"What do you see?"

On the city wall north of the fortress, under the order of Falling Snow, there was no other figure on the surrounding city wall, only Falling Snow and Du Wei stomped on the wall to the north, and Lockhart stood quietly behind him about a few steps away.

Luoxue pointed to the north, turned back to Du Wei and asked with a smile.

Following the snowfall's fingers, Du Wei saw that to the north, far below the city, was the river that was once regarded by humans as the most stable defense. The Rowland Empire spent a lot of manpower and money digging a wide artificial river channel - of course. There are also a lot of gold coins donated by Du Wei in it.

This river, plus this fortress. It was once considered by humans to be impregnable in the eastern part of the line. And now, the river has become the land of the orcs.

It's in the direction of the falling snow. Du Wei could even faintly see in the shallow water by the river. There was a huge figure soaking in the water, and those were the orc hippopotamus warriors who had annihilated the human warships stationed here in one fell swoop.

At this moment, the river has become the territory of the hippo tribe. Those huge figures writhed and roared in the river. I am enjoying the fun in the water to the fullest.

Seeing this scene, Du Weidi's muscles at the corners of his eyes gently picked, it was already early morning at the moment, and he had a long conversation with Luoxue for a night. He was slightly tired. When the morning sun shines on the river. The water surface is glowing with scales and gold, and the hippos are playing, and the scene is very interesting. But Du Wei is in his heart. But suddenly I remembered a thought: the souls of those sailors who died in the water. Will you find this scene interesting?

And also. The wreckage of the sunken warship in the river is probably still crying in the cold river water!

"What do you see?" Falling Snow spoke again. Asked softly.

Du Wei raised his eyelids. The tone was a little cold: "What do you want me to answer?"

"I see it...... Peace. The sound of falling snow was almost as pure as a saint - but that tone. made Du Wei feel a little disgusted for no reason. At this moment, he suddenly hated the elegant jīng spirit in front of him. I think it's so hypocritical to the extreme!

"Peace?!" Du Wei laughed. His laughter was full of sarcasm and vague anger: "Yes? You see peace? Just because these water creatures are laughing and playing, enjoying their good times? But I'm sorry. I don't see a trace of peace! I think of the souls of the thousands of human soldiers who died in the river! I think of our warships that sank in the water!"

His voice grew sharper. glared at Luoxue fiercely: "You see peace." But I see the ground, only ...... Shame! Shame on defeat!"

The snow fell silently. It was silent for a moment before sighing softly: "It seems that the war can indeed make people change. Duke Tulip. You're now radical and belligerent.

Du Wei didn't want to let it go. "From the point of view of a saint." Of course, war is bad, but from the point of view of my feelings, as a human being, I am willing to stop war, but only if we are the victors! Peace is not a land 'rewarded' by a powerful enemy!"

"Sharp. Cold, belligerent, cruel ......" Luoxue's mouth gently spat out one word after another, and finally looked at Du Wei and smiled bitterly: "Is this your mood now?"

Luoxue didn't react positively to Du Wei's questioning, it was silent, not knowing what this jīng spirit king was thinking at the moment.

After a while, it continued, "So. And further north, what do you see?"

To the north of the fortress, surrounded by a city wall dozens of meters away. There are countless earth orcs. On this cold morning. Shirtless. Bare with strong muscles. Long hair of black sè. Toiling in the morning breeze.

They are made with wooden sticks. With shovels and levers, the whole stone blocks were removed from the northern wall of the fortress where mankind had worked so hard to build, and a solid wooden bridge was built over the river. The orcs used logs as wheels, laid planks on them, and then piled up the dismantled stones on the planks, which were then transported to the north shore little by little by the orcs like ants.

And the north bank of the river. In the distance, piles of stone stand one after another. There was a loud noise on the shore, and the orcs toiled all night.

The distance is too far. Du Wei couldn't see it clearly, but he seemed to be vaguely able to see it in the chaos. There are also dwarven figures.

It's on the north bank of the river, not far from the river. A stone wall is beginning to take shape under the toils of the orcs. And the surrounding area is fenced. One by one, heavy lifting machines made of wood moved the stones up - as if they were building blocks.

