William's actions in Polotsk naturally caused strong unease in the Polotsk leadership. The Merchant Council of Polotsk www.biquge.info very sensitive. It was also very natural that William, and the emerging principality of Mystia adjacent to Polotsk behind him, were regarded as potential opponents and enemies of the United Provincial Republic.

The fear and distrust of the aristocracy reached its maximum in the context of the economic crisis. They were afraid, they were afraid - they were more afraid of the heroes of the Great Frontier War than the unreal Novgorod. God's Shield, the uncrowned king of the generals of the human world for twenty years...... Duke Otto, with these splendid titles and titles, has been expanded to five infantry regiments, two cavalry regiments and three artillery battalions. More than 10,000 new Mestian troops.

They were more afraid of a strong enemy in the south than in Novgorod -

If they could, they would do their best to stop William. His crusaders, the White Legions, will not be able to raise them at all costs - but they are not capable.

The attitude of inaction in the midst of the economic crisis has greatly reduced their prestige. At the same time, William's righteous status also prevented them from rallying the Polotsks to boycott the call-up.

Those who protested against Wilhelm, the conscription of troops in the land of Polotsk, were lightly remarked: "The crusaders are the responsibility of all the Goths." It doesn't matter what country the crusaders came from. In front of the Lord of Radiance, they are all equals."

The protests were ineffective, and some lawmakers hoped to use coercive laws and regulations to stop William. But they were soon stopped by their companions - God knows if Wilhelm, with such a good mouth, would have given them the big label of "collusion with the enemies of mankind and complicity with Novgorod". Then the new army of Mystya was sent in a grand manner to swallow the whole of Polotsk......

That's it. In the end, the parliamentarians sadly found that they could only use some indiscriminate means at best. Use gangsters, hooligans, and ruffians to intimidate those who intend to join the army...... However, this method is also difficult to achieve. At the very beginning, the gangsters, who were carried away by the parliament's bounty, were dealt a powerful blow by the quasi-white army.

There is no more violent organization in the world than the military. The gangsters were killed in the shortest possible time. The soldiers of the White Regiment carried enough muskets, threw grenades, and even brought two three-pounder guns from the camp.

In this way, the few gangsters, who were armed with short-barreled firearms, and many more were still wielding machetes, daggers, and even wooden sticks, were crushed by the soldiers of the White Legion with little respectful resistance.

Of course, such a paramilitary operation was tacitly approved by William. And they can be said to have gone very far enough to destroy these gangsters, and after they came back. The officer who led the team came to William in a bumpy mood. William's reply was: "It is good to claim to the outside world that it is a military exercise." ”

"But......" Hearing William say this, the officer who led the team, a young man who had been promoted from the original Circassian refugee hundred-man team, and who had gone through William's crash course for officers, who could be called his descendant, hesitated: "The Riga City Council, and the Polotsk General Council, ......"

"If they don't say it, I'll settle accounts with them!" William said with a little dissatisfaction, "My soldiers are crusaders who have glorified mankind." Our war is also for Polotsk. But when those bastards harassed our soldiers, they did nothing. Hmph......"

Hearing William say this, the officer said further tentatively: "Then, if this kind of thing happens again in the future......

"As usual. William replied lightly: "If an officer doesn't even care if his soldiers are bullied, then the officer will be done." Not to mention, this time we have a reason. ”

So the officer smiled and walked away, though he knew that it was a big trouble. But whatever, William is also in a big trouble. All he had to do was do what William commanded. What's more, what William said was indeed right. How could an officer not protect his soldiers?

It's different from what the officer imagined. William's use of force did not cause much fluctuation. Before the merchant councillors could discuss with each other and want to use this matter against William, they each received a letter from William. It contained copies of all the evidence of their dealings with the gangsters. On top of that, there was a buckshot, black granular gunpowder. and a check from the Briton Bank for two thousand silver marks.

That's it, things settle out. On the premise of not daring to really provoke William and start a war with Mystia. In a short time, the parliamentarians no longer had the means to transplant William's influence in Polotsk.

