Iron Powder and Spellcaster

"Leighton, this idiot, hasn't grown up in so many years." A man at the dinner table was grumbling: "It's convenient for him to kidnap civilians from their homes and use them as hostages. Why doesn't he think about what will happen to the Republic after the war? Rule here?"

This was an intimate dinner in Port Red Sulfur, and there were two other people at the table-Antonio and Winters.

Hearing the speaker's merciless belittling of Major General Rooster Leighton, Winters just drank his soup without saying a word.

However, Antonio put down the tableware after hearing this and defended: "The situation at that time was quite special, and he had no other good solution. But having said that, Layton's reputation among the island's civilians is surprisingly good now."

"Of course. He first frightened the islanders so much that they peed their pants, and then he came to eliminate harm for the people. Of course the Tanirians are grateful to him." The man snorted coldly and said disdainfully: "But this is all It’s temporary, and the islanders will gradually forget their fear and gratitude, and maybe even Layton’s name. They only remember that the Veneta people once captured their families to fill the trenches.”

If anyone else had said these words, they would probably be considered as nonsense.

However, the man at the dinner table is qualified to judge Layton, because he is Gus Ranch, an old classmate of Antonio and Layton, and the newly appointed governor of Red Sulfur Island.

Gus Ranch's resume is relatively unusual. He graduated from the Army Officers Academy in the same class as Antonio Serbetti and Rost Leighton, and was also born in the cavalry department.

After entering the Army, Gus Ranch rose through the ranks and was expected to be the first to receive the general's baton in the same period. However, after serving for sixteen years, for some unknown reason, Gus Ranch suddenly gave up his promising career in the military and turned to politics, becoming a glorious and humble public official.

Fortunately, there are also important figures in the administrative system to support him. Gus Ranch started out as a notary with the lowest level and rose through the ranks. He soon took the position of the mayor of Modonggang, and gained the reputation of being "shrewd, capable, and disciplined" during his tenure. evaluation of.

Because of his background, origin, and past experience, Gus Ranch still maintains inextricable connections with the Army and the military. He is also considered an important communication bridge between the administrative and military systems.

It is for this reason that the ruling five-member group appointed him as the first governor of Red Sulfur Island.

Gus and Antonio had a close friendship, and to Winters he was "an uncle who often visited the house when he was a kid." Antonio gave Gus a private dinner and called Winters over.

"Soldiers shouldn't think about politics." Antonio smiled tolerantly, then frowned and asked, "But I still don't understand, what does the so-called 'semi-colonial' in the resolution mean? "

"Semi-colony" is the political status given by the Veneta ruling committee to "new territories" such as Red Sulfur Island and Ocean Spring Island.

"Hey, it's actually very simple. Think about it, since it's a semi-colony, what's the other half?" Gus's face showed the smile of a "smart man who knows everything".

"Semi-overseas territory?"

"No." Gus shook his finger: "It is a semi-occupied area. But if you use this name, it is equivalent to recognizing the Federation's ownership of the islands. The Five-Man Group neither wants to rule the islands as conquerors, nor does it want to Citizenship rights are now given to the Tanirians, hence the term semi-colony was coined.”

"It seems that the Directory has no intention of truly including the islands as part of Veneta?" Antonio's worry deepened.

"The Archon has a long-term plan for the archipelago. I believe that in the future, the archipelago will gradually have the same political status as the mainland, but not now." Gus Ranch left the dining table as he spoke, walked to the window, and looked at The red sulfur port dock outside the window said slowly: "If the Tanirians are given citizenship now, how can the Republic squeeze money out of the archipelago?"

As soon as these words came out, even Winters, who had been dining silently, stopped what he was doing.

Gus returned to his seat and said with a hearty smile: "To put it bluntly, I was sent here to make money."

"Are finances already so tight?" Winters couldn't help but ask.

"I don't know how many ducats there are in the treasury, but war is definitely a costly business. The war with the Federation may be profitable in the long run, but the short-term deficit must be filled as much as possible, so I'm here .”

Winters' heart skipped a beat: "How to fill it up...how to fill it up?"

