XIV

No sooner had the latest batch of deflectors and tunneling picks been given to the assault company than it received an order to enter combat readiness.

"Put on your uniforms and bring all the gadgets with you! There may be street fighting, so everyone has to put on a chain armor to prevent possible close combat. Three shields and potions for each person, and bayonets must also be carried! All non-commissioned officers should bring their scepters, and from now on you will be the casters, responsible for providing support and deterrence! Pack up your things, assemble in fifteen minutes, and the platoon leaders will arrive at the whole team early. If the meeting hasn't ended, take a break in place. Disband!"

After tirelessly conveying the order, Naimon handed over the logistics department to Anne and hurried to the staff headquarters himself.

"I add, bring a tower shield. If you don't have a tower shield, hurry up and go to the armaments department now, you will definitely use it! Those who lack arm strength come to me to get the strength potion!"

Anne passed orders about new equipment behind his back - of all the military men he knew, she was the most superstitious about equipment. Naimon didn't think much about the usefulness of the tower shield in the street fight, because this summoning was very urgent.

The whole garrison was in disarray, and the other companies were still gathering, and from time to time non-commissioned officers and soldiers could be seen running around looking for troops. When he arrived at the large conference room of the General Staff, more than half of the company-level officers had not yet arrived, and only Division Commander Benson was nervously talking to the messengers who had arrived from the city of Kengrad. The height map of Kengrad's perimeter hanging on the wall gave way to a map of the city's streets, with a few signs that I didn't know what to sign.

"How many people are left before they arrive?" Benson looked up from his tense conversation with the Courier after a moment, his tone disgruntled, "Why are they all so slow?"

"There are probably more than a dozen companies still gathering. Otherwise, we won't use these companies anymore and let us know directly, right?" the chief staff officer on the side reported, and put forward his own suggestion, "After all, we are not going to fight this time. ”

"Don't use it? How can you not use all your troops at such an urgent moment? You must know that there are 3,000 elite imperial soldiers in the north of the city who are ready to interfere in the situation here at any time! Isn't fighting a war about throwing in as many troops as possible?!"

Hearing the words of the former division commander, the chief staff officer was stunned for a moment, and then forced a smile to remind the division commander: "Your Excellency, one-third of the living force should be left as a reserve during combat operations. Otherwise, if something happens, we will lose control of the situation. Besides, such a company that couldn't be assembled for half a day...... It makes no difference whether you invest or not. ”

Benson was embarrassed, coughed twice, and said curtly: "Then let this Mr. Courier first introduce the situation of the riot in the city." ”

"Here's the situation. First the election results were announced, and then all the radical self-government party members at the door fried the pot. I don't know who initiated it first, but they gathered together, shouted 'new elections', and dragged many observers to the Federalist headquarters...... It should be almost there by now. The messenger who had arrived to report the news took a sip of tea and continued to recount the dangerous situation. His whole body trembled slightly from nervousness, and his glasses slid down the bridge of his nose from time to time. The situation was exacerbated by the tripartisan statement. Brighton did not even mention calming their supporters down, saying that they would never recognize such an election result. Federalist Chairman Felder and Vice Chairman Luther demanded that Brighton accept the will of the people and concede defeat. Machiavelli was not responsible at all, saying that he would decide on a coalition cabinet based on popular opinion...... I escaped from the election headquarters. Please hurry up and maintain order, it will be too late for the bleeding to bleed!"

"Getting to the point. What is the Empire's reaction?" the Chief Staff Officer interrupted him impatiently, "How much time do we have?"

"The empire has not reacted until now. Their observer group was locked down in the city along with ours. But if they also get the news......"

The messenger's words were interrupted again, this time by Benson himself. "Which company can complete the preparation as quickly as possible?

"Yes, Your Excellency. The Chief Staff grabbed a large handful of chess pieces from a small box full of markers, inserted them one by one into the large map, and drew up a set of plans in an instant. "The assault company and the reconnaissance company of each regiment set out in fifteen minutes and went to the election headquarters in each place. Each company of guerrillas set out within 40 minutes to maintain order in the city. The rest of the infantry, set off in an hour. Guard companies, cavalry and artillery served as general reserves. This time there will be no written orders, and each company will act at its own discretion. ”

"Yes!" all the officers stood up and took orders one by one. Naimon was about to rush back to supervise the troops, but the division commander stopped him again.

"Lieutenant Soleton, your troops will surely be the fastest to arrive on the scene, please bring our position to Mr. Goval. ”

"Stand?"

"We will defend the Constitution by all means in every possible way...... The results of democracy must be respected. As soon as the republic is found to be in danger, you have the right to take any action. I will take all the blame for this. ”

It took Naimon half a minute to figure out the meaning behind this sentence. "What do you mean to say...... Are we going to endorse the Federalist and Liberal coalition by force?"

