Iron Powder and Spellcasters Chapter 141

  Chapter 141 Revodan

The morning of the third day after the    levy was sent to Wolf Town.

   It was just hazy and bright, and a group of four-wheeled farm carts drove out of the various manors in Wolf Town, gathered in the center of the town, and headed for the city of Gervodin.

   Hundreds of carts are pulled into a long line on the road, the front and rear can be separated by a kilometer, and the creaking of the axles can be heard from far away.

   From time to time, well-armed and savvy riders swept past the slow carts and patrolled the convoy back and forth.

  According to the ups and downs of the terrain, the road twists and turns to extend into the distance, and most of the places along the way are deserted.

  The wilderness and meadows are the main scenery on the road. Occasionally, when the motorcade passes through the forest, everyone's nerves are instantly tense.

   The most slack driver will also be very energetic at this moment, take out his short knife and crossbow and put it in his hand, alertly watching the dark woods on both sides of the road.

  It was not until the convoy left the forest that the drivers dared to breathe a sigh of relief, kicked their weapons back under the seats, and returned to their usual listless appearance.

  It was Winters and Girard who rode at the front of the convoy, and the patrolling rider was Dussack hired by the manor.

  Although Wolf Town has received an order to recruit militiamen, life has to go on.

  The crops on the farmer's fields are to be cut, the crops to be sown in autumn are to be planted, and the tobacco, cotton and sugar beets harvested by each manor are to be sold.

  Most of the manor's output has already been deposited in advance by various firms.

   But for the merchants, the risk and cost of transportation are too high, and the manor owners need to transport the goods to the city of Gervodin for delivery.

   Therefore, at this time every year, the owners of the manor in Wolf Town will make an appointment to transport the goods to the city of Gervoudin together, so there is a huge fleet in front of them.

   Holding a group for warmth is really a helpless move.

  The tyranny, the tyranny is as fierce as a tiger, and the tyranny of the high-level Palatu in the new reclaimed land inevitably leads to the rampage of bandits.

  Theft, poaching, tax evasion, private land cultivation... Every crime can force the peasants who were originally law-abiding and serving the public to take risks, exchange food and clothing with violence, and become robbers and bandits.

   In bad conditions—low temperatures throughout the year, wet and shady summers, long, icy winters—crops fail and famine ensues.

  Then it's not just new land, Palatu or the Senus Alliance... There will be a lot of farmers going bankrupt, starving, and robbers across the continent.

  [Note: The people of this era did not know that they were going through what later generations called the "Little Ice Age." ]

   Most of the newly reclaimed land in the Republic of Palato is covered with virgin forests and meadows, dotted with sporadic villages and towns and several small towns with a population of one or two thousand.

  The only larger city is Maplestone City, the capital of the new reclaimed province and the legion's station.

   In such sparsely populated frontier regions, if there is no protection of the city walls or the guard of the neighbors, any lonely farmhouse can only be slaughtered by a few strong men with simple weapons.

   Therefore, most of the peasants in the newly cultivated land live in groups, and there are few isolated farmhouses far from the village.

   The dirt roads in the countryside, the junctions between towns, the forests near the cities, all these places are far beyond the reach of help and dangerous places where bandits thrive.

  Wolf Town has a good life because Gillard Mitchell is in charge.

  Gillard's governance is lenient, and he has the full support of Dussac, so there is no breeding ground for bandits in Wolf Town itself.

  The foreign thugs, without the help of the locals, are like fish that have landed on the shore. Those with bright minds will run away immediately, and those who are not smart are easily strangled by Gillard with Dussack.

  After getting rid of a small well-known gangster, few gangsters from the wicked party came to the realm of Wolf Town to find them uncomfortable.

   But there are a total of 124 administrative districts at the same level in New Reclaimed Land and Wolf Town. No matter how good the law and order in Wolf Town is, it will have little impact on the environment.

  The fleet of farm carts that carry a lot of cargo, move slowly and lack the ability to protect themselves is simply an irresistible meal for the gangsters.

   Every year at this time of year, small groups of bandits even spontaneously gather into large gangs to commit crimes, robbing convoys from all over the city to transport goods into the city.

   After paying the price of blood several times, the manor owners of Wolf Town gathered together to keep warm, and hired riders from Dusa Village to protect the team.

"A few years ago, there was a particularly famous thief, nicknamed 'Blood Hand Shut'." Girard and Winters rode side by side, vividly telling the legend of the robbers in the new land: "That guy not only robs, kills , extortion, and even chop off people's hands and put them in salt buckets to pickle. It is said that when the gendarmerie caught him, they found hundreds of severed hands, and they couldn't tell which pair belonged to which person.”

