Iron Powder and Spellcasters

  Chapter 489 Rebuilding the Country (4)

  The shocking explosion happened at noon, but the negotiating envoys did not appear outside Maple Leaf Castle until dusk.

  Because before that, the Tiefeng Army was busy fishing people from the river.

  In order to ensure that the underground canal can be blown up once, Mason ordered that the watertight coffin be filled with a "guaranteed destruction" dose.

  But no one expected that the power of underwater blasting would be so terrifying. Blasting on the ground is just listening to a loud charge, but it can literally "overwhelm the river" underwater.

  As soon as the gunpowder in the coffin goes down, not to mention the culvert, even the large and small boats moored on the river are instantly overturned.

   Fortunately, before the official detonation, Mason, who has always been cautious, ordered the evacuation of the casual people at the scene.

  But when the explosion occurred, the sailors who remained on board and the engineers responsible for manipulating the winch were all thrown into the river.

  So all afternoon, the soldiers of Tiefeng County Army were doing their best to save people.

  Especially Messer Jack, who was alone in the "diving bell" and detonated the explosives underwater. Mason strictly ordered his subordinates to find him—seeing people alive and corpses dead.

   Hearing that something happened on the river, the light cavalry squadron stationed on the outskirts of the city also dispatched urgently to assist friendly forces in search and rescue.

  However, the soldiers of the Tiefeng Army searched every sandy beach and every clump of reeds on both sides of the Anya River, and found all the others, but there was no sign of the stonemason apprentice.

  It wasn't until it was getting dark that the farmers living in the lower reaches of the Anya River drove the horse-drawn cart and sent the semi-conscious mason apprentice back to the Tiefeng County Army.

  It turned out that when the underwater blasting occurred, not only the boats on the river surface were overturned by huge waves, but also a large number of river fish under the water surface were shaken to death and washed ashore downstream.

  Although it is customary for Plato people not to eat fish, such a spectacle has attracted many coastal residents to pick up the "gift of nature".

  So, on a river beach about five kilometers downstream, residents along the coast discovered the dying mason apprentice.

  Fortunately, there is still energy.

   After cleaning up the chaotic situation at the blasting site, it is time to clean up the remaining enemies in Maple Leaf Fort.

  …

  The new "rebel" negotiator is a tall and straight young man with a ruddy complexion.

Although his rank cannot be seen from his clothes—in the eyes of Major Felt, the rebels, regardless of whether they were officers or soldiers, all dressed like beggars and poor people—but the major instinctively felt that this was a A character far bigger than yesterday's emissary.

The new negotiator walked into the dark gate of Maple Leaf Castle fearlessly, ignored Major Felt's invitation for a private interview, stood in the small open space inside the gate of Maple Leaf Castle, and declared straightforwardly: "Don't waste any more time, Major! Surrender now, you, and you..."

  The negotiator glanced around at the faces flickering by the torches: "Every soldier in Maple Leaf Castle, no one will be executed arbitrarily. You will be treated fairly and mercifully."

  The last thing Major Felt wants to see is for the "rebel" negotiator to talk directly to the defenders.

   "This...sir." Major Felt gestured covertly, and said loudly, "Please follow me to the castle for a detailed discussion."

  The only two remaining official officers under the major—Second Lieutenant Nemeth and another second lieutenant—immediately strode forward, intending to control the "rebel" negotiators.

   "Go away!" The negotiator of the rebel army roared angrily, and even instantly calmed down the two second lieutenants, making them afraid to do it directly.

  He asked Felt: "Major! Maple Leaf Castle is everyone's Maple Leaf Castle, that's what you said! If that's the case, is there anything that can't be discussed in front of everyone?"

  Major Felt knew something was wrong, and hurriedly ordered his officers: "Don't let him talk anymore."

   "You!" The negotiator of the rebel army pointed at the surrounding soldiers before the two second lieutenants could do anything, and shouted, "Aren't you afraid that this federal guy will sell you out?!"

