Iron Powder and Spellcaster

The subject of the third trial, the silver-haired pony-tailed colonel, strolled into the large meeting hall and calmly observed the strangers sitting on the stairs around him. His expression was not like that of a prisoner of war behind bars, but rather that of a prisoner. The fighter enters the arena.

The free men of the newly settled lands were also sizing up the strangers in the judgment seat.

Tall, handsome, calm, quiet, tired but dignified, shabby but neat, thin but dignified - these are the first impressions most free people have of the silver-haired school official.

Just like beautiful ladies always get unreasonable tolerance in social circles, the silver-haired school officer also silently won the favor of many free people.

"The person on trial." Colonel Skull broke the silence. Compared with the indifference and severity shown in the previous two trials, the colonel's attitude this time was gentler: "Are you a former Lieutenant Colonel of the Army of the Republic of Plato—— Gaspar Behrendt?”

When the silver-haired colonel heard such a formal inquiry, he raised his eyebrows in confusion at first, but then he was quickly relieved. A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: "He is a 'colonel' now, your honor. And I thought we were at ten We’ve known each other a few years ago, senior.”

"Answer the court's questions." There was not even a slight smile on Colonel Skull's face.

"Alright alright."

The silver-haired colonel shrugged helplessly, put his right hand on his chest and saluted the free men around him, as if to introduce himself: "'Former Army Lieutenant Colonel Gaspar Behrendt', that's me, that's right."

This move won him some favor among the free people of the new land.

After all, compared to the previous three "gentle" interrogators, the silver-haired school official already won at the starting line just by his elegant demeanor, which made free people feel sympathy and find it difficult to shout out the classic slogan.

However, the next moment, the silver-haired school official suddenly changed his tone and made a shocking statement.

He put down his hands, stood proudly in the court, and declared loudly: "But I am not a lackey of the 'Republic' in Zhuwangbao. I am a soldier of the Hongchuan Military Conference! My loyalty belongs to the Marshal of the Republic - Arpad ·Du Yaomu!"

Hearing the silver-haired school officer's self-declaration, the free men of the newly cultivated land were astonished as if they had just woken up from a dream.

The awakening was because people finally understood who the silver-haired colonel on the trial bench was—the Colonel Blue Rose who occupied Bazenauer and triggered the civil war in the New Reclamation;

They were shocked because people didn't understand why General Lan Qiangwei was also put on trial - weren't Hongchuan and the "New Legion" the same group?

…

[Tiefeng County Seating Area]

Nandor was completely confused: "What's going on? After interrogating Red Rose, Blue Rose will also be interrogated?"

"That's the opposite." Richard from Blackwater Town looked enigmatic: "It's because Hongchuan is to be tried, so the King's Castle must be tried first."

"Brother." Nandor smacked his lips and smiled bitterly: "I understand every word you say, but why can't I understand it when you put it together?"

"Let's see." Richard glanced at Nandor, and then at the old Dussac, who also looked puzzled: "The first two trials are just 'private court', this third trial is 'Ming Zhengdian punishment'."

…

[in court]

"Gaspar Behrendt, now that your identity has been verified, I will inform you of the basic information of this court and your rights."

Colonel Scull looked serious: "This is a special court for free people, established according to the rights granted by the Charter of the Union. I am the prosecutor and the chief judge. And all the free people here are associate judges, and they will jointly decide whether you Guilty. Gaspar Behrendt, do you know why you were brought before the Special Court of Freedmen?"

"Your Honor, if you are asking literally why I am here, I can answer you." Gaspar squinted at the ugly guy in the first row of seats on his right: "I am struggling After winning a siege, I was attacked by what I thought was a friendly force, captured, and brought here."

In the Baishan County seating area, Colonel Gesa crossed his arms and snorted coldly.

Gaspar nodded elegantly to Colonel Geza, and then continued: "As for what you really want to ask, 'Why was I brought to your court'? I know nothing, and I'm afraid everyone in the hall Free men are as confused as I am.”

After saying that, Gaspar bent slightly and saluted to the judge's bench: "So, please tell me the answer."

"Because he is suspected of participating in secession, subversion of the republic, and organizing, planning and carrying out armed riots." Every time Colonel Scull mentioned a crime, he would leave a long blank. He told the other party slowly: "Gas Pal Behrendt, you are accused of treason."

As soon as these words came out, the free men in the jury box were stunned and fell into silence. On the contrary, Gaspar himself just frowned slightly.

