Iron Powder and Spellcasters

  Chapter 504 Rebuilding the Country (19)

  [Maple Stone City]

  [Opening day of the General Assembly of Freemen]

  Large pale yellow clouds drift quietly in the sky.

  Gently wind blows the clouds, dragging a long trail behind.

  The wake stretched down like undulating waves, reflecting the water surface of the Anya River into a light red jade disc.

  In the early morning, Fengshi City was shrouded in a veil-like silence.

  Until the sun rises, it shines on the roof of the cathedral, lighting up the golden morning light.

  Suddenly, the church bell rang, spreading invisible ripples to the streets and alleys in all directions.

   "It's time." Girard, who had been waiting in the foyer for a long time, supported his knees and stood up with difficulty: "Let's go."

  Pierre wanted to help his father, but the latter strongly refused. Then Pierre stooped to help his father take up the old hat.

   "Okay." Pierre smiled and said, "Let's go."

   Pushing open the door, the azure dawn spills in from the outside. It could be vaguely seen that there were also figures leaving the officer's residence on the opposite side of the road in front of the door.

   Ellen took her daughters to the door.

   "There is no need to prepare food and drink for us." Girard acted like the head of the family and kissed his wife and daughter goodbye: "I don't know when I will be back today."

   After finishing speaking, he took his son and son-in-law and walked out of the house.

  When his right hand was against the gate of the front yard, Girard remembered something, turned his head and asked his son, "Did you find the person who told you to look for it?"

  Pierre showed embarrassment: "Charles hasn't given me any news yet."

  Old Mr. Mitchell stood still for a moment, sighed, pushed open the courtyard door, and disappeared into the sight of his wife and daughter together with his son and son-in-law.

  On the streets of the officer community, there is a clear distinction between professional officers, commissioned officers, and unofficial officers in Iron Peak County.

  Coban officers are all dressed in neat military uniforms, with shiny leather boots, and they walk with swagger, which makes people dare not look directly at them.

   Commissioned officers are also well-dressed and bejeweled, but their steps are not confident enough and their expressions are uncomfortable. Even if they order exactly the same dresses as official officers, they can still be easily distinguished.

  The unofficial officers of Tiefeng County do not need to be identified.

  Because the officers in Tiefeng County didn't have uniforms at all, and they couldn't even find two pieces of clothes with the same color and shape.

  The Tiefeng County Army has no distinction between officers and soldiers. They are still wearing civilian uniforms when they enlisted in the army, but they are dyed the same color, and they are entitled to be military uniforms.

  Because no qualified dyes could be found, the "military uniforms" of the Tiefeng Army would fade after just one or two washes.

  So at a glance, it is a variety of blue.

   However, the officers of the Tiefeng Army had the most luxurious sabers, and the sound of their heels hitting the ground was the loudest.

  Because whether it is a professional officer or a commissioned officer, their clothing has to be paid for by themselves.

  The leather boots on the feet of the Tiefeng County officer and the saber on his waist were captured from the enemy.

   And seized is undoubtedly the most face-saving way to buy.

  So the officers of Tiefeng County also raised their chins the highest.

  Although they were walking among the "peacocks" wearing coarse old clothes, they didn't show any envy or shyness on their faces, and their aura overwhelmed the former two.

  Because the meeting place of the Freemen's Congress is very close to the officer's residence area, there is no need to ride a horse at all.

  So the officers who left the apartments all went straight to the gate, and no one turned to the stables.

  The officers walked forward with serious expressions, as if everyone knew the destination and what they were going to do.

  Indistinctly, the sound of footsteps merged into one, turning into a neat drumbeat.

   Seeing this scene, Girard's son-in-law was a little nervous, but Girard signaled him that it's okay.

  Old Dusac led his son and son-in-law, blended into the crowd naturally, followed the large team to leave the officer's quarters, walked upstream along the Anya River for a while, and then crossed the bridge.

   Along the way, every street corner and every alleyway is guarded by military police, and there are also heavily armed cavalry patrolling on all roads. The security is so strict that people unconsciously hold their breath and walk lightly.

  After crossing the bridge, the large meeting hall of Maple City Town Hall—the venue of the General Assembly of Freemen is just around the corner.

  Come to the square in front of the Great Conference Hall, the sacred and solemn atmosphere reaches its peak.

