Iron Powder and Spellcaster

"I'm sorry, but 'he is' is not an answer." Fritz said bluntly:

"Although Winters Montagne is now more famous in the United Provinces than several other leaders of the New Reclamation rebels. However, this is mainly due to his special status as a 'Pavi' and those who clearly include A legendary experience with many fictional elements.

“However, whether in terms of seniority or territory, he should be the weakest and easiest to deal with among the several factions within the rebels.

"So I really can't figure it out, why do you say that Winters Montagne is the most difficult enemy to deal with?

"Is it because of his personal force? I have indeed heard someone say that he is a spell caster. But what can a spell caster do on the battlefield? It's just killing people. Cannons can also kill people, and maybe they can kill people. More than the caster."

"Your opinion is not unreasonable. The vast majority of federal provincial officers think so." Cornelis changed the topic and said:

"However, this also proves that your understanding of Winters Montagne is as poor as that of most federal officers. Since you want to be Winters Montagne's enemy, your knowledge of him cannot stop. At the level of 'most people'."

"But the newly cultivated land is far away, and the information I can get in Guitu City is limited." Fritz asked knowingly: "Is there any way you can help me know more about Winters Montagne? Teacher. "

This time, it really scratched the itch of the former head of the department.

"Come!"

Cornelius stood up and waved, and the corners of his mouth that were habitually tightened were slightly raised unconsciously. He walked around from behind the desk and strode toward the sand table at the other end of the room.

Fritz followed step by step.

"How is it?" Cornelius came to the sand table, put his hands on his hips, and turned his back to his students. He asked refreshedly: "Is the sand table set up well?"

Fritz, who was standing behind Cornelis, bent down and looked closely. He saw a sand table about the size of a double bed, arranged to resemble the terrain of the valley exit.

A blue sawdust that should represent the river flows out of the valley and crosses the entire battlefield.

The two armies represented by numerous red and blue flags were fighting selflessly around the small village in the center of the battlefield.

There are so many red and blue flags. If according to the Alliance Army's practice of laying out a sand table, one flag represents the strength of a brigade, then the total force invested by both sides will reach the level of 100,000.

Fritz thought this was unlikely. Firstly, if it was a battle involving 100,000 people, he would not have heard of it. Secondly, for this valley, 100,000 people would be too crowded.

Then, the only explanation is that each small flag does not represent a brigade, but represents a military unit at the centurion level or the cavalry detachment level.

It doesn’t mean that one small flag cannot be used to represent a hundred people when setting up the sand table, but...

"How much time does it take to break down the sandbox for each centurion?" Fritz exclaimed.

"It's not much. I just took the teaching and research office to review it for seven nights... You don't have to stand so far away, just go up and take a look."

The former headmaster's tone was very calm, but the corners of his mouth were so raised that he could almost hang his saber.

Perhaps realizing his gaffe, Cornelis coughed lightly, turned around and walked towards the large cabinet next to the sand table, and said casually:

"Let me give you a question - look at the sand table and tell me, which battle is it?"

"It just depends on the situation on the battlefield, I don't know." Fritz replied honestly: "But since you are asking me at this moment, I guess it is the Battle of Riverdale Village."

Cornelis snorted without comment, opened the door of the cabinet in the northeast corner, and pulled out a file box from the rearmost position.

Cornelius placed the file box in front of Fritz. Judging from his actions, the file box was heavy.

"Here." Cornelius tapped the lid of the file box with his finger and said to Fritz:

"In it, there is all the information I have collected about the battle of Hehe Valley Village. From the announcement jointly issued by the rebel leaders, to the reports sent back by the advance troops of the Kings' Castle, to every business bank with a branch in the Kings' Castle The information provided also includes records of inquiries from people who have recently returned from Plato, and transcripts of all the family letters of those who participated in the war that can be read...

"In short, all the information that can be obtained in Guitu City, whether written or oral, has been summarized here and has been analyzed and judged by the teaching and research office..."

While the former head of the department was chatting, Fritz's attention was attracted by the label on the side of the file box.

