Chapter 1625: Hole Cards
All in all, Brigadier General Rudolf Geezert, who had just rushed back to Elichar day and night, was driven to the front again without even a good meal or wine. Of course, this is also something that cannot be helped, the Gate Valve Faction seems to control more than two-thirds of the territory, population and resources of the Federation, and more than eighty percent of the spellcasters, but there is always a lack of officers with actual combat experience and no brains.
Whether it is a senior, intermediate or low-level, it is actually lacking.
That said, it's still a bit inhumane. So, when Squint and Gezette marched east with the last 15,000 troops, their superiors and elders did show a considerable degree of sympathy and pity. For example, Gezette's esteemed mentor, Marshal Mencius, the world's favorite "headmaster", said to his wife on his return from the imperial capital of Auckland: "They have done everything they can." It wasn't their fault that they lost Daroshur and the Tatsukai fleet. I just hope that the next time I hear about their deaths won't be. In the next generation, there are fewer and fewer young people like this. β
"Yes, they were supposed to be our successors, to continue to maintain the country, to maintain our position......" Mrs. Mencius, who was well maintained and looked at least ten years younger than her husband, and could still be regarded as a mature (meow) beauty with a good temperament, nodded in agreement, and then sighed softly: "If ......"
If it weren't for the Firmament Master bringing back a disciple from Norda, everything would have been like this.
Of course, if that little guy is willing to come to their side, then he will definitely be the true faction leader of the next generation of the Gate Valve Sect. But what's so bad about that? The bigwigs of the Gate Valve Sect are actually very happy to see it, everyone is happy to play together, and rule this Sky Realm together, isn't it a thing that can make everyone twice as happy? Why doesn't he understand? Why did this happen?
"Melalie Oakland still hasn't given us a positive response?" Field Marshal Mencius looked at his wife, the eldest princess of the Mencius family, and now the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the federal (legitimate) government. Although he didn't have much hope, there was still a glimmer of hope for the seriousness at this time.
"I haven't even seen the Empress's face. The Auckland Heraldic Institution has always said that Her Majesty will only meet with legitimate federal government representatives. but the Privy Council, the Prince of Calgary and the Prime Minister, the Duke of Lancaster...... Well, the Marquis of Buckingbay has seen it a few times. Lady Melali smiled wryly.
"Marquis of Platinum Bay?" Marshal Mencius was slightly stunned, saying that he had never heard of such a title in Auckland. Since he is a duke, he should be quite a powerful prince and important minister.
"It is the Viceroyalty established by the Empress in the New World. As for the new Marquis, it was His Royal Highness Calendus. He is seven years old. Lady Melali said.
"That...... A disciple of Berencaster Jr.? "Of course, this is not a secret, and those who are interested can understand it with a little inquiry, and it is certainly not surprising that Marshal Mencius knows it.
"So, Kyle, you should understand Oakland's position by now, right? This time, we are isolated. Sorry to disappoint you. β
ββ¦β¦ No, if it weren't for your efforts, Oakland wouldn't have let the grain ships go because we raised the price. Besides, at least nominally, no country will directly send troops to join the civil war, thanks to your good offices! β
Is it because of our mediation, or is it because the little monster of the Colorful Rose family doesn't want all countries to participate? I can't say for sure right now. Lady Melali thought to herself.
She looked at her husband, who had not seen her for a few months, as if he was several years older, and felt a little distressed, but after hesitating for a moment, she still gritted her teeth and said, "Also, there is bad news, Kyle." β
"If you want the troops stationed in Elichar to move south, and raid and retake Port Gloren, I'm afraid it's going to be canceled."
Marshal Mencius's face sank suddenly.
For the sake of his reputation, Berencaster Jr. issued a ban on his mercenaries not to disturb the people. These 20,000 mercenaries are camped outside the city, right? Your plan is to have the floating warships bombard their barracks at high altitudes, and then quickly send the marines to take the city. In this way, it would be possible to recapture the port of Gloren before the Lesser Belencastel broke through the Oktalia Line, and most of the troops stationed there, as well as the surrendered 1st and 2nd Legions, could be liberated and thrown into a strategic decisive battle with the Iron Brier in the east. β
Marshal Mencius nodded slightly. He had already calculated, if ten times the strength of the army could not kill the little monster of the colorful rose, he would put in twenty or thirty times.
