black wizard Zhu Peng

Seeing this scene, the old butler John Watson relaxed his tense nerves a little. This kind of young master is the young master he is familiar with. Although he has undergone tremendous changes through life and death, some details of his behavior have remained.

In fact, if it weren't for these details, Old John would have suspected that the young master of the Custer family had changed his soul.

"Five hundred dinars were searched from the cellar of his home. They were well hidden. If I hadn't gone there in person, I'm afraid I wouldn't have found the earth hole he dug..." Five hundred dinars, even if each coin was They are small copper coins, and there are a lot of them in a cloth bag, which is quite heavy.

Zhu Peng reached out to pick it up, and took the money bag to the eye and nose of Matthew whose hands were hung up. He said softly:

"Instructor Matthew, you are also an old man who has followed my father for many years. I think if it is only five hundred dinars, you will not be willing to take the risk of betraying the Custer family. You know that my father has always dealt with betrayers." Means... These five hundred dinars can let you drink the best wine in the tavern, play with the most beautiful women, and enjoy it for a long time. You must be very unwilling to be caught without spending a penny. ?”

Speaking of this, Zhu Peng ignored the blood and smell and leaned into Matthew's ear and said:

"Tell me who bought you. I will prepare poisoned wine and women for Uncle Matthew, and send you on your way with noble etiquette. It is not in vain for you to follow my father."

In the continent of Calradia, nobles have the privilege of "die with a smile" if the situation permits.

After drinking a lot of fine wine and playing with women recklessly, the waiter will dump the poisonous fine wine at the moment when the nobles are the happiest. Many warriors who lick their blood are quite envious of this method of death, because it represents their pursuit of life. And unobtainable status: nobility.

"...Young Master, Matthew has served the Viscount all his life, how could I betray the Viscount? The money really does not belong to me...someone framed me." After all, he is a strong fighter, even if he is tortured or bruised, The logic of the discourse is not chaotic at all, and he defends himself.

"Look at these cloth wrapped with money, the inside has been infiltrated by dust, which means that it has been buried in your cellar for a while, if anyone spends five hundred dinars and a lot of time, just to frame you Little instructor... Matthew, then you have to accept your fate, I want to kill you, and spend two to three hundred dinars in the tavern to hire five elite killers to find an opportunity to ambush you, can you escape?" Sneered, Zhu Peng Folding over, he picked up the red-hot iron from the stove on one side, then turned around and pressed it on Matthew's lower abdomen, accompanied by a hoarse scream, the faint smell of cooked meat diffused.

"Count Magali of Rivacheze, how much did you promise? Five hundred dinars is just a first payment, right? Without three thousand copper coins, how could you risk your life and participate in the assassination of me? ?" Throwing away the soldering iron, he grabbed Matthew's hair and made him raise his head to look at him. When he said the word "Magali", Zhu Peng obviously saw the pupils of the other party dilate... …After all, he is not a real professional spy. If a secret that has been hidden for a long time is suddenly revealed, there will be some uncontrolled reactions.

"...I already know that it was written by Earl Magali. Tell me everything else you know, and I will give you a happy ending."

"..."

Matthew seemed to be stupid, standing there stunned while being dragged by Zhu Peng's hair without saying a word, but Zhu Peng was no longer interested in continuing to play with him.

"Uncle John, immediately send scouts to detect the direction of Riva Cheze, and report to me directly no matter what the result is... Remember, keep it strictly confidential." Turning around and walking out of the torture room, Zhu Peng walked to the old housekeeper who was following him. ordered.

As a new nobleman, the foundation of the Viscount William Custer in the war Derber Fort is at the junction of Nord and Vaegia. The big cities Rivache and Kurau are surrounded in a triangle shape, and Djerber Fort is in the center of the triangle formed by the three big cities of the two countries. It is conceivable that the commercial taxation in peacetime is generous, and it is greedy by the three parties. The extent can also be imagined.

However, Earl Kles, who was in charge of Kurau, was deeply trusted by King Vigia Rogorke, and Kurau was also close to the royal city of Zhiwadin, so he dared not stretch his claws to Fort Derber.