"For the well-being of all citizens. Benson waved his hand, "Let's go." This gentleman will show you the way. ”

Hearing this, the messenger's face instantly turned blue. "General's Pavilion, Your Excellency, I'm also a politician's secretary, so I don't need to ...... anymore."

"But now only you know the nearest way to campaign headquarters. Don't worry, even if your boss asks you to take his blame in the future, I will find a way to dissuade him. ”

Benson made a complacent decision. Naimon suddenly discovered that this top boss actually had some strange sense of humor.

After that, things were all very natural. Although the "Halberd Division" is a force that is difficult to describe as elite, Soleton's assault company is still above average. Thirty minutes later, he and Anne arrived again in the city of Kengler.

*** ***

The city is already completely different from the morning. In the morning, although Kengale was lively and noisy, everything was still under control, and in the afternoon, Kengele had completely become a realm of chaotic rule.

Radicals have set the city on fire. It was as if they had been packed with hot-blooded youth, full of slogans, slogans and waving fists. Young citizens crowded every street, proclaiming their political ideals. I don't know who first found the military badge on the assault company and shouted.

"The Central Army is coming! Stop those who trample on democracy!" "The four-color cross will never fall!" "An unbreakable alliance!"

They chanted and gathered around the shield-wielding soldiers as they marched toward the besieged Federalist campaign headquarters. The only consolation is that the young men were not carrying any lethal weapons, no one died or bloodshed, and the march was largely peaceful.

"All men raise their shields and squeeze through the gap in the procession!

Holding his tower shield aloft, Naimon rushed to the front of the company, directing his troops through the Federalist supporters.

Diagonally in front of him, Anne was cloaking her way through the crowd wearing chain mail and helmet large enough to conceal her gender, wielding a tower shield with a weak repulsive force field attached to it. It was hard to imagine that her slender body had enough power to wield such a tower shield. Looking at her heroic back, Naimon couldn't help but begin to fantasize about her wearing the female enchanted armor.

Since the time of the Elven Empire, three-point armor known as the bikini has been found to be the most suitable form of enchanted armor for women, providing the most defensive magic with the least amount of material, comparable to full-body armor. More than 100 years later, Jung, the great magician who made great contributions to the fundamental laws of psychomechanics, called this the "collective unconscious": "Because people like bikini armor, this armor is strengthened".

"It should look good......" The lieutenant shook his head and changed the subject in his mind. Looking at the crowd, I remembered the street fights and disasters I had seen more than once before. "Speaking of which, this is the first time I've seen so many people assemble peacefully...... It's good that there are no more accidents. ”

"What are you talking about, Lieutenant?" asked Anne, turning her head.

"Uh, nothing. I want to ask, do you want to help?" asked Naimon in a hurry to put away the unlucky and unspeakable thoughts just now.

Anne raised an eyebrow, "Oh, thank you! The twenty-minute limit for this repulsive force field is approaching, so please take over, Soleton?"

Her unintentional speech hit Naimon's biggest weakness. The young man held his helmet and replied, "Platoon...... It's a three-stage, no, four-stage magic, right? I—I'm afraid I can't...... I'm sorry. ”

A look of disappointment crossed the blonde girl's face. "I'm sorry, I forgot ...... again"

Naimon smiled bitterly and did not answer. This is not the first time this has happened. Ever since Anne Seffel became his lieutenant, the nervous young girl had always assumed that he knew everything and was an all-powerful magician.

At first, Naimon would also explain that the "all magicians" on his file did not mean "know all magic", but did not mean to specialize in a certain system of spells, and later he simply did not explain this, and directly admitted that he had not received a professional magic education, and did not know the magic she said. Whenever this happens, Naimon feels like he's done something wrong and hates his lack of ability. However, according to the regulations, ordinary officers must have at least two years of practical qualifications and a standard of evaluation before they can take the formal magic courses of the Higher Army Academy. He's twenty months away, or a big credit for convincing his boss to make a break with this guy with a terrible resume.

"I really want to make a big contribution quickly...... It would be nice if it was a great credit for maintaining order. ”

Naimon was muttering to himself when the crowd in front of him suddenly dispersed and disappeared. The sudden glare of sunlight shone into his once injured left eye socket, and the tear ducts were stimulated to shed tears through the contact lens, and he squinted his eyes in search of light.

It was the reflection of the tower shield opposite, a reflection that was brighter than theirs. The neat tower shields, the shiny throwing faces, and the familiar coats of arms separated the marching masses. Compared to the troops in front of them, his proud assault company was a decorated and undisciplined skirmisher. They numbered less than a company, but they were clearly a much more elite company of the regular army.

"Troops over there, please stop advancing!

