The morning sun dyed the sky into a faint red glow, and countless white clouds floated gently in the red glow.
Thousands of rays of sunlight reflected on the calm Nushui River, exuding a faint halo, everything seemed so quiet and peaceful.
However, what is calm is only the surface, and there are countless undercurrents surging beneath the surface.
Suddenly, an undercurrent broke through the tranquility of the water surface, immediately causing a burst of turbulent spray, one by one eddies spread in the spray, and finally disappeared on the water surface.
Facing the ray of sunlight, a huge fleet appeared on the Nushui River, with their bulging sails, and the bows of the ships stirred up bursts of snow-white waves under the impact of the undercurrent.
On the banner that squeaked in the wind, a pure white horse with wings fluttering about to fly was depicted. Obviously, this was the navy fleet of the St. Pros family in the east.
Although the weakness of the eastern border army is well known in the Glory Empire, no one has ever dared to underestimate the eastern border navy fleet.
This huge fleet consisting of 15 heavy battleships, 180 galley warships, 50 light fast triangular sailboats, and 300 logistics transport ships is definitely the most terrifying water force in the Glorious Empire.
It is also because of this almost invincible fleet and the Nushui River like a natural moat that the Eastern Territory has not been invaded for hundreds of years.
Even if the army is strong and strong, the Northern Territory, which has beaten the troll empire to the ground, will have difficulty crossing the River of Nushui under the threat of this fleet.
At the moment, the flagship "Bailu" is at the forefront of the fleet.
This legendary heavy warship named after the castle of the St. Pross family is the pride of the East and a miracle of the era of sailed wooden warships.
This water giant is 80 meters long, 20 meters wide, 66 meters long keel, and has a full load displacement of 3,000 tons. The ship has three floors, and each floor has a protective wall, which can accommodate thousands of archers. Shooting at the same time, eight huge rackets are installed on both sides of the ship's side, and a terrifying bow ram is installed on the bow.
In the era of cold weapons, "Bailu" can definitely be called an unsinkable and invincible warship.
At this time, in the captain's room of the "Bailu", almost all the senior officers of the Tianma navy fleet were present.
The supreme commander of the fleet, Earl Hall's majestic gaze slowly swept across everyone's faces, then coughed lightly, and said loudly:
"Everyone, I think you all know the reason for going north this time.
That's right, it was to go to Silvermoon City to redeem Lord Marquis Vincent!
And the price of redemption..."
Having said that, the corners of Earl Hall's mouth twitched a few times, as if he couldn't hide the humiliation and anger in his heart, but fortunately he calmed down quickly, and continued:
"Let Earl Evan explain the price of the redemption in person."
Earl Evan, standing behind Earl Hall, smiled slightly, stepped forward, first nodded to the fleet officers, then opened a roll of parchment in his hand, and read according to it:
"Everyone, according to the agreement reached between the Duke of St. Pross and Earl Angelet, this time we will use six heavy warships, fifty sailing warships, and one hundred and twenty logistics transport ships in our eastern border to redeem the text. The Marquis of Center…”
Hearing this, even the naval officers who have always been strictly disciplined couldn't help whispering and whispering.
Obviously, such a price was difficult for everyone to accept for a while.
They all turned their eyes to Earl Hall, but the supreme commander of the fleet bowed his head and remained silent at this moment.
However, Earl Hall's tightly clenched fists still showed that his heart was not as calm as it appeared on the surface.
Earl Evan slowly scanned the faces of the officers with a flat but firm gaze, and he continued to read until the scene became quiet again:
"According to the request of the Duke of St. Pros, the following warships will be handed over to the North:
The Brave, the Victory, the Rage, the Julang, the Windling, and the Bailu, these six heavy warships will... "
"Earl Evan!" Hearing this, Earl Hall finally couldn't help but uttered.
He took a step forward and stood still in front of Earl Evan, breathing heavily almost onto the face of the young second son of the duke.
Earl Evan looked at Earl Hall who looked like an enraged bull expressionlessly, and asked indifferently, "Earl Hall, what questions do you have?"
"Earl Evan, it's not that I'm reluctant to part with a few warships. In fact, everyone knows that I hope to see Marquis Vincent return to the Eastland safely more than anyone else. My daughter looks forward to her husband and my grandson day and night. Can not do without his father!
But what I want to know is, why are all the warships of the Hall family selected? "
"The battleship of the Hall family?" Earl Evan sneered, and asked without giving an inch, "Earl Hall, when did the Tianma Navy become the private army of the Hall family?"
"Of course, the Tianma Navy is not the private army of the Hall family, but you must never deny the contribution of the Hall family to this fleet! Most of our family's income from the territory is spent on fleet maintenance. The Hall family is the best. The strongest members, the strongest citizens, all serve in this fleet!
Earl Evan, to put it bluntly, without the Hall family, this Pegasus navy would at least lose half of its combat effectiveness! "
Earl Hall has also given up his fight at this time. What Earl Evan has done has exceeded the bottom line he can bear. If these six heavy warships are really handed over, the military power of the Hall family will be completely over.
Earl Evan snorted coldly, and said forcefully: "Earl Hall, I recognize the contribution of the Hall family to the Tianma navy, but you ask yourself, why did the St. Pross family let you pay in vain
Have you forgotten that your ancestor was just a lowly commoner rich businessman? Who raised your family's title to earl step by step? And who made you one of the best big families in the East? Even marrying your daughter to the heir of the Duke of the East
The St. Pros family has never treated the Hall family badly. Now is the time when you are needed. Hehe, Earl Hall, have you begun to forget your vows and the grace of the St. Pross family? "
"The Hall family has never forgotten their oath! They will never betray the St. Pross family!" Earl Hall said loudly, but then he changed the subject and said in a deep voice, "But we will never Willing to be deliberately targeted!"
Earl Evan spread out the parchment in his hand, allowing Earl Hall to see the writing on it and the autograph of the Duke of St. Pros, saying:
"See clearly, Earl Hall, this is an order from the Duke of St. Pros, are you prepared to disobey?"
Earl Hall stared at the parchment and did not speak, but this silence already meant a silent protest.
Earl Evan was about to speak again, but suddenly saw a senior officer stepping forward and standing behind Earl Hall.
This seems to be a signal.
Immediately afterwards, one officer after another of the Hall family came behind Earl Hall.
They also bowed their heads in silence, expressing a silent protest to Earl Evan.
The phrase "The Hall family owns half of the Pegasus Navy" is perfectly interpreted in this scene.
However, it was only half of it. The other half of the officers of the St. Pross family also stood behind Earl Evan upon seeing this.
The two groups of people faced each other silently like this, and even some grumpy officers touched the sabers around their waists with their right hands.
The air in the cabin became more stagnant and gradually became suffocating.
The situation seemed to be a string that was stretched to the extreme, and it seemed that it would break completely in the next second.
Earl Evan looked at Earl Hall and the officers behind him expressionlessly, his expression was still calm and calm, as if he was completely unaware that a civil turmoil was about to erupt in the Tianma Navy, and he just asked indifferently :
"Earl Hall, do you want to betray the St. Pros family?"
Earl Hall took a deep breath, as if he wanted to forcefully suppress his anger and impulse, and said in a deep voice:
"Earl Evan, I want to talk to you alone."
"Can."
(end of this chapter)