The good news is that more than ten miles ahead is Midonie, the second largest city after Attana, the county seat of this county; and thanks to the efforts of the local defenders, it has not yet been captured by the foreign coalition forces, but more For the first time, he repelled the armies of the Lombard Kingdom and the Kingdom of Sardinia that came to attack.
The bad news is that according to an order issued by the National Constitutional Assembly in power in the capital, the overseas corps mobilized from the North African colonies will serve as the core to cooperate with local militia groups and volunteer armies to form a new corps to reinforce the southeastern front. It is basically certain that they have lost consecutive battles. The next one was destroyed.
The good news is that the remaining defeated soldiers are basically gathered in this medium-sized city with a population of only tens of thousands. General Caron, the only remaining deputy general of the Kingdom's Fourth Army/Regiment, was responsible for managing and reorganizing the remnants; however, Jiang Tian found that the results were mediocre upon arrival.
The dilapidated walls covered with traces of the attack had hardly been repaired or cleaned; large black stains of blood could still be seen among the ruins. Even the few Kingdom soldiers guarding the walls and city gates looked lazy or lifeless and unmotivated.
Even the spears, spears, and swords around them were piled up at least a dozen steps away, and they were scattered in groups, either stretching their bodies and taking a nap in the sun; or in broad daylight, their faces covered with soot. Stirring on the fire, I don't know where to get chickens and ducks.
Jiang Tian couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart when he saw it. Nonetheless, after days of fleeing and moving around, we finally had a place to stay and recuperate. This team, which has expanded to more than 150 people, cannot help but become excited and positive again.
It was only when Jiang Tian showed his identity as an overseas legion and classified these subordinates as the direct brigade of the fifth regiment that he entered the city after a lot of negotiation. However, after entering the city, he suddenly understood why the soldiers guarding the city gate had strange expressions.
Because this seemingly intact city has long been filled with a large number of defeated soldiers and wounded, and has turned into a chaotic barracks full of tents and haphazardly set up. Compared with the friendly troops who had low morale and kept sighing, the team led by Jiang Tian was somewhat out of place.
Every house on the street has its doors closed, and there are only a few pubs and shops that are obviously forced to "open". They have already become empty, with only a few figures huddled up and sleeping in the middle of the day. There are almost no pedestrians on the street, but shacks built by foreign refugees can be seen everywhere.
In addition, there are women hiding in the corners of the streets and alleys, trying to expose their shoulders and thighs; it is said that you can get a service for only a few centimes; and at night, there will be women called "Yingding Nightingales" who are old and People who are too pale or sick to see people.
Despite this, the team led by Jiang Tian settled down for the time being at a designated burnt ruin; and then used the various remaining materials they brought to carry out various bartering businesses and inquire about information on the spot. Jiang Tian also went straight to the city hall in the city.
This is a multi-story building complex with brick and wood structure surrounded by green forest trees; therefore, you can also see some traces of eaves, arches, flower windows and other structures that evolved from the Seris style. Not surprisingly, it became a place, and only General Caron's garrison and command post remained;
Soldiers wearing the kingdom's standard chain mail and blue-and-white patterned robes, with relatively neat standard sabers, straight swords and armed swords, were on guard inside and outside the city hall building without looking away; and with the constant coming and going, soldiers , the clerks and clerks in long robes looked particularly nervous and busy.
It's just that they are more or less sallow and skinny like the soldiers with old clothes and dirty faces guarding the city gate; they just look more energetic and have higher morale; and in an indescribable atmosphere, they try their best to maintain As a commanding officer.
Most of the clerks and clerks in long robes had empty hands, but they were shouting and conveying unidentified commands and call signs one after another. At the same time, they were waiting in the foyer for several soldiers with dirty military uniforms and badly worn armor. Officers were called in from time to time.
Therefore, when Jiang Tian showed the silver lieutenant colonel badge that he had obtained halfway, the letter of commission that had been slightly altered by prying off the paint and sealing mud, and took out a heavy pack of enema and bacon, these The statue-like guards also came to life in an instant.
Finally, a bearded second lieutenant emerged from the corner and took the initiative to take the responsibility of reporting inside. Then he brought in a young soldier with delicate features, freckles, no hair on his mouth, healthy wheat-colored skin, wearing a one-size-larger blue armed uniform, and a swift sword hanging at his waist, and said:
"This is little Polly, who is also one of the general's most trusted auxiliary officers. If anything happens to the lieutenant colonel, just tell him." Then he kindly reminded him: "Now the city is short of food and medicine. If you’re here for this, don’t expect too much.”