Nord, as a neighboring country of Vaegia, if the city lord in charge of Wocheze storms the castles of the nobles of the neighboring country without sufficient reason, he will provoke an all-out war between the two countries if he is not careful, which he cannot do by himself.

Among the three big cities, Rivacheze is the most powerful because of the coast. The Earl Magali, who is in charge of the city, is in his prime and ambitious. Viscount William sent his youngest son to study in Rivacheze. It means making friends with the great nobleman Magali.But now it seems that people look down on the olive branch offered by the country's small aristocratic nouveau riche. What Earl Magali wants is Djerber Castle, and it is even acceptable to add an Albuquerque Castle.

Even if it caused a war between the two countries, and he threw out a castle to appease the public anger and even bribe the king, the remaining castle and three villages and towns were enough for Magali to digest for a while after a feast.

Accompanied by Old John, Zhu Peng walked out of the prison under the eyes of the strong prisoners around him.Viscount William crushed Old Albuquer in terms of tactics and combat, but he was a mercenary after all, and he was completely crushed by Count Magali of Rivacheze in terms of strategy and resourcefulness. Wrong, at this moment Magali has mobilized elite troops to march on the road to Fort Djerber.

(The snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman wins, the mantis catches the cicada, and the oriole follows... Calculated in this way, Rod Custer's death was not an accident at all. Someone tampered with his stirrup, The person who does this will not be Albuquer's scapegoat Kyle. It will be..."Miss Anina Boyer, "Rose of Zhivacheze", Earl Magali's favorite niece.)

From the memory in his mind, he found the noble girl with snow-white skin and gorgeous looks. Rhodes' memory of this woman is full of admiration and excitement. She may not be more beautiful than Lier, but the aristocratic temperament on her body. The glamorous posture really added a lot of points to it, and it was no wonder that the aristocratic teenagers who were fascinated by Riva Cheze were so fascinated that they all bowed down under her white gauze skirt.

However, who would have imagined that the thorns of this gorgeous and delicate rose are smeared with deadly poison?

Zhu Peng returned to his room in the castle, and opened the country map and his own military roster. If the war between the two sides is about to start, he will have to use a ruined city to meet the world's first-class powerful army.

(But I can't lose, let alone abandon the city... Otherwise, compared to this "chess game", I can be said to be cleared out in advance.)

Chapter 19 The significance of buildings such as taverns and prisons... of course it is to accept the task

In the middle of the night, with candles burning in Rhodes' room, Zhu Peng sat at the table and looked at the map.

Li'er, who was content to have dinner with the person she admired, was pressed by Zhu Peng on her acupuncture points, and she fell asleep hugging the quilt with a blushing face.

It wasn't a sleeping acupoint that hit at one point, but the acupoint on the back of the neck that Zhu Peng lightly pressed to promote sleep after being coaxed into drinking some strong stamina. After a while, the little girl lost consciousness in a drowsy state.

It didn't take long for Old John to send out scouts, and it would take at least a day and a half to bring back accurate information. Maybe it wasn't long before he brought back the information, and the knights led by Magali had already approached the castle of Derbera.

Don't bother with the scouts at all, no matter whether Magali of Riva Cheze will call or not, Zhu Peng will think that he will call: if he guesses wrong, it will be a false alarm at most, if he guesses right...

Unlike Fort Djerber and Fort Albuquer, which are located on the border between the two countries, Rivache is located on the eastern coast, deeper into the relatively safe hinterland of the Vigia border.

The prosperity of commerce allows the lords there to raise more elite fighters, and the endless pirate groups on the coastline bring countless opportunities for military training. In Rod Custer's memory, Rivache has at least raised With five hundred or nearly six hundred elite fighters, it can be said that their overall strength is stronger than the sum of the Custer family and the Albuquer family.

Not to mention the ambitious and talented Earl Magali, putting such military power and wealth in the hands of any nobleman would probably breed ambition.

Not to mention, the elite cavalry regiment that Viscount William is proud of, Earl Magali may turn around and pull out a 200-man cavalry regiment, which is more elite and powerful than the 50-man cavalry regiment in Viscount William's hands.

