He tugged at the beef and side dishes in the bowl with a spoon and said without looking up, "This news is very valuable, you have to exchange something." ”

"What did you say?" Calis felt that something must be wrong with his ears.

Framar scooped up a chunk of beef and put it in his mouth, his voice slurred by the food, but the meaning was clear: "These things are important, and they might save your life." I'm a practical person. We are friends, I am here to help you, and I hope you can help me. ”

Calis furrowed his brow slowly, the wrinkles on his forehead twisted into a very complicated expression. He thought for a few seconds and asked seriously, "What do you want?" ”

"Give me a squad of cavalry, at least two hundred. They must obey my orders absolutely. With that, Flamar spat out a cleanly eaten bone from his mouth and threw it on the table in disgust: "This condition is not excessive, is it?" ”

"Of course!" Calis bowed slightly, he was familiar with the other party's temperament, and his expression was still solemn: "Let's talk about other requirements." What more could you want? ”

"Gold." Flamal was blunt: "I know you've gotten a lot of gold from the Dragon Pass. Rest assured, I'm a measured person and won't ask for more than you expect. ”

Calis's brows furrowed even deeper: "Just gold? ”

Flamal nodded: "Just gold." ”

Calis suddenly understood something, and an indescribable horror suddenly surged up in the depths of his mind, and he subconsciously asked urgently: "Wait...... You, where is your army? ”

Without waiting for the other party to answer, Calis felt a strong sense of fear wander through his body, and asked with great urgency: "You want to escape?" ”

Flamar froze as he scooped the soup.

He looked up, a wry smile released on his dirty face, "You've always been a smart guy. ”

"Why?" Calis's mind was full of questions, and he couldn't wait to directly open Flamal's head and see every answer directly: "You met the main force of the northern giants and were defeated?" ”

"They're stronger than you think." Flamar didn't hide it: "You have to be a little patient, I have a lot of things to say, and it will take a long time. How to do it, you choose for yourself when the time comes. ”

It wasn't until dawn, when the morning soldiers had finished their breakfast, and the officers began their daily patrols, as well as a brief training, that Flamar finally finished his story. It was a long process, including the Viking army's first victory over the cavalry of the northern army, and the crossing of the Pantuo River, followed by a series of defeats.

Calis was dumbfounded: "You mean, the northern giants have more advanced weapons than us?" ”

Flamar pushed aside the cold soup, which was already clumped together in the bowl: "I hate to admit it, but it's true. ”

"It can't be!" Calis shook his head in amazement: "If the Northern Giants have the kind of extremely powerful artillery you said, why didn't they use it when they locked the Dragon Pass?" ”

Flamar was silent for a few seconds before continuing to smile bitterly: "I'm afraid only the Holy Lord can answer this question. ”

Calis stared at him, "It's not about the gods, I just want to know what you think." ”

The Viking Duke gently rubbed his swollen belly. This past experience was truly unforgettable———— crossing the river alone was far less smooth than expected. The main Viking forces collapsed earlier than Vlamal thought, and the cavalry of the northern giants penetrated with astonishing speed. In particular, the kind of monster they stepped on was not a real war horse at all, and while subverting Flamar's worldview and logic, it also made him afraid of the strange land under his feet.

Even if the river is crossed at night, a small boat can become a target covered by artillery fire. Flamar suddenly felt that he knew too little about the northern giants, and God knew if their eyes could see far in the dark. If that's the case, you're really throwing yourself into the net with a horse and a boat.

In search of the slowest part of the river, Flamal was forced to walk a long way downstream. After going through hardships, he finally found the main camp of the coalition army, but Flamar did not dare to reveal his identity, so he could only find the camp of the Rhine Kingdom according to the banner and met the Duke of Calis.

"My idea is simple." Flamar picked up the half-drunk bottle and took a sip from his neck, wiping the corners of his mouth with the back of his hand, and his words were slightly drunk: "This war was a mistake from the beginning, we ...... Me and you, no one should be here. As you said before, I have to go, go now. ”

Calis struggled to digest all that he had just learned, and the shock almost froze on his face: "You mean, the Vikings are going to withdraw from this war?" ”

"We can't fight anymore." Flamal was calm: "The main force plus the labor of transporting supplies, I have lost at least a million men this time. I have no chance, and I can't win this war. ”

Calis was enveloped by great horror, and he tried to slow down his tone and persuade assuringly: "Listen to me, the situation should not be as bad as you think. The kingdom coalition is one, and even if you fail, there are still us, and the Holy See. ”

"I trust you because you are my friend. But I won't trust your king, never. Vlamar was resolute: "Speaking of the Holy See...... Calis, weren't we called because the Pope's damn old bastard promised us a lot of certainty of sending troops this time? And then there's Somson, who swears that Six is the most powerful weapon ever built, and that if we follow the ass of those monsters, we'll be able to easily win. ”

These words are bold and full of doubts about theocracy. Calis could not agree, but he could not blame Flamal for this, he could only try to reassure: "Bishop Somsen has not deceived us, and the strength of the 'Six' is obvious to all. If it weren't for the Holy See, we wouldn't have been able to capture the Suolong Pass. ”

Flamar sneered and spread his hands: "You're right, I never deny it, but the Holy See must have a lot to hide from us. All they do is replace one lie with another, puncturing useless bubbles to let us see the so-called "truth". But in fact, it's also unreal. ”

Calis felt like he had reached a crossroads, and it was difficult to make a choice at a fork in the road where he could not see the future. After thinking for a few seconds, he said seriously, "I'll send someone to see you off now." I don't have much gold here, but I have a lot of silver and other things of value. You go to the warehouse and pick it yourself, and take whatever you like. ”

Flamal put away the cynical look on his face, stood up, bent down, and made the highest courtesy among nobles to Calis, and said solemnly: "I will always remember all this, and I will tell my sons and grandsons about these things." Calis, you are a nobleman of high character, and my family and I will be your friends forever. ”

Duke Rhine smiled bitterly: "You have spoken too well to me. I just want you to get back to Viking in peace. We have a common enemy, I help you now, and you will help me later. ”

These words went to the deepest part of Flamal's heart. He walked around the table to Calis, clasped the other's hand, and said with admiration and sincerity: "I swear that as long as you say a word, I will be at your disposal at any time." ”

Duke Rhein smiled and waved his hand. He turned and walked to the door of the tent and called the adjutant and two personal guards who were on duty outside.

