Iron Powder and Spellcasters

   Chapter 414 Wedding

   As the monsoons brought the first rains of the 560th year of the imperial calendar, the vast fields of the newly cultivated land came back to life again.

  New grass emerges beside the dead leaves, covering the earth with a green gauze; pine and oak trees pull out their green shoots, giving the forest a completely different color.

   Even in the depths of the Jinding Mountains where the snow has not yet melted, there are still patches of light yellow flowers that are the first to bloom in the white wasteland against the frost.

  But the fate of the people living in this land has not changed because of the arrival of spring, but has been shrouded in a new cloud of war.

The    Maplestone Incident ended in a very tragic way: General Adams committed suicide and martyred, and a large number of officers of the New Reclamation Corps were either killed or killed, and only those who chose to surrender at the first time survived.

  The troops directly under the legion stationed in Maplestone City were incorporated by the victors, and a few new field officers who were lucky enough to break out of the encirclement let everyone know about the **** incident that happened in Maplestone City.

   However, the fire of the rebellion did not swept across the land as quickly as some had expected.

   As the news of the Maplestone Incident spread more and more widely, the newly reclaimed province fell into a strange atmosphere of silence.

  No one shouted or raised the anti-flag, and the garrison and garrison troops in the counties did not make any statement, as if nothing had happened.

  Red Rose, who occupied Maplestone City, did not move anymore, did not issue orders to the counties, and did not wait to gather power, but only issued an obituary for General Adams in the name of the New Reclamation Corps.

   But everyone knows that everything in the moment is just the calm before the storm.

  Red Rose is racing against time to reorganize the troops directly under the newly incorporated New Reclamation Corps, and the rest of the New Reclamation Army, who are full of anger over the Maplestone City bloodshed, are also fighting hard to contact allies.

   The calmer the current situation, the greater the strength accumulated by both sides, and the more tragic the war will be.

   A new wave of refugees broke out in Maplestone City. A large number of wealthy businessmen and manor owners dragged their families and drove their carriages full of belongings to flee to the inland of Palatu in groups.

   Those who could not escape could only look at the dark clouds in the sky in fear, praying that the war would not come.

  …

  …

  [Iron Peak County]

  [Revodan]

"I'm sorry, Major Mel, I'm really sorry—oh, and also, Major Nevitz, I'm really sorry." Mason stood alone in front of the Red Rose's messenger with a hundred and twenty sincerity and a smile. , I kept making amends: "Captain Montagne is not in Gervodin at the moment, please wait a few more days for the two of you."

"Not in Gervodin? Where is our Captain? Captain Mason, do you still want to prevaricate us with 'recurrence of an old injury'?" Major Mel leaned casually on the negotiating table and said in a hurry: " As far as I know, Captain Montagne's old wound has healed - he was in public just three days ago."

   Mason knew in his heart that the other party was implying that he was not ignorant of Gervodin's situation. This means that either someone in the city of Gervoudan secretly communicated with the opponent, or the opponent's spy has successfully infiltrated Gervoudan.

   "Major, I'm really sorry. Captain Montagne's old wound has indeed healed, but he is not in the city now." Mason explained innocently: "He is out of the city."

   "Out of the city?" Major Mel raised his eyebrows and asked with great interest, "What are you going to do out of the city?"

  Mason scratched his hair: "Deal with private affairs."

  …

   Dealing with the messenger of the red rose with difficulty, Mason left the former residence and hurried to the other end of the city of Gervodin. The words that Major Mel said before farewell were still echoing in his mind.

   "Captain Mason." Major Mel was gentle, but with a warning: "If you still want to return to the regular army, then I can tell you that this is your last chance."

Major   Meier stood up and patted Mason on the shoulder: "The war will end, and the wise should stand on the side of the winner - so I advise you to think carefully before making a decision."

  Mason considers himself not good at negotiating, because he does not like to deal with people who always talk half-truths. In contrast, mathematics does not lie.

