could be called a “dog’s death.”

The sight of fellow warriors dying miserably without even getting to fight properly threw the Aztec warriors into terror.

The gunpowder weapons used by the Joseon forces were objects of fear.

The battlefield was originally a place overflowing with all kinds of noise.

Shouts to maintain fighting spirit and morale, the death cries of fatally wounded enemies, the noise of weapons clashing against each other—the battlefield was a place overflowing with noise to the point of deafening one’s ears.

As a result, after a battle, even Jaguar Warriors and Eagle Warriors would become hoarse.

But these things the foreigners used—whether weapons or sorcery—instantly buried all the usual battlefield noise.

Particularly terrifying were the flames, smoke, and explosive sounds produced by the objects they launched with thunderous noise.

When those human-head-sized objects instantly created bright flashes, smoke, and explosive sounds, nearby warriors fell covered in blood.

When those objects transformed into light and smoke, shields were useless. Some warriors tried to shield themselves, but the smoke created by the objects seemed to penetrate right through their shields.

That wasn’t all. Each time those strange tools held by the foreigners sitting in those never-before-seen vehicles pulled by large beasts spat bright flames and thin smoke, Aztec warriors helplessly collapsed.

Eventually, the Aztec warriors pressuring the Imperial main force had to stop, calling upon their gods.

“Oh~, Huitzilopochtli~.”

Calling upon the name of Huitzilopochtli, the god of war and sun who had risen to the position of chief deity after the religious reform, was the only action the Aztec warriors could take.

They believed that only he, the god of war and sun, could overwhelm these foreigners.

***

Meanwhile, as the attacks from Aztec warriors coming from outside subsided, the Imperial main force could focus on securing the causeway.

“Send two platoons (about 50 men) forward to secure the path!”

“Yes, sir!”

At Manho Park’s command, two platoons of riflemen ran forward along the causeway.

Seeing Admiral Ahn’s party escaping from Tenochtitlan along the causeway and Aztec warriors approaching across the lake to capture them, Manho Park hurriedly issued new orders.

“Intercept those small boats!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Don’t spare the explosive shells!”

“Yes, sir!”

The Imperial soldiers who received the orders fired explosive shells at the approaching Aztec warriors in canoes.

The Imperial Navy had become masters of explosive shells through encounters with pirates along the route to Suez and in the previous war against Ming naval forces.

The sailors, gauging the distance between the approaching Aztec warriors across the lake and their own forces, skillfully adjusted the timing devices of the explosive shells before loading them into the launchers.

“Fire!”

“Fire!”

Bang! Pop-pop!

The explosive shells fired by the sailors exploded just above or just below the surface of the lake.

Canoes caught in the water columns created by the explosions either soared into the sky before falling back into the lake or capsized immediately.

Then, the mounted firearms on the wagons began concentrated fire on the canoes.

Rat-tat-tat-tat!

***

Under such continuous attacks from explosive shells and mounted firearms, the Aztec warriors in canoes showed the same behavior as those who had attacked the main force.

They either stopped their canoes in place without approaching further or turned around and fled.

Having rejoined the main force and witnessed this, Admiral Ahn Sang-su gently shook his head.

“The scene inside and outside the city is quite different.”

The natives who fought them in their city had charged persistently as if they had forgotten fear.

After thinking for a moment, the admiral soon thought he understood why.

“I suppose it’s because they’re the ones protecting their ruler?”

This was a slightly inadequate but correct answer.

The Aztec warriors who charged at the Imperial forces in the streets of Tenochtitlan were mainly the Cuachicqueh, a unit composed of warriors called Cuachic.

Even those who weren’t Cuachicqueh were either Jaguar Warriors, warriors on the verge of becoming Jaguar Warriors, or at least those who had captured two or more prisoners and earned the right to wear the cuextecatl.

Because they were such warriors, they persistently charged at the Imperial forces led by Admiral Ahn.

Additionally, the fact that they were fighting in the streets of Tenochtitlan was another reason.

Moving through alleys splitting in all directions, the warriors’ field of vision was significantly narrowed.

They couldn’t see how the warriors ahead of them died at the hands of the Imperial forces.

They simply followed their commanders’ orders, turned a corner, and there were the Imperial forces to charge at—that was all.

In contrast, those fighting on the lake and the open ground across the lake could clearly see with their own eyes how their comrades were dying, and their morale hit rock bottom.

Most importantly, Admiral Ahn’s party didn’t have explosive shells, while the main force did.

The thing most feared by those who had fought against Joseon forces and subsequently Imperial forces was the explosive shell.

Many countries, including Portugal and the Ottoman Empire, had seen its outstanding power and created similar weapons, but hardly any matched the power of the explosive shell.

This difference was due to whether they used the smokeless powder created by Hyang.

***

After rejoining the main force, Admiral Ahn ordered his subordinate commanders:

“Leave this place as quickly as possible!”

“Yes, sir!”

