As a famous sin city on the mainland, Big Ear City does not have a long history of existence. Just over 20 years ago, it was just a barren mountain. More than 20 years ago, after the Great War in the Northwest, in order to consolidate the border defense in the Northwest, many military fortresses were built in the Northwest Region.

However, due to the financial constraints of the empire, many military forts in the northwest lacked funds for repairs, and most of them were later abandoned. Because His Majesty the Emperor Augustine, after believing that he had "conquered" the northwest, focused all his attention on the rich and vast South Seas.

Most of these military fortresses in the northwest survived.

Big Ear City, is one of the exceptions.

More than 20 years ago, there was only one Big Ear Mountain here. The mountain is not very large, but if you look down from the sky, you will see the outline of the mountain, which resembles a human ear. During the Northwest War, the empire built a military town here as a transit point for vehicles and heavy supplies in the Northwest Battlefield.

Later, after the end of the war, it gradually evolved into a concentration camp for all the convicts in the northwest.

There are no civilians in the entire Big Ear City, there are 2,000 garrisons stationed here, and more than 10,000 criminals are imprisoned all year round. What awaited these criminals was the heavy labor of the Northwest Frontier Fortress -- most of whom could not survive the period of their assigned service, and most of them would die under heavy labor for a maximum of two years.

The cruelty of the Empire's criminal law can be seen.

Therefore, there is such a rumor in the empire: it is better to be betrayed to death than to go to Big Ear City. Because of the betrayal of the death penalty, it is a big deal to die immediately. And if you go to Big Ear City, then you will have to suffer two more years of sins and die a tragic death.

Videro is the commander of the land of the Big Eared City. However, his position in this territory is really special. In terms of the military system of the empire, as a commander-in-chief, he can generally command a complete team. The establishment of the emperor's ** team is 4,000 people for an infantry regiment and 3,000 for a cavalry regiment. But Videro commanded a "shrunken infantry regiment" of only 2,000 infantry, and they were permanently under-equipped to even give each soldier a full set of armor and weapons. In fact, as a city with a prison quality, his soldiers did not need to go to battle, they only needed to hold those prisoners.

Videro got up very early today, knowing that a big man would arrive today - an order from "above".

Biedro was relieved to this. A whole four thousand people had been escorted from Dìdū some time ago! In Biedro's eyes, of course, he could see that these four thousand men were not ordinary criminals...... They were all qualified soldiers, and each one was strong and well-trained. Although it has been disarmed, it is a criminal regiment composed of 4,000 soldiers......

Seeing that these four predecessors were sent to Big Ears City, Biedro couldn't even sleep well these days...... He had only 2,000 soldiers under his command and lacked equipment. With 2,000 men guarding over tens of thousands of prisoners, it was already very reluctant, not to mention the addition of 4,000 soldiers who had just taken off their armor -- oh, yes, they were rebels!

Such a group of people, both in terms of quantity and quality, far outperformed the local miscellaneous armies under their command...... No, his own subordinates are not even a ragtag army, at most a group of armed jailers.

If these rebels riot...... Videro wasn't sure he could subdue them all.

So, when the command came from above. In the next two days, someone will come and take these four thousand people away, and Biedro is really relieved.

However, after waiting for a night yesterday and not waiting for the expected guests, Biedro also muttered in his heart: Could it be that the orders of those big guys above were passed on by mistake?

From the bottom of his heart, Biedro hoped that the hot potato of the 4,000 people would get out of the way as soon as possible.

Finally, when the morning sun jumped out of the clouds, and the red morning glow shrouded the city of Big Ears, Biedro saw in the distance, on the horizon, a troop of horsemen speeding towards it.

Looking at the banner of the comer, Biedro suddenly beat a drum in his heart...... God, it's the Thorn Flower Emperor Banner, it's actually the Imperial Forest Army!!

Could it be that the person who came was royal?

Biedro did not dare to slack off, and quickly ordered someone to open the city gate, and then personally led the team out of the city to greet him.

The cavalry of the Royal Guards, numbering about three hundred, galloped all the way to the bottom of the city before stopping the horses' hooves.

"Let your officers come out and talk!" At the head of the queue was a middle-aged knight with a western face, short hair, and a deep voice.

