The general went out for a walk.

The day after Asa refused, he temporarily entrusted the affairs of the army to Assa, saying that he wanted to go out and relax. Originally, Asa was worried that he would go out of control and do something messy, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief, but he seemed to vaguely feel that something was wrong.

Because after that night, the expression on the general's face was very calm, and there was no trace of yesterday's passionate emotions at all, and even the usual majesty and evil spirit were gone, but revealed the plainness and stability that an old man should have.

Such a strong emotional contrast appeared in such an old man. Asa was not afraid of the general's furious murderous aura, but now looking at his peaceful and calm face, he always felt a little creepy.

It's not a big deal when a person is angry and out of control, and the loss of control of emotions will only drown out reason, and that's not difficult to deal with. It is only when all the emotional forces are confined to the heart, when all impulses are returned to calm, and when they are integrated into reason and personality, are the most terrifying.

But logically speaking, the situation is indeed stable. Asa had already told every general in the army the contents of the decree, and it was impossible for the general to move his troops even if he forced it. Maybe that kind of calm is the indifference after finally accepting reality.

I hope so. Asa waited in Bracada with trepidation.

Three days later, the general finally returned, and he also brought more than twenty people. These people looked as if they were ordinary villagers, some of them were old men who were close to old age and some were young and strong. After placing them in the town hall, the general called all the minor generals in the army and quietly instructed them something. Many generals are old subordinates of generals for decades, and these small things can still mobilize them.

Then the general set up a large and sumptuous banquet, which was attended by all the priests in the troops, and of course the priests. The banquet was in full compliance with the church's strict dietary requirements for the priests, and the general said that he would like to thank the priests for their long-term spiritual guidance to the soldiers, and please enjoy it to your heart's content.

According to the liturgy, it is very troublesome for priests to eat, they must pray first, then chew slowly, and then pray again before leaving the table. Although this set of cumbersome rules may not be followed by everyone very honestly, but there are priests next to them on the occasion of hundreds of peers, so hundreds of priests prayed together, as if it were a great sacrifice, and then began to eat.

"What the hell are you doing?" the leader of the hundreds of priests, the priest, did not pray. He sat down in the top seat and asked the general sitting next to him with an impatient expression.

The general was very calm, and smiled like a well-cultivated master: "I just want to invite you to have a good meal." Rest assured, I don't dare and won't tamper with the pastors' food. ”

Asa sighed, and said a little helplessly: "Count me on asking your old man for a favor, don't do anything more, and wait here quietly for Duke Mrak to come, okay?"

The general didn't say anything, just smiled quietly. Asa looked at his back and felt only a chill. This face is usually full of many strong expressions, but now the sudden gentleness looks very weird.

"Why don't you eat it? The general smiled faintly and pointed to the delicious food on the table.

Asa shook his head, sighed, dragged a plate of food into his mouth, and said vaguely: "Of course you have to eat, why don't you eat when others invite you?" ”

The food was delicious, and the priests were munching slowly with grace and grace below, and occasionally one looked up to see their prefect there eating the seas like bandits, but they did not dare to imitate them.

In a few moments, the plate in front of Asa was empty, and he seemed to burp contentedly, and stood up with his hands and walked outside.

The general asked, "Where is the priest?"

"It's up, go. The noble clergyman walked out without looking back.

The streets of Bracada were deserted, and it was still noon, but there were no soldiers walking around the streets, and it seemed strangely deserted. Asa walked around, he wanted to see what the hell the general was up to.

Passing outside a hotel, Asa heard voices coming from inside. He walked over to the door and quietly looked inside.

Only the hall, peculiar to the Bracada Hotel, could accommodate two or three hundred soldiers sitting together. These are very young soldiers in their teens and twenties, and there are no older veterans in them, probably specially drawn from the army. They were surrounding an old man and listened very attentively to what the old man said.

This old man was one of those people brought back by the general, with a very simple face that was crisscrossed by ditches, half-carried on his back, and his hands drooped down to his knees, typical of an old peasant who had spent his life facing the loess with his back to the sky. Now he was talking to the soldiers, "...... I saw a human skin hanging from the tree, without a face, but I recognized whose it was, I recognized the scar on my leg, which I had medicated with my own hands. By this time the ogres had pressed my sister to the stone platform, and an ogre dressed as a shaman danced and cut my sister's stomach with a knife made of stone. My sister kept screaming, trying to move, but a few ogres pressed her. I watched as my sister's blood kept pouring all over the stone platform, and she kept screaming and struggling..... The shaman gouged out her heart alive, held it in his hand, danced their dance, and placed it on their altar. That's my sister......" The old man's tears flowed, and his body trembled, and the years had not diminished the power of this memory.