"Bring me a clean set of clothes for the Duke." Calis instructed the adjutant as he turned his head and asked, "Flamal, do you want to take a shower?" ”

"There's no need for that." Flamar shook his head: "Just have clothes." You better have them take me to the warehouse as soon as possible, and don't forget the two hundred cavalry you promised me. ”

"Alright! All right! Calis agreed.

Soon, the adjutant walked into the tent with a set of Rhein officer uniforms. It was terrible to be covered in dirt, especially after a decent late night and breakfast, and Flamar felt slimy and uncomfortable. He didn't want to waste time by taking a bath, but he wouldn't refuse a new dry outfit.

Without much thought, he walked to the side of the table, unbuttoned it, and took off the clothes on his body, which were no longer indistinguishable from rags.

In addition to Calis, there were adjutant and two guards in the tent. Everyone is a man, and it's normal that there's no need to blush when you take off your pants and change your clothes.

Flamal didn't notice in the slightest that a guard was slowly approaching from behind.

By the time you noticed a slight noise behind you and noticed something abnormal, it was too late.

The guard was tall and extremely burly. He grabbed Flamal by both hands and twisted them backwards, and another guard pounced on Flamar by the hair, forcing his head back and leaning back. The adjutant clasped his shoulder from the side, drew his short sword from his waist in his right hand, and pressed the sharp, cold blade against the duke's throat.

Flamar's whole body was twisted in an unnatural state, and the angle of his hands was so clever that he couldn't use force, and his arms seemed to be firmly held in someone else's hand by wire. The tense roots of the hair ached for a while, and the force was so strong that it seemed as if the scalp would be torn off at any moment.

Feeling the fear of death brought by the cold metal around his neck, he saw Calis approaching him.

“…… You're going to kill me? Anger and shock reigned in the mind, and Flamar could not understand this, and reluctantly asked, "Why?" ”

"Because you have been defeated, and have forsaken your army and fled alone." There was not a hint of a smile on Duke Rhine's face.

Flamar struggled, but could not change his situation, so he could only ask with round eyes and gritted teeth, "What does this have to do with you?" If you don't want to help me, just say it, it's a big deal for me to go by myself. ”

"Dear Flamal, things are not as simple as you think." There was a strange pity in Calis's eyes: "I know that you want to return to Viking early to prepare and continue to mobilize the army at home. But you seem to have forgotten that you are not the only Duke of the Vikings, and that there are many generals who can fight. ”

These words brought Flamar to a standstill in his thinking, and he had to separate a part of his brain cells from his fear to participate in deep thinking, but he could not find an answer, so he could only ask in a hoarse voice: "...... What do you know? ”

"No one can occupy a position forever, no!" Calis smiled dryly: "Soon there will be a successor who will be the new duke." Flamal I'm not targeting you, actually...... I can swear to the Lord that I have considered you a friend for a long time. I've been defending you and helping you a lot of the time, but you take it all for granted. ”

"So you're referring to this!" The Viking Duke suddenly realized: "You have always resented me for leading the army westward before you? ”

"Everybody wants loot, why should you run to the front?" Calis's tone was extremely cold: "In the old saying, you are going the way of others, leaving others with no way out." ”

"Wait! If this is the source of your resentment, then everything is negotiable. Flamar struggled for a moment, but was forced by the adjutant to sink his body again with a sharp short sword: "I can hand over all the loot from before, as well as the ...... I stored in the warehouse of Suolongguan"

"I know you're going to say that. In fact, that's exactly what I wanted. Calis's expression was grim: "Enough food to sustain the normal consumption of millions of people for three months, 300,000 sets of replacement armor, 200,000 arquebuses, and 500,000 spare barrels...... That's enough for me to keep you here...... Forever. ”

Flamar could no longer utter a word.

Each Kingdom army has its own reserve supplies. In order to win this battle, the nations began to hoard at the fortress of Shenwei very early. The distance between Suolong Pass and the fortress is quite long, and it is not easy for the transport team to come and go. In line with the principle of nearby supply, the Kingdom Coalition Army built a lot of temporary buildings on the basis of the existing warehouses in Suolong Pass, which were specially used as reserves.

Although the main force of the Viking Kingdom was completely annihilated, a large number of supplies that could be stored in Suolong Pass were not damaged. That's exactly what Calis has his eye on. When Vlamar had previously proposed the need for two hundred cavalry, he had a premonition and made a decision at that time.

Neither Framar nor the Viking king would give up so much. But as long as Vlamar "died heroically", then any takeover would become logical. Calis is known to be Flamal's best friend, but no one knows that Calis is fluent in imitation of Flamal's handwriting. As soon as the news of the Viking's death came, Calis took out a copy of the "handwritten letter" he had stored here at the right time, plus a tearful speech to avenge the tragic death of his friend...... You can get what you want, and neither the process nor the result will cause suspicion.

"You ......" Flamar trembled, "You're a devil!" ”