Iron Power And Sorcerer

Iron Power And Sorcerer Chapter 42

2021-01-23

Chapter 42 Taneria and Aphrodite
Winters suddenly sighed and asked softly: "Is there going to be a war?"

"There must be an enemy for a war, right?"

"Tanilians, the Republic wants the Islands." Winters answered calmly: "I do It's too slow to figure it out now."

Antonio neither denied nor affirmed, but just asked: "Then why do you want to talk about Veneta's important source of raw materials and trade with him? Objects go to war?"

"I don't know why, but I learned a thing from history that people can have 10,000 reasons to start a war and 10,000 reasons to stop a war. War is not a duel between two people, All interested parties in the war have reasons for conflict with each other. As for the root cause of the war, it can only be known from the history books after the war is over. I am just guessing the direction of the wheel through the rut marks.”

"What rut?" Antonio seemed intrigued.

"Some pieces of information, rumors in the military academy, the contradiction between the archipelago and the sea blue, the tense atmosphere in the army headquarters, you casually mentioned that you need to recruit the reserve...and the most important point, plant the case What's the point of giving it to pirates? Can the Army still manage to get pirates? It's just trying to direct fire to the Islands."

"Interesting."

Winters asked hard, "Must war? This is really not a question a soldier should ask.

"Not necessarily, war is just a means, not an end. Preparing for war with great fanfare is sometimes just to gain more bargaining chips. Veneta is not On the front of the mountain, the final measure will be decided by the ruling committee." Antonio's voice was transparent and calm,
He said at a moderate pace: "But military deterrence comes not only from the use of martial power, but also from the use of martial power. The determination to power. If the wrong information is sent and the Federation of Islands thinks that Hailan dares not use force, it will only be a war. Have you seen the Great General and the Little General fight with the wild cats from the yard?"

"I've seen it, the general is smaller but more fierce." Every night in the spring and autumn, there are cat fights around the Winters house, wail like ghosts and howl like wolves.

"Wrong, it's not that the little general is more fierce, but the wild cats feel that the little general can be bullied and dare to challenge the little general. Do you look at the Great General again? As long as you see a wild cat entering your own territory, you will have to rush to it. Fighting between life and death. The nearby wild cats are afraid of it, and they hide away when they see it. In the end, the little general who doesn't like to cause trouble and the wild cat fight more."

"The Republic does a good job Are you ready for war?" Winters digested the words, feeling that he knew too little.

"Yes, and no. The plan has been made a few years ago, but the government does not make up its mind, and the plan is a piece of waste paper." Antonio coldly snorted , seems very dissatisfied: "It was not until the consul gave that vehement speech at the Elder's Council a month ago that the Council of Thirteen agreed to make material preparations for the war."

[The Thirteen The committee, namely the Military Committee of the Republic of Veneta, is composed of senior officers of the army and navy]
"I think the United Provinces will not watch us control the archipelago." If Hai Lan wins the archipelago, it will inevitably break the delicate balance within the alliance. .

"The Emerald Green is now on the top of the Boundary River and the Torrent River in the north, otherwise why not let you go by land this year, but let you return to Veneta by sea?"

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[The 4th 'Emerald' Legion, Marine Blue Republic Army]
[The 2nd 'River River' Legion, Federal Republic Army]
The hairs on the back of Winters stand upright, and the two alliances are standing Legion Already confronted at the border, it is no wonder that this year it was changed to a boat. But he felt incredibly absurd: "is it possible that we have to fight the Union province first?"

"How is that possible? Start a civil war." Antonio laughed to appease his nephew: "Their mind is nothing more than to restrain us, so that we can't use all our strength to buy time for them to control the archipelago."

"The province also wants to Do you want to control the archipelago?"

Antonio asked back: "The sea blue and the piedmont each occupy half of the bay. Whoever can get the archipelago can control the inland trade. Let me ask you, if you are a province Secretary of State, do you want to control Taniria?"

In the past, Taniria Islands is also a direct territory of the Imperial Family. But in contrast to Hailan becoming the emperor because of his wealth, Taneria had to become the emperor because he was so poor that no one wanted it. Before the introduction of commercial crops such as sugar cane, there was a Barbarian Desolate Land, except for the islanders who survived on their own, there were only exiled prisoners.