Thinking of such a cavalry regiment rumbling over, Zhu Peng felt a toothache.

The strength of the Custer family and the Albuquer family are close to each other. As a veteran nobleman, the Albuquer family is actually stronger in military strength than the Custer family. The castles of both sides have about 250 people. Full-time fighters left and right.

It's just that there are only about 120 of the truly usable elite, that is, fighters of the third to fourth ranks. The Custer family has only about [-] people, while the Albuquer family has a full two hundred.

After the decisive battle, the relatively powerful Elbuck family was wiped out in two hundred steps, leaving only fifty low-level Nord warriors in the castle. The irritated Viscount will really slaughter the city after breaking the castle.

However, the actual combat effectiveness of the remaining 130 people in Djerber Castle may not be better than the 30 low-level Nord fighters in Elbke Castle. The third-level guerrilla shooters and the third-level senior infantry were used to fight a full 130 people. With such a [-]-man army against the fifth-level knights of Earl Galli, the result of the battle would only be a one-sided massacre.

Even with the geographical advantage of defending the castle, they can't beat it. As long as they are rushed to the top of the city, the battle will be one-sided like chopping melons and vegetables.

"The 130 people in my hand may be enough to defend the city and deter pirates. If I want to deter a noble like Magali...just kidding." First-grade tavern, second-level prison, second-level barracks" and finally stopped at the first-level tavern and second-level prison. After thinking for a while, Zhu Peng got up and put on his robe. He was making his own bed. After pulling the quilt, Lier turned and walked out of the room.

Variables must be added, otherwise there is almost no possibility of successfully defending the castle. I am afraid that as soon as the Magali army arrives, he will be arrested by his betrayed subordinates and then sent to the city.

……

In the medieval environment of Western Europe, there is no entertainment in the middle of the night. Although there is no curfew, the poor people who can’t even eat enough obviously don’t have enough energy to light lamps and cook oil in the dark. …with the exception of taverns.

Mercenaries, merchants, travelers, bards, and even fugitives gathered in the tavern, around the campfire, drinking bad wine, bragging loudly, and watching some pretty whores flaunting coquettishness.

There are hardly any outstanding mercenaries in a first-level tavern like Fort Derbera. However, Zhu Peng, who is seriously lacking in combat power, still found eight mercenary crossbowmen and third-level soldiers from a dimly lit corner. Hiring is expensive, and its combat effectiveness is much weaker than that of formally trained third-level arms.

The soldiers in the Calradia continent are soldiers, and civilians are civilians. The full-time military service system is implemented. This is also because of the lack of resources in the entire world, and the limited resources have to be concentrated on a small number of people to form an elite.The Vaegir youths were led out of the village by the nobles. They were the Vaegir recruits, also known as the Junior Army. They were first-class troops, and their actual combat effectiveness was about equal to that of ordinary peasants with iron sharp weapons.

After being trained by the lord's barracks, they gradually improved their combat power and were promoted to the second-level Vigir light infantry. It's time to kill people and let the flesh and blood of the same kind nourish their bodies.

Following Viscount William in the battlefield, under the leadership of senior veterans and the coastal pirate regiment several times, as long as they survived, most of them could be promoted to the third level. At this time, a branch appeared in the promotion system of Vaegir warriors, one is close combat Vaegir veteran infantry on one side, and Vaegir guerrilla marksmen on the far side.

This kind of third-level soldiers that can be used, Zhu Peng only has more than 100 people in Derper Fort at this time, and the remaining [-] people are all first-level and second-level soldiers. Peasants with weapons, they are useless in city defense, and they are not qualified to be cannon fodder.

The third-level soldiers are promoted to the fourth-level, and another branch appears in the military system. Vegean veteran soldiers are promoted to Vaegir infantry, and Vaegir guerrilla shooters are promoted to Vaegir archers. The name is simplified, and the combat power is improved. A fourth-level soldier can be regarded as an elite in any legion on the entire continent.

