Since the alliance of the princes of the eight countries is acting according to the script, then Marin's side cannot delay. Because, the time has entered September. In half a month, the four provinces of East Friesland, Oldenburg, West Friesland and North Münster, which use phosphate fertilizers, will ripen their rye ahead of schedule. If you don't counterattack in time, it will affect the autumn harvest.

So, Marin called Kohler and commanded:

"Inform Steindorf that it's time to close the net!"

Steindorff was the commander of the Third Army, which was the most heavily infiltrated army in the North Sea State. Previously, Marin asked Steindorff to act, because he was afraid that the aristocratic officers in the Third Army who had been bribed would leak secrets. Therefore, he asked Steindorff to take the men and horses on the back of the horses and confront some of the men and horses of the Second Army, with a posture of wanting to fight.

At the same time, both Kohler and Sauer sent a large number of civilian and military spies to investigate which officers of the Third Army were eating inside and out.

In addition to investigating these people, Marin arranged for a group of graduates of the junior officer class to secretly go to the province of Schleswig, ready to replace those who had betrayed the officers. After all, if they are eliminated, an officer will have to replace them.

As for why he wasn't promoted on the spot, it's not that Marin doesn't want to, but that there are so many literate officers......

Why did Marin recruit those noble wandering knights as officers in the first place? It is not because the literacy rate in Germany was too low in this era. Most of the literate people were nobles, clergy, and the children of wealthy merchants.

However, it was impossible for Ma Lin to recruit priests as officers, and the children of merchants were too calculating and belonged to the group that Qi Jiguang "refused". Therefore, Marin can only choose to recruit those wandering knights who are literate and have a foundation in military theory.

But Marin didn't expect that these wandering knights from noble backgrounds had so much thought that they actually wanted to betray themselves. But at that time, Marin couldn't help it, because he really didn't have a suitable candidate under him.

As for ordinary soldiers of civilian origin? Even if Marin had arranged literacy classes in the army, the results were limited. After all, the problem of illiteracy and the foundation of military theory cannot be changed overnight.

Fortunately, Marin started a crash course for junior officers, and now, there are many graduates available.

Although these young graduates of the crash course for young officers are still very young and immature, they also have a solid theoretical foundation. What they lack is actual combat experience. But this is not a problem, because the alliance of the princes of the eight countries is a good opponent who sharpens his war experience and is not afraid of overturning.

After all, in this line of war, the Third Army is not the protagonist, even if dozens of officers are replaced, the combat effectiveness is affected for a while, and the problem is not too big.

After receiving Marin's secret instructions, Steindorff remained silent. Then, that night, he held a few tables of banquets and sent people to invite the people on the list......

In the evening, dozens of people on the list arrived, and Steindorff first looked at the list, then counted them, and found that the target people had arrived. So, he didn't say anything, and just let people eat.

After eating, Steindorff wiped his mouth and said:

"Today's meal is the last meal I'll have with you......"

As soon as the words fell, a large number of soldiers suddenly poured out around the restaurant, subduing the dozens of officers who had betrayed the Beihai Kingdom who were still dining.

Before taking their seats, the officers' weapons were dropped by the guards. At this time, they were all bare-handed, and they were powerless to resist in the face of the guards' bright swords and guns. Unless, they want to be beaten into a sieve by muskets.

At this time, a certain officer who had heard Marin tell a historical story suddenly changed his face and said:

"Hong...... Door Banquet ......"

Steindorff smiled and said:

"That's right, it's the 'Hongmen Banquet'! It seems that you have good knowledge, but if you have this knowledge, why should you betray the North Sea Kingdom? By the end of the day, Steindorff was already grim.

"You...... Didn't you also betray ......," one officer stammered.

"No, you're wrong, I've always been a loyal servant of the North Sea Kingdom! Wharton phalanx leader, you don't want to think about it, I, Steindorff, have been promoted from a hunter in the mountains to a high-ranking official like the commander of the legion, and even a hereditary nobleman, I will betray the North Sea Kingdom so easily? ”

"That'...... Then why do you want to pretend to be betrayal......" asked the phalanx leader named Wharton, puzzled.

"Because I'm going to confuse you bastards!" Steindorff rightly said.

"Master Steindorff, even if you capture us, it may not be useful. Except for myself, my company is loyal to me. If something happens to me, my company will make trouble. A company commander named Nowitz shrugged his shoulders.