Biedro hurriedly walked a few steps: "I am Biedro, the commander of the Big Ear City, Your Excellency, please report your identity." ”

"My name is Robert. The middle-aged knight said lightly: "The commander of the Tulip family's private army, Your Excellency the commander of Bidero, please prepare to welcome the Duke!"

The Duke of the Tulip Family?

Biedro searched carefully in his mind for a long time, and then he remembered that this seemed to be a young grand duke who had just been newly named in the recent rumors...... Although several months have passed since the coup d'état, in this world after all, there are no telephones, newspapers and the Internet, and the news is not transmitted quickly, let alone this closed city with big ears?

However, the identity of a duke is definitely not something that a person like Edro can slack off, and he hurriedly ordered a queue. After waiting under the city for a while, I saw a carriage slowly moving behind under the escort of dozens of cavalry of the Imperial Forest Army.

When Videro saw the Duke coming out of the carriage, he was really surprised. This Lord Duke...... It's just a teenager.

But the thought only flashed slightly through Videro's mind, and he knelt down on one knee and saluted: "My lord, welcome to the Big Ear City." ”

Du Wei frowned, the big-eared city in front of him was too dilapidated, the city wall built according to the mountain, the main body was quite complete, and the height was also in line with the military system of the empire, but it could be seen that it had not been repaired for many years, the stones in many places had peeled off, and there were huge cracks on the city wall in some places. The soldiers patrolling above didn't look like they were doing anything good.

He gently took off his gloves, fanned the wind, and sighed: "Okay, Your Excellency, I don't have much time, now take me to see the person I want...... It's a damn uncomfortable weather. ”

Saying that, Du Wei had already entered the city gate, and Biedro hurriedly followed.

Walking into the Big Ear City, Du Wei found that this place was far more dilapidated than he imagined. There are hardly any decent streets in the city, and the sides seem to be gray and low. Further inside, there is a large wall that is three meters high.

"Where's the person I want?"

"It's all waiting on the school grounds. Biedro cautiously accompanied: "Originally, I received the order, I thought you would come last night, and those people have been waiting for ...... last night"

Du Wei's pace slowed down a little, and he looked back at the tired Commander, and showed a peaceful smile: "Oh, I'm sorry, Your Excellency. The road was so difficult that we missed the time. ”

Where did Biedro dare to accept an apology from a duke, he hurriedly said that he didn't dare, and then took a few steps to lead Du Wei and his party through the gate under the wall and towards the school grounds.

The floor was completely paved with ash and stones, and when the wind passed, it would roll up a lot of dust. Du Wei sighed: "It seems that your funds are very tight." ”

Videro immediately cried, "Isn't it......? I've racked my brains for money. God, there are tens of thousands of people imprisoned here all year round, and 2,000 of my soldiers, but the delivery of supplies is often delayed, and there are barren mountains all around here, so I can't let my people gnaw on the sand. and equipment ......" he said, he lowered his voice and said, "My lord, it's not me who complains, I won't tell you. I have 2,000 men under my command, but I can only scrape together 800 suits of armor and equipment! All can only be used on a rotational basis. Only 800 soldiers had weapons in their hands, but they had to guard more than 10,000 prisoners......"

Du Wei smiled, looked at this guy with a wry smile on his face, and suddenly said, "You have been a commander here for many years, right?"

The words immediately struck a sore spot in Bidero's land...... Indeed, in this place where birds don't lay eggs, no one wants to come here to be some bullshit commander, and being a commander here is not as comfortable as being a captain in other cities! But Idero, the unlucky ghost of officialdom, has no backstage and does not know how to be an official. But it has been nailed to the big ear city like a nail for eight years. According to the military system of the Empire, local officers should be rotated every three years, and they should be promoted or demoted according to the evaluation results, but he is more than Edro and has not been able to move his ass here for eight years......

Looking at Biedro with a bitter face, Du Wei suddenly smiled and lowered his voice: "Do you know why you always can't rise?"

“...... Please advise, sir!" said Bidero's eyes.

"Because of what you just said to me, you complained of all this bitterness!" Du Wei smiled.

