Mobilization is a very complicated matter, and it requires extremely high management and organization to eat, drink, and command the communication and assembly routes.

The level of mobilization in the Northland was still in the feudal era, and it was fast to gather thousands of troops scattered in a dozen cities in three months.

Bishop didn't even have an accurate map. He could only point to the approximate points on the map and ask the envoys of the cities to deliver the messages and orders themselves. Most of the time is lost in the long process of communication.

It was in order to formulate a feasible mobilization plan that Friedman Buch would send people to the Northland to liaise with various forces, and summon envoys to sit in the same living room.

A whole day passed in tangled quarrels and quarrels, each with its own difficulties, and this quarrel would go on for several days. In the evening, the talks were temporarily suspended, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

"Bishop." At the end of the day, Friedman called out to his general. He leaned back in his chair, one hand propped up on his forehead, trying to ease the distress of the chaos.

In an era when communication relied on yelling, education relied on scolding, and power relied on beating, it was very difficult to manage feudal territories. Friedman also wanted to lose his duties as a lord and be a nobleman like rice worms, wouldn't it?

The baron stopped, turned back and asked, "Your Excellency, do you have any other orders?" ”

"Sit down, Bishop, don't be so serious. I just want to talk to you casually and relax. Friedman, the lord, casually pointed to the seat in front of the table, but stood up and moved.

Bishop pulled out his chair and sat down respectfully, ready to be questioned by the lord.

"The last time you retreated in Fog Town, you said you had encountered a heavily armed knight riding a mechanical dragon, wielding a powerful burst of magic equipment. The town's defenses were unable to hold off the attack, and were routed in a short period of time. ”

Friedman stood in front of the window of the parlor and pulled the bell for the maid to bring some drinks. Bishop, who had been seated, replied in a proper manner: "Yes, my direct subordinate unit has encountered a dragon.

There are many people present who can testify to this. Even the two stone golems failed to play any role, at most they consumed the opponent's attack. Afterwards"

Friedman waved his hand, "No, I'm not suspicious. I've just heard that Victor Hugo in Coldwind is riding a mechanical dragon. ”

Bishop's heart dropped slightly, "Yes." This monstrous creature often patrols around and around Coldwind on his mount alone, and that's been confirmed.

We once sent people to assassinate Hugo. But the situation in Coldwind City is particularly weird, and any outsider will become extremely conspicuous. We failed several times in our lurks, and basically came back in vain. ”

Hmph

Friedman let out a sneer, "Hidden failure? I don't think the risk-takers who took the money didn't even want to do it. Going to Coldwind City to do some business will make more than a bounty. ”

Bishop was silent.

"What I didn't expect was that the person who defeated you last time turned out to be Victor Hugo. He came out alone, completely ignoring the powerful force I had painstakingly recruited, and easily defeated him.

Not only did he defeat him, but he also terrified the hundreds of troops under your command. The next day, all the armed forces I had spent so much money on were withdrawn. ”

The maid brought the spirits, and Friedman threw up his head and drank a glass. The stimulus of alcohol excited his drowsy mind, and he pulled several papyrus copies of the newspaper from the manuscript in front of his desk and raised them in his hand.

"Look, Hugo wrote the whole battle in this so-called 'newspaper'. He portrays you as a harlequin, aggressive, scattered, murderous, greedy, and cowardly.

All the lords of the Northlands knew about this, and they must be laughing. Laugh at my incompetence, laugh at the seeming strength of the Butchers, laugh at everything that can be laughed at. I know, I know everything. ”

Friedman's thick arms kept waving, gritting his teeth in hatred. Bishop hurriedly got up and knelt down on one knee to ask for punishment - the battle lost half a year ago was inexplicable, and no one had ever experienced such a thing.

"Reprimand? Why Punishment? Friedman shook the sedge newspaper apart and shook it into pieces of grass stalks. This is an enemy that has never been greater, and he is different from the enemies of the past.

Victor Hugo didn't care about the aristocracy at all, he had another system of rule. My idiots know how terrible the enemy is, but they don't wake up, they're still waiting for a new joke.

The fools don't know that we can't afford to lose, and we're still selling war supplies to the enemy. The grain and cloth were helping Victor Hugo arm the new legion, and he would definitely have come over.

We can't lose, we can't lose. Look at the fate of the Longleg family, if you lose, it's all over. But I said again and again that fools only knew that I was blocking their way to their wealth. If you really fight, what's the use of earning those gold coins?

Bishop, you have suffered at the hands of Hugo, and you know how good he is. So I don't punish you, I hope you understand my painstaking efforts, and I hope you will faithfully carry out my orders. ”

Friedman's voice vibrated through the room, and the glasses in his hands exploded in the shouting. It was his voice from the bottom of his heart, and it was even more of a fear from the bottom of his heart - the war with Coldwind City must not be lost.

Seeing this, Bishop immediately expressed his loyalty, and cried out: "Your Excellency, I understand what you mean, and I will surely wash away my shame." Next time I fight, please let me be the vanguard. I'll either win or die! ”

This attitude is still good, and Friedman is very satisfied. He stepped forward slowly and patted Bishop on the shoulder, "I'll give you a chance, I hope you can cheer up." ”

"I must be in the fight"

"No, it's not just fighting.

One more thing, the fools in the city are not so obedient, they are still trying to find a way to break through the bottom limit I set, and they still want to continue to do business with the enemy from the north. I hope you can get those damn guys out of the way. ”

Yes?!

Bishop stammered.

"How?" Friedman put a hard touch on Bishop's shoulder, his face solemn, "Loyalty can't stop at words. The family needs someone to stand up bravely to remove carrion and moths, and that person is you. ”

it!

What can Bishop say? If I knew this, I might as well have been punished. This errand that offends people is the target of public criticism once it is messed up - no, it is the target of public criticism if it is messed up or not.

Maybe the crowd will be angry afterwards, and they will have to be 'borrowed from others'. Friedman clearly holds a grudge, Bishop messed up the battle that decided the fate of the family, and his revenge came half a year later.

"Bishop, what's your answer?" Friedman's gaze suddenly became fierce, and he accentuated his tone, "Is it bravery or cowardice?" I'm waiting for your choice. ”

"I" Bishop's mouth was full of bitterness, but now he knelt down on one knee, and the only choice was 'brave', "Your Excellency, I am willing to eradicate dissent in the family for the sword in your hand. ”

"Good, good." Friedman patted Bishop on the shoulder in satisfaction. He named a few idiots, all of whom were in the city's top positions, and even members of the wizarding order, all of whom were 'concerned about the big picture and just made money'.

Bishop swore allegiance again and left the parlor in a cold sweat.

After he left, Friedman let out a long sigh and did not move for a long time.

A green glow appeared in the living room. In the darkness of the corner, there was the sound of a snake's tail squirping, and the glamorous snake demon more than two meters tall slid out of the floor.

The snake demon was taller than Friedman, and the shiny vertical looked at the head of the Buchi family patriarch from a bird's-eye angle, spat out the snake letter from his mouth, and sneered, "Pathetic reptile, I like the tricks you play. ”

Friedman looked back, his face expressionless, and he didn't say a word.