"General, where are you going?"
As soon as these words came out, Green's eyes suddenly became cold, his pupils shrank suddenly, and he stared at Sophie's eyes tightly, his eyes seemed to penetrate people!
However, the gaze faded in an instant, Green quickly calmed down, the suffocating energy on his face also dissipated, and the eyes looking at Sophie gradually became peaceful, and finally, he actually twitched the corner of his mouth, revealing a mocking smile. Come.
The young girl raised her head to look at the bright moon in the sky, suddenly sighed softly, and said in a low voice, "General Green, I actually admire you very much."
"Admiring me?" Green frowned.
"Yes."
Sophie looked sincere, looked at Green with clear eyes, and said slowly: "You were born in the Imperial Military Academy, you were once the youngest and most promising military hero in the empire, and even Duke Minas praised you, saying that you might You are his most outstanding disciple! Fourteen years ago, you already served in the Rodriguez Corps, and participated in two wars against Odin. You started as a cavalry commander, and in just two years, you have accumulated military exploits and been promoted along the way. To the flag officer. If I remember correctly, when you were the flag officer in the Roderian cavalry, General Adric was far from being famous. You participated in the two battles against Odin. During the war, for the first time as a battalion officer, you took 300 elites to raid the logistical stronghold of the Odins and burned the Odins' baggage. In that battle, you were injured in six places, and more than half of the 300 elites you brought were killed or injured. , but successfully cut off the supply of the Odins, so that the enemy had to retreat.
The second war you experienced against Odin, when you were already the flag officer of the banner regiment, was not favorable to me. The main force of the empire was defeated, and the Rodriguen cavalry regiment was ordered to intercept Odin's pursuit and cover the retreat of the army. It's you again, personally leading more than a thousand cavalry, with almost suicidal harassment, blocking the pursuers of a legion of Odins at every level, shedding blood for three hundred miles! But finally won the time for the army to retreat, forcibly delayed the pursuit of a legion of Odins for fifteen days.
After that battle, you were already the most outstanding general of the younger generation in the Imperial Army at that time. Almost everyone agrees that you will be promoted to the new commander-in-chief of the Roderian cavalry!
Throughout the history of the imperial army, in the past two hundred years of the empire, there were 37 people who were finally appointed the rank of imperial marshal, and 33 of them had served as generals of the Rodririan cavalry. Anyone who has served as a general of the Rodriguez cavalry regiment was eventually promoted to the top of the military without exception, and the lowest was also a high-ranking officer at the commander level. It is a road leading to the high-level position of the imperial military! For example, the current Minister of Military Affairs of the Empire, General Adric, and Duke Minas, for example, have all served as generals of the Rodriguez cavalry regiment.
If it weren't for it... If it weren't for the fact that you aroused the fear of the warlords, and caused you to get in the way, and almost forcibly transferred you from the Rodriguez cavalry, I am afraid that today, you would already be the Minister of Military Affairs of the Empire. To put it mildly, if that's the case, I'm afraid that General Adric would not have the fate he has today..."
When Green heard this, he frowned and shook his head: "You admire me, that's what you mean? Hmph... There's nothing to say."
"It's naturally not what I admire about you." Sophie shook her head, her eyes became softer and softer: "Fourteen years ago, when you were the flag officer of the Rodriguez Cavalry Regiment, it was you Participated in the second war against Odin, and finally led more than a thousand fine cavalry, and was ordered to intercept Odin's pursuit. , under your command."
Green was stunned for a moment, and looked at Sophie in surprise.
Sophie took a deep breath and said solemnly, "My father's name is Feric, and he was a battalion officer at the time..."
"Feric?" Green pondered for a while, nodded and looked at Sophie with a frown: "Feric? I remember him, he is the battalion officer of the third battalion under my command, a brave warrior and a very good officer. , I remember he was speaking with a southern accent, and we all like to call him a southerner. Didn't expect you to be his daughter?"
"Yes, my father is Feric." Sophie sighed and said in a low voice, "He told me that the battle was tragic. You, more than a thousand cavalry and Odin, chased blood for three hundred miles, and finally received the news. When it was time to evacuate, more than half of the people were injured or killed. Later, you were stalked by the Odinian reindeer cavalry brigade. My father once urged a small group of men and horses to stay behind and cover the evacuation of others. However, as the chief officer, you did not Insist on staying in the broken army and fighting side by side with my father. In that battle, the two hundred warriors of the broken back finally returned to the seventeen horses alive. My father was seriously injured, but on the battlefield, you did not abandon him, and It was a bloody battle that took him out of the siege. In the end, the war horse fell to the ground. You and my father rode a war horse to fight through the siege. When you finally ran back, both of you were covered in scars. It's cold again, running all the way down, the two of you are sticking together, the wounds and blood have coagulated together, the doctor who rescued you can't separate the two of you, or you have to use a knife to cut your flesh and blood. The two of you were finally separated. In that battle, my father was saved by your help, and he said to me that you are the best officer he has ever seen in his life."
