Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 114 The Wave

"This idiot, Layton, hasn't grown up for so many years." A man at the dining table was complaining: "It's convenient for him to take civilians from his home as hostages, why doesn't he think about what the Republic will be like after the war is over? rule here?"

   This was an intimate dinner in the port of Red Sulphur, and there were two other people at the table—Antonio and Winters.

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

   It was Antonio who put down the tableware after hearing the words, and defended it: "The situation at that time was rather special, and he had no other way to do it. But having said that, Layton's reputation among the civilians on the island is surprisingly good now."

"Of course. He first scared the islanders to **** their pants, and then he came to kill the people. Of course, the Tanirians are grateful to him." The man snorted coldly and said disdainfully: "But this It's temporary, the islanders will gradually forget their fear and gratitude, maybe even Layton's name. Just remember that the Veneta once took their family to fill the trench."

   If someone else said these words, it would probably be considered a nonsense.

   But this man at the table is qualified to judge Layton, because he is Gus Lanci, an old classmate of Antonio and Layton, and the governor of Red Iwo Island who has just arrived.

  Gus Lanci has an unusual resume. He graduated from the Army Officers Academy in the same year as Antonio Seretti and Roster Leighton, and also graduated from the cavalry department.

   After entering the army, Gus Lanci rose step by step, and he was expected to get the commander's baton at the earliest in the same period. But after sixteen years of service, for some reason Gus Lanci suddenly gave up his promising future in the army, turned to politics, and became a glorious and humble public servant.

Fortunately, there are also big figures in the administrative system. Gus Lanqi started from the lowest level of notary public, and went straight to the sky. He soon sat in the position of the mayor of Modonggang. evaluation of.

   Because of his background, origin and past experience, Gus Lanci still maintains inextricable links with the Army and the military, and he is also considered to be an important communication bridge between the two major systems of administration and military.

   It is precisely because of this that the ruling five-member group appointed him as the first governor of Red Iwo Island.

  Gus and Antonio had a deep friendship, and for Winters he was "the uncle who often came to the house when he was a child". Antonio invited Gus to a private dinner and called Winters over.

"Soldiers, you shouldn't think about politics." Antonio smiled leniently, and he frowned again and asked, "But I don't want to understand now, what does the so-called 'semi-colonies' in the resolution mean? "

   "Semi-colonies" is the political status given to "new territories" such as Red Sulphur Island and Haiquan Island by the Veneta ruling committee.

   "Hi, it's actually quite simple. Think about it, since it's a semi-colony, what's the other half?" Gus's face showed that kind of "smart guy who knows everything" smile.

   "Semi-overseas territory?"

"No." Gus shook his finger: "It's a semi-occupied area. But if you use this name, it is tantamount to acknowledging the Federation's ownership of the archipelago. The five-member regiment neither wants to rule the archipelago as a conqueror, nor does it want to. Citizenship is now granted to Tanirians, hence the term semi-colonies."

   "It seems that the Directorate has no intention of actually including the archipelago as part of Veneta?" Antonio's worries deepened.

"The Archon has a long-term plan for the archipelago. I believe that in the future, the archipelago will gradually have a political status equal to that of the mainland, but not now." Gus Lanchi said, leaving the table, walking to the window, watching The red sulfur port terminal outside the window said slowly: "Give the Tanirians citizenship now, how can the Republic squeeze money out of the archipelago?"

   As soon as these words came out, even Winters, who had been eating silently, stopped his movements.

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

   "Is finances so tight?" Winters couldn't help asking.

"I don't know how many ducats are still 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 here I am. ."

   Winters sighed inwardly: "Fill... how to fill it?"

"Since it is our enemy, all the fixed assets of the Red Iwo Island Council will be confiscated and realised. The property owned by members of the council will also be confiscated and auctioned." Gus Lanci explained briefly, leaning back in his chair With a smile on his back, he said, "The fastest way to create wealth is to build an empire, and the fastest way to build an empire is to destroy an empire."

  The members of the council are equivalent to all the plantation owners on the island. The fixed assets of the Red Sulphur 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 the Red Sulfur Port. Can you give him some grace?" Winters immediately thought of Kalman of Red Pine Manor.

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

   Winters calmed down a little, thought of the slaves on the island again, and asked, "What about the slaves in the plantation?"

"It's also very simple." Gus Lanchi had already made up his mind: "Vinetta's law does not allow slavery in any form, but slaves are important property of the plantation. So after the plantation is seized, all the island's Slaves can redeem themselves."

   "Where did the slaves get the money to redeem themselves?" Winters smirked.

   "The Veneta government can lend them a sum of money to redeem themselves." Gus took a sip of wine and said rightfully: "The freed slaves can repay their debts with labor."

   Winters listened to Gus's words, but it seemed that there was not much change. But this is not the field he can talk about, and he doesn't say anything.

   On the contrary, Antonio raised his eyebrows and asked, "Doing this would mean wiping out the wealthy class of Red Iwo, aren't you worried about provoking civil unrest?"

