Steel, gunpowder, and spellcasters

Chapter 510 Rebuilding the Nation (Twenty-Six)
Gaspar Berente observed the expressions of the "free men" without making a sound, while Colonel Skull scrutinized Gaspar.

Outsiders are easily misled, but Colonel Skull knew perfectly well: Gaspar Berent, the handsome man known throughout the army, was not actually as unrestrained and carefree as he made his first impression on most people.

On the contrary, Gaspar Berent was a meticulous and thoughtful man who excelled at logical reasoning rather than intuitive judgment.

Because they had known each other for many years.

At the same time, Gaspar Berent also concluded that he should answer his senior's question directly.

Upon hearing Colonel Skull's words, the free men of the newly established land all turned their gazes toward him, signifying their expectation to hear his answer.

But that gaze was cold, carrying a hint of resentment, which meant that people already knew the answer.

For an answer that a listener already knows but still wants to hear, remaining silent or avoiding the main point is not a good choice.

The former is tantamount to confrontation, while the latter is nothing short of lying.

As Colonel Skul Mecklen's fundamental purpose in holding this public trial was never to send Gaspar Berent to the execution ground.

Gaspar Behrendt's willingness to answer every question was not because he wanted to live a life of ignominy.

"My answer to your question represents only my personal opinion."

Gaspar took a deep breath, raised his voice, and fearlessly gave an answer that was more honest than the audience's boldest expectations:

"In Hongchuan, the orders issued by the Decision-Making Committee are the law; the gold and silver collected by the Decision-Making Committee are the taxes; the Decision-Making Committee selects officials; the Decision-Making Committee commands the army; whether to continue the war or conclude a peace treaty, all decisions are made entirely by the Decision-Making Committee..."

The jury was silent. Even the most averse to military council members had to admit that the Blue Rose Colonel on the bench was a "tough guy."

But more than anger and resentment, the silver-haired officer's sincere, almost arrogant, remarks left them feeling uneasy. This was unprecedented in the previous two trials.

“In Hongchuan, state power is not held by any one individual, but by a closed, professional, and orderly military group.”

Gaspar Berent paused, and only after refocusing the audience's attention did he reveal the dagger hidden beneath his cloak: "In other words, from any perspective, we are the same as 'you'!"

As soon as he said this, Colonel Skull immediately got to enjoy the feeling of being the center of attention.

Without exception, all the free men in the Great Council turned their eyes toward the judges' bench.

Colonel Skull remained unmoved and calmly replied: "Define 'you'."

"Do I need to define 'you'?" Gaspar laughed loudly. "Of course, it's the New Reclamation Legion, the New Reclamation Legion that actually rules the New Reclamation Land!"

"In 532, the Grand Council signed the Tord Agreement, establishing the New Reclamation Legion. Therefore, all rights and powers of the New Reclamation Legion in the New Reclamation Province were granted by the Grand Council." Colonel Skull quoted extensively and eloquently, then asked rhetorically, "Gaspar Berent, who granted you the power to allow you to establish a separatist regime in the Jiangbei Province?"

"Your Honor, you are asking a question you already know the answer to."

I want to hear your answer.

“Every Paratist who still has a sense of justice will tell you that it was not us who betrayed our country, but Grove Magnus and his accomplices who betrayed us, the soldiers who risked our lives for our country.”

Gaspar surveyed the newly reclaimed land's free men and passionately accused:

"The massacre of Kings' Castle, the slaughter of the Grand Council, and the betrayal of the Kingdom of Galloping Horses and their own souls to the United Provinces—Grove Magnus and his lackeys are the true traitors! They have not only betrayed us, but also the Kingdom of Galloping Horses; their souls will forever be condemned to hell!"

The grand council chamber was momentarily overwhelmed by the silver-haired colonel's imposing presence, with only his voice echoing between the pillars and the dome.

But a cold, stern question shattered the glass curtain.

“Gaspar Berent,” Colonel Skull began, “you still haven’t answered who granted you the power to establish your own independent regime in the Jiangbei Province?”

