Steel, gunpowder, and spellcasters

Chapter 544 Negotiation (Part 3)

“You said ‘we’,” Winters asked sharply, “so, can I take that to mean—you have already reached an agreement with Colonel Skull and Lieutenant Colonel Matthias?”

“Discuss? What’s there to discuss?” Gaisa squinted and replied in a gruff voice, “As long as you agree, I agree, isn’t that enough? No one can object.”

Winters understood that Colonel Gaisa had neither obtained the consent of Colonel Skull and Lieutenant Colonel Matthias, nor did he intend to obtain the consent of the other two beforehand.

He expressed his opposition tactfully, saying, "Important decisions should be made after thorough discussion."

Gaisa made a disdainful gesture. "The more we discuss, the less we accomplish! Aren't you from Venetia? You should know the principle of 'secrecy leads to success'!"

“Even the Venetians only discuss it in secret, not that they don’t discuss it at all,” Winters retorted, immune to regional discrimination. “You probably haven’t seen how the Aquamarine people elect their governors.”

Colonel Gaisa was annoyed by the rebuff, but he also realized that it would be difficult to persuade this stubborn horse without speaking his mind.

“There’s no need to discuss this at all,” Gaisa said with a frown and a certain tone. “That little rascal Matthias will definitely disagree, and if he disagrees, that old rascal Skul will have no choice but to disagree as well.”

"Since everyone disagrees, and a vote is inevitable anyway, what's the point of discussion? To get this done, we need a surprise attack and a decisive decision. What's the point of prior discussion other than preparing them for a fight?"

Why are you so certain that they will disagree?

"Why?" Colonel Gaisa laughed with relief. He shifted to a more comfortable sitting position, poured himself another glass of bitter beer, and suddenly changed the subject, asking out of the blue, "You should know that Matthias is making preparations for attacking the Northern Province, right?"

Winters answered honestly, "While I was away, Lieutenant Colonel Matthias revealed this intention to Captain Richard Mason."

“You see, he’s never ‘revealed’ anything to me. Doesn’t he also want to launch a surprise attack and force me into submission?” Colonel Gaisa smiled slyly. “However, even if he doesn’t say anything, I know he wants to attack the Northern Foothills Province. And I also know… the Northern Foothills Province doesn’t even need to be attacked.”

"Ok?"

Seeing Winters' puzzled expression, Colonel Gaisa felt a surge of satisfaction. He clicked his tongue and said, "You really have no idea what the significance of the surname 'Matthish' is."

"That's a surname that once competed with Richard IV for the throne of the Duke of Palatour; it's the surname of the 'White Knights.'"

"Now, Grove Magnus has made himself universally hated, and the army of Kingsburg is reduced to only the old, weak, and disabled..."

Colonel Gaisa's gaze was piercing as he asserted, "Given Matthias's prestige and influence in the Northern Province, it's not impossible for him to directly change the flag of the Northern Province."

Winters nodded slightly.

“Young man, why don’t you take a guess?” Colonel Gaisa asked meaningfully, “Since you can change the allegiance of the Northern Slope Province without shedding a drop of blood, why is Matthias Korwin still planning to ‘attack’ the Northern Slope Province?”

“Because rebellion doesn’t count as military merit, only surrender does,” Winters replied calmly.

“Right,” Colonel Gaisa snapped his fingers, giving Winters a broad grin, “You seem to know a lot, don’t you?”

The next second, Colonel Gaisa's expression changed. He put away his smile and said seriously, "Matash Korwin, when we went to find the main force of the pseudo-New Reclamation Army, he stayed behind in Bianjiang County, saying he was guarding the border fortress, but he was actually hiding."

"He certainly never imagined that the victory in the Battle of River Valley would be so great. He also never imagined that we would be able to take this step to become independent and have the opportunity to become the new masters of the Kingdom of Galloping Horses."

"So he's very anxious now. His absence from the Battle of River Valley Village means he's automatically disqualified from competing for the 'first saber'."

"He needs another major achievement to get himself back into the competition—conquering the Northern Foothills Province, which I think would be good."

