"Prince Starozzik? Duke of Aravel? Was he a very powerful figure in the Norman Empire? ”

When Weiss asked such a question, Edwig glared at him angrily. That expression is like a great Confucian meeting a barbarian and learning to meet Bai Ding, and he can't talk to each other at all.

The reason for this situation is not that Weiss is unheard of, nor is it because he is not proficient in his studies. In the Ulster Free Federation, newspapers and magazines rarely reported news about the Norman Empire, and the rumors circulating in the community were often exaggerated, untrue, and full of unfounded conjectures of good actors, lacking logic, objectivity, and detail. Professional military books and periodicals, including teaching materials of military schools, have relatively detailed records and accounts of the war history and examples that occurred in the previous war, but they rarely cover the decision-making and preparation before the war, and the reflection and ending after the war. In such an environment, neither the common people of the Free Commonwealth of Ulster nor the cadets like Weiss knew very little about the political structure, military characteristics, and power classes of the Norman Empire. Who were the Duke of Alavel, who was Prince Starozzik, and where did they stand at the grassroots level of power in the Norman Empire? I am afraid that only professional diplomats and personnel of military intelligence know the answer to such questions.

To some extent, the Ulster Free Federation, with its liberal spirit, is more like a utopia isolated from the outside world.

Blank eyes, the eldest young master of the Grumman group patiently explained to Weiss: "The prince is a high-ranking nobleman in the Norman Empire second only to the emperor and the crown prince, and Prince Starozzik is not only the younger brother of the current emperor of the Norman Empire, Hohenstaufen IV, but also the field marshal of the Norman Empire and the commander of the Northern Army, the strongest and highest status among the princes. Duke is the most basic title obtained by members of the royal family when they become adults, but for ordinary nobles and even ordinary people, it is an unattainable and prominent status, and it is a gap that most people cannot overcome in their lifetime. Although the Duke of Aravel was originally the second son, as long as he accumulated a certain amount of merit, or obtained meritorious service on the battlefield, he could also advance to the rank of prince, and even become a pillar of the country with military power. ”

Seeing that there was no lack of admiration in Edweig's words, Weiss was upset, so he retorted: "But what does this have to do with us? If the Free Commonwealth goes to war with the Norman Empire one day, will currying favor with such a duke make him merciful to our army and people? ”

Edwig paused for a moment, then sneered, "Look at my memory, I almost forgot who you are!" Yes, you are the best of the Badston Military Academy, an aspiring young man who will sooner or later become a federal officer, and you are two very different people from us businessmen. However, you are standing here as the chief designer of the Clumberg-Haytham family, so I suggest that you put aside your noble notion of defending your home for a moment, and discuss the prospects of cooperation with the Norman delegation led by the Duke in the light of the common business interests of the Grumman Group and the Clumber-Haytham family. As for whether the Commonwealth and the Norman Empire will maintain a peaceful relationship or break out into war in the future, that is not something that we, the common people, can predict or influence—without that ability, why bother with that? ”

Weiss did not stand up to his own opinions, but thought from an objective standpoint. Edwig's words did have a point, and no one could have predicted that war would break out between the Free Commonwealth and the Norman Empire in the future. On the premise that there is a space for their own survival, even if it is a country with opposing ideologies, there is no need to fight to the death. The outbreak of the last war was, in the final analysis, the result of the excessive expansion ambitions of the former Norman Emperor Hohenstaufen III and his military and political staff, and the fierce collision between the delusion of world domination and the international balance. Judging from the recent actions of the Norman Empire to ease international contradictions and actively melt the diplomatic ice, Hohenstaufen IV seems to have realized the mistake of his predecessor and turned to a friendly attitude to try to change the international environment in which the Norman Empire lived......

Seeing that Weiss didn't speak, Edweig proudly raised the corners of his mouth: "Since this Duke of Alavel is very interested in your design, you may become a breakthrough for the cooperation between the two sides." As far as I know, the young duke was a high-ranking official of the military-technical department of the Norman Empire, as well as honorary chairman of the Industrial Union, and was influential in Norman industry. ”

"Then he's a soldier, right?" Weiss asked.

Edwig hesitated: "I think...... Should...... Yes. ”

Weiss nodded: "Tell me directly, this Duke of Alavel, I have probably met before." ”

"Huh?" Edwig was surprised, "You've seen it?" When? ”

Weiss said: "A month ago, a delegation from the Royal Norman Army Academy visited the Batton Military Academy. At that time, the 14 Norman visiting delegates who came were nominally 2 instructors and 12 cadets. As you've probably heard, the Norman cadets are so good that the best cadets at Bathton are dwarfed by them. ”

"Well, I did hear about it." Edwig replied, "So it's possible that the Duke of Aravel visited Bathton Military Academy as a cadet of the Royal Norman Army Academy?" ”

Weiss said: "What the truth is, I will know when I meet the Duke of Alavel." ”

Edwig raised his hand and looked at his watch: "It's a ceremonial meeting, and we haven't gotten to the point yet. Later you come in with me, sit behind me, don't talk, don't look around, understand? ”

Weiss was not sure about his speculation just now, so he was also full of curiosity about the answer.

"Of course."

"That's good!" Edwig glanced at the fat vice president, "Let's go inside!" ”

The fat vice president bowed slightly and put on a posture of "you go first".

There was still no verbal communication between the two.

Edwig turned and walked to the side door, Weiss looked at the fat vice president, and hurriedly followed.