There are three lines of text on the label:

[Battle of River Valley Village (tentative)]

[River Valley Village·Jinghu County·New Reclamation Province·Plato]

[May 28, 560 (tentative estimate)]

Fritz suddenly realized something. He suddenly raised his head and looked around - there were three entire walls, more than 300 huge file boxes that could fit folios, and each side was labeled with the same but different contents.

The place names and battle names on some archive boxes are related to the Alliance in Fritz's memory.

The place names and battle names on some archive boxes have a distinct oriental flavor.

On the labels of most of the file boxes, there were battles that Fritz had heard of, or battles that Fritz had not heard of, but he knew from the location that the imperial army participated.

Some famous battles, each one filled with more than a dozen file boxes.

As for those battles that Fritz had never heard of and only contained in a file box, there were also many.

The location column of some file boxes was even filled with [Far Western Colony (exact location unknown)].

Fritz's eyes swept across the huge file box that occupied three entire walls. Thinking of the effort required to collect and study this information, beads of sweat began to form on his forehead and back.

Over there, Jason Cornelius was still talking, and he said with regret:

"...Unfortunately, because the time is too close and the distance is too far, there are still too many gaps in what we can understand about the Battle of River Valley Village.

“So the teaching and research office had to add some reasonable conjectures and inferences so that the review could proceed normally.

"However, this is the sandbox simulation that is closest to actual battle conditions that you can find in Guitu City."

Fritz nodded instinctively. He was still in shock, and the sounds from the outside world went in through one ear and out through the other.

When Cornelis noticed that someone was not listening, he immediately showed displeasure. He knocked on the edge of the table and said with a straight face, "Major?"

"Oh... I'm sorry." Fritz came back to his senses, looked at the file box on the wall with admiration, and asked: "Is this the intelligence you collected about the empire? There is actually so much?"

"What are you thinking about? How can it be only this little?"

Cornelius frowned and replied haughtily:

"The empire's archives are on the first floor."

After a pause, he added:

“It’s all on the first floor.”

There was a buzz in Fritz's skull.

"But you don't need to look at those things now." Cornelis reassured the student he had just recognized. He knocked on the file box in front of him: "The enemy you have to deal with next is Winters Montagne. ”

Fritz nodded vigorously, the clothes on his back already wet with sweat.

Cornelis thought for a while and asked: "Do you think that my saying that Winters Montagne is the 'most outstanding teaching achievement of the Army Officer School in the past twelve years' is too exaggerated? Are you because you heard that your juniors were Are you not convinced by such a compliment?"

"I don't dare." Fritz couldn't think of a refutation now, and nodded like a chicken pecking at rice: "You said he is, then he must be."

Cornelis was very dissatisfied with the student's answer. He put away his smile and sternly admonished: "War is a matter of life and death! There is nothing more important than it! Do you think I would make fun of such a thing? Or do you Not enough understanding of the war itself?”

Fritz, who was scolded, instinctively stood up straight.

"Since you feel contempt, it's time for you to understand the number one enemy of the Southern Front." Cornelis pressed the file box: "Don't look at the information first, look at the sand table first."

He pointed to the sand table: "Look carefully, the review in front of you stops at the moment when the battle of River Valley Village was decided.

“It was also the moment when the fate of New Acquisition, Plato, and even the United Provinces, Veneta—the entire alliance was rewritten.

“If the rebels in the new land lose this battle, we won’t be so close to the worst ending.

“If the King’s Castle government forces win this battle, we can expect the best outcome.

"Unfortunately not, our allies lost, and our fate changed."

Fritz's "soul" seemed to have been soaked in ice water. When he looked at the sand table again, he no longer had the previous attitude of staying out of the situation.

"Look at the sand table and tell me." Cornelis pointed at the sand table and asked, "Tell me, which side is the rebels and which side is our ally? Which one is Winters Montagne's army."

Fritz lowered his head and observed carefully - the battle lines were very different, and the red and blue sides were completely strangled together. At first glance, it seems that there is no winner or lose, but if you look closely, you can find that although the Blue Army is resisting, it is weakened and is being divided and surrounded.

The victory of the red side is unstoppable. The only variable is some small blue flags planted in the northwest of the battlefield.

Although those small flags are still some distance away from the main battlefield, if they can arrive on the battlefield in time, they may be able to change the outcome of the battle.

