Iron Powder and Spellcaster

"It's good to have such energy just after the assembly." Admiral Zio said to Antonio while riding in front of the phalanx.

This is the first time in ten years that the Third Army has returned to full strength.

This was also the first time that all members of the assembled "Grand Veneta" lined up with all their equipment to accept the review of General Zio and Major General Antonio.

One chief infantry group and nine infantry groups with more than 5,000 infantrymen, and two cavalry battalions with more than 600 cavalrymen. This is the entire combat strength of the Third Army.

Except for five infantry brigades, which are temporarily recruited reserve soldiers, the other soldiers are all standing troops who perform daily drills.

There was no artillery, as artillery would have greatly slowed down the march, so the Veneta Republic's auxiliary artillery force formed a separate army.

Winters, Bud, and Andre are now three young trainee officers in the Chief Infantry Group. You can stand proudly at the front of the infantry line, but at the same time stand humbly behind the regular officers.

After the review, General Zio didn't talk much and just gave Antonio a solemn military salute.

Antonio returned the favor with a solemn expression and entered the legion's square formation. With an order, Antonio led the entire legion to leave the military camp in four columns.

No one knew where they were going, but the atmosphere was so solemn that no one dared to whisper to each other. The soldiers followed the men in front at a mechanical pace, as did the officers, only on horseback.

The three trainee officers had no idea where they were going, and according to Winters' observation, several regular officers were also asking each other with their eyes. Obviously, they didn't know where they were going either.

The Third Legion left the station wordlessly, bypassed Hailan City, and walked eastward.

The road went farther and farther, but Winters became more and more familiar with it. He and Andre looked at each other knowingly, and it was obvious that Andre also recognized this road. This was the road leading to Haidong Port.

Finally, nearly 6,000 officers and soldiers of the Third Army arrived at Haidong Port Pier.

The battle was over long ago, but Haidong Port's wounds would take a long time to heal. Looking around, there are burnt, dark ruins everywhere.

This original military dock has basically lost its function. Neither officers nor soldiers know why Antonio brought the Third Army here.

Antonio leaped on his horse to a high place where all the soldiers could see him.

He glanced at the soldiers under his command and said loudly: "It is here that the Tanilia Federation launched a shameless sneak attack on us. They started an undeclared war, they burned our warships, and they massacred unarmed civilians. Despicable. The islanders thought that doing so would scare off the Venetans, and that doing so would delay the trial by a few days."

Every time he said a word, the spellcaster herald beside him would repeat it again using the amplification technique, and the amplified voice resounded throughout Haidong Port.

The legion square formation was silent, and everyone focused on the legion commander on the high platform.

"For this reason, I have summoned you, the bravest and best men of Veneta. The Republic has trained you and tempered you from ignorant children into real men. And the Republic needs you now, she is looking forward to it. Each of you can fulfill your duties.”

The soldiers in the audience involuntarily tightened their weapons, and Winters also involuntarily tightened his sword hilt.

Antonio paused and roared: "Today! At this moment! I will lead you from here! Revenge against Tanilia! Blood debts can only be paid with blood, and we will never forgive! The Tanilia Federation must be destroyed!" Destroy the Union!”

"Destroy the Union!"

"Destroy the Union!"

"Destroy the Union!"

…

Amidst the loud shouts, a huge ship flying the Veneta naval flag sailed into Haidong Bay. Its fully unfolded sails were like white clouds floating on the sea. Behind it, one large ship after another followed the giant ship into Haidong Bay.

Antonio raised his hands and pressed them down, and the legionary square fell silent again.

Antonio issued the first order sternly: "There is no light load for long distances. On a cross-sea expedition, the supply line is related to our life and death! All excess transportation capacity must be used to carry food and gunpowder. All officers, listen to the order! Dismount!"

After saying that, Antonio was the first to leave the saddle and stand on the ground. Led by him, all the third regiment, from general to warrant officer, dismounted.

"The officer's war horse is fostered at the station. It can fight without a mount. All the Third Army Corps obeys the order! Except for weapons, ammunition, tents and cooking utensils, not a single item is taken, and everything is thrown into Haidong Port!"