Gaspar frowned. Colonel Skull's attack direction was not within his expectations. He did not answer directly: "Grove Magnus's treason has automatically deprived him and the pseudo-parliament under his control of the power to rule the country."

“Gaspar Berent,” Colonel Skull pressed, “who exactly granted you the authority to establish your own independent regime in the Jiangbei Province?”

“Fighting traitors never requires anyone’s permission.” Gaspar retorted, “Colonel Skul Mecklen, who granted you the authority to establish your own independent regime in the newly reclaimed province?”

This question invigorated the audience in the tiered seating area.

Gaspar spread his arms as if to embrace the raging winds from all directions.

Backed by the will of the newly free settlers, he questioned Skool, who sat high on the judge's bench:

"In this sacred court, before the people of this newly reclaimed land, cease using the Torde Agreement as a fig leaf! Your actions have far exceeded the scope of the powers granted by the Torde Agreement, haven't they?!"

"The Torder Agreements never permitted you to form an army, nor did they permit you to wage war, nor did they allow you to treat the Free People's Assembly as a toy."

"Your Generals' Council's rule in Jiangbei Province is called separatism, but your—the New Reclamation Army's—control over the New Reclamation Province penetrates into every inch of soil even deeper than the Generals' Council's rule in Jiangbei Province."

"Answer me, Colonel Skul Mechren, who granted you the authority to establish your own independent regime in the newly reclaimed province?"

Colonel Skull looked up and saw hundreds of pairs of eyes, all filled with the same questioning look.

Unwittingly, Gaspar Behrendt became the spokesperson for the free people of the newly established lands, riding the wave of public opinion and fearlessly asking the free people the words that the newly established land legions dared not utter.

But Colonel Skull stood firm like a steep cliff on the coast, no matter how turbulent the wind and waves.

"Just as the republics relinquished their rights, so too did the alliance exist," Colonel Skul replied calmly. "The existence of the Republic of Palatine was also based on the rights relinquished by the states—that is, the provinces today—at the beginning of its founding."

"Therefore, when the Grand Council, the vehicle through which the provinces have transferred their rights, can no longer perform its functions, the provinces automatically reclaim all the rights that have been transferred."

"As the acting administrator of the newly reclaimed provinces, the Newly Reclaimed Army Corps thus became the new vehicle for the 'national rights' ceded by the newly reclaimed provinces..."

Faced with Colonel Skull's long-winded speech, all the free men in the Great Council were completely bewildered.

Gaspar Berent, the only one who could understand, racked his brains trying to find contradictions in Colonel Skull's words.

After a moment of silence, he retorted loudly, "What you've said is merely one interpretation of the Charter of the Union and the Charter of the Republic! There has never been a definitive conclusion regarding whether the rights of the Republic are ceded by secondary entities or by the smallest entity!"

……

[Seating area in Tiefeng County]
Upon hearing General Blue Rose's words, Richard of Blackwater punched his thigh in exasperation.

After listening to all three trials, Richard, an observer, saw things more clearly—in terms of legal expertise, even if everyone else in the Great Council were combined, they couldn't match Colonel Skul Mecklen.

"At this point, it's all about who shouts the loudest!" Richard thought anxiously. "How can we keep following Colonel Skoll around like that?!"

……

However, improvisation and rallying the people were never Gaspar Berendt’s forte—Skoll Mecklen knew this even better than Gaspar himself.

"Gaspar! You still won't admit it?" Colonel Skull snapped, "Whether it's the people relinquishing their rights or the provinces relinquishing their rights, the military council has no right to seize them!"

Colonel Skull pressed on, his voice growing increasingly harsh:
"If the provinces are transferring power to the state, then where is the assembly of free people in your regime?"
"If the people are relinquishing their rights to the state, then where are the people in your regime?"
"You have stolen the rights that belong to the country without any permission, which constitutes treason! What else do you have to say?"

Before many of the free agents could even grasp the logic, they saw the silver-haired Blue Rose officer lower his head.