Steindorff was not in a hurry at all, but smiled and said:

"I know you've run your company like an iron pass. But it doesn't matter, my men, you've pretty much surrounded your company's garrison at this moment. If you are willing to continue to obey orders, you will be fine. If you keep commanding...... Hehe......"

……

While Steindorff was "chatting" with the group of betrayed officers, Steindorff's cronies mobilized 5,000 soldiers and horses to surround the barracks of the betrayed officers.

In addition, 2,000 Cossacks sent by Alsace to support the Third Army also appeared at the edge of the camp to help plunder the formation......

"All the soldiers of Company B of the Eighth Phalanx obey the order, from now on, Mr. Hertz will take over the position of company leader of your company!" As soon as the herald finished speaking, a young man of about 20 years old with a green face stood in front of the camp of Company B of the 8th Phalanx, waiting for a debriefing. And this Eighth Phalanx B Company is Nowitz's company.

"Why? Our Nowitz Company Captain is doing a good job, why do you want to replace him with this doll? Nowitz is right, there are still a lot of diehards in this company.

The herald said expressionlessly:

"I have come to announce orders, not to ask for your opinions. Either obey or accept sanctions! ”

"Do you think I don't dare to make trouble?" Nowitz's loyal aide-de-camp, Hamill, was furious.

The herald's face did not change, but he repeated:

"Obey or accept sanctions!"

Then, suddenly, a procession poured in, and hundreds of muskets were pointed at Adjutant Hamill......

"This ...... You're too arrogant, aren't you, actually pointing your guns at your comrades? Hamill was also a little dumbfounded. He knows the military rules, one of which is that he is never allowed to point swords and guns at his comrades.

After a moment of silence, the herald explained:

"The Captain of Nowitz Company is suspected of betrayal and has been controlled. As his subordinates for many years, you are also suspected of following the betrayal. Therefore, we are only preventing you from following the rebellion, and we do not mean to kill your comrades. Also, the order to remove Nowitz is a direct order from the North Sea State Military Department, and you must carry it out. Otherwise, it will be considered treason! Once you have committed treason, you will no longer be our comrades-in-arms, understand? ”

Hamill opened his mouth, and then reluctantly:

"But didn't the Legion Elder also betray the Beihai Kingdom? Why take orders from the military department? ”

The herald said impatiently:

"The 'betrayal' of the Legion Commander was also carried out in accordance with the instructions of the military department, and I didn't have time to grind with you. Decide quickly whether to accept the order or not. If you accept it, then all lay down your arms and accept the new company leader. If you don't accept it, we'll open fire! ”

Because it is not wartime, at this time, although the soldiers of Company B of the Eighth Phalanx also have weapons, they are all cold weapons. And the preparation is insufficient, there is no main general. Hamill's face struggled for a long time, but he still chose to cooperate, obediently handed over his weapon, and accepted the new company leader. After all, he is not stupid, and the outside surrounds Company B, but there are three times as many troops. Not only did Company B lose its commander, but it also had no chance to line up to meet the battle. If you resist, you will die without a place to be buried.

However, not everyone is as knowledgeable as Hamill. Some companies, and even phalanxes, disobeyed......

"You really don't take orders?" A herald asked with a blushing face.

"I will not accept it! I am only loyal to our company captain! A second-hand adjutant said stubbornly.

"Okay, shoot him!"

The herald waved his hand, and then, like Xu Wenqiang, the stubborn adjutant was beaten into a sieve with a musket......

……

On this night, the camp of the Third Army was extremely lively. After hundreds of dead and wounded, the situation finally calmed down. Fortunately, most people are aware of current affairs and are accustomed to obeying the orders of their superiors. Therefore, there are only a few hundred second-class goods with a tendon in their heads who insist on being with the betrayed boss. And then, it was directly bloodily cleansed......

As for the betrayed officers who were seized at the "Hongmen Banquet", they were not executed, but were temporarily imprisoned and awaited trial afterwards.

The next day, all the units to which the betrayed officers belonged were broken up and reorganized, so as to prevent the former small group from continuing to do things together. Although most of those who remained were knowledgeable and obedient, Steindorff was not willing to take risks. Therefore, it is still necessary to break them up and reorganize.

And after completing the purge of the Third Army, Steindorff immediately sent people back to Aurich to deliver the message......

"The Great Purge is finally complete! Now, I don't have to worry about being stabbed in the back by my own people! Marin was relieved to see the information and know that everything was going well.