[Time: April 1, 560 Imperial Calendar (four days ago)]

[Guitucheng Garrison Station, Narcissus Fortress]

The Daffodil Fortress outside Guitu City is the first fortress on the coast of the Inland Sea and probably the first on the entire continent to have a truly perfect geometric structure.

Starting from the main body of the fortress, six large triangular fortresses stretch outward along the axis, presenting a slender and exquisite central symmetrical structure. The entire fortress is like a blooming narcissus, floating quietly beside the city.

But twenty-seven years ago, when Daffodil Fortress was just completed, people gave her another name.

Different from the past, the planning of this unprecedented city defense building no longer relied on the secret secrets and skills of the masons, but was completed through a large number of delicate, complex and rigorous mathematical calculations.

So when it was completed, it was gloriously named "Chateau Antoine Laurent" after its designer.

In the ensuing siege of Guitu City, Chateau Antoine Laurent lived up to the expectations of the people of the United Provinces. From the servant armies of various noble territories to the personal guards of the Mad King Richard, the imperial expeditionary force took turns to go into battle.

Despite all their efforts, they could not conquer the fortress that protected the northwest wall of Guitu City.

Fort Antoine-Laurent remains standing, just as the soldiers of the Republic never doubted that victory would eventually belong to them.

However, the people who were rejoicing after the war probably did not expect what would happen in the future: in the turmoil and strife within the United Provinces, Antoine Laurent died unexpectedly, and his name was erased from books and monuments.

No exception.

Ever since, Daffodil Castle became Daffodil Castle.

Today's Narcissus Castle still faithfully fulfills its duty to protect Guitu Castle and is also the residence of the Guitu Castle garrison.

…

Unlike Plato, who still needs thick and long clothes to keep out the cold, Guitu City in early April can already make people feel sweltering.

The sea breeze pushes moist air onto the land, and the change in temperature between day and night causes fine water droplets to appear on the surface of the stone walls inside Daffodil Castle. This is not a good thing for steel and gunpowder.

Colonel Parr, who had just inspected the armory and gunpowder storeroom, walked sullenly to the gray tower in the center of the fortress. During the war, the gray tower would function as a watchtower, but now it is only an office space for officers.

The results of the inspection were dismal: the snow storage area at the bottom of the fortress was leaking slowly and for a long time, and the waterproof layer laid in the past was long overdue for replacement; the drainage system was not very smooth, and might have been blocked somewhere.

Daffodil Castle needs repairs, but repairs require money, and Colonel Parr has no money.

The current financial situation in the United Provinces is very tight, and everyone is watching the whereabouts of the money like a jackal looking for carrion.

Two years ago, when the United Provinces intervened in the war between the Veneta and Taneria Federations, the United Provinces Army temporarily expanded a large number of reserve troops.

In order not to arouse criticism and vigilance, these newly formed troops did not establish a corps-level organization. The largest unit was a brigade. But adding up all the units named "reserve force brigade", there are at least two corps.

Manpower.

And until today, when the smell of gunfire from the Tanilia Islands has dissipated, these temporarily expanded troops have not been disbanded and have no plans to disband.

The Army always has a reason: the small-scale conflict in the Taniriya Islands; the long-term standoff along the River Run; the changes in the direction of Plato...

However, Parliament has accumulated resentment over the rapidly expanding military expenditures, and calls for redundant troops to be laid off are growing day by day; but the army is clamoring for more to deal with the imminent threat of war.

At this juncture, it is impossible for either party to agree to spend the budget on the less urgent "repairing the defenses of Guitu Castle".

"Her bones are still strong and strong and will not yield." Colonel Parr's peripheral vision swept across the peeling plaster on the inner wall of the gray tower. As he walked, he thought gloomily: "It's just a little raw.

It’s just moss.”

Pushing open the door of the office, Colonel Parr stopped and found an uninvited guest in the room.

"What? Are you surprised to see me?" Colonel Jason Cornelius, the director of the Union Army Academy, the nominal second-in-command and the actual person in charge, greeted Colonel Parr calmly.

As the top military commander of Daffodil Castle, Colonel Parr clearly remembers that he issued a formal written order: any entry by outsiders must be reported to him immediately, and only with his consent can the current situation be released.