In addition to being promoted to Vaegir infantry, senior Vaegir soldiers can also choose to be promoted to Vaegir riders, provided that the lord sees you pleasing to the eye and is willing to buy horses for you, and you have enough superb riding skills. Undoubtedly, he cannot be a cavalryman.

Finally, there are the three fifth-level promotion branches of the fifth-level arms, Vaegir Knights, Vaegir Guardians, and Vaegir Marksmen. Leaving aside the Vaegir Guards and Vaegir Marksmen, the knights from Zhiva Cheze It is the existence that Zhu Peng is about to face... Qualified to be called a knight regiment, it means that the fifth-level knights in this cavalry regiment occupy a considerable proportion, and more than 200 of the 100 cavalry are fifth-level soldiers. Even if Viscount William was in the city, it was hard to say whether the heyday of Fort Djerber's military strength would be able to stop it, let alone at this moment.

In the five major countries of the entire Calradia continent, except for a six-level super-strong heavy infantry "Nuo Huang" guard in the Nord infantry system, the promotion system of the other four major countries is similar to Vigia's one to five levels. If the level difference between the two sides is one level, there is already a gap in combat power.

Now Zhu Peng is going to lead a group of first- and second-level centurions, relying on the location of the castle to contend against a 200-member knight group... Unless Zhu Peng is immediately promoted to an official wizard, or immediately restores alchemist cultivation, there may still be some points The chances of winning, but he dragged Rod Custer's super-crippled body at this time, and two Vaegir knights with big axes at random could chop him into a white chicken.

It was because the situation was so difficult that there was almost no hope in sight, so when the eight hired crossbowmen in the tavern were asking for a high price, Zhu Peng hired them with almost no counter-offer.

Level [-] peasants, level [-] mercenary sentries, and level [-] mercenary crossbowmen.

These eight mercenaries chose the road of licking blood because of the pressure of life or because they were not satisfied with the hard life of farmers. Zhu Peng handed over more than 600 dinars to them at one time, and gave them each Zhou's high salary, the smiles on the hired crossbowmen's faces can be clearly seen in the dark corner of the tavern, Zhu Peng really hopes that they can still smile like this when they are coerced to fight against the Riva Cheze Knights as happy as ever.

(Not enough... not enough, not enough. Just these few people are not enough for Magali to swallow in one gulp. The difference is too much, the difference is too much.)

Chapter 20 The Three Masters of Diplomacy, Zhu Peng, Rhodes, and Custer

In the dark and noisy tavern, Zhu Peng's eyes slowly scanned the drunken people around the fire:

Businessmen, prostitutes, hooligans, drunks, but looking around, except for the eight mercenaries behind him, there is no one in the entire tavern who seems to be really holding a sword.

"Little white face, what are you looking at?"

People will be unresponsive because of drunkenness, but certain emotions will become more sensitive because of drunkenness. A drunken man with a red face stood up. He seemed to be stimulated by Zhu Peng's bright eyes in the past. Shaking his body, pointing at Zhu Peng and yelling, this man has a long sword on his waist, which looks quite bluffing.

"Aren't you going to help me get rid of him?" Zhu Peng frowned slightly, looking back and questioning the eight mercenaries behind him.

"No, boss, our contract will only be enforced from tomorrow. At least tonight, we are all guests of this tavern." The white-faced boy in the robe raised his glass, and he looked like he wanted to watch a good show.

He did see a good show, too.

Seeing his opponent turning his back, the drunk man thought he had a chance to punch him. However, Zhu Peng's body was like a shadow moving with the wind, following the undulating back of his fist, Finally, the drunk man's fist was exhausted. His fist was only a piece of paper away from Zhu Peng's nose, and the skin on his fist could almost feel the airflow brought by the opponent's gentle breathing.

Zhu Peng raised his arm and followed the opponent's strength to pull the opponent's arm, and at the same time stepped on the opponent's instep, the drunk man who was already sloppy suddenly fell down, and his head hit the corner of the triangular wall with incomparable accuracy. After a muffled bang, the whole person fell limply on the ground and passed out.

In the main material world, Zhu Peng practiced martial arts since he was a child, and his strength is boundless. After he was promoted to the Taoist fairyland, he can kill people with a single blow. It is generally easy to drink water, and when you don't want to kill someone, you can punch the whole person flying out, which is also very beautiful.

