Answer: Kuster in the barracks has no leisure, always tossing this and that.

He was like an old father in the army, sometimes going to the headquarters to direct battles, sometimes training new soldiers, or entrusting some things. Wherever there is an abnormal noise, he will go there, change various positions, and deal with grain and grass. In short, he did all the duties of the general, and he also did the duties of the general.

But one can also see that in addition to the affairs of the army, he is also worried about his old friend Franz.

No matter where Franz was, or where he was going, Kuster would always send some guards to follow him, for fear that something would go wrong with him.

Fortunately, the people in the army respected him very much, regarded him as high as Kuster, and did not dare to do rude things in front of him.

It was not until June 8 that Franz finally set out on his journey, and before leaving, he decided to state his plans:

"I'm going to take a train directly from Asia Minor into the Balkans, which I expect to arrive in less than four days. I'll let you know as soon as I get off the bus, and I'll do my best to tell me what I need. ”

"It's a bit dangerous, the ships of the Entente have blocked the coastal area of Turkey, and I'm afraid you might be bombed by naval guns on the way. I suggest that you take a ship on the Black Sea and arrive in Bulgaria before heading to Vienna. ”

Kuster was worried, apparently uneasy about his return:

"Even if you go to Ukraine, it is safer than Turkey proper, at least the local Russian population does not oppose our rule."

"You're always so worried! Rest assured, my route is absolutely secluded, and it is impossible for the enemy's naval artillery to bomb me. And it doesn't matter if I get blown up, no matter how bad it is, I won't break a few more ribs or bleed a few cups, I'm used to it for a long time. ”

Franz didn't care, but lit a cigarette with his right hand. Exhaled a puff of cigarette and his whole face became relaxed.

Kuster, who was on the sidelines, was also infected by him, and no longer mentioned the dangers along the way.

He clapped his hands, and then a person walked in the command:

"General, are you looking for me?"

Franz looked fixedly, and the man had a small mustache and looked very funny. But when you look up, you are surprised by his eyes—those eyes that are as deep as an eagle, and they exude an indescribable pressure even when not staring at people.

On closer inspection, he looked like an Austrian, but Franz felt that he looked a lot like a northern German.

Funny and majestic at the same time, Austrian and yet like a North German, it is hard to imagine that a young man could be so sophisticated.

"His name is Adolf, and he may be your help in the future."

While Franz was still thinking, Kuster explained:

"There was nothing special about him fighting, he was a German soldier, no different from an ordinary soldier. But his political potential was high, and the level of his speech was almost unmatched. ”

Knowing that Adolf was just a small soldier, Franz's eyes became more and more contemptuous, and the smile on his face was full of disdain, which made his old friend Kuster feel strange.

Adolf didn't know what he was laughing at or why he had suddenly become so horrible. In front of the two honorable generals, he didn't dare to ask, so he had to remain motionless and silently endure the invisible coercion in the room.

Fortunately, it only took a few moments of thought for an answer and quickly answered Franz's reaction, so that Adolf suffered less.

"Don't underestimate him, although it is a shame to go to other countries to avoid military service, but his service in our ally, Germany, can be regarded as a fight for our motherland."

"Humph! Then what do you have to do with so many twists and turns, just go to the conscription point? ”

Franz's expression became even more disdainful, and his speech became impatient and irritable, and it was evident that he despised the actions of men like Adolf.

"His purpose is different from ordinary people, others do not want to die because they evade military service, and he is full of enthusiasm for war."

Kuster's explanation gave Franz a twinkle in his eyes, but it quickly hid it, replaced by anger again. He sat still, quietly waiting for what Custer had to say.

Although Franz's change was less than half a second, Kuster noticed it in that short moment.

Kuster stood up, gave Franz an expensive cigarette with his own hands, and lit a fire for him. Turning around, Kuster asked Adolf to go out first.

There were only two old friends left in the room, and even though the sun was shining outside, it was also blocked by curtains, and no light could pass through, and the room was as silent as the night of the first reunion.

"He was a nationalist, and our empire is a multi-ethnic country, and he was always full of disgust with the empire. Although I don't understand how he could have become a nationalist. ”

Hearing Kuster say this, Franz couldn't stand it. He slapped the table and glared angrily, and although he didn't make a sound, there always seemed to be an angry voice.

Adolf, who was outside the house, quickly opened the door to see what was going on inside, and when he saw that nothing major had happened, he breathed a sigh of relief. Originally, he had been in a state of high nervous tension, and the sound of slapping the table just now scared him even more, and he hurriedly opened the door in a panic.

However, when he saw two pairs of eyes as terrifying as ghosts, he quickly shrank back and closed the door together.

Kuster didn't care, stared back at Franz again with his terrible eyes, and said calmly:

"Yes, in our Austro-Hungarian Empire, any separatism will not be tolerated, and he, as an Austrian, should think more about the interests of the Empire.

But have you ever thought that people like us who enjoy a lot of rights are only a minority after all, and we are the main force that maintains national unity?

Like the Hungarians, the Balkan peoples, and the poor, they are the most populous of a country, they have the most power, and we can't fight against them. ”

Under Franz's incredulous gaze, Kuster slowly approached him. Wait until you are less than four steps before stopping, and tell him a shocking conclusion:

"So... Habsburg rule was coming to an end. Or rather, after losing the Thirty Years' War, after recognizing the existence of Prussia, after being defeated by France, the Habsburgs were already a gimmick. And since the last century, we, defeated in the war, signed an alliance agreement with the Germans, and there is no longer any dignity. After Galicia, we are dying.

Who wants to lie in a coffin for such a rotten country? Especially when you are young. Would you like to? I don't want to anyway. In contrast, it was clearly more honorable to serve the more energetic and devout German state, which was also Germanic. ”

"What! You... You! ”

In a fit of rage, Franz spewed out most of the unburned smoke. As if choking on something, he bent over and coughed wildly.

The pressure on his body increased suddenly, and Franz, who only had one leg, obviously couldn't bear it, and fell to his knees uncontrollably.

Kuster hurriedly ran up, picked him up, and comforted him:

"Oops, stop paying attention. Like you said, you can't always be full of hatred. Listen to me and take him with you. ”