Following Admiral Ahn’s orders, officers moved busily. They recovered the deployed launchers and hung them on the wagons, then loaded the wounded onto the wagons.

“What should we do with those natives?”

Manho Park asked Admiral Ahn about handling the natives who had escaped with them.

At Manho Park’s question, Admiral Ahn looked at the native prisoners.

The native prisoners, holding macuahuitls in one hand, were looking at Admiral Ahn and the Imperial forces with eyes mixed with relief and anxiety.

It was a mixture of relief at escaping the fate of becoming human sacrifices and anxiety that if the Imperial forces abandoned them, they would become sacrifices again.

As if understanding the hearts of these native prisoners, Admiral Ahn ordered Manho Park:

“For now, the urgent priority is to leave this place and reach a safe zone. Dealing with them comes after that.”

“Yes, sir.”

Having heard Admiral Ahn’s order, Manho Park called a subordinate officer and relayed the admiral’s command.

The order, passed down through the chain of command, finally reached Moegsoe.

“Tell those guys to follow us.”

At the order from his squad leader commanding his squad of five, Moegsoe asked with a voice full of discontent:

“Why me, of all people?”

“You really need to ask?”

The squad leader pointed to the native prisoners clustered around Moegsoe and explained the reason.

“Look, even now they’re following you around like puppies. You should take charge of them. Any objections?”

“…No, sir.”

“Where did you learn that dialect? Anyway, from now on, you’re in charge of those guys. Until when? Until further orders come down. Good luck.”

As the squad leader left to check on other soldiers after finishing his business, Moegsoe immediately spat out a curse:

“Damn it!”

As soon as Moegsoe’s curse came out, one of the natives in front approached him.

“What? Damn it! Follow me! We’re going together!”

At Moegsoe’s gestures, the native prisoners followed behind him with expressions of relief.

***

The Imperial forces led by Admiral Ahn retraced their steps and left Tenochtitlan.

From two days after leaving Tenochtitlan, the pursuit by Aztec warriors continued.

However, after Aztec warriors who caught up with the Imperial forces were annihilated twice, the Aztec warriors began to use their heads.

They continued their pursuit while maintaining just enough distance not to lose sight of the Imperial forces.

“What do you think they’re planning?”

To the subordinate officers’ question, Admiral Ahn answered while looking at the distant mountains and jungle:

“They’re probably planning to catch us in those mountains and jungle. They know how much trouble we had coming this far. And they’re familiar with that area.”

“We’ll need to be extremely vigilant.”

“What we’ve experienced so far will probably seem mild in comparison.”

“Understood.”

“Also, send the natives away.”

“Understood.”

And Admiral Ahn’s order was again passed down through channels to Moegsoe.

“…Understood.”

Having received the order, Moegsoe walked over to the natives huddled together on one side.

“Hey, damn it!”

At Moegsoe’s call, one native ran to him.

***

During the process of leaving Tenochtitlan, Moegsoe and his nearby comrades became aware of one fact.

The native who had rushed out first when Moegsoe opened the pen, and who had later saved Moegsoe’s life, had a misunderstanding.

He thought ‘Damn it!’—especially when pronounced with strong emphasis—was his name.

“Moegsoe, when that native eventually learns the Imperial language, you’ll have to hide from him for your life.”

At his comrades’ jokes, Moegsoe sighed and cursed.

“Sigh~. Fuck…”

“What if you end up with another friend who thinks ‘Fuck’ is his name?”

“Curse me! Just curse me!”

***

Whatever the reason, Moegsoe explained the situation to ‘Damn It’ who had run to him, using a mix of gestures.

“We! Are now going to cross those mountains and return! So! You all should return to your homes too!”

At Moegsoe’s words mixed with gestures, ‘Damn It’ nodded and returned to his fellow natives.

“They seem to be saying they’re crossing those mountains. So they’re telling us to leave.”

“Great Warrior, are we finally returning to our tribe?”

“I suppose so. Tell the others from different tribes too.”

At ‘Damn It’s order, his subordinate warriors relayed the message to prisoners from other tribes who had come with them. Though they had to struggle a bit because each tribe used slightly different languages, once the natives understood the content, they soon prepared to move.

Seeing the natives’ movement, ‘Damn It’ ordered a subordinate warrior:

“You return to the tribe, talk about the foreigners, and convey my words: ‘Hide and endure a little longer. Soon, an opportunity for revenge against the Aztecs will come.'”

“Aren’t you returning, Great Warrior?”

To the subordinate warrior’s question, ‘Damn It’ answered while looking at where the Imperial forces were gathered:

“I will learn the power to defeat the Aztecs from them.”

“Great Warrior! I will go with you too!”

“You must go and inform the chief.”

“Someone else can be sent.”

As ‘Damn It’ and his subordinate warrior argued, other natives approached to see what was happening. After learning the situation, natives from other tribes also discussed and divided their people.

Once the situation was settled, ‘Damn It’ approached Moegsoe and said, mixing in gestures:

“Damn It! Go together!”