  Winters was indignant: "I was arrested after killing dozens of people. What do the military police in the new land do? I have also been a military police officer. If my old officer, Lieutenant Colonel Field, comes..."

  The language affects the mind, suddenly thinking of Lieutenant Colonel Field who was killed in action, and the agreement to drink in Golden Harbor. Winters' voice became smaller and smaller, and finally he was speechless.

   "Capturing the robbers is the responsibility of the locality, and the garrisoned army doesn't care." Girard sighed and said, "The army gendarmerie will be dispatched to arrest the **** hands. It is because he went too far and robbed the army's supply convoy."

Sergey, who was next to him, came to the spirit and interjected with great interest: "There is another joke. It is said that a travel merchant entered the city and met a robber on the way. At this time, a group of military police passed by, and the travel merchant shouted for help, but the military police ignored it. In desperation, the dealer yelled, 'I didn't pay the tax', and the military police rushed over to chase away the robbers, caught the dealer and sent them all the way to the city."

   After saying that, Sergey laughed.

   Two riders running back far ahead are Pierre and Vashka. Girard was very cautious and sent several riders to explore the road ahead early in the morning.

   "Father!" Pierre was impatient, and shouted from a distance: "The river loop is rising!"

  Washika also looked panicked: "The water can't reach the horse's back now, what should I do?"

   The driver in front heard the two shouts, and hurriedly pulled Yusuo to stop the cart. The driver behind also stopped in a hurry, and the carts stopped one by one.

   Sergei saw his son's flustered appearance, and scolded dissatisfiedly: "Fuck you! Are you still Dussac? What is it that frightens you like this?"

"These two children came out with the team for the first time, and they have little knowledge." Gillard explained to Winters: "This is the downstream, it rains in the upstream, and the water rises in the downstream. It is a common thing to walk in the field. ."

   "What then?"

  Gillard pointed to the north: "Take a detour and go to Little Rock Town. There is a bridge in Little Rock Town to cross the Pantuo River. It just takes more time and tolls."

  Gillard and the old man looked at each other and nodded at Sergey.

   Sergey turned his mount, galloped towards the rear of the convoy, and shouted the order: "Detour! Detour! Go to Little Rock! Keep up with the car in front! Keep up with the car in front!"

"The intersection to Xiaoshi Town is at the back, and it has already passed. But it is not easy to turn around on the road. Go ahead and find a good place to turn around!" Gillard went to the driver of the leading truck and instructed: "Follow me. ."

  The coachman beat the animals hard, and with the screeching sound of friction, the pulling horses neighed and dragged the carriage, and the convoy continued to move forward.

  Gillard said apologetically to Winters: "I guess there will be an extra day's delay on the road."

   "It doesn't matter, it's not bad for a day or two anyway." Winters replied with a smile.

   The reason why Winters was also in the team was to provide protection—this huge team had no shortage of people who could use swords.

The main purpose of Lieutenant   Montagne was to visit the garrison in the city of Gervodin. Because the conscription order is too broad, there are some key issues that need to be clarified.

  Although the order has been delivered for a few days, there has not been any progress in the drafting work in Wolf Town. No draws, no training, nothing.

   It wasn't that Winters deliberately delayed, but because it was the busy farming season right now, and drawing dice at this time was equivalent to ruining a year of hard work for the farmers.

  The Palatu Plateau has a low latitude and high altitude, and the north-south airflow is blocked by towering mountains. The precipitation mainly comes from the monsoon blowing from the Senas Bay to the plateau.

  Because of this, the crops in Palatu are mostly planted in regular rotation with two crops a year or three crops in two years.

   At this time, in the arable land of each village in Lang Town, the spring-sown crops need to be harvested and dried. And fall crops such as winter wheat are waiting to be planted.

  Ordinary farmers are busy with harvesting, drying, and sowing, and the Dusa people have one more activity—cutting grass. After the pastures are allocated by households, men, women and children of all ages will go into battle to mow and dry the grass to feed the animals in winter.

  Farmers with little arable land finish their work in their fields, and then go to work odd jobs for farmers who lack manpower, and can exchange some food to subsidize their families.

   At this time, Winters could not bear to recruit farmers. Fortunately, there is still some time before the deadline, so don't worry too much.

   So Lieutenant Winters Montagne just had time to go to Gervodin to clarify the vague content of the order, and the lieutenant had many questions to ask his immediate superior.

