Blood tax

The Tirne River Avenue stretches from the inland to the sea. Not far from the left bank are undulating hills and mountains with lush vegetation. Roland walked for a while on the not too steep hillside and climbed over the ridge. His Guards generals, staff officers, and Confederate representatives quickly followed.

They saw a fortress rising from the ground in a clearing between the river and the hills.

The land that had once been lush and lush was now bare, and Confederate troops worked to clear the perimeter. Gray columns and phalanxes lay across the fortress, blocking the northbound road and blocking the south of the fortress under construction.

Although it is said to be a fortress, it actually does not have the three-story giant walls of cities such as Beyeland, Old Town, and Odessa, nor the tall and heavy ramparts and round fortresses of Turanburg and Teutoburg, nor the towers of small nobles. different.

This is the "Roland Star Castle" that is about to be completed, the southernmost point of the Northern Battle, and the guillotine that cuts off the Beyeran Odessa cluster and the Sevasto cluster. The astonishingly thick city walls protrude outward with sharp arrowheads, presenting a radial twelve-pointed star layout. Outside the city wall, a crown-shaped obtuse-angle fort was arranged on the south side according to the focus of defense and the terrain, and a triangular fort was built on the north.

All command personnel were provided with engineering instructions. The prominent acute-angle forts, triangular forts, and crown/obtuse-angled forts replaced the old-fashioned high walls, horse faces, and turrets. They used continuous side fire to avoid blind spots, and could also use artillery to sweep away the siege troops approaching the trenches. A breastwork half as high as a man was set up on the top of the city wall. Under the city wall is a deep trench, and in front and behind the trench are many temporary deer villages built up for collection.

Roland Star Castle will use its firepower to the greatest extent.

No one has ever seen such a large-scale new fortress, never built it, and has no experience in using it. From a distance, this is a low-structured building complex with an astonishing thickness, but it is so low that when you look at it from a distance, you feel like you can climb over it with just a sprint.

"Are you sure you can stop Beyelan's army?"

The representative of the Confederacy asked Roland cautiously. This fortress was related to the battle in which they had lost their fortune. Although it was low, it was not cheap at all.

"Praise the steam!" Roland's face was filled with sincere happiness, and he said loudly to the wind blowing over the ridge.

"The steam you are talking about is steam!" a guy shouted inexplicably. Most people were confused after hearing this, but there were still a few who tried not to laugh.

"The steam excavators and explosives from the Curly Baboon Research Association have made our project progress far beyond expectations! The General Staff Headquarters once predicted that the army would have to resist Beyeran's army reinforced with psychic powers and cannons on the temporary earth embankment bastion. ," Roland praised loudly, "But the excavators and explosives allowed us to catch up! Praise the civilization of the industrial age!

"Forts, artillery gags, and the brave Confederate troops will have a complete fort!"

Harandil stood with a group of people from the Curly Baboon Research Association, and political commissar Werner and General Xia Boyang were also nearby. They suppressed their excitement and whispered:

"Isn't this just primitive urbanization vs. primitive templars!?"

"Yes, yes, let the Senate see the dark side of the Confederacy! The probability of victory is 1000%!"

"I haven't beaten you yet, where do you get your confidence from... Also, that's enough for you, this is not a book club meeting."

People in the Curly Baboon Research Association come from different places, different industries, and have all identities. They are industrialists who have invented many strange gadgets, super strong men, rich men, gang leaders in the lower town of Beyeland and Canaanite rebel leaders, and even best-selling beauty authors, lovers of powerful people and bankrupt securities companies. speculators.

Someone asked a representative of the Confederacy: "I wonder what the situation is like in the south. What changes will happen if the three or four Hands of God who are fighting there join the battlefield?"

Hiss, the north and south lines... Roland's heartbeat accelerated.

I'm here to fight Beyelan's regular army, and Griffith is going to collect the fragments of the artifact, and then return here to trigger the collapse of the Arcane Council and the Senate in a full-scale civil war... This is the established strategy at the beginning of the year... Roland holds Clenching his fists, he announced to everyone:

"The time has come for the new era and the old era to show off!"

As the sun set, everyone's whispers gradually became less frequent.

The sun shone on a rolling army coming from the south. The continuous armor and spears shimmered like undulating waves covering the sky and the sun. The sound of military drums and horns accompanied the vast twilight, and the unspeakable pressure turned into a waking giant beast, which pressed heavily on my heart.