"Huh", there was only the sound of guns raised, and at least thirty guns raised at the same time were aimed at them. The lieutenant hurriedly ordered everyone to stop advancing, but it took two or three minutes for the troops to break out of the crowd and return to the cross.

But it didn't matter anymore, because Naimon heard the familiar voice on the other side. He had known from the General Staff's routine announcements that these men were in the city, but the previous non-interference agreement had allowed him to see his former comrades and partners until now. He took two steps forward and gave a standard military salute to the commander of the unit.

"Lieutenant Namen Soleton, ordered to come with the Assault Company of the Fifth National Division to assist in maintaining order. But it looks like we're probably in trouble...... With you here, nothing will happen, right? Edith, Major General Eugen. Congratulations on your promotion. ”

Eugen spat out the mouth of the mouth and said sarcastically, "Oh? It's you, I haven't seen you for two or three months." It's a pity that even if you falsely reported your achievements, you weren't promoted to an official. Thanks to you, our old comrades-in-arms are not dead. ”

Major Edith Magnum, who was wearing a winter army coat, frowned slightly, and hurriedly took two steps forward to pull Eugen, who had the rank of temporary major general and division commander, back. "Sorry, he's been a bit emotionally unstable lately. Misestimating the results of the battle on the battlefield is a common thing, and none of us has ever encountered it? Don't be too demanding of such a young officer. ”

Naimon wanted to contradict them, but couldn't. He had no proof, after all, Govar was indeed alive and leading the army......

"He didn't misrepresent his results, and he wasn't mistaken. He did kill Radetz Govar. ”

It was Anne who spoke up against them. The blonde girl took off her helmet, held her chin high, and took two steps forward with a tower shield in her right hand, standing beside him and looking directly at Edith and Eugen. In the face of the most prominent officers of the Free Army and their judgment based on common sense, there was not even the slightest hesitation or flinch in her posture.

She believed him. Naimon didn't understand where her inexplicable trust came from, but she was slightly happy.

Hearing her words, Eugen on the other side pursed his lips disdainfully. "It's not easy for us to fight under the command of the undead. ”

"Perhaps. I'm not sure what you're doing......"

"Annie, now is not the time to clash with them!" Nermon realized that Eugen's anger was about to reach its peak, and hurriedly stepped forward to pull her back, "Now our most important task is to maintain order here!"

"Oh. That ghoul Benson actually knows how to maintain order, and I don't believe he has that awareness. Or is this the idea of you, a young politician?" Eugen, who usually chews gum, has a rare cold face, "Look at it! If you're a soldier, don't bring your people here to make trouble!" All the politicians are trembling in front of the citizens who support them, but what really persuades them here is—"

"Enough, Major General, this is what we should do. We shouldn't interfere in politics, what we should do is defend the people and stop the war. ”

As he followed, he saw his former boss, the commander-in-chief of the Directory's forces and the supposedly dead Field Marshal Radetz Govar, standing at the gate of the Federalist campaign headquarters. Goval, who had just noticed the situation here, saw him, a trace of surprise flashed across his face, and he directly called out his name and rank.

"Soleton?!...... Lieutenant? Long time no see. Sorry we didn't have time to greet you, but we're busy trying to persuade these enthusiastic young citizens away. ”

Naimon looked at the gentle, even, gentle, smile of the Goval and was stunned for a moment. In his impression, Govar was always the old man who sat lonely on the fort in the middle of the night at Forteburg. It should be a lonely, lonely and desperate person for everything, but the Govar in front of him seems to have regained the courage and hope to survive. "Yes, Your Excellency. ”

Naimon turned to see his lieutenant staring at the govar, muttering something with a frustrated expression. He frowned and patted her on the shoulder: "Annie, don't be in a daze, it's time to carry out the mission." It would be more effective for us to persuade the Federalist soldiers than they were. Are you listening, second lieutenant?"

Anne came to her senses and hurriedly replied, "I'm sorry, I was thinking about something. I think we should escort the besieged Federalist politicians out with us?"

"Ah, you're right. Your cousin is still in there, right? I'll leave this matter to you, and I'm here to persuade you not to go any further. ”

"Understood, sir!"

Anne answered, trotted all the way to the opposite camp, and went directly to Edith to discuss. The female major, after arguing with her for a moment, finally could not resist her enthusiasm, raised her hand and surrendered, allowing her to lead a few men through the line of soldiers of the 6th Division. Naimon himself began a difficult persuasion work against these enthusiastic young people of his own age.

What Naimon didn't notice was that "Radetz Govar" had been looking at him and Anne out of the corner of his eye. It wasn't until Anne left him that "Govar" returned to the work of persuasion with a delicate feeling.