   As soon as the words fell, he was pushed to the ground by his hands cut behind his back, and his mouth was gagged.

  Major Felt tried to regain control of the situation, and signaled to the two second lieutenants to bring the "rebel" negotiator into the fort, then waved his hands and shouted to disband the soldiers gathered around.

  But no matter how many times the major repeated, none of the defenders in the small open space moved alone.

  Seeing that the soldiers would not leave, Felt planned to retreat into the fort by himself. After all, once the "focus" is lost, the crowd will naturally disintegrate slowly.

  But the dark figure blocked his way and instead surrounded him.

   "That's right!" Someone in the crowd yelled, "Why can't the negotiation be in front of us?"

  Major Felt knew that he couldn't explain it at this time, and the more he explained, the more complicated it became, so he could only stare and ask: "Who is talking, come to me!"

  No one came out, but the voices of questioning kept coming and going, and the tone became more and more angry.

   "Is there something to hide?"

   "Why don't you let us listen?"

   "Are you trying to betray us?"

  The soldiers began to move forward step by step, and the space around Major Felt became more and more cramped.

In desperation, Major Felt could only adopt the worst strategy—trying to explain to the angry crowd: "If you negotiate in public, the envoys of the rebels will definitely incite you to oppose me. At that time, Fort Maple Leaf will not be attacked Self-destruct!"

  However, the enraged soldiers did not listen to the major.

   "Lie!"

   "Go to hell!"

  Someone is even shouting: "Beat this nonsense federalist!"

Major Felt could not help lamenting from the bottom of his heart: the water source was cut off, after all, it would be the last straw that crushed the defenders; even though there is still a lot of water left, once hope is lost, the harm it will bring is far greater than that of cutting off the water hundred times.

   What's more, the major has been deliberately ignoring a fact in his propaganda to the soldiers—even if he is arrested and executed, it may not be a bad thing for the soldiers.

   In the final analysis, the interests of him and the defenders are different, and his reasoning is also untenable.

  Once the soldiers are mobilized, the already crumbling tower of trust between the two sides will quickly collapse.

"That's good!" Major Felt, who was driven into a desperate situation, made up his mind to break the boat. He looked around at the soldiers and shouted: "Let's talk here! Right here! In front of everyone! Listen to the rebels. what you want to say!"

  The rebel negotiator was brought out again. He rubbed his swollen wrist and looked at Major Felt without saying a word.

"Mr. Messenger, you are very courageous." Major Felt praised something else, and then changed the subject and spread his arms: "However, if you want to take Maple Leaf Fort, courage alone is not enough. You have courage, We also have…”

   "I know." The rebel negotiator sneered: "You have tens of thousands of kilograms of gunpowder."

   Major Felt was taken aback.

   "You have tens of thousands of catties of gunpowder." The negotiator of the rebel army repeated it, stomping his feet: "It's buried in the water storage tank below here-it makes my ears callus."

   "If the blood wolf doesn't satisfy us." Some of the soldiers around were threatening: "We will follow Maple Leaf Castle..."

   "To die together?" The negotiator of the rebel army turned around sharply, staring at the person who spoke: "Yes, you can go to light the fire now."

   Everyone couldn't believe their ears, and even Major Felt was caught off guard.

  The negotiator of the rebel army looked around contemptuously, and repeated word by word: "If you have the courage to die together, go and light the fire now."

  The soldiers were enraged.

  They pushed and shoved the negotiator of the rebel army, and took the latter to a cave for hiding soldiers under the west side of the fort wall.

  The cave for soldiers is a space dug directly inside the fortress wall, about the size of a bedroom, and was originally used to conceal personnel and store ammunition. There is a staircase in the cave, which leads to the underground where you can't see your fingers.

A soldier pointed to a coil of hemp rope at the top of the stairs, and told the negotiator of the rebel army in a threatening tone: "See! This is the fuse leading directly to the gunpowder magazine! As long as your people dare to come, we will... "

   "To die together?" The negotiator of the rebel army sneered and said dismissively: "Then I have already come, you can light the fire."