The young soldiers began to stir, the blood in their bodies had begun to boil, and the grief and anger of the same enemy rubbed sparks in their hearts, and the young passion made them burn more and more. If an orc appeared in their field of vision now, they would definitely be torn to pieces by this group of angry people.

"Fortunately, the people in the village invited a group of mercenaries at this time, and I took advantage of the chaos to escape. But I can't forget the scene I saw with my own eyes..... Every year in our village, people are caught and eaten by those wild beasts, and it wasn't until later that the general came here with his troops and killed all the damned beasts, and we were able to survive in peace, and we are really grateful to the general..... General Sanders is the great benefactor of our people, the greatest general of the Empire. The old man continued to tremble.

The spirit of these two or three hundred young listeners has completely resonated with this old man. Young hearts are always particularly easy to be stirred, not to mention these things, it is impossible not to be moved by these things as a person with a little blood.

"But I've heard now that the general has been dismissed. Although I, an old man, don't know anything about national affairs, I only know that the general is the benefactor of our people, and like you soldiers, he is fighting for our people, and they are all good people. But those who are in power and those who are aristocrats just use our hard-earned money to eat, drink and be merry. Why should they let a good man like General Sanders be dismissed? The old farmer used simple logic to express his simple feelings. "I've also heard that the remnants of the orcs have established a city in the wasteland, and are colluding with the nobles to sign a peace treaty for the empire and recognize their independence. Is there any reason for this? Is it just the case that our dead relatives are counted like this? I haven't slept well a night since I heard the news, I only hate myself for being too old to wield a sword, otherwise even if I am alone, I will kill the orc city, and even if I die, I will be eaten by those wild beasts, I will cut them with a knife, and poison them with my flesh......" The old man's voice and body trembled more violently from being too excited. This is not a pre-prepared speech, there is no practice to make such a simple person say such powerful words, it is an outpouring of real emotions that shakes the hearts of every listener. The soldiers, young and unpretentious, were able to fully feel the power of these emotions, and the expressions on their faces were overshadowed by fanatical anger and passion.

Asa was at the door, but he could afford goosebumps, and he could probably guess what the general was going to do.

"Alright, it's time, let's go. The general has something to say to us there. One of the soldiers, who looked like a captain, led the soldiers to their feet and walked outside, and Asa hurriedly stepped out of the way.

Groups of soldiers, young soldiers, had gone in groups to listen to the speeches of those who had been found by the general. There were no other generals who came out to interfere with them, and the prestige of the generals among their subordinates could not be expelled by a single piece of paper.

The soldiers did not pay any attention to Asa, and they walked out of the city under the guidance of some soldiers, presumably under the general's prior instructions.

Asa followed them all the way to a small hill outside the city, on which the general was already standing at some point. The priests must have been eating there slowly, the food was delicious, and the general naturally had a way to keep them eating there in peace.

When all the soldiers had gathered, the general began to shout in a majestic voice to these righteous and indignant young men: "Men of love for the Lord, great warriors of the Empire. As everyone already knows, I am no longer the commander of the troops. Because of the intrigues of the nobles, the dirty trade of political interests, this great war that was supposed to avenge our people is about to die. I tell you, I can go back like this, and go back and enjoy my old age with the money that the court has given me, because I am no longer a general. But I'm not going to do that. Absolutely not. The general was roaring. "Because I'm still a warrior," he roared as if with his life. "I'm a fighter. ”

The soldiers subconsciously cried out at this majestic roar.

Every truly heartfelt cry will stir up a stirring in the hearts of others. What's more, this shock is like the ** of a drama, and there are already sufficient stories and performances that have been prepared before.

Standing on the edge of the array of soldiers, listening to the roar of rage, Asa felt chills.