"Gaspar Behrendt." Colonel Scull asked solemnly, "Do you plead guilty?"

"I have committed many sins in my life, including drunkenness, indulgence, lying, and arrogance... I will not deny them. May the Lord bless me." Gaspar saluted casually, then put away his smile: "Only treason 'I cannot agree with this accusation."

Facing the free men of the new land, Gaspar Behrendt gave an unequivocal answer: "I do not admit guilt!"

Colonel Scull was noncommittal and continued to inform him of his rights: "Gaspar Behrendt, during this trial, you have the right to apply for recusal, request witnesses to appear in court, refuse to answer irrelevant questions, defend yourself or entrust others to defend you, and participate in the trial. The right to argue, to see the transcript, and to make final statements. Did you hear that clearly?”

"You hear me clearly," Gaspar Behrendt replied with a smile: "That's fair, isn't it?"

"Are you going to apply for interested person recusal?" Colonel Scull asked.

Gaspar looked around and spread his hands: "The jurors sitting in the hall are either my classmates who broke their bones and connected their tendons, or they are strangers I don't know at all - so, no, I Do not apply for recusal.”

"Do you need to entrust someone to defend you?" Colonel Scull asked again.

"In this hall, the defender I trust most is you, senior. But you are already sitting on the judge's bench." Gaspar shook his head regretfully: "No, I choose to defend myself."

"The indictment will be read out below." After a short preparation, Colonel Scull put on his monocle and opened the indictment: "Gaspar Behrendt, on May 12th of this year, you commanded four infantry brigades. Two squadrons of cavalry and cavalry, a total of about 2,300 people, set out from the area controlled by the Hongchuan Army Conference, crossed the Jinliu River, attacked and occupied Bazenauer, the capital of Jinghu County, Xinchengdi Province. Here Is the statement incorrect?”

Gaspar politely corrected: "When setting off, the organization of my troops was six infantry brigades and two hussar squadrons. Some of the barges were intercepted, and only 2,300 people were left ashore. As for the troops you used I cannot accept the word 'attack' because Bazenauer changed its flag on its own initiative. This can be confirmed by the mayor of Bazenauer and my subordinate Major Kalkin."

"Proactively change the flag?" Colonel Skull narrowed his eyes: "You mean to 'actively' change the flag on the premise that Kalkin Ferenz promised a high position and a lot of money?"

"The 'initiative' that is persuaded is of course the initiative." Gaspar pretended to look at the free men around him in surprise, and asked confidently: "Otherwise, wouldn't every man be a rapist?"

There was a low chuckle from the seats around the bench.

Colonel Skull frowned in displeasure, but he did not step into the trap set by his apprentice and fight with the latter on the definition of "rape". Instead, he went straight to the point: "Since you have admitted to occupying Bazenau, Your troops are under your command, so answer me: What is your purpose in leading the troops to capture Bazenauer?"

"What purpose?" Gaspar circled a little and asked with a smile: "Military purpose or political purpose? Primary purpose or secondary purpose? Short-term purpose or long-term purpose? Fundamental purpose or superficial purpose?"

Colonel Scull still had a portrait-like expressionless face: "This court has enough time, you can explain everything."

"As expected of you, you are so funny." Gaspar first politely complimented him, then sat upright and replied seriously: "The purpose of the Military Council to obtain Bazenauer is very simple: the defense line of the lower reaches of the Jinliu River. It is difficult to break through, so the Military Council hopes to open a gap in the upstream area to launch a new round of offensive. Bazenauer is the breakthrough and bridgehead selected by the Military Council."

After a pause to give the audience some time to digest, Gaspar Behrendt spoke again.

He looked calm and revealed all the dark considerations of Hongchuan: "There is another reason for choosing Bazenauer: the Military Council believes that the death of General Kevin Adams is a god-given opportunity. The troops are dispatched to the new land. After moving to Maplestone City, the external defenses of the New Reclamation Province were greatly weakened and the internal situation became tense. If some external force is applied to break the balance, it is very likely to trigger a civil war in the New Reclamation Province. At that time, the Military Council will have the opportunity to send the New Reclamation Army to Take him under his wing."

Gaspar nodded slightly: "The above is the purpose of the Military Council ordering me to lead my troops to reclaim new land."

The Great Council Hall was silent, and the free people in the newly cultivated land were a little uncomfortable with General Blue Rose's excessive honesty.

"When you made the decision to trigger a civil war in the New Reclamation Land." Colonel Scull took off his monocle, was silent for a moment, and asked, "Have you considered the subsequent effects?"

