Iron Powder and Spellcaster

Republic of Plato

Jiangbei Province

A patrol cavalry squadron stationed somewhere

Captain Lorenzo, commander of the cavalry squadron, rubbed his thumb over the pass. He quietly examined the cursive signature in the middle of the parchment, trying to find anything amiss.

The content of the cursive signature is very brief - [Arpad Duyaum].

The officer who provided the pass called himself "Lieutenant Colonel Elek" and was sitting on the other side of the desk.

Although he still maintained a polite smile, judging from the movements of his fingertips and legs, he was already very impatient.

"It doesn't look fake," Captain Lorenzo thought to himself. He had seen General Arpad's signature because it was exactly the same on his letter of appointment.

But the lacquer seal—Captain Lorenzo couldn't help but touch it—had never seen the real one, so he couldn't tell the fake one.

Captain Lorenzo glanced at the school officer, then quickly turned his gaze back to the pass, and asked respectfully: "You... want to cross the boundary river? Sir."

"Yes." The lieutenant colonel replied politely but coldly.

The other party's attitude made Captain Lorenzo feel a little unhappy.

"Hmph, people are real too." He thought angrily while trying to maintain a smile, "Fake ones can't be so annoying."

A small additional explanation is needed here: the current Third Republic Army officer Lieutenant [Lorenzo Dan] was just an ordinary citizen half a year ago. He was one of a large number of low-level officers who were commissioned in the last wave of recruitment. .

The specific process is also very simple: his old father generously donated two hundred horses and a considerable amount of cash to the military government; Lorenzo Dan suddenly transformed from the youngest son of the manor owner's cockfighting lackey to a real person. Army captain.

However, fate is always unsatisfactory.

Although he received a letter of appointment signed by Arpad Duyaum himself, when Lorenzo Dan actually entered the army, he found that he was still inferior and marginalized everywhere.

The academy-trained officers despised their new colleagues and did not even bother to conceal their disdain.

When the new officers stepped into the officers' club in Fort Oak with excitement and nervousness, the veteran officers moved out without saying a word, then turned around and established a new club - entry was with the military academy graduate ring.

After encountering similar things several times, Lorenzo Dan would feel a sense of humiliation in his heart just by facing the "courteous smile" of an orthodox officer.

Therefore, seeing the familiar smile on the other person's face, Captain Lorenzo confirmed that the colonel in front of him was undoubtedly a rooster - a nickname given by new officers to officers who came from the academy.

The young squire standing behind the colonel must also be a rooster. Although he was not wearing a military uniform, Laurenzo could smell it.

"You look younger than me. I'm afraid my hair hasn't grown all yet." Lorenzo thought a little jealously. He was still sizing up the young attendant, but unexpectedly the other party took the initiative to speak.

"Excuse me." The young attendant asked politely, "Do you have any questions?"

Lorenzo was a little flustered. Although he was filled with dissatisfaction, he tried his best not to show it: "Well..."

What is the problem?

A caravan that wants to go to Hurd territory is a problem in itself!

Although the Plato Republic has actually split, both the Red Rose and the Blue Rose have fully inherited the policies of the First Republic towards the Hed tribes.

The blockade order was still in force and smuggling was still an unpardonable felony punishable by hanging.

According to the law, Captain Lorenzo should immediately capture the two men in front of him. If there is resistance, shoot without mercy.

However... even during the most severe period of the blockade, even in the days when there was only one republic in this land, the caravans traveling between Plato and the Hed tribes never really disappeared.

The greater the blockade, the more oil and water will be smuggled; the greater the embargo, the greater the profits from trade.

Holding a pass signed by certain important people can travel unimpeded across the border - this is an unspoken secret within the Palatine military and political system.

Although Lorenzo Dan is still young, he has already learned the rules of the game from his elders.

"Excuse me, do you have any more questions?" The young attendant asked again patiently.

The officer who claimed to be Lieutenant Colonel Elek looked calm and allowed his attendant to speak on his behalf.

"Well..." Captain Lorenzo swallowed and raised a mild suspicion: "Why are there injured people in the convoy? There seems to be some disabled people?"

The young attendant thought for a while and replied: "I met some gangsters on the road."

"Oh, no wonder, no wonder." Captain Lorenzo said with concern on his face: "There is a good doctor in the nearby town. I will send someone to ask for it right now."

The young attendant's brows furrowed slightly, then relaxed: "Thank you for your kindness. The wounded have been properly treated."

Lorenzo tore off a piece of paper and asked earnestly while writing: "Where are the medicines? Are they still enough?"

The young attendant and the school officer looked at each other, and the school officer smiled and nodded.

The young attendant nodded gently: "Thank you, that's enough."

Lorenzo handed the newly written note and pass back to the other party, patted his chest and promised: "There are also groups of bandits on the other side of the border river. If you two need it, I can send some people to escort you to ensure that the convoy is safe on the way."

The young attendant glanced at the note, and it turned out that Lorenzo had written another pass in his name.

"The people below may not recognize General Arpad's pass." Lorenzo explained enthusiastically: "So I also wrote a note and you two took it with you to avoid any mistakes."