  The entire square has been completely surrounded by the majestic guard of honor.

  Gorgeous brocades decorate the exterior walls of the buildings around the square, while keeping out any malicious peeps.

  The non-military free people who were provided with accommodation by the preparatory council walked into the municipal square from other entrances, and were then introduced to the venue according to the region.

  Gillard's son-in-law Alex said goodbye to his father-in-law and brother-in-law rather reluctantly—he must go to join the free men in Leiqun County.

   Then, Girard also waved his hand, rejecting his son's offer to send him somewhere.

   After checking his identity, the old Dusac followed the guidance and stepped into the dark conference hall alone.

  Although he was going up, down, and turning, there was always only one path under his feet, so the old Dusak arrived at the main venue very smoothly.

  As soon as he stepped under the dome, he understood the mystery of the venue layout:

  In the large conference hall, the circular seats that were originally distributed in steps have been divided into eight sectors of equal size by the fence;

  The front end of each sector is connected to the most central "stage", and there is only one channel at the rear;

  From what Gilad just saw, each passage is only connected to one entrance;

  In this way, the "free people" of each county will be introduced into different sectors to sit, even if they want to sit mixed, there is no chance.

   Sure enough, in front of his sector, Girard found an old friend—Richard from Blackwater Town.

  Richard was smoking his pipe with his head down, chatting with another middle-aged man with a short stature beside him.

  As soon as he saw Gerald Mitchell, the two mustaches on Richard's upper lip, which were originally drooping, immediately turned up.

   "Hello!" Richard from Blackwater Town greeted with a smile: "Girard Fleininovich!"

   "Okay." Girard took off his hat, shook Richard's soft palm with his big callused hand, and joked: "But it's not much better than my old horse."

   "How is your family?"

   "Bless the Lord, everything is fine. Ellen is still thinking about you, so let me say hello to you. How about you, where is your family?"

"It's all good. Well, living in Gervaudan, they are happier than in Blackwater Town." Richard's tone was a bit unpleasant, but he quickly regained his energy, took Girard's hand, and gave a hand to his side The chunky middle-aged man introduced: "This is Mitchell Girard, the mayor of Wolf Town and the owner of Mitchell Manor."

  Richard paused, smiled, and said solemnly: "It's also Adjutant Mitchell's father—do you know who Adjutant Mitchell is?"

   "Wolf cavalry?" The chunky middle-aged man asked cautiously.

   "Yes." Richard nodded.

"Oh! Mr. Mitchell, I have been waiting for you for a long time." The short and fat middle-aged man enthusiastically took the other hand of old Dusac: "Your son has really made a name for himself under the command of Your Excellency Montagne. The future is boundless, the future is boundless!"

After finishing his compliments, the chunky middle-aged man remembered that he hadn't introduced himself yet. He scratched the back of his head and said embarrassedly: "I'm sorry, I forgot to give you your name. I'm Nandore Krylov. Guren. If you don't mind, just call me 'Fatty'."

  Hearing that someone praised his youngest son generously, Girard was proud but also a little lonely.

Richard saw that his old friend's emotions were a bit complicated, so he interjected at the right time, and said with a smile: "That's called 'Tiger father has no dogs'. Brother Girard was also a famous Dusack back then. Do you remember the **** Shutt? The horse thief who cuts off the hands of children as treasures?"

   "How could you not remember." Fatty Nandor didn't know, so he said, "But was he slaughtered not long ago?"

"Hang the **** Hutt." Richard made an exaggerated invitation to the old Dusak, and said with a smile: "It's Gilad Fleininovich Mitchell in front of you—Iron Peak Bravest Dussack in the county!"

Fatty Nandor was also very considerate, and immediately changed into a more admiring tone, clasping old Dusac's hand tightly with both hands, and said excitedly: "So it was you who killed that **** of the blood-handed Xiute? Hoof Valley still owes several blood debts. On behalf of the folks in Niuti Valley—thank you! It really is a tiger with no son! You must give me a chance to buy you a drink..."

  Gillard was a little dizzy from being praised, but he still kept his mind and shook his head again and again.

   "Okay, fat man, don't be too affectionate." Richard teased: "Brother Girard should think you want to borrow money!"

   Hearing this, Girard and Nandore Krylov both laughed.