"It was a castle. ”

The falling snow interrupted Du Wei's observation: "That will be the first military castle we built on the Roland Continent. A rampart built entirely to orc standards. ”

"What for?" Du Wei sneered.

Luoxue glanced at Du Wei: "It was built on the north bank of the river to protect our territory. ”

Probably the words "our territory" deeply pierced Du Wei's self-esteem. His heart was furious. There was no seizure on the face. It's just that the tone can't help but be mean: "Oh, your territory, where you have walked." As long as he brought swords and weapons, he drove away the inhabitants of the original place. It's called 'your territory'?"

"Use the sword to expel the original occupants......" Luoxue smiled lightly, "Don't forget. This is exactly what you did to us 10,000 years ago. ”

The walls to the north of the human fortress have been torn down and crumbled. There are even places where you can't even see the original face, stones, iron, ...... And so on, everything that was useful was carried by the orcs to the north bank of the river. Build a new castle there.

"Why don't you use this one that you've already occupied? Don't you like the shape of it?" Du Wei said in a deep voice: "You still don't like all human buildings. Do you have to tear it down and rebuild it?"

"As I said, you're a bit extreme right now. "Falling snow shook his head, under the morning sun. There was a faint smile on its face: "This is just a purely military consideration, although the fortress we occupy is not bad. But this is your human territory. And with the river at its back, which is militarily unfavorable for defense, we will build a new one on the north bank. ...... like this"

"That's it. If we counterattack. You will have a complete defense system of rivers and walls...... This is the way we humans defended you before. Right. Du Wei sneered.

"As I said, I have no territorial ambitions for the lands south of your river. "Falling snow emphasizes again.

Looking at Du Wei's indifferent expression. With a cold look, Luo Xue sighed in her heart: "I know I said this, you can't understand it all for a while." Or you understand it in your heart. But it's just unacceptable. ”

"I'm not a saint. Du Wei coldly retorted: "But you...... jīng Spirit King. You seem to be planning to become a saint. ”

Luoxue was silent for a while, and it did not fight back against Du Weidi's cross-examination. It was only after a long moment that he whispered, "Let's go down, I have other gifts for you." ”

Du Wei knew everything in the snowfall: including the construction of Xindi Castle in Hebei.

Because from a military point of view, unless the sinners intend to continue the invasion of the south. Otherwise, the fortress they captured was not suitable for defense.

If the river is added in front, the defense system can be further complete.

From this point of view, Luoxue is also euphemistically expressing its position: under its leadership, the criminals have no intention of invading the south in a big way.

Or rather, the falling snow intends to keep the war within a limited boundary. And in the event of a large-scale invasion from the south, both sides will be mired in the quagmire of war. There is no way to pull out.

And the falling snow on the city walls said "gift". Du Wei finally saw it.

To the east of the fortress. It was originally a barracks for human defenders, but now it has become a "prisoner of war camp".

Among the human defenders. On the day of the fall of the fortress. In the end, about thousands of soldiers who persisted in the heroic and hard-fought battle finally fell along with the fortress. Some of them died in battle. Some of them were surrounded and taken prisoner, and some of them were reluctant to flee because of their courage. Of course. There are also some of them. I wanted to run but I couldn't run away.

But in any case, these soldiers who insisted on fighting to the end. They are all a group of people who deserve respect.

When Du Wei came to this prisoner of war camp. Outside, there were several groups of jīng spirit warriors guarding the surroundings, and those jīng spirit warriors, wearing gorgeous armor, carried the space behind them, like helmets rolled into the ground like leaves. Handsome appearance......

"I can only let my warriors guard this place, because the orcs are hostile to humans. Luoxue whispered, "I know." Before that. The orc armies have a habit of killing and even eating all captured humans. But after I arrived. This practice has been restrained, and these prisoners of war are alive and well. I didn't abuse them. However, in order to prevent those orcs from hating humans, they did something bad. I can only let my people guard this place. ”

Du Wei nodded, and then reluctantly spat out a "thank you" from his mouth.

