Iron Powder and Spellcasters Chapter 410

   Chapter 410 Monsoon (3)

When Colonel [Cornilis], the head of the Army Academy, and Colonel [Parr], the supreme commander of Daffodil Castle, had a showdown, the chief centurion [Flitz], the second "constant" National Legion of the Federal Republic, was leading his subordinates. Hurry towards the Palace of State.

   The distance from the suburban station to Martyrs Square is less than five kilometers. It is flat and spacious, and can accommodate four carriages.

  Captain Fritz has lost count of how many times he has walked this road, but never has it been as long as it is today.

   "Did they know they were participating in a rebellion?" thought Captain Fritz calmly.

   "they" refers to the heavily armed, murderous soldiers and colleagues who are closely following Fritz's horse at this moment.

   Maybe some people just follow blindly, maybe some people naively think they are saving the country, maybe some people prefer to believe that everything today is to practice justice...

   But Fritz does not belong to any of the above. Born into a poor yeoman family in Jos, the young captain knew very well that he was causing a disturbance, a mutiny, a storm that would upend the country.

   There is no doubt that this is treason - the captain does not intend to quibble.

   It is precisely because of this that Fritz's will is firm and he is determined.

  Fritz led the 1st Brigade of the Second National Army from the station at ten o'clock in the morning.

   For the consideration that some captains are not entitled to know, the time of the coup d'état was chosen during the day, rather than the late night, which is more suitable for launching a raid.

  The road that Fritz led his troops into the city was also the main road of Guitu City, and the noon was the busiest time.

   Pedestrians and coachmen on the road watched in amazement at the troops rushing towards the city center. Many citizens initially thought it was just a daily defense change.

Until they saw the gritted teeth of the soldiers and the blue veins on the foreheads, until they saw that the tip of the spear that had taken off the cloth cover was gleaming coldly, until they realized that this unit was in a rude manner and desperately opened to the State Palace. Enter.

  The residents of Guitucheng with a keen sense of smell gave way, fled into the alleys, and ran home.

   Mutiny - this nightmare that has tormented the citizens of Guitu City for more than ten years, this sharp blade hanging over the government of the United Provincial Republic for more than ten years, finally crossed the bottom line of political struggle, pierced the border, and became a reality.

   "Stop!" The shout from Luca in front had a trembling tail, and the city guard flattened the spear: "Show your defense warrant!"

Guitu City has no city walls for a long time. Because it disliked the city walls and hindered internal and external traffic, the Union Provincial Government disregarded the opposition of the Army and forcibly passed a bill, demolishing the city walls and filling in the city trenches. One of the hard evidence.

   However, by accident, the federal government's decree to demolish the city wall became an excellent help for the coup d'etat.

   The city of Guitu, without the protection of walls and moats, is like an egg with its shell peeled off. Although it has a star-shaped fortress designed by Antoine Laurent himself as a barrier, it is powerless to face raids from within.

   At this moment, the only thing preventing the coup d'etat from entering the city was a checkpoint responsible for collecting tolls and checking smuggling, as well as a few frightened and potbellied guards.

   There is no clear dividing line between "urban" and "suburban" in Guitucheng, but there is indeed an invisible line there.

   Once you cross that line, there is absolutely no turning back.

  The flames became silent, and the officers and soldiers from the First Brigade of the Second National Legion... all stopped and looked at the Chief Centurion involuntarily.

   And Captain Fritz, ignoring the guards' warnings and calls, didn't even touch the reins, and passed the checkpoint and the guards without looking at him.

  The guards looked at each other in dismay, the leading guard gritted his teeth and reached out to pull the bridle of the captain's crotch.

  However, without Captain Fritz's order, another non-commissioned officer accompanying him immediately strode forward, knocking down the leading guard with the **** of his gun.

  The **** of the gun was like the floodgates opened, and other soldiers rushed forward. The guard guarding the card was beaten up and bruised, and became a prisoner in confusion.

Fritz of Jos sternly dissects everything in front of him. He originally thought that the line was impenetrable, but when he really crossed the invisible line - like Caesar crossing the Rubicon, he suddenly Realizing that "crossing the line" is no big deal.

   "Target!" Fritz drew his saber and pointed at the end of the long street: "Palace of State!"

  The smoldering red charcoal turned into a raging fire again, the flames flew up the eaves, and rose into the sky with the roar of humans.

   All officers and soldiers of the 1st Battalion of the Second "Perseverance" National Legion shouted and spread out into battle formations, swooping towards the Palace of State, which reflected golden light in the sunlight.

   Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Army.

   The nominal supreme commander of the Interprovincial Army, Brigadier General William Barents, Minister of the Army, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, and was walking around the office sweating profusely.