"However, only the port of Gloren and the surrounding area are considered our territory. If you want to bomb, you have to lower the altitude, and you will inevitably enter the airspace of Oakland and Norda, and they have also refused our request for temporary military transit, and their attitude is very tough, saying that if they find a Federation warship entering their airspace, they will immediately order it to be sunk. β
Public international law, which is now generally recognized by the nation, is that the airspace of the country is within the territorial airspace of the country at an altitude of more than 5,000 kilometres. Fortunately, all the floating islands discovered by the Federation are at least six or seven thousand meters above the air, otherwise they would have "violated" the airspace of Auckland and Virginia all the time.
The Federation, which has a monopoly on the technology of building floating warships, does have air supremacy in a strategic sense. But the problem is, after all, this is a world of occultism and supernatural powers, how can the dignified world overlord Auckland Empire, and the forest ruler Nolda Elves not have the means to counter the floating ship?
So, what kind of neutrality is this? Marshal Mencius suddenly wanted to throw the pot.
"I've heard...... Little Belencaster is blind and has a broken hand? Melali asked.
ββ¦β¦ Well, this has been confirmed in many ways, and it should be true. It's just that the reason is still unknown. Madame, have you inquired about anything? β
Melali thought of the tense military confrontation between the Auckland Empire and the Norda Elves at the edge of the forest a month ago, and the two sides were just as close to the confrontation as a small soldier accidentally slipped his hand, but she didn't know why the confrontation was lifted again. In addition, Nolda has recently begun preparations for the funeral, saying that the handle of the wood elves, the Grand Governor of Nolda, the supreme priest of the goddess of life, Cardinal Tidrith Ringo, has passed away, and her sister Nivea Ringo will succeed her. Well, the relationship between this noble elf girl and Lucy Belenkast is not a secret, and she has been in the Federation for a lot longer in the past few years than in Norda...... Could it be that little Belencaster made a big news in order to put his lover on the throne? In the face of supreme power, the so-called sisterhood is deeper than glass.
Of course, the coup d'Γ©tat against the transcendents is not about bribing a few mercenaries and forbidden troops to go to the capital to seize the palace and hold the king hostage, and then by the way to control some key departments and finally telegraph the whole country, it will inevitably experience quite fierce battles. And it's the kind of battle that ordinary soldiers don't dare to participate in at all and can't interfere with, and it really belongs to the top strength, beyond the common sense of mortals.
Perhaps little Belencaster was seriously injured because of this, and also lost his eyesight and an arm.
Well, Mrs. Melalie Mencius, although she is typical of living a gentleman's belly with the heart of a villain, did not think of the reason at all, but at least she guessed the process and the result correctly.
"That's probably why Drake Olontian dared to fight again." Melali glanced at her husband, "I don't think it's a completely rational judgment, though." β
"Drake is also quite a bit of a strategist, but I never think he has anything to do with reason." The marshal smiled bitterly: "However, at least his explanation has its own reason. If the confrontation continues, I'm afraid that we will not be able to hold on first......"
But it's also possible that he couldn't hold on in the first place. He was indeed rich, but now, the 40,000 troops of the 4th and 6th Legions, and the 20,000 mercenaries of Gloren Harbor, all of them were supported by his own savings. The pressure is high, but we still have almost all of the federal territory and tens of millions of people, and it is still possible to fight for a decent peace. Madame Melali interrupted her husband with some agitation: "Although there has not been much diplomatic progress on the side of Auckland and Veguia, I have made a trip to Cloudsdale, and the current Pope has agreed to exclude at least one cardinal from mediating at the right time. β
The so-called "right moment" means "when I have the final say". This can be understood as Cloudsdale's willingness to mediate in the federal civil war, and it can also be understood that Cloudsdale is willing to come over and wipe its ass when the federal civil war is decided, for example, in the name of religion and "the United Nations", the winner of the civil war is the legitimate ruler of the Federation...... However, by this time, even if Mrs. Melali sensed that something was wrong, she could only pretend that she did not know.
