Tang Qi Tan

Chapter 325 The Lost

The good news is that more than ten miles ahead is Midogne, the second largest city after Atana, the county town of this county; For the first time, they repelled the troops of Lombard and Sardinia who came to attack.

The bad news is that according to the order issued by the National Constitutional Assembly in power in the capital, the overseas corps mobilized from the North African colonies, as the core, cooperated with the local militias and volunteers to form a new army to reinforce the southeast front. down destroyed.

The good news is that the remaining remnants and defeated generals are basically gathered in this medium-sized city with a population of only tens of thousands.The only surviving Kingdom Fourth Army/Corps lieutenant, General Caron, was in charge of managing and reorganizing the remnants; but after Jiang Tian arrived, he found that the results were mediocre.

The dilapidated walls covered with traces of battles have hardly been repaired or cleaned up; large black blood stains can still be seen among the rubble of the ruins.Even some of the Kingdom soldiers guarding the walls and gates looked lazy or bored.

Even the spears, spears, and swords around them were piled up at least a dozen steps away, and scattered in groups of three or five, or stretched their bodies and took a nap in the sun; or in broad daylight, their faces covered with soot Fiddled with the fire, I don't know where to get chickens and ducks and the like.

Jiang Tian couldn't help but feel cold when he saw it.Even so, after days of fleeing and fighting, there was finally a place where he could settle down and recuperate.This team, which has expanded to more than 150 people, can't help becoming excited and optimistic again.

It was only when Jiang Tian showed his identity as an overseas legion and classified these subordinates as the brigade directly under the fifth regiment, and after a lot of negotiation, he entered the city.However, after entering the city, he suddenly understood why the guards at the gate had strange expressions.

Because this seemingly intact city has already been filled with a large number of defeated and wounded soldiers, and has become a messy barracks full of tents and random buildings.Compared with those friendly troops who were low in morale and sighed endlessly, Jiang Tian led this team was actually a bit out of place.

The doors of every household on the street were closed, and there were only a few taverns and shops that were obviously forced to "open", and the insides had already become empty, with only a few figures curled up sleeping in broad daylight.There are almost no pedestrians on the street, but shacks built by foreign refugees can be seen everywhere.

In addition, there are women hiding in the corners of the streets and alleys, trying to show their shoulders and thighs; it is said that they can get a service for only a few centimes; People who are color-fading or sick and can't see people.

Despite this, the team led by Jiang Tian settled down for the time being on a designated fire ruin; Jiang Tian also went straight to the city hall in the city.

This is a multi-storey building complex of brick and wood structure surrounded by dense forest trees; therefore, some structural traces such as eaves corners, arch columns, and flower windows evolved from the Seris style can also be seen.Not surprisingly, this place has become the garrison and command post of General Caron;

Soldiers wearing the kingdom's standard piece of chain mail and blue and white burqa, with relatively neat standard sabers, straight swords and armed swords, are on duty inside and outside the city hall building; , the clerks and assistants in robes seemed particularly nervous and busy.

It's just that, like the old armored guards at the city gate, they are more or less sallow and emaciated; they just look more energetic and have higher morale; and in an indescribable atmosphere, they try their best to maintain Work as a command of decent.

Most of the clerks and assistants in robes had their hands empty, they just shouted and conveyed unknown passwords and call signs one after another; at the same time, they would wait in the hall for several officers with dirty uniforms and severely worn armor. , called into it from time to time.

Therefore, when Jiang Tian showed the silver lieutenant colonel's badge that he had obtained halfway, and the letter of commission that had been slightly altered by prying off the wax and sealant again; and took out a heavy pack of enema and bacon, these The statue-like guards also came to life in an instant.

In the end, a bearded second lieutenant came out from the corner and took the initiative to undertake the duty of notification.Immediately he brought over a young soldier with handsome facial features, freckles, no hair on his mouth, healthy light tanned skin, wearing a blue armed suit one size bigger, with a swift sword hanging on his waist, and said:

"This is little Polly, and he is also one of the general's most trusted assistants. If you have anything to do with the lieutenant colonel, just tell him." Then he kindly reminded him: "Now the city is short of food and medicine. Don’t expect too much if you’re here for this.”