  The defenders were stunned.

  The negotiator of the rebel army opened his eyes angrily and shouted: "Light it up!"

  A defender soldier was so angry that he cursed loudly, gritted his teeth, and stretched out the torch to the fuse with red eyes.

  The soldiers in the Tibetan soldier cave couldn't help but exclaimed. Others wanted to step forward to stop them, but it was too late.

  However, when the tongue of flame and the hemp rope were only a foot away, the torch stopped. No matter what, the soldier holding the torch had no way to lower his hand an inch.

  Everyone almost jumped out of their throats, and then resumed beating.

Major Felt wiped the sweat off his forehead, and was about to say something when the negotiator of the "rebel army" stepped forward, grabbed the wrist of the soldier holding the torch, and pressed the blazing flame on the fuse superior.

  The burning sound of "hissing" immediately followed.

   Realizing what happened, the defenders screamed and fled to the outside of the cave.

   Only Major Felt, after a brief loss of consciousness, flew into the depths of the cave, picked up the bucket prepared in advance in the stairwell, and quickly extinguished the fuse with his eyes and hands.

  After a great chaos, only the negotiator of the rebel army remained standing still, motionless.

"If you can't do it, don't use it to scare people." The envoy no longer looked at the defenders with contempt mixed in. He stood proudly in the middle of the defenders and calmly stated a fact: "Better than being afraid." Death, you are no match for us."

   "I...you..." Major Felt was holding the bucket, his hands still trembling unconsciously.

  He organized the language for a long time, and finally lowered his head: "I would like to hand over Maple Leaf Castle completely to Captain Montagne, but can..."

"Impossible. Don't count on it!" The negotiator of the rebel army ruthlessly rejected the major in advance: "The more stubborn you are, the better you will be treated? We will never allow this kind of wrong information to be passed on. If it is not for your sympathy, you They should all be hanged in the square of Maplestone City, as an example to everyone else!"

   Everyone's expressions darkened in an instant, and they looked at Major Felt with a bit of resentment.

The negotiator turned around, looked at the defenders around him, and assured him: "But if you surrender now, I can guarantee that that fate will not befall you. Your treatment will not be worse than that of the previous captives." Generous, but no worse than them. Most of you will labor in a captive camp for a while before being released home. Remember, though, that blood wolves have a limit to their patience and mercy. Don't waste your last chance."

After all, the messenger opened the document bag at his waist, took out a large stack of folded letterheads, and showed it to all the defenders: "These are letters from your family members in Fengshi City. If you don't believe me, my words…"

  He threw the letter over the heads of the crowd heavily: "Then listen to what your family members have to say."

  The appearance of the letter from home completely broke down the psychological defense of the defenders. The soldiers frantically scrambled for the letter paper scattered in the open space, even if they could only grab half a piece of shredded paper, even if they could not read at all.

   "It's a good method." Major Felt walked to the negotiator of the rebel army and nodded silently: "Then next..."

   "We will send people into the fort tonight." The messenger replied bluntly: "There will be a surrender ceremony tomorrow."

   "Okay. Okay." Major Felt nodded nonchalantly: "Who will accept the surrender."

  The envoy smiled politely: "Your Excellency values ​​you very much, and he will personally accept your surrender... Please send some people to open the gate."

   "Okay." Major Felt replied.

  The negotiator of the rebel army put away his smile, put his heels together, solemnly raised his hand and saluted, then turned around and was about to leave.

   "That..." Major Felt recalled something, and asked loudly: "I don't know your name yet."

   "My name is Bart Shiling." The messenger replied proudly: "In the battle of Green Valley Town, I was the one who attacked the left wing of your army and defeated your army."

  …

  The next day, noon.

  Because of the opening of the "New Reclamation All Free People's Conference" is coming soon, many "free people" who are willing to participate have arrived in Fengshi City one after another.

