Iron Powder and Spellcasters

  Kay Moreland's straightforward "confession" is very unexpected, but Winters is no longer the ivory tower officer who can be easily fooled.

"Mr. Kay." Winters politely and forcefully removed Kay Moreland's hands from his forearms: "'Save the Country of Galloping Horses' and 'Save Your Life' are different. It’s best not to confuse two things.”

   "Your Excellency Montagne, please understand that my life is not important, and I am not here to save my own life. I am here to ask you to protect my 'political life'."

Kai Moreland's Adam's apple twitched, he gritted his teeth, and said in the firmest tone: "Although what I'm going to say next must sound very shameless and arrogant, but I must tell you that at this moment, saving my political Lives and saving the country of galloping horses have practically become one and the same."

  Winters was unmoved, with a half-smile: "This is what is worth discussing."

   Kai Moreland's heart sank for a moment, he realized that the young captain in front of him was more mature and calm than he expected and what others told him.

  When I met for the first time, I failed to tell everything truthfully, and I had already missed the best time to build trust. Now it will be an extremely difficult challenge to win the trust of "Blood Wolf".

  For a while, he didn't know how to proceed with the conversation.

   "I'm going to prepare snacks and drinks for you two." Anna interrupted the conversation at the right time, easing the confrontation between the two men. She smiled and asked, "Grapes? Grains? Or honey? Which do you like?"

   "It's all right." Kai Moreland cast a grateful look at Mrs. Montagne: "Thank you."

  Anna slightly bowed her knees and turned gracefully to the inner room.

  Winters understood another meaning in Anna's words—seeing the straight-forward posture of the guests, there is no need to eat dinner, and the dishes are prepared for nothing. I will clean up the kitchen, and you can take them to the living room.

  So, the confrontation in the corridor came to an end, and Winters raised his hand to invite Kai Moreland to sit in the living room.

  Anna immediately brought a bottle of wine and some nuts in a silver cup, and then left the living room for the host and distinguished guests.

   After drinking most of the glass of wine, Kai Moreland adjusted his mood and spoke again.

  He looked at the blood wolf fixedly, and said: "I heard about your vote—the vote on 'a country of the army' or a 'army of the country'."

   "Your news is really well-informed."

Winters put his left hand on the back of the bench and his right hand on his knee, keeping a certain distance from Kay Moreland, the opposite of the latter who unconsciously leaned forward and pressed his elbows on his thighs .

   "President Michesh told me." Kai Moreland admitted generously, and then changed the topic: "You should also pay attention, for them, Maplestone City has no secrets."

   "Who do you mean by 'they'?"

"Luxurious merchants, large manor owners, leaders of handicraft guilds, people who should have money and power at the same time, but only have money." Kai Moreland put his hands on his knees and replied solemnly: "In other words, it is you 'Free Men' being called."

"Why did you remind me to pay attention to them?" Winters observed Kai Moreland's expression changes, and asked with a smile: "Isn't it because they sheltered you and helped you? It seems that they trust you very much. They’re also very influential among them.”

  Kay Moreland heard the words, picked up the cup, and drank the remaining half of the red liquid in one gulp.

  After putting down the cup, a helpless wry smile appeared on his face: "I prefer to call it 'deal with the devil'."

  Winters' back left the bench for the first time. He held the wine container with a slender neck and poured half a glass of wine for Kai Moreland, motioning the latter to continue talking.

"Mikesh Keremin, Besse Djurgi, Gwadani Yuroff..." Kai Mollan wrenched his fingers and called them one by one: "These names may not sound special to you , but for the people living in Maplestone City, these names also represent unattainable figures, even more directly grasping their flour pockets than the New Reclamation Legion."

  Winters tilted his head slightly, listening carefully.

Kay Moreland spoke quickly, for fear that the blood wolf would lose his patience: "Now, the 'big men' under these legions and above all peoples realize that it is no longer possible for them to protect themselves wisely in this war—because your The action is too big, so big that they can't do it if they want to stay out of it. Re-establish the republic? Then this war will no longer be a dispute between the local and the capital, or a struggle between the rebels and the official army, but one regime and another. A life-and-death struggle between regimes."