Standing on the ridge, you can see the Beyelan army coming continuously.

According to reliable information from Confederate intelligence agents, these were the six regular regiments of Bayerland, the 3rd, 4th, 9th, 14th, 16th, and 22nd, and their auxiliary corps, with 150 cannons and a large group of more than troops. In order to break the Confederate garrison and siege of the Sebasto region and open up the communication line between Bijeran and the Canaanite elves, the Senate's troops from all over the world gathered in Kherson and began to march north.

The strength of the Senate's mobilization was so amazing and came so quickly. Like mercury leaking from the ground, it filled the left bank (east bank) of the Tirney River that flows to the south. The clang of the adjusted heavy infantry armor, countless flags hunting in the wind, and the thunderous rolling of firm steps were like a surging tide.

The closer the army came, the paler the faces of the people on the ridge became.

Before returning to the headquarters, Xia Boyang came to Roland: "If we can wait until the first five-year plan after integration is completed and the coal-iron complex is formed, large-scale violent troops can mobilize an army of 200,000 or 300,000 people. , however, those wills that rule the world will not wait for this day to come."

Roland rubbed his hands and asked, "Comrade Xia Boyang, do you want to be a hero?"

"Everyone here is a hero." Xia Boyang replied.

"Do you believe we will win in the end?"

"Believe it or not."

"That's alright, there's nothing to worry about," Roland nodded, "I don't believe in any heroic view of history. If I fail, the end will come, and the world will not survive without me as a brave man;

"There is no certain thing in our battle with Griffith. It's best to win, but it doesn't matter if we can't win. Even if we fail, the wheels of history will keep rolling forward.

"We can't be heroes, some people can be."

……

After Roland besieged Jinge, Bayeran's tens of thousands of troops in Sebasto had been divided and surrounded by the Confederacy in Turan Fort, Yamiyan and other places. The legions in these areas can neither assist each other nor receive supplies, and the situation is precarious.

为了解救这些军队，处于极大财政压力下的元老院用尽全力动员了第3、4、9、14、16、22六个正规军团和他们的辅助军，不惜严重削弱其它地区的防御。

Regular legions have the latest artillery and heavy infantry equipped with psychic shields. Heavy infantry have combat experience with cold weapons and strong bodies, and fight with the support of artillery. If tens of thousands of mortal warriors want to activate psychic defense and enhancement, they need special potions and psychic crystals to charge, and they can only last for a period of time after charging, and the consumption is even more terrifying.

Some elders suggested that we simply gradually dismantle the old army and build a new army with lower cost and more flexibility.

This opinion met with overwhelming opposition. The generals and officers of the old legion, as well as the nobles closely related to them, disapproved. The Arcane Council and wizards who provided psychic powers reacted extremely violently.

Even with some shortcomings, the regular army is still much stronger than the new army. What's more, each regular legion is assisted by an auxiliary legion composed entirely of new troops. Both the organization and combat effectiveness are amazing.

The strength of such a large army exceeds 80,000. The vacuum left by their departure would be filled by ongoing conscription to raise new armies, armed entirely with muskets and artillery.

It is very hard work to command such a large legion to assemble in Kherson and then rush to rescue Jin Ge quickly. Consul Xia Long is the only candidate. Even considering his close contacts with Roland and many core figures in the Confederacy, Xia Long is still the best candidate. A group of military veterans or senior generals served as commanders of each legion to assist him.

Another consul, Tiberion, will sit in Homonworth to coordinate the sacrifice of the Chosen One. According to the Arcane Council, Aaron's power is growing every day, and it won't be long before he is strong enough to open the Wish Maker. The military offensive and the mysterious side are two lines of equal importance.

Although the situation is very urgent and the work to open the road to Jinge is also very hasty, Count Chalon still has to spend a large part of his energy on the affairs of the consul.

An elder brought Beyeland's latest bill: "The bill is to be voted on, and the old army will be organized into a 'grand army' in terms of command, logistics and training;

"Correspondingly, the military system composed of the New Army was merged into another department - the 'Grand Army of the Republic'."

Coordination and balance are the first priorities... Count Chalon understood it the first time. He smiled bitterly:

"My lords, the Confederate army has almost eaten up all our troops in Sebasto. At this time, do we still need to argue over red tape?

"It is true that the formation of a new army, which is what you call the Grand Republican Army, requires the funding of many patriots. However, have you ever thought about whether a military system independent of the Legion will one day become another Confederacy?" (End of chapter)