The cooks prepared over 1,300 plates of food for Montezuma and the guard. There was a storerooms filled with an amount of gold (bars and artistic/sacred objects) and arms that even the king of Spain would have been jealous of. Cortés observed all of this and knew that he was in favor in the eyes of Montezuma because his lodgings were in a sacred palace. Cortés played the part of the innocent and humble admirer and did nothing but compliment Montezuma in order to gain more information on the wealth of the Aztec king. Cortés makes sure that he fulfills all of Montezuma's expectations and as a result, Montezuma says: " and for this reason we take it for certain that you are those whom our ancestors predicted would come from the direction of the sunrise. As for your great King, I feel that I am indebted to him, and I will give him of what I possess- (World History: Castillo, 248). Cortés is not only gaining control of Montezuma, but his wealth as well. In order to gain control of the whole of New Spain, Cortés must manipulate the hierarchal traditions of the Aztec people as well. As in wealth, Castillo makes no lapse of detail here as well. He documents the way Montezuma his treated and revered by those who are under him. "Not one of these chieftains dared even to think of looking him in the face, but kept their eyes lowered with great reverence - (World History: Castillo, 247). Montezuma was seen as being semi-divine. This was very important for Cortés, because if he could control Montezuma then it would make it that much easier to control the Indians and eventually take complete control himself. Montezuma's reverence is taken to a great extent. Carried on a platform and never sets foot upon the bare ground. The meal practices are the best demonstration of his reverence. No one is allowed to look at him and it is considered to a great privilege by the elder chieftains to have Montezuma give them some of his food.