However, those small blue flags are square flags representing infantry. They were surrounded by red pennants representing the cavalry.

Apparently, the red cavalry was trying its best to prevent the blue reinforcements from arriving on the battlefield.

Fritz carefully inspected the sand table again, confirmed his point of view, raised his head, and answered affirmatively: "The red ones are government troops, and the blue ones are rebels!"

He analyzed: "They said that the Battle of Vale was 'the rebel commander lost the battle at four o'clock, but Winters Montagne won the battle at six o'clock',"

"Then I guess that the infantry in the northwest is Winters Montagne's troops. He broke through the government cavalry defense line and joined the battlefield as a new force, overwhelming the government army's battle line and ultimately reversing the victory."

"You got the answer right about who is the government army or the rebels, but you got it wrong about Winters. Big mistake!" Cornelius sneered and swept down the small blue flag in the northwest: "This is not Winters-Montagne's troops were not even reinforcements, but defeated troops fleeing."

Fritz was stunned for a moment, then looked down at the sand table again. After getting the new information, he only felt that the situation of the Blue Army was getting worse.

"Tell me now." Cornelius's voice rang in Fritz's ear. "Which troop is Winters Montagne's troop?"

The result of the Battle of River Valley Village was known to everyone in the Federal Army - the rebels won a great victory and the government army was completely annihilated.

However, Fritz leaned on the edge of the table, staring at the battlefield and thinking hard, but he couldn't figure out how Winters Montagne should deploy troops to "win the battle lost at four o'clock at six o'clock."

"Sorry." After racking his brains to simulate countless times, even though Fritz was unwilling, he had to lower his head and humbly admit: "I don't know."

To Fritz's surprise, the former head of the headquarters did not say anything critical, but just picked up a bunch of blue flags, walked to the southeast of the "battlefield", and inserted the blue flags behind the red side one by one.

Fritz suddenly understood.

Then, a sense of dissatisfaction surged in his heart, and he stammered in protest: "Ah...he...I...I didn't know he would appear in that place..."

Hearing Fritz's words, Cornelius, who had not criticized Fritz just now, now looked annoyed.

"It's not your fault." Cornelius said coldly: "The commander of the government army didn't know either."

Fritz was speechless.

Cornelius used his hand as a pointer, pointing on the "map" outside the sand table: "I tell you, Major Fritz, Winters Montagne led his troops over the mountains all night before reaching the battlefield. And just one day before the Battle of La Valle, he had just defeated the government army's six infantry battalions on the other side of the mountain. And when he judged that the main force of the rebels needed support, the Battle of La Valle had not even started!"

Cornelius strode to the closet, took out another file box, and stacked it heavily on the file box of the Battle of La Valle.

Fritz looked at the label of the new file box - "Compilation of Border Conflict Data of the Republic of Palatus in 559-560"

"If it was just a fluke, then you might as well take a look at this." Cornelius opened the newly taken file box and pulled out a file: "See how he lured the enemy deep into the territory and surrounded and annihilated them."

Frittz looked at the cover of the file - "War of the New Reclamation Army-Terdun Tribe in Winter 559"

"Take a look at this again." Cornelius said, pulling out another file: "See how he made a feint to the east and attacked in the west, and won with fewer troops."

Frittz looked at the cover of the file - "Summary of known intelligence on local rebels in the New Reclamation Province."

"These are just the battles we know about. Winters Montagne must have fought battles we don't know about." Cornelius sneered contemptuously, mocking his colleagues who knew nothing about Plato's actual situation: "It seems that Winters Montagne's faction is the one with the poorest territory and the smallest momentum in the rebel camp. Whether it is Gesa Adonis or Matthias Korwin, each of them is older than him and more famous than him. "However, I can tell you now that Winters Montagne's troops are the ones with the strongest actual combat power, the highest control over the territory, and the greatest potential in the future among the rebels! "And what is more valuable than Winters Montagne's troops is Winters Montagne himself!" Cornelius's eyes did not blink, and he was no longer speaking to the students, but to himself. The de facto president of the Union Army Academy for more than a decade flipped through the files at hand and said with satisfaction:

"He can always find the enemy's weak points, always appear in unexpected places, and always stab the most deadly sword... Every battle can be put into a textbook.

