Iron Powder and Spellcaster

As the threatening words came out of Admiral Zio's mouth, the originally tense atmosphere of the conversation suddenly became tense.

"Be careful, Lord Zio." Captain Tiye reminded "kindly": "Don't forget who you are talking to."

"Who are we talking to?" Major General Leighton's eyes showed a fierce look, covering the three people in front of him like dark clouds: "Who are we talking to?"

He pressed one hand on the table, and the four legs of the conference table suddenly let out an overwhelmed scream.

"We are talking to [Dandolo]! We are talking to [Pisani]! We are talking to [Tiepolo]! We are talking to the richest, most famous and most powerful family in Hailan." Ray Rear Admiral Ton pointed at Captain Tiye’s nose: “That’s why you—not cats and dogs from other navies—are sitting here!”

Vetor Pisani responded: "You know who you are talking to, but you are still so rude. It seems that the military academy of the federal provinces has not taught you what etiquette is?"

Seeing that the meeting was about to break up again, Major General Jacob de Barr had to reconcile: "Why do we have to argue over words - we are not Flora people, are we?"

Vetor Pisani snorted lightly, but did not reply with any tit-for-tat sarcasm.

The air in the Army's classified archives was uncomfortably hot and turbid due to large amounts of moisture-proof and insect-repellent wadding under the floors.

Major General de Barr left his chair, opened the ventilation duct in the corner of the room, and pushed Major General Leighton back to his seat.

"There are no outsiders here, and there is no army or navy. There are only a few Hailan people who are worried about the fate of the motherland." Major General de Barr brought the conversation back to the topic with ease. He stated seriously:

"You are invited here anyway, just to inform you that the puppet emperor is vigorously expanding his fleet, buying large amounts of military supplies and renovating the roads and bridges in the southern border of the empire on a large scale. We have tangible evidence in our hands that, The false emperor has never really given up his ambition for the Union territory. Once we shed too much blood in the civil war, the next sovereignty war will befall our generation."

After hearing De Baer's words, the three naval officers fell into a strange silence.

Suddenly, Vetor Pisani laughed out loud: "Isn't this something everyone knows?"

Young Pisani asked the three army generals in disbelief: "You went through all the trouble to invite us here just to talk about this?"

Major General Leighton looked a little confused: "We are showing you irrefutable evidence."

Little Pisani choked back unceremoniously: "I don't need your evidence, I also know the false emperor's ambition towards the inner sea!"

Following precedent, the conversation was about to escalate into an argument, but Admiral Zio's words stopped the process.

"We know what you are doing in Tanirya." The army general raised his eyes like deep pools and said slowly: "You recruited a large number of unemployed people in the name of sailors, but you let Lieutenant General Serbti replace you. You train them."

Colonel Vauban, who was sitting on the edge of the conference table, suddenly became more restless, but he did not dare to interrupt the general's speech.

Admiral Zio's voice was not loud, but every word was extremely clear: "People inside the army ridicule the Third Army as the 'Army of the Navy,' but in fact, you are using the Third Army to arm an army that truly belongs to the Navy. . Act like this even if you don't hesitate to trample on the principle of separation of land and sea - you are preparing for a dangerous gamble."

This time, Captain Pisani and Captain Tiye both consciously kept silent.

Both of them looked at Admiral Dandolo in the middle. Firstly, the two captains could not easily interrupt the conversation between the admirals; secondly, they did not know much about the situation in the Tanilia Islands.

"If you are really as worried about the fate of the alliance as you said." Admiral Dandolo did not comment on Admiral Zio's words. He said slowly: "Then you should show these files to the people of the United Provinces, and Not for us to see.”

"No need." Admiral Zio replied coldly: "People in the United Provinces spend a lot more money in the north than we do."

Admiral Dandolo met the Army General's gaze: "In this case, the people of the United Provinces still choose to send troops. That proves that they have come to the conclusion that the empire is temporarily unable to go south. The Southern General Army has been disbanded, and then The cruel liquidation that came has made the nobles in the southern region panic."

General Zio frowned: "Although pulling out the sores will cause pain in the short term, it will only make the body stronger in the long run. Besides, you should know better than us about the situation of the Southern General Army. After thirty years, , are about to be infiltrated into a sieve by the people of the United Provinces. Rather than being an army, they are more like the largest smugglers in the southern border of the empire. What difference does it make if such an army is disbanded or not?"