When the silver-haired officer looked up again, his previous calm and composed demeanor was gone; his brows were furrowed and his eyes were bloodshot.

"Why be so hypocritical? Senior Skull, why be so hypocritical?"

Gaspar no longer wanted to engage in this hopeless debate with Colonel Skul. Of the thousands of "judges" in the grand council chamber, he questioned only Skul:
“I know, you know, everyone here knows! What would happen if we really handed over power, wouldn’t you say?”
"The so-called free men, and the Free Men's Assembly, have no ability, no will, and no desire to fight for Plato."

"The New Reclamation Army has arrived, and they are obedient citizens! The Military Council has arrived, and they are obedient citizens! The Pseudo-Assembly Council has arrived, and even the United Provinces have arrived, and they are still obedient citizens!"

“Isn’t that so?” Gaspar’s gaze swept over the free men around him, his tone more sorrowful than angry: “You?!”

A very small number of free men glared back indignantly, but most of them avoided the silver-haired officer's gaze.

“Only you, me, us—we soldiers—will fight for Palatour!” Gaspar’s voice grew hoarse as he pointed to the officers in the tiered seating area, then to the free men in other sectors:
“If we cling to the Charter, you—and all of you, you all know what will happen! The Kingdom of Galloping Horses will cease to exist, and Palatour will become a vassal and puppet of the United Provinces. Then it will be Veneta, and by then, the Union will be a mere shell.”

Colonel Skul remained silent; only Gaspar's voice echoed in the Great Council.

“Therefore, we cannot relinquish power! Just as you cannot hand it over to them.” Gaspar met Colonel Skul’s cold gaze head-on.
"You accuse us of being criminals and traitors. I cannot win the argument! I concede defeat!"

"But I want to tell you, to tell all of you."

"We are Plato's last defenders!" Gaspar delivered his final words: "When we fall, Plato will perish!"

The Great Council was completely silent; the only sound could be the faint beating of Gaspar Berent's heart.

The free men were unwilling to accept the Blue Rose Colonel's words, yet they didn't know how to refute them. Many even vaguely agreed with the Silver-Haired Lieutenant Colonel's assessment.

“You overestimate yourselves and underestimate the Paratum.” Colonel Skul’s voice came from the judge’s bench: “The Paratum existed, exist now, and will exist in the future. As long as the Paratum exist, the Paratum will not perish.”

The freemen were somewhat bewildered, and Gaspar Berent frowned.

Colonel Skull slowly stood up and faced everyone in the Great Council: "That's why we need these three trials, and we need all the free men of the newly reclaimed lands to serve as judges for these three trials."

"Grove Magnus and his henchmen regarded all people who opposed him as pigs and sheep, and he himself took the role of butcher, never thinking about where his power came from."
“Arpad Duyom and his men claimed to be seizing power from the people in order to protect them, but in reality, they became tyrants and usurpers;

“The soldiers of the United Provinces shout ‘Save the Union,’ but their actions are nothing short of trampling on the Union.”

“The Red Rose, the Blue Rose, the United Provinces—each of them is responsible for the Platonic Civil War. The paths they have chosen are all destined for destruction.” Colonel Skull’s calm voice held a powerful undertone: “If we want to avoid a tragic fate, we must embark on a path different from theirs.”

The atmosphere inside the main council chamber was oppressive and suffocating.

Even though many free men had guessed beforehand that the "new legion" was calling them up for a reason, they never imagined that the shoe would drop so hard when it actually did.

Colonel Skull paused for a moment to allow the free men to catch their breath, then continued, “My fellow countrymen, you have heard all the trials. Now, the moment has come to decide our fate, the fate of the new land, and the fate of Plato.”

People under the dome unconsciously perked up.

"Whether we repeat the same mistakes or forge a different path from theirs, the choice is yours." Skul Mecklen pleaded with the Free People's Assembly, enunciating each word clearly: "Follow your conscience and make the final decision!"

Having said that, he picked up the broken mallet head and slammed it heavily onto the base: "Bring the first two groups of defendants to court."