"His rational judgment of the situation, his keen grasp of the opportunity, and his courage to give it a try... Every one of them is what I most hope to teach you.

"The most valuable thing is that he can always gather a large group of followers around him, and people are willing to go through fire and water for him... And this is something that even the old marshal can't teach you.

"And he is less than 30 years old. I have never seen a student who walked out of the Army Academy achieve higher achievements than him before the age of 30."

Jason Cornelius turned his head to look at the newly recognized student and asked proudly:

"Fritz of Nice, do you think I said Winters Montane is the 'most outstanding teaching achievement of the Army Academy in the past 12 years' because there was someone who was more attractive to me than him 12 years ago?

"No, not really! It's because I have only been in charge of the teaching and research department for twelve years, so I don't comment on the teaching achievements of my predecessors!"

Fritz had nothing to say.

Just like every teacher in the world, no matter how the students listened, Cornelius had said everything he wanted to say.

He took a deep breath and exhaled for a long time.

He disdained to seek the approval of others, and he also felt a little tired.

So, Cornelius pointed to the three file boxes in front of Fritz and ordered:

"Take it back and read it before leaving - after reading it, you will not be like others, only knowing the enemy you are going to deal with through gossip and stereotypes."

Fritz looked at the three huge file boxes on the sand table, and inexplicably felt that his shoulders became vaguely heavy.

"Yes! I must read it." Fritz gritted his teeth and raised his hand to salute, and neatly put all the files taken out by the former director back into the file box.

"And this one." Cornelius walked to the closet and bent over to knock on another file box: "This one is also worth a look." Fritz glanced at the label - "558 'Palato Republic-Red River Tribe' War".

"Since you are going to fight in Plato, you must understand the fighting methods of the Plato people." Cornelis explained more difficultly: "And there are also some strategies worth learning from the Red River Department's strategy of defeating the Plato Expeditionary Force. part."

Fritz felt bitter in his mouth, and he raised his hand to salute: "Is...departure? When is it?"

"It's not confirmed yet, you will know as soon as possible."

"Who are the other officers of the Southern Front?"

"There are no 'famous generals'," Cornelis showed that sarcastic smile again, "Those who have some background are trying their best to squeeze into the Western Front."

Fritz didn't know what to say. He didn't want to, nor was he qualified to judge other officers like Cornelis, so he chose to remain silent.

"But don't worry, there is no waste in the Southern Front." Cornelis added calmly and calmly: "Although there are not many people, everyone is carefully selected by me."

Fritz asked softly: "Being 'selected' like me?"

"Of course." Cornelis nodded matter-of-factly: "I told you, I always prefer to use volunteers. You will understand when you meet your colleagues. Now, follow me!"

After that, the former head of the headquarters walked towards the door.

Fritz was startled for a moment and said hurriedly: "Sir, I have one more question..."

But Cornelius had already reached the door, grabbing a lamp along the way.

Fritz hurriedly chased after him and found that the former head of the department had not gone far. He was groping for something in front of the door of the office opposite.

"You're not trying to pry..." Fritz was shocked.

Breaking into the principal's office has been a running joke among military cadets for many years. Legend has it that there is Marshal Ned Smith's treasure in the principal's office, and he left it to anyone who dared to pick the lock - but so far no one has dared to actually do such a thing.

Cornelis looked back at the former student in confusion: "Why pry? I have the key."

After touching the keyhole, Cornelis took off a greenish brass key tied around his neck and inserted it into the keyhole.

Since it had not been opened for a long time, the door lock stubbornly resisted external force.

Fortunately, in the end, with a crisp "click" sound, the latch came out of the door frame, and the door to the principal's office was slowly pushed open.

"Come on." Cornelius walked into the principal's office holding the lamp in one hand and covering his nose with the other.

Fritz hesitated for a moment, then followed.

"You've never been into the old marshal's office, have you?" Cornelius asked without looking back.

"No." Fritz followed cautiously: "When I was in school, the principal's office was already sealed."

The so-called treasures were indeed nonsense. Fritz was disappointed but not surprised to find that there was nothing special in the principal's office. There was only a simple desk, a hard chair, a set of writing tools, two rows of bookshelves, a few chests of drawers...everything was covered with thick dust.