"Since they are our enemies, all the fixed assets of the Red Sulfur Island Council will be confiscated and liquidated. The properties owned by the council members will also be confiscated and auctioned." After Gus Ranch explained succinctly, he leaned back in his chair He smiled and said: "The fastest way to create wealth is to build an empire, and the faster way to build an empire is to destroy an empire."

The members of the Council are equivalent to all the planters on the island. The fixed assets of the Chiliu Island Council are essentially the public property of all residents on the island.

"There is a plantation owner on the island who played a big role in the battle to capture Red Sulfur Port. Can you give him a little grace?" Winters' first thought was Kalman of Red Pine Manor.

"Yes, it's very simple." Gus replied in a relaxed tone: "Your legion will send me a certification document, and leave the rest to me."

Winters felt relieved, and then thought of the slaves on the island, and asked, "What about the slaves on the plantation?"

"This is also very simple." Gus Ranch was already confident: "Veneta's laws do not allow any form of slavery, but slaves are an important property of the plantation. So after the plantation is seized, all the people on the island will Any slave can redeem himself.”

"Where can a slave get the money to redeem himself?" Winters laughed dumbly.

"The Veneta government can lend them a sum of money to redeem themselves." Gus took a sip of wine and said matter-of-factly: "The slaves who have regained their freedom can just use their labor to repay their debts."

After listening to Gus's words, Winters felt that... not much had changed. But this was not an area where he could comment, so he said nothing more.

Antonio raised his eyebrows and asked, "Doing this is equivalent to wiping out all the wealthy people in Red Sulfur Island. Aren't you worried about provoking a popular uprising?"

"Do you think there are more poor people or rich people on the island?" Gus Ranch spread his hands and said with a smile: "The subject of the civil uprising is 'people'. I will not touch the property of civilians and poor people. The property of the rich Strength comes from wealth. Take away their property and leave them with only 'human' attributes. I would like to see how they resist me. Besides, aren't there you guys? As long as your swords are sharp enough, on Red Sulfur Island I can do whatever I want. I just hope that if they resist, Red Sulfur Island can be cleaned up."

"It seems that you already have a comprehensive plan." Antonio said carefully choosing his words: "You haven't changed over the years, you are still so...radical."

"Otherwise, why should I come to Red Sulfur Island?" Gus Ranch rapped his knuckles on the table and said happily: "Who will take the money from the poor people of Red Sulfur Island? Only those from Red Sulfur Island Only the rich would do this. Where does the council's property come from? Isn't it all squeezed out of the poor? I'm different. I'm too lazy to get money from the poor. I'll take advantage of whoever has money!"

"My duty is to capture Red Sulfur Island, and I have completed it." Antonio sighed: "As for how to rule here, that is your duty. The Directory must have considered it when appointing you as governor. "

"I won't tell you this anymore. I know you're not interested." Gus saw that his old classmate was not interested in his plan, so he turned to look at Winters who was competing with the ribs: "Kid, what are you doing on the island?" The reputation is also very good! Those citizen representatives asked me several times, 'Can Warrant Officer Montagne stay?' How about staying here to help me? I can use some capable people."

Winters and Andre went to "buy firewood for trust" and didn't think much about it. After transporting dry firewood back to Red Sulfur Port, they discovered that the residents were in short supply of such living supplies.

Originally, surrounding farmers carried firewood to the city and sold it to the residents of Chisulfur Port. After the Veneta army landed, the farmers did not dare to come. The residents' firewood reserves were quickly exhausted, and they were worried about what to do.

Seeing that the residents of Red Sulfur Port were in urgent need of fuel, Winters simply distributed several trucks of dry firewood he bought for free, relieving the residents' urgent need. Winters also visited the villages surrounding the port and restored the firewood supply to Red Sulfur Port.

Over time, Warrant Officer Montagne's reputation became very good among the residents of Port Red Sulfur.

The two legions are about to leave, but some soldiers still need to be left to garrison on Red Sulfur Island. It should be a centurion force, but it is short of a centurion.

Winters was really moved when he heard Gus' proposal. I think it would be safer to stay on Red Sulfur Island and deal with a few planters than to fight against the Federation army, right?

