Province of Fippley in the Gallic Empire

As a rear province close to the Rasti region, the Fippley province in April is undergoing the largest recruitment work, and the war on the front line makes the Fippley province in the rear feel tense all the time, this land is fertile and abundant, in the history of the Gallic Empire, it has been used to sweep the northwest for the Gallic army to stop supplying sufficient military food and materials, and there is no foreign war that can threaten this area located in the hinterland of the empire, whether it is the former enemy Gangfei or the current enemy Falcon Empire, there is no chance to directly burn the war here。

Although tense, but also comfortable, this peaceful and comfortable environment, the local governor Khakad is most satisfied, the supplies to support the front line have to pass through here, the caravan to the northwest has to pass here, and the 500,000 Gallic troops on the defense line in the Rusti region make people believe that the war will not burn to the non-Puli provinces

Harald is a natural alcoholic, 1.8 meters tall, red eyes that make people dare not look directly, and a face full of beards like sharp swords, the first impression left on most people is that this person is naturally bold, in fact, Governor Harald's reputation in the Phippley region is not bad, although he is a little greedy, but he is also very concerned about imperial affairs, such as the decision from Kyoto to request that in order to support the war on the front, the provincial tax of Phippley will be increased by 30%, and he immediately convened the provincial officials for a meeting overnight

The night is dark, the streets are deserted, the storm of war in the Rasti area has not yet reached here, although soldiers are recruited everywhere to form a local garrison, but war is war after all, before the real arrival, the local people still feel very far away, this is a quiet land, a large number of supplies from Kyoto have also been forcibly hoarded here, especially strategic materials such as grain and forage. The streets are much more deserted because of restrictions on the purchase of supplies and trade in the northwest. The vast majority of shops were forced to close because they had no source and no customers.

There are more and more supplies, but the prices are rising higher and higher, and there are more and more rumors of a great victory at the front, and in the proclamation issued by the province of Phipley, the imperial army has severely defeated the incoming Falcon Empire army in the area of Rasi and other areas, and it seems that the southern Rusti region will be captured, and the occupation of the southwest area lost a few years ago is just around the corner. But there are also lists of casualties and missing people posted on the stone wall in front of the city center, and each time they are posted thousands of names, densely packed and stretching together.

The deserted and icy list of streets does not hide the bustle of some secret dwellings, and in these precarious years of war, the nobles believed that timely pleasure was the most real. So all kinds of bars and brothels have become the best nightlife spots,

As long as there is money. Anyone can experience the realm of drunken life and dreams in it. Thus forgetting the cruel side of the world. War has distorted the hearts of many people, and if they are like the devil, they can only release their inner desires in drunkenness

At the Doge's Palace in Phipley, the smell of red wine and perfume on a woman's body merge. Intertwined into an enticing smell in the night, bright lights seeping through the cracks in the sealed window paper, slowly drifting away in the early summer night breeze. At the door stood the army soldiers in charge of the guard, dressed in crisp military uniforms and armor. His eyes were full of solemn taste,

The soldier's eyes, occasionally looking into the brightly lit hall. Full of envy, the bright lights from the windows, and the faint smile of a woman. It was the scene of the meeting of the dignitaries of the Governor's Palace.

Governor Harald is a very easy-going person, a wealthy family from Kyoto, who served as the governor of the Phippley region for more than five years, and it is a deep metaphor that if you want to live comfortably, you must mingle with the local aristocracy, this is just a place, not an army, not a front line, the kind of rigorous meeting that makes people feel sore in the neck, is not welcomed in the locality, the local aristocracy pursues hedonism and pragmatism together, although it is nominally a meeting, but the meeting is held in the form of a banquet, it can be recognized by the local aristocracy, not to mention that this time it is an increase in taxes that may cause most nobles to resent,

In the spacious banquet hall of the Governor's Palace, the low and mournful dance music was gently echoing, but there was no one dancing on the dance floor, only a few beautiful girls from the eastern lily valley danced on the stage next to the dance floor, their elegant posture, colorful costumes, charming posture, just the right display, all made the nobles attending the banquet feel that the money was well spent, at least in the eyes of the local nobles, these good dancers, than those so-called sopranos who came to the big scene in Kyoto can give people a visual enjoyment

Next to the dance floor, there are only six small round tables, and there are only four carved mahogany armchairs next to each small round table, even if there are so few places, the guests do not sit outside, although it is nominally an invitation to the banquet, but the local nobles who have received the wind in advance are still absent for more than half, this kind of eventful autumn, no one will think that they have more money to be able to cope with the greedy demands of Kyoto, last year in order to pay for the military rations in the Rasti area, the local nobles have already tightened their belts, and now Kyoto is still thinking about raising taxes, it is really a hateful decision

"If it were me, in the face of Kyoto's excessive demands, I wouldn't give a single copper plate! I don't believe it, because without that little money, the imperial army in the Drawing and other regions would fail! Don't forget, the Falcon Army has been there for a whole winter, and since it can't be broken through in a winter, what reason do we have to believe that the Falcon Army will fight here?"