"But the General Army of the South has indeed been banned." Admiral Dandolo's eyes became sharp: "Don't say that the General Army of the South is not a sharp sword. Even if it is just a stone, as long as it hangs over the head of the alliance, it is enough to make everyone People dare not act rashly. But now, it has disappeared. You can say this is a conspiracy of the false emperor, but it is also an opportunity. An opportunity to completely solve the problem."

"The people of the United Provinces are experts in Fabian tactics and fortress defense. Before the new Southern General Army is formed, there is no possibility of completely solving the problem." General Zio's words were resounding: "This is not an opportunity! This is a trap!"

Admiral Dandolo looked at the Army General: "In other words, you also agree that completely solving the problem is not a matter of principle, but a technical issue."

Admiral Zio crossed his arms, lowered his eyes, and said no more.

Admiral Dandolo no longer leaned forward and returned to the sitting position before the conversation, declaring that the confrontation between the two was over.

Pisani Jr. and Captain Tiye had a wordless exchange. Finally, Pisani Jr. spoke first: "In any case, the people of the United Provinces have crossed the red line. We would like to know, respectable army colleagues. How do you plan to respond?”

This time it was Major General Leighton and Major General de Barr's turn to exchange glances.

After receiving the support, Major General Leighton cleared his throat and said very proudly: "We have a young man in the army who, by some strange combination of circumstances, is now serving in Plato. But after all, he is from Veneta and served in Tani. He learned a lot of skills during the War of Conquest, so he did well in Plato and now has a considerable army.

The United Provinces must be taught a lesson for their transgressions, but Veneta should support an agent in Plato and conduct war with the United Provinces through the agent instead of sending troops personally, so that the war can be limited to a controllable range. And this young man from Veneta in Plato is the best agent and gripper. "

Major General Leighton boasted proudly, but little Pisani's face at the other end of the conference table became weirder and weirder.

"With all due respect." Vetor Pisani interrupted the Army Major General and asked tentatively: "Is the 'Venetan man who served in Plato' you are talking about... the one who... Winters Montagne, the adopted son of General Serbetti?”

"Oh?" Major General Leighton was stunned for a moment: "You know?"

Little Pisani burst into laughter, raised his eyebrows and asked, "Who among Hailan today doesn't know about 'Wolf's Blood'?"

Major General Leighton waved his hand: "That's even better. It saves me having to introduce him to you. You just need to know that although he is young, he is very capable and absolutely loyal and reliable."

"Please wait a moment." Little Pisani rubbed his forehead: "Of course we have heard about Wolf Blood's illustrious military exploits and legendary experience. If there is a chance, I would also like to see this compatriot in person. But you Say, he is from your army?"

"Of course." Layton's nostrils were almost rising to the sky: "During the Tanirian War, Winters Montagne served under my nose."

"It's hard to say." A pleasant smile appeared on little Pisani's face. He raised his hand and pointed at Colonel Vauban, who was trying his best to be invisible: "General Serb's envoy is sitting there. You might as well ask him yourself. Serbia Can General Di be able to command [Wolf Blood]?"

"And a son who can't be commanded by me?" Leighton sneered.

Colonel Vauban's expression became more and more embarrassing. He blushed and said hesitantly: "Lieutenant General Serbetti specifically ordered me to tell you that Captain Winters Montagne is not an officer under his command. He cannot order Montagne. Captain Montagne will do something that goes against his interests. Similarly, he will not take actions that go against the interests of the Republic for Captain Montagne. Please... don't worry."

Major General Leighton stood up and glared at Colonel Vauban fiercely.

Poor Vauban is a colonel, so he can only lower his head and pretend to be a piece of furniture.

Little Wettor's words came lightly: "It seems that the comment of 'absolutely loyal and reliable' needs to be reconsidered."

"Damn! What are you being sarcastic about?" Layton slammed the table: "After all, isn't it because you have spent too much military spending?! Otherwise, why would we have to compromise like this? There are homeless people everywhere on the streets. Those who have returned are a ready source of soldiers. At this time, they should be absorbed into the army instead of forcing them to take risks.

Give us two more legions, and the security problem in Veneta will be solved immediately! To expand the four legions, the United Provinces will never dare to act rashly! Expand the army by eight, and you won’t have to end up in trouble. We will solve the United Provinces for you once and for all.

But you are like snakes! My stomach is about to burst, but my mouth is still shouting ‘not enough’! Greed sucked at the Republic's finances without caring what impact it would have on the Army. What qualifications do you have to be sarcastic? "

"Knowing that the unemployed are a factor of instability, we still have to arm them, train them locally, and put the knife in their hands." Vettor Pisani was not to be outdone: "Isn't this ridiculous?"