——Cut——

As the tide began to rise in the afternoon, the sailors who stayed at Haidong Port to cooperate with the army moved out the wooden planks and boats that had been prepared and built two temporary buoyant trestles for the Third Army to board the ship.

This was a joint operation between the army and the navy, and the navy was extremely polite. The flagship of the Inland Sea Fleet, the Glory, was sent. The arrival of this ship at Haidong Port means that the commander of the Inland Sea Fleet has also arrived at Haidong Port.

In addition to the Glory warship, there are another twenty-one large armed merchant ships that "voluntarily enlisted" as troop carriers.

According to the plan, this squadron will first carry the Third Army, and then the remaining warships of the Veneta Navy will join this squadron, eventually forming a fleet with more than thirty large sailboats and a dozen galleys. A powerful fleet of ships.

Theoretically, this fleet with more than 40 large ships and the Third Army Corps riding on it are enough to deal with any enemy on the inland sea.

However, there were some small flaws in the plan from the very beginning...

The naval liaison officer who was sent ashore looked at the position of the sun in the sky, then looked at the position of the sea water, and said helplessly to Antonio: "Your Excellency, your men need to speed up the boarding speed. Otherwise, after the tide goes out, they will It’s very troublesome, we have to wait until the tide comes in in the middle of the night.”

Antonio has also been worried about this problem. He pointed to the trestle and said: "This buoyant trestle is in a low position and you have to climb on the ship. My soldiers cannot be faster. These two trestles alone are definitely not enough to allow the big ship to release The boat comes down, and the boat is used to transport people up. Transporting people in small boats must be coordinated, and my people's organization cannot be messed up."

The naval liaison officer who held the rank of colonel felt that Antonio was right. He nodded to Antonio, hurried to the beach, rowed back to the Glory, and sent a message. Veneta Army and Navy ranks are not common, so soldiers from the two sides do not need to salute each other.

Watching the navy liaison leave, Antonio was left with only a few army officers. Seeing Lieutenant Colonel Contel hesitate to speak, Antonio patted Contel on the shoulder: "If you have anything to say, just tell me."

"Is it too hasty to send troops now?" Contel asked with a worried look: "We have just completed the assembly today, and we have to let the reserve soldiers practice for at least a week, right?"

Antonio looked at the other school officers around him. These school officers, including Contel, were all Antonio's capable subordinates. If they also question Antonio's strategy, then Antonio needs to explain clearly.

Antonio asked back: "The key to this war is not how well prepared we are, but the gap between the enemy's preparedness and our own. Those five reserve brigades are no longer available, but I still have you." Five elite standing army brigades. But the Tanirians have nothing now. They are still captains and plantation owners leading their own small groups. Drake preemptively destroyed Haidong Port, and we have to seize the opportunity to counterattack. "

Contel still couldn't hide his worry: "But after all, we only have five brigades of standing troops, and the main islands of Tanilia have populations of around 100,000, so we are still too few."

"Of course it's impossible to capture the archipelago with just one of our legions. We now want to win a battle to boost the morale of the Republic and open a hole for the subsequent offensive." Antonio added: "If even you think I shouldn't send troops now, what will the Tanirians think? If we can take them by surprise, we will already have the upper hand."

"But can we really take things by surprise?" Contel pointed at the colorful figures on the Haidong Port Pier: "There are no secrets in Aquamarine City!"

A force of nearly 6,000 people left the station, and it was impossible to hide it. While the Third Army Corps was still walking towards Haidong Port, the news that Da Vinetta was going to sail on the expedition in Haidong Port had already reached the ears of the officers' families.

When one officer's family knows about it, soon all the military families know. Military families have always had a special channel for spreading news. Although it is essentially word of mouth, the speed and efficiency of the spread is astonishingly high.

The family members of the military personnel set off for Haidong Port as soon as they learned the news. No one would give up this opportunity to see off. After all, this may be the last time they see each other...

So there was this scene in front of everyone: the child was holding on to his father's sleeves and refused to let go; his wife, who was a step late, was kneeling on the pier and crying bitterly, waving desperately to the ship; and several trembling old men. People came over in horse-drawn carriages, and these old men, who had probably lost their husbands in the war thirty years ago, were here to say goodbye to their sons.