  Barents was only promoted to brigadier general last year, and it was only last year that he was promoted to the army minister from the errand of the Minister of External Relations of the Army Ministry.

  There are rumors that it is precisely because William Barents served in the Ministry of the Army all the year round, and has always been incompatible with the monolithic military command system, that the Secretary of State Lionel made him the Minister of the Army.

   In the eyes of others, the Barents is a **** luck. And only Brigadier General Barents knew in his heart how difficult the position of the Minister of the Army was at this juncture where the mutiny was imminent—the chair with the title of Minister engraved on it was not a chair at all, but a red-hot iron plate.

  Since taking office, Barents has been doing his best to bridge the differences between the military and the government, ease the conflict between the parliament and the military, and pray every night that he can survive his term safely...at least not to have an accident in his office.

   But he was afraid of something, but the sharp sword above his head still fell, and the powder keg under his buttocks still exploded.

  Compared to the gaffed War Minister, the other two lieutenants in the office looked much more at ease.

   "General, don't waste your energy." A lieutenant couldn't bear to see how the dignified general was panicked, and persuaded tepidly, "Sit down and have a rest."

   Another lieutenant also said: "You are safe here."

   Although the two lieutenants spoke lightly, they held the wooden handle of the revolver tightly in their right hand, and their eyes were fixed on Barents, not letting go for a moment.

  William Barents stopped, looked at the two lieutenants, and asked tentatively, "You are..."

   "Issue 19, Fernando Albert."

   "Issue 20, Henry Voss."

   The two lieutenants raised their hands in salute.

"Second Lieutenant Albert, Lieutenant Voss." The Barents Brigadier General, who already had white hair on his temples, looked at the two young juniors with pity and sadness: "You have a promising future, why are you involved in... this kind of thing? You guys? You were supposed to defend the Republic, but now, look at yourselves, do you know what you're doing?"

   The two lieutenants exchanged glances, and Lieutenant Albert of the 19th issue narrowed his eyes: "What about you? Do you know what you are doing?"

  Barents didn't expect the other party to dare to refute, and subconsciously took out the majesty of a general: "Are you asking me?"

   "Yes." Albert stared at the Brigadier General and repeated word for word: "Do you know what you are doing?"

"What's the meaning?"

"Don't you know better than us what kind of corruption lies within the government of the Republic? Don't you know better than us whether the National Assembly can represent the people? How many beetles are sitting in the Palace of State who are full of fat and only care about their own selfish desires? Isn't it clearer than us?" Albert gritted his teeth and asked hatefully:

"But what about you? What have you done? You submissive to them! Flatter them! Just to continue sitting in this position, betray the interests of the Army! Betray the interests of the people! Betray the interests of the Republic! What right do you have to ask us for clarity? What are we doing? We know it! We're saving this country—before it's too late!"

  Barents was speechless when asked, not knowing where to answer for a while. He subconsciously folded his arms, avoided his gaze, and said coldly, "Young man, don't make judgments before you really take my place."

Albert also sneered: "That's good! Then let's say one by one, why did the corruption case in the city defense project seven years ago go unresolved? It was squeezed out from the budgets of the municipalities and the army and allocated for repairs. Whose pocket did the money from fortifications in various places end up in?”

Voss also asked in a low voice: "The parishes, villages, and towns draw lots every year to serve. If you give money, you won't be drawn. If you don't have money, you will be taken away to serve. The powerful and rich villains even take the drawing of the military service lottery as the annexation of self-cultivation land. and all of this happened under the nose of the Ministry of the Army.”

   "Lying! Fraudulent lottery is a felony to be hanged at the gallows." Barents widened his eyes and slapped the table: "Who told you all this?"

   "We don't need to be told." Voss replied humbly: "These are what we have seen with our own eyes."

  William Barents slumped back into his chair: "I don't know that."

"So we don't blame you, General," Albert said lightly. "We also know that Lionel has no good intentions in putting you in this position. Your problem is that you are a corrupt, dirty Part of a dirty, bloated system - the system we're going to overthrow."

   "You? Who are you?"

   "All the army officers who still have a conscience." Albert looked directly into the brigadier general's eyes: "All the army officers who still remember the teachings of the old marshal."

   "Conscience? Teaching? You are just rebelling." William Barents smiled bitterly: "You have shaken the sanctity of commanding power. Sooner or later, you will have to taste the bitter fruit."

   "Whatever you say!" Albert responded unwaveringly, he paused for a moment, and said bitterly: "Compared to corruption, what is more intolerable for you is incompetence! Incompetence!