In the corner of the banquet, the Duke of Habise of Nangul City and his henchman Chuka garrison, as well as the guard officer of the Governor's Palace, Pechea, were talking eloquently, the three nobles from the local origin are distant relatives in blood, although they may be separated by generations, but the bloodline still has a strong sense of identity in the local area, although the province of Phippley is not yet the front line, but after all, it is not far from Rasti, it can be said that it is under the nose of the battle line

Therefore, the Kyoto side has set up a garrison observation team here, the role of which is to supervise the transportation of materials in the rear of the war, and to ensure that these materials can be used for the army on the front line, and it is Algernon Julia, the affairs officer of the Gallic Emperor, who proposed the establishment of this organization, and the person in charge of this matter is Algernon Julia's henchman, and it is rumored that Angelio from the northwest region is a very ruthless fellow, who does not recognize his feelings, and deserves to be driven out of Josend! In the face of a mountain of materials, but not able to reach out to make a profit, no matter how you look at it, it is a very painful thing, just like a plate of fragrant fish in the cat's plate, but not let the cat eat, that kind of itchy feeling, really let the local nobles heartbreak.

It's not that there is no such bold person at all, but in front of the Praetorian Guards brought by this Inspector Angelio, this kind of bold person often ends up miserable, no matter how severe. As soon as it is found that there is no evidence needed, the ruthless Angelio Inspector will order his head to be cut off, so in the Philip area, even a child will immediately stop crying at the mention of this Angelio's name

In order to avoid attracting the attention of the inspectors, and even bring an unfortunate fate to themselves. The number of local nobles invited has been greatly reduced, "this banquet is already very simple," according to Governor Harald, "this is already a very embarrassing and shameful banquet, but I also think that in such a difficult state situation, such extravagant and wasteful things are still engaged." Yan zhòng hurt the feelings of the majority of front-line soldiers. It's unbearable

Of course, the real reason is well known to everyone, that is, to show the attitude of this inspector that everyone really has no money. Poor and terrible!

Governor Anrad was talking to the Duke of Saran, the governor of another city, Pikady, who was thin in appearance, but very physically strong and mentally strong. The eyes in the sunken sockets are bright. He is a real soldier, who has repeatedly fought on the battlefield for ten years and has many scars on his body. There are countless scars. Perhaps it was because he had killed too many people, or because he was influenced by the Qing Xiu ideology pursued by the Central Beian Empire in the east, the retired general lived a life of asceticism and did not indulge in sensuality like the local nobles, so he was ten years older than Governor Allard. But his face looked more ruddy and radiant than that of Allard. "What do you think of this tax increase? In addition to drinking, it is inevitable that the most critical issue will be discussed.

"If I can achieve victory over the Falcon Empire, I can even donate all my property and estate, but obviously, even if I do this, the front line will not be able to do this!" Duke Saran, who was born in the military, said in a heavy tone, because he was born in the military world, so he can often get real news from the battlefield of Rasti, and naturally he will not believe the so-called war reports that are posted on the bulletin board and talk nonsense, the more true the more pessimistic, a month ago, the 100,000 Eastern Front army was defeated, and half a month ago, more than ten cities on the middle line changed hands

Rasti only has the Western Front still holding on, fighting hard, like a taut thread, which can be broken at any time,

Saran looked very pessimistic in the conversation. He couldn't understand why the mighty empire that had conquered northern Obaro had become like this in just a few years, the Gallic army that had once crisscrossed the north had been defeated again and again, with countless casualties, and the grim facts made him have to believe that the glorious years of the empire had passed, or on the day the previous emperor died, it was no longer in style, and the place that the empire was now facing was already the most fundamental problem of survival. Of course, their primary concern is not the survival of the empire, but their own.

It is no longer a secret that some wealthy families in Kyoto took advantage of the war to make a lot of money.

Just like the materials transported to the Philip area, except for a strong and merciless inquisitor who held on to some of them, the other materials have long been extinct in name, or transported to other areas in disguise to be sold, or disappeared silently,

Saran, an upright soldier, has no better way than to scold the greed, shamelessness and aggressiveness of the wealthy families in Kyoto, he is depressed and alone in his manor, and since he has no ability to stop the Falcon Army, but at least he has to do something, he fought against the Central Bia Empire in the eastern battlefield, he wrote to the Imperial Military Department to ask for a return to the military position, even if it was only the captain of a local garrison, but his letter was sent at the beginning of the year, and by April, there was still no news, and he had no hope for this！

"Your Excellency!" a communications officer hurried in and handed Governor Anrad an order, and Anrad looked at it, and his face suddenly became unnatural, and his eyes were gray as if it were a statue at the door. After a slight hesitation, Peanrad handed this order to Saran on the other side, it was a letter of appointment from the Imperial Military Department "Appointment of the Duke of Saran as the head of the 31st Regional Garrison Regiment of the Empire" Saran's face suddenly became excited, but his eyes read all the contents, and suddenly showed a kind of dead ashes, because in the last line of the envelope it was written, "In view of the current difficulties of the Empire. He also asked the commander of Saran to prepare his own weapons, soldiers, and one of the necessary needs for the battle, and when the difficulties of the empire were lifted, the imperial military department would compensate them in full!"