Subsequently, three teams of military police escorted Sanel Karoi, Naji Modach, and Alder Felt to court.

Compared to Gaspar, who was in the dock, the three officers of the Red Rose were in a rather sorry state—because their mouths were gagged. Clearly, the conversation was over, and Colonel Skull had no intention of making them speak again.

Colonel Skull called out the first name loudly: "Sanel Caroy!"

In the dock, Sanel Caroj stared with bloodshot eyes.

Colonel Skull's accusations were forceful:

"Because of your responsibility for the 167 wounded in the Maple Leaf Castle massacre, the thousands of wounded in the Battle of the Valley of Sorrow, and the countless wounded in the wars you instigated, I accuse you of the crime of [inflicting bodily harm on others without reconciliation]."

"Because of your responsibility for the deaths of eighty-nine New Reclamation Legion members in the Maple Leaf Fortress Massacre, the deaths of thousands of Paratus in the Battle of Howling Valley, and the countless deaths in the wars you instigated, I accuse you of [murder]."

"Because of your collusion with the United Provinces Army, I accuse you of the crime of [inciting other countries against the motherland and handing over your compatriots to the enemy]."

"Citizens, make your judgment!" Colonel Skull's voice was icy: "Is Sanel Caroy guilty?"

"Aye!!!"

"Aye!!!"

"Aye!!!"

All the free men responded with three undisputed shouts.

“Sanel Caroy,” Colonel Skul slammed his gavel and announced, “by the ruling of the Special Court of Free Men, you are guilty!”

However, Colonel Skul did not specify a punishment. He simply waved his hand, and the military police grabbed the still-resisting Sanel Caroy from both sides and took him away.

Before the liberties in the tiered seating could even react, Colonel Skul had already called out the name of the second person on trial: "Naji Modach!"

Colonel Skull continued his accusations:

"Because of the accusation that you committed the crime of [damaging another person's limbs and being unable to reconcile] in the Battle of the Valley of Sorrows."

"Because of the accusation that you committed [murder] in connection with the Battle of Howling Valley."

"Because of your association with the United Provinces Army... you are accused of the crime of [inciting other countries against the homeland and handing over your compatriots to the enemy]."

Without a doubt, it was another three shouts in unison.

“Naji Modach,” Colonel Skul slammed his gavel again, “you are guilty according to the ruling of the Special Court of Free Men!”

Colonel Naji Modach was also taken away by the military police without a verdict. As he left the Grand Council building, his gaze towards the liberties and former colleagues remained contemptuous.

Next up was Old Felt.

“Ald Felt.” Colonel Skull did not accuse the soldiers of the United Provinces of murder and injury: “Because of your and your instigators’ trampling on the Charter of the Union, the Charter of the Republic of Palatine, and all justice and law on earth, I accuse you of the crime of ‘betraying the Union and despising the Constitution’.”

With three loud shouts in unison, Old Felt was taken away.

Throughout, the army major from the United Province kept his head down, facing everything blankly, like a walking corpse.

Finally, we come to Gaspar Berent.

“Gaspar Berent,” Colonel Skull said, his tone unusually tinged with sadness, “I charge you with treason for allegedly participating in the division of the country, allegedly subverting the republican system, allegedly organizing, planning and carrying out an armed rebellion… Citizens, make your judgment.”

This time, the calls from the jury were also somewhat hesitant.

People sympathized with the sincere and handsome Blue Rose officer, but in the previous conversation, Gaspar had made his position and attitude clear and unambiguous.

So, as before, three voices shouted in unison—though somewhat chaotically—announcing that Officer Blue Rose was guilty.

Gaspar Berent strode out of the Great Council with his head held high.

Colonel Skull on the stage and Colonel Gaisa below the stage exchanged a glance. The most difficult part of the scheduled process for the Free People's Conference was over.

Putting the "representatives" of the Red Rose, Blue Rose, and the United Provinces on the dock was a huge risk for the preparatory meeting, because in trying them, they were also given the right to speak.

Fortunately, Colonel Skull managed to handle the situation.