  Winters smiled and made no comment.

"But they don't want to take a clear-cut stand." Kay Moreland licked his lips, and said without hesitation: "They are afraid that once you are defeated and collapsed, the government forces of Kings Castle will return to the new land , they will be liquidated; they are afraid that if they do not express their views, they may be buried in the ground before the government troops come back; they are even more afraid that if they do not bet on your horse, the future I will regret it forever."

He spread his hands, snorted softly, and said: "It's a coincidence that I escaped from the Kings Castle and returned to the new land. They started to use my mind—to participate in the New Republic through an agent, so that they can Using their influence, but also being able to cut through when the situation is not good. Why not kill two birds with one stone?"

  Winters’ reaction to Kay Moreland’s words was unusually flat: “What you said is a very common concept, and I understand and sympathize with anyone who holds such concepts.”

   After a pause, Winters stared into Kai Moreland's eyes: "It's you, why do you have such a big resentment?"

  Winters asked sharply: "Aren't you also using them?"

   Kay Moreland froze.

He leaned his upper body back, leaned against the back of the chair, and sighed, "Yes, I'm using them too. If it weren't for the gentlemen of Maplestone City, I would have been captured by Colonel Gaisar as soon as I returned to the new land." prison; without the gentlemen of Maplestone City, I am not qualified to sit here and talk to you. They have used us, and I also use them as bargaining chips. So this is a 'deal with the devil', you love me willing."

   Immediately afterwards, Kay Moreland suddenly leaned forward again, approaching Winters: "But I am still full of anger at them."

  Winters remained motionless: "I would like to hear more about it."

"I must confess to you first." Kai Moreland made up his mind and said frankly: "The reason why I didn't tell you in advance about the feud between me and Colonel Geisa is because I originally wanted to provoke you and Colonel Geisa. Relationship. Once you have a conflict with Colonel Geisa, you will be isolated in the 'committee of four', and I can reach out to you and turn you into my ally."

"But the 'committee of four' is far more united than I imagined. Even if there is a disagreement on the 'command power', it can still be unanimous. Your relationship with Colonel Geisa is also far closer than I expected—Gaiza The Colonel really appreciates you so much that my actions have turned into a funny circus."

  Kay Moreland nodded in apology: "I'm sorry for plotting against you behind your back."

   "I forgive you." Winters said calmly, "This matter is over."

  Kai Moreland nodded again, and said a witty remark: "I heard that Vinettas are very small-minded, but your Excellency is unexpectedly generous."

   "I heard that Plato people are very bold." Winters smiled and shot back: "You are indeed very bold when you tell such a joke in front of me."

   "It's an honor to meet you, Monsignor Montagne."

   "It's an honor to meet you too, Mr. Kai."

"From now on, I promise that everything I said is true, there is absolutely no lie, and there is no intentional concealment. After listening to my explanation, you will understand why I am asking you to save Plato." Kay Moreland's eyes became more and more determined: "You already know that Colonel Geisa Adonis has a grudge against me, but do you know why Colonel Geisa regards me as a thorn in my side and a thorn in my flesh?"

   "Someone told me why." Winters propped up his jaw: "But I want to hear what you have to say."

   "Thank you." Kai Moreland took a deep breath: "It's easy to say, because I am the only one who dares to stop Colonel Gaisa from taking money from Baishan County."

  Winters didn't laugh: "Colonel Geisar likes money, I've heard a little bit about it."

"But Colonel Gaisa is not the only one who makes money." Kai Moreland apologized: "Even if I cling to the accounts of Baishan County, it's not because Colonel Gaisa made the most money, but because Our two families have a very close personal relationship, and he is the least likely to kill me, so the accounts of Baishan County are most likely to be thoroughly investigated."

  Winters raised his eyebrows slightly.

Kai Moreland gritted his teeth and clenched his fists: "In fact, not only Baishan County, but the entire new reclamation province is regarded as private property by the Plato Army. All the misfortunes and oppressions that happened in the new reclamation , all stem from this!"

