XIV

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The wide street in front of him was burning, and from time to time there was the sound of sporadic firefights.

Swords, spears, and muskets were scattered on the ground, and the corpses of soldiers and policemen were mixed together, and the blue and green uniforms were stained red with blood. It wasn't too far from the garrison's camp to the parliament building, but the coup army did pay a lot of price along the way.

"Actually set up a defensive position...... Damn it. ”

Marshal Radetz Govar cursed softly as he stepped past the corpse of a young military police member, and Major General Dikhao Lemda, who was beside him, frowned at the corpse and followed the supreme commander. The heralds came and went, informing them of the situation in the various units of the coup army. As with all wars, there is always good news and bad news mixed with intelligence.

"Sir, there was no response from the communications officer who went to the fort!"

"Sir, the military and police team blocking the road head-on has been routed!"

"The 10th Division has been ordered and is heading directly here!"

"Lost contact with the North Wall garrison!"

"Sir, capture Police Superintendent Rudel!"

The last good news made Marshal Govar's eyes light up slightly. He walked briskly over to the police commissioner, who had suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen. The slightly hairy police commissioner was lying on a stretcher, carried by two police officers who were also captured. Seeing the marshal approaching, the Inspector General of Police raised his right hand and wanted to say hello, but as soon as the "hi" greeting reached his throat, it turned into a violent cough.

"Is there a priest here?" asked the marshal, glancing at his former colleague and classmate with a little pity.

The priest arrived soon. The chaplain, also dressed in a blue uniform, pressed his hand on Rudel's shoulder, clenched his emblem, and recited a few awkward prayers, allowing the white light to envelop the wounded's body. The Superintendent of Police coughed a few times, and his complexion looked much better.

Radetz Govar leaned down slightly, looking condescendingly at the loser: "With all due respect, that's not your style, Rudel. I always thought that you should be a person who understands the times. Do you really think that with so many military police and such rudimentary fortifications, you can stop my regular army?"

"I never thought of it that way. I've never been able to beat you, even in a game of paper, or even in a game of diplomacy — and I have no illusions about winning against you this time. The Superintendent of Police's answer was weak.

"Well, a diplomatic game. At that time, we were always playing together in the same dormitory. You're always hiding behind your allies, mobilizing some secondary forces to assist your allies in their attacks, and never taking on the troublesome role of the Alliance Leader. This time, why would you want to play the role of a hero who sacrificed his life?" Govar said with a slight sarcasm. It is widely accepted in military circles that Jemmet Rudell is a mediocre man who has only risen to the position of Inspector General of Police by virtue of his good fortune of never being on the wrong side.

"I never said I wanted to sacrifice my life...... Well, after coming out of the parliament, I actually had a little bit of this thought. Actually, I was just choosing the right side. ”

This answer made the pride on Goval's face freeze immediately.

Rudel pretended not to see his expression and continued, "Maybe it's because of Klad López? ”

"I'll keep an eye on it. However, it wasn't that easy to beat me. The main force of the self-righteous guy has been drawn to the ring of the castle. As long as it was night, I could win. The marshal regained his arrogance, and pointed to the two policemen carrying the stretcher, "As for you, Rudel, for the sake of your old classmates, I will give you the treatment that a prisoner deserves." Take him to the Ring Fort...... No, take it to a nearby church. ”

"Thank you. The director smiled, "However, there is no need to send guards. What you defeated just now was all the men I could command. The rest are already under the command of Lieutenant General López. Keep your precious men to deal with him. ”

"Okay. The marshal turned, striding west along the central avenue.

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Lenny House of Parliament, the center of power in the United Provinces and Republic, the point of origin of all federal laws. After a bloody battle, the gray-haired Marshal Radetz Govar finally stood in front of the staircase leading to it. The seventy-two steps leading to freedom were completely stained red with blood.

The sun is gradually starting to set, the clouds are thickening, and the sky is becoming overcast. The bell above his head rang silently six times, and the bell for the dissolution of the council rang with it.

Either way, there would be no one to hinder him from completing the ritual now. With that in mind, the marshal stepped on the stairs that he had walked countless times.

This building used to be the whole of his life. It was here that he fought countless times against the representatives of the taxpayers for the benefit of the Free Army, it was here that he received numerous medals of honor, and it was here that he was appointed the highest commander of the Free Army.

Originally, according to the plan, it was supposed to be a bloodless and peaceful coup d'état. He should have proudly stepped on this staircase......

"There is no plan that will work even after the battle begins. For some reason, Marshal Conti Fox's teachings rang again in the marshal's ears, accompanied by the sound of cannon fire in the distance. Soon, another wall has been breached by Kraid. At that moment, the Marshal of the Free Army, who had been called the "Miracle Govar", felt a little confused.

Is what you do really right? Can you sacrifice procedures for the sake of efficiency? Can you sacrifice freedom for the sake of safety? Can you sacrifice justice for the sake of faith?

