The Last Frontier of Fire and Sword

　　 "Dear mother, see the letter like a meeting."

　　 Alvar Chechen sat in the warm room and wrote the first line on the yellowed letter paper with a quill in his hand.

　　 At this time, it was the end of the 16th and 54th year of the Western calendar. This continent called Eastern Europe was as cold as ever. The severe winter wrapped the village called Zamoshye in an elbow-thick sheepskin jacket. The trees in the forest outside the village were bent by the thick and heavy snow. From time to time, branches broke apart because they couldn't bear the pressure, causing a shower of snow and rain on the ground in winter.

　　 In the daytime, the snow is dazzling and dazzling by the sunlight; at night, the land under the luminous light seems to have countless sparks flashing on the frozen snow surface.

　　 This kind of scenery is undoubtedly beautiful and surprising for Cheerchen, who was first seen from Spain. Because in Cheerchen's hometown, the seasons are like spring all year round.

　　Although he came from a knight family and is the eldest son of the family, Alvar Chechen did not inherit the family's coat of arms and inheritance, but came to Eastern Europe by boat with his uncle, a veteran who also did not inherit the family's inheritance.

　　In that era, Spanish knights, like Swiss halberds, were mercenaries that were extremely popular and loved by all countries. In the war-torn European continent, there is no shortage of mercenaries who have a great skill to make military exploits, and they are appreciated by the lord. And the most famous of them is Wallenstein, who is known as the "Mercenary King".

　　 After they landed in Riga, Sweden, they stayed in Riga for several months together with more than two dozen fellow villagers who came from the same boat. But no one hired them during this period.

　　This time, Sweden at that time was in a rare peace period after thirty years of war. At that time, King Karl of Sweden and King of Poland Jan Kazimierz were cousins, and they were both from the Karl family. Based on this relationship, the two countries signed a peace agreement. Even when the Polish nobles were upset by the Cossack uprising in Ukraine, this agreement was strictly followed.

　　 In the second place, Sweden, as a Protestant country, naturally has a sense of distrust of mercenaries from Catholic countries, and they are more willing to hire mercenaries from the German states who are also Protestant.

　　 Seeing that the entanglement brought out from Spain was about to be spent, Alvar Chechen’s uncle made a decision—to go to Poland and find a job there.

Coincidentally, a caravan starting from Riga to Smolensk was looking for a guard. Chechen’s uncle Pidro took Chechen and eleven fellow villagers who were willing to travel to Smolensk together and set foot on it. Journey.

　　 The journey was very peaceful, and there was no robber. This made the caravan and the mercenaries very happy. For those who run, there is nothing more happy than a safe journey; for mercenaries, although everyone has a life of blood, they can get the money smoothly. No one wants to trade his life for it.

　　 There is only one person, but he is very depressed. This is Xiao Chechen. Spain is a country of knights and a country rich in knight novels. Cheerchen has liked reading knight novels since he was a child. Although he is not like Don Quixote in Cervantes's novels, he often imagines that he is the hero in the novels-a hero who fights righteously and bravely fights evil dragons.

Starting from Riga, Xiao Chechen followed Pidro closely, holding the hilt of the sword hung around his waist with his right hand, and walking at the forefront of the team, with a pair of beautiful brown eyes staring at the surroundings for a moment. The movement, hoping to jump out of which grove or valley a short-eyed robber.

　　 His uncle Pidro kept watching Cheerchen's careful thoughts. Although in the eyes of Piedro, who is over 40, Cheerchen's little movements are naive and ridiculous, but whose boy didn't come here like this? Pidro didn't break through, but he guarded Cheorchen behind his back more cautiously.

　　 After more than 20 days of travel, the caravan stopped in Zamosye. Smolensk is less than a day away.

　　 Originally, everyone only planned to stay here for one night and then set off, but the sudden heavy snow disrupted the plan. Overnight, the road was completely gone, and only white was left in the vast expanse. Under the arrangement of the village chief Mikhail, four or five houses were spared for the caravan to live in. Cheechen lives in a wooden house with his uncle Pidro and three mercenaries.

　　 Due to the snow and cold weather, Tetsuchen can only do activities indoors. In the midst of boredom, Xiao Chechen thought of writing to his mother in Spain. In addition to telling his safety, he also wanted to express such a beautiful snow scene in words so that his mother could empathize. After all, in Spain, the people will never see such a big snow in their entire lives.

　　 After writing the first sentence, Cheorchen started to quit. Snow-white teeth bit the end of the quill pen, but couldn't write a word. This can't be blamed on Cheerchen's lack of education and not studying well. In fact, when he was in his hometown, Cheerchen entered a church-run school at the age of 8. During the six years there, he not only learned Latin, but also mathematics, medicine, geography, and astronomy. Even the priests of the mission school praised him. I can’t write it, I can only blame the snow for being so beautiful, and the vocabulary for describing snow scenes in Spanish is really poor.

　　 After biting the end of the quill pen for countless times, Tetsuchen finally made up his mind, and he dipped the nib and prepared to write.

　　 But at this time, the door of the wooden house was pushed open. The wind and snow that had been raging outside the house rushed in. Some of the "heroic and tenacious" even attacked the desk, wet the letter paper and Cheekjin's cheeks.

　　 "Uncle Pidro, close the door." Cheerchen touched the scum on his face, UU read www.uukanshu. com complained to the door.

　　The one who walked in was Chelchen's uncle, Piedro, the temporary leader of this mercenary.

　　Pidro is very short and stout. He has a chubby face and a big hooked nose. Because of the roof, there is only a little hair left on the edge of his head. This makes him look extremely funny. But once people look away from his face and turn to his waist, most people can't laugh.

　　Because there is a sword hanging from it. This kind of sword was extremely popular hundreds of years ago, but even among knights, it is rare to use it skillfully, let alone in the era when firearms are prevalent. In the eyes of knowledgeable people, those who dare to travel with this kind of sword decided to be a master of kendo.

　　 Hearing Cheechen's complaint, Pidro chuckled, showing a mouthful of yellow teeth. He slammed the door shut and bolted it. Then he took off his leather gloves and threw them heavily on the bed. Almost hit a companion.

　　 "Hey, everyone. This time you are going to Smolensk with the wise and brave Pidro knight of Alvar, but you are lucky." This is the opening remark after Pidro enters the door.

　　The mercenaries lying on the bed seemed to be used to Pidro's "big talk", they just looked up at Pidro and lay back. Only Cheerchen's face was excited.

　　 "Why? Why? Uncle Pedro."

　　 "Because," Pidro just wanted to speak, and it was seen that Cheor Chen was the only listener, and he took back what he had said. He walked to the big bed paved with white birch wood, picked up his gloves and smoked the lying mercenaries one by one, until they sat up and were not satisfied.

　　 "War is coming soon." Pidro opened his head and told everyone the news he had heard from the mayor of Mikhail.