I will be crowned king

Gray Pigeon Castle, sunny.

The time was approaching noon, and the drizzling light rain still showed no sign of stopping; the cold rain hit the blue bricks and stone walls of Gray Pigeon Castle, and the rising fog almost enveloped the entire city.

Looking from the distant horizon, it looks like a castle in the clouds.

There was not a single figure in sight in the narrow and rugged streets. In the quiet air there was only the sound of raindrops falling, and the occasional howling wind that passed through the alley, disappearing after a brief whimper.

"Ready—fire!"

"boom--!!!!"

As the knight on horseback swung down his long knife, the soldiers lined up raised their guns at the same time, pointed at the "criminals" tied in a row by the wall and pulled the trigger.

Some of them are parliamentarians, some are new immigrants, some are manor owners, some are porters at the dock, some are strong men, some are obviously malnourished girls, some are wearing hats on their heads, and some are still breathing in their clothes. …

The dazzling firelight was fleeting in the sound of gunfire. The criminals who were wailing and begging for mercy one second, learned that silence is golden in the choking smoke of gunpowder in the next second - in a quite eternal way.

But the gunfire didn't stop.

Before the smoke dissipated, another group of people who were frightened and restless, with their hands tied behind their backs by ropes, were held at bayonets. They were pushed forward and pushed to the wall. They were forced to stand in a row amidst the sound of curses. Many people even stood at their feet. Just step on the corpses of the previous group of people.

Deafening gunfire sounded again, and the wailing figures were penetrated by lead bullets in their skulls, their ribs were broken, their abdomens were torn open, and their necks were cut off... One after another, they fell like puppets, and hot blood overflowed from their chests. It was diluted in the cold rain and there was no trace left.

Through the thick rain curtain, the knight stared at the prostrate figures on the ground expressionlessly, without a trace of fluctuation on his cheeks wet by the rain: "Next batch!"

Hearing the knight's shouts, several criminals who realized that the disaster was imminent immediately wanted to turn around and run away. However, before they could take off, they were hit hard on the cheek by the rifle butts. Their mouths were full of blood, and they were driven to the pile by the soldiers like animals. A wall full of corpses.

There was no pain, no joy... The knight mechanically raised the saber in his hand, and the soldiers were loading ammunition in an orderly manner. Everything was in order, without any accidents.

"Ready—fire!"

The same scene is taking turns to be played out in other corners of Gray Pigeon Castle.

Dazzling gunfire lit up under city walls. Groups of people were pulled out of the streets and alleys of the city under the threat of bayonet walls. Simple gallows were erected in the crowded square... because of the Gray Pigeon Castle. It was originally a fortress with a narrow space and many towers and turrets, so a large number of "criminals" were pushed to the top of the towers and hanged.

The soldiers mechanically put nooses on one person after another, and without waiting for the other person to be ready, they pushed them out of the window as if releasing a wild animal... In less than a morning, the windows at the top of all the towers were filled with colorful "pigeons".

With the support of Bernard Morwes, the "Lord Master of the Colonies", the loyalists in Pigeon Castle launched a thorough liquidation of the liberal voices in Parliament.

In this colony, which is only about a day away from Sailing City, the loyalists already have an overwhelming advantage. Especially after the rebellion in Sailing City was completely put down, the last hope of the liberals also followed the team that "appeared to have a chance to win." The army was wiped out together and ceased to exist.

Because of this, when Red Hand Bay followed the agreement with Beluga Port and went to various colonies to contact the resistance forces, it did not notify this place. It only placed a copy of "The Good People of Beluga Harbor" on a farm owned by a liberal. .

Of course, even if they were informed, it would be meaningless - as the first stop for suppressing colonial rebellions, the empire was destined not to let go of such an important bridgehead, let alone show any mercy, allowing the unruly thugs to attack the emperor. A loving heart creates any misunderstanding.

With the active cooperation of the loyalists, imperial soldiers from two infantry regiments and one cavalry regiment quickly took control of the city and carried out cleaning work from house to house.

