Iron Powder and Spellcaster

When John Jessica said "I won't go", he really didn't want to go.

Winters Montagne said "I can't go if I don't go", and it really means I can't go if I don't go.

Ignoring the objections of his former boss, Winters hired a carriage in the town and drove Lieutenant Colonel Jessica away from Beacon Castle that night.

In addition to the lieutenant colonel's personal property that could be packed away in a wooden box, Winters also thoughtfully brought along the farmer couple who had been taking care of the lieutenant colonel's daily life.

When he was invited into the carriage, Lieutenant Colonel Jessica was no longer in a state of rage. He calmly asked his former subordinate: "As a 'free man,' do I still have the right to make decisions for myself?"

[Note: The free people here refer to the few citizens within the Union society who have the right to vote and be elected]

"According to the current universal moral ethics, suicide is a serious crime, and assisted suicide is also an accomplice." Winters grabbed a shield and said, "Father Carman said it."

Lieutenant Colonel Jessica snorted coldly, and the spicy tone from the past returned: "Captain, your moral standards are quite flexible."

"Please sit down and hold on tight." Winters outside the carriage politely closed the door and turned to look at Lieutenant Colonel Elek: "Are we leaving now?"

Lieutenant Colonel Elek, who witnessed the whole process, sighed leisurely: "When we were still studying in the United Provinces, John Jessica was famous for being difficult to deal with... Fortunately, you can communicate with him normally."

Winters patted the wheel twice and couldn't help but smile: "That doesn't sound like a compliment."

Dussac, who was driving the carriage, understood and blew a whistle to start the journey. He gently pulled the reins on his hand, and the carriage set off first under the escort of five riders.

"Are you in such a hurry to leave?" Lieutenant Colonel Elek smiled playfully: "Afraid I'll stop you."

Winters asked, "What do you think?"

"Humph, what can I say?" Lieutenant Colonel Elek untied the reins and mounted his horse: "He is not one of ours anymore, what do you think? You'd better go ask the King's Castle for your opinion!"

It was not difficult to understand what the lieutenant colonel meant. Winters laughed a few times in agreement and mounted his mount.

Just as the two were about to set off, Lieutenant Colonel Elek glanced back at the desolate Beacon Fort and said sadly: "Staying in a place like this, the blind man will not be able to survive this winter or next winter...Thank you."

"Let's go." Winters stabbed his horse lightly in the ribs, and the two horses disappeared into the night one after the other.

…

The episode at Beacon Castle did not delay the "caravan"'s itinerary. After Winters rejoined the caravan, he led the caravan to continue westward.

When passing through various towns, caravans with military government passes always purchase some local specialties or overstocked goods, and at the same time sell the goods carried by the convoy as much as possible.

The group seemed to be a real caravan, not a group of deserters who used the identity of the caravan to cover up.

Over and over again, this abnormal behavior once again aroused Lieutenant Colonel Elek's suspicion.

It was another busy scene of unloading and loading. Lieutenant Colonel Elek walked close to Winters, who was frowning and writing and drawing, and asked lightly: "Aren't you in a hurry to go home?"

Winters raised his head. There were three wrinkles between his eyebrows unconsciously, and it was difficult to even force out a polite smile.

He slammed the hard-cover book and said slightly impatiently: "I know what you want to ask, but I don't have that kind of idea. You can trust me."

"Then this is..." Lieutenant Colonel Elek pointed behind him: "What are you doing?"

Behind Lieutenant Colonel Elek was the warehouse of a commercial store, where hundreds of convoy personnel and employees from local businesses were sweating profusely unloading and loading trucks.

"As you can see." Winters replied thoughtfully as he tried to wipe the graphite off his hands: "Business."

"Doing business?" Lieutenant Colonel Elek obviously did not accept this suspicious statement.

"That's right, business." Winters exhaled a long and painful breath, unfolded the hard-cover book and handed it to Lieutenant Colonel Elek: "I have no money."

…

The unplanned way of spending money doomed Winters-Montagne to periodic insolvency.

This is not very obvious during the military school period, because people during the student period are basically in a state of periodic bankruptcy.

After stepping out of the ivory tower, the consequences began to show up. Winters took sole control of the finances several times, and in the end he inevitably ended up spending, running out, and running out of money.

After all, Kesha and Antonio didn’t specifically teach Winters how to manage money.

According to the life path planned in advance for little Montagne, instead of learning how to make money make money, it is better to find a way to marry a wife who is good at financial planning...or a widow.