*** ***

"Dear members of the Autonomous Party, ardent supporters, I understand your desire for Julok autonomy and your suspicion of electoral fraud, but this sentiment should not disturb the fair process of voting...... Please believe in us! Please believe in your own votes! Only the choice of the greatest number will become the will of the country!"

The long persuasion has been going on for a long time, and it looks like it will continue for a long time. It is many times more difficult than imagined to convince these hot-blooded young people who admit their reasons to death with words. His voice was a little hoarse, but he continued to speak loudly as he could. Of all the people around, only one person – perhaps two people – knew the true identity of this "Govar".

Edith Magnum looked sympathetically at the old marshal's back. Only she knew that underneath this majestic-looking body was just a weak girl trying beyond her limits. She is not playing the role of Govar, but crying out from the bottom of her heart to avoid crisis and war. Edith "Foghawk" was supposed to monitor her movements, but now ......

Even if she knew that her actions were not in the interests of the Empire, she couldn't stop Danika Vilen. She couldn't do such a thing, and it was too cruel to sabotage someone else's efforts like this.

"If this is the end of the matter, it probably won't be bad, at most it's just a loss of money. ”

As she thought so, she saw Anne and the Federalist politicians walk out of the campaign headquarters together. Vice President Luthor was at the front, holding the hand of the daughter of the Crosso family, Metti, and Chairman Fielde and Machiavelli followed him, and today the conspirator wore not the black robe, but a dignified formal suit.

As soon as Luthor appeared in the crowd's field of vision, the volume of the slogan suddenly increased four times as loudly. Braving this fiery slogan, Pluto Luthor raised his hand and waved in greetings to the crowd, swearing and screaming at the same time to greet him. Edith intuitively sensed that it was inappropriate for them to do this, and hurriedly led a few people to stop their political performance-

— and that's when the incident happened.

"Bang!"

The sound of this gunshot almost broke the nerves of everyone at the scene, and there was almost silence for an instant. Almost everyone at the same time turned their eyes to the nearest important person, looking around in horror for who had shot and who had been shot.

Not Marshal Govar. Not Federalist politicians. Not Egar Eugen and Edith, not the lieutenant of the Halberd Division or his lieutenant. The soldiers' defenses were still intact, and no one had fallen bloodshed. Some of the soldiers immediately crowded around the dignitaries, while others stared nervously at the crowd and the rooftops of nearby houses.

"Bang!"

Another gunshot rang out. The shooter and the wounded still do not seem to be found. All the dignitaries were unscathed......

"Dead! The Free Army is killing!"

Hoarse shouts emanated from supporters of the Autonomous Party. The crowd immediately stirred, and countless screams and roars were ignited from this point and slowly spread. At first, there were only a few sounds—

"Down with the Federalists! Down with the Freire!"

Then, it was deafening.

"Long live the Autonomous Party!

It's not about people.

More than one person woke up at the same time, and the purpose of the person who did it was not to ask for people at all. The purpose of the perpetrators was to harm civilians from the very beginning!

They want anger, misunderstanding, and blind obedience—the emotions that are most likely to arise when the crowd base is large enough to reach a certain level. Whoever does it must be someone who understands the herd mentality of the people. One demagogue plus ten percent blind followers is enough to manipulate an entire crowd.

Edith, who was the first to react, subconsciously took a step back and closed her eyes in pain, listening to Danika Viren's last-ditch efforts as Godval.

"Calm down, everyone, everything hasn't been figured out yet......"

"The murderers are the Free Army!" "Down with them!" "Rush over!"

Edith heard Denica's desperate efforts drowned out in anger. The vast majority of the time, louder is right.

I don't know who shed the first drop of blood, I don't know who threw the first magic, I don't know who knocked down the first soldier - the situation is out of control.

"I'm sorry, Danica. I can't keep my promise with you. ”

The Royal Department of Security's public code is "Order, Peace, Security" – but the qualifier is "Holy Koman Empire". Her boss doesn't care about order, peace, and security outside the empire.

She quietly pulled out the communication buoy used by the Royal Security Department and pinched it into a ring. You don't have to speak, you just hear the angry voices of the people, and the person receiving there knows what to do. Of course, the Empire's purpose is not to pacify the chaos here.

*** ***

PS: I returned from Hainan early this morning to observe Typhoon "Durian". (Does this kind of material really have anything to do with books......?) ）

The starting point of the book is pushed to 1:1...... Now the author is like a defeated dog barking from afar, Kong Yiji, who discharges a lot of money, and sees the Ah Q of the persimmon oil party, feeling the happiness that only those who fight the street can experience...... Mmmm, let's update it, and make up for Thanksgiving at the same time.

Welcome to the majority of book friends to come and read, the latest, fastest, and hottest serialized works are all here!

Welcome the majority of book friends to come and read, the latest, fastest, the hottest serialized works are all here!