Walking into the prisoner of war camp, in the morning, Du Wei saw that the teams of human warriors had finished marching inside.

Although they lost their weapons and armor. Each of them wore only one uniform, but it seems that they were not mistreated during the period of capture.

Even to Du Wei's surprise, he was captured. They were still going on the routine of going out every morning in the army.

Squad after squad of unarmed soldiers. Rank this line. Running on the field in the barracks. Out cāo. Although everyone is silent. It can be seen from everyone's yīn expressions that their jīng god is in a low state. But...... After all, they still have long kept out of the cāo. There was no complete loss of hope because of the capture. Also maintained warrior Jimoto sè.

When Falling Snow and Dewey walked into the ground, it was time to start. These prisoners of war didn't pay attention, thinking that the Jīng Spirit Clan was coming to watch, but later, the landed human soldiers saw Du Weidi's appearance clearly: he was dressed. And his ears.

Human! It's actually a human and a jīng spirit walking together!

"Gather all the prisoners of war. I have something to announce. "Falling Snow commanded the jīng spirit warriors under his hand.

Soon, the prisoners of war were gathered on the cāo field. They still barely maintained the queue in the same formation as they had before they were captured. Occasionally some queues are a little scattered. It was also because the damage was too bad, but most of them held their heads high and tried not to show frustration in front of the enemy - they still had their fighting spirit!

Du Wei sighed in his heart: These people. It's the real jīng sharp in the Storm Legion.

It is different from those who were chased by thousands of wolf cavalry for dozens of miles, like lost dogs.

"Fellow human warriors. Luoxue didn't say anything, it quickly stood at the front of the queue of these prisoners of war, and said loudly: "I announce one thing, according to the results of my consultation with the supreme commander of the eastern front of the Roland Empire. From today onwards, you will be able to leave here and go home. ”

There was an uproar!

There was a lot of shouting from the crowd. More often than not, they cast puzzled looks. But. The queue remains intact.

"These rìzi come. I respect you. for though you have been taken captive. But you are here to besiege this fortress. At the very last moment of the battle, you were warriors worthy of our respect, even though we were in a hostile position. Falling Snow finished. Nodding his head, he glanced at Du Wei.

In an instant, Du Wei understood the intention of falling snow!

I heard Luoxue continue to say loudly: "You don't have to be grateful to me, because we are enemies, and if we meet again on the battlefield in the future." I made the decision to let you go back in large part because. Because of one person!"

As he spoke, it pointed its finger at Du Wei: "Your Excellency." As a nobleman of noble status. He came here alone from your human land, to our army. He touched me with his perseverance and courage. Let me admire. Is there anything you would like to say to your warriors, Lord Tulip?"

Du Wei walked up silently. Standing in front of the falling snow, he looked at the thousands of pairs of surprised eyes below.

And then. He raised his hand. Made a standard Roland Empire military salute.

A military salute. Immediately put thousands of pairs of eyes in. It was so exciting and fiery!

His voice trembled a little: "Brave warriors! You must have heard my name, my name is Dewey Rollin Rudolph. The empire bestows the title of Duke of Tulip. Imperial Admiral, as well. The current commander of the Eastern Front!"

Rumble!

The crowd could no longer remain silent. Immediately there was a monstrous uproar and shouting. There was joy and excitement in that voice!

"Duke! Lord Tulip!"

"The Duke has come to take us home!"

"We are not abandoned!!"

The human voice enveloped Du Wei, he took a deep breath and shouted loudly in his loudest voice: "Silence! I'm here today, and I'm going to take you all back! As our enemies say. You have nothing to be inferior to, because you have done your duty. Fighting here until the last moment! Being captured is not a dereliction of duty!! So, now, please puff up your chests!"

Listened to Du Wei's words. Everyone unconsciously struggled to straighten their backs. Even many people with bandages and injuries on their bodies are trying to stand up straight!

"Take my word for it! You are coming back with me!" Speaking of this, Du Wei gave a military salute again.