Winters frowned as he listened.

Gaisa Adonis's face revealed a fierce look typical of the Paratists. His eyebrows shot up, and he said without room for argument, "This kid is too selfish! Even more selfish than me! We absolutely cannot let him take the first saber! Otherwise, all that rotten crap from the Red Rose and Blue Blood factions will definitely happen again!"

Colonel Geza stood up, hands on his hips, and paced back and forth in the lounge like a caged wild animal, muttering to himself:
"After much thought, I've decided that you're the most suitable person to take this first saber!"
"Although you have little experience, you have made outstanding military achievements; although you are young, you are fair in your dealings; you are not a Paratist, but precisely because of this, you will not be hindered by relatives and friends; I trust your character."

Winters listened attentively but did not utter a word.

Colonel Gaisa stopped, looked at Winters, raised a finger, and said firmly, "Most importantly, with my support, no one's opposition matters!"

“I believe that,” Winters finally broke his silence.

Colonel Gaisa nodded in satisfaction, sat back down in the chair next to Winters, and said frankly, "So, no matter how difficult it is, we must take Kings' Castle first. Once we take Kings' Castle, the overall situation will be settled. The rest of the minor details will be insignificant."

“Kingsburg is not so easy to conquer.” Winters’ attitude remained rational.

Colonel Gaisa glared at Winters. "What war is easy to fight?"

Winters wasn't there to debate with Colonel Gaisa, so he didn't say anything more.

"As for those 'pets' you keep in the buffer zone, do with them as you please," Colonel Gaisa picked up his glass, turned his gaze to the window, and spoke to himself, "but there's one condition—don't expect the Republic to formally accept them, at least not now. Everything else is up to you."

Upon hearing this, Winters already knew Colonel Gaisa's price.

Gaisa Adonis and the White Mountain County faction he represents are willing to support Winters Montagne as commander of the newly formed army, on the condition that the Iron Peak County faction support Colonel Gaisa's money-making scheme, support Colonel Gaisa's plan to attack the Kings' Castle, and abandon the effort to legitimize the newly reclaimed lands.

To be honest, in Winters' view, this deal is not only not a loss, but it is even difficult to call "fair".

Colonel Gaisa made a great sacrifice in order to prevent Lieutenant Colonel Matthias from taking office and for the Blue Blood faction to make a comeback.

As the officer most qualified to compete for the top position in the new Republic's military, Colonel Gaisa chose to withdraw from the competition, thus also dethroning Lieutenant Colonel Matthias.

In comparison, the financial compensation he sought was merely a pittance.

However, since negotiations are still ongoing, Winters wants to try again.

After all, the key to negotiation is to talk as much as possible in order to make a good judgment.

“You said ‘not now,’” Winters asked bluntly, “are you implying ‘it can be later’?”

"We'll see later," Gaisa replied ambiguously, sipping his beer.

Winters chuckled: "But the people of the Aquamarine have an old saying—'There is nothing in the world that lasts longer than a temporary tax.' It won't work now, and it will only get worse in the future."

"Boy, I'm thinking about your reputation," Colonel Gaisa said, furious. "Do you know how the old Paratul will attack you if you actually accept those Hud people? You'll go from being a hero fighting the Hud barbarians to a fool and ambitious schemer who let wolves into the house overnight!"

“Our enemies, whether internal or external, will make a big deal out of this!”

"The war isn't over yet! Can't you wait a little longer?"

Seeing Colonel Gaisa's firm stance, Winters temporarily put aside the matter of the newly reclaimed land to avoid backfiring.

He changed direction and tentatively asked, "Have you considered not electing a top military official? We can continue to make decisions collectively through committees. That way, many problems won't be problems."

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Colonel Gaisa was genuinely angry this time. "The army isn't some shady guild! The army is where the lives of tens of thousands are decided! There can only be one leader in the army! Do I need to teach you that?!"

"The reason we're trapped in Maplestone City, hindering each other and unable to move forward, is because we've lost that 'leader'!"