"Do you think there are more poor people or more rich people on the island?" Gus Lanchi spread his hands and said with a smile: "The main body of the civil uprising is 'people'. I won't extend my hand to the property of the commoners and the poor. The rich's Power comes from wealth, depriving them of their property, leaving them with only the attributes of 'human', I would like to see how they resist me. Besides, isn't there still you? As long as your swords are sharp enough, on the island of Red Iwo I can do whatever I want. I want them to resist, just in time to clean up the Scarlet Sulphur Island."

   "It seems that you already have a comprehensive plan." Antonio said, considering his words: "You haven't changed for so many years, and you are still...radical."

"Why else would you let me come to Red Iwo?" Gus Lanci tapped his knuckles on the table, and said happily: "Who would scrape the money of the poor of Red Iwo? Only the people of Red Iwo. Rich people do this. Where did the council's property come from? Isn't it all squeezed from the poor? I'm different, I'm too lazy to make money from the poor, and I'll shave whoever has the money!"

"My duty is to capture the Red Sulphur Island, and I have already completed it." Antonio sighed: "As for how to rule this place, that is your duty. You must have considered it when the government appointed you as the governor. "

"I won't tell you this, I know you're not interested." Gus saw that his old classmate was not interested in his plan, and turned to look at Winters, who was fighting with ribs: "Son, you are on the island. The reputation is also very good! The representatives of the citizens asked me several times, 'Can Warrant Lieutenant Montagne stay'. How about staying here and helping me? I need some good people."

  Winters and Andre went to "buy firewood as a letter" before, but they didn't think too much about it. After the dry firewood was transported back to the red sulfur port, they found that the residents were short of such living materials.

   Originally, the surrounding farmers picked firewood to the city and sold it to the residents of Chisulfur Port. After the landing of Veneta's army, the peasants dared not come. The firewood reserves of the residents were quickly exhausted, and they were worried about what to do.

   Seeing that the residents of Red Sulphur Port are in urgent need of fuel, Winters simply distributed the few trucks of dry wood he bought for free, which relieved the residents' urgent needs. Winters also stopped by the villages surrounding the port to restore the firewood supply to the Red Sulphur port.

   Over and over, Warrant Officer Montagne's reputation became very good among the residents of Red Sulphur Harbor.

  The two legions are about to start, but there are still some soldiers left on the island of Red Iwo. It should be a centurion, but a centurion is missing.

   Hearing Gus's proposal, Winters was really moved. Thinking that it would be safer to stay on Red Sulphur Island and deal with a few plantation owners than to fight against the Union army?

   He thought of Kesha, Ella, and Anna, who wanted to return home safely.

   Winters looked at Antonio.

   Hearing Gus Lanci's proposal, Antonio was stunned for a moment, then said softly to Winters: "You decide for yourself, stay here if you want."

   Winters gritted his teeth, and finally shook his head, got up and bowed to Gus, and replied, "I'm lacking in ability, and there are others who are more suitable for the position of Red Iwo Island."

   "Okay." Gus Lanchi didn't say anything more, and said with a smile: "The army is still as wicked as ever, taking away all the great boys, and not a good one for me."

   "You always sneer at the army, aren't you also from the army?" Antonio also laughed.

   Gus said with a stern face: "So I was also a great guy when I was young."

   The two looked at each other and laughed.

The slightly drunk Gus Lanci looked at Winters again: "Your kid really looks more and more like your father... It wasn't so similar when I was a child... But now I look more and more like... Back then, I, Anton When you and your father were studying in the military academy..."

  See middle-aged males' favorite entertainment-reminiscing about the glorious past has begun again.

  Winters rolled his eyes in his heart, smiled awkwardly, and continued to immerse himself in the soup. Rugus and Antonio, you and I recalled their youth.

   A few hours later, the drunk Gus Lanci was carried into the bedroom by the servants, and Antonio and Winters rode away from the more requisitioned Governor's Mansion of Red Sulphur Island.

  "Why do I think" With only himself and his uncle, Winters has no scruples: "Uncle Lanci seems to have a personal grudge with the Federation?"

  Antonio said lightly: "Because Gus Lanci... was originally a Tanirian."

  …

  …

   The daunting star-shaped fortress of the Red Sulphur Port was only held for a day, but the old city defense of the tower city took a full month to finally conquer.

The    siege exhausted the Veneta soldiers and cast a shadow on the hearts of all officers. Some officers even said in private: "If the Tanis' defenders are as difficult as William Kidd, then we might as well make peace on the basis of the results as soon as possible."

   After resting for more than a month, the Regiment of the Great Veneta and the Regiment of San Marco, which had been supplemented, left Red Iwo Island.

  The fears of the officers did not come true to some extent, and not all of them had the tenacious will of William Kidd.

  Three weeks later, the Union defenders of Cutthroat Harbor surrendered to the Veneta army.

   After another month, the legions of Veneta and Santorini captured Santorini.

  The time has come to December. The climate of the archipelago in winter is very different from that of the warm Veneta. The cold sea breeze in winter makes the skin on people's hands and faces chapped, revealing blood-red flesh, which hurts when touched. Even though the temperature hasn't reached freezing yet, I don't feel warm in two layers of clothes.