"Your Excellency. Dikhao Lemda saw the chief's melancholy and exhorted, "This is a necessary sacrifice for the survival of the motherland. Without a reorganization of the rotten and inefficient government and parliament, we will not be able to defeat Gustav's. The 10th Division would soon arrive, and Cladé López would have no choice but to surrender. Let him guard the useless ring fortress first, and we will reclaim it. ”

"Perhaps, all this is my useless insistence. Govar shook his head and walked firmly towards the great building. The Major General commanded the troops, one step ahead of him to prevent a possible counterattack.

"Don't move, everyone, stay in your place!

The expected chaos did not materialize, and no one questioned their sudden entry. In the usual commotion of the parliament hall, there was no sound at all, only dozens of scattered councillors sitting quietly on the surrounding seats. Marshal Govar took a deep breath and walked towards the rostrum.

Suddenly, a gunshot rang out. A member of parliament drew a pistol and fired at him; The lead bullet hit the major general's breastplate, and the energy was neutralized by a faint green aura and fell to the ground.

Govar ignored the bullet and went straight to his speech.

"Introduce myself, I'm the chairman of the Free Army's General Staff, Field Marshal Govar, and I think you all know me. I have come here today for the sole purpose of announcing the dissolution of the Government and Parliament. Until the next elections, our junta will temporarily rule the country. The government buildings, the police headquarters, are already under our control, and all the garrisons in this city are our allies. We are all elites of the military, and we are deeply disappointed with the policies of the current government. From now on, the council will be dissolved, but please stay here for the time being, thank you for your cooperation. ”

After finishing his short speech, he looked around. It was still silent, and only one person stood up.

The leader of the National Justice Party held his head high and retorted in a calm tone, with righteous words: "You have violated the Constitution and the people, Govar. When you do this, you don't defend anything. Even if you dissolve the government and parliament, we will rebuild again!"

More lawmakers stood up and responded with angry glances. Govar looked at them, as if he wanted to say something, but he still didn't say it.

"Leave a company behind and keep all of them on the lookout. The others, follow me back to the military building. ”

"Yes, Marshal!"

Counting the time, the 10th Division should be almost there, right?

"It's actually you who gets flanked, Clad López. The marshal muttered to himself and walked out of the parliament building. Accompanied by the roar of artillery from the north. The 10th Division began to attack the city.

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Standing at the head of Lenny's fifth outer wall, Lieutenant General Clad López pressed the flying sword at his waist and looked at the lights in the distance.

The dense torches form the firelight, with a total of one, two, and three slaves. Three full-fledged regiments, 10,000 young soldiers. From this point of view, it can be seen that the first column from the torches has formed six columns, and has begun to march towards the city. Obviously, they still don't know anything about the changes in the city.

"Unfortunately, it seems that the trap didn't work. Sure enough, there is no plan that can still be in effect after the battle starts. Clad muttered to himself, saying exactly the same thing as Marshal Govar.

The enemy forces are getting closer. Clad, who had no adjutant by his side, waved his hand, called a herald, and gave the order down.

Just before the troops of the 10th Division approached the city walls, there was a burst of artillery. All the breastworks opened fire together, knocking over the ground in front of and on both sides of their ranks—and wounding many of the soldiers.

"Hey, hey, we're friendly troops! Friendly troops of the 10th Division! Don't bomb indiscriminately!" came the shouts of the coup soldiers from below.

"Lay down your arms right away. Otherwise, this time it would not be an attack on the clearing!" The five high-pitched sergeants selected by Clad shouted in unison, their voices deafening, "The garrison has abandoned the darkness and the coup d'état! If you want to be uncourt-martialed, lay down your arms and surrender now! Don't be fooled by careerists!"

This shouting and the mighty wall cannon made the soldiers shake even more.

"Leave them alone, charge forward!" Seeing that the situation was not good, the commander of the vanguard team waved his hand and ordered the troops to rush towards the north city gate. For some reason, the drawbridge was not put away.

"Sir, are the wall guns going to fire?" asked a lieutenant as he stepped forward.

"Not necessarily. The lieutenant general waved his hand confidently, "They will surrender soon." ”

The soldiers shouted and charged with little confidence, but the expected shelling did not occur. The regiment commander who commanded on horseback in the back was slightly surprised, but he was also confident.

"This guy of unknown origin really doesn't have much actual combat experience. The regimental commander, who had also never experienced actual combat, thought so and shouted: "Those who capture Klad López alive can receive the Medal of Freedom and be promoted to ...... exceptionally."

The latter words were in his throat.

The gates slammed open, revealing six cannons made of steel and powered by steam. For the first time, the secret weapon of the Free Army, the Klad Cannon, or what later historians called the "tank", appeared before people's eyes - albeit against former friendly forces.

"Fire. Clad's hand slowly fell, and within a minute, all the cannon fuses were ignited.

Raining lead particles fell on the wooden moat suspension bridge. Countless streams of blood flowed down the wooden bridge and fell silently into the moat, and the soldiers, who were cannon fodder, lost their lives without explanation or sense. A platoon of accurate shells fired at the regimental commander's position, blasting the earth into the air. The 1st Regiment of the 10th Division, which had lost its command, was in chaos in an instant, and the soldiers, who had not experienced real battle, fled from the range of artillery with screams.