   So when Mason rode, he silently and mathematically evaluated the information conveyed by Major Meyer, following his old habit.

"The threat score can be given to 7. Although Maplestone City's troops are not dominant, the strength of the kings is far greater than that of the new reclamation army. From the perspective of probability, the kings are more likely to be the winners." Mason thought: "But honesty points can only be given to 3. Once we lose our value, most of the promises made according to the behavior of the kings and castles will be voided."

   In general, the attitude of the envoys of the kings castles is relaxed and confident, neither eagerly asking for help from Tiefeng County, nor threatening Tiefeng County to lose their sincerity.

   It looks like Red Rose doesn't care which side of Iron Peak County is on, as if to them, Iron Peak County is like the last dessert served - it's a meal with it, and a meal without it.

   "But... maybe this is their negotiating strategy, who knows?" Mason thought exhaustedly: "Let Winters figure it out."

   Riding through the city, Mason came to the door of a mansion on the other side of Gervoudan.

   The guard at the door took a few steps forward and helped the captain hold the horse bit.

   "Is the guest still inside?" Mason jumped off his horse and handed the reins to the guard.

   "It's still inside." The guard raised his hand to salute, took the reins, shrank his neck, and replied in a low voice; "But they've started swearing, and they're scolding loudly!"

   Mason's breath stopped and he waved his hand. The guard looked at the captain sympathetically, saluted again, and led the horse to the stable.

After the    Maplestone Incident, the situation of Tiefeng County in the newly reclaimed province became delicate.

   On the one hand, judging from the actual actions of the "Montagne gang", they are undoubtedly the rebels who committed the rebellion;

   But on the other hand, Winters Montagne has never publicly displayed a flag of rebellion, and several "rebel officers" have not been expelled from the New Reclamation Corps. Even on the books, the Legion is spending their salaries on a quarterly basis.

  In today’s undercurrents in the newly cultivated province, an independent force that does not belong to any party will naturally become the target that both sides of the wrestling want to fight for—of course, it may also be the target that they want to get rid of.

   So the embassy to Gervodin was not one, but two.

  How to receive envoys from both sides at the same time, without them being able to know and contact each other, also made Captain Mason troubled.

   Looking at the dark main entrance of the mansion, Mason carefully arranged his appearance, took a deep breath, forcibly cheered up his spirits, once again piled up a 120-point smile and apology, walked to the door, and knocked lightly on the knocker.

   The door creaked open a small crack, revealing half of the face of a heavily armed lieutenant. After seeing the identity of the visitor, the lieutenant put down his short gun, raised his hand in a silent salute, and opened the door completely.

   Across the long corridor and another door, Mason could clearly hear the sound of military boots hitting the floor from the living room at the end of the corridor.

  Mason swallowed and walked reluctantly to the drawing room. He stood in front of the door and knocked lightly three times: "Report!"

   The sound of boots behind the door stopped, followed by a stern order: "Come in!"

  Mason opened the door cautiously and was looking at a one-armed old soldier.

   "Why are you?" The one-armed old soldier's eyes were sharp like knives, and he asked in a bad tone, "Where's that little **** from Winters?"

In the    parlor, in addition to the one-armed old soldier, there were also several accompanying lieutenants and guards. Seeing that Mason was finally here, everyone who had not dared to let the air out before finally breathed a sigh of relief.

   "Sorry, Colonel." Mason walked into the drawing room, carefully closed the door behind him, and raised his hand in a solemn salute: "Captain Montagne is not in the city now—he's out of town!"

"Out of town? Out of town?!" Colonel Bird's roar almost overturned the roof, and he asked furiously, "What does he want to do while avoiding me? What does he want to do? If he wants to take refuge in Red Rose and Magnus, then A poisonous snake, let him come before me! Say it yourself! Let him get out of here for me!"