Hearing this, Green nodded silently: "Thank you for such a compliment... Well, how is your father now? Is he still alive?"
"It's a pity." Sophie said slowly: "Although my father came back from the battlefield alive that time, but because of the serious injury, he finally had to intercept the right arm and the calf of the left leg, so he had to leave the army. My body was too weak, and my old wounds were difficult to heal, and I passed away in less than a year. At that time, I was still young, and thanks to the mercy of my teacher, I was adopted at home and accepted as a disciple."
Green listened and sighed: "Feric, he died? It's a pity... What a pity a good man. I remember that he was the bravest officer under my command, otherwise, I wouldn't be so dangerous. The task was handed over to his troops. After the battle, I got off the battlefield and was seriously injured, and was sent to the imperial capital for treatment. Unfortunately, some people in the military did not want me to stay in the Rodriguez cavalry. I was injured. It wasn't all right, but those bastards accused me of being self-willed and delaying the fighter plane, and brought me to a military court. In the end, it was my teacher who came forward to protect me, so I was urgently transferred from the north to the eastern part of the empire. I went too hastily. I wrote to my former colleagues and comrades in arms afterwards, and also asked about your father's news, but unfortunately I have never heard back. Alas... The events of the past... This flash has passed. Fourteen years."
"Yes." Sophie nodded, looked at Green, and said solemnly, "That's why I say that I have deep admiration for you."
"Well." Green seemed to smile bitterly: "The chief of staff doesn't have to be too polite, Ling Zun is my subordinate officer, and he and I on the battlefield are life and death robes, if it were him, he would definitely try his best to save me. Besides, Your Excellency first learned from Lord Kavisher, and now he is the chief of staff of General Char in the north, which can be regarded as living up to your prestige."
Talking about the past events, unconsciously, the originally stiff atmosphere seems to have eased a lot.
Sophie smiled lightly: "General Green, just because I respect you, I have to chase after you tonight."
"The chief of staff really doesn't know where I'm going?" Green said lightly: "Since you can catch up here, you have already guessed everything about me, so why bother asking such a question on purpose. Hmph... If you If I really think I Green is going south... I'm afraid it's not the two of you who are chasing here, but a team of iron cavalry. Hmph, I know that this Junker general was once a member of the royal family's dark night forest. Chief, since he joined Xia Ya, I am afraid that he has also trained an elite army."
Sophie seemed to smile: "The general is joking."
The two looked at each other, and both chose to shut their mouths tacitly at the same time.
Sophie is extremely smart, but why is Greene stupid
Both of them knew very well: If Green really chose to go south, and wanted to go south to the imperial capital to join Duke Minas, then Sophie is really coming with a team of elite pursuers!
If Greene really defected from the Northern Army to the south, and if Greene really returned to the imperial capital and defected to Duke Minas, then it would be a fatal blow to the emerging group of the entire Northern Garrison!
It can be said that when Green appeared publicly under the Duke of Minas in the imperial capital, it was probably the day when the Northern Army group fell apart!
Green's prestige in the Northern Army is outstanding, second only to Xia Ya, and for those senior officers from the Central Army, I am afraid that the prestige is even more than Xia Ya! After all, in the Northern Army, Char's prestige was more established in the cavalry units.
And if Green, a core leader of the Northern Army, left quietly and finally appeared beside the Duke of Minas, the imperial capital, then I am afraid that most of the generals and officers who were originally from the Central Army in the Northern Army would be There will be shaking and swaying! Even the core of one of the founders of the Northern Army like Green has defected to Duke Minas, and there are not a few other people who follow suit!
Therefore, even Green himself couldn't help but think: If he really wants to leave, then he must not let himself run to the side of Duke Minas, the southern imperial capital! Even if you kill yourself halfway, it's better than letting yourself openly appear in the imperial capital! After all, if you kill yourself, it is a big deal to put yourself on the charge of defecting. Although it will also shake the army, there is always room for things to be sorted out. If you let yourself run to the imperial capital alive, wouldn't it set up a living example for later people? "example"? !
Therefore, a dead "mad dog" is better than a Green who appeared in the imperial capital alive.