  Hearing this sentence, Winters stretched out his right hand and refilled a glass of wine for Kai Moreland.

"I would like to ask you." Kai Moreland took a sip from his wine glass, then wiped his mouth vigorously: "Search all over the Senas Alliance, you can see that there is a place like the new land, there are so many 'Half-serfs' who aren't even sharecroppers?"

  Winters pondered for a moment: "Maybe there will be one in the Federation, but..."

   "But how big is the Union Province, and how many people does it have?" Kai Moreland snatched the words, his cheeks flushed slightly with excitement: "The new land has only so many people, and how vast it is!"

  Winters nodded slightly.

"Your Excellency, you have also studied in the United Province, and you should understand. Compared with the less populated United Province, the new land is simply a paradise. But this piece of land that could have been a paradise has become It is a cauldron that has tortured countless landless peasants."

  Kai Moreland punched himself heavily on his thigh:

   "The new land is not short of cultivated land, it is the new land army that artificially created a shortage of cultivated land, making the vast majority of the bottom farmers become their slaves in disguise.

   And people like Mikesh Keremin, Besse Djurji, and Gwadani Yuroff, these wealthy businessmen, and these manor owners are the accomplices of the New Reclamation Army.

  They help the Legion extract oil and water from the people, not only through land, but also minerals, timber, fishing, food, clothing, housing, and everything.

   They ate the leftovers of the Legion contentedly, willing to be relegated to the status of second-class people. Once, when I challenged the Legion of the New Lands, they were silent. But now, they have taken a fancy to you as a racehorse, and they want to bet on you again, and become a first-class person..."

   Kai Moreland stared: "That's why, I'm full of anger at them! That's why, I'm full of anger at the New Reclamation Legion!"

  Winters listened to Kay Moreland's words, examined every subtle body language of the latter, and assessed whether Kay Moreland was improvising or revealing his heart.

  Winters was not in a hurry to judge, he calmly told Kai Moreland: "But the New Reclamation Legion has virtually ceased to exist."

   "But the army that regards the country as private property has not disappeared! Even, because of your victory, the New Reclamation has been more firmly held in the hands of the army. The root of the problem has never been the New Reclamation Army."

Kai Moreland's chest heaved violently: "I used to think that the source of all kinds of misfortunes was the greed and low morality of individual officers. But when I was forced to go to Kings Castle, I realized that the real problem The root cause is that the Republic of Plato is half a country controlled by the army, and the alliance charter has given the Plato Army too much power. It allows the Plato Army to turn the newly reclaimed provinces into private property, and allows the Plato Army to The Plato Army has in fact become a state within a state."

  Winters said: "But the Plato Army defeated the Hurds."

"Yes, that's right, I am very grateful that they defeated the Hurds." Kai Moreland said more and more excitedly: "But they will never completely solve the Hurds, because the Army is no longer waging war for the Republic , but wage wars for armies. Trade embargoes? Generals' caravans can travel unhindered and make a fortune.

   The war with the Hurds is the source of wealth and the ladder of promotion for the army! As long as the 'Army for Army' situation is not ended, the 'Hard War' will never end. Even if one day the Hurds are all killed, the army will find the next target and continue their never-ending war. "

  Winters poured Kai Moreland another glass of wine.

  "The deformed system of the army commanding the country must end. The military must be subordinate to politics, and war cannot be the goal, otherwise Plato will step into another abyss."

Kay Moreland gasped heavily, staring down at the cup: "I know, you all think of me as a lackey of Grove Magnus, because I am a **** parliamentarian, because in the first coup d'état After it happened, I took the lead in swearing allegiance to the Second Republic."

  He picked up the wine glass and poured the red liquid down his throat again: "However, as long as Grove Magnus can end the history of the army in power, even if he launches a despicable coup, I will still support him."

Kay Moreland hid his face: "I just didn't expect that he would betray the promise he made with his own mouth, that he would betray the country to the federal provinces, that after driving away one army, he would usher in another army ..."

  Winters silently took out the handkerchief and pushed it in front of Kai Moreland.

   "But." Winters calmly reminded: "I am also a soldier."