More than 30 years ago, the Alliance Navy (pirates) with only a few galleys set off from Taniria and frantically plundered the imperial sea transport ships, forcing the emperor to cross the shaded mountain range Supplies for the Duke of Arleans. And the archipelago, as a looted land and a supply point for the Allied navy, attracted the most greedy sailors, mercenaries and speculators in the whole continent, and the archipelago became prosperous.

It was also during this period that sugarcane was introduced to the land. In the interior of the islands, large and small, plantations began to appear.

After the lunatic Richard retired, the Captain and Planters Association also took this opportunity to declare that it had left the Empire and became a permanent "neutral free port", which has survived as a loose association for more than 20 years. In the cracks of all influence.

Antonio said without doubt: "To be fair, do you think the conflict between the United Provinces and the archipelago is a big one, or is it between us and the archipelago? What price can we offer the islands?
The Federation of Islands is a loose political entity, negotiating with the Federation is like shouting with a hundred ducks at the same time. If we fight for each island, Taniria will change sooner or later The eighth province of the Republic of the United Provinces. It's not that Hailan wants the islands, but Hailan doesn't want the islands to be obtained by the United Provinces, so the means have to be more intense."

After listening to Antonio's words, it was obviously midsummer, Winters, however, felt a chill from the inside out: "Tell me the truth, won't the Throne send someone to burn down the Victory Arsenal?"

"What are you thinking?" Antonio In a tone of reproach, he said to Winters: "The competition between Union Province and Hailan for Taniria is just an internal competition within the alliance. Although the Union Province people do not deal with us, we are also a brother ally, not an enemy. The Victory Arsenal is an important part of the Hailan Army. How can we burn the Victory Arsenal in the equipment procurement area?"

"That's good, that's good." Winters put out a long breath, and for a moment he was really worried that the republics had already passed away. He was so nervous that he was about to fight in the next second.

Antonio told Winters earnestly, "I'm telling you these things so that you can get out of the confines of the chess piece and see what a chessboard looks like. Take this assassination from customs. Come here, it's nothing more than people from the main war faction who want to take advantage of the theme, put pressure on the ruling committee, coerce public opinion, and advocate war. This kind of trick is meaningless, you don't want to learn it. Because no matter whether the assassin is a Veneta or a pirate, it will not affect the ruling. The decision of the committee."

"So are you the main war faction or the main peace faction?"

"I am neither the main war faction nor the main peace faction, I have only one principle, that It is to put the interests of Veneta first. You must also remember this, you are a Veneta soldier, and your duty is to protect the interests of Veneta, not to fight against differences." Antonio's tone was very solemn.

Winters nodded heavily: "But I still don't understand, why is this case going to the gendarmerie?"

"No matter who investigates this case, there are only two ways to go Either check this unsolved case as the water recedes, the rocks appear; or follow the meaning of the main battle factions and detain the black pot to the pirates. The latter way is easy to close the case, but if it can't be made into an iron case , if the case is overturned in the future, the consequences will be very serious." Antonio laughed heartily: "This kid Field is too crazy, he doesn't have a door on his mouth, he has offended someone for some reason recently, and everyone has a lot of opinions on him, this The case was sent to Field purely to disgust him."

Antonio added: "But don't worry, you are only a trainee at the gendarmerie, even if the case is overturned, you will not be implicated in the future, but This kid Field has to go to the War History Department."

Winters remembered the "heroic appearance" of Lieutenant Colonel Field at the introduction of the volunteer apprenticeship, and it is estimated that he offended all the high-level officers present at that time. .

As soon as the case was mentioned, Winters suddenly thought of the carriage driver. He hurriedly said to his uncle, "I think it's better to replace the driver at home."

"Why? ”

Winters explained in detail how he discovered that the family's carrier husband appeared to be involved in a secret society.

Antonio was quite disapproving: "Isn't it a secret society? This thing Ocean Blue City has, not to mention the carrier, the porters carrying the goods on the dock have secret societies, and there are several more. One."

However, Winters still insisted on changing the driver. After all, it is not two men who usually ride the bus the most, but two women in the family. He felt that the driver must be a reliable person.

Antonio finally agreed with his nephew. In the end, the two agreed that Antonio would send a chat with the coachman to confirm that there was no problem with the coachman, and then give a severance pay to dismiss the coachman. Finally, hire two honest auxiliary soldiers from the third Legion to serve as coachmen and horses.

