Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!

Chapter 2180 - 1574: The Holy War Veterans Corps at the Pinnacle of Europe, Line-Wedge-Axe!_2

Under the Royal Family’s direct regiments, there were then some thirty territorially endowed local Dukes and Marquises of the Great Nobility, such as Duke Alva, Marquis Beja, Duke of Medina-Sidonia, Duke of Benial... They in turn summoned the lesser Nnobility under their banners, altogether able to raise roughly forty thousand private noble troops of mixed infantry and cavalry.In addition, the city militias responsible for garrisoning the cities of each Kingdom numbered about ten to twenty thousand. Finally, one must add another five thousand or so militia forces of the Congregations, subordinate to various large and small Military Orders.

That is to say, in the year 1495, three years after the end of the Holy War, the Kingdom of Castile, even without mobilizing its strong men, still maintained an army of over seventy thousand, of which at least ten thousand were light and heavy cavalry! And the Kingdom of Castile itself had only about six million people. Aside from agriculture and pastoralism, the Kingdom had virtually no valuable industries; its only coastal commercial trade was controlled by creditors from the Italian City States. It was truly a case of militarism in poverty, ferocity bred by destitution!

"May the Almighty protect us! This is the Kingdom of Castile, the Almighty’s sharpest sword, the ’Sword of Christ’!"

At Deputy Commander Antonio’s side, Brother Ramon watched the Holy War Veterans Corps rapidly form up, praying aloud with emotion and admiration. He knew that in the Holy War of the past ten years, whenever these Holy War Army units shouted their slogans, it meant a merciless charge and slaughter against the heathen. And these devout Holy War Army soldiers, unlike the Shenluo Mercenaries who worshiped Gold, would never lay hands upon "the Lord’s servants," upon the Catholic Church. Unless... it was the Queen’s command...

With that thought, Brother Ramon lowered his gaze, his face still bearing joy, while a trace of gloom flickered in his heart. On the flagship, however, the Columbus brothers and Mercenary Captain Reinhardt could not smile at all. They stared wide-eyed together, watching this chilling deployment ritual. A moment later, Columbus licked his dry lips and looked at the pale-faced Reinhardt.

"Brother Reinhardt! Aren’t your Shenluo Mercenaries supposed to be formidable fighters? If you led your men against these regiments... how many could you hold off?"

"..."

The tall Reinhardt was silent for a moment, then replied in a hoarse, low voice.

"May the Almighty protect us! If the cavalry of our mercenary brigade were still here, even if we couldn’t defeat these veteran regiments, we could at least cover everyone’s retreat..."

"Damn it! I’m asking you! If Antonio sends these veteran regiments to arrest me, can you protect me?!"

"..."

Seeing Columbus so uneasy that he was almost irritable, Reinhardt clenched his teeth and slowly raised two fingers.

"?! You can hold off two veteran regiments? With just your one hundred and eighty mercenaries?"

"No! I’m saying, give me twice that number, and I might hold them off!"

"...Merda! You can only hold off one regiment? You can’t protect me at all?!..."

"..."

The flagship fell silent for a moment. Columbus’s eyes were bloodshot, like a stubborn mule finally becoming aware of its own predicament, yet his voice involuntarily grew softer. Only when he realized how dangerous his situation was did this "Great Navigator" begin to recover his composure. Bartolomeo once again placed a hand on his elder brother’s shoulder, shook his head, and spoke in a low, steady tone to calm him.

"Brother! You have the Queen’s Royal Decree; you are the fleet’s Commander. These veteran regiments are stirred by the slogans of Holy War... They are not all Antonio’s men, and they are not beyond being won over! As long as the Queen still trusts you, Antonio won’t dare truly strike you down. He holds the advantage; he has no need to take such a risk."

"Do not panic; panic leads to mistakes! Trust me, I will help you! I will help you cultivate good relations with these noble Company Captains!"

"As for right now... look at that Royal Knight coming over. It seems he brought some secret letter aboard Antonio’s ship?..."

Hearing his younger brother’s reassurance, Columbus drew a deep breath, his expression gradually steadying. Then he narrowed his eyes and looked toward the nearby harbor. There he saw Royal Knight Alvaro swing down from his horse, hand his standard to Sergeant Major Pedro, and loudly praise the "Almighty." After that, he headed straight for the Large Ship where Deputy Commander Antonio was, climbing nimbly up the hanging rope ladder to the deck.

"May the Almighty protect you! Alvaro!"

"Thank you for your blessing, Reverend Father Ramon!"

Brother Ramon traced a Cross and greeted Alvaro. Seeing Alvaro’s polite smile, he immediately understood. Smiling, he bowed to Antonio in farewell, then turned to the solemn, silent Church Knight behind him, Thomas de Montejo, and spoke gently.

"It is nearly time for evening prayer. Let us go, Thomas!"

Thomas nodded in silence, eyes straight ahead, and followed Brother Ramon away, returning to the Church’s Clark Galleon, the "Saint Bartholomew."

This ship’s name came from the Angel Envoy Saint Bartholomew; legend held that he journeyed far to India and was a symbol of "Missionaries and wayfarers." The warhorses that occasionally whinnied aboard the Church’s sailing ship represented the fleet’s rarest yet fiercest Force: the Church Knights who charged in plate armor!

"All right. Alvaro, what important news have you brought?"

Only after Brother Ramon disembarked did Deputy Commander Antonio let his smile fade, turning a grave look upon Royal Knight Alvaro. Alvaro glanced around, then drew Antonio into the captain’s cabin in the sterncastle before taking a thin letter from his breast. The moment he saw the style of the letter, Antonio furrowed his brow, clearly recognizing it.

"Not from the Queen? It’s from King Fernando?"

"Mm..."

Alvaro nodded firmly, wasted no words, and directly handed the letter to Antonio. Antonio had barely read a few lines when his expression changed.

"What? The Portuguese people? Beware the Portuguese people?"

"Yes! The Portuguese people."

"Is the information reliable?"

"It comes from the Church’s side; it must be reliable! The Portuguese people have already begun mobilizing and recruiting ascetic Missionaries in Monasteries all over... They are ahead of us. They have already established a secure foothold in East India and are preparing to start large-scale evangelization among the Natives!"

"Almighty Lord! Where is their foothold? Cipangu? The Bahamas? Or Spain Island (Hispaniola)?"

"We don’t know. For now this remains a closely guarded secret of the Portuguese Navy; even the monks in the Lisbon Monastery do not know."

"Merciful Holy Mother! They are all Christians... If we meet them, must we truly resort to force?"

Alvaro did not answer; he merely pointed to the last two lines of the letter. Antonio read them again, his face shifting subtly for some time before finally hardening into a ruthless look.

"...If, in some place where winds are swift and seas lie calm, you should encounter a Portuguese Fleet, and if at that time you are beyond the sight and hearing of its sovereign, and its cargo be of benefit to the Crown, then you may at once take decisive measures..."

"...If it is necessary that no tongue remain to speak and no image be left, so as to forestall future troubles, then you must execute this with prudence and resolve. Have no fear; the Almighty Himself knows the righteousness of this!..."

"This decree is issued in the Royal Family’s secret chamber and sealed with the secret seal."

"In the Year of the Lord 1495."

"Fernando (Royal Seal)"