Mason was sprayed with spittle on his face, but he couldn't reach out to wipe it, he could only say good things in a low voice: "Captain Montagne isn't trying to avoid you, Colonel... How could he avoid you? He's really out of town... I promise, if he knew you were coming, he would have waited two more days anyway... We respect you 12 points, how could it be possible to avoid you on purpose?"

   Colonel Bode's anger did not subside because of a few good words. He sneered and asked: "Oh? Didn't you mean to avoid me? Then tell me, what did he do out of town?"

  Mason's Adam's apple rolled over and he couldn't laugh or cry: "Go to the wedding."

  …

  [Iron Peak County]

  [Wolf Town·Dusa Village]

   Drunk-eyed and confused Dussack staggered to Winters one after another, wanting to make a toast to the "Blood of the Wolf", all of which were blocked by the hippie smiling old Sergey.

   Looking at the same confused old Sergey, Winters turned to greet Vashka, and asked calmly, "Will your father have an accident?"

   "Sir, don't worry!" Wasika hiccupped with a long burp, hehe smiled: "Where did this go?"

  Winters smelled the alcohol on Vashka, raised his face a little, and asked, "Are you drinking too?"

   "Just one cup." Wasika replied in a low voice.

   Winters didn't know what to say.

   Seeing Winters' eyes, Vashka slapped herself without saying a word, patted her chest and assured: "Don't drink again! Don't worry, I won't drink anyone who comes to me from now on."

   Winters nodded, turned to look at the people singing and dancing at the wedding, and clapped and beat the rhythm in concert. Wasika wiped her mouth and stepped aside.

   "I think Vashka has become smarter." Bud, who was sitting beside Winters, said with a smile.

   "Is there?" Winters was dumbfounded. He thought for a while: "That kid's head fell hard before, maybe it has something to do with it."

  Bud laughed, reaching for another beer.

   "Thank you, Bud." Winters whispered, looking at the people at the wedding.

   "You never need to thank me." Bud took a sip of beer and said seriously: "But you really need to thank Senior Mason."

  A sharp pain came from the depths of Winters' cranial cavity. He pushed Bud and said, "That pie looks good, get me a piece."

  You can never figure out how many good things are hidden in the Dusa family. The unstable world and cunning survival wisdom make every Dusa family desperately dig holes for reserves like voles.

   Even after a bout of war and a bout of famine, the reserves of Dusa Village in Wolf Town still seem far from bottoming out.

  At least Winters saw with his own eyes an old Dussack dug out the buried grain from under the stable, ground it into flour, and baked it into bread. Others drove horse-drawn carts into the forest and brought back vats of ale from secret cellars. Cattle and sheep hidden in the wild were also found, slaughtered and cooked.

   All the people who gathered at the threshing floor looked like a festival, dressed in their best clothes, dressed in colorful and beautiful clothes.

   And all these unrequited, all-out efforts are for a wedding.

   But not Winters' wedding, but Pierre Girardnovich Mitchell's.

  The groom is wearing a traditional Dussack-style white robe and blue trousers with sash, sitting in the center of the long table full of food, smiling and receiving congratulations from relatives and friends.

   Mrs. Mitchell sat on the left of the bridegroom, also wearing the attire of a Dussack woman for the first time ever, and happily accepted the congratulations of the people.

   But Gillard Mitchell, who was sitting on Mrs. Mitchell's left, was not so good-looking. The old man was still sulking, smiling reluctantly in the face of people's congratulations, and pouring glass after glass down his throat.

  There are many reasons for Girard's low mood, but the most direct reason that old Dussack is still drinking on his son's wedding day is actually only one:

Sitting at the right hand of Pierre at this very moment, the bride in her wedding dress, veiled, and congratulated by the crowd is none other than the unfortunate widow, Mrs. Mitchell's maid, Mrs. Medellin—no, exactly Said she was now "Mrs. Mitchell".

  Winters looked at the Mitchells from a distance, sipping apple juice without prescription, and couldn't help laughing at the wonder of life.