"I have considered it." Gaspar replied bluntly: "If you can defeat the New Reclamation Army, it will naturally be the best result, which means that the entire New Reclamation Province will become the enemy of the King's Castle;

“If you can’t defeat the New Reclamation Land Dispatch Army, you will at least weaken and contain the power of the King’s Castle;

"At the same time, as a local garrison, your influence in each county is deeply rooted and difficult to eradicate in a short period of time. Even if the New Reclamation Army dispatches troops to win the Civil War in the New Reclamation Land, they will only get an unstable New Reclamation Land from which it is difficult to draw war resources. .”

Colonel Blue Rose in the trial seat spoke eloquently, but the new free man in the jury seat heard it very uncomfortable.

Because of the former's tone, they felt like a piece of meat on the chopping board, being turned over, inspected, and pointed at by butchers and diners.

However, they couldn't help but admire the former's courage to tell the truth. They heard too many fake truths, but some truths with a stinging feeling made them even more fond of him.

"What I mean is, have you ever considered it?" Colonel Scull sighed: "Drawing the New Reclamation Province into the civil war will mean a lot to the New Reclamation Corps, the members of the New Reclamation Corps, and the people of the New Reclamation Land. What are you wearing?"

Gaspar was stunned for a moment, then smiled and shook his head: "Don't be so hypocritical, senior. If you think about it so much, there will be no way to fight. You know this better than me."

Colonel Scull did not retort, nor did he beat the opponent with a moral stick like he did in the previous two trials. He just put on his monocle again and continued to ask: "Who gave you the order to 'occupy Bazenauer'?" Who is this? Arpad Dujame?"

"It's not a person, it's the decision-making committee." Gaspar added: "In fact, Marshal Arpad does not support the plan to send troops to the new land. But as a collective decision of the decision-making committee, he cannot reject it. .”

Colonel Scull considered his words and asked: "In other words, the highest military authority of the Hongchuan Military Conference is the 'Decision-making Committee', rather than Alpad Duyaom having sole power."

"You can think so." Gaspar looked around at the free people and explained calmly: "We are soldiers, we obey orders, and we respect authority, but this does not mean that the regime we establish will be like the army. Order everything.”

Colonel Scull did not comment on this, but continued to ask: "The highest 'military' authority of the Hongchuan Military Conference is the decision-making committee. Is the 'highest authority' also the decision-making committee?"

Gaspar no longer responded as eloquently as before, and his eyebrows furrowed into a shallow furrow: "I'm not quite sure what you mean, Your Honor."

"My question is very straightforward." Colonel Scull repeated it patiently: "Is the highest authority of the regime established by the Military Conference - the regime commonly known as the Third Republic of Plato - also the 'Military Conference'? decision-making committee'."

The colonel's monocle reflected the light from the skylight, making it impossible to see his eyes clearly.

Gaspar subconsciously smoothed the ponytail on the back of his head and asked slowly: "What is the 'supreme authority'?"

The atmosphere began to change subtly, and even the dullest free man could vaguely feel that Colonel Blue Rose, who had been chatting and laughing before, was avoiding the question, and the initiative in this conversation was changing hands.

"If you don't want to answer, I can ask you in another way." Colonel Scull put down the file, crossed his arms on the judge's bench, stared at Gaspard Behrendt, and asked the question word by word. , making every syllable reach everyone's ears unmistakably: "How does what you call 'the regime we have established' make laws, levy taxes, appoint officials, command armies, declare war, and decide peace?"

"Tell me, Gaspar Behrendt." Colonel Scull stood up slowly, looked down at the interrogator, and asked with a very oppressive tone: "Who is responsible for the 'regime we established' as you call it? rule?"

[must! Win! ]

[The plot of the meeting is about to end! Finally I can hear the roar of the cannon again, woo woo woo woo Q_Q, cannon, my cannon]

[Some book friends suggested that [Rebuilding Home and Country] be subdivided into different subsections, because the current serial number is too long, already reaching 25. The author thinks this suggestion is very reasonable, so I would like to ask for your opinions]

[Should we subdivide [Rebuilding Homeland]? For example, it was divided into one section before Gilad met Mavi and Siegfried in the tavern, Gilad was divided into one section in the tavern, and then the part of the meeting of free men was divided into one section again? ]

[Thanks to book friends for their collection, reading, subscription, recommendation votes, monthly votes, rewards and comments, thank you all]