Tyranny of Steel

Chapter 639: Subjugating an Empire

Weeks had passed since Berengar first marched across the Aztec Landscape and during this time he had raided every village he came across on his journey to the Capital of the Aztec Empire. Disease spread like wildfire. Not only were natives unable to cope with the sickness that accompanied the German soldiers. Yet, the Marines did not even bother to bury the massive piles of corpses they left behind in each village they encountered.

By now, this plague had made its way to Tenochtitlan just in time for the German Army to arrive at its entrance. Countless Aztecs had now come in contact with the disease leaving them vulnerable to the German Conquest, at this point Berengar simply needed to walk through the streets of the capital with their princess in tow and declare himself victorious which is exactly what he planned to do.

The Banners of the German Army flew proudly in the air as roughly five hundred golden haired men strolled through the streets of the city of Tenochtitlan, its citizens not daring to get too close to the invaders. These soldiers sang one of their best marching songs, Erika, as they proudly displayed their might to the native people. Tlexictli held her head as low as possible as her people witnessed her bound and dragged by a one-eyed man who rode on the back of a beast they did not recognize.

To the Aztec people, the sight of the golden-haired men entering their sacred city was as if the feathered serpent had returned from the east. Normally this would be a joyous occasion, however, instead of years of prosperity, the servants of the god brought with them thunder, death, and pestilence. The Aztec people did not know what they had done to anger the feathered serpent, but they did not dare resist their punishment.

Eventually, Berengar’s army strode up to the royal Palace, where the Aztec Emperor rushed out from his home and kneeled before his conquerors, who held his daughter as their prisoner. He wept tears of joy upon realizing that the girl was still alive. Surprisingly, the one eyed man spoke his language as he made his demands.

“Are you the Emperor of these lands?”

Itzcoatl was too afraid to raise his head in the presence of the mighty foreigners. Instead, he kowtowed so low that his forehead was touching the ground.

“Yes, I beg you to spare my daughter from your wrath. Whatever we have done to invoke such fury, I swear I will find a way to appease your anger…”

Itzcoatl had not believed it until now, but after seeing an army of five hundred blonde haired men enter his capital with strange beasts and weapons, he was positive that these men were at the very least the envoys of the feathered serpent. A cruel smile appeared on Berengar’s face after he noticed the Emperor was being so compliant. He quickly gave an order to him in front of his people, who did not dare to approach the strange foreigners.

“If you wish for your daughter to be spared, and the pestilence that spread across the land to end, you will do as I command.”

The Aztec Emperor merely nodded his head as he still kneeled before Berengar. If these men would spare his daughter and end the plague, he would be willing to do just about anything, especially since he was now certain of their divinity.

Berengar, on the other hand, had every intention to milk this misconception to its fullest extent. He would make sure the Aztecs signed away their rights as a sovereign state and existed as a protectorate of his Empire until the end of time. Thus, he spoke in an authoritative tone as he issued his commands to the Aztec Emperor.

“Very well, we shall speak in private.”

After saying this, he hopped down from his horse and pulled out his bayonet, which he used to cut Tlexictli’s bindings. Once the girl was free, she rushed over to her father and hugged him. Tears streamed down her eyes as if they were rivers, while she apologized for the trouble she had caused.

“Father, I’m sorry. This is all my fault!”

However, Berengar did not intend for her to shatter the belief that her father had, and immediately took the Emperor into his palace where the two would settle the terms that would end the conflict between their two Empires. Berengar and Itzcoatl sat alone as Berengar appeased the man with falsehoods built upon his misunderstandings.

“My name is Berengar von Kufstein and I come from across the Atlantic Ocean, or as your people call it, the great sea. You could say that I am the herald of the Feathered Serpent, and I have travelled a great distance in advance of my people to ensure that his eternal Empire remains well supplied. However, when I first entered these lands, I noticed the savage acts your people engage in and it enraged me. Under the authority bestowed upon me, I decided to teach you a valuable lesson about angering the gods.

Now that you have paid the price of your insolence, it is my duty to negotiate terms. I will be frank with you. The feathered serpent wishes for your Empire to be subservient to the one he has built abroad during his exile. We will end the disease that has spread in these lands, and in return you will allow us to build settlements on the coast to ensure that trade between our two Empires is prosperous.

You will also pay a yearly tribute to the realm of the feathered serpent, also known as the German Empire, where you will give us whatever it is we desire. Whether that be gold, silver, crops, or anything else that we deem to be a valid form of payment.

In exchange for this tribute, we will protect you from foreign threats that may wish to conquer your lands for themselves. As a protectorate beneath the German Empire, you will be free to rule over your lands as you see fit. However, we demand the barbaric practice of human sacrifice ends.”

When Itzcoatl heard these demands, he could only bow his head in silence. The one eyed man had confirmed that he was, in fact, the Herald of Quetzalcoatl. This meant that the Aztecs had no choice but to obey these demands, especially if they wanted the disease that plagued their lands to be lifted. He did not know why the feathered serpent had demanded an end to human sacrifice, but if that was his wish, he would accept it.

As for Berengar, a cruel smirk curved on his lips. It was too easy to negotiate with these primitive civilizations. He was lucky he had showed up in the Aztec Empire with only blonde haired soldiers, and during a year of the reed. If not, he could not so easily enforce his demands.

It was a blessing that these people believed in the divinity of their German suzerains. Such a thing would guarantee their loyalty for several generations until they evolved beyond their primitive state. The Aztec Emperor finally spoke after several moments of silence, recognizing Berengar’s divinity, and declaring the Aztec Empire to be his humble servants.

“I, Itzcoatl, Emperor of the Aztec people, recognize you as the Herald of the Feathered Serpent, and hereby pledge the loyalty and service of my people to the German Empire.”

With this said, the Aztec Empire had officially become a protectorate belonging to Berengar and his mighty Empire. In truth, the number of people he killed in this campaign was a paltry sum compared to those who died in the Spanish Conquest of his past life. Tens of thousands lie dead, rather than millions.

Despite the brutality that Berengar had showed during his rapid conquest, the Aztec people perceived it as their punishment for angering the gods. Only Tlexictli knew the truth about the German Empire and their humanity. However, she said nothing in fear of what Berengar might do to her people if they realized the truth. Thus, her father had given her the position of being his personal envoy to the feathered servant, meaning she would follow Berengar back to the fatherland and act as a diplomat for her people.

Berengar had meant what he said, he intended to turn the Aztec Empire into a protectorate whose massive slave labor force would act as the required manpower to mine the gold, silver, iron, and other valuable resources which would be given to the fatherland as tribute. After all, despite Germany’s massive growth, it still lacked the means to fully colonize the area within his lifetime.

Thus, in the following months, the Germans would flood the Coastline of Mesoamerica, establishing their own settlements, and bringing with them basic treatment for the cold and flu symptoms that the natives were enduring. This act of benevolence would further act of proof of the German divinity in the eyes of the locals, and secure German dominance in the region for years to come.

As for Berengar, he intended to take the first ship back to the fatherland. He had spent far too much time in the new world, and had matters of importance he had to attend to back home. His first step in securing colonies in Mesoamerica had begun, and he looked forward to his future colonial adventures.