At this time, among the prisoners of war. A few people suddenly strode out, and these people quickly came to the front of the queue, turned around, and shouted loudly in a heroic voice: "x),,[Regiment formation!x),【Battalion formation!! x)。 【Queue !!"

One after another, the order sounded. The queue that was a little chaotic in the excitement just now. It quickly got neat up. People have a writ on their faces. With laughter, and even tears, he quickly restored the warrior's true sè in the middle of the order. Arrange neatly in a queue.

The men who had come out of the line turned around. With his head held high, he strode in front of Du Wei.

"My lord, the 6th Infantry Regiment of the 11th Division of the Storm Legion ......"

"Fourth Heavy Infantry Regiment......

"...... of the XX Regiment of the 2nd Division of the Theater Task Force Garrison"

“............。 ，

“........................。 ，

Several high-ranking officers of the captured land reported to Du Wei in excited and trembling voices, and Du Wei did not salute, but walked up one by one. Hugged the officers hard. After being hugged by him, the landed officer even shed tears on the spot.

Captured soldiers. The senior officers included four commanders. Six deputy commanders. There was even a deputy division commander who was seriously injured in a fight with the dragons. and a number of middle- and low-ranking officers.

These people, every one who looked at Du Weidi, was full of excitement and excitement, and there was a deep, indescribable gratitude!

Du Wei was under the gaze of this pair of eager eyes. The heart is agitated and cannot be calmed. After a while. He gave the order: "Everyone get ready, we will leave after noon...... Go home!"

"Do you like this gift?" When walking out of the prisoner of war camp. Falling Snow looked at Du Wei. Its smile was a little unfathomable.

"A great gift. Du Weidi's expression suddenly turned cold.

"Among these people. Most of them are real jīng sharp warriors. Luo Xue said lightly: "There are also some officers of not low rank, after they go back, I think that under your protection, many people will soon resume their military positions." and even get promoted. Well, let me think about it. According to your human ranks. Those commanders can be promoted to Major General, and Deputy Commanders to Commanders...... And these people will become high-ranking officers! More importantly, ...... Because you yourself came to save them, these people will be grateful for your kindness in their hearts in the future, and your prestige will be firmly established among them! Reintegrate into your army. It will make you famous in the army for a while!

Du Wei looked at Luoxue with a smile: "It's a generous gift, but what do you want to get?"

"An ally. Luoxue unabashedly said the answer.

It paused. Gazing deeply at Du Wei: "I have told you my ideals - I will choose to take an extremely difficult path. on this path. I can't do it myself. I need to be in the camp of your humans. There is a person who is truly intelligent and in a position of authority, and has the same goal as I have always been!"

Du Wei didn't answer this question directly, but stared at the falling snow: "I am your enemy!"

"That's right, the enemy. I am your enemy, too. Luoxue was smiling: "But isn't this a very challenging and difficult feat? Enemies and enemies can also have the same goal." ”

said. It reached out and looked at Dewey.

Du Wei didn't shake hands with Luoxue, but walked directly past it and walked forward. Far away. Only then did he turn around and throw a sentence: "Are you really a saint? Because the saints are hypocritical. ”

Although Du Wei did not agree. But Falling Snow smiled as if it was pleasant, and it withdrew its hand. He also strode up.

"I agree with you: war should be kept to a limited extent, and neither of us can completely exterminate each other. But...... Even if I pursue peace, I insist on one thing: it must be under the premise that I am the victor!"

"I couldn't agree more. ”

Luo Xue and Du Wei walked side by side: "Then, in this 'limited war', let's have a good fight!

"You're not just a saint. Still a madman. Du Wei sneered.

"I have carefully read the history of your human race, and in your history, all the saints of the earth are inherently insane. ”

In the evening. About fifty miles south of the fallen fortress, a force of about a thousand human cavalry was waiting nervously in the wilderness beside the road.

From junior officers to soldiers. Everyone was nervous, and the leader of this cavalry was none other than the cadet captain of the Military Academy, Yalor, and his side was Du Weidi's younger brother Gabri.