Entering this semi-circular conference room for the first time, Weiss couldn't help but be captivated by its subtle layout and sophisticated décor. Floor-to-ceiling windows facing outwards provide ample light and ideal views for the meeting room. It is a cloudy day, and the smoke and rain outside the window give people the feeling of being in the clouds, and the furnishings and decorations in this meeting room are exactly the style of the cloud city. The guests from the Norman Empire are placed on the side facing the door, with their backs to the floor-to-ceiling windows, and in the play sits a young man who looks to be less than thirty years old, with short curly blond-brown hair and a gown with gold ornaments on a white background.

This man...... Weiss didn't know, to be precise, never met.

Wrong intuition leads to wrong judgments!

Weiss was embarrassed, and he silently followed Egweed to the side with his back to the door, and when he was seated, he quickly found an empty chair behind him to sit in attendance.

The seat of the eldest young master of the Grumman Group is separated from the big boss sitting in the center by three people, and all three of them are members of the board of directors. Judging from the seating arrangement, Edweig's status in the Grumman Group is far from as high as outsiders think.

As for the fat vice president, he can only sit on the left side, and his status can be imagined.

After taking his seat, Weiss quietly glanced at the other side, and among the visitors, he actually found a familiar face - "Heinz", who had visited as a cadet of the Royal Norman Army Academy.

Interestingly, he also sat in the back row, except that in front of him was the illustrious Duke of Aravel, and he was wearing a military uniform, which was similar to the one he had worn during his previous visit to the Bathton Military Academy.

That is, he did not deliberately hide his identity.

Facing Weiss's gaze, "Heinz" looked across the table and made a strange expression with one wink.

This guy is the personal staff of the Duke of Alavel? Pure friends? Or maybe you're coming along for the fun?

On either side of the long table, the Normans spoke jerky Norman, which was translated by professional translators, while the Grumman Group responded in Ulster, the official language of the Ulster Free Federation.

It feels like the two groups of people are talking like chickens and ducks, and whether the communication is in place depends on the impromptu performance of the translators.

Thinking of his contact with the Norman students, Weiss couldn't help but wonder if these elites of Norman industry did not understand Ulster, or did they deliberately not speak Ulster?

It's a detail worth playing.

After listening for a while, Weiss found that the communication between the two sides was indeed a courtesy meeting, as Egweed said. The two sides intend to understand each other and test each other, so they talk about some general situations, which are more boring and boring than the introductory articles in mainstream newspapers.

At that moment, Weiss saw "Heinz" whisper to the person next to him, and then got up lightly and walked outside, as if he was going to the bathroom to relax for a while. He whispered "I'm sorry" and cautiously got up and followed towards the side door.

When he walked out of the side door, Weiss saw that "Heinz" had found a sofa nearby, and sat there comfortably waiting for him.

"What an accident!" Weiss stepped forward and said, "We're meeting again so soon." ”

"Heinz" smiled, and when Weiss sat down in front of him, he said in fluent Ulster: "Actually, I have come for you this time. ”

"For me?" Weiss was surprised, "Is it necessary?" ”

"Heinz" kept his smile meaningful: "We've been following you for a long time, and we think that the talent you show so far is only a small part of your total talent. It's a pity that these talents of yours are difficult to get free play in the Free Federation. ”

Weiss calmly asked: "In the huge Norman Empire, is there still a lack of designers of my grade?" ”

"Heinz" was patient with his goals, explaining unhurriedly: "The attention to you began by chance, but as we investigated and learned more about you, we found that you, like your brother, have an incomparably great potential. It is true that the Norman Empire had no shortage of talented weapons designers and capable military commanders, but there may be one or two or none of those who can perfectly blend these two roles in a generation. We firmly believe that a first-class weapon designer is a person who truly understands the laws of weapons, a first-class military commander is a person who is truly proficient in the laws of the battlefield, and a person who understands both the laws of weapons and the laws of the battlefield will definitely be able to dominate the war! ”

Wei Si pondered for a moment: "But, even if I go with you, can you really rest assured that you will hand over the command of the army to me?" This kind of thing, no matter how you think about it, makes people feel ridiculous! ”

"Heinz" laughed: "I'm sorry, Mr. Clumber-Heisen, but I am afraid that your understanding has deviated from reality. What we promise is the opportunity for you to display your talents and achieve fame. You can choose to be a technical general who specializes in the development and production of weapons, or you can choose to be a civilian general who oversees military supplies, or you can choose to be a military general who is strategizing, what kind of achievements and status you can get depends on how much effort you put in and how much potential you develop, this process may only take three or five years, maybe it will take twenty or thirty years, not that you can get everything with a nod. ”

Weiss said with a serious face: "But staying in the Federation, I also have the opportunity to become the technical general, civilian general or military general you mentioned, and through my efforts, I can restore the former glory of the Clumber-Heisen family, why do I have to go to the Norman Empire?" If you are sincere in your friendship with us, we can share my potential in weapons technology and military command in the form of technical cooperation. If you are still ambitious about invading the Federation, then I'm sorry, I won't accept your invitation under any circumstances, let alone help you deal with it. ”

"Heinz" slowly put away the smile on his face, and said in a serious and deep tone: "With my identity and role, I cannot guarantee the position and intentions of the Norman Empire, but the Norman Empire today is no longer the Norman Empire of more than twenty years ago. After the brutal baptism of the last war, both the superiors and the military and civilians realized that aggression and expansion will not bring us everything we want, but will cause endless pain and sorrow. We attach importance to the military and develop armaments in order to uphold the origin of the Norman Empire's use of force to establish a state, and to ensure that our country will not be bullied, our dignity will not be trampled on, and our homeland will not be invaded. The reason why we invite young elites from all countries to join us is that we hope that the economic, social, and military development of the Norman Empire will remain vigorous, and that the Norman Empire will become the strongest and best country in the world and in this era through peaceful means. This is the great dream of His Majesty Hohenstaufen IV, and the great dream of all Norman citizens! ”