What tactics did Cortes use to force the Aztec surrender even though he only had 500 men?

Hernán Cortés employed several cunning tactics to force the Aztec surrender despite his small force. He forged strategic alliances with rival indigenous groups, such as the Tlaxcalans, which bolstered his numbers and resources. Cortés also utilized psychological warfare, including the display of superior weaponry and the capture of the Aztec emperor Moctezuma, to instill fear and confusion. Additionally, he laid siege to Tenochtitlan, cutting off supplies and reinforcements, ultimately leading to the city's capitulation.