————Cut————

One hundred beeswax candles lit up the side hall of Navarre House, and the faint aroma of burning beeswax diffused in the room, Make this elegant living room a little more private.

This is a small reception with not many people. The main hall is too large, which will make guests feel deserted. Madame Navarre certainly wouldn't make such a low-level blunder.

There is no dance floor in the side hall, but at this moment, Madame Navarre is the most elegant dancer.

She flitted between each small group of guests, and wherever there was a quarrel, Mrs. Navarre would use a witty pun to eliminate the conflict. When she finds a certain guest uneasy, Madame Navarre will deftly guide the guest to a conversation circle that is more suitable for him.

It's all men who talk in the living room, eloquent and eloquent. Men crave an audience and crave attention, while Madame Navarre does not seek to make everyone listen.

Through a look, a smile, a glass of wine, and a witty remark, she made every guest feel like a spring breeze, and had more than enough space to protect the happy atmosphere of the party.

While the men take the stage, here it is the empathetic hostess who really dominates the order.

However, even Mrs. Navarre, who can lift the heavy as if it were light to mobilize the atmosphere of the party, can make her helpless. While she was tending around, part of her focus had been on her daughter, for fear that something might go wrong.

Her eldest daughter is now standing in front of a tempera painting of Aphrodite, surrounded by men. People in this small circle are listening to a handsome man with a beautiful beard talking about the painting.

For this critic, this young girl is probably the most competent listener in the world. She was seventeen, and she had gotten rid of the immaturity of a child, but not the maturity of a married lady. At the most youthful and energetic stage of life, with a frown and a smile, looking forward to brilliance.

As a listener, it was even more commendable: there was no impatient look on her face. Navarre's daughter was appreciating the painting seriously, listening with a smile, and from time to time Mrs. gently nodded, um, um, yes.

Critics think she's gained an admirer, but Madame Navarre realizes from the subtle changes in the girl's eyebrows and the habitual hand movements that her daughter is now out of anger edge.

"...The biggest problem is that the painter has a biased perception of beauty." With the beautiful woman on the side, the critic was encouraged, and criticized the painting in front of him more and more vigorously: "Aphrodite Tetra is obviously the god of love and beauty, but the Goddess in this painting lacks beauty, let alone reminds me of love..."

"Anna, come here." Madame Navarre said lightly Calling for her daughter who was standing a little further away.

Ana Navarre smiled and nodded slightly to the men, as if apologizing for having to leave, and walked straight to her mother, one of the men who gave way. pass through.

From an objective point of view, Anna's appearance is not a beauty in the traditional sense. She failed to inherit her mother's soft and gentle face, but instead inherited her father's tough facial features. But even if there was nothing coquettish about her, the opposite sex would involuntarily cast their eyes on her white shoulders and shiny hair.

Mrs. Navarre took her daughter's hand and squeezed it gently, reminding her to be polite. Ana understood what mother was conveying, and snorted unsatisfactorily, but still followed mother to another place in the living room.

Mrs. Navarre placed her daughter in a small circle of youngsters, and continued to perform her duties as a hostess, taking care of the guests.

At the same time, Antonio and his nephew had just arrived at the Navarre mansion.

Winters didn't even have the time to ride, and reluctantly handed the reins to the lively-dressed footman. Under the guidance of Steward, I followed Antonio into the side hall of this splendorous and majestic.

"General Serbia, how are you?" Madame Navarre greeted Antonio enthusiastically and complained in a sullen tone: "Why are you here so late? I thought you wouldn't. It's a good face."

"How could it be? I am your most loyal servant." Antonio bowed his head politely and gently kissed Madame Navarre's hand.

Mrs. Navarre covered her lips with a folding fan and said with a smile: "You are not faithful at all. Let me introduce this handsome young man to me."

"Don't you recognize who he is? My nephew, Winters Montagne, just returned from the Army Academy this year."

"Elizabeth's son?" Madame Navarre creds out in surprise lightly. She measured the position of Winters' waist with her hand, and said with emotion: "God, I'm an adult in the blink of an eye. But in my impression, there are only such tall little children."

Listen In this sense, Mrs. Navarre seems to have seen Winters, but Winters has no impression. It's hard to remember things from childhood, so Winters just smiled politely and didn't speak.

"Ai, the military school taught him to be an elm head, you have to take good care of him."