"I'm not going back to live out my old age. I would rather trade all the time spent growing old on my sickbed for the opportunity to tell the beasts with my sword as a warrior of our human dignity and wrath. The general's deep voice was clearly conveyed to the ears of every soldier. "I can't command you now, I can't command you anymore. I'm just speaking to you warriors like me as a warrior now. The general slowed down his voice and accentuated his tone, assuring that the rolling sound would ignite the fire in the hearts of every young soldier. "I, a warrior, are here to ask you. Warriors like me, will you follow me, will you go with me to slaughter the beasts?"

"Yes. "A deafening voice erupted in the mouths of the soldiers, five or six thousand heartfelt roars.

"Okay, let's all go back and pack your bags as I say. "The successful speaker commanded the excited audience below. "We'll be going right away. ”

The soldiers soon dispersed in an organized manner. Soon only Asa and the General were left here.

The general did not move on the hill, and the passionate performance just now did not leave the slightest trace, and he regained his terrible calm expression, looking down at Asa under the hill like a statue of a god.

"What do you mean by that. Asa asked coldly.

The general's tone was as calm as his expression, and he said, "Just let them know the details of some things, and then let them make their own choices." Everyone has the right to know the truth, doesn't it? And telling others the truth is never a bad thing. ”

Asa snorted coldly and said, "So you gathered all the priests together to convey this truth?" In addition to healing and supporting magic, the important role of the priests in the team is to grasp the emotions of the soldiers. Warriors who wallow on the line of life and death are generally very religious, and the teachings of the priests and some spiritual auxiliary magic are usually very helpful to the restlessness of the soldiers.

"Faith is meant to be used to disguise the truth. It's a prop for the weak to deceive themselves, and a warrior will never need such a thing. It only takes a short time, as long as it can completely ignite their fighting spirit, no reason or spirit can extinguish it. The general looked at Asa and finally showed a curious expression. "Why are you still standing here when you know what I'm doing? I thought you must have gone back in a panic to arrange for me to be stopped. ”

"Since you've done this, you must have made some other arrangements. Instead of running back, Asa walked up the hill. "But I still have to ask what you would do if I went back at once and told the priests to calm the soldiers. ”

"As soon as you have this intention, I will kill you immediately. "The general is still so calm. There was no anger, no murderous aura, and even a little smile on his lips. But Asa knew that if he could say it, he could do it.

"You think you have to hold it?" Asa stood in front of the general, looking at him coldly.

"I'm really not sure. The general honestly admits that he has a vision as a martial artist. "But there must be five thousand. The five thousand young soldiers who listened to me just now, I only need to say that you are actually a spy of the nobles and orcs in the court, and if you incite them again, they will kill you. ”

Asa looked at the calm old man in front of him, his eyes that had once been full of bravery, fortitude, evil spirit, and fire were now dead silent. Asa finally understood why he was able to become the way he was and to be able to do these things.

It was a dead look.

All his feelings, all his values, have died to a goal, and even his own life is just a prop to achieve that goal. He can do anything, use all his wisdom, energy, and means to achieve that goal, even if it costs the whole world.

"Five thousand. It's all young soldiers. Asa shook his head slowly. "Did you pick it out of the army?"

"Be young, of course. Only when you are young can you have passion, enthusiasm, and impulse. Once people have lived for a long time, they like to think about other things, and they are not so willing to die and kill. The general looked at Asa with dead eyes. "So I advise you not to do anything superfluous. I don't want any more trouble, and you don't want to die," he turned and walked towards the city. Moreover, the pastors are useless in this situation. ”

Soon after, the general set out with all the five thousand soldiers.

There were no other generals to stop them, and the general's aftermath made it difficult for these former subordinates to come forward. And the general's persuasion also made them understand that this was just the general's willful behavior, and even if something happened, they would never be affected. Unaffected and difficult to come forward, they really didn't stand up to stop the soldiers who were originally their subordinates.

Asa didn't stop it, he didn't let the priests persuade the soldiers who were carried away by anger and fighting spirit, he didn't want to see these priests under the Bishop of Ronis split in half with an axe. A man like a general can already do anything.

He could only sit in the town hall now and wait for the arrival of Duke Mrak. Fortunately, the general was gone, and there were no more variables, and the task given to him by Bishop Ronis was not entirely successful, but it was finally completed. The general just took five thousand people.

Five thousand people. But one-eighth of this army is nothing. Things are out of his reach, and he's done his best.

