Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters-Chapter 934 - 27 Map_3
Chapter 934: Chapter 27 Map_3
“War relies on people! A lion can subdue a hundred sheep! The Fifth and Sixth Legions—the most elite of the Standing Army are all in the hands of the military government. Not to mention that most of the professional military officers are also on our side. Those fools at Kingsfort only know how to struggle for power and profit; how could they possibly win?”
John Jeska chuckled hoarsely, and Winters even heard pity in that laughter: “As long as there’s enough money, weapons, and population, soldiers can be as many as desired; with sufficient training, even new recruits can be forged into elite Standing Army. Thirty years ago, the old marshal won the Sovereignty War in just this way. Don’t you understand this logic?”
“[Armed civilians are not an army, the armed civilians are merely the raw materials for an army.]” Colonel Alec also quoted the old marshal’s famous saying: “An army cannot be forged overnight. Don’t forget, Kingsfort barely has any officers, and their old soldiers are pitifully few.”
“But they have one person, having that person is enough.”
“Who?”
“Sekler… Brigadier General.” John Jeska forcefully spat out a name, stating resolutely: “With more than double the manpower, land, and wealth, as long as Sekler’s mind is sound, he cannot possibly lose this battle! He will surely turn this war into a brutal war of attrition, slowly tightening the noose around your necks until you are ultimately strangled. He will win… but Palatu will lose.”
Colonel Alec was taken aback at first, then burst into uncontrollable laughter. He laughed so hard that his body rocked back and forth, tears and snot streaming out.
Even the usually calm John Jeska was baffled by the sudden burst of laughter.
John Jeska gradually shifted from being surprised and confused to serious: “What are you laughing at?”
“What am I laughing at? I’m laughing that you only know how to calculate military accounts, not political ones. That’s your problem, and it’s Sekler’s too.” Colonel Alec finally managed to suppress his laughter, wiped his eyes, and cruelly revealed the truth: “Sekler is already dead.”
The water cup hit the floor, and being made of wood, it bounced a few more times.
John Jeska’s breathing became labored; it took him a while before he managed to speak: “How did he die?”
Winters coughed lightly: “It’s a long story.”
“Who knows how he died? We don’t know either; he’s definitely dead though. Perhaps he died from a political conspiracy—after usurping the position of Grand Speaker, Magnus’ next move was to control the military, and he certainly saw Sekler as a thorn in his side; it could also have been assassination—after all, he betrayed all the soldiers of the Republic; or perhaps he even died from illness, who knows? Anyway, he’s dead, that’s for sure. As for how he died, we don’t care.”
“When did he die?”
“It’s been a while.”
John Jeska took a long time to digest this thunderbolt, sitting motionlessly as if mourning for Sekler.
After a while, John Jeska raised his head, his voice weary: “Please leave, I’ve learned enough for today. No escort out.”
Colonel Alec stood up, sighed: “I know your relationship with Sekler was special… Why don’t you come back with me to Oak Forest Fortress? As long as I have a roof over my head, there’s a place for you. You really can’t winter here—you can’t even make a fire! If you don’t want to leave your old home, I can bring you back in the spring, how does that sound?”
John Jeska shook his head as if on repeat: “Go, leave, let me be alone for a while.”
Colonel Alec reluctantly put on his hat, signaled to Winters: “Then let’s go, we’ll visit again tomorrow.”
Winters made no move.
“What’s the matter?” Colonel Alec asked.
During the heated debate between Colonel Jeska and Colonel Alec, Winters hadn’t said a word. He stared long at the invisible map spread out on the table, like a stone statue.
The Jiangbei Province, where the Palatu military government is situated, is surrounded by the Republic of Palatu, Monta Republic, and the Great Wilderness—besieged both internally and externally, it seemed a hopeless situation.
But a hopeless situation is not without its critical point, and the Ashen Stream River defense line wasn’t impregnable; the Newly Reclaimed Lands Province across the western part of Jiangbei Province might just be the key to turning the tide.
If one travels upstream and crosses the Ashen Stream River via the Newly Reclaimed Lands Province, Kingsfort’s riverside defense line would be rendered useless, and the military government’s blade could penetrate deep into the heart of Red Rose.
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The “political accounts” and “military accounts” mentioned by Colonel Alec were like a wakeup call to Winters.
The Palatu civil war had evolved beyond a mere military struggle, and more than just the Red Rose and Blue Rose factions were involved in the fray.
The Federated Provinces were restless, Vineta had its bow drawn, both Monta and Varn had ambiguous stances, and even the Empire on the other side of the Sheltering Mountain might be watching covetously.
Starting strictly from a military standpoint was far too naive. But in the end, the final resolution would still have to be determined by a struggle on the battlefield.
Winters’s thoughts returned to his body, and he looked at Colonel Jeska, speaking earnestly: “Before visiting you… I had also thought, if you were not doing well, I would take you away.”
“Take me away?” John Jeska chuckled dryly: “To where? To Vineta?”
“Not to Vineta—of course, if you wish to go to Vineta, arrangements can be made.”
“Finally home, I don’t want to leave again.”
“How about going to the Newly Reclaimed Lands? Newly Reclaimed Lands Province, Iron Peak County.” Winters paused for a moment, then added: “My place.”
John Jeska chewed over the phrase “my place,” then suddenly sneered: “Your place?”
“That description isn’t quite accurate, but it’s close enough.”
John Jeska’s expression turned serious, veins bulging on his hands. He straightened up, his deep-set eyes fiercely “staring” at Winters, and pronounced emphatically, word by word: “I! Will! Not! Go!”
The small cabin once again fell into silence, this time quieter than all the previous ones. The sound of breathing and heartbeats was clearly audible, along with the wind whistling over the rooftop.
Winters reached out, gently grasping John Jeska’s hand: “You must go.”
