Three Philosophical Questions for Travelers

The Beggar and the Slave King, IV

The horse snorted, and the army sang local folk songs.Morale was high on the march.The smiling cat held a grass stalk in its mouth, and while licking the bitter juice inside, said: "She doesn't fight herself, so I will give you two thousand soldiers to fight. Then you will use her soldiers to take down Pinewood Castle. Half of the credit for the castle is hers. In addition, there are tax reduction treaties, alliance treaties, ha! There is also a 'family treaty', if she lowers taxes in Pinewood Castle in the future, will you let her do so?"

Haiwen swallowed, and said, "Then...then I must give in, and I still owe her money."

"That's right! You're short-handed, my lord!" The smiling cat spat out the grass stem, took a sip from the leather wine jug, rinsed and spit out, "It turns out that if Yawen wanted to fight Pinewood Castle, he had to make a name for himself—she Why did you fight Pinewood Castle? Because they have high taxes? It's none of your business? Second, she can't invest too many troops, 2000 is the limit; third, she is afraid that the Poseidon Cult will retaliate afterwards. Now Well, the three questions are all on your shoulders."

Haiwen smiled wryly, and said to himself: "Now it's 'teacher is famous', I am the Earl of Pinewood Castle named by the Little Trident, and I have Chauvin's battle robe, anyway, I have a reason to fight Pinewood Castle ;As for the people, she has two thousand and I have two thousand, so there are 4000 people; in the end, if the Sea God Sect really came to take revenge, it would first take revenge on me, and the Sea God Sect and I are mortal enemies."

"That's right!" The smiling cat drew its feet out of the saddle and lay on the horse's back. "And the ingenuity is that we can't fight Pinewood Castle. Not only do we work hard for her, but we also have to thank her in the end."

Haiwen said: "This can't be called working for her. After all, Pinewood Castle is mine, and I need this castle."

Master Cat raised his hand, waved it like a flag, and said, "That poor place in Pinewood Castle doesn't have a few acres of land, and there's no port! What's the use of it other than collecting road tax? After that, you'll reduce it Taxes, isn’t Pinewood Castle just a broken stone house? My lord, Yawen may have been tempted since the little trident allocated Pinewood Castle to you. Otherwise, why should she support us? She also established an alliance and agreed Her sister's marriage...why? She must have something planned."

Hai Wen glared at him and said, "What do you think she's trying to do?"

The smiling cat said: "Pinewood Castle is just one of them. The second is to let you serve as a shield for her to keep the safety of Shrimp Bay. The third... I don't dare to guess wildly. There may be four, five, and six. , but I am a ranger, and rangers are too lazy to think about such things."

Haiwen shook his head and said: "Although I don't know what she is thinking, I already knew that Yawen had her little plan, but it has nothing to do with me. Master Mao, Xiawan will not affect the overall situation, as long as I can get it done Pinewood Castle, then I can establish a base. This castle means too much to me. Pinewood Castle does not make money, but it has strategic significance.

The smiling cat didn't think so, and said, "My lord, don't worry about yourself! Maybe you didn't lose this time, but what about the next time? What about the next time? You will bring your 'comrades' to make a revolution in the future, but Xiawan is here Behind your back, when Yawen really wants to plot against you, what will you do? Let me tell you, you need a conspirator by your side."

Haven said: "There are many smart people around me, and I think Ramon can do it."

The smiling cat sneered and said, "It will take another five years for Ramon to become a talent. During this period, I am afraid that Ramon will fall."

Haiwen looked sideways, "How do you say it?"

The smiling cat pondered for a while, and said, "If one day Ramon suddenly tells you that he is going to marry the countess's sister, then you must be careful. This means that Ramon cannot be completely trusted."

Haven didn't refute him this time.

The smiling cat continued: "Ramon has ambitions, otherwise how could he marry that fat pig? Let me ask you, now that Ramon has reached the rank of earl, can you further satisfy his ambition?"

Ambitious, Ramon has ambitions, and Hai Wen felt his heart shake when he heard this.Because the first person who said this to him was not the Smiley Cat, but the butler exiled by him, Delaire Hanslock.

"I can't satisfy his ambition." Haven replied.

Smiley Cat said, "Then he might have to find someone else."

Haven thought for a while, and said, "If Ramon can't do it, then there is Myrick, he is an upright bachelor, and he can be trusted."

"He is too upright." Smiley Cat sat up from the horseback, "What you need is a schemer."

Haven asked, "Where's Darrow?"

"That eunuch's vision is too short."

Haiwen asked again: "Where is Manager Nader?"