Colonel Gaisa's voice grew louder and more agitated as he spoke: "If Colonel Bode were still alive, we would have stormed into Kingsburg long ago! Why would we be wasting our time here?"

“But with Bode Gates gone, there’s no one left to command respect!” Colonel Gaisa’s eyes flashed with that characteristic ruthlessness and brutality of the Paratists. “In that case, let’s let strength decide! Letting strength decide is a form of fairness! Letting strength decide is the fairest!”

“But this kind of fairness,” Winters’s voice was cold and indifferent, “may not lead to the result Colonel Bode wants to see.”

“What can we do?” Gaisa looked tired and sad. “If we have to blame someone, we can only blame that old devil Bod for dying too young.”

……

[Maplestone Suburbs]
Matthias Province
[noon]
Although Matthias Korwin was also assigned a colonel's apartment in the officers' quarters of Maplestone, he only stayed there briefly for a few days before moving to another estate under his name located outside the city.

Unlike the deserted Gaisa House, Lieutenant Colonel Matthias's home was always bustling with guests.

The courtyard was filled with the carriages of visitors; to the uninitiated, it would have looked like a ball was being held at Matthias's residence.

The small waiting rooms on both sides of the entrance hall were filled with well-dressed guests, all eagerly awaiting the host's invitation.

It must be said that Matthias Korwin was far more popular among the upper class of Maplestone than the literally “hideous” Gaisa Adonis.

If they were to queue on a first-come, first-served basis, Winters might not see Lieutenant Colonel Matthias until dark.

Fortunately, he was no ordinary guest—the dignified "Blood of the Wolf" had arrived. Lieutenant Colonel Matthias immediately went out to greet him, giving Blood Wolf face and allowing the guests in the waiting hall to get a good look at him.

“I finally understand why you moved out of the officers’ quarters,” Winters said as he was ushered into the inner room, carefully observing the portraits in the corridor. “With so many guests, you definitely need a larger place.”

“Staying in the city, with all the people and cars coming and going, might disturb other people’s peace and quiet.” Lieutenant Colonel Matthias, who was walking ahead, pushed open a door at the end of the corridor, his face bearing his usual friendly smile. “Come on, this way.”

Inside the door is a quiet study and living room, with a desk placed by the window, and the rest of the space occupied by a fireplace and a pair of chaise lounges in front of it.

A portrait in military uniform hangs above the fireplace. The man in the painting bears a striking resemblance to Lieutenant Colonel Matthias, but judging from the style of his armor, he should be a figure from the imperial era.

Compared to the opulent decor outside, this small reception room is quite simple—but only in comparison to the outside. The soft couch, desk, and wall cabinets inside the small reception room are impeccably made and made of high-quality materials.

"This study is rather simple," Winters complimented, half-jokingly.

What the Parat people considered magnificent was undoubtedly excessive in the eyes of the Hailan people.

Even though Winters was one of the Blue People who hadn't eaten or seen much of the Sea Blue, this was still the case.

On the contrary, this small reception room raised Winters's opinion of Lieutenant Colonel Matthias's taste by more than a little.

“The outside is for show,” Lieutenant Colonel Matthias said with a smile. “This is where we talk business—what would you like to drink, Captain Montagne?”

"Just water."

“I just don’t have any water here,” Lieutenant Colonel Matthias said apologetically, opening the liquor cabinet. “I forgot, you spellcasters don’t drink alcohol.” Winters gave a subtle smile.

Lieutenant Colonel Matthias pressed a bell on the table, and an old servant, not an orderly, opened the door.

“Captain Montagne wants water,” Lieutenant Colonel Matthias whispered.

The old servant nodded and quietly closed the door.

Winters looked at the portrait on the fireplace and asked curiously, "Is this the 'White Knight'?"

“Indeed,” Lieutenant Colonel Matthias sat down on the soft couch, gazing up at the portrait, slightly lost in thought, “and also my father.”

“Father?” Winters exclaimed in surprise. “I thought it was…”

"You thought it was your grandfather, right?" Lieutenant Colonel Matthias interrupted with a laugh. "That's normal. My father was fifty-six when I was born."