However, that was the state in which he was successful in martial arts and could fight as he wanted.

In fact, at the beginning of martial arts fighting, wrestling, grappling, and cuddling are the most simple and easy-to-use techniques. It takes a lot of skill to directly hit the opponent into the air with fists.

If your skills are not deep and your punches are not strong enough, then you have to use sprints, run-ups, and close combat with the enemy. How could it give you a chance to sprint and run-up?

With Rod Castor's body now, unless he uses a knife, his lethality is seriously insufficient.

Zhu Peng turned his head back to lure the enemy into a trap for the drunk. When the opponent punched, he retreated, and the precise sense of space and distance stuck the opponent tightly. The strength of the opponent easily defeats the other.

Although the strength of martial arts is gone, Taoist Dan's state of mind and will in the fairyland are not affected. Even if he only uses a fraction of the strength of the opponent, he can easily play with the opponent in the palm of his hand. Life and death depend on the heart.

Pulling off the long sword and a bag of money from the unconscious drunk man, Zhu Peng turned around and was about to leave.However, at this moment, a gray-haired old man who was lying on the wooden table, looking drowsy, suddenly rushed forward.

"Wait, wait..."

Zhu Peng walked away from the old man's embrace with his footwork as if he had eyes on the back of his head. It was the same drunk old man who turned 360 degrees on the spot before finding his target again.

"You look like a man who is used to wielding a sword. My... uh, my salute was taken away by pirates outside the city. Can you help me get it back?"

Just as Zhu Peng started to frown, a light brilliance flashed before his eyes, and rows of subtitles appeared:

"Triggering the task of the ferocious elite hero 'Bronze Spirit Engineer' Yatiman, only [-]% of the source energy is left, will it consume [-]% of the energy reserve?"

"……Yes."

Leaving the tavern, even the debt Zhu Peng paid for the old man Yatiman.

There are only two points of source energy left, and I will participate in another Lantern meeting to obtain information after a while. In other words, the task of Yatiman is almost the only task that Zhu Peng can receive in a short time. Without getting enough gains from this mission, Zhu Peng will hardly have the chance to find other extra money.

"You said there was a pirate group of 30 people outside the castle?" Zhu Peng asked as he handed a bowl of sober up soup to Yatiman, who was still blushing and looked drunk.

"Yes, I originally planned to go to Rivache to build an arrow tower for Lord Magali, but when I passed by here, I was surrounded by a group of pirates. If I hadn't given up my pack horse and luggage immediately, even I would have been killed by them." Capture him as a slave." After taking a sip of the hangover soup that Zhu Peng handed over, Yatiman, with silver gray hair and wearing a scholar's uniform, took a sip, then looked around the stone hall in the castle, and continued:

"Are you the lord here? Well, you can become a lord at such a young age, no wonder the security situation in the territory is so bad."

"..."

I don't know whether Yatiman is born straightforward or has drunk too much alcohol. Anyway, Zhu Peng now quite understands why he is full of talents but becomes a construction worker wandering in the mainland.

"I'm not the lord of Fort Jerber, my father, Viscount William Custer, is, but I do have certain management authority here, and I am willing to take back my luggage for Mr. Artiman, and I also want to Please, Mr. Artiman, to be the guest of the Custer family, and I am willing to pay you a generous salary as a reward." At this moment, Butler John, who was obviously pulled up from the bed, came to Zhu Peng with red eyes.

"Master, do you need me?"

"Mobilize..." After pondering for a while, Zhu Peng continued to order:

"Assemble eighty elite fighters, and I will personally take back his salute for Mr. Yatiman. At the same time, I must also clean up the security situation within the territory." Zhu Peng's order made Old John hesitate for a while, but He glanced at Yatiman, bowed his head and said yes, turned and walked out.