The smiling cat said: "Although Director Nader is knowledgeable and experienced, he dare not take on the responsibility! This old man can usually keep silent, do you expect him to be your adviser? You can ask him and he will say, do you want to?" If you don’t get up, he will never remind you. He is like an expensive statue on the top of the villa, everyone knows it is good, but it will never be a part of your daily necessities.” The smiling cat glared at Hai Wen and said, “My lord, you just Stop pretending to be confused."

Haven did think of that person from the very beginning. "He's still in exile," Haven said.

The smiling cat sneered disdainfully, and said, "Van Deli is still in prison for his father, isn't he also out to work?"

"Fan Deli is guilty and meritorious. He is in office, but he is still living in prison."

The smiling cat said: "My lord, the exile can also be postponed."

Haven didn't speak.

The smiling cat glared at Haiwen and said, "You are just mad at him. You used to trust him too much, and you couldn't stand his knees being too weak at that time. But if he doesn't come again, I'm afraid you will capsize!"

Haiwen thought for a while, and said: "If I find him back and forgive him, how can I explain to the people below? Besides, Delaire may... may be dead, and he will be destroyed if he doesn't die." Now, which exile do you see can come back properly?"

The smiling cat laughed and said, "First, the original people walked away like crazy, and we are almost left. What's wrong with you? You're just too rigid in your mind and too rigid in your work. As for the second One thing? Let me tell you, my lord, it’s not his turn to die! You don’t have to worry about him at all, exile is his own choice, if he has no confidence, dare to choose exile? "

Haven hesitated for a moment, and said, "Unless he can make up for his crimes, just like Van Derry, otherwise I won't commute his sentence."

"Okay! Ambside, you can remember this sentence."

"I remember!"

Both of them fell silent after saying this, and after more than a minute, the smiling cat sighed and said: "We are short of people, my lord. Delaire, Fassnut, your wife, and Mrs. Witch , Those who were released at the beginning should all be found back. The people outside are either incompetent or disloyal. It's not good."

King of beggars and slaves, V

King of beggars and slaves, V

Haiwen glanced at the ranger with a sad face, and couldn't help asking curiously: "Smiley Cat, you are a ranger, and logically speaking, you should live a life as a ranger—why do you keep following me?"

The smiling cat grinned and said, "It's fun! Aren't rangers just for fun? Let me tell you, my lord, there is nothing more fun than following you. Ever since I worked hard for you, my life has been going up! Down! Up! Volo!" he said while making a boat surfing gesture.

"This is the ups and downs?" Haiwen laughed, "I have a hunch that the waves behind are even bigger!"

Sitting on the horseback, Master Cat stroked his chest and said, "Then I will wait and see, my lord."

That night, they came to Pinewood Castle.

It was getting dark and the army was camping in the outskirts.Tomorrow morning, the army will arrive at the castle of Pinewood Castle. Haiwen will first persuade him to surrender under the city wall, and if the opponent does not surrender, he will attack the city.It is best to be able to fight without bloodshed.

In the evening, Haiwen called the generals to review tactics.Haven placed a large wooden board in the tent with a hand-painted map of Pinewood Castle.Haven and Smiley Cat stood together, and Cammorn stood across the table.

Haiwen pointed to the map and said: "Tomorrow morning, I will take people to the west gate, and the smiling cat to the east, and then you, General Cammorn, will be in charge of the north and south. At first, I will concentrate on attracting the attention of the enemy, and then we will It's the north and the south, General Cammorn, please take turns attacking the city here, after the three waves are over, I will organize people to move to the east to attack the city, at this time the Smiley Cat will join the Death Squad from the west side and take the castle in one fell swoop."

Cammorn looked at the map and said, "My lord, I don't want my people to die. They should be used in the best place."

Haiwen glanced at him, feeling that something was wrong, "General, what are your plans?"

Cammorn said: "I think there is no point in feinting. The elite soldiers in Xiawan should stay in a better place. I suggest that your militia go to complete the feint. 2000 people are enough to feint three times."

Haiwen sneered, but Smiley Cat got annoyed on the spot, and asked with a frown: "Old man, did you talk about farting yesterday? We discussed it before, we attack things, you come to the north and south, why are you now us?" Sending you to death, are you watching a play behind?"

The old man laughed and said, "You two haven't fought a big battle, have you?"

It is true that Hai Wen had never called before, so he did not speak, while the smiling cat said, "What do you want to say?"

Cammorn sneered and said, "The militiamen are sent to die, otherwise you still expect them to fight? These people are thin, lazy and timid. Five soldiers can escort a hundred people away. Why do they keep them? Eat our meal?"

Haiwen said: "General Cammorn, you made a mistake. This time I am the commander, and my troops are the main body. The militia is indeed weak in combat effectiveness, but they have other values ​​and cannot be used as consumables. .”