   He did not admit to thinking that Mrs. Mitchell, who had a serious personality and seemed to have the strongest concept of honor and inferiority, easily accepted her son's choice to marry a widow with a daughter;

   On the contrary, Girard Mitchell, who is bright and generous, open-minded and doesn't seem to care much about anything, is quite disappointed with the reality of his son marrying a widow.

   But no matter how dissatisfied Girard is, he can't change Pierre's choice. Little Dussac only used two sentences to persuade old Dussac.

The first sentence of    is: "Dad, I am already a Dussack, and I can be responsible for my choices."

   The second sentence is: "Dad, I don't know how long I can live, maybe tomorrow I will die in battle, so please bless us."

   So all Gillard's objections came to nothing, and he could only get himself drunk at the wedding scene. It's a pity that he is so drunk that he is still sober.

   As for Winters, he happily blessed the newlyweds. He actually didn't know Mrs. Medellin very well. Although he knew that Pierre had an affair with the young widow, he did not expect that Pierre would choose to be responsible to the end. This made him feel some kind of inexplicable anxiety.

  Looking past the wild, dancing people, Winters looked at the bridesmaids seat on the other side of the wedding scene. Perhaps it was because they had the same heart, Anna, who was sitting in the bridesmaid's seat, also looked at Winters, and the two looked at each other across the staggered figures.

   Winters lowered his head like an electric shock and continued to sip his apple juice.

  As the rhythm of the banjo and tambourine gradually accelerated, the dances of the people in the center of the venue surrounded by the long table became more and more intense, and the atmosphere of the wedding gradually reached its climax.

   A drunken Dussac, carrying a saber, clambered up the table and jumped into the arena. The others screamed and avoided, but instead of stopping him, they made room for him.

  As the crowd watched, Dussack, who was carrying a saber, threw away the scabbard and began to dance the "Dance of Swords". He swishly danced his saber, drawing arcs of light around his body.

  Alcohol made him stagger, but it didn't prevent him from dancing, and he squatted and jumped in a comical and amusing manner—if it wasn't for the ease with which the saber in his hand could chop off his arm.

  The onlookers beat the sword dancer and cheered. Soon, other Dussacs walked into the arena with sabres and danced sword dance like a competition. The most powerful one even held a saber in each hand.

The   dangerous and wonderful dance stimulates people to be more excited, the cheers and whistles are getting louder and louder, the music rhythm is getting faster and faster, and the dancers' movements are getting more and more intense.

   Until the last high-pitched long note, dancing, music, knife light, everything came to an abrupt end.

   After a brief silence, the crowd erupted into deafening applause. The dancers proudly accepted the wine offered by others, and were crowded out of the stage.

   Then the gentle strings and tambourines played again, and people continued to drink, laugh, and dance.

   "Maybe the tougher the time." Winters couldn't help thinking: "The more people need a chance to celebrate and feel happy."

   According to the serious Dussack tradition, getting married is a very important event. It is not only expensive, but also includes a set of strict and cumbersome procedures such as matchmaking, making an appointment, welcoming relatives, sending relatives, banquets, and returning home. Whether it's the groom's family or the bride's family, they have to be prepared for a purse hemorrhage.

   However, the current time is not good, and the bride is not from Dusa, or even a widow without her family, so many procedures have been saved.

Pierre dressed up, led his companions, and drove the equally dressed bride from the old Sergey's house - the old Sergey volunteered to donate his house as the bride's maiden home - to the Mitchell Manor, even if he left. Complete the whole welcome process.

   The next step is an essential part of any celebration, big or small - a big meal.

  Because the Mitchell Manor was "ransacked" by someone, he was no longer able to hold a banquet.

   However, Girard and Ellen did not need to speak, the people of Dusa Village dug out the wheat buried in the dark cellar, rushed back to the cattle and sheep hidden in the wild, and drove the cart to the Mitchell Manor.