It's the same this time. Using a caravan as a cover is a good strategy, but the problem is money.

Winters originally only came to rescue a few old troops, but the size of the team eventually expanded to more than 200 people, far exceeding expectations, and the cost also skyrocketed.

Purchasing vehicles, purchasing goods, eating and drinking, everything costs money.

Winters Montagne was also a guy who spent a lot of money. The half-saddle bag of gold coins he brought was used like water, and all the cashier's checks Anna gave him were cashed.

In Jiangbei Province, a place he was unfamiliar with, he couldn't even get a mortgage and borrow money. He couldn't move without money.

"This is the situation." Winters asked a little nervously: "How about you... lend some temporarily... for turnover..."

Lieutenant Colonel Elek was so angry that he laughed: "You asked for people, and we gave them to you. You asked for passes, and we gave them to you. What? We still have to pay for your travel expenses home?"

"Borrowed."

"No! Impossible!" Lieutenant Colonel Elek waved his hand.

"Then there is no other way." Winters shrugged: "We can only raise funds by selling some of the goods along the way as we are doing now."

He carefully calculated the accounts for Lieutenant Colonel Elek: "Due to war and banditry, there are varying degrees of backlogs and shortages in various parts of Jiangbei Province. Local goods cannot be shipped out, and foreign goods cannot be shipped in. Therefore, for us, There is a subtle profit margin for this kind of unhindered caravan..."

Lieutenant Colonel Elek is from artillery, not business. After listening to the business, he felt dizzy and upset.

"Okay, I understand." Seeing that the topic was getting more and more biased, Lieutenant Colonel Elek stopped the conversation directly: "I only want to warn you. The sooner you leave Jiangbei, the safer you will be; the longer you delay, the more likely it will be. Something unexpected happens.”

After saying that, Lieutenant Colonel Elek turned around and left.

However, Winters grabbed Elek's wrist: "Stay! Lieutenant Colonel, I have another proposal!"

"What?" Lieutenant Colonel Elek replied angrily.

"If you are willing to provide some...salary, I can help you eliminate all the gangs along the provincial road..." Winters paused. The meaning of this moment of pause does not need to be elaborated: "No need for gold and silver, just offset it in kind. . Flour and horse feed are all fine.”

Lieutenant Colonel Elek laughed dryly: "The military government does not need the help of 'friendly forces' for small things."

Lieutenant Colonel Elek emphasized the word "friendly forces" very hard, and after saying that, he left without looking back.

Winters shook his head without surprise, opened the account book, and continued to calculate the accounts that he could never fully calculate.

After confirming that the conversation between the army representatives and Captain Montagne was over, Gerard and Sergey walked over cautiously.

Gerald wanted to speak, but didn’t know what title to use. On the contrary, old Sergei didn't mind at all and greeted him happily: "Your Excellency!"

Winters saw that old Mr. Mitchell was worried, and said with a smile: "It sounds so awkward, so just call me like before."

"What's the point?" Old Sergey shook his head vigorously.

Gerard Mitchell hesitated again and again, but still used the conservative title: "Captain."

After the joy of reunion faded, Girard found that many things had changed.

There is no doubt that Gilad Mitchell is a warrior, and even death cannot deter him.

However, in the rapidly changing social environment, he is as helpless and fearful as a reed swaying in the wind.

Not long ago, Gilad was the town mayor appointed by the New Reclamation Corps, a dedicated Dussac, a qualified husband and father.

At this moment, he is working with the "rebels", and the so-called rebels are his closest relatives and friends.

He couldn't even figure out whether he had become a member of the "rebels".

Old Sergei would not be disturbed by this, because he adhered to Dusak's simple idea of ​​​​carpe diem and never thought too much.

Gilad Mitchell, on the contrary, was able to achieve everything he had in the past precisely because he thought more than his peers.

But the more he thought about it, the more uneasy Girard became - Winters fully understood this and was tolerant enough.

However, how to adapt to the current reality...or "get in touch with oneself", after all, old Mitchell still needs to figure it out himself.

Winters did not elaborate on the issue of address, but asked directly: "Has Pierre's fever gone?"

"Retired." Gilad nodded gratefully: "He has fallen asleep now after taking the special potion you gave him."

"It's actually a sleeping aid. It has some analgesic effects. It's not a special decoction... But according to Pierre's current situation, sleeping more should be helpful for recovery." Winters explained briefly and then asked: " When can we leave?"