(I believe that you are not going to the south, so I did not bring troops to intercept.)
This is Sophie's subtext. How could Green not understand
At this moment, the night wind is picking up, Sophie is running all the way, the thin clothes on her body have long been soaked with sweat, she can't help shaking twice, then she moved to the fire, picked up the wine bag on the ground, unscrewed it and drank it again The couple then looked at Green: "General, you want to leave, I don't want to forcibly block it, I know, you won't really do anything to be sorry to the Northern Army or Xia, but, I am here tonight, There's always something to say."
"I know that the chief of staff came here in the middle of the night, and will not leave easily. Well, if you have something to say, just say it." Green frowned.
Sophie nodded and stared at Green: "Dare to ask the general, what do you think about Duke Minas' comeback this time?"
Green snorted: "The duke is a veteran of the imperial army. At this moment, the national disaster is at the forefront. With a military veteran like him to come forward and turn the tide, he can naturally integrate the hearts of the army and make our army..."
"Hmph, General, do you believe this yourself?" Sophie interrupted Green rudely.
Greene's eyes widened, as if he was about to refute, but his lips opened, but he finally didn't say a word.
Because of these words, it is enough to deceive the middle and lower ranks of the military without knowing it. For people like them, it is simply a joke.
"The Duke of Minas is certainly a veteran of the Imperial Army. Originally, I also respected the Duke very much." Sophie sighed: "But the Duke, after all, is the Duke. His identity is not only a soldier of the Empire, but also a soldier of the Empire. He is a duke, and he bears not only the mission of a soldier, but also the responsibility of a family name and a family, so I am afraid that many things cannot be controlled by him."
When Sophie said this, she seemed to smile deliberately, and said lightly, "Whether the Duke's return this time will affect General Adric's position in the army, not to mention, whether it is to seize power with the help of the royal family's balance, I also I won't make any comments. I'll just say one thing: If the Duke is really dedicated to the public, then when he first took office, he sent a secret letter from thousands of miles to the north, and it was delivered through some shady channels. In your hands..." Sophie deliberately paused again, and said lightly: "General Green, don't you often say something: 'If there is no ghost in your heart, everything can't be told to others'?"
"You! Presumptuous!!" Green suddenly became furious, jumped up, glared at Sophie, and shouted sharply: "Little girl is presumptuous! The Duke has worked hard for the country all his life, how can you be slandered by a little girl like you? !"
Facing Green's fury, Sophie was not afraid at all, met his eyes, and said lightly: "General, I'm just talking about the matter, and I have never slandered the Duke. It's not my words, but your motto."
"..." Green was at a loss for words. Speaking of bickering and arguing, how can he, an upright soldier, be the opponent of a learned and talented disciple trained by Cavie Hill like Sophie
"What the duke has done, there is a degree of publicity and selfishness. I won't make a comment. Compared with your own heart, I can distinguish it." Sophie sighed: "I only regret one thing, it's a pity... It's a pity, my father You have been admired to the death, and I respect you too. Thinking that a few years ago, when you served in the Eastern Army, you raged on the backstory of the embezzlement of military funds in the logistics department of the Imperial Army, and even denounced the then The Count Moriac, the chief of the logistics department of the powerful military, almost drew his sword to kill the evil leader on the spot. The tough General Green, who used to be selfless in the past, has transformed into a coward who puts his own interests above justice. Isn't that a sigh?"
"I..." Green's face was ashen, his fingers trembled slightly, and he took a deep breath, as if he couldn't bear Sophie's eyes, and turned his head away forcefully.
"The Byzantine Empire's national power is gradually weakening, and the Osgilia counterattack is just the beginning of the light, but the situation is rotten, and it has not seen any improvement. The warlords of the military districts still occupy most of the empire's territory, and the Odins are foreign enemies. Eyeing tigers, it is still in the west and east of Knotts County. Although the Northern Army has General Char’s martial arts and recovered Syltan County, it is exhausted after all. The Northern Army has only formed an army for two years. After all, starting a business can be said to be a waste of time. At this time, you are leaving, although you are thinking of not participating in the two and staying out of the way, but... This is the case in the entire empire, can you really get out of the way by yourself? ?"
"..." Green remained silent.
