Steel, gunpowder, and spellcasters

Chapter 320 Extermination
Leaving Antonio, Moritz asked Winters out of the blue, "Do you know about [Solomon's Judgment]?"

"The mystery of the child being split in two?" Winters didn't understand what the lieutenant colonel was trying to say, but he still answered seriously, "I think I've seen the mural there."

“A mother who doesn’t love her child agrees to split the child in two, while a mother who deeply loves her child would rather give the child away.” For the first time, Moritz adopted the attitude of an elder in front of Winters, and he said with emotion, “But you should know how sad the latter is when he lets go.”

Ultimately, Antonio Serbiati did not force Winters to return to Veneta with him as a father.

Instead, he didn't make any demands.

As if fully understanding Winters' inner struggle, Antonio chose not to make Winters face a "two-choice" decision.

He simply told Winters that Venetta "might" intervene in the Palatour civil war.

Thanks to his adoptive father's arrival, Winters finally broke free from Iron Peak County's invisible information blockade and was able to learn about the major developments in the league:
Over the past year, the standoff between Venetta and the United Provinces in the archipelago has gradually cooled down as both sides have been building fortifications, constructing strongholds, and undertaking large-scale construction projects.

Nowadays, whether it's the United Provinces or Venetta, if they want to completely drive their opponents out of the archipelago, they have to tackle one tough challenge after another.

This phenomenon was almost a replica of the later stages of the Sovereignty Wars, and the old marshal once created a military term to describe it—[fortification].

The rapid fortification of Tanilla has resulted in a surge in the cost of achieving a military breakthrough in the archipelago, to the point that neither side can afford it.

Since it was difficult to achieve anything in the archipelago, opening up new fronts to put pressure on the United Provinces became the mainstream strategy within the Governor-General of Vineta.

Rivers eventually flow into the sea; Venetta's power struggle with the federal government boils down to four key areas:
The archipelago and inland seas—this is currently the focus of contention between the two sides;

Maritime trade routes and colonies—targeting the United Provinces' overseas trade seemed like a good way to exert pressure. However, it was too slow to take effect, and both sides' overseas interests were largely intertwined, with one benefiting and the other suffering together.

There is another, even more dangerous spot, where the two sides are "head to head"—the Benliu River.

The River Benliu is the border river between the two countries. The 4th [Florence] Legion of Venetia is currently facing off against the 2nd [River Benliu] Legion of the United Provinces across the river.

Reinforcing the River Benliu could put direct pressure on the United Provinces, but if a conflict were to break out, it would mean that Venetta and the United Provinces would completely break off relations and go to war.

And this is... precisely what the Governor's government least wants to see.

“What on earth is the Grand Consul doing?” Winters couldn’t help but complain. “He doesn’t want to fight, yet he’s all eager to roll up his sleeves. But when it’s actually time to roll up his sleeves, he hesitates. This… this is like holding a candlelight ball in a powder keg?”

António gazed out the window: "Some people prepare weapons to use them, and some people prepare weapons so that they will not use them."

"And what do you think?" Winters asked cautiously, "Is Venetta and the United Provinces ultimately destined for war?"

“We are weapons,” Antonio said calmly. “Weapons should try not to think.”

Winters wanted to refute, but for some inexplicable reason, he said "Oh".

“But if it can be resolved peacefully, it’s better to avoid war.” Antonio sighed. “There are also voices within the alliance calling for de-escalation and peace. In a few months, it will be Varne’s turn to host the [General Assembly], and the Grand Consul of Debera and the State Secretary of the United Provinces will be in attendance…”

The General Assembly, or UN General Assembly, is held every four years and is hosted by the member states in rotation.

A glimmer of light appeared in Antonio's eyes: "If everyone has a chance to sit down and talk things over, maybe everything can be resolved peacefully—that would be the best outcome."

In short, the only suitable opportunity for Venetta to exert his influence without directly clashing with the United Provinces is the Platún Civil War.

Moreover, Veneta had ample reason to intervene in the Paratul civil war: debt default.

Even the debt default is just a symptom; the core issue is that the ruling Venetta parliament is absolutely unwilling to see a pro-provincial Palatour government emerge.

"To what extent is Veneta prepared to intervene?" Winters asked.

“It depends,” Antonio replied.

"Depend on the situation? That's too ambiguous."

“It’s 'it depends on the situation',” Antonio told Winters without hesitation. “Actually, the group of five is still waiting for next year’s General Assembly. De Bella wants to talk first and then make a decision. In my opinion, the United Provinces are doing the same, and even the tension in Tanilla has been somewhat reduced.”

"So what kind of results do you think the UN General Assembly can achieve?"

“I don’t know,” Antonio replied simply, shaking his head. “Never mind, let’s not talk about that now. Let’s talk about your business.”

Winters' heart tightened.

“If Veneta intervenes in the Paratú civil war,” Antonio explained to Winters, “then the Third Republic will be Veneta’s ally. You can hand over Iron Peak County to the Paratú military government. This is not abandoning those who trust you—you can negotiate with the Third Republic to secure the best terms for Iron Peak County.”

Winters already had a general idea of ​​what his adoptive father was going to say.

“In Palatine, your Venetian identity will eventually become a shackle, but in Venetia it will be the opposite,” Antonio patiently explained. “This will be the best opportunity to ‘let go’.”

The shimmering sea, the bustling docks, the childhood room, the aroma wafting from the kitchen, the cat scratching at the door in the middle of the night... all of these have appeared in Winters' dreams.

Doesn't he miss them?
Of course he misses them!

The longer I lived in the land of galloping horses, the stronger my memories of the sea's jewel—aquamarine—became.

Winters shook his head: "Please let me think about it some more."