They can only put a little more effort into propaganda. Paid for newspaper articles to spread the word to the commoners of Polotsk about the evil, greed and cruelty of the aristocracy. Then there is the republican tradition of Polotsk.

It's just a pity. These things, in times of peace, may resonate strongly with the Polotsks. But in these chaotic times, the people of Polotsk don't care much about this.

Human beings are the most practical thing. Especially if you are hungry and don't have enough to eat. It doesn't matter if you don't have it, it doesn't matter if it's a monarchy or a republic. Those are the ones who make a fuss when they have a full meal. If anyone can solve the problem of Polotsk, then the Polotsk people do not care whether they are hereditary parliamentarians or hereditary nobles.

That's it, in the autumn of 1747, William's three infantry regiments, a cavalry battalion, an artillery battalion and a baggage battalion. The White Army, more than six thousand people, has been formed. A month earlier, he had also been recognized by the Holy See.

The latter seem to see William's crusade against Novgorod as a diplomatic victory for themselves, although William chose not the Centaur Khanate, which they most wanted to fight, but the Slavites.

The Holy See interpreted William's actions and thought that he was eager to try after being instigated by them. But he didn't have the guts to attack the centaurs, so he compromised and went to fight the Slavites.

Such an approach can be recognized and understood by the Holy See. And some of the bishops of the Holy See also think. After the annexation of Novgorod and Holmgard, the Hereford family, who benefited from the Crusader War. There will definitely be greater ambitions, as well as greater contradictions with the Centaur Khanate.

In this case, as long as they tried hard to instigate, a crusade against the Tartarya Khanate, with Mystia as the core, could be formed. Go to battle the heretical centaurs, defend the glory of the Holy See, and spread the faith of the Lord of Light. Above all, to save the prestige of the Roman Church in jeopardy.

May so, and may the Lord of Light bless the young and fearless crusader. The vast majority of the orthodox clergy, including Pius IV, were praying for victory in the foreign war, which had just been a crushing defeat at Tartaria, which had dealt a severe blow to the Holy See's already modest prestige. Although after that, the Hereford family barely fought a victory, and was even touted by the Holy See as a "miracle on the Vistula". But the fig leaf is not big enough.

The Holy See hopes, and the Holy See also needs a victory.

In contrast, the merchant councillors of Polotsk cursed the expedition -

"Hopefully, that arrogant little nobleman will be beheaded by the barbarians of Slavi. I also hope that all the troops under his command will be destroyed!"

The lawmakers cursed from the bottom of their hearts. Even if William's crusade is in the name of revenge for Polotsk. Even if the main members of William's White Legion were Polotsks - the lives of 6,000 Polotsks were worthless compared to their ruling power. If the lives of 6,000 Polotsks could be exchanged for the death of a powerful nobleman who was hostile to Polotsk and coveted the Polotsk lands. Then there will be no hesitation on the part of the parliamentarians.

In this way, the Holy See, together with the Polotsk Parliament, prayed to the same god in the most pious gesture, the same thing, and there would be a completely different result.

"So, it's going to be very difficult for the Lord of Radiance and his old man. ”

Leaving Shalumi and Elise in Polotsk, on the way to Novgorod, William laughed when he heard about it. Whether it's the blessing of the Holy See, or the curse of the Council. He didn't take it to heart.

Because William knew. These things are useless for the big picture. In the end, it is still the military means that can play a decisive role.

Sixteen thousand crusaders under his command. and the 20,000 combined forces of the opponents Novgorod and Kholmgard, which were the decisive factors in the outcome of this war.

"Yes, although some things can be decided at the negotiating table or even in the salon clubhouse, more things still have to be decided by muskets and cannons......

William thought to himself, and then he felt a lot more comfortable—he didn't think he was going to lose to anyone on the battlefield—not even the woman—anyway

Before he knew it, William's mind flashed back to Victoria's face. It made him feel very uncomfortable.