The two waited anxiously for a while, and Gabre couldn't bear it anymore: "No! I'll take someone to see it!"

"Bear with me. Alor sighed in a deep voice and grabbed Gabry: "Didn't Lord Duke say it?" Naturally, he had an idea. ”

"But...... Damn it!" Gabre said angrily: "Brother, how can he quietly go to the enemy camp alone!" He's the boss, it's too dangerous!!"

As he spoke, he glanced at Alor with annoyance: "You tell me the truth, do you know about this matter in advance!"

"If only I knew. Even if I try to lose my head, I will definitely stop the adults from doing this! If I can't stop it, I will go with him. Alore smiled a little bitterly: "I'm just like you." It was this morning, when the magician named Gargamel told me. ”

said. He sighed: "Lord Duke has always been very sure of things, maybe he really has some plans." ”

"Wait for him to come back. I'm going to ......," Gabbrey pumped his horse in exasperation.

At this moment, a cavalryman in front shouted loudly: "Look, there is movement ahead!!"

After a roar, all the cavalry immediately mounted their horses and prepared for battle.

Very open. To the north of the main road, a figure appeared in the distance, and when he got closer, he saw that at the front of the queue, on a war horse, was none other than Du Wei himself! Behind him, several war horses were several officers wearing the simplest military uniforms of the Empire. (Falling Snow gave Du Wei some of the captured human horses before he left.) Anyway, these horses are left in their hands, and they are not of much use, and the orcs do not know how to ride them. The greatest use of these horses is as food,)

Behind him was a long queue of thousands, all human soldiers unarmoured and unarmed, marching on foot on the road. The speed is not in a hurry, not in a hurry. The queue was solemn, and many of them still had scars on their bodies......

Du Wei saw the flag in the distance and recognized that it was his own army to meet him, so he stopped his horse and smiled at some of the officer-level prisoners of war behind him: "In front are our people...... Guys, now we're really home. ”

At this time, in that queue, one of the most seriously injured generals reluctantly came to Du Wei Di on his horse, but he leaned down deeply and performed the most respectful courtesy to Du Wei.

"Your Excellency. "This general was originally pale from his injuries. At this moment, it was already red: "You went to the enemy camp alone." Get us out...... Such kindness. I will never forget it for the rest of my life! as long as I live one day. I will die for every command you make!"

He was the first to speak. Subsequently. Many officers from behind came to Du Weidi one by one. There is a land walking. Get down on one knee. Salute to Du Wei. Some turned over and dismounted. Although the people behind didn't say anything more, everyone's expressions and eyes. have already explained some of it.

Du Wei understands that these people. Henceforth. They are geocentric. I have sworn to serve myself.

As long as these 3,000 people return to the army and dissolve into the army again. Break up and separate, according to how they behave in battle. Take care of yourself a little and do some promotions. A lot of people will become officers and then ...... These hundreds of thousands of troops will firmly establish their prestige......

And far away in the dìdū royal family, the smart regent, he may not have imagined that he would get himself to the front line. Thrown into the army of hundreds of thousands of strangers, such a plan is clever.

But...... But in this particular case. Everything has changed dramatically!

However, whether it was the expression on Du Weidi's face or his heart, there was no trace of joy at the moment......

When he saw Yaroel and Gabbri, Du Wei didn't say anything, his face was serious. Let Gabre and Aror, who were originally complaining. I closed my mouth involuntarily. put away the original complaining words.

The ranks of prisoners of war and cavalry quickly merged, and the soldiers began to cheer.

Du Wei and his younger brother looked at each other for a while before saying the first sentence: "They are all captured warriors, treat them well, they are all warriors." ”

Alor and Gabri were taken aback. Only then did Gabry speak: "You...... You got all the prisoners back?"

"Not all. Du Wei said this. The corners of his mouth twitched: "Not all." ”

Lockhart, the young man, remained with the falling snow until he left.

Luoxue generously released these thousands of prisoners of war to herself. And Lockhart alone. It resolutely remained. Even if Du Wei opened his mouth to ask for someone, Luo Xue resolutely refused Du Wei.