"Uh, I am very grateful to you, Master Custer, for your attention, but I have already been invited to build a defensive arrow tower for Lord Magali in Rivache, and I am also used to wandering alone, so I don't want to stay in the city for a long time. Somewhere." Yatiman pushed and procrastinated very skillfully, and Zhu Peng also understood that this was the polite refusal of the scholar in front of him, and he still wanted to get a noble title somewhere with his full knowledge, instead of being under the hands of some small lord employed.In fact, if this is not the case, with Yadiman's knowledge, it would not be difficult to find a well-paid position anywhere in the mainland.

"Well, since you've made up your mind, I won't be able to force you to stay... Can you build two arrow towers for my Fort Derper first? After all, if you don't have horses and luggage, you won't be able to reach Riva Cheze now. , and building two arrow towers for me first does not violate your promise to Earl Magali."

Asking prices all over the sky and paying back the money when they landed, Zhu Peng's memory has relevant information about the "Master of Bronze Spirit Engineering" Yatiman in the Calradia continent. One of the partial future pieces.

In the many futures of this Yatiman, it is really possible to become a great nobleman.

His excellent copper spirit engineering ability was even popular at one time, and he can be said to be a typical late bloomer like Jiang Ziya and Tokugawa Ieyasu.

With the few cards in his hand, Zhu Peng didn't think that he could draw the opponent into his banner with a little foresight advantage.

However, Yatiman would always be embarrassed to refuse his request if he asked for a lot of money and paid back the money when he landed. As long as the other party's psychological defense loosened, he would have a chance.

Sure enough, Yatiman wanted something from others at this time, so he couldn't be too blunt. Finally, he nodded and agreed to Zhu Peng's second request, but the cunning old man reminded Zhu Peng that his copper spirit engineering skills are different from ordinary construction projects. , the cost of copper coins is very huge, at least twice the cost of normal construction projects.

The old man seemed to want to spend a huge amount of money to deter the young nobles in front of him, but he underestimated Zhu Peng's determination at this moment... If the Fort Jerber cannot be defended, the savings of the Custer family will still be cheap after all. Others, now Zhu Peng is burning money to pay for his life. He was not a lord in the first place, so he spent such money without the Viscount’s consent. In fact, it was a bit beyond his authority. However, Old John, who knew the serious situation at this time, gritted his teeth and agreed. The inner warehouse of the castle opened the door to Zhu Peng.

In fact, there are more than 1 dinars in reserve funds.

Viscount William Custer had a short time to make a fortune, and he had to stockpile weapons and recruit troops. Even though he was sitting on the coastal trade route, he didn't actually have a lot of savings. Now it would cost Yatiman to build two arrow towers with the copper spirit technique. [-] copper coins... This is because the project level of Yatiman is high enough, and the funds are calculated in small amounts, so there is such an amount.

...The moon is dark and the wind is high, the sky of murder and arson...

After accepting the task of Yatiman, it would be a shame if it could not be completed.

Zhu Peng rode a black and gray horse and led the elite of the whole castle to attack. He refused the old engineer's request to join the army, just because he didn't want him to really find out about his family background.

Why do you have to pull out a team of 80 people to fight [-] pirates? Because there are fewer troops, it is really possible that you can't beat them.

Thirty third-level soldiers and fifty second-level Vigia light infantry.

These are all the elites in Zhu Peng's hands. Now the remaining 50 people are the young army guarding the castle. Such a city defense can be said to be extremely dangerous.

"Why does the young master treat that old man so courteously? He will build an arrow tower for Magali when he is going to Rivache. Do we want..." As he said, Old John made a throat-cutting motion. As long as this motion is human civilization, it will be It's really universal.

"Take our soldiers and let them see the blood. It's an experience. What's the use of killing Yatiman? Are you planning to lead the soldiers to fight Zhiva Cheze?" At this moment, Zhu Peng and Old John both Wearing leather armor, but Zhu Peng is equipped with a left shield and a right knife, as well as a crossbow and arrow pouch.

The weapon chosen by Old John next to him is a two-handed axe and a three-pocket throwing axe. The crazy and sturdy past style can be vaguely seen from the weapon configuration of this skinny old man.

Zhu Peng and Old John rode ahead as scouts. According to the information provided by Yatiman, they found a group of strong men in chain armor in a small forest not far from Djerber Fort.