"This is an empty letter of appointment!" Governor Allard on the other side looked at the order coldly, his brows furrowed, his breathing became heavier and heavier, and he picked up the wine glass on the table and took a sip, "Those guys in the military department must be crazy, the regional garrison regiment was transferred to the battlefield of Rasti at the beginning of the year, and the weapons and equipment of the governor's palace were almost consumed." Now weapons and armor are strictly controlled materials, even if they are self-raised, there is no place to buy them if they have money."

"If there are any such things out there, I think there's only one place!" Anrad's voice paused, and he looked solemnly at Saran on the other side, an area where Saran's integrity was one of the few that he admired

"You mean that Angelio?" Saran nodded and said, apparently understanding what he meant, "yes, except for those supplies that were sold in Kyoto." The only person who can still come up with so much supplies is the ruthless Angelio, at least according to what I know, that guy has at least three thousand sets of armor and weapons in his hands. There is enough food to supply 10,000 people for three months, and I am a little grateful to this guy when I hear you mention this!"

"Grateful to him? The question is how do you get these things? Pay for them? That guy will smash the gold coins directly in your face!" Governor Allard pursed the corners of his mouth with disdain, "In the Philip area, who doesn't know how bad this cold guy is." Everyone watched him turn around and go!"

"When the national disaster is at the head, he will not ignore it!"

The Duke of Saran hesitated, "And this order was personally issued by the Ministry of Military Affairs, requiring me to prepare a local garrison regiment on my own." Go to the Rusti area and be at the disposal of the front-line commander Hasenrampo. At the same time, the order also requires that the local inspectors should mobilize all the resources and forces of the entire region to be responsible for supporting the operations on the front line, including the replenishment of personnel and the supply of logistics."

Governor Allard looked at him, his face looked unnatural, and he frowned at the adjutant next to him and said, "Go and find out, if the inspection team has received such an order." ”

The adjutant went out, and soon came back, and said obscurely, "The herald post said that there were two copies of the same order, one sent to the inspector team, and the other sent here, except for the name and place of the person, the other qiē content is the same, that is, the inspector team also received an order to prepare for the establishment of a local garrison."

"What! The inspection team is also going to form a local garrison!" Anrad's face looked a little shocked, and the Duke of Saran was silent for a while, what is the situation, is the Ministry of Military Affairs crazy? It seems that as long as the people and organizations that can prepare for the garrison have received such an order, this situation basically means that the Fippley area will soon become a battlefield, and the regular army of the empire is busy and ruthless, so take care of yourself!

"Someone, send someone to the Rasti area at once!" Governor Allard stood up from his table with a bang, stared fiercely at the table order, and finally simply crumpled it into a ball and threw it into the trash can next to him. But after a while, he remembered something, and reached out to take it out of the trash can, smoothed it again, and there was a hint of confusion in his expression, and he muttered, "Hell, it can't be like this, it's impossible! Isn't there an imperial army in the Rusti region, isn't the front line always singing triumphant songs, and when is it now?

"I hope it's just that we're overthinking!" Duke Saran is worthy of being a person who has experienced ten years of brutal war, his reaction is not as great as that of Governor Anrad, he seems to be still worried about something, and he thought painfully for a while, before he hesitated a little and said, "Anyway, I am an imperial soldier after all, I will go to Angelio immediately, even if it is to rob, I will grab some weapons out"

"Angelio, that guy doesn't recognize his six relatives! If you really dare to rob it, he will dare to kill it!" Anrad said worriedly

"It doesn't matter! life and death are just a thought" Saran's face relaxed, he looked at Governor Allard, hesitated for a moment, and suddenly asked, "If the Falcon army really enters the province of Fippley, as the governor of the province, I want to know what Your Excellency will do!"

"I'm ......" Anrad was stunned for a while, his face changed gloomily, he wanted to say that I would surrender, because without the army, I can't let more innocent people go to death, but he looked at the emaciated figure of the Duke of Saran, and he really couldn't say such a thing

"Will you surrender? I see!" Duke Saran looked at him, and the corners of his mouth smiled, "So I can rest assured, fighting is the duty of a soldier, and I will not give up, but in a crisis where the situation cannot be reversed, it is also the duty of a governor to avoid more deaths, isn't it......!"