“This matter isn’t urgent; there’s plenty of time to consider it.” Antonio placed his hand on Winters’ shoulder. “Listen carefully, son…”

António looked into Winters' eyes and said, word by word, "Home is a place you can always go back to."

Winters lowered his head.

“Don’t think about anything, don’t worry about anything,” Antonio repeated. “You can come home anytime.”

"You can come home anytime," and somehow, Winters's psychological defenses were almost shattered by this simple sentence.

Silence, a long silence.

“Don’t cry.” Antonio released his grip and joked, “A real man doesn’t shed tears easily.” Winters tried to change the subject: “Let’s not talk about me… I still find it incredible that you came to Palatour. What about the Third Legion?”

"Don't worry, even without me, [Veneta] won't cause any trouble."

“I still…can’t accept it…” Winters’s speech became somewhat clumsy: “In my mind, you would always stay at your post…”

“It shouldn’t have been me, but who else could take you back besides me?” Antonio seemed to be convincing himself: “A good man’s ambition lies in all corners of the world, a good man’s ambition lies in all corners of the world.”

If it were Winters two years ago, he probably wouldn't have felt anything.

But at this moment, Winters keenly noticed something amiss, a link in the chain of logic that just wouldn't make sense: why would his adoptive father come to Iron Peak County?

In Winters' memory and understanding, her adoptive father never neglected his public duties for personal reasons.

Just to come find him, he abandoned the Grand Vinetta Legion in Tanilla?
Winters felt that this was both reasonable and unreasonable.

Unless—unless the adoptive father has other missions to fulfill. In other words, this is not a simple "journey to find his son," nor is it a case of putting personal matters before public duty.

If that's the case, then everything makes sense!

“You’ve come to Palatour…” Winters asked tentatively, his feelings a mix of emotions, “Uh, is there something else?”

“If I had to mention something, there’s one more small matter,” Antonio replied casually.

"What?" Winters' feelings were even more complicated.

"Warhorses".

"what?"

"The Third Army Corps needs warhorses, lots of warhorses."

"Military horses?" Winters asked suspiciously. "Does such a small matter require your personal attention?"

“After the outbreak of the Palatine Civil War, Veneta’s access to warhorses was completely cut off.” Antonio didn’t intend to elaborate on this matter; he went straight to Winters and asked, “How many warhorses do you have now?”

Winters originally wanted to explain that most of the horses in Iron Peak County were captured Herd horses, which were different from the Palatour horses in the general sense.

Moreover, military horses cannot be driven directly from the high-altitude Palathu to the low-altitude Veneta; the transfer process is very troublesome.

But Antonio certainly knows more about these issues than Winters.

So Winters sighed, gritted his teeth, and asked, "How much do you need?"

Antonio gave a half-smile: "Three thousand."

These three thousand horses were not draft horses or draught horses, but warhorses that could be ridden into battle.

If you add up all the warhorses in the Venetta Army, including the private warhorses of officers at all levels, you probably wouldn't find that many.

Ultimately, Venetta and Plato were naturally very different in terms of natural endowments. Plato could easily arm fifty cavalry squadrons, while Venetta only had two cavalry battalions in total, one each in the Third and Fourth Legions.

Winters wanted to shout, "Three thousand horses? Where am I supposed to find three thousand warhorses for you? Three thousand? I'd rather go back to Veneta with you! Three thousand? What do you need so many warhorses for? Can we even operate on that small island of Tanilla?"

Ultimately, Winters managed to control his emotions.

His face flushed red, but he mustered his courage and asked, "Then... how much money can you offer?"

……

The end of the war allowed transportation within and outside Tiefeng County to gradually return to normal, and many people who had been unable to meet due to the war were finally able to reunite.

For example, Winters and Antonio.

And, Father Kaman and the mysterious Father Saul.

After Winters began clearing out Lower Iron Peak County, the Torrent River ford was reopened, and a small squad of militia escorted Father Saul to St. John's.

Father Kaman offered to Budd the opportunity to verify Father Saul's identity.

The meeting took place in the small chapel of the St. John's Church. There was no one else in the chapel except for Kaman and Saul. Kaman did not even allow anyone else to enter the room next door.

However, even if someone were eavesdropping at the door, they couldn't hear anything.

Because Kaman and Saul used sign language.

Light streamed in through the small window, and under the Virgin Mary's gaze, Carmen and Saul communicated silently.

With just a few simple movements, Kaman had already verified Saul's identity.

“I’ve heard of you, Brother Saul.” Kaman’s attitude was very respectful, a stark contrast to his impatience with Winters.

“When I entered the wasteland, this was still a pile of stones belonging to the Hurds.” Saul gazed at the icon: “Please contact my brothers in the Reformed Order.”

“There’s something I must tell you.” Kaman’s expression was strange. He cleared his throat and began to speak, because what followed could not be expressed in sign language: “[The Reformed Order] no longer exists.”

Kaman had expected Saul to be shocked, to weep, or even to have an emotional breakdown.

But the old man, who had been a slave for decades, seemed to feel nothing. His voice was hoarse and even a little awkward, but he was very calm: "What's wrong?"

Kaman licked his lips, his left hand instinctively gripping the holy emblem. He slowed his speech as much as possible: "Thirty years ago, Pope Pius V ruled the Reformed Order as a heretical order."

“The Reformed Order has been banned.” Kaman didn’t even dare to look the old man in the eye: “All the Reformed Order members, both dead and alive… have been excommunicated.”

[Due to unforeseen circumstances (heavy rainstorm), I was on duty over the weekend and haven't adjusted to the time difference yet. One chapter is owed for now.]
[I love heresy, and things like that.]
[Thank you to all the readers for your collections, reading, subscriptions, recommendations, monthly tickets, donations, and comments. Thank you everyone!]
(End of this chapter)