   After the Battle of Taniria, how many reserves did the Republic mobilize? How much burden does these reserve forces put on the country? Is it not incompetence to assemble such a large army, yet not be able to achieve any strategic and tactical victory? What is it? Your incompetence is a bigger and deeper wound on the body of the Republic than your corruption! The Republic is moaning and wailing every moment, and we want to stop it! "

"Then what do you think? Do you really want to go to war with Veneta and Prato?" William Barents was furious, like a spring that was compressed to its limit, suddenly bursting out: "The weapon is the most powerful weapon. The useful time is when you are in the sheath! Don't you even understand this truth?!"

   "You are wrong, General." Lieutenant Voss raised his head, with a confident and mysterious color in his eyes: "It is the greatest incompetence and waste to build the sharpest weapon but not use it."

   "You...you..." Barents clenched his shirt tightly, his face pale with anger, he shouted: "Damn! You want! You want..."

   The door was kicked open with a bang, and a school officer led the guards into the office with strides. Albert and Voss hurriedly saluted.

The officer    guessed what was happening in the office as soon as he opened his eyes. He glared at the two lieutenants: "What nonsense are you talking to him? The order given to you is to watch him! Don't let him commit suicide!"

   After saying that, regardless of how ugly Barents' face was, the officer took out a piece of white paper with his name written on it, slapped it on the desk, and asked in a sarcastic tone, "Your Excellency General, please sign."

   "Sign? Sign what?"

  The officer took out his handkerchief and rubbed his nose, and said nonchalantly, "Arrest warrant."

   At the same time, in the Army Provincial Building, the Army Command Building, various Army offices, barracks and even government departments, there are heavily armed "gendarmerie" arresting people according to the order.

   These "law enforcement officers" who claim to be the gendarmerie of the headquarters are extremely brutal and violent, and they will resort to violence when they resist.

   And the list in their hands is exactly the same list that was replayed in front of the Barents Brigadier General.

  William Barents did not pick up the list, but glanced at it.

He could only recognize a small part of the names on the list, but most of the names he had an impression of belonged to the pro-government factions within the army, or the non-military command factions who served in the Army Province all the year round. He even recognized a few Belonging to the name of the National Assembly member.

  Barents snorted coldly, folded his arms, and said arrogantly, "I won't sign a list that I haven't written."

"Oh? Is that so?" The colonel put away his handkerchief, pulled out his pistol, lifted the lid of the gunpowder tank, pulled down the flint, and pressed the muzzle of the gun against the forehead of the Minister of War - his finger was on the trigger: "Sir, I assure you , your signature and your brain, the arrest warrant must have one of them."

   After a while, the school officer put away the arrest warrant, turned around contentedly and prepared to leave.

A cold voice came from behind, William Barents was uttering his final curse: "Do you really think you can succeed? You think you have seized the opportunity of Lionel's visit to Vine, but you How do you know this isn't the chance Lionel wanted to kill you all?

do not forget! Your power also comes from the commander-in-chief. When you destroy the sanctity of command, it is destined that this viper will eventually bite your own tail! Devour yourself! Remember what I said! remember! "

   Faced with the barking of the defeated dog, the schoolmaster was dismissive. He nodded at Voss and Albert, tidied up and left the room, closing the heavy oak door that belonged to the Secretary of War's office.

   At the same time, the parliamentary hall of the Palace of State.

The news of the    rebellion had reached the Palace of State through various channels, and there was chaos in the parliament hall.

   "Don't panic, gentlemen."

In the face of the left-behind members who were called to the meeting, Richard Milehouse, acting as Speaker and Secretary of State, appeared unhurried: "You are all citizens who have elected honorable representatives, and you should remain calm at this time. , decency and dignity.”

   "Meyerhouse! Stop talking nonsense!" Someone in the councillors shouted angrily: "The Mutiny of the National Legion! It's all your fault!"

   "Excuse me for not agreeing with you." Richard Milehouse said slowly: "Mr. Quickburn."

   "Save it! We'll be held accountable later!" Another member shouted anxiously: "We have to evacuate quickly! Parliament! Palace of State! Evacuate quickly!"

"Silence, gentlemen." Richard Milehouse slammed the podium with a gavel, and when the venue was quiet, he smiled calmly and capable: "Don't panic, Your Excellency Lionel is already prepared. ."

  [Martyrs' Square outside the Palace of State]

   After hearing the news of the coup d'etat, the Honor Guard, which was responsible for guarding the Square of the Martyrs, immediately deployed its defense. The soldiers of the Guard dragged in furniture and carriages, barely blocking the entrance to the Martyrs' Square.

The commander of the    Guard of Honor, Captain Narden, was in a state of dismay, because the Guard of Honor at the Palace of State was essentially an honor guard without any heavy weapons other than muskets.

   Even gunpowder and lead are scarce—the musketeers of the Honor Guard never dispensed gunpowder and lead in order to avoid the assassination of MPs.