Under the menacing wall of bayonets and iron hooves, the desperate liberals still organized a counterattack. Hundreds of militiamen who had only received simple training and had fired at the indigenous people from fifty steps away were hanged after just one encounter. They were completely wiped out and wiped out in a suicidal charge.

There was also a small group of people who took advantage of the entanglement between the imperial soldiers and the militia to escape from Gray Pigeon Castle. After receiving the news, the imperial knights immediately issued an order to hunt them down, becoming the cavalry's "extraordinary force" after work. Leisure and entertainment".

In just five days, the entire Gray Pigeon Castle was bloodbathed. All those who had participated in the militia or launched protests against the tyranny of the empire were arrested, hanged, shot, and tortured, regardless of their identity...even those who just expressed Those who had received the leaflets were also "lucky" to receive a lead bullet or a noose from the imperial soldiers despite being slightly dissatisfied.

As for how many unjust, false and wrongful convictions there were during the five-day purge, how many people were falsely accused because of their family’s property and assets, how many people were sent to the gallows by business competitors, and how many people just said a few words The corner of the mouth was targeted by the army. How many people were just implicated, coerced, misunderstood, wrongly arrested, and accidentally bumped into...

No one knows, and may never be known.

……………………

"So what exactly do we know now?"

Anson, who frowned slightly, held his forehead and said. Following his gaze, the eyes on both sides of the long table also turned to Fabian on the left side of the long table.

"Not much, but the information can be confirmed to be basically true."

Feeling the gazes of his superiors and colleagues, the former Guards officer said calmly: "We have two sources of intelligence. The first is the caravan heading to Gray Pigeon Castle, and the other is the survivors left behind by the purge. After comparison, the intelligence contents of both sides are basically the same, with only minor differences."

"For the entire purge operation, the empire only mobilized two hundred cavalry and less than a thousand infantry, and did not carry any siege equipment. At five o'clock in the morning, the loyalists in the city opened the city gate for the army, and at seven o'clock the purge operation began. .”

"The liberals, especially the militia of Pigeon Castle, organized a counterattack around ten o'clock, but they should have been wiped out soon; gunfire continued from ten o'clock on the first day until the afternoon five days later. "

"As for how many people were killed, and whether more troops were stationed in Gray Pigeon Castle in other ways afterwards...it is unknown."

"That's all." Anson's tone was slightly impatient.

"Yes, that's all."

Fabian lowered his head slightly: "I'm very sorry. It happened too suddenly, and it was a situation in Gray Pigeon Castle. The Storm Division's investigation capabilities are limited, and it can only collect so much information for the time being."

Anson fell silent, showing a dissatisfied look.

After a long time, he sighed softly: "Okay, I also understand that intelligence work is not easy, and it is indeed a bit difficult for you - what about that caravan, are they back?"

"Just arrived in Changhu Town, temporarily settled in the military camp."

"What about the liberals in Pigeon Castle, how are they doing now?"

"Not good...very bad." Fabian paused, and his voice was louder than before:

"Except for two adult men, the remaining twenty-eight people include two elderly people and four young women. The rest are all children, ranging in age from ten to fifteen years old."

"They fled in separate directions. After being attacked, they separated from the original team or escaped, and finally gathered together; there were no supplies or transportation, and almost everyone was injured or sick. "

"After meeting them, the caravan from Beluga Port lent this group of people a carriage and a small amount of supplies; they are currently coming along the road towards Red Hand Bay. Chief of Staff Carl and I have sent a team of cavalry to carry supplies. We went to pick them up, and at the same time, we were discussing with some friends to let them board the ship quietly at the port of Black Reef Port and send them to Beluga Port."

"As for how many people will insist on arriving, it's hard to say."

"Ensure their safety and health as much as possible." Anson said after thinking for a few seconds:

"If the ship hasn't set off yet, send a few medical soldiers from the Storm Division up there, and let the warships parked in Changhu Town distribute some shells to the merchant ships transporting them to prevent accidents."