"I can understand the reasons for the coup d'état by Senior Govar now. Recruited mercenaries, and elected division commanders...... It would be desperate to use such an army to fight against Gustav's Guards. Despite the temporary victory, there was no trace of joy on López's face.

The division commander on the opposite side carried more stars than him on his shoulders, but he could only keep and in vain to rectify the morale of the team. It seems that for a while and a half, this force has no possibility of re-attacking the city.

The lieutenant general shook his head helplessly and ordered: "Leave one...... No, two companies guard here, don't let a single soldier escape, and don't let a soldier in. If there is any change in the 10th Division, it will not hesitate to destroy them. ”

"Sir, where are you going?" asked the lieutenant.

"Go and meet Hull. It's time for this farce to come to an end. Looking at the last rays of light that faded in the distance, Clad replied lightly.

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Govar strode out of the parliament building. After passing through the "Gate of Independence and Union", he once again stood at the top of the "seventy-two steps leading to freedom". It is designed to overlook all the surrounding streets and alleys, and the height of the surrounding buildings is strictly controlled by federal law.

The familiar muffled sound of cannon came from the north, as if the enemy's funeral song was being played......

Suddenly he felt that something was wrong, and put his hand to his ear, listening intently to the source of the cannonball. Northern...... Not just the North, but also the South and the West.

"The enemy, the enemy has set up an encirclement! They have brought in a lot of shotguns, and we have suffered heavy casualties!" a major with a bloodied face ran over and reported to Diko Lemda about the current state of the battle. Listening to his report, the major general's face became more and more gloomy.

Marshal Govar took two steps forward and looked condescendingly at the battlefield. What appeared before the marshal's eyes was a retreating garrison and a advancing steel monster.

From the top of the steps of the parliament building, his troops could be seen being flanked from the west and south, and the positions of one garrison company after another were forcibly blasted open by artillery. The young soldiers of the 3rd Independent Artillery Regiment did not hesitate to step over the corpses of their peers in the same uniforms, their eyes full of enthusiasm for defending freedom and making meritorious deeds. Not so long ago, the soldiers of the garrison stepped over the corpses of the same young military police with the same zeal. Soon, whoever wins will be a number in the history books.

"Sir, maybe we've been tricked. The other side has already estimated that we will go this way...... The west gate and the south gate should have fallen into the hands of López. As it stands, we'll be wiped out before reinforcements from the 10th Division come in......"

Govar interrupted the Major General's advice: "No need to say it. Gather all the forces that can still receive orders and break through to the east. Abandon the parliament building, don't guard it, we're going to break through on our own. ”

If you can still break through. This sentence was unspeakable in Dick Lemda's throat. He could only nod forcefully, then replied, "Understood." ”

"By the way, what time is it?" asked Govar suddenly.

"Ah...... The difference is 10 points and 7 points. Glancing at the fading scarlet glow beyond the thick clouds, Major General Lemda pulled out his pocket watch.

"Is it so late?" Govar shook his head and headed down the steps. With only three levels left on the ground, the marshal of the Free Army tripped and nearly fell.

At that moment, Lemda seemed to see: Marshal Govar's grayish hair had completely turned white. Perhaps the illusion of clouds and twilight.

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"The enemy army breaks through to the east!"

"The 13th Company has occupied the square!"

"The 11th Company is about to retake the parliament building!"

Major Hull Tedwood stood in high spirits under the freshly lit street lamp, holding Lennie's map of the city, and the colored pencils in his hand flew on it.

Nine Klad cannons formed five spearheads and stabbed at the parliament building from different directions. Everything turned out to be as written in Lieutenant General López's plan, very smoothly and accurately. The enemy appeared on time, the military and police team was defeated on time, and their appearance happened to hit the opponent's soft underbelly.

If there was one word to describe the current situation, it would be "all the best".

"It's so smooth that it feels a little fake. ”

Thinking so, the Major climbed up the "seventy-two steps leading to freedom" and ordered the soldiers of the guard to clean up the bodies a little. It only took him a few hours to get used to, and he was already familiar with this level of gore.

Hull stepped into the halls of the council. With his level, he wouldn't have had a chance to get here. The Major was slightly surprised to find that there were still councillors here. When he came in, many people stood up together and roared with the same loud voice.

"Bastard, even if you come a few more times, we will never admit to the coup!"

"Freedom will never be subjugated by force, and what you have built can only be a second dictatorship!"

"Gods bless freedom!"

Looking at these indignant parliamentarians, Hull was a little moved.

"Guys, the coup has failed, we have won, and the traitor Govar is retreating. There will be no more killings, and there will be no more deaths. It will all end tonight. ”

The council fell silent suddenly.

"Who are you?" asked one MP.

"I am Major Hull Tedwood, chief staff officer of the 3rd Independent Artillery Regiment. On the orders of Lieutenant General Crade López, came to defend freedom. Long live freedom!"

In an instant, the council hall was filled with cheers.

"Long live freedom!" "Gods bless freedom!"

"You have written great history. An older councillor stepped forward and patted the young officer on the shoulder vigorously.

Hel Tedwood smiled a little sheepishly.

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