Although the boarding process was still going on in an tense and orderly manner, the originally solemn and solemn expedition began to become sad and desolate, and anyone who saw this scene would have tears in their eyes.

Antonio could not order the dispersal of the family members who came to see him off. These women, children, and children were weakening the morale of the Third Army, which Antonio did not want to see. But if he ordered the families to be dispersed, he would permanently lose the respect and trust of his soldiers, which would be worse than a weakening of morale.

Moreover... for many people this really may be the last chance to see their families. As long as boarding is not delayed, Antonio can only sigh and let him go.

"The Committee of Thirteen has already discussed the fact that it cannot be kept secret." Antonio turned away and no longer looked at the scene on the pier: "As long as we send troops, it is impossible to keep it completely secret, but we can still defeat Tanili. There is a time difference between Asians. The faster we move, the shorter the time left for the Federation to respond. So the key is not to keep it secret, but to how we get to the islands as soon as possible."

Several lieutenant colonels were thoughtful.

Antonio said quietly: "After all, there are no secrets in Aquamarine City."

——Cut——

While the third officer was busy getting on the boat, an Aquamarine City police officer was leading a patrol team to carry out bodies from the houses after the fire.

one two three four……

A total of twenty-five corpses were found from the burned-down houses. The charred human bodies were placed on the street, like some kind of pagan sacrificial ceremony, which quickly attracted crowds of people to watch.

"Fire?" a patrol member asked in a cold voice.

The Sheriff also felt panicked, but he still managed to reprimand his subordinates: "Not one of the twenty-five people from the fire meeting ran out? These corpses all have fatal injuries. They must have committed the murder first and then set the fire."

"Look at this man, this one blow to his neck was enough to kill him, but his head was split open again." Another patrol member's lower teeth hit his upper teeth uncontrollably, and he almost cried: "This damn thing Who is he? Does he have to be killed twice before he dies? Didn’t we meet a cultist? "

A patrolman fought his way through the crowd and handed a letter into the hands of the sheriff.

The Sheriff removed the paint, glanced at the contents of the letter, and suddenly said with a smile: "We don't need to worry about this case anymore. The Sheriff of the dock area is willing to take over the case. He said it is a family feud."

"Then do you think this is a family feud?" asked the patrol member who kept shuddering.

"Will the whole family be wiped out by a family feud? Will all the men die?" The Sheriff said nonchalantly: "But since there are people willing to help us share our worries, I can't care less even if they say they are roasting themselves."

——Cut——

Until they arrived at the dock, Winters, Bud and Andre did not expect to leave today.

Andre was looking forward to seeing his family before leaving, while Winters and Bud had little expectation.

Bard is not from Veneta, and Antonio strictly forbids Kesha and Ella to see them off. Antonio has always been extremely disgusted with this kind of behavior that would dampen the morale of the army.

Even if he doesn’t come, Winters doesn’t know how to face separation.

It was finally the turn of Winters' centurion to board the ship, but a strange woman stopped Winters as he was about to step onto the temporary trestle.

"Mr. Montagne, please stay," the strange woman said respectfully.

"you know me?"

"If anyone wants to see you, please come with me."

"Who? Mysterious." Winters shook his head and followed.

As long as a sheriff and several patrol members weren't coming to arrest him, Winters didn't worry about anything else.

The strange woman led Winters to a carriage that was completely black and decorated with silver trim. She signaled that the person who wanted to see Winters was in the car.

Seeing this carriage, Winters took a breath of air and quietly took out a steel awl and held it in his hand.

Opening the carriage door with his other hand, Winters was ready to use the flying arrow technique, and the steel cone in his hand was ready to go.

However, there was an unexpected person sitting in the car.

"Miss Anna? Why is it you?"

Anna asked nervously, "Why can't it be me?"

"Uh...are you telling me the same thing?" Winters knew that he might have misunderstood.

"What are you talking about? Come in quickly and close the door." Anna grabbed Winters' arms with both hands and pulled him into the car: "Don't let others see... I'm not married yet."

The two of them were sitting in the carriage, and the atmosphere became a little awkward.

Winters quietly stuffed the steel awl back into his pocket. His tight nerves relaxed and made him a little tired. He joked: "If you come to me to pay for the painting, now is not a coincidence. I will immediately It’s time to take the boat to Taneria.”