"No, no, I just want to add some equipment, gunpowder and other supplies for my subordinates, and find some documents and craftsmen who can read and write." Jiang Tian asked someone to bring a large piece of bacon wrapped in paper, Pushing it firmly into his hand, he said, "Are there any difficulties in these aspects?"

"That's not true. In order to defend the city of Midonne, the army suffered a lot of casualties. Now there are more equipment than heads." Smelling the paper bag in his hand, the second lieutenant, who hadn't shaved his beard for a long time, couldn't help swallowing. Saliva grinned again and said, "As long as you are still generous..."

"As for the clerks and craftsmen, you have to figure out your own way; however, the vast majority of people in the city are starving now. If you have anything left, you can think of a way from this aspect. I believe that Boy Polly can help Yours. Since the mayor fled, he sorted out and classified the remaining documents in the city hall for the general."

"I don't know how much you spent for this position." However, the bearded second lieutenant continued, "But right now, it seems that you have no chance of earning back; therefore, I don't know if you still have If you're not interested, how about spending a little money to change places?"

That's right, middle and low-level military positions in this era can be bought, sold and transferred. Of course, they are only limited to the ranks of fief knights and above. Others who want to buy one do not have this qualification.It's just that the salary and personal annuity represented by the military rank still need to be granted by the royal seal of the kingdom.

Therefore, a small number of royal nobles with strong financial resources can even lead the army and at the same time recruit local militia groups, or even form privately-named regiments/large regiments to join the war.Of course, after leaving home, the corresponding military pay and discipline are also in a Schrödinger state.

When going abroad, it is also a very normal operation to rob and plunder the land and population of the enemy country.On the return journey, when passing through other nobles' territories, or the cities, towns, and villages of the kingdom, it is not uncommon to suddenly have a sudden whim to rob.

And Jiang Tian's previous qualifications in the overseas army can easily pass off as a lieutenant colonel.The position of the letter of appointment belongs to the category that can be traded and transferred, but it has a corresponding number of years.Therefore, as long as you don't go to the capital to verify the relevant military records, there is no problem.

In the end, Jiang Tian still declined his kindness, but gave him a bunch of smoked blood sausage.

So next, under the leadership of this young soldier named Poli Boy, he knocked on doors one by one in the city according to the map, and used food to requisition/collect them one after another. At the same time as more than a dozen related documents and craftsmen, Jiang Tian also I have seen the so-called truth that people should not be judged by their appearance;
Because with his thin and short appearance, he actually ate up the leftover food brought by Jiang Tian in one go.It was three loaves of black bread weighing two pounds, two large chunks of cheese, and a bottle of light beer; then he clutched his swollen stomach and groaned, as if he was about to die suddenly in the next moment.

But fortunately, before Jiang Tian wanted to find someone to induce vomiting for him, he finally recovered in time.Looking at the toilet bucket coming from a distance with horror on his face, he hurriedly rubbed his stomach and supported the wall to stand up, and said impatiently: "I'm fine, we can continue."

However, when night fell, the little assistant officer, Polly, also returned to the town hall; but in the silence of the darkness, he suddenly found someone peeping at him from behind the pillar; he turned around vigilantly, but saw that he was holding a A bearded lieutenant with an empty wine bottle:

"Polly...Polly...ah Polly..." He seemed drunk and woke up in the shadows, revealing half of his face, whispering: "I have kept your secret, and I have created opportunities for you; Next, I hope you will repay me well, and you must not ruin my business!"

Boy Polly froze involuntarily when he heard the words, and then walked into the dark floor without hesitation; then there was the obvious sound of many wine bottles being thrown to the ground after the door was pushed open.However, the soldiers on duty inside and outside the town hall all turned a blind eye to this.

At the same time, Jiang Tian, ​​who brought people back to the station, also received another unexpected news: "Aias ran out again? Or is he alone?".But he sighed in his heart, this old hunter with a complicated background is really a typical lone wolf with a boring gourd style!
"The instructor said that he found some clues left by some old friends and went to settle some personal matters, but he insisted that we not follow." A soldier in charge of following Ajax quickly explained: "However, he also left I put down a few marks, saying that it is convenient for us to find."

"Okay!" Jiang Tian couldn't help shaking his head slightly when he heard the words. This old man is already very old, so why is he also a proud and upright character? "Well, if he hasn't returned after midnight, I'll allow you to search and investigate."

(End of this chapter)