Gilad put away his smile and replied seriously: "Two quarters of an hour at most. As long as the car is loaded, you can leave immediately."

Winters casually stuffed the annoying ledger back into the carrier: "Let the scouts out now, and set off as soon as possible after loading the car."

Gilad and old Sergey subconsciously saluted and answered yes.

After coming back to his senses and remembering the original purpose of coming over to chat, old Sergey asked in a low voice: "Your Excellency, the sun is over the top, and you won't be able to walk a few miles until dark. Some old buddies encouraged me to ask you. , tonight... or else just rest here? After living in the wilderness for several days, everyone is a little bit unable to bear it. "

"You really can't stand it anymore?"

Old Sergei patted his belly: "I'm getting older...but as long as you give the order, I will definitely do it."

Winters thought for a moment and patiently explained to the two "old subordinates": "We have been delayed for too long, so now we have to catch up with the time as much as possible. It is really hard to camp continuously... It is better to buy as much fresh food as possible before setting off." Meat, chickens and ducks, let Balian improve the food for everyone."

Old Sergey's eyes lit up, he saluted happily, and turned to leave.

Gilad had other things on his mind and asked with some worry: "Excuse me... Is Lieutenant Colonel Elek dissatisfied with us in any way? He seemed to have left very unhappy."

Hearing Gilad's question, old Sergey also stopped and pricked up his ears.

"It's not that I'm dissatisfied with you... Don't worry, your matters have been properly resolved and the military government will not hold you accountable." Winters leaned on the carriage and said in a relaxed tone: "Lieutenant Colonel Elek is unhappy because of me. Send him an offer.”

"What...proposal?"

Winters laughed: "I hinted to him that if he is willing to provide us with some logistical support, we can help the military government clean up the gangs entrenched on the provincial roads."

"Oh." Old Sergey nodded vigorously as if he understood.

"That's it." Winters spread his hands.

"Oh!" Old Sergey nodded more vigorously.

"Lieutenant Colonel Elek." Gilad frowned suddenly: "It should be impossible to agree..."

Winters was quite regretful: "He didn't agree."

Old Sergei suddenly slapped his forehead, suddenly realized, and rushed to speak: "Your Excellency, are you hinting at Lord Elek?"

"Hint?" Gilad looked at the old man in confusion.

"Don't waste your efforts. A big man like Mr. Elek won't understand!" Old Sergey spat impassionedly: "The bandits can't take advantage of them. How could they know that bandits are harming the people? sharp?"

…

No matter as small as a village or as large as a town, there is no way to be completely self-sufficient. People always need to exchange materials and information with the outside world to a certain extent.

The banditry that accompanies the war has made "traveling far away" a high-risk activity, and the exchange of materials and information between various places has also declined.

The harvested cash crops were piled up in warehouses and slowly rotted, and the paths outside the village just a few steps away were no longer safe.

From the clergy, businessmen, and landowners to the poor peasants and tenants, everyone is in danger. Walls were erected in towns that were originally semi-open, and farmers gathered together and formed associations as much as possible to protect themselves.

Winters originally didn't understand this widespread panic.

It wasn't until he sat around the fire, talked and shared food with many people along the way that he gradually understood that "although banditry is not as deadly as famine, it can devastate 'security' even more." ".

Between the two options [no more military service] and [no more bandits], men, women, poor, rich, old, children... people always overwhelmingly choose [no more bandits].

…

"Lieutenant Colonel Elek." Gilad pulled old Sergei and tried to smooth things over: "It's hard for him to help. After all, killing bandits and catching robbers is not his responsibility..."

"Yeah, 'it's not his business'." Winters was a little uninterested. He didn't intend to discuss the shortcomings of the bureaucracy with the two old Dusak, so he said with a smile: "That is, I casually mentioned it to Lieutenant Colonel Elek. After all, our fleet is like fresh meat without a cover, and flies will always come by the smell. We are always beating them anyway, wouldn’t it be better if we could dig some money from the Third Republic?"

"That's right!" Old Sergey suddenly became energetic. He ignored the fact that Gilad beside him looked extremely embarrassed and greeted him cheerfully: "I know you don't do loss-making business!"

Fortunately, Winters had another group of guests - three local chamber of commerce directors - giving Girard an excuse to drag his old friend away.

"This is our local smoked sausage that is famous throughout the county, and there are some other specialties." The middle-aged businessman in the lead panted, carrying two baskets of smoked sausage, and said with a smile: "Sir, please accept it."