"I know that the Duke of Minas is your teacher and is very kind to you, but of course you are his student, and you are also a general of the Empire, a general of Byzantium! Whenever I ask you to remember: you are first and foremost A Byzantine, and then his disciple!" Sophie said coldly: "When Osgilia fell, I was in the imperial capital. The former No. 1 city on the mainland was torched by the rebels, and most of the city became Ruins! The rebels burned, killed and looted in the city, and committed no evil! There are real righteous men of the empire, such as the late General Spahn, who died in battle on the imperial city! For example, General Adric, who guarded the Arc de Triomphe with remnants of soldiers, never retreated, and the bugle name remained unchanged all day long. Absolutely! For example, General Ruhr, although he has retired, still brings his family veterans to fight with the rebels in blood! But you know, your teacher who is 'like a mountain', when the city was broken, How is it done?"
"...I..." Green closed his eyes.
"You don't know, I can tell you." Sophie said lightly: "At that time, when the rebels entered the city, the Duke ordered the gate of the mansion to be closed. Outside the mansion, the rebels blocked the streets, but they did not invade the Duke's mansion. Even the daily food expenses of the duke's mansion were sent in by the rebels. The duke is a pillar of the imperial army, but he keeps a low profile and really stays out of the way! Let the rebels do evil in the city, he will be the one The Duke, who has been a high-ranking official in the empire all his life, continues to be his tumbler behind closed doors! Even the little duke, Lord Roddy, who was full of enthusiasm, was about to break his leg when the Duke nearly broke his leg and tied the rebels to death when he wanted to take his family out and fight the rebels. Locked up! Such a marshal of the empire! Such a duke of the empire! Such a pillar of the empire!! It's ridiculous!"
When Sophie said this, her tone gradually became excited: "General Green... Just when General Spahn died in battle on the imperial city! Just when General Adric led his soldiers without food or clothing, guarding the Arc de Triomphe in the heavy snow. It's time! Just when General Ruhr was fighting with the rebels in the city with less than a few dozen family members! The Duke of Minas was in his own mansion, and the rebels outside the door gave him the door and food. It's the food the rebels brought him! Sometimes, I can't help but think about a question..."
"What... problem..." Green's voice was weak.
"I think: the Lantis people did not arrive in time on the holiday, and joined the fall of the imperial city on that day, and Osgilia was really completely occupied by the rebels. If the Byzantine Empire really perished in the battle of Osgilia , so... How many people will die for this country? I think that General Spahn has given us the answer with his life! I think that General Adric will also die generously! I think, Lu General Er will definitely be willing to shed the last drop of blood! But... what about the Duke? If at that time, Osgilia really fell, and the empire really perished, the 'pillar of the empire' you mentioned, he … what will be done?”
"You, stop talking!!"
Green suddenly rebuked, then sighed, and sat down heavily.
For a long time, Green didn't hear what Sophie said. He raised his head, only to find that the little woman had handed over the wine bag silently. Green grabbed it, raised his head, and poured it into his mouth. He drank too hastily, and the wine flowed out from the corners of his mouth, dripping down, staining the front of his clothes.
Green drank most of the bag of wine at once, then threw the wine bag heavily, stared at Sophie with wide eyes, and after a while, Green's breathing gradually calmed down, and said in a low voice: "You, stop talking."
"I just said the answer that you already have in your heart." Sophie said lightly: "Actually, you already knew this in your heart! Otherwise, you would not go north, but go south to this man. The Empire's 'Empire Pillar' has gone! It is precisely because you understand this in your heart that you did not really betray the Northern Army, but chose to leave, that is, the kindness of the Duke of Minas for you, and you will not betray you. It counts as the burden of the Northern Army. That’s what you think in your heart.”
"Lord Duke, sire... Even if something is wrong, I... I can't ignore his kindness. If there was no teacher, I would have become a dead bone in the grave today." Green shook his head, but his voice seemed to be moaning: "I I won't do anything that I'm sorry for the Northern Army. I, I can only help each other and just walk away. I, Green, am alone, I... "
"General Green, you can tell me these words." Sophie sneered: "But, do you really believe these words in your own heart?"
She had already stood up, patted the dust on her body lightly, walked to the side calmly, got on her horse, looked at Green, and said lightly, "I'm here to show you off, that's all I have to say, and finally I have to say Yes, there is only one sentence left: General, you are a Byzantine first, and then something else."
After finishing speaking, Sophie didn't stop for a moment. With a soft snort, she whipped her horse and rode back to the main road, heading south.
Junker then mounted his horse, but stopped a little at the end, looked at Green who was still sitting on the ground, sighed softly, and said in a low voice, "You can just leave, but the other soldiers in the army also Can you just walk away? If everyone can walk away like this, then who will do the work? General, I’m not very good at speaking the truth, you can think about these words in your own mind.”
Junker shook his head, turned his horse's head, and chased Sophie to the south, leaving Green alone, sitting there blankly, staring at the fire silently, fascinated...