In fact, Winters' nerves have been tense since Ciel found him the day before yesterday. Last night, he was even more nervous. He repeatedly planned, checked the route, and prepared emergency plans, but the actual situation was still full of dangers. Now that he suddenly relaxed, Winters felt a strong sense of fatigue, and he really wanted to sleep now.

Anna's eyes were red: "Why are you always like this? Why do you treat me like this again?"

"Just joking." Winters apologized quickly and sighed: "When we first met, you would slap me when you were angry. Why do you always shed tears now?"

"You just hold grudges about that slap! You're such a small-minded guy! I've seen it a long time ago. You remember everything and you just pretend to have forgotten it."

"If you say yes, then so be it." Winters didn't have the energy to argue now.

This attitude made Anna even more angry. She suddenly leaned back in her chair and turned her head away from Winters: "Let's go."

"Okay, I'm leaving." Winters stood up. He looked at Anna's neck, profile, and hair. An idea came to his mind for no reason: Anna's profile may be my last wish for peace. Memory, it represents the beautiful imagination of another life path.

"Why don't you leave yet?"

"I want to see you again." For some reason, Winters especially wanted to touch Anna's hair. So he reached out and ruffled Anna's naturally curly hair: "Because you are beautiful when you are unrestrained and full of vitality."

Then he opened the car door and stepped out.

A pair of arms hugged Winters from behind. Anna clung to Winters' back and cried: "I just want you to do one thing for me, just one thing... You want to come back, you just want to come back."

"This is too simple. Does it count if the ashes come back?"

Anna burst into laughter and hit Winters on the back: "You are really annoying to death..."

Then Anna took out a statue of a god carved from hardwood from her handbag. This statue was only the size of a thumb, but it had all the details and was lifelike. It was a goddess carrying a shield and a spear.

Anna put the statue into Winters' palm: "No matter how far away or difficult it is, Athena can guide those who have left their homeland to return to their hometown."

"When did you learn wood carving?"

"I have never learned wood carving." Anna said timidly: "Isn't the carving good?"

Stupid me, how could I not have noticed this? Winters thought to himself. There were several wounds on Anna's left hand and the index finger of her right hand. The edges of the wounds were red and swollen, obviously new injuries.

"This is the most exquisite wood carving I have ever seen. I want to exchange it with you for the most valuable thing." Winters searched all over his body but couldn't find anything valuable, so he took off the golden ceremonial sword and put it away. When it came to Anna's hand: "This sword is my father's sword, but it actually has no commemorative significance... Anyway, it is the most valuable thing in my body."

There was only a review scheduled today, so Winters wore this ceremonial sword.

Anna was at a loss and said incoherently: "No, this sword is too valuable, I can't have it... Why did you give me your father's sword... Is it an engagement token? No, no, I... I... I... we We haven’t reached that kind of relationship yet… By the way, my family doesn’t marry northerners!”

"What did I say about marrying you?! And why do you always say that I am from the 'North'?" Winters almost fainted from anger: "My mother's family comes from the United Provinces, and my father's family has always maintained Netta, how come I’m from the ‘North’?”

"Maybe you are taller, but it doesn't matter if you are not from the north... I don't want to get married yet..." Anna said weakly.

Cars rattled, horses rustled, and pedestrians carried bows and arrows at their waists. The mother-in-law and the wife see each other off, but Xianyang Bridge is nowhere to be seen. He held his clothes, stamped his feet, and blocked the road to cry, and his cry went up to the sky. (I wrote a lot of it, but it is not as good as the forty-one words of the Poet, and I can feel the charm of words more. However, this poem is best appreciated in conjunction with the painting "Army Chariots" by teacher Wang Kewei)

There is no need to hint at the following plot. In the 1.547th millennium at dawn, there are only wars, wars and wars.

Thanks to book friends who have voted for recommendations before, thanks to book friend Ami for her recommendation votes, thanks to book friend Kekkkk for her recommendation votes, thanks to book friend writersblock for her recommendation votes, thanks to book friend 161120205936216 for her recommendation votes, thanks to book friend 20181013204343295 for her recommendation ticket. thank you all