Winters was not polite and signaled the guards to accept them all.

Seeing the military temperament of the young man in front of him and the heavily armed guards around him, the three businessmen who came to visit became increasingly convinced that this large-scale caravan must have a military background.

"If you hadn't come here, I really don't know how many honest businessmen in this town would have gone bankrupt." The middle-aged businessman continued to show his kindness: "Can we do our best to help you with accommodation?"

"No, we're leaving today."

"So urgent?" The middle-aged businessman's eyes widened.

Winters replied succinctly: "In a hurry."

"Where are you going? To the west?"

Winters didn't answer, just crossed his arms.

The middle-aged businessman wiped the sweat from his forehead, and after making silent eye contact with the other two directors, he gritted his teeth and boldly asked: "I apologize for any offence, please...whose family do you belong to?" Caravan?"

Whose caravan?

Winters was baffled by this unprovoked question. He narrowed his eyes and stared at the three chamber of commerce directors, sending shivers down their spines.

Suddenly, Winters showed a smile: "This is a secret, you must not tell others..."

When the middle-aged businessman heard that there was something going on, he nodded hastily: "Definitely! Definitely!"

Winters motioned to the middle-aged businessman to come over and said slowly: "We are the private property of that general."

"Who? That one? That one!" The middle-aged businessman's eyes widened.

"Yes, that's the one, the biggest one." Winters whispered out a last name: "Arpad."

As the young man's pronunciation ended, the breathing of the three chamber of commerce directors stopped for a second. A kind of pleasure of "That's it!", "No wonder it's so!", "I'll just say it!" made their scalps tremble. tingling.

"Don't believe me?" Winters raised his eyebrows: "Do you want me to show you the pass?"

"Don't dare! Don't dare!" The three chamber of commerce directors waved their hands repeatedly.

"Just take a look, it's nothing serious." Winters took out the pass from his arms and specially showed Arpad's paint seal outside.

The three chamber of commerce directors didn't dare to take the thin letter and read it, and kept asking the young man to take back his pass.

"Have you finished reading?" Winters put away the letter, his face instantly turned gloomy, and he asked in a serious voice: "What are your intentions in inquiring about military aircraft?"

Winters' tone changed, and the surrounding guards also approached with their swords in hand, surrounding the three chamber of commerce directors.

"No intention, absolutely not." The middle-aged businessman blushed and explained stumblingly: "The local chamber of commerce recommended us... I want to ask you for something..."

"explain."

"You know...the roads have been rough lately...can you..." the middle-aged businessman licked his lips: "Can you let our convoy follow your convoy? You just need to wait one more day, one day! That's it! One day! Give us one day to load the truck. The local chamber of commerce would like to offer you a... thank you."

"That's it?" Winters laughed dumbly.

"Yes, yes, that's it." The middle-aged businessman's emotions surged, and he suddenly burst into tears: "Please be kind, it may be just a trivial matter to you, but it can mean life or death to us!"

When the other two chamber of commerce directors saw this, they also played the emotional card, wiping away their noses and tears.

For a moment, the atmosphere became very strange. Three local prominent social figures burst into tears, and the surrounding guards and employees couldn't help but stop and watch.

"Okay, as long as you get the idea." Winters hated people crying the most: "The two gentlemen at the back didn't even shed tears when they cried."

The middle-aged businessman stopped crying and laughed a few times in embarrassment.

After thinking for a moment, Winters responded: "No."

The middle-aged businessman wanted to say something else, but Winters stopped him with a gesture.

"First, my time is very tight. I can't wait for you for a day and a half." Winters tapped his fingers lightly on his elbows: "Second, even if we let you go together, you can't keep up with our speed."

If it's a question of remuneration, maybe you can negotiate. But the reason Winters gave was very practical, and the middle-aged businessman didn't know how to refute it.

"Then... then let's do it." The middle-aged businessman straightened up his appearance a little and said goodbye respectfully: "Thank you for deigning to explain to us. This town's trade association is willing to give you a gift to express our gratitude..."

"How can I collect money from you if I don't do anything for you?" Winters interrupted the middle-aged businessman's polite words.

"And I haven't finished speaking yet. There are actually only two groups of gangs entrenched around your town, and the rest are just petty fights, not significant." He took out the atlas, pulled the middle-aged businessman to sit down, and spoke enthusiastically The salesman said: "I have a proposal..."

happy National Day!