While waiting for the audience, Rodrigo also received unusual courtesy and preferential treatment. Not only was he arranged to stay in the Sheng Xiyong Garden of Tawu Palace, which was used to entertain the royal family members and nobles who came for pilgrimage, but he was also sent the best doctors and medicines to take care of his body.
Immediately afterwards, his old friend, Brother Teresa, now the armed monk captain of the Pious Company of the Free Army, also came to visit him with his men; at the same time, he brought another unexpected news. The Holy Kingdom has already voluntarily given up its proposal to redeem most of the remaining captured soldiers.
Therefore, after the vast majority of officers and knights were returned to the country in exchange for ransom, the remaining thousands of captured soldiers waited in hopelessness. In the end, after swearing not to actively be enemies of their motherland, they were organized into more than a dozen The Redemption Company uses performance on the battlefield to redeem freedom.
Organized and driven by the Free Army, the Redemption Company, composed of prisoners of war and surrendered soldiers, can be said to be the most mixed existence. There are local militia, noble private soldiers, and city self-defense forces; there are also mercenaries from different regions, and even the church's own knights.
Therefore, the upper limit of nearly a hundred companies is high enough, and the lower limit is low enough; a large company has five to six hundred people, nearly half of a regiment, but a small company only has one hundred and eighty people. And these sergeants and soldiers of the Holy Kingdom soon stood out in the subsequent battles;
They rely on their relatively well-trained and experienced advantages, and some people continue to gain freedom in advance. However, some people chose to join the Free Army on the spot and became what was known as the Yumbili Company. But some people choose to receive a travel fee and return to their home country together.
Therefore, Brother Teresa specially brought several representatives here to find out news about the soldiers and sergeants who had returned home long ago. However, after hearing this narration, Roderigo suddenly fell silent; his joy of meeting old friends again and living a relatively good life was suddenly extinguished.
Because when he had not lost his freedom in the Holy Kingdom and became a wanted traitor, he had never heard any news about the returning soldiers; instead, he met some soldiers who came to seek information outside the Knights' headquarters. family members. Among them were the names of the sergeants who had returned home long ago.
Not to mention, Brother Teresa also swore to him that he personally delivered these soldiers who wanted to return home outside the border fortress between the Sealand Kingdom and the Holy Kingdom; and then watched them walk in in groups, Distant towns. What exactly happened?
You must know that these soldiers who were released back home were not unarmed civilians; they were at least hundreds to hundreds of people traveling together, and they also jointly used travel expenses to buy mules and horses, carrying dry food and drinking water, as well as other soldiers who stayed behind. A personal letter to your family to tell them you are safe.
However, Rodrigo, who was once running for it in the country, never received corresponding news and rumors. The whereabouts of these returning soldiers were like drops of water scattered in the sand; they disappeared completely and quietly, without even attracting the attention of many people.
In addition to those led by Brother Teresa, there are also comrades in foreign countries and their relatives who are waiting for news at home. At this moment, Rodrigo suddenly shuddered, but he didn't know how to explain it to the people in front of him; could it be that they all disappeared after returning to China?
Rodrigo was more willing to believe that they had actually concealed their whereabouts and dispersed, and had secretly returned to their hometown; rather than encountering some kind of accident for no reason in the country where they were born and raised. Although Brother Teresa observed the words and expressions, he quickly bypassed this topic knowingly.
But after barely maintaining a calm attitude and seeing off these visitors, Rodrigo fell into deep trouble and melancholy. Because he suddenly remembered that in the original judgment of the Archbishop of Galicia, there were hundreds of people on the list of people who were exiled to the Bennas Desert.
As for his many charges of taking the lead in promoting heretical ideas abroad and subverting the virtues and traditions of the Holy Kingdom, it seems understandable. Perhaps, the Archbishop of Galicia, who had never been masked in his life, was sentencing not only him, but also the soldiers who had been released and returned home.
Perhaps, some people claimed to have received quite humane treatment among the Sealand rebels; perhaps they had unintentionally praised the practices of these Sealand rebels in eliminating aliens and protecting the people; however, they were treated without hesitation. Liquidation and severe punishment
, just like what happened to Rodrigo.
However, Rodrigo is, after all, a prestigious knight of the kingdom, and a member of the knighthood of aristocratic origin and generations. He has also served the prince of the duchy as a confidant and courtier. Therefore, he can get a relatively decent public trial. As for The same cannot be said for others.
For a moment, he was actually a little confused; because this terrible result, which made him unwilling to think too much, shook his last remaining hope for the future of the Holy Kingdom. Therefore, Simone didn't even notice when she opened the door and walked in and stood beside her.
Then, a warm bosom and breath hugged his head from behind. "Simone?" Roderigo couldn't help but exclaimed. However, I heard the woman behind me trembling: "Don't move, don't turn your head, otherwise I won't have the courage to face you."