   Chatting with Nandor hit it off, so Girard didn't go to look for his fellow villagers in Wolf Town anymore, and simply sat with Richard and Nandor.

  The three of them had just chatted a few words about the past, and many people poured into the conference hall.

  Among the eight sectors, six sectors are almost full.

  In one of the most crowded sectors, there are not enough seats, and people have to stand on the stairs and in the aisle.

   On the contrary, Tiefeng County is the poorest of the seven county-level areas in the newly reclaimed land, so there are few "free people" and the seats are very ample, so you don't have to worry about having no place to sit.

  In the large conference hall, the seven sectors corresponding to the seven counties were more or less filled with people.

   Only the last sector next to Tiefeng County, there is no one.

   "See it?" Nandor pouted towards the empty next-door sector: "Then why is there no one sitting? Who is it for?"

   "Who else can it be reserved for?" Richard curled his lips, and said flatly: "Of course the seats are reserved for the 'lords'."

   "That's right." Nandor didn't seem to smell the sourness in Richard's words at all, and said with a smile: "Of course officers are also 'free men'."

  Richard was noncommittal, looked around the crowded meeting hall, narrowed his eyes, and said, "In my opinion, the layout of this venue is exquisite."

   "What's the point?" Nan Dor asked puzzled.

   "They know how many 'freemen' there are in each county, but they still divide the seat into eight equal parts." Richard asked meaningfully: "Guess what it means?"

   "Don't test me, man." Nandor grinned: "I'm sure I can't guess it, you just say it."

Richard procrastinated for a while, until Girard's curiosity was aroused, then he folded his arms and said firmly: "The seats are divided into eight equals, which means that it is not 'one person, one vote', but 'one county. One ticket'."

   "Hi." Nandor asked nonchalantly, "What's the difference?"

"There's a big difference." Richard frowned, and explained seriously: "How many free men are there in Iron Peak County? How many free men are there in Wargne County? If one person, one vote, our votes would be like dripping into water." The wine in the vat will be easily diluted so that you can't taste anything."

  Richard deliberately dragged his voice long: "But if one county has one vote, then—it's different."

"So, what's the difference?" Nandor laughed loudly, patted Richard on the shoulder, his eyes gleamed with the cunning unique to veterans: "One county, one vote, one person, one vote, in short, Montagne We vote as you tell us to vote. So, tell me, what's the difference?"

   "Do you think so?" Nandoer winked at old Dusak: "Brother."

  Gillard didn't know whether to laugh or cry, he only thought that the "fat man" in Cowfoot Valley was interesting.

  Richard was speechless. After a while, he sighed dejectedly, and his shoulders drooped.

  Nandor seemed to be comforting Richard, and lightly touched the latter's back.

   But Richard was obviously not in the mood to say anything more.

  Nandor could only shrug his shoulders and stop disturbing Richard.

  Although time passed, the meeting hall became more and more full. A tall, dull-looking middle-aged man and a round-faced fat man walked into the adjacent sector on Girard's right.

   The tall one and the fat one are none other than Matia Milok and Mikhail the lumber merchant from Oak Town, Vorgne County.

  Gillard caught sight of the two, and got up to say hello.

  Old Matia nodded politely, and Mikhail, the timber merchant, bowed to return the salute, but his expression was rather awkward.

   After saying hello, the timber merchant took old Matia and hid in the seat farthest from old Dusak.

   Soon, the sectors of the counties were no longer entered.

  Although some sectors are crowded as hell, others are spacious enough for people to lie down and sleep.

  But the "freemen" were either sitting or standing, and after all, they had their place in the General Assembly of Freemen, which theoretically represented the highest authority in the new land, but was held for the first time.

  Although everyone unconsciously lowered their voices when they spoke, the whispers of thousands of people gathered together through the reflection of the dome and walls, still forming a powerful harmonic, "rumbling" in the large conference hall.

  It was only at this time that the people under the dome really realized that there were so many "free men" in the new land.

  And the voices of the "free men" are so loud when they merge into one.

  Hearing the louder "rumbling" sound, the eyes of Richard, who was once the largest manor owner in Heishui Town, gradually brightened up again.

  But the next moment, a loud noise made the dome fall into dead silence.

  The main entrance of the Great Council Hall burst open.

  The officers stepped into the venue.

[must! win! ]

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  (end of this chapter)