He thought of Kesha, Ella and Anna, who were looking forward to his safe return home.

Winters looked at Antonio.

Upon hearing Gus Ranch's proposal, Antonio was stunned for a moment, and then said softly to Winters: "You decide for yourself. If you want to stay here, you can stay."

Winters gritted his teeth, finally shook his head, stood up, bowed to Gus, and replied: "I lack the ability, and there are still others who are more suitable for the position on Red Sulfur Island."

"Okay." Gus Ranch didn't say anything more, and said with a smile: "The Army is indeed as wicked as ever. It took away all the good guys and didn't leave any useful ones for me."

"Always sarcastic about the army, aren't you also from the army?" Antonio also laughed.

Gus said with a straight face: "So I was a pretty good guy when I was young."

The two looked at each other and laughed.

The slightly drunk Gus Ranch looked at Winters again: "Your boy really looks more and more like your father... He didn't look so similar when he was a child... But now he looks more and more like him... Back then I , when Anton and your father were studying in the military academy..."

The middle-aged male's favorite entertainment activity - reminiscing about the glorious past has begun again.

Winters rolled his eyes in his mind, smiled awkwardly, and continued to drink soup. Liugus and Antonio recalled their youth.

A few hours later, the drunk Gus Ranch was carried into the bedroom by a servant, and Antonio and Winters rode out of the even more requisitioned Red Sulfur Island Governor's Mansion.

"Why do I feel like" Winters has no worries if he and his uncle are alone? "Uncle Lanci seems to have a personal grudge against the Federation?"

Antonio said calmly: "Because Gus Ranch... is originally a Tanirian."

…

…

The formidable star-shaped fortress of Red Sulfur Port was only defended for one day, while the tower city with old defenses took a full month of hard work before it was finally conquered.

The siege exhausted the Veneta soldiers and cast a shadow over all the officers. Some officers even said privately: "If the defenders of Tani Lao are as difficult to deal with as William Kidd, then we might as well negotiate a peace as early as possible based on the results of the war."

After resting for more than a month, the replenished Legion of Veneta and the Legion of San Marco left Red Sulfur Island.

To some extent the officers' fears did not come true; not all of them had the willpower of William Kidd.

Three weeks later, the Union garrison at Cutthroat surrendered to Veneta forces.

Another month later, the Legion of Grand Veneta and the Legion of San Marco captured Santorini.

It's already December, and the winter climate in the archipelago is very different from that of the warm Veneta. The cold sea breeze in winter causes the skin on people's hands and faces to become chapped, exposing blood-red flesh, and it causes excruciating pain when touched. Even though the temperature has not yet reached freezing point, I still don't feel warm even though I'm wearing two layers of clothes.

The waves on the ocean are becoming increasingly rough, and it is difficult for galleys to sail safely in this unpredictable sea. Only large round ships can carry supplies between the islands and Veneta.

After the main fleet was destroyed, the Tanirians changed their strategy and returned to their best job - piracy.

Offshore islands, jagged coastal gaps, miasma-filled lagoons... Tanirians' light and nimble fast sailing ships are hidden everywhere, waiting for opportunities to hunt down Veneta transport ships that lack armed protection.

The Veneta Navy had to devote more warships to the battle to protect the route. Brutal raids and counter-attacks began on the Senas Sea in winter.

The supplies of the Veneta Army became increasingly difficult, and they had to break their original policy and instead raise supplies locally. This further aroused the resistance of the Tanirians.

Facing an environment unsuitable for combat, Antonio Sertti and Roster Leighton still drove the soldiers ruthlessly towards the next Tanirian city.

However, when facing the strong fortifications of Gusa, even the most ruthless officers could not let the tired soldiers attack.

The Battle of Guza turned into a long and grueling siege. The Venetians were unable to attack, and the Gussa defenders were unable to counterattack. In the biting cold wind, behind the three-meter-deep trench, the Veneta Army outside the city quietly waited for the people in the city to starve to death.

After eating all the grain, mules, dogs, cats, and even rats and leather, the Guza people who had to start eating human corpses finally couldn't bear it anymore. The citizens of Guza and the Union Army began to attack each other, and the sounds of fighting and screams could be heard clearly even by the Veneta people outside the city.

