Under the clear southern night sky, a bonfire was lit in the camp of the Turin Expeditionary Force at the mouth of the beach. From afar, it seems to be connected, the light of the fire and the stars in the dark night, the smell of wine and food waft through the air, and the smoke of cooking is filled with lively laughter everywhere.

Despite the solemn atmosphere during the day, in order to celebrate this incomparably timely victory, a grand feast began after the sun had set.

Steaming soup pots sit on crackling campfires, and soldiers sit around laughing and shouting with large wooden cups filled with brown sour beer. Mushrooms, eggplant, lettuce, onions are boiled in a steaming soup pot...... The soup made from a variety of southern vegetables, with some salt and pepper foam, tastes surprisingly good.

Stacks of black bread were placed in baskets and were used as grills, and on the tips of the guns next to the campfire, there hung charred baked potatoes and sausages, and the thick, thick meat sauce and fragrant grilled fish made the big-headed soldiers eat with oil.

The knights and nobles who were entitled to sit at the long table in the tent enjoyed the more elaborate dishes of herb-roasted chicken, fresh pears, plaid pie and eel pie, and even many traditional ciders of Turin in addition to expensive wines, and mead from the city and countryside of Bright Stars, enjoying the evening with a smile on their faces.

After taking control of most of the strongholds around Bright Star City, the Turin Expeditionary Force, which was still relatively short of supplies, was quickly replenished to the fullest, and after completely controlling Fort Clarifolia, the cargo ships departing from The Hague Port were greatly shortened, and the supplies could be transported to the expeditionary force's barracks more quickly.

Although the lords of the South had been slack in the war since the Dominican War thirty years earlier, they were quite generous in terms of supplies, so that the expeditionary force never encountered any logistical difficulties.

Therefore, even if the Purple Sail Mercenary Regiment increased by thousands of people all at once, the logistics supply of the entire Turin Expeditionary Force was still very abundant, so it was able to maintain the blockade of Bright Star City, and even build a military camp not far outside the city.

After the surrender of the Purple Sail Mercenary Regiment, the last force that could confront the expeditionary force finally disappeared, and the strength of the entire expeditionary force quickly swelled from one legion to nearly three.

Back in Fort Clarion, the navy, which almost decided the life and death of Bright Star City, was forced by Landzel to betray the same - the fleet was destined to dock on the coast. The completely blockaded Bright Star City has even turned the port into ruins, and the entire Dominica, in addition to trying to overthrow the power of the Otovik family, is forced to choose a neutral small city-state, and there is no place for them to dock for supplies, so they can only choose to temporarily surrender to the Turines.

And these Dominican soldiers who surrendered to Turin did not have much idea of "rebels", and joined in the celebratory feast with great enthusiasm - when the sweet and greasy mead was poured into their stomachs, everyone had forgotten whether they were originally Turinese or Dominicans.

Leonardo Gombray, who was in the big tent of the Chinese army, was facing the map in front of him with a frown at this time, and the roast lamb chops on the table next to him were even a little cold, and the chief knight chief was still unaware, and drank the wine in the cup with some bitterness, and a pair of tired eyes did not even move away.

Edward, who was sitting across from him, had already finished his portion, and brought the old man an extra steaming chicken pie and put it in a convenient place - the glutinous wheat and chicken sauce were mixed together, exuding a thick fragrance, so that Leonardo, who had no appetite, finally looked away from the map, picked up a knife and ate a piece.

Seeing that he finally began to eat, the corners of Edward's mouth lifted into a smile. Sir Leonardo Gombray is not the kind of person who is very good at calculating people's hearts, and I am afraid that if he were given a choice, he would rather choose to go to war with the Purple Sail Mercenary Regiment than such an outcome.

But there is no if in the world, and Leonardo will not risk the possibility of causing heavy casualties to his soldiers to force a rebellion against an enemy who has surrendered, it is not a mistake but a foolishness.

But not knowing how to calculate is also different from stupidity - he knows very well that Landzer would choose to take refuge in himself so "sincerely", and even brought the entire navy of Bright Star City to rebel together, it is definitely not for nothing, he must be plotting something, and he will definitely want to get something!

"That guy named Landzel Otovik...... That's the name, isn't it?" Leonardo looked up and asked, "Do you think I should trust him?"

Really...... Edward smiled a little playfully in his heart, but his expression was quite solemn and hesitated, and then shook his head: "No, I don't think you should ever trust this kind of person. ”

"Mercenaries fight for money, and Landzel is more than that - he's a truly inhuman, unscrupulous beast who will do whatever it takes to get there. Edward sighed lightly: "In the previous Horn Fort, in order to consume and test our strength, he gathered hundreds of soldiers under his command who had lost battles and attacked us like a flock of sheep. ”

"Blake Hubble, just after that. ”

"But...... Distrust doesn't mean we can't use his greed and ambition to pave the way for us to take Bright Star City and bring this difficult war to an end as soon as possible, rather than procrastinating it - the longer the war lasts, the more damage it will do to the majesty of the Knights of the Sacred Tree and the Kingdom. If even the capture of a city-state had been so protracted, those Dominicans would have thought that thirty years later, the kingdom of Turin today would not be as powerful and invincible as it was back then!"

"Landzel and his Purple Sail Mercenary Regiment are the most powerful army in Bright Star City, and he knows very well where the walls of this city are strong, where the gates are easier to breach, and where they are the most difficult to hold - this is a very precious force, and if it is used well, it will be the best, and possibly the only chance, to take Bright Star City. ”

"What exactly does he want?"

"He wants to kill everyone in Shining Star City with the surname Otovík, and then become the ruler of this city-state. Edward paused for a moment and said slowly, "In return, he will help us loot all the riches of the city - as a reparation for this war, and the gift of peace that has been restored to both sides." ”

"No, such a momentous decision must be made by His Majesty Horace himself, and we cannot overstep our authority. Leonardo flatly vetoed: "There are so many things at stake - not only Star City, but all of Dominica!"

"What's more, as you just said, we can't trust a beast - making someone like Landzel Otovík the ruler of Bright Star City far more dangerous than the original Otovik family. He has a mighty army and fleet at his disposal, and after all the members of House Otovik have been slain, he will be the only rightful ruler!"

"So, we shouldn't let him get his way. Edward nodded silently: "But without the help of the Purple Sail Mercenary Regiment, this will be an extremely difficult battle." ”

"So you think we should take advantage of Landzel Ottovic?" Leonardo frowned, "How?"

"This ...... It's complicated, but in simple terms, it's about hanging a carrot in front of a donkey's head. Edward tugged at the corners of his mouth: "Give him a little sweetness and make him the ruler of Bright Star City, but...... Don't let him be the sole ruler. ”

"For example, the Honans who sacrificed their lives to accuse the Otoviks of atrocities, they would have been happy to intervene in this—and I'm sure they weren't the only ones who would take advantage of the fire!"