Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 409 Monsoon (2)

  [Time: April 1, 560 of the imperial calendar (four days ago)]

  [Guitucheng garrison garrison, daffodil fort]

  The Daffodil Fort outside Guitu was the first on the coast of the Inland Sea—and probably the first on the entire continent—to have a true geometric perfection.

   Starting from the main body of the fort, six large triangular forts stretch out along the axis, presenting a slender and delicate center-symmetric structure. The whole fortress is like a blooming daffodil, floating quietly on the edge of the city.

   But twenty-seven years ago, when the Daffodil Fortress had just been completed, she was given another name.

   Unlike the past, the planning of this unprecedented city defense building no longer relies on the secret formulas and skills of the masons, but is completed through a large number of fine, complex and rigorous mathematical calculations.

   So when it was completed, it was honorably named after its designer - "Château Antoine-Laurent".

   In the subsequent siege of Guitu, Fort Antoine-Laurent also lived up to the expectations of the people of the province. From the servants of the noble territories to the personal guards of the Mad King Richard, the Imperial Expeditionary Army took turns to go into battle, and they tried their best to defeat the fortress that sheltered the northwest wall of Guitu City.

   Fort Antoine-Laurent stood, just as the soldiers of the Republic never doubted that victory would be theirs.

It's just that the post-war rejoicing people probably didn't expect what would happen in the future: in the turmoil and strife within the province, Antoine Laurent was killed, his name was erased from books and monuments, the fortress not excluded.

   So, Narcissus Castle became Narcissus Castle.

   Today's Narcissus Fort still faithfully fulfills the duty of protecting Guitu City, and is also the garrison of Guitu City's garrison.

  …

  Different from Palatu, which also needs heavy long clothes to keep out the cold, Guitucheng in early April can already make people feel sultry.

  The sea breeze pushes the moist air onto the land, and the change in temperature between day and night causes fine water droplets to appear on the surface of the stone walls inside the Daffodil Castle - this is not a good thing for steel and gunpowder.

   Colonel Parr, who had just visited the armory and gunpowder storage room, walked towards the gray tower in the center of the fort with a sullen face. During the war, the Grey Tower would have functioned as a watchtower, but now it is only the office of the officers.

The results of the    patrol were dismal: the snow storage area on the ground floor of the fort was leaking for a long time and slowly, and the waterproof layer laid in the past had long since been replaced;

  Daffodil Castle needs repairs, but repairs cost money, and Colonel Parr has no money.

  The current financial situation of the Federal Republic is very tight, and everyone is staring at where the money goes like a jackal looking for carrion.

   Two years ago, when the Union Province intervened in the war between Veneta and the Taniria Union, the Union Province Army temporarily expanded a large number of reserve troops.

   In order not to arouse criticism and vigilance, these newly formed troops did not have a legion-level organization, and the largest unit was only a brigade. But adding up all the units under the name of "reserve battalions", there are also at least two corps of manpower.

   Until the smell of gunpowder smoke in the Taniria Islands has dissipated, these temporarily expanded troops have not been disbanded, and there is no plan to disband them.

  The army always has a reason: the skirmishes in the Taniria Islands; the long-term standoff along the River Torrents; the change in the direction of the Palato...

   But the parliament has accumulated grievances over the soaring military spending, and calls for the redeployment of redundant troops are growing louder; the army is clamoring for more to meet the looming threat of war.

   At this juncture, it is impossible for either party to agree to spend the budget on the less important "repairing the city defense of Guitu City".

"Her bones are still strong, strong, and won't give in." Colonel Parr's peripheral vision swept across the peeling plaster blocks on the inner wall of the gray tower, and as he walked, he thought gloomily: "It's just a little skin. It's just moss."

   pushed open the door of the office, Colonel Parr's movements stopped, and he found that there was an uninvited guest in the room.

   "What? Surprised to see me?" Colonel Jason Cornelis - the head of the Union Army Officers Academy, the nominal second-in-command, and the actual head - greeted Colonel Parr with a calm air.

As the top military commander of Daffodil Castle, Colonel Parr clearly remembered that he had given a formal written order: any entry of outsiders must be notified to him immediately, and only with his consent can they be released - right now The situation was delicate, and the Colonel couldn't help but be careless.

   At this moment, however, John Parr was sure that he had not received any instructions about Cornelis.

   "What's the matter? Old classmate." Cornelis was calm, as if he was in his own living room: "Aren't you welcome?"

   Colonel Parr calmly swept the office with his peripheral vision: In addition to Cornelis, there were two lieutenants in the room; one was his subordinate, the other did not know, and should be an entourage brought by Cornelis.

   Cornelis sat in a chair across from his desk, his body language relaxed. While the two lieutenants stood on both sides of the desk obediently, their shoulders and arms were tense.

  Especially the lieutenant who was nominally under his command - his eyes were fixed on the ground, and he did not have eye contact with Parr, but the knuckles of his left hand holding the saber were already whitened.