"Melali, it's too late to say this. Drake didn't take my orders directly......" Marshal Mencius smiled wryly.
Madame Melali was slightly stunned, and then sighed as if she was fated, and said faintly: "I understand, half of our so-called emergency committee, sitting on the ruins of the Azure Palace and giving orders, are completely stupid pigs. However, I thought that the old guys would be clearer when they were hiding behind the scenes. β
"They may not be old and confused, but even when they reach their status and strength, they can't choose the right and wisest choice at any time. I understand them very well, and because of that, how much I envy that enemy. Marshal Mencius shook his head, then restrained his wry smile, looked directly at his wife, and said, "Melali, in the family, are there any hole cards that I don't know?" β
"Why do you say that?" Melali was slightly stunned, then her face sank, and her face suddenly had an obvious layer of anger: "Even when I was a student, the two of us have been together for almost fifty years, and my father has always regarded you as a parent. Why, in this day, you are beginning to doubt our sincerity? β
ββ¦β¦ No, don't get me wrong. The situation has developed to such an unfavorable situation today, and the old men do not seem to be in a hurry. I always feel that they have some hole card in their hand, a hole card that is enough to turn the situation around. β
"This? Wouldn't it be that you are too worried? We still have all the territory and population of the Federation in our hands, and we have nearly 200,000 troops, and if we were to launch a national mobilization order, we could pull in 500,000 people. And, didn't you also say that Lieutenant General Drake Eurentian's plan has a chance of success? This may be the source of the old man's confidence. β
"I visited them today before I came to pick you up. Although they approved Drake's battle plan, they didn't actually have much confidence. I can see that. The marshal said.
Lady Melali fell silent. Even if it's her, she really can't solve her husband's doubts.
The husband and wife, who hadn't seen each other for a long time, sat in the carriage and were relatively silent until they got home. When people I don't know see it, I think the relationship between this pair has completely broken down.
What the famous model couple didn't know, of course, was that on their way home, such a conversation was also underway.
"Kyle, this little guy is the best of their generation. I guess I've noticed something. Old Golde Wielambart stood by the window, looked at the inauspicious black moon hanging in the distant sky, and let out a low sigh.
At this time, the number one wealthy family in the Federation, the patriarch of the Violet Wilanbart family, should have received the news of the death of his younger brother and son. However, it seems that he has not been affected by the bad news at all, and he is still so light, so calm, and so wise...... So, like an old zombie who seems to have lost all feelings.
"Even his father-in-law doesn't know, so it's just a guess." It was the Queen Mother of the Dandelion family, the only woman among the "old men", Lady Ovilia Dandy Lane.
In fact, it's just the two of them who are talking indoors now. The rest of the old men weren't there.
"Your grandson, and that little guy from the Gezettes, are still on their way." Old Gold Road.
"Drake's plan, though a little too idealistic, always has the potential to succeed. If it does, you don't need to do that. The lady smiled, "...... It's just that we must be aware of the total defeat of the front. β
"The ghosts of the past should stay in the history of the past. I didn't want to, and neither did my ancestors. β
"It's not that your ancestors didn't want to, but they couldn't. But now, everything is in place. Old Gold, we've all reached this age, it's time to be decent people. Don't kid yourself, okay? β
The bad old man, who looked like he was about to enter the grave, looked at the noble lady who was still charming, and sighed faintly: "You are really the same. I really don't understand, why I was so infatuated with you back then? β
"You weren't the only ones who had a crush on me back then. It's just that you don't know what you're missing. At this moment, her real age is over eighty years old, and her appearance should be fifty years old, but Ovilia Dandilaine seems to be smiling like an innocent girl of sixteen or seventeen years old. What a romantic and sweet smile it was, even the silver hair and the wrinkles on the face seemed to be filled with the breath of youth like sunshine, warm and clear.
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