As the defenders broke down, the gunfire gradually stopped, and dusty stray dogs ran and barked in the rubble.

The smoke of gunfire that hung over the town dispersed, and the rejoicing people went out of their homes to offer bouquets and food to the victors, and the streets soon became jubilant,

A few hours earlier, the civil war of the Duchy of Valstad had spread to Farunnan, and the morale of the Valstad National Salvation Army had besieged the town, while the defenders of the Duchy's regular army were disheartened and vulnerable.

A gap in the towering walls was blasted out by artillery, and after a brief street battle, the attackers captured the municipal building and captured all the defending generals, and the Valstad National Salvation Army was victorious.

The morale of the regular army of the principality involved in the resistance was low, and these soldiers had long lost trust in the new government and wanted to oust the puppet duke, many of them refused to participate in the battle, and even surrendered directly to the rebels.

General Dalí accepted these defectors on behalf of the Valstad National Salvation Army, and it was a joy to see his troops grow and surprises.

A familiar figure appeared in the queue of surrenderers.

Dressed in the uniform of a cavalry officer, with the rank of colonel on his shoulders, and a flat-topped quadrangular hat peculiar to the steppe people, and a curly ginger mustache combed neatly and neatly, Dalí immediately greeted him and shook hands with the old acquaintance.

"Ivan Mikhailovich Ivanovsky! We meet again, my savior. Dali hugged each other excitedly.

"Huh? Boy! It turned out to be you! Dali Einfurt! Only your genius can remember the full name of our prairie people. ”

"I can't believe that we will become enemies when we meet again." Dali had the heart to play a joke with him, and drew his saber out in a gesture.

"Hey, old friend, put that thing down! Haven't I already surrendered? I and my men have surrendered their weapons and horses, what more will you do? I have nothing but this uniform now, and I have to be stripped naked? Ivan echoed with a smile.

"Haha, just kidding." He sheathed his sword and hugged each other again. "To be honest, if you really participate in the battle, we really won't be able to attack it, man, I've seen your steppe lancers charge, it's not a joke."

"You're not bad, how good are you? Let me take a closer look at your rank, this... My God, I will have to call you a commander in the future? ”

"It's true that this is the case in officialdom, but in private, you and I are friends of life and death, and we will always be brothers!"

"Good brother! When the battle is over, I invite you and your wife to come to my house, entertain you in the manner of a steppe man, slaughter a fat sheep for you, coat it with my family's secret sauce, and roast it on a wooden rack and eat it! ”

"I'm looking forward to it, and I'm saying hello to your wife on my behalf!"

After exchanging pleasantries with old friends, Dalí politely took his leave, and then set out to restore order to the city.

Farunnan is a major city of Valsta's artisans, with workshops large and small scattered throughout the city, half of which are staffed by skilled craftsmen. It was significant for the National Salvation Army to take control of the town.

General Dalí convened a meeting in the town hall to which he invited the artisans of the whole city, all of whom were the emerging bourgeoisie, and Dalí knew very well how to deal with them.

He explained at the meeting that the soldiers of the National Salvation Army are highly disciplined, and that any robbery of civilians will be punished heavily, and that the army and the civilian population can live in harmony. Local functions will quickly resume normal work, and all managers and employees will be retained. Ensure the smooth flow of trade routes and send patrols to clean up bandits along the roads.

The inhabitants of Farunnan quickly resumed their productive life after the war, and it was unthinkable that this young general of the National Salvation Army not only fought in the war, but was also a good hand in managing the economy, and the favorability of the princess camp was greatly enhanced.

Two days later, the leader of the National Salvation Army, the Earl of Langford Onassis, arrived at Farunnan with a large army, and General Dalí advised them not to disturb the citizens, and the Count ordered the whole army to camp on a high ground outside the city.

On a simple wooden podium was erected in the square of Farunion, on which hung the night owl flag of the Midknight family and the Libra flag of the Free Trade Alliance, and the Earl of Langford ascended to the podium and addressed all the soldiers and civilians present in a loud voice:

"On behalf of the National Salvation Army, I thank the citizens and soldiers of Farunnan for your support!

Please don't listen to the rumors of the conspirators! Here, I would like to clarify that Her Majesty's mother is not some evil witch! Her mother was a god-descended hermit who lived in seclusion in the woods!

My wife has the blood of the Midknight family and the demigod hermit in her veins, and the two godborn bloodlines meet in her! Her noble lineage is unquestionable, and she has proved her loyalty to this country with her bravery and courage in the war!

As the rightful heir of the Midnight family! As a hero with the bloodline of the gods! And who is more worthy of the Duke's scepter than my wife?

And yet, even now, the hero suffers! Valsta's enemies have framed her with dastardly tricks! Those traitors and conspirators will be judged justly!

Let's work together to remove that incompetent puppet, Duke West, and rescue our hero, my wife, Her Majesty Princess Salantos! She is the heir to the orthodox duke, the true master of our country! ”

After the speech, the crowd in the audience boiled, and even the frail old man seemed indignant.

Angry citizens roll out a brand-new flatbed cart carrying a huge fat scarecrow wearing a white wig, dressed in aristocratic dress, and wearing a white shirt with the words "Duke of West is a puppet, a traitor" written on it over his fat belly.

A crippled veteran shouted: "Down with the puppet regime!" Hang the traitor! ”

An old woman wept and screamed: "Let our heroes go home!" Can't let her bleed and cry! ”

Seeing the scene of indignation, General Dalí waved his hand under the podium, the soldiers of the National Salvation Army continued to fire their guns into the sky, picked up their hats with bayonets and waved them, and the whole square shouted slogans, and the momentum of the rally reached its peak.

Taking advantage of the hot mood of the people, several soldiers moved out of their desks and chairs, and the officers began to work on the spot to recruit new recruits for the militia organization of the National Salvation Army, and there were long queues in front of each registration point.

A few days later, after a rest, the Valsta National Salvation Army attacked on all fronts, and many of the defenders of the fortified fortress took the initiative to surrender, and the princess's camp gradually grew bloodlessly, while correspondingly, the power of the puppet duke's government shrank rapidly.

General Dali Einfurt met with several newspaper tycoons at the temporary headquarters, and with the abundant financial support of the Earl Langford and the reputation of the National Salvation Army, the major newspapers and media began to publish articles collectively to criticize the puppet regime and clear the grievances of the princess.

Under the powerful public opinion offensive, more and more people chose to support the princess camp, and there was a split within the government army, and various units joined the National Salvation Army in formation.

As government forces continued to retreat on all fronts, the National Salvation Army had occupied half of the country, and the puppet government at Fort Midknight was on the verge of collapse.