Five thousand people. Asa suddenly remembered the three horrific corpses he had seen when he first came here. Five thousand, two thousand times, can probably accumulate as much as a mountain. The screams and wails of the 5,000 men at the same time..... The sky will be full of flying flesh, internal organs, and bones...... The sound that he would never forget that night for more than half a year sounded in his ears again, the sea of wails spreading, the strange sound of bones shattering and deforming muscles, and the concerto of the intertwined undulations of the tone of the weapon tearing through the air and flesh, and now it was dozens of times stronger. He felt his skin twitch and his stomach contracted.

Asa slammed to his feet, kicked the table open, and stomped his chair to pieces. He scolded the general with the swear words and curses that he had learned in the tavern since he was a child, and he was no less inferior to scolding the Nags priest before, and then went to find a priest with great experience and qualifications to explain it, and rode a horse to chase the general's troops.

"What are you doing here?" the general asked, seeing Asa chasing after him.

Asa glared at the reckless soldier angrily and said, "Come and wait for death, wait to see you die." ”

"Then you won't be disappointed. The general said lightly.

"I want you to die as soon as possible, preferably as soon as you start the fight. Then I would have a chance to bring the rest of the soldiers back. ”

"Then you may be disappointed again. I won't die so easily until I slash those beasts. The general replied lightly. Since he made up his mind, all his feelings have converged into his body and turned into motivation, and he is reluctant to show it.

Asa looked at the burly old man, who was a head taller than himself, and the two axes at his waist, spat fiercely, and said, "If possible, I really want to do this with my own hands, then I won't have to wait long." ”

"If it had been before, I would have considered your suggestion. The general looked him up and down, then turned his head back to stare in the direction ahead. "It's no longer possible. It's a pity. ”

"It's a pity..... "The necromancer sat down on the velvet cushion in a huff. "I failed. "He's just teleported back from the magic circle.

"Yes, yes, I can't imagine that you can direct such a touching play, more wonderful and touching than I have seen at the Royal Theatre. The other necromancer smiled and clapped.

"Don't you know that someone used to compliment me on writing a script that smells of Dario Fu?" the necromancer smirked and sighed. "It's a pity I didn't have time to kill the messenger who delivered the decree first. Now our brave general had to work hard to gather 5,000 soldiers, and thanks to the fact that I secretly helped him get rid of many generals who wanted to stop him. If the 40,000-strong army can fight with the old man of Sedlos, maybe they can really kill him and the city. It's a pity that it's only 5,000 now, and I don't know if it's enough to stuff my teeth. ”

"It doesn't matter, it's just a game anyway, let's all watch and play. Look at how these 5,000 young people can plug it, maybe they can even plug the gap between their teeth, so that the old man Cedlos will lose a few teeth and bleed a little. Another necromancer playing with a crystal skull said. "I bet he'll die fifty orcs. ”

"Seventy. Bet on a piece of magic jade. ”

"It's still a piece of magic jade. I'm betting I'll only die twenty. I heard that the old man has a half-elf friend who is very powerful, and the orcs are also very good in combat if they are well equipped. ”

"That's an army of five thousand, can't you kill even a hundred? I'll bet ten phoenix feathers and a thunderbird feather. ”

One of the most hoarse voices said, "I bet he won't die." Vidnian smiled half of her face. "But my bet is that you agree to a new member. ”

"How can this beautiful lady be so confident? If you personally go out and throw a dark dragon in the barracks, won't that be a help to Old Man Cedlos?"

The smile of the beautiful lich in the mouth of her companion can definitely become a nightmare for ordinary people, and her withered lower face did not move, but she said in a voice that seemed to be very confident: "Of course, I am not so lacking in virtue. ”

"Hehe, I knew that this lady was very smart and beautiful," said the necromancer, who had just gone to direct the operation, with a charming smile. "He is also very conscientious and moral. He looked at Vidnina, his eyes flickered a few times, and said, "So be it." Out of admiration for her, I also bet that an orc wouldn't die, or that I would accept a new member. ”

Vidnina glanced at her companion, who trusted his judgment, but there was no sign of gratitude in her eyes.

"Can you really find someone of sufficient character and quality to join our noble group?" said a necromancer, with a cheerful expression. "I feel like spring is coming to the Diya Valley. ”