Cammorn stared at Haven and said, "Then my soldiers can be used as consumables?"

Holding back his anger, Haiwen shook his head and said, "No one is expendable, General. But if you let the militia attack the city continuously, they will think they are expendable. In that case, who would want to fight for us? ?”

"It's a disaster if you keep them! Ambside!" The old man's voice became louder and louder. "When you conquer Pinewood Castle, you can recruit soldiers and buy people. You can have as many mud legs as you want!"

Before Haiwen had time to refute, the smiling cat pointed at Cammorn's nose and scolded: "You stinky fish, what you said is farting! War is for people. If people can't be kept, what else is there for fighting?" Use? The militiamen are originally farmers, they were not born for war, but soldiers are different! They eat military pay, don’t pay taxes, and who do they use when they don’t need to fight?”

The old man blew his beard and stared angrily, and said, "One soldier can be exchanged for ten clay legs! Fighting with dung forks, sickles and hoes? Ha! What kind of militia, just a group of slaves!"

The smiling cat slammed the table, shaking the chess pieces flying, "Without these mud legs, who the hell will support your pawns?" He cursed loudly.

This is bad, Haiwen thought to himself, I am afraid of this matter, the attack on Pinewood Castle is based on the assistance of Shrimp Bay, if Cammorn refuses to contribute, then we alone can fight Not coming down to Pinewood Castle—it seems that I changed my tactics for this "friendly army"?But in that case, my human sacrifice would be too great, and I cannot bear it.

Just when Smiley Cat and Cammorn were arguing, a messenger ran outside, "Report to the commander! There are two people outside who want to see you. Comrades stopped him and said you were in a meeting."

"Who is it?"

"A man in a black robe and a little girl with red hair."

Who is this?I don't know these people, Haven thought.

Just then there was a commotion outside.Haiwen heard his people yelling, saying, "You can't go in!" Haiwen and the smiling cat looked at each other and walked out.Unexpectedly, before the two of them got out of the tent, the man broke in.The smiling cat pulled out the knife subconsciously, and Hai Wen asked, "Who is your Excellency?"

The man opened his hood with a sharp knife, revealing a handsome face. "Master Haiwen! Smiling Ranger! It's me!" He said excitedly, "I found you!"

Haiwen was stunned for about three seconds, and then asked in surprise: "Fasnat?" The smiling cat was also shocked, and laughed and cursed: "Damn, why is it you?"

"It's me!" The boy looked like a young man, with stubble growing on his mouth and chin, and his lines became tougher. Although only a year had passed, he looked like he was ten years older.Hai Wen went up to hug him vigorously, but Fasnat just patted his back lightly with the back of the knife.It was only then that Haiwen noticed that there were two knives attached to the positions of his hands.

"What happened to your hand? What happened this year, Fassnut?"

He saluted Haiwen and said: "This is too much to say. Let me tell you one thing first. I went to the prison in Xiongshan City and rescued Bear Brian and others. Now they are all placed in Shrimp Bay. "

Haven exclaimed, "Brian is still alive?"

Fassnut replied: "He and the soldiers from Bear Mountain are all locked up in prison - we will talk about these things later, my lord, what are you doing now? I heard from the people at Shrimp Bay that you are going to attack Pinewood Castle? "

Hearing what he said, Haiwen immediately shouted: "Yes! I'm going to attack the city tomorrow, and now the northern and southern fronts lack a person who can lead the army. You..." Haiwen held back halfway through his words, his heart ached. Thinking: Even if Fasnat received the double knives with both hands, he must not be as powerful as before.If I rashly ask him to attack the city, he will definitely not refuse me, but what if he dies there?

Fassnet nodded and said, "Show me the tactics first."

King of beggars and slaves, VI

King of beggars and slaves, VI

Haven and Fassnut had a lot to say, but now the matter was important, so Haven took Fassnut to the sand table and explained the tactics to him.However, this behavior annoyed Cammorn of Shrimp Bay. He questioned: "Who is this kid? The headquarters is an important military base. Why should he come? Why should he look?"

Haiwen replied: "This person is my confidant and is worthy of trust. I will need his help in the battle tomorrow."

Cammorn smiled and said, "You have enough cronies, Ambside? Mudlegs, slaves, mercenaries, and hooligans are all your cronies. Do you want to get rid of all these people at the next meeting?" Come in?"

Haiwen was annoyed, but he needed two thousand soldiers from Cammorn, so it was not easy to turn his face.However, at this time, Fassnet asked, "Who is this old man?"

The smiling cat raised its eyebrows and said in a joking tone, "This one? This is the old general Cammorn from Xiawan, who supervised our war."

"Oh?" Fassnut stared at him and said, "Old man, we don't need your supervision when we are fighting. You can go back to Shrimp Bay. You are not needed."