Winters said apologetically, "Nobody told me about this..."

“Of course no one would bring this up on purpose,” Lieutenant Colonel Matthias smiled and said frankly, “because I am an illegitimate child.”

Winters felt even more guilty now. "I'm sorry, Lieutenant Colonel."

“What’s there to apologize for? It’s all old news.” Lieutenant Colonel Matthias laughed heartily and patted Winters’ arm. “And thanks to the Alliance and the Republic, I’ve been ‘legitimized’ without the Pope’s special permission.”

An old servant brought over a kettle and cups, but Lieutenant Colonel Matthias waved the servant away and personally poured Winters a glass of water.

"I will fully support you on the matter of the newly reclaimed land," Lieutenant Colonel Matthias said with a smile. "I will also do my best to persuade Colonel Skull to support you, so that even if some people object, it won't be a big problem. You can rest assured."

Winters did not touch the glass. "I'm a little worried about the public's reaction to this."

"There won't be any reaction. Even if there are dissenting voices, it will only be temporary," Lieutenant Colonel Matthias poured himself another glass of water, picked up the glass, and began to speak eloquently:

"In fact, there are many precedents in Plato's history for accepting the surrender of the barbarians of Hed and using them for his own purposes."

"Dukes of Palatour throughout the ages have recruited some outsiders from the wilderness, some of whom were runaway slaves and others were nobles who had lost battles."

"Regardless of their type, the dukes of each generation would raise them and then have them turn against the Hed barbarians or use them to suppress rebellions."

"These people are extremely loyal and very useful because they are destitute in Palatine and can only rely on the Duke for protection."

"If we were to truly count the days when the Paratu rulers deliberately distanced themselves from the barbarians of Hed, it would only be in the last thirty years, after the false emperor was overthrown."

"However, even in the Republican era, our army still frequently recruits some Hud people. Sometimes, the enemies of the Hud tribes we fight against will also take the initiative to help us."

Lieutenant Colonel Matthias confidently concluded, "Therefore, accepting newly reclaimed land is no big deal."

"Don't be afraid of the alarmist claims that the Paratians will be furious about this."

"Of course the Paratites get angry, but that's only because hatred is a language that's easier to understand than reality."

"Reality is a more powerful language than hatred, so this anger comes and goes quickly."

Lieutenant Colonel Matthias patted Winters on the shoulder again, "With me supporting you, it's no big deal, don't worry."

Winters smiled politely and picked up his water glass.

“Let’s not talk about that,” Lieutenant Colonel Matthias said with a smile. “Let’s talk about Hailan. Once you take over the Northern Slope Province, you can go home anytime.”

……

[Maplestone City - Military Officers' Residential Area]
[Skoll Palace]
[afternoon]
“I will not collude with you privately, Captain,” Colonel Skull’s gaze briefly left his book, turned to Winters’ face, and then quickly fell back down. “Whatever it is, we can discuss it publicly at the meeting. Please leave.”

“You mean,” Winters said, showing no intention of leaving, “that you can only passively follow Lieutenant Colonel Matthias?”

Colonel Skull asked without looking up, "And why do you care about that?"

“In my eyes, you are the most rational and reliable person in the four-person committee. I want to understand your thoughts and seek your wisdom.”

"What are you trying to achieve by flattering me like this?" Colonel Skull glanced at Blood Wolf suspiciously.

“Just telling the truth,” Winters said without changing his expression. “Otherwise, who do you think is the most rational among the four? Who is the most reliable? Who is the most intelligent? It wouldn’t be me, would it?”

Colonel Skull gave a cold laugh and closed the book in his hand.

He rubbed his sore eyes, pondered for a moment, and slowly said, "Sending troops to the Northern Foothills Province was a good military decision; attacking Zhuwang Fortress was a good political decision."

Winters nodded slightly, even though what the other person said was nonsense.

"but……"

Sure enough, there was a "but".

"No matter where we fight, we have to be able to win," Colonel Skull said with a worried look. "I just hope that the reorganization of the entire army will not be delayed any longer."