The next day, when the citizens of Guza, who had killed all the Union soldiers, opened the city and surrendered, the Veneta people who entered the city found that this once vibrant and prosperous city... was completely dead.

No one in Veneta could be happy, not only because of the purgatory-like miserable scene in front of them, but also because they got a piece of news:

The army of the Republic of Forsland [Piedmont Republic] has entered Golden Port and has been warmly welcomed by the Tanirria Federation. The United Provinces announced: The Islands has officially become the eighteenth province of the United Provinces.

Secretary of State Lionel issued a stern note demanding that the Republic of Veneta immediately return the occupied archipelago territory.

The first "Lady of Victory" Corps of the United Provincial Army was directed towards the occupied area of ​​Veneta and faced off across the river with the Legion of Grand Veneta and the Legion of San Marco.

The Goddess of Victory Legion is gearing up and has repeatedly provoked small-scale bloody conflicts. It is well known to everyone that it wants to take advantage of the exhaustion of the veterans of the Veneta Army Division to defeat both legions.

The situation within the alliance is heating up rapidly. Even the Senas people, who are the most optimistic about the alliance, do not dare to say that a civil war will not break out.

Many commentators in the United Provinces clamored to "completely solve the chronic problem of the Union's lack of statehood" and "remove the status quo of the military independence of the Republic of Veneta."

Debella also tit for tat added a new title to the title of Archon of Veneta: Lord of three-fifths of the Tanirian Islands.

On the one hand, this title is due to the careful and shrewd nature of the Veneta people and their ability to put everything into balance - the Veneta people indeed occupy three-fifths of the archipelago's territory.

But at the same time, I am telling the people of the United Provinces: I don’t need to claim the other two-fifths of Tanilia, but you don’t want me to spit out the three-fifths of the islands that I have eaten.

But in the end, the Veneta people only got three-fifths. This was the result of Antonio and Leighton's continuous battles in the winter.

The Veneta people fought desperately, but in the end they only made wedding dresses for the people of the United Provinces. The United Provinces effortlessly acquired the other two-fifths of the archipelago, including the best part of Tanilia - Golden Harbor and the main island.

On the Tanilia Islands, witnessing military struggles and political games, Winters spent the winter and spring, and ushered in the new summer.

Compared to the high-spirited young man who had just stepped out of the military academy this time last year, Winters has lost thirteen kilograms, and his whole body has changed from strong to slim. The cheeks are sunken, and the lines of the cheekbones and jaw become clearer.

One grueling siege after another had tortured him into this state, as did all the Venetans.

He started growing a beard on his chin - actually the skin on his face was cracked by shaving in the winter, so everyone just stopped growing it.

Many officers died in the battle, and even a trainee officer like him was now a centurion, responsible for a centurion that was missing half of its men.

At Anna's request, he wrote many letters, each of which was written in great detail. But not a single letter could be sent back - traffic with local ships was intermittent, and even officers did not have the privilege to occupy precious transportation capacity to deliver letters.

One year has passed and the probationary period has ended. Winters, Bud, Andre and their peers will return to Guitu City and obtain formal military ranks.

(End of Tide Volume)

This is yesterday's update, and there will be another update tonight... It should be...

The Tide Volume is over. I didn’t expect that the first volume actually had 500,000 words. I originally thought 200,000 words would be wordy enough. The next volume will be more concise and try not to include content that drags out the plot. I really didn't want to write so much, but I just wrote what I wanted to without leaving any regrets.

This volume can be regarded as an introduction to the stage background. The main characters and forces appear. The tide has begun to surge. "All stories that will happen in the future can find the answer in the past."

Thank you to the book friends who have voted for recommendation before, and to the book friends who have been accompanying this book.

Thanks to the book friends who have voted for recommendation in the past two days, thank you all, thank you.

I/amuse/enjoy/have/have/have/not/thought/have/earn/money/nor/not/feel/write/get/get/to/other/people/spend/money/buy/buy. I can only create a VIP volume and I won't put the second volume into the first volume. Then don't twist it. thank you all/