Today, the four "guilty" verdicts are like four sharp blades, completely severing the complex entanglement between the newly established regime and Hongchuan and Zhuwangbao.

Next, they went with the flow, encouraging the free people to pass the bill to "rebuild the republic" three times, and then read out the charter of the new republic.

Colonel Skull followed the original procedure.

However, when it came time to read the charter of the new republic, the atmosphere in the Great Council gradually cooled down.

Listening to Colonel Skull on the judge's bench loudly reciting the charter that had already been drafted, even the most pro-military freemen of the newly established lands couldn't help but feel a sense of absurdity.

The free people gradually became disillusioned and silent, and the sense of shared hatred that had been stirred up in the previous trials vanished.

Gerard Mitchell, Nandor Krylov, Richard from Blackwater, and hundreds of "free men" from the newly reclaimed lands listened silently to Colonel Skull's voice.

What Colonel Skull was saying was no longer important.

The important thing is that in this listening process, the boundaries of free people gradually disappear, eventually converging into a vague behemoth.

This enormous creature can breathe, but it can only act on instinct.

Its instincts are so numb, sluggish, and passive that it seems no external stimulus can awaken it.

Until a bored voice rang out from the tiered seating area.

"Ugh, all this fuss." The owner of the voice yawned loudly, "It's all just to get that piece of paper in your hands approved!"

Colonel Skull, who was mechanically reading from his prepared remarks on the judge's bench, was interrupted by this sudden voice.

Colonel Skull paused for a moment, looked up at the source of the sound, but found nothing.

"Why go through all this trouble?" the voice rang out again. "Isn't your greatest skill simply gathering a bunch of free men to decide things you've already decided on?"

On stage, Colonel Skul frowned, and below, Colonel Geza also put on a stern face.

The one-eyed military police officer strode to the seat in Maplestone City where the voice had come from and demanded sharply, "Who's speaking?"

"No need to look anymore, it was me who spoke!"

A figure stood up from the back row of the Maplestone City seating area and walked down the steps, where the Maplestone City free agents made way for him.

When Colonel Gaisa, sitting in the first row of the White Mountain County seating area, saw the other person's face clearly, his pupils suddenly dilated.

"They've interrogated the soldiers from the Blue Rose faction, then the soldiers from the Red Rose faction, and even the soldiers from the United Provinces faction. So how can it be justified not to interrogate a few politicians?"

A young man from the Maplestone City seating area walked into the central speaking area of ​​the Great Council Hall, laughing loudly.

“I am Kai Morland! Permanent Representative of the New Reclamation Province to Kingsburg! Member of the Grand Council for three terms!”

The young man stood on the bench, like a thunderclap, awakening all the free men in the hall:

"I request to stand trial!"

[Victory is certain!]
[Additional Explanation]
[In the era in which this book is set, the domestic political and technological development of various countries was far from reaching the stage of discussing "social contract theory," and even the concept of "sovereignty" was still in its infancy.]
[Therefore, Richard's view on this trial in Blackwater is not without merit—as long as the logic is barely plausible, whoever can attract more spectators wins.]
As for whether an individual can break the contract, according to Rousseau, it is clearly not possible. This is because the so-called "contract" is not a fair transaction, but rather a license to join the network, written into the hardware and software at birth—a one-time deal. If an individual wants to break the contract, then the other individuals in the group have an obligation to correct them; that is, "freedom, but forced freedom."
[In contrast, the idea of ​​smaller groups relinquishing power to larger groups is more widely accepted and more feasible.]
[For example, the Soviet Constitution stipulated that each constituent republic could freely withdraw from the Union, but also used certain methods to prevent constituent republics from withdrawing.]
[For example, while the U.S. Constitution does not specify how states can secede from the Union, it also does not prohibit states from seceding from the Union.]
The knowledge of classical studies is vast and boundless; I myself am far from having even a superficial understanding, and there are certainly many errors and omissions. I hope fellow readers will point them out and forgive any shortcomings.
[And thank goodness, I'm writing a wish-fulfillment story...]