This guy complains at every turn. also exposed his shortcomings to the commander...... Who likes it? In the military or in the officialdom, it is all sedan chairs that carry people. When a superior arrives, who doesn't desperately show off the most glamorous and beautiful side? That is, this stupid person will complain vigorously.

Such a guy, of course, can't be eaten in officialdom.

"If you want to be promoted, I'll show you a way. Du Wei smiled: "The next time a boss comes here, you'd better let your people wear jīng gods in advance." Then make the place clean and beautiful, and whatever your difficulties, pretend that everything is going well and successful...... Then, I promise you'll be up in two years. ”

Hearing this, Biedro felt quite a lot in his heart, and couldn't help but be distracted for a while, and when he came back to his senses, he found that Du Wei had already gone away, and hurriedly trotted a few steps to catch up.

The school grounds of this concentration camp are as large as the training ground of any military camp. However, the ground was much worse, and despite wearing sturdy riding boots, Du Wei still felt uncomfortable under his feet.

Then, he saw the crowd of people in the square.

A full 4,000 people, dressed in shabby prison uniforms, sat on the ground without jīng, each with a face covered with dust, a face indifferent, and a numb and empty look.

This is their own infantry regiment of the future?

Du Wei frowned: "Why are they so godless?"

"This ......" Biedro scratched his hair, "My lord, I received the news that you would arrive last night, so I called them out last night and sat here all night." And ......" Biedro sighed: "Recently there has been a shortage of supplies, there is also a shortage of food, and these prisoners can only eat one meal a day. ”

Du Wei was immediately on fire!

Eat once a day?

These people are their own future soldiers!!How dare this damn guy let his soldiers go hungry?

However, looking at Biedro's sad face, Du Wei couldn't be angry with him, and it could be seen that this commander had no choice.

Really......

“...... Even our locals can only eat two meals a day, and only the officers can guarantee the supply of one and three meals. Videro sighed: "If the supplies come ten days late, then even the officers will have to reduce the rations." ”

Du Wei Huoran turned around and stared at Videro carefully: "So nervous? It's ...... who is in charge of your supplies?"

"It's the Northwest Army. Biedro smiled bitterly: "My lord, this is the northwest, according to the regulations of the Northwest Theater of Operations twenty years ago, all the supplies in the northwest are uniformly handed over to the headquarters of the Northwest Army for distribution...... And the question is ......"

At this point, Biedro hesitated, as if he didn't know whether to go on or not.

Du Wei saw this guy's hesitation, and he said in a deep voice: "Say it, I don't blame you!"

Biedro felt a chord in his heart--the Duke in front of him was the most senior man here in all these years. He had already responded to these questions countless times, but there was no news!

"My lord, the two thousand garrisons of Big Ear City belong to the local garrison of the empire, not the Northwest Army. But in the Northwest, all military supplies were distributed by the Northwest Corps, so ......"

"So how?"

Biedro looked at Du Wei's eyes, and suddenly he didn't know where he got a sense of courage, and gritted his teeth and said: "So, we people are simply raised by our stepmothers!" Every year's supplies are the last we get, and they are often deducted, and just fifty miles away, in the barracks of the Northwest Army, there is an infantry regiment, and they can eat and drink spicy food every year...... We're here...... You saw it, too. ”

Du Wei frowned and pondered for a while: "Why is this happening? According to the imperial order, the supply and supply of the local garrison should be supported by the local financial revenue. Why do you want to let the Northwest Army control this power in the Northwest?"

"This ......," Biedro smiled wryly, "this temporary ordinance was issued more than twenty years ago during the Northwest War. According to the war situation at that time, the northwestern part of the country was divided into a war zone, and this order was reasonable. But the problem is that twenty years have passed since the war...... This temporary decree has not yet been lifted. The guys in the Northwest Army will only protect their shortcomings, and the Northwest Army's own troops are well fed and clothed, and our local garrisons are ...... Hey. ”

Du Wei's face sank, he didn't expect the situation in the northwest to be so serious!

Wartime ordinances?

If that ordinance has not been abolished...... Then his own territory, the province of Dessa......

Every year, a part of the financial revenue will be handed over to the Northwest Army.