"You have to prevent your precious nephew from being deceived by which lady Let's go." Madame Navarre stepped up graciously and took Winters' arm affectionately.

Winters felt the lady's soft body and warmth in his left arm. Apart from his family, he had never had such close contact with a woman, and the sudden attack made him stiff and flushed all of a sudden.

"Your friends will be waiting for you for a while." Madame Navarre said to Antonio: "Leave this young man to me."

Ann Tonio nodded with a smile on his face, and Winters, who was at a loss, stayed by Mrs. Navarre's side, and left the party himself.

"Elisabeth and Kesha are my friends, you are here just like you are at home." Madame Navarre thought the little fellow's reaction was very interesting, and she took it from the waiter's tray A glass of wine for Winters: "Isn't it very restrained to be with the elders? Let me introduce you to some of your peers. Have a drink, don't be so nervous."

"Thank you, ma'am, but I don't Can drink." Winters said earnestly, "Er...do you have anything to eat here?"

Mrs. Navarre couldn't help laughing at what Winters said, the first time she had ever met someone at this kind of reception Find something to eat. A party of this size is not a banquet, nor is it a cold dinner party, there is no food, only drinks.

But Winters is now really stomach rumbling with hunger, dizzy and eyes blurred. He went with Lieutenant Colonel Field to the Customs Prison in the afternoon, only to spit out all the food he had eaten at noon. When I got home, Kesha took me to the tailor's shop. It was almost dark before I came back, and then I went to Navarre Mansion with Antonio. He was already hungry, but for some reason now his stomach was churning again.

Winters has a calm expression and a sincere tone. Madame Navarre understood that he was not pretending, but was really hungry. She felt more and more that this little fellow had no social experience and was simply cute and stupid, so she explained to Winters: "There is no food here, but there will be in the kitchen, and I will have someone take you there."

Nava Mrs. Lei called her daughter softly and introduced to Anna: "This is Mr. Montagne, you lead Mr. Montagne to the kitchen and let the chef cook something Mr. Montagne likes."

She turned to face again. Introduced by Winters: "This is my daughter, Anna, let her lead you to the kitchen."

Mrs. Navarre's daughter smiled and curtseyed with her skirt and said softly, "Montagne Please come with me, sir."

Winters flushed even more at Anna's smooth forehead and graceful neck. But as a sorcerer, his keen perception made him see that the Nava Young Lady Lei was actually unhappy.

She was smiling, but there was no smile at the corners of her mouth or eyes, making Winters feel like a puppet.

"Just call me Winters." Winters also bent down and bowed in return, he didn't like to cause trouble to others, and said to Madame Navarre, "Don't bother this lady, ask a waiter to take me Just go."

"You are a distinguished guest, how can you have a servant accompany you?"

Mrs. Navarre's attitude was firm, and Winters had to accept her kindness.

Led by Anna, Winters passed the guests in groups of three or four and left the side hall through another door.

Before leaving here, Winters' eyes were involuntarily drawn to that tempera painting of Aphrodite -- how could it not be? The Goddess in the painting is almost naked, boldly showing the lovable body, only covering a little.

Poor Warrant Officer Montagne, the most paintings that Warrant Officer Montagne has seen in his life are military maps. Apart from this is the murals in the church. . He had never seen such an unabashed display of the beauty of the female body.

Anna stopped when she saw Winters staring at her. Winters, embarrassed, followed quickly.

The two of them pushed the door and left the side hall, walking through the corridor one after the other until they reached the kitchen door.

Before pushing open the wooden door of the kitchen, Anna suddenly turned her head to stare at Winters and asked him seriously, "What do you think of that picture of Aphrodite?"

" What? Is that the god of beauty?"

————I am the dividing line of precision stepping on the thunder————

Because basically no readers tell me what they think... However, I also feel that these chapters are a bit too procrastinated, so I will push the main story as soon as possible after Anna Navarre appears...

(The following is the chronological order) Thanks to the book friend 2018010005850390 for the recommendation ticket , Thanks to the book friend 20170726153222839 for the recommendation ticket, thanks to the book friend 20181013204343295 for the recommendation ticket, thanks to the book friend 20200303132821369 for the recommendation ticket, and thanks to the book friend Qinggui w for the recommendation ticket.

Thanks to book friend Qinggui w for the reward.

This time let my Hanhan business bow to everyone. （憨憨是猫）