   "But you are different from them!" Kai Moreland said firmly.

   "You have only met me three times." Winters asked back: "How dare you say that I am different from them?"

"I didn't know you when I first met you. At that time, all I knew was you in the eyes of Mikesh and others—heroic, proud, and full of vigor." Kay Moreland bit his lip: "Now I have read all your articles in the Newsletter, checked every decree you have issued, found all the people I can find who have actually contacted you, and learned everything I can about you .”

Kay Moreland looked straight at Winters and concluded beyond doubt: "I'm sure you and Geza Adonis, and Skool Mecklen, and Matthias Cole Irwin is different! You are definitely not trying to build a country with an army, and you are definitely not trying to be a kleptocrat. I am sure that you believe in the ideals of Field Marshal Ned Smith. I am sure that only you are really working for Fight for the Republic of Plato."

Winters was silent for a moment, and said mercilessly: "I don't even dare to say, what I really want; I don't even dare to say, what I really am; I don't even dare to say, I will give Pala What did the map bring. Why are you so swearing?"

   "Kai Moreland." Winters put his hand on the other's shoulder, with some pity: "You are just gambling."

"Yes! I'm just gambling!" Kay Moreland grabbed Winters' hand, still looking straight at the latter: "I've seen Plato all over, and there is nothing better than you Horse! I lost my bet once, but I will never lose a second time! Let me help you, Winters Montagne!"

Kai Moreland didn't give Winters a chance to speak at all, and said quickly, "I know, you overwhelmed Matthias Kerwin by voting and added amendments to the new charter. But That's not enough! Not enough!

  An amendment is a charter only if there is enough force to defend it; if there is not enough force to defend it, the charter is just waste paper! "

"Don't you understand? Winters Montagne!" Kay Moreland tightly gripped Winters' wrist, turning the latter's skin white: "This country you are building, It is more terrifying than the First Republic. The army will be in your republic, with a power greater than that of the First Republic. No one can check and balance it, and no one can control it. At that time, the amendment you worked hard to formulate, It's just a piece of paper!

  Wrong saplings can't grow the desired fruit, isn't that what you said? But the sapling you are planting is wrong. You need my presence! You need me to balance the influence of the army, and no one is better suited to do it than me. "

"I beg you, Winters Montagne, I beg you to be the one I want!" Kai Moreland had tears in his eyes and trembling all over, as if praying devoutly: "Let me help you! "

  Winters was not infected by Kai Moreland, he just asked calmly: "How can you help me?"

   "Let me." Kay Moreland looked directly into Winters' eyes: "Attend the freemen's meeting in New Reclamation."

  [Supplementary explanation]

  [The content of this chapter has absolutely no idea of ​​key politics, nor any metaphors. What Kay Moreland said is limited to Kay Moreland's perspective and insight, and is not absolutely correct truth]

  [The description here is suspected of being a spoiler, but the author thinks it is better to explain it]

  [In fact, the emergence of the New Reclamation Corps is an inevitable phenomenon. Because small peasant families simply cannot afford the cost of opening new lands, they need the protection of the New Lands Corps and external resources to provide the seeds, tools, and livestock needed to open up wasteland]

  [This leads to a paradox, on the land that has been opened up, farmers will lose more rights]

  [For example, the reclamation of the Franks in Western Europe created a literal manor economy]

  [The Russian people’s reclamation in Eastern Europe also produced a huge serf class]

  [In Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries, people began to ask for arable land from wetlands and swamps. However, due to the high cost, land reclamation activities can only be presided over by great nobles and great lords. In the end, the nobles had greater rights in the new lands than in the old ones]

  [So what Kay Moreland imagined, the small farmers and the few people, each family is free to cultivate, and it is impossible to exist in the period when the new reclamation province was first established. But some of the problems he said about the New Land Reclamation Corps are real. So what he said is right or wrong, everyone has to judge for themselves]

  [At the end of the day, character lines are the words of the characters, not the author. Characters will say what they want to say, and the author cannot disobey them, otherwise there will be a strong sense of disobedience]

【thank you all】