"Not when you were in school, but since the death of Marshal Ned Smith, this office has been sealed." Cornelis looked around sadly: "So everything in this room still belongs to the old Marshal. Nothing has changed from that day.”

After Fritz heard this, when he looked at the furnishings in the room, his eyes changed somewhat.

"Actually, it's not all what it was like that day." Cornelis raised the lamp and walked to the chest of drawers on the right rear side of the desk: "For example, this one."

Fritz followed and found a shelf on the chest of drawers. There was a sword on the shelf - the dust was so thick that when he looked over it just now, he thought it was a pointer.

"All the personal belongings in this room belong to the old marshal, except for this sword." Cornelis said lightly: "But to be precise, this sword also belongs to the old marshal. He gave it to me. This room is sealed That day, I put it back."

This is an equally simple sword, half-sword-shaped, with no patterns, carvings, or jewelry inlays.

The sword frame and counterweight are polished steel, and the hilt is wrapped with sweat-absorbent string.

The scabbard is made of black hard leather. It is covered with scratches that will inevitably be left when walking, sitting, and lying. The edges are already a little yellowed.

Jason Cornelius looked at the sword without saying a word.

Fritz stood with the former head of the headquarters for a long time, until he came back to his senses and remembered that there was another important thing to ask.

"My second question has not been answered yet." Fritz broke the silence in the office: "Sir."

"Didn't I say you can call me 'teacher'?" Cornelius touched the corner of his eye and waved his hand: "Ask."

"Actually... it's no longer one question, but two questions..." Fritz coughed lightly, stood up straight with his boots together, and asked seriously: "Although the Southern Front is an abandoned son of the military, it is after all I am just a major in a front army, how can I command it legitimately? And..."

Fritz hesitated and asked seriously: "Since you rated Winters Montagne so highly, what should I do if I fail?"

After hearing this, Cornelis turned around, looked Fritz up and down carefully, and suddenly laughed so loudly that he was out of breath. His laughter shook the dust on the ceiling and caused it to fall in large swaths.

"What are you thinking, cadet? How can you be allowed to command four legions? Winters Montagne is your enemy, but how can you be his opponent?"

Jason Cornelius wiped away the tears of laughter, straightened his appearance in front of Ned Smith's sword, and solemnly raised his hand to salute the sword.

After the ceremony, he stretched out his hand and raised the sword again after twelve years.

His eyes burned in the darkness:

“Winters Montagne’s rival.

"it's me."

——

At the same time, Maple Stone City was on the other side of the narrow land between the two mountains.

While other officers of the New Army were anxiously awaiting the inevitable reorganization of the army and large-scale personnel transfers, Pierre Mitchell was the first to receive a letter of appointment issued by the new government in advance.

He looked at the contents of the letter of appointment and fell into deep thought:

[Wai Xin Reclamation Land]

[Governor Envoy]

[It seems that my description caused everyone to misunderstand and mistakenly think that Jason Cornelius is an old man (facepalm). But he was only in his early forties and in his prime. His career path is very classic: "stay in school to teach" and "make rapid progress". However, because the old civilian government of the United Provinces deliberately blocked the appointment of general officers, Jason Cornelis has been stuck in the rank of colonel for many years. A lot of colonels in the United Provinces are like this. Based on their seniority, they are already generals. Those in other republics at the same time have held the rank of generals. They are still colonels and they have to salute when they meet.]

[Lao Zhan’s resume]

Outstanding graduates of the second batch of Army Officer Academy

Army academy teacher

Director of Military Studies Teaching and Research Office, Army Academy

Head of Army Academy

commander of the confederate southern front

[Fritz’s resume]

Second Lieutenant Centurion, 300th Regiment, 10th Regiment, 2nd Regiment National Guard

Lieutenant Centurion, 500th, 1st Battalion, 2nd [Faithful] Regiment, National Guard

Captain Centurion, 1st Battalion, 1st Battalion, 2nd [Faithful] Regiment of the National Guard, 1st Centurion

Major Researcher, War History Division, Army Province, United Provinces Republic

Director of Munitions, Union Army Southern Front