   Colonel Parr could not help frowning. He didn't say anything, went straight back to his chair, and asked Cornelis like a master, "Aren't you always busy? Do you have time to see me today?"

Pal's tone was thorny, but Cornelis didn't take it seriously, and replied plainly: "Vinetta took all their students away, and the little guys of Palatu were also sent back to the Kings Castle. Lu There are only three-fifths of the students left in the academy, but it gives me a lot of leisure."

   "Vinetta recalls the students, you have a credit." Colonel Parr praised sarcastically.

   Cornelis smiled and didn't answer.

Colonel Parr frowned, but he was not in the mood to go around in circles with Cornelis: "When I was in Luyuan, I didn't like your way of looking above the top. After graduation, I will go to war, and you will stay in the school to teach. , you and I don’t even communicate with each other. So…”

  John Parr reached into the lower drawer as unobtrusively as possible and asked, "What the **** are you doing here with me?"

  …

  The students of the Luyuan Academy who are natives of the United Provinces after completing their studies are nothing more than the following types of places: the best ones go to the standing army, those who are close to go to the reserve army, those who are close to being kicked into civilian jobs, and those who are powerless and powerless are sent overseas.

   And in the distribution of whereabouts that almost decides fate, there is a path that surpasses all other paths—staying in school to teach.

   You don’t have to worry about safety, evaluation, or lack of a position. As long as you have enough years, you can be promoted…Staying in school to teach is the smoothest, straightest, and easiest career path for the Union Provincial Army. Apart from the scarcity of places, there are no downsides.

   Therefore, every class of graduates who can stay in the school is not only the son of the emperor, not only needs outstanding ability...but also has a deep enough background.

  John Parr was just the second son of a poor priest. When he graduated, he was assigned to the newly established Dispatch Corps and went to the north to fight non-stop. His career was bumpy, and after many storms, he finally got to where he is today.

   And in John Parr's class, the only graduate who stayed on to teach was Jason Cornelis.

  …

   "Come to play chess with you." Cornelis replied.

   "Play chess?!"

   In the face of John Parr, Cornelis did not have the usual domineering attitude at all, but was very approachable.

   He waved his hand, and the accompanying lieutenant immediately took out a stained chessboard from his satchel, placed it on the desk, and neatly arranged the pieces.

   Cornelis picked up a chess piece with a look of nostalgia: "This chess piece and board were made by Tartini himself when he was in school."

Parr said coldly: "Tartini was killed in the first encounter outside Fure City, and fell into the mud of the imperial bastard. The body was not brought back. That idiot thought you would help him. Staying in Guitucheng, and finally weeping and being kicked into the mercenary regiment, sent to the Empire to fight."

   Cornelis's movements stagnated for a moment, and then quickly regained his anger. He didn't show any emotion, just put back the chess piece, and said slowly to Parr: "Today you only need to play chess with me."

  The room on the top floor of the gray tower fell into a long silence, only the wind whistling past the window panels.

   After an unknown period of time, Colonel John Parr said with difficulty, in a tone of anger, shock, and a hint of relief, "The boots are still on the ground."

   Cornelis was noncommittal, picked up the **** representing the soldier and took the first step.

"I don't know how many times I've heard people say that the Army wants a coup, the Army wants a coup. And who is a secret society with whom, and who has a private agreement with whom..." Colonel Parr began to be a little incoherent, but he quickly asked Returning to his calm, he stood up abruptly, and the two lieutenants almost drew their swords.

   But John Parr didn't do anything drastic, he just put his hands on the table, lowered his head and approached Cornelis, gritted his teeth and asked, "You never thought... Once the boots really fall... What will be the consequences?"

   "You, today." Cornelis met Colonel Parr's angry eyes **** for tat and said, "Just play chess with me."

"You think you're carrying two little brats that don't even grow together! Walk into my fort with a swagger! Come in front of me!" John Parr tapped the table again and again, each heavier, his Blue veins burst out on his forehead: "Can you threaten me?!"

"You are part of our system, so I don't need to threaten you." Cornelis replied calmly without fear: "I don't even need to convince you, because you, me, and our interests are the same, You just haven't realized it yet."

   Colonel Parr pulled open the drawer and took out a dagger with a cold glow.

   Cornelis sat upright without blinking, but the two lieutenants did not have his calmness, and immediately drew their swords and short guns.

   At this moment, there was a series of hurried and heavy sounds of going up the stairs, the door was knocked open, and another lieutenant rushed into the office staggeringly regardless of his appearance:

   "Colonel! The relocated troops have entered the city again!"

   [This chapter should be called "One One. Three" (covering his face)]

   [Stop here, because I have to go to work]

   [And... the promise of a man! ╰(‵□′)╯]

   [Thank you for your collection, reading, subscription, recommendation ticket, monthly ticket, reward and comment, thank you all]

   (end of this chapter)