Du Wei pondered for a while, this question is not something that can be said clearly now. He pressed these thoughts in his heart and looked at the prisoners sitting quietly in the square.

"Go find someone to push a car, I'm going to speak. Du Wei ordered Edro Bi Edro.

Soon, a dilapidated ox cart was pushed over and placed in the middle of the crowd. Du Wei jumped into the car, and then took a deep breath:

"Attention everyone!"

With a bang, he tore off the cloak he was wearing under himself, revealing a black sè magician's robe inside!

Du Wei casually arranged a magic around him. So that his voice can cover the whole audience far away.

The attention of the four thousand prisoners was focused on Du Wei, the magician standing on the ox cart...... It seems so familiar.

"Hmph!" Du Wei sneered. With majesty on his face, he exclaimed, "I'm sure most of you should remember me!

Someone began to talk in a low voice, and thousands of pairs of eyes looked at Du Wei with a complicated look in his eyes.

Yes, many people recognized Du Wei. Because most of the people present had experienced what happened in the square on the day of the coup.

This young man wearing a black sè magician robe left too deep a deep impression on everyone on that day!

"Yes. I can see it in your eyes, you still remember me!" Du Wei sneered and said loudly: "That's right, I am Du Wei of the original Rollin family, Du Wei Rollin, the current Duke of the Empire, Du Wei Rudolph, Duke Tulip, and a magician recognized by the Magic Guild. Court magician, court scholar, court astrologer...... And in the future, I will be your master!

Du Wei said this in one breath, and he stood on it, carefully observing the expressions of the four thousand prisoners below. Seeing that their eyes had recovered little by little from the hollow numbness, he was very satisfied with the result, and then he puffed up his breath and exclaimed:

"Everyone obeys the order! The First Regiment of the Second Division of the Wangjia Guards Army!!!

With Du Wei shouting, the Robert knight who was ready next to him had already asked someone to take out a horn.

The loud sound of the horn sounded and the audience was heard, mixed with Du Wei's shouting: "All the officers, stand up for me, I ask you to line up as fast as possible! The officers count your numbers, and then report to your commanders, if you have not finished the procession after the horn is over, then wait to eat the military law!!"

Rumble!

The crowd was boiling. These soldiers dressed in prisoner clothes, their numb eyes showed a hint of hidden Biaohan, although they had been deprived of all zìyóu and glory, but fortunately, the instinct of the soldiers who had been deeply flowing into their blood had not been lost.

Soon, the crowd surged like ants, and all the people stood up and began to line up according to their original formation.

When the horn ended, the square was no longer the four thousand scattered prisoners, but a neat phalanx!

Several phalanxes were lined up within the allotted time, but when the officers reported the results layer by layer, when the report reached the highest level, it stalled.

Because, their supreme commander, is not here. The commander of this infantry regiment had already been executed after the coup.

Several officers hesitated, and one of them was a little more clever, looked at Du Wei standing on the ox cart, strode towards Du Wei, and then made a hammer chest salute and loudly reported the results of the procession.

With this first one, the other officers had no choice but to learn to report to Du Wei one by one.

Du Wei was very satisfied with this result, and even glanced at the officer who was the first to report to him with encouraging eyes.

"Very good!" Du Wei coughed and cleared his throat: "I am very relieved, because after four months, you still maintain the instincts of a soldier!"

"I know you're tired and hungry right now...... You have been sitting here all night, and you have been hungry all night, and you are very uneasy and afraid! Because you have been transferred here by a piece of paper, Big Ear City! The famous Sin City on the mainland!" Du Wei said loudly: "I believe most of you must know what a tragic fate those prisoners who come to Big Ear City and come to the northwest will face!"

Speaking of this, Du Wei pointed to the people below and shouted: "That's right! You are all prisoners now, and you are waiting for crimes! You should be sent to the northwest desert to gnaw sand! Go to build the city wall, and move stones under the overseer's whip! Then you can only eat a little wild vegetable soup every day, which is so thin that you can make a human figure, and I promise that most of you will die in less than a year! There is no chance of surviving the end of your sentence!"

Du Wei pointed to his nose: "If it weren't for me, your fate would be like that - if I hadn't come here to save you guys!"