   One of the most critical issues, and it sounds quite nonsense, is whether the drafted militias are considered "soldiers" or "people's husbands" in the legal sense.

   For the villagers in Wolf Town, this question is really funny.

   Is it the husband of the people? Is it a soldier?

what is the relationship? Don't they all go to work?

   If you ask the peasants in Wolf Town about this question, they will definitely answer invariably: "Which one can make me less serve is the one."

   But Brother Reid had a very creative idea. A **** can be a major blow to any family, but the old friar's thoughts might turn bad things into good things.

   Just like what he said on his lips: "[Selika language] where misfortune and fortune depend, and where fortune and misfortune lie."

   But the premise of everything is to find out "whether the militia is the people or the soldiers."

  If you travel 60 kilometers a day from Wolf Town to Gervodin on horseback, it will take about two days for one way.

   But the 20 kilometers a day is the limit for the slow farm cart, plus the detour to Xiaoshi Town, it took seven days to reach the city of Gervodin.

  Gillard and Winters used the discipline of the march to discipline the convoy, with scouts in the front, containment teams in the rear, reciprocating patrols during the day, and shifts at night.

   After several days of marching, everyone was very tired both mentally and physically. However, it was not the first time that most of the drivers and Dussac had come out with the team, and they were still able to grit their teeth silently.

  It was the first time that Pierre, Vashica and the others joined the team's little Dussacs with fresh energy, and they immediately complained and complained.

   There have also been large and small accidents such as broken shafts and overturns on the road. Fortunately, Winters and Gillard handled them well and no casualties were caused. Gillard deliberately brought out a few empty cars just to prepare for such accidents.

   Apart from these small twists and turns, the journey was smooth and smooth, and there were no gangsters who did not have long eyes to ask for trouble, which was fortunate.

   After all, a big cart might be the prey, and the opponent with a hundred carts has to consider whether it will break its teeth.

  The weather was beautiful, and the rain that Girard was most worried about did not happen, and the convoy arrived in Gervodin without any danger.

  When the bell tower of the church in Gervoudin came into view, Winters set off for the garrison first, and Girard enthusiastically offered to accompany him.

   "Doesn't matter? Don't you need to follow the team?" Winters was embarrassed to continue to trouble old Dussack.

"It doesn't matter, just pull the tobacco to the warehouse, you don't need me." Girard said cheerfully: "Besides, you don't know how to get to the station, I'll show you there. I know Major Ronald and can introduce you. "

  Girard's enthusiasm gave Winters no reason to refuse. The two took control of their horses and left the team and ran towards the center of Gervodin.

   As the capital of the newly reclaimed province and Tiefeng County, Gervoudan can only be called a "city", not a "city". Because she only has an urban area and no city walls.

  Like all natural settlements, the city is uniquely positioned by today's eyes.

  The urban area is located in the middle of the river valley, and the land underfoot is firm and flat. The Saint-Georges River flows around the city, supplying the citizens of Gervodin with fresh water and carrying away filth.

   The most conspicuous building in the whole city is the Gervoudan Cathedral standing in the center of the city. Travelers a few kilometers away can also see the bell tower of the cathedral's sword tip.

"The Cathedral of Gervoudin is incredible. Big! Tall!" Old Dussac, who was not good at words, blushed, and after a while he came up with an adjective: "Gorgeous! By the way, there is a saint in the cathedral. The tomb of Dawes! It is said that no matter how sick you are, you can restore your health just by touching it. But I haven't tried it. First, I'm not sick, and secondly, the priest won't let you touch it..."

  Girard introduced the city of Geroudin all the way, and Winters listened carefully.

   One spoke, the other listened, and the two soon reached the banks of the St. George River.

   "I heard that this place is called Lover's Forest." Girard pointed to a sparse forest on the opposite bank of the city and on the west side of the road and said, "It's where men and women come anyway."

   Hearing this, Winters couldn't help but take a few more glances at the grove.

   But it was still daytime, and there wasn't a single figure in the forest, and it didn't look like anything special.

  There is only one wooden bridge over the St. George River, and an old man in a coarse monastic robe is dozing off in a pavilion at the head of the bridge.

   Seeing the two of them riding over, the old man limped to the wood that served as the crossbar and gave a salute: "Good day, may God bless you."

   "Good day, Father." Girard also gave a salute: "How about the bridge toll today?"

   "A small coin for a horse, and a quarter for each person."

Winters frowned and asked, "Are you a priest?"

"certainly."

   "Clergy of the church?"