   Slaughtering livestock, grinding flour, baking pastries... The men and women of Dusa Village also naturally integrated into the preparations for the wedding, and arranged the wedding together in a lively manner.

  Not only the Dusa people, but also people from several other villages and even neighboring towns heard that Mr. Mitchell was getting married, and they all traveled a long way to send congratulations. Because they didn't want to burden the Mitchell family, many people sent gifts and congratulated them in person, but did not stay for the banquet, but turned around and set foot on the long road home.

There are even hunters who live in the depths of the forest and come to Mitchell Manor with their best furs and venison - Winters and Gillard don't even know where they got the news .

  In the corner of the wedding scene, a group of Dussac boys gathered together, not knowing what they were plotting

   A moment later, Anglo - the former pony herder, now the captain of the cavalry - came to Winters with a huge horn cup, surrounded by other Dussacs.

  The horn cup was filled with almost overflowing colorless liquid.

   "What are you making fun of?" Winters couldn't help laughing and crying: "I can't drink today."

   "The best wine is dedicated to the most distinguished guests!" Anglo laughed and shouted: "Centurion! Please drink this noble!"

   Everyone's attention at the wedding scene was attracted by Anglo's shout, and people gathered around the long table where Winters was.

  The men clapped the table or stomped their feet, making a neat sound. The women looked curiously at the young heroic tribunal.

   The bride and groom came too, and Pierre and his wife held hands and looked at Winters expectantly.

   Now, even old Sergey, who has been holding back the wine for Winters, doesn't help.

   "Sir." Old Sergey whispered: "This cup must be drunk—this is the most important wine, only you can drink it, and you must drink it too."

   Winters bit his head and took the horn cup.

   "You have to do it in one breath." Old Sergey reminded quietly behind Winters again.

   "Drink, drink..." The crowd surrounding Winters sang Dussac's toast song: "Dignified guest..."

  Anna hid in the crowd, covering her lips and chuckling. Bud, who was on the side, was also applauding vigorously, rarely showing two emotions, fearing that the world would not be in chaos and schadenfreude.

   Feeling the burning gaze, Winters looked at the overflowing wine in the glass, thought for a moment, raised his head, and looked at the people who had gone through all kinds of hardships and finally had the opportunity to laugh.

"I only know one Dussack proverb, but this one is the most suitable one today." Winters smiled sincerely and said slowly: "True gold should be smelted with fire, good people should be smelted with real gold, and men should be smelted with real gold. To be smelted with women."

   He looked at Pierre and the bride: "Mr. Mitchell, Mrs. Mitchell, bless you! Bless everyone! May we have eternal peace, prosperity and tranquility one day!"

   After saying that, he took a deep breath, picked up the horn cup, and poured it down his throat.

   A cheerful melody flowed from the fingertips of the musicians, and with astonishing willpower, Winters just poured a whole horn cup of spirits down.

   Then he stood on the bench, raised his arms high, and showed the crowd the empty horn cup.

  The people around Winters, men and women, cheered in unison.

"Alright, alright! Let the tribune take a break." Old Sergey dismissed the assembled crowd and returned the wedding to the original atmosphere: "Who else wants to ask the tribune to toast? I come!"

  The crowd dispersed like a school of fish, continuing to drink, dance, and flirt.

   Winters sat back in his seat, hands on his knees, head bowed—his stomach was tumbling.

  Anna walked through the crowd, walked to Winters, put her hand on Winters' shoulder, and asked worriedly, "What's the matter?"

  Ms. Navarre was fine if she didn't touch Winters. Just as her fingers touched Winters' shoulders, Winters, who was on the verge of reaching the limit, spat out with a "wow".

   "Drink some water, drink some water." Old Sergey ran over with a kettle and patted Winters on the back. Old Dussac kept praising: "You are really a tough guy, you actually did it in one breath."

   At the end, Old Dussack added in a low voice with a guilty conscience: "Actually, if you master the skills well, you can spill half of it."