The young attendant smiled and nodded: "Thank you."

"It's a small matter, a small matter." Captain Lorenzo stood up to see off the guests and at the same time called the sergeant to gather his men.

"I won't bother escorting you." The young attendant politely but firmly refused.

Seeing that the other party was not being polite, Lorenzo immediately called the sergeant back.

He insisted on escorting the two guests away from the residence in person, repeatedly promising that he would be able to help with whatever needs they had.

The young attendant politely declined, but the school officer ignored Lorenzo.

The colonel and the young squire had already walked out of the cavalry station when they saw Lorenzo striding out.

"Are you two going to cross the river through Matoupo Town?" Lorenzo asked breathlessly.

The young attendant who had already saddled up heard this and dismounted again: "Yes,

Lorenzo slapped his thigh and said angrily: "We can't leave Ma Taupo Town! The town is destroyed and the bridge is gone. Now if you want to cross the border river, you have to go through Sword Sheath Bay."

Hearing that Matoupo Town had been destroyed by the war, the young attendant was silent for a moment. After a while, he thanked Lorenzo and reached out his hand: "Captain Lorenzo, I hope we can meet again one day."

Lorenzo held the other person's arm with a smile on his face: "Of course, I'll see you again... When I get back to Oak Forest Castle, if I have a chance, please say a few nice words to me..."

Lorenzo stood outside the gate and watched the two guests enthusiastically.

It wasn't until the other person's figure disappeared from sight that his cheeks, which had become stiff and sore from laughing too much and for too long, relaxed.

"[Vulgar language intensifies]! Cock!" Lorenzo spat and turned away angrily.

…

Republic of Plato

Jiangbei Province

Scabbard Bay Ferry

Two cables span the boundary river, and only a raft can be used to ferry between them.

It took a whole day to move all the caravan people, carriages and horses from the east bank to the west bank.

"I will send you here." Lieutenant Colonel Elek bid farewell to his junior somewhat sadly: "If you go any further, I won't be able to help you."

Winters was also a little reluctant to say goodbye, but he cheered up and joked: "Do you want to say goodbye to Lieutenant Colonel Jessica?"

Lieutenant Colonel Elek waved his whip indifferently: "Forget it, I'm bored when I see that face of his, and I'm afraid he'll be even more angry when he sees me... It's enough for you to take good care of him. Also, after crossing the boundary river But this is Hurd Barbarian’s territory, are you really sure you can go back safely?”

"Don't worry, we're just going back the way we came." Winters took the initiative to extend his hand - compared to a military salute or a hat-off salute, holding each other's hands and arms is a more intimate, equal and even sacred etiquette - he smiled happily Farewell: "Then, I hope we have the opportunity to meet again, Lieutenant Colonel Elek."

Lieutenant Colonel Elek also held Winters' hand tightly, but he was angry and laughing at the same time: "No! I hope I never see you again in this life!"

It took Winters less than seven days to find Pierre; but it took Winters more than a month to bring his men out of Jiangbei Province.

On the last day of the first month of the imperial calendar year 560.

Winters Montagne crosses the river again.

…

…

wilderness

According to the agreement between the three major Herds and the Republic of Plato, the area of ​​about 100 kilometers between the two parties should be regarded as no man's land. "The Herds do not herd sheep, and the Platuan people do not farm."

However, when the Platuan people suffered a disastrous defeat in the battle against the Chihe tribe, the agreement of "no sheep herding and no farming" immediately lost its force.

At the beginning of autumn, many small tribes began to move into no man's land. They range from dozens of households to a dozen or so. They do not interfere with each other and go to their previously explored wintering pastures.

There is such a tribe among them. This tribe has more than sixty families, neither big nor small. The leader of the tribe is named Feiyu and belongs to the Shishan clan.

Feiyu was the eldest son. According to the rules of the Hed people, when he came of age, he got a share of cattle, sheep and felt tents from his father, and then he lived alone as a family.

Because Fei Yu was good at archery and fair in dividing meat and ruling, friends and herdsmen naturally gathered around him, and eventually formed a small tribe.

Feiyu is independent, so the Hed people from other tribes call his small group "Feiyu tribe".

The wintering pasture selected by the Feiyu Department is about 60 kilometers away from the Palatu Boundary River and is a north-south valley.

If nothing else happens, Feiyubu will stay in this sheltered valley this winter.

When the cattle and sheep have eaten all the dead grass and the first spring rain has arrived, they will leave this place and go to the summer pastures in the mountains.

But this year's situation is a bit special - a group of guests came from the Feiyu Department.

Feiyu strictly forbids his tribe to step out of the valley, because his guests are not ordinary people of the tribes, and any leakage of information may lead to disaster.

Feiyu's guests came from the east, and his guests came from Plato.

Among the guests was a young man who came to Feiyubu's winter pasture. The young man only did one thing every day, and that was: standing at the highest point of the valley, looking east, and waiting.

I don’t know how many times the sun set and rose again. The young man waited and waited, and finally saw the figure of the rider on the horizon.