"When you join the army, you will naturally make them obey you."

"Resentment doesn't dissipate so easily. How do you know they won't fight back?"

Seeing that the situation was about to get out of control again, it was Major General de Barr who came to the rescue: "Okay, let's stop arguing about irrelevant topics. I invited my naval colleagues here today in the hope that we can first reach an agreement on the future route between the army and the navy. Consensus, rather than fighting over the Army and Navy first.”

Both Vetor Pisani and Leighton were very proud of Major General de Barr. They stopped talking, but neither looked at the other.

Major General De Barr took a deep breath and looked at Admiral Dandolo: "Even if General Serbetti's adopted son has his own interests to consider, he will not refuse our assistance. In any case, an agency that does not require wet hands A human war is more in line with Veneta's interests. Compared to other forces in Plato, Captain Winters Montagne is naturally closer to us, so he is still the best agent candidate."

"No need to wet your hands?" Captain Thie asked back: "The first lesson every naval officer learns on the deck is that 'it is impossible not to wet your clothes as long as you are on the ship,' let alone your hands."

"But it's better to wet your hands than to wet your whole body." De Barr responded without being humble or condescending: "Isn't it?"

Vettor Pisani and Lorenzo Thie both set their sights on the admiral.

Martino Dandolo is sixty-four years old.

When he first set foot on the deck, the Republic of Veneta did not yet exist. The Seablue people were fighting with the Nathrians. Mercenaries were the main body of the army. The tiresome city-state war seemed to have no end in sight.

At that time, if someone had claimed that "the city-states that are fighting openly and secretly today will be unified into a new country in the future," they would definitely be ridiculed.

Unlike generals on land, few naval commanders lived to Martino Dandolo's age.

Sudden cross winds, unrecorded reefs, huge waves higher than the mast... there are too many things on the sea that can easily capsize a ship. Poor living conditions, poor diet, and scurvy also greatly shortened the lifespan of captains and sailors.

The more important reason is: Army generals who have lost their troops and humiliated their country still have a chance to survive; and naval commanders who have lost their fleet, even if they are lucky enough to escape the fate of sinking with the ship, will eventually be taken away by a beheading sword in the Parliament Square. head.

The sea is like an altar, swallowing up generations of Hailan people.

Half of the captains will not live past the age of forty; if they reach the age of fifty, most will never go to sea again.

Only when you live to the age of sixty can you be qualified to compete for the position of fleet commander.

When Martino Dandolo was sixty-two years old, he was promoted to Commander of the Inland Sea Fleet, the most powerful position in the Veneta Navy.

Now he spoke.

"I have seen the tsunami that flooded the city and the fire that devoured the city." Admiral Dandolo said: "I have seen the flag of the Emerald people flying under the sea blue city, and I have also witnessed our San Marco flag with hundreds of flowers. The walls of the city. I have won victories and experienced disastrous defeats. Some of the difficulties that you think are earth-shattering, once you go through them and look back, you will find that they are just small waves in history. Every time, the city of Hailan can burst out. Strength and achieve final victory.”

In the archives room, some people nodded, some were dissatisfied, some had expressionless faces, and some pretended to be furniture, but everyone, without exception, was listening quietly.

Admiral Dandolo said calmly: "And one thing I've learned in all the years I've been through - sometimes you can't solve a problem completely without getting wet all over."

Admiral Zio frowned.

Admiral Dandolo's thick body grew taller invisibly: "The Navy's attitude has not changed since hundreds of years ago. Our interests are consistent with Hailan. We support violent and rapid wars. When the war begins We will do our best when the war is over and the merchant fleet can once again safely sail the inland seas. We cannot support a long, attriting war that is bad for business. And your agent plan will drag us down. into a protracted war.”

"It's bad for business?" Major General Leighton said sarcastically: "In the past two years, you have seized merchant ships from the United Provinces on the inland sea, and you have made a lot of money."

Captain Thie replied disdainfully: "Compared with the losses, the income is nothing."

"Business is not everything in Venetta." Admiral Zio stared at the Admiral.

"No." Admiral Dandolo replied firmly: "Trade is everything in Hailan!"

Admiral Dandolo stood up, followed quickly by Vettor Pisani and Lorenzo Thie.

"The inland sea must be restored to safety as soon as possible, and Hailan needs to solve the problem once and for all." Admiral Dandolo faced his army colleagues and said the last sentence: "If the army can't do it, then the navy will do it for you!"

[I hope everyone will be safe and healthy next year]

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