   Bud, who was leaning on Winters' shoulders, laughed.

  Winters rinsed his mouth, drank the last water in the kettle, exhaled a long breath, stood up on his knees, and looked at the people around him: "I should go."

  Bud put away his smile and nodded solemnly: "Leave it to me here."

  Washika, fully armed, came over, holding Winters' saber.

   Winters took the saber from Vashka, and just as he was about to tie the knife to his belt, a pair of slender, soft hands replaced his palms.

  Anna Wuyan tied the waistband for Winters and carefully tucked the corners of his clothes: "Come back safely."

   Winters nodded and beckoned: "Let's go."

   Having said that, he led the guards towards the gate of the manor. When passing a row of long tables at the wedding site, he casually patted a thin man in uniform who was sitting alone at the end of the long table and drinking silently: "It's time to go."

   "Okay." The thin man stood up, spat like no one else, looked at Winters provocatively, and asked with a sneer, "I think you vomited so badly, are you okay?"

   "I have no problem." Winters responded **** for tat: "It's you who's been drinking. Are you alright? Major Seber."

   Major Seb Carrington of the Paratus Army, known for his fearlessness to the point of madness, smiled sternly, revealing two rows of wolf-like sharp teeth: "Drink two more of your so much, I will be fine."

   "Let's go then."

   Having said that, Winters took the lead and walked towards the gate of the manor.

   He left Mitchell Manor and rode down the road towards the center of Wolfstown. Then cross the river from the town center, take the trail through the forest, and continue to ride northwest until you reach the banks of the Big Horn.

   A camp between the forest and the river suddenly appeared in front of him. Next to the camp was a newly built pontoon bridge.

   Outside the camp, a thousand-person light cavalry was ready to go.

  This cavalry includes the battle-hardened old Dussack, young men tempered by the battle of blood and mud, and a small group of non-commissioned officers recruited from the rescued captives.

   In the face of the best of the best, Winters doesn't need to explain much.

   He jumped on his horse and galloped up to the high platform next to the camp, his eyes swept over his subordinates who were standing quietly, and pointed his whip to the great wasteland across the river:

   "Warriors! You already know why you were summoned by me - there, in the west, in the depths of the wasteland, the remnants of the Fireboilers are about to move!"

   "They refused my request to exchange captives, and even tortured our comrades inhumanely. They gouged out the captives' eyes, cut off the captives' tongues, and then sent our comrades back, just to humiliate us!"

   "They're still trying to unleash another loot - the fiasco of the Battle of Blood Mud wasn't deep enough for them, and they roared and roared for more blood!"

   "Since they want more blood!" Winters put on his helmet and indifferently announced the fate of the enemy: "Then we will give them more blood!"

  The soldiers shouted in unison in response, the forest trembled, and countless birds were startled.

"Major." Winters turned to Saber Cerber and said coldly, "No matter what you think, you don't owe me anything, so you don't need to pay me anything back. However...I can't give you anything. Anything or any promises, are you still going with me?"

   "Why don't you go?" Saber Cerber licked his teeth, his eyes full of madness: "As long as he can cut Heard barbarians, I can do it too."

   "Let's go then." Winters stopped talking nonsense, raised his hand to the western horizon, and sounded the horn of war:

   "The enemy is in the Great Wasteland!"

"Set off!"

   [The toast of the toast is from the movie "The Killing of Munich", the toast is also very incisive, and the movie is very good. ]

   [I didn't expect it? The first shot of the newly reclaimed land was fired by someone from my Yue.jpg]

   [The first batch of souvenirs should have been packaged and sent today, but updates are given priority]

   [I'm going to pack the souvenirs now, but I shouldn't be able to finish them today, so it may not be able to be sent until tomorrow]

   [The winning book friends and book friends on the list have not yet provided the receipt information, please provide the receipt information as soon as possible (づ￣3￣)づ]

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

   (end of this chapter)