"I... just want to ask you a question," Simone paused, then continued: "Are you actually an illegitimate child from a foreign royal family? Or are you the blood of a noble noble in the kingdom who lived abroad? Or have you ever worked for this The knight king of Zealand, who has accomplished great feats?"
"None of what you said is..." Roderigo smiled helplessly when he heard this: "I was even the enemy of the King of Knights for a time, but the unpredictable fate given by God made me become He was his prisoner and was enthusiastically solicited."
"But I would like to swear before the Holy See that during this process I have never actively betrayed the Holy Country, nor have I done anything to harm the interests of the Holy Country; in fact, even if that person granted me great preferential treatment, I would only I want to return to the Holy Kingdom, because there are things I care about there.”
"..." The next moment, Rodrigo suddenly felt the warmth and moisture dripping from his head; Simone seemed to hug him tighter: "Then please don't abandon me? I'm just a human being. Vulgar women once longed for a comfortable life and luxurious enjoyment."
[In view of the general environment,
"That's why I finally missed you again and again... But now, because of you, I have lost everything in the past and turned into a ruined and despised fugitive woman; this may be the disaster that I cannot avoid. , is also God’s punishment for breaking my oath,”
"Everything I have encountered along the way, I already know that everything you said is true; it's just that the adults in the dynasty are unwilling to accept and face it. I also fully understand what you have been thinking all along, I understand what I have lost and missed."
"Simone!" Rodrigo couldn't help being shocked when he heard the words, but he heard the woman behind him continue: "It took me a lot of courage to come to you and say these shameless words. I pray for your forgiveness and Shelter, because I have no one to rely on in this foreign country.”
"Simone, there is no need for you, there is really no need..." However, Rodrigo held the woman's hands tightly on her chest. Because of the travel and fatigue along the way, the delicate hands were already covered with scars: "No matter what, I will make sure..."
"Rodrigao!" The woman suddenly called his name: "I know you are hesitant in your heart, but even if I am a despicable woman who is greedy for vanity, I also know that it is impossible in the Holy Kingdom. And the goodwill of a rising king and patience, but cannot be underestimated or hesitated for too long.”
That night, Ridrigao, who took the initiative to request a meeting, was introduced into the Palace of St. Anthony's Cross. Jiang Tian, on the other hand, was wearing a relaxed and lazy home robe, leaning on his seat, reviewing official documents and issuing orders. Rodrigo was also arranged to sit down and wait quietly for a while.
Until many clerks, attendants, and secretaries all took orders and left behind the closed door. "Thank you for your majesty's hosting and warm hospitality. It's very frightening." Rodrigo saluted solemnly and said without being condescending: "But, may I ask what your majesty wants from me?"
"Of course it's your allegiance," Jiang Tian laughed after hearing this. Obviously, this knight is a model of uprightness, but not stupid at all: "From the first moment I met you, I felt very attached to you and I was very optimistic about you. .”
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. Obviously you have seen it wrong. Now I have lost everything.
, is just a criminal and traitor who was forced into exile. Rodrigo said calmly: "I no longer deserve your solemn courtesy and preferential treatment..."
"Then you are completely wrong. Those people in the Holy Kingdom are just blind, clinging to tradition and missing out on a talent who can lead the country to prosperity." Jiang Tian interrupted him with a smile: "But I am different from them. What I always value is you."
"So, I don't need your influence and relationship background in the Holy Kingdom, nor do I care about the benefits brought by power and status. What I value is your integrity and justice that you always uphold regardless of class or group, and your courage to persist. Faith, courage and perseverance to move forward..."
"Of course, loyalty and trust cannot be established casually." Jiang Tian interrupted him again and said, "So I have a proposal, please serve the kingdom for ten years, just like The same thing you did in the pagan court of Zaragoza.”
"Of course, during this period, unless you actively request it, you will not be allowed to participate in any military operations related to the Holy Kingdom; nor will it violate the knightly traditions and principles you uphold. Of course, when the ten years are up, After that, you can choose to stay or go as you please."
"..." Hearing this, Rodrigo was completely speechless; after being silent for a while, he asked again: "I don't know, what does Your Majesty need me to do?"
"I will appoint you as the leader of my first guard regiment. Of course, this is just a title and status qualification. In fact, you will lead a company." Jiang Tian then threw out the prepared plan: "You will serve as my special guard. Served as an inspection representative, responsible for inspecting cases of unusual disposal in various places."
"For a long time, the Free Army has been fighting against all kinds of aliens hiding in the dark and dealing with abnormal events. It is inevitable that there will be some unjust, false, and false accusations, and even man-made frame-ups and persecutions. I need you to find out the hidden problems. , and make appropriate corrections.”
"Also because you are a foreigner with a relatively clean background; you have nothing to do with the vast majority of forces and interest groups in the kingdom. You are difficult to be moved by bribes and threats, but you also have a fair and flexible stance that is willing to A needless sacrifice in pursuit of the truth.”