The only thing Captain   Nardon could count on was two salutes brought from outside the main entrance of the Palace of State. The two six-pound bronze cannons, which had been dismantled from the battleship, were filled with all the nails, stones, and gunpowder that Captain Narden could find.

  If reinforcements from the garrison do not arrive soon, then Captain Narden can only hope that the rebels will be crushed by two rounds of cannonballs.

   Finally, at the end of the street, dense spear poles and overlapping figures began to appear. The rebels got closer and the faces became clearer. An officer rode at the front of the line, followed by the musketeers, then the spearmen.

   And the reinforcements are still missing.

   "Back off!" Captain Narden shouted: "You are invading the most sacred land of the Republic! One thousand seven hundred and fourteen martyrs are buried here! Put down your weapons and surrender immediately!"

The rebel officers led by    continued to move forward until they could hear each other's words.

   "You won't have any reinforcements." Fritz took off his helmet: "Don't die for them, senior."

Lieutenant   Nardon looked back at the Martyrs' Square and the empty streets. After struggling for a long time, he finally made up his mind: "My duty is to guard the Martyrs' Square! Stand back!"

  Flitz snapped back his helmet and drove his horse away: "Musketeers! Prepare!"

The    barricade is like a mirror, reflecting two identical armies, both of whom have received the same training, adopted the same organization, followed the same norms, and inherited the same spirit.

   And now, their swords face each other.

  Nardon looked desperately at the enemy in front of him, he knew that they would not be overwhelmed by artillery fire.

   "Fire!" he yelled.

   There were two loud noises, one after the other, and two rounds of shotguns swept across the street like raindrops.

  The gunpowder smoke blocked the view of the guards. Suddenly, a round of uniform gunfire was heard, followed by a shrill cry. Legionnaires armed with spears and swords jumped over the barricades, and brutal hand-to-hand combat began.

  [Barricade after the fierce battle]

   The hand-to-hand combat was short and intense, and the winner was quickly decided.

Lieutenant   Nardon lay in a pool of blood, two buckshot pierced through his plate armor and embedded in his chest, causing every breath he took with a burning pain.

   "You...why...don't understand..." Narden coughed out light red blood blisters, and said with his dying breath: "...they...just...use you as...a tool...just..."

   "I know." Fritz held the senior's hand: "I know."

"…why…"

   "As long as there is a change." Fritz paused: "I am willing to be a tool."

   "So...that's it..." Narden seemed to be nodding, and then his eyes lost their luster.

   Later that day, the infantry brigade led by Fritz occupied the Palace of State, the Army Headquarters, and all the key institutions in the city of Guitu.

Left-behind MPs held a special vote under the auspices of Acting Speaker Richard Milehouse and unanimously passed provisional resolutions: dissolve Parliament, remove John Lionel from all positions, and establish an interim Supreme Council as a transitional agency to act on his behalf State politics, re-run parliamentary elections at the right time.

   The expected reinforcements never came.

   The traitor Captain Fritz became the hero Captain Fritz.

   The brief exchange of fire in the Martyrs' Square was the only organized resistance throughout the coup.

  Haarlem Narden was the only officer killed in the coup d'état, and his rank and status were removed afterwards.

On the night of the    coup, the newly appointed Supreme Council Speaker Richard Milehouse rushed to Vine, and he wanted to completely deal with the former Secretary of State Lionel before the news reached the city of Plains.

   Coup d'état on April 1st in the United Provinces - This boulder fell into the water in a turbulent way, but the undercurrent it set off will stir every corner of the Senas Alliance and the entire continent.

   At the same time, the migration team led by Winters Montagne passed through Jiangbei Province and boarded the ferry back to Iron Peak County.

[return! Have! one! chapter! Book! roll! Knot! bundle! ]

   [And, according to my rough stats, successful coups in history all look a bit... funny. The more recent the age and the more abundant historical data, the more comical…]

   [But what I'm trying to say is that while many coups seem ridiculous, the process is child's play.

   But as a violent means second only to war, there are often deeper reasons for a coup to succeed. In other words, the coup did not succeed because the process was funny, but it looked funny because the coup had already happened.]

   [Thank you for your collection, reading, subscription, recommendation ticket, monthly ticket, reward and comment, thank you all]

   [PS: This time the easter egg is "Winters bust"]

   [PS2: Because the full body portrait has been revised too many times, the author of this bust has not given any suggestions for revision to the artist, so there is a bit of milk in it (covering my face). And, in fact, the author only mentioned revisions to the painting "Full Body Portrait of Winters", because other painters can compromise, but Winters... After thinking about it, he couldn't compromise, so he took the risk of negotiating . 】

   (end of this chapter)

Chapter end