"No, no, I just want to replenish some equipment, gunpowder and other supplies for my subordinates, and find some scribes and craftsmen who can read and write." Jiang Tian asked someone to bring a large piece of bacon wrapped in paper. She stuffed it into his hand forcefully and said, "Are you having difficulties in these aspects as well?"
"That's not true. In order to defend the city of Midonie, the army suffered a lot of casualties. Now there are more equipment and equipment than heads." After smelling the paper bag in his hand, the second lieutenant, whose beard had not been trimmed for a long time, couldn't help but swallow. Shui Shui grinned again and said: "As long as you are still more cheerful..."
"As for the clerks and craftsmen, you have to find a way on your own; however, most people in the city are hungry now. If you have some leftovers, you can think of a way in this regard. I believe Boy Polly can help. Yours. Since the mayor escaped, the remaining paperwork in the city hall was sorted and sorted by him for the general."
"I don't know how much money you spent for this position." However, the bearded second lieutenant continued: "But right now, it seems that you have no chance to earn it back; so, I don't know if you still have If you’re not interested, why don’t you spend a little money to change seats?”
Yes, the middle and low-level military positions in this era can be bought, sold and transferred. Of course, they are only limited to the ranks of knights and above. Others who want to buy one are not eligible. However, the salary and personal annuity represented by the military rank still need to be awarded by the royal seal of the kingdom.
Therefore, a small number of wealthy kingdom nobles could even hold military positions while recruiting local militias on their own, or even forming private regiments/groups to participate in the war. Of course, after leaving home, the corresponding military pay and military discipline are also in a Schrödinger state.
When going overseas, it is also a very normal operation to rob and plunder the land and population of the enemy country. And when passing through the territories of other nobles, or the cities, towns, and villages of the kingdom on the way back, it is not uncommon for them to suddenly rob them on a whim.
And Jiang Tian's previous experience in the overseas legion made it easy for him to pass himself off as a lieutenant colonel. The position of that appointment letter is within the category that can be bought, sold and transferred, but it has a corresponding number of years. Therefore, as long as you don't go to the capital to check the relevant military registration files, there will be no problem.
In the end, Jiang Tian declined his kindness, but gave him a bunch of smoked blood sausage.
So next, under the leadership of this young soldier named Boy Boy, he knocked on doors one by one in the city according to the map, and successively requisitioned/collected more than a dozen relevant documents and craftsmen with food. At the same time, Jiang Tian also I have seen the saying that people cannot be judged by their appearance;
Because he looked thin and short, but he actually ate all the leftover food brought by Jiang Tian in one go. It was three loaves of black bread weighing two pounds, two large pieces of cheese, and a bottle of beer. Then he held his swollen belly and groaned, as if he was going to die suddenly in the next moment.
But fortunately, before Jiang Tian wanted to find someone to induce vomiting and treat him, he finally recovered in time. Then he looked at the toilet being carried from a distance with a horrified face. He quickly rubbed his belly and supported the wall to stand up, and said impatiently: "I'm fine, we can continue."
However, when night fell, Poli, the little assistant minister, also returned to the town hall. In the quiet darkness, he unexpectedly found someone spying on him from behind the pillar. He turned around with caution and saw someone holding a hand. The bearded lieutenant with an empty wine bottle:
"Polly...Polly...ah Polly..." He seemed drunk and awake in the shadows, revealing half of his face and whispering: "I have kept your secret and created opportunities for you to support yourself; Next, I hope you will repay me well and never ruin my affairs!"
Boy Polly's body froze when he heard the words, and then he walked into the dark floor without hesitation; then there was the obvious sound of the door being pushed open and many wine bottles being knocked to the ground. However, the soldiers on duty inside and outside the town hall turned a blind eye to this.
At the same time, Jiang Tian, who brought people back to the station, also received unexpected news again: "Ajax ran out again? Or was he alone?". But I sighed in my heart, this old hunter with a complicated background really has a boring gourd-like typical lone wolf temperament!
"The instructor said he found some clues left by his old friends and went to resolve some personal matters, but he insisted that we not follow him." A soldier who was responsible for following Ajax quickly explained: "However, he also left I left a few marks to make it easier for us to find them.”
"Okay!" Jiang Tian couldn't help but shake his head gently when he heard this. This old man is already a lot older, so why is he also an arrogant character who speaks too much about his integrity? "Well, if he hasn't come back after midnight, I will allow you to go search and explore."