  The "free people" who arrived earlier were invited to watch the ceremony this time.

  They were led to the siege camp opposite Maple Leaf Castle, watching the red rose flag slowly descending on Maple Leaf Castle.

   Then the gate of Maple Leaf Fort opened, and the defenders lined up, crossing the trenches across the land, under the watchful eyes of the coalition soldiers, discarded their weapons, and walked to the main gate of the attacking city camp with bare hands.

  The headed school officer came to the blood wolf and presented his sword respectfully.

  The blood wolf took the saber, and the salute was fired.

  The flag of the sea-blue flying-winged golden lion is slowly rising above Maple Leaf Fort.

  The war in the new land has completely subsided.

  …

  On the night of the surrender of Maple Leaf Fort, Winters, who returned home from the banquet celebrating the return of peace to the new land, was surprised to find that little Priskin was already waiting in the living room.

   "There's another 'emergency' so soon?" Winters asked jokingly.

  Little Priskin was weeping, as if there was something hard to say.

   "Let's talk." Winters sat on the soft couch and said with a smile, "I'm in a good mood today. Even if there's nothing important, I won't let Charles and Heinrich beat you up."

  Little Priskin lowered his head and asked aggrievedly: "Do you still remember... the old Mr. Mikesh Keremin who helped you find that apprentice mason?"

   "How could you forget it so quickly?" Winters was dumbfounded, and then laughed: "You just did me a favor, and you came to me so soon to pay back the favor?"

  Little Priskin nodded reluctantly.

  Winters leaned comfortably on the back of the soft couch: "Tell me, what does he want?"

Little Priskin shook his head hurriedly: "Your Excellency, Mikesh Kelemin doesn't want to ask for anything, he is...he wants to ask you to meet someone. According to him, the stonemason named Messer Jack The apprentice was not found by him, but by that person. So it was another person who really helped you, and he was just doing favors."

  Little Priskin scratched the back of his head: "But I think these are all lies, just an excuse to let you meet that person no matter what."

   "Your Excellency, see you?" Little Priskin asked tentatively, "Still missing?"

   "If I don't see you." Winters asked with a smile, "I'm afraid you won't be able to walk around in front of Mikesh Keremin anymore, right?"

  Little Priskin nodded embarrassingly.

   "Then you bring that person." Winters rubbed his chin: "I also want to know who it is that makes the 'big shots' in Maplestone City spend so much time to help."

  Little Priskin shrank his neck: "That man, he can't come...you have to see him in person."

  Winters raised his eyebrows.

  …

  [Maple Stone City]

  [Mikesh House]

   Accompanied by Father Carman, Winters stepped into the mansion of the leading wealthy businessman in Maplestone City for the first time.

   It is said that the old man Mikesh, who was seriously ill and unable to get out of bed, personally led his son and family members to greet him in the lobby.

  After a brief exchange of greetings, Michesh led Winters into the depths of the mansion.

  In the secret room on the basement of the mansion, a handsome man in his early thirties with medium build, curly hair and bright blue eyes had been waiting for a long time.

  The man's face was a little lacking in color, but he was spotlessly washed and dressed meticulously, obviously attaching great importance to this meeting.

  Seeing Winters and Kaman walking into the secret room, he immediately took the initiative to meet him and stretched out his right hand.

   "Your Excellency Montagne, I am Kay Moreland." The handsome man reported himself: "Member of the Grand Council of the Republic of Plato, representative of the province of New Reclamation in Fort Kings."

   Without waiting for Winters to answer, the handsome man bit his lower lip and earnestly begged:

   "Major Ronald asked me to come to you—I need your protection."

   [Kay Moreland is the end of Chapter 46 [Cumulonimbus] of this volume, Major Ronald desperately covering the rider who escaped from the Castle of Kings]

   [Sorry it's been so long Orz]

   [Thank you for your collection, reading, subscription, recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, rewards and comments, thank you all]

  (end of this chapter)