"Yes!" Fabian nodded slightly, and then continued:

"In addition to the bloody purge of Gray Pigeon Castle, there are some unconfirmed rumors in the direction of Sail City: after the empire sent a battleship to the port and appointed a new colonial minister, no reinforcements or warships appeared. "

"There are rumors that it is because the empire has absorbed too much energy in its homeland and cannot devote much power to the new world for the time being..."

"Rumors are rumors, don't worry about them yet!"

Before Fabian could finish speaking, Anson raised his hand and interrupted: "Since we have declared war on the empire, we cannot expect the kindness of our opponents, let alone that they will be stupid enough to make mistakes on purpose; war is a very complicated matter. There are already too many unknowns about things, so we can’t use rumors to increase the uncertainty!”

"Unless conclusive evidence is found, all strategic arrangements must be based on the fact that the empire will launch a comprehensive counterattack - at least recruit reinforcements of the size of a legion for planning, and we must be prepared that except for ourselves, all colonies in the entire New World will attack the White Whale Port Did you hear clearly the worst-case scenario of launching an attack?!"

“Hear that clearly——!!!”

The officers on both sides of the long table shouted in unison.

"Very good, because I won't tell you a second time." Anson said solemnly, tapping the table with his right knuckles, then pushed away the chair and stood up, turned around and walked towards the side of the long table - Changhu Town City Hall of Parliament.

The long table where this military meeting was held was placed under the large map of the podium in the hall.

With his hands behind his back, Anson walked to the edge of the podium and glanced at the seats in the entire hall.

He saw pairs of eyes filled with anger, excitement, grief and fear.

Eyes covered with scarlet bloodshot eyes.

If these liberal colonial representatives were only afraid, timid and panicked before, then no matter how much, they were now filled with anger.

Before the massacre at Gray Pigeon Castle, they still deceived themselves into believing that as long as they used tactful words and made enough concessions, they could reach a compromise with the empire on very good terms; even if there would be some losses in terms of property, at least their lives would be Safety is guaranteed.

But after that, all illusions were shattered, and the cruel fact was before their eyes - as long as they were traitors, the empire would not let them go.

Not only will they not let go, but their families, their friends, their employees...all those involved in protesting and expressing dissatisfaction, and all enemies who are hostile to those "loyalists" will not end well.

Especially Peter Chatham, the representative of Red Hand Bay... His face is bloodless now, and he is shaking from head to toe. He is so frightened that he will be pushed to the gallows and hung on the Red Hand Bay in the next second. On the mast of a sailboat in the bay harbor.

He himself is not actually a liberal, but he cannot be called a qualified loyalist either - this is actually the common situation in various colonial parliaments, and those black and white diodes are the core of the two factions - but as for Based on his experience in lobbying the Clovis people to send troops, he will definitely be branded as a liberal!

Not only him, but all the representatives present also had this feeling: if they were just here to test the Clovis people on behalf of the parliament, they would probably be considered "traitors to the empire".

"I can understand your feelings, but I still have to say...this is the empire, or this is the true ferocious face of the empire." Anson said loudly:

"In the south of the mainland, I once led the army to participate in the unification war of Hantu; in order to prevent this former ally from returning to its former glory from a weak splinter alliance, the empire brazenly sent troops to intervene."

"At the summit tower, they carried out a brutal massacre of the surrendered fortress soldiers;"

"In the prosperous and fertile port of Carindia, they massacred a third of the city's inhabitants and reduced half the city to ashes with naval cannon;"

"But in the Wild Stone Castle, the base camp and bridgehead where the people of Hantu resisted the invaders; Clovis's army fought side by side with the knights of Hantu, fighting against an imperial army several times their own for nearly half a month, and in the end... They are safe and sound!”

"I have learned a lot from this war, and I am going to tell you the most important thing now; it is the only thing that must always be remembered on the road against the Empire."

"That's it - don't surrender!"

"Whether you are active or passive, as long as you are on the path of being an enemy of the empire, never surrender!"

"Only by letting them see clearly and letting them know that when they launch an attack, what greets them is not an open city gate or a helpless figure, but a sharp bayonet and oncoming lead bullets, can they know that they want to Kill us, want to enslave us..."

"There's a price to pay!"

"The price of blood!"