Cammorn laughed angrily, and said, "I'll go back? That's good, then I'll bring two thousand soldiers back to Shrimp Bay. Lord Ambside, I won't serve you anymore!"

Haiwen wanted to strangle the old man to death now, "General Cammorn, Shrimp Bay sent two thousand troops to help me attack Pinewood Castle. This is the Countess's order. You swear allegiance to the Earl, how can you disobey her order?"

"I am loyal to the old earl. He is dead, and his daughter can't command me! This army was brought out by me alone, and no one can command it except me!"

Hai Wen felt quite a headache when he met such a guy who relied on the old to sell the old.The smiling cat winked at Fasnat and whispered, "Boy, do you have a solution?"

Fassnut said, "Yes."

After saying this, he suddenly appeared behind Cammorn in a flash, with an elbow on the back of the old man's head.The old man groaned, rolled his eyes and passed out.The smiling cat clapped its hands and laughed loudly, while Hai Wen was startled and said, "You... this..." He hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Did you kill him?"

Fassnut also smiled, and asked, "No, are you going to kill me?"

"Don't, I won't be able to explain to Xiawan if I'm beaten to death. Master Mao, you tie up the old man first, and let's talk about him later."

"Okay, my lord!" The smiling cat was overjoyed.He tied Cammorn up, put it in a corner, covered it with a cloth, and hid it completely.At this time, Fassnat said: "My lord, no one is supervising our war this time. Tell me about the tactics."

Hai Wen sighed with a wry smile, and said: "The tactics are not complicated. We now have more than 2000 soldiers. [-] are my militiamen, and the other [-] are borrowed from Xiawan, which is Cammorn." soldiers."

"Oh, so the old man is a general." Fassnat glared at the smiling cat with a complaining look, and the latter put his hands up innocently, and said, "I didn't let you knock him over with an elbow." Ah, why are you staring at me?"

Haiwen waved his hand and said: "It has already happened, it's useless to talk about it, and now I have to think about how to remedy it. My original plan was to divide 4000 people into four teams and attack the four walls of Pinewood Castle in turn. After the enemy was exhausted, the Smiley Cat would choose the place with the weakest defense and lead a strong attack, taking down the city wall in one fell swoop."

The smiling cat continued: "That's the plan, but now that the old man has made you lie down, no one can command those 2000 people anymore. We have to change our tactics."

Fassnut said, "It's very simple—Nateway, come in!" He called out.

Immediately a petite girl walked into the tent, "Nat, you think of me!" She went straight to Fassnut and put her arms around his waist.Fassnut said to her with a look of disgust: "Go aside!" But the girl stuck to him and would not leave.

Haiwen was curious, so he asked, "Who is this?"

"I'm her wife!" cried the child.

Fassnut yelled, "Shut up, bitch!"

Haiwen frowned, thinking to himself: Although it is normal to get married at the age of fourteen or fifteen in this day and age, but...she is too young.The girl was barely developed physically and looked like Mirsalu.

"This matter is also very complicated, my lord, please don't listen to her nonsense." Fassnet said, "She is Natway, she can be regarded as my... partner. She will also need her help when I go back to attack the city."

Haiwen looked at the two of them up and down, and said, "Fasnat, you have to tell me about this year's events later."

Fassnut said: "I will definitely, my lord. I also have a lot... a lot of news to tell you. But it is important to siege the city now. In addition, I don't use my real name now, and I am code-named Razor. I will call it whatever I want in private, and I will have trouble at other times. You change your mouth."

Haven knew that many rangers and the like would hide their real names, so that they could avoid many troubles.

"Razor, I remember." Haven said.

Razor nodded and said: "Now I will tell you how to attack the city tomorrow." Pointing to the gate on the map with the tip of his knife, he said: "You drive the army to the city. Then I will go with Natway Let me open the city gate for you, once the city gate opens you rush in, well, the city is broken."

Haiwen and the smiling cat looked at each other and said, "How do you open the city gate?"

"Nateway is in charge of this," he said to the little girl.The girl named Netway stuck out her tongue at them and said, "I will turn into a red mist and fly in to open the gate of the castle!"

Haiwen asked with interest: "Can you perform now?"

So the girl turned into a cloud of mist, and she fluttered in the air, sometimes turning into flowers and plants, sometimes flying birds; sometimes turning into stars and moons, sometimes turning into sickles.Fog seems to be able to change shape at will.Haiwen looked in amazement and said, "How powerful are you?"

There was a burst of laughter like silver bells in the red mist, and then she held up Cammorn in the corner and swayed left and right in the sky.Hai Wen quickly said: "Okay, okay, let him down, I believe it!"