He shouted excitedly, jumped on the horse's back, and galloped down the hillside, running towards the comer like lightning, and galloped all the way to the man.

The young man hugged the man and cried bitterly.

"What's wrong?" The man - referring to Winters Montagne - was flattered, and politely hugged the young man gently, and asked with shame and concern: "Little lion?"

The young man - referring to the little lion - burst into tears: "Why did you come back?"

"What happened?" Winters suddenly became alert.

"You still have the nerve to ask?" The little lion choked and cursed: "I have killed all the rats in the valley!"

…

The wintering valley of the Flying Wings

Winters stood outside the felt tent door, wanting to enter but not daring to.

The subordinates wisely hid far away, no one wanted to provoke the blood wolf at this time.

Lieutenant Colonel Moritz is missing, Mayor Gilad Mitchell is missing, and even the most upright and reliable Father Carman is missing.

Winters put his fingertips on the curtain, put it down again, put it up again, and put it down again, three or four times, until he heard a clear voice coming from inside the felt tent: "Come in."

Winters pushed open the curtain, and Anna was waiting for him.

Fortunately, what he saw was a warm smile.

…

…

An unknown time, an unknown place, a conversation that has never been officially recorded.

"Sit over here."

"..."

"Sit closer."

"..."

"Sit here."

"..."

"here."

"..."

"Take off your coat."

"..."

"(The silent command of the eyes)."

"..."

"inside."

"..."

"(Another silent command from the look)."

"(Small rustling sound of undressing)."

"(Sound like washing hands)."

"..."

"(sound of warm towel wiping skin)."

"(breathing very carefully)."

"(The sound of towel continuing to wipe skin)."

"..."

"(The sound of towel continuing to wipe skin)."

"..."

"(The sound of towel continuing to wipe skin)."

"..."

"(Gently gasping) Put on clean clothes."

"(sound of getting dressed)."

"(Sound of washing towels)."

"(Sound of arms reaching out for a hug from behind)."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"For more than a month, I thought you ran away again (laughing teasingly)."

"(silent sorry)."

"(Quietly) In fact, I knew when I saw your appearance when you came back. You have been very happy this month..."

"..."

"(Quietly) Even in Tiefeng County, I have never seen you so happy, like a bird flying out of its cage..."

"..."

"(smiling slyly) Right? Are you happy?"

"(Guilty) I'm sorry."

"(Small hugging sound) Why are you sorry? (Quietly) I like to see you happy, I like to see you in high spirits (quieter and quieter voice) I like to see you free..."

"(uncontrollable tears)"

"(Sound of wiping tears) Don't cry, don't cry, stop crying (snuggle, whisper) I want to see you happy (a voice that is so small that it cannot be heard by the other party, a voice that is so small that it can only be heard in your heart) ) As for how I am...it doesn't actually matter..."

…

…

The wintering valley of the Flying Wings

The team from Tiefeng County and those from Jiangbei Province had just met and started packing again.

The guards and veterans were busy loading the vehicles, while Winters and the others took some time to take care of their mounts.

This is the number of times the little lion has complained to Winters: "We agreed that it would be as long as half a month or as short as ten days. How come you were gone for so long!"

Winters, who was at a loss, could only endure it silently and concentrate on grooming his horse.

"Do you know how I got here these days?" This is the little lion's example for countless times: "I have killed all the mice!"

"Aren't you back safely?" Winters tried to comfort the little lion.

"You've been delayed for too long! It's been too long!" The little lion became more and more angry as he spoke. He stopped brushing the horse and complained with tears in his eyes: "Maybe you missed the most fun part! Alas! Alas! I really suffered a big loss!"

"The most fun part? What?" Lieutenant Colonel Moritz next to him interrupted abruptly.

"The most fun part?! What?! What else could it be?" The little lion suddenly turned his head to look at Moritz, stared in disbelief, took a full breath and shouted: "Hunting!"

[The author absolutely does not agree with, support, or advocate the dog-licking view of love! The dog-licking view of love is neither healthy nor rational nor long-lasting. It should be severely knocked down and stepped on by ten thousand feet! ]

[Although love cannot achieve absolute equality, we should try our best to pursue relative equality. On the basis of relative equality, we should exercise appropriate tolerance and tolerance. Respect each other, support each other, live in harmony, unite and love... (uncontrollable nonsense)]

[But it should be admitted that in love, there is indeed a type of person who wants to give his heart to the other person (referring to the first love of some humans). This kind of love is childish, fragile, immature, and difficult to end well, but at the same time it is hot, hot, strong, and burns everything]

[Just imagine, assuming that Romeo and Juliet were married for the second time, they would definitely not reach the stage of seeking life and death...]

[In short, please don't ask "Why is it written like this?" The author doesn’t know why he wrote it like this, let alone why he wrote it like this. I’m even too embarrassed to read it a second time—but, once it’s written, it’s written]

[This chapter was deliberately deleted by the author to 4496 words. The extra 496 words are enough to cover that paragraph. If any readers find it annoying, please think of it as "an unofficial history content that is not officially recorded as an extra gift by recharging some coins", please Orz]