   The waves on the ocean are getting rougher day by day, and it is difficult for galleys to sail safely in this unpredictable waters. Only large round boats can carry supplies between the archipelago and Veneta.

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

   Offshore islets, jagged shore gaps, miasma lagoons... Tanirians are everywhere hiding agile and agile clippers, waiting to hunt down the unarmed Veneta transports.

  The Veneta Navy had to put more warships into the operation of protecting the route, and the brutal attack and counter-attack war started on the sea of ​​Senas in winter.

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

   In the face of an unsuitable environment, Antonio Seretti and Roster Leighton still ruthlessly drive the soldiers toward the next Tanirian city.

   However, when faced with the fortified fortifications of Gusa, even the ruthless officers could not let the tired soldiers attack.

  The Battle of Gusa turned into a long and hard siege. The Venetas were powerless to attack, and the Gusa defenders were powerless to fight back. 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 up all the grain, mules, dogs, cats, mice, and leather, the Gusa who had to start eating human corpses finally couldn't bear it any longer. The citizens of Gusa and the Union army began to attack and kill each other, and even the Veneta people outside the city could hear the sound of killing and screaming clearly.

   The next day, when the citizens of Gusa who had killed all the Union soldiers surrendered, the Veneta who entered the city found that this once vibrant and prosperous city... had completely died.

  No Veneta people can be happy, not only because of the purgatory-like tragic scene in front of them, but also because they got a message:

The troops of the   Forsland Republic [Pedestrian Republic] have entered the Golden Port and have been warmly welcomed by the Taniria Federation. Announcement of the Union: The archipelago has officially become the eighteenth province of the Union.

   Secretary of State Lionel issued a stern note demanding the immediate return of the occupied archipelagic territories by the Republic of Veneta.

   The first "Goddess of Victory" Legion of the Interprovincial Army pointed directly at the occupied area of ​​Veneta, and confronted the Legion of Vinetta and San Marco across the river.

  The Legion of the Goddess of Victory is gearing up, provoking small-scale bloodshed many times, and everyone knows the idea of ​​​​wanting to take advantage of the exhaustion of Veneta's veterans and veterans to wipe out the two legions.

   The situation within the alliance is rapidly heating up, and even the most optimistic Senas people about the alliance are now unable to assert that a civil war will never break out.

  Many interprovincial commentators clamored to "completely resolve the chronic ailment of the Confederate state" and "remove the status quo of the military independence of the Republic of Veneta".

  De Bella also **** for tat added a new title to the title of consul of Veneta: Lord of the three-fifths of the Tanirian Islands.

On the one hand, the title    is due to the careful and shrewd nature of the Veneta people to put everything in the balance of the sky—the Veneta people really occupy three-fifths of the archipelago.

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

  The Covenetas only got three-fifths of the total, which was the result of the continuous battle between Antonio and Layton in winter.

  The Veneta people fought desperately, and in the end they only made wedding dresses for the United Provinces. The Union Provinces had no trouble getting the other two-fifths of the archipelago, including the best parts of Taniria, the Golden Harbor and the main island.

   On the Tanilla Islands, witnessing military struggles and political games, you will come on stage, Winters has spent winter, spring, and ushered in the midsummer of the new year.

  Compared to the high-spirited young man who just walked out of the military academy at this time last year, Winters lost 13 kilograms, and his whole body changed from sturdy to lighter. The cheeks were sunken, and the lines of the cheekbones and jaw became clearer.

   One hard siege after another tortured him like this, and all Veneta suffered the same.

   He started growing a beard on his jaw—actually shaving in the winter had cracked the skin on his face, and everyone just stopped taking care of it.

  Many officers died in battle, and even an apprentice officer like him is now filling the vacancy as a centurion, in charge of a centurion that is half-staffed.

  According to Anna's request, he wrote many letters, each of which was written in great detail. But not a single one could be sent back - the exchanges with local ships were intermittent, and even officers did not have the privilege to take up precious shipping capacity to send letters.

   A year has passed, and the probationary period has ended. Winters, Bud, Andre, and the others will return to Guitu City to obtain official ranks.

   (End of Tide Scroll)

   This is yesterday's update, there's one more tonight...should...

   The Book of Waves is over. I didn’t expect that the first volume actually had 500,000 words written. I originally thought that writing 200,000 words would be wordy enough. The next volume will be written a bit more concise and try not to drag the plot. I really didn't want to write so much, but I wrote it when I wanted to, without any regrets.

   This volume is an introduction to the stage background, the main characters and forces appear, and the tide has begun to rise, "All stories that will happen in the future can be answered in the past."

   Thanks to the book friends who have voted for the recommendation before, and thanks to the book friends who have been accompanying this book,

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

   Self/entertainment/self/music, never/think/ever/earn/money/also/don't/feel/get/write/get/good/to/other/person/spend/money/purchase/buy. Only/can/create/create a VIP volume/I/just/no/put/second/volume/put/in/first/volume/in/, then/like/compare/compare/don't/twist/ thank you all/

   (end of this chapter)