"[Don't think about selling bear pelts before you've hunted down a bear.] Getting the troops back to combat readiness as quickly as possible is the top priority."

"In particular, the artillery and cavalry units need to be integrated as soon as possible. The sooner they start joint training, the faster they can form combat capability."

"It is a shameful waste to disperse the limited cavalry and artillery among the troops in various counties as we are doing now."

Winters continued, "What are your thoughts on the 'newly reclaimed lands'?"

Colonel Skulel did not answer directly, but changed the subject, “Your wolf cubs have proven how important a light cavalry force, swift as the wind and aggressive in action, can be at the right time and place.”

Winters blushed. "That was their own doing, Colonel."

“Say what you will,” Colonel Skull clearly hadn’t forgotten, and probably never would, but he still stated his point of view in a serious tone, “but the results of a battle are the results of a battle, and cannot be denied.”

"While it is questionable what role these irregular cavalry could play in major battles, warfare is not limited to major battles."

"If we can recruit a reliable Herd auxiliary cavalry, it will be of great benefit to our army."

"As for the non-military implications," Colonel Skull sighed, "I don't want to talk about it, and I don't know."

……

[Maplestone City - Military Officers' Residential Area]
Montagne
[at night]
“Do you understand now?” Kai Morland said sincerely, “They all have their own needs, but I am here to offer you a way out of this predicament.”

“Come on, Mr. Kai,” Winters said, having been out all day, and didn’t want to be all formal at home. “Just tell me what you want.”

“Your Excellency is indeed exceptionally intelligent,” Kai Morland said without any shyness, “I want the position of Speaker of the National Assembly.”

"Including me, you only have three votes."

Carl Morland said humbly, "So I'll have to ask you to help me find another ticket."

Winters remained unmoved, staring intently into the other's eyes: "What if I can't find it?"

Faced with Blood Wolf's scrutiny, Kai Morland finally couldn't hold back and said, "Well... I'll find a job myself."

Winters didn't inquire where Kai Morland was looking for a vote; instead, he asked directly, "And what can you offer me?"

Kai Morland puffed out his chest. "I can persuade the gentlemen of Maplestone to cooperate with Colonel Gaisa's fundraising plan."

Winters chuckled, “Their lack of cooperation doesn’t stop Colonel Gaisa from ‘fundraising’.”

“But if the citizens don’t want to cooperate, there are always ways to avoid it,” Kai Morland insisted. “Believe me, Your Excellency Montagne, through long-term ‘cooperation’ with the New Reclamation Legion, the citizens have long since found ways to ‘survive.’”

Kai Morland joked, "In fact, if you really know the ins and outs, you'll find that not only is ruling an art, but being ruled is also an art."

Winterstooped. "You're just saying you have a way of making Colonel Gaisa unhappy?"

“No, no, no, quite the opposite,” Kai Morland shook his head vigorously. “What I can offer you is a number that will satisfy Colonel Gaisa so much that he can’t refuse any of your requests.”

Kai Morland repeated, in a seductive tone, “Any, requirements.”

Winters chuckled softly.

“So,” Kai Morland tried to sound calm, “what is your reply?”

Winters leaned forward, bringing his face close to Kai Morland's nose, and uttered a few words in the same seductive tone:

"Let's talk tomorrow."

……

[The next day]
Kai Morland arrived at the officers' quarters early in the morning and went straight to Winters Montagne's residence.

But he was destined never to hear the answer he wanted to hear.

Because all the high-ranking officers of the newly formed army received the message:

"The negotiating envoys from the Kings' Fortress have arrived."

[I actually wrote a little over two thousand words yesterday, but that's too little. Posting it directly would be disjointed. I might not even finish writing it if I stayed up all night, and it would also disrupt my sleep schedule.]
Just to be on the safe side, I took leave.
[Therefore, yesterday's update has been merged into today's update and released as a single main chapter.]
[Thank you to all the readers for your collections, reading, subscriptions, recommendations, monthly tickets, donations, and comments. Thank you everyone!]