   "Of course." The old man asked inexplicably, "What's the matter?"

   "Then why are you collecting money here?"

The old man gave another salute and explained ramble: "This bridge belongs to the Cathedral of Gervoudin, so you have to pay for crossing the bridge. However, the residents of the city will not accept it, the clergy will not accept it, and the church servants will not accept it... "

  Gillard counted out three small silver coins and handed them to the old man: "Father, please use the remaining money to buy some firewood to warm your body."

  The old man gave thanks and removed the wood that served as the bar.

  After the two riders crossed the bridge, the old man laboriously moved the wood back again.

  Winters turned back when he saw this, dismounted and lifted the wood: "Go back and sit."

  The old man thanked him repeatedly and limped back to the pavilion.

   Winters shook his head secretly. In fact, what he asked just now was: "How can such an old man be allowed to do such work?"

   Crossing the bridge is the urban area of ​​Gervodin. On the way to the station, Winters passed the cathedral.

   Only a fleeting glimpse, but the towering stone building is truly majestic...and resplendent.

  Zhutunsuo is a small two-story stone building with white walls and red tiles, surrounded by a large courtyard with wooden fences. At the other end of the compound is a row of barracks, with a flat playground between the barracks and the small building.

  The guard at the gate of the courtyard knew Girard and waved the two of them in. Without going upstairs directly, Girard first led Winters to the stables in the backyard to store the horses.

When Winters handed the reins to the groom, Gerald Mitchell blushed and said embarrassedly, "Second lieutenant, there is something I've been thinking about for a long time, and I want to ask you for help, please. "

   The sudden request caught Winters off guard. He had a bad premonition in his heart, but he still replied: "What do you mean?"

   "I hope you don't feel abrupt." Gillard became more sincere.

   "You said." Winters was sweating more and more.

   "I'm really embarrassed and presumptuous."

"You say."

   "I also thought about it for a long time before I gave up this old face."

"You say."

   "You..." Girard gritted his teeth and said embarrassedly: "...Can the sons and horses sent from your family match my mare?"

   Winters almost had a brain hemorrhage: "That's it?"

   "Of course it's paid breeding, I know the rules." Old Dussack added quickly.

When   Girard said the son of a horse, he naturally did not mean red mane, but strong luck.

   Before Winters fought in Taniria, Qiang Luck stayed at Hai Lan's home. When Kesha sent Ciel to look for Winters, she asked Ciel to bring Fortune along with him.

   Winters speculates that there may also be a meaning of "ride this horse home".

  Gillard couldn't take his eyes off of Qiangyun since he saw Qiangyun, and he went around Qiangyun when he had nothing to spare, which made Winters think he wanted to buy Qiangyun.

   "Mr. Mitchell." Winters held Gillard's hand sincerely: "Take it and match it, whatever you want."

   Old Dussack smiled, rubbing his hands, not knowing what to say.

   "But I hear the mare seems to be more important," Winters asked.

   "The quality of the mare is of course important, but the baby horse is just as important." Girard suddenly said sadly: "After Hehanwu was killed by the bear, there is no decent baby horse in my family... Forget it, let's not talk about that."

  Gillard waved his hand and led Winters into the second-story building.

  To Winters' surprise, every officer or soldier in the garrison seemed to know Girard and greeted old Dussack one after another.

  In this way, the two easily met the commander of Gervodin's garrison station and Winters' immediate boss, Major Ronald.

  I don't know if it was because of Gillard's introduction or because of the relationship with the alumni, Major Ronald was very friendly to Winters.

   He carefully inquired about Winters' difficulties and what kind of help he needed, and also introduced Winters to other officers in the garrison.

"I'm actually a few years older than you." The major's tone was quite sympathetic, and he patted Winters on the shoulder: "I've probably heard something about you, so please bear with me. Now is the time to hire people. At the moment, it is impossible to let people go. When the battle is won, everything will be easy to say."

   The Paratus Army made Winters feel the great contrast, and every Paratus officer he encountered was nice and friendly.

   But it was the collective representing all the Palatine officers who detained him here so that he could not return home.

   Winters naturally did not forget the purpose of the trip. He had some important questions to clarify.

Are    militias "people" or "soldiers" in Plato's law?

   "It's a soldier." Major Ronald gave a positive answer, and he also found documents to prove it.

   Then Winters' second question:

   Dussack was conscripted into a militia... Is it considered service?

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   Thank you Shuyou Wu is Xiao Gao's monthly pass, thank you;

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   (end of this chapter)

Chapter end