It's so subtle that the colonel couldn't help but be careless.

However, at this moment, John Parr was convinced that he had not received any instructions about Cornelius.

"What's the matter? Old classmate." Cornelis was calm and calm, as if he was in his own living room: "Don't you welcome me?"

Colonel Parr calmly glanced at the office with his peripheral vision: in addition to Cornelis, there were two lieutenants in the room; one was his subordinate, and the other was unknown and should be the entourage brought by Cornelis.

Cornelius sat on the chair opposite the desk, his body language very relaxed. While the two lieutenants stood on both sides of the desk respectfully, their shoulders and arms were tense.

In particular, the lieutenant who was nominally under his command was staring straight at the ground, not making eye contact with Parr, but the joints of his left hand holding the sword were clenched and turned white.

Valley death

Colonel Parr couldn't help but frowned. He didn't say anything, and went straight back to his chair. As a master, he asked Cornelis: "Aren't you always busy with business? Do you have time to see me today?"

Pal's tone was thorny, but Cornelis didn't take it seriously and replied calmly: "Veneta took all their students away, and Plato's little guys were also sent back to the Castle of Kings. Lu

There are only three-fifths of the students left in the academy, which makes me feel quite free."

"You deserve some credit for Venetta's recall of the students." Colonel Parr praised sarcastically.

Cornelius smiled and did not answer.

Colonel Parr's brows were frowning more and more. He was in no mood to talk around with Cornelis: "I couldn't stand your way of thinking above the top when I was at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. After graduation, I will go to the war and you will stay at the school to teach.

, you and I have no contact with each other. So..."

John Parr reached into the lower drawer as discreetly as possible and asked point-blank: "What on earth do you want to see me for?"

…

After completing their studies, students from the Army Academy who came from the federal provinces would end up in one of the following categories: the best ones would go to the standing army, the worse ones would go to the reserve army, the worse ones would be kicked out to do civilian jobs, and the powerless ones would be sent overseas.

And in the allocation of destinations that almost determines one's fate, there is one path that surpasses all other paths: staying in school and teaching.

There is no need to worry about safety, no need to worry about evaluation, no need to worry about not having a position, as long as you have enough years, you will definitely be promoted... Staying in school to teach is the smoothest, straightest and easiest career path in the federal army. Apart from the scarcity of places, there are no disadvantages.

.

Therefore, every graduate who is able to stay in the school is a proud one. They not only need to have outstanding abilities...but also have a deep enough background.

John Parr was just the second son of a poor priest. When he graduated, he was assigned to the newly formed Expeditionary Corps and headed north non-stop to join the war. His career was bumpy and he went through many ups and downs before finally reaching his current position.

Among the students of John Parr's class, the only graduate who stayed at the school to teach was Jason Cornelis.

…

"Come to play chess with you," Cornelius replied.

"Play chess?!"

Facing John Parr, Cornelius did not have his usual domineering attitude at all, but was very approachable.

He waved his hand, and the accompanying lieutenant immediately took out a stained chessboard from his satchel and placed it on his desk, neatly arranging the chess pieces.

Cornelis picked up a chess piece with a nostalgic look on his face: "This set of chess pieces and chess board were made by Tartini himself when he was in school."

Parr said coldly: "In the first encounter outside Fuge City, Tartini was killed and fell into the mud of the imperial bastard. The body was not brought back. That idiot thought you would help him."

He stayed in Guitu City, and was eventually kicked into the mercenary army with tears in his eyes and sent to the empire to fight."

Cornelius's movements stopped for a moment, then quickly returned to life. He didn't show any emotion anymore. He just put the chess pieces back and said slowly to Pal: "Today you only need to play chess with me."

The room on the top floor of the gray tower fell into silence for a long time, with only the howling wind blowing past the window panels.

After an unknown amount of time, Colonel John Parr said with difficulty in a tone that was mixed with anger, shock and relief: "The boots are still on the ground."

Cornelius made the first move without comment, taking up the chess piece representing the soldier.

"I don't know how many times I have heard people say that the Army wants a coup, the Army wants a coup. Who is a secret group with whom, who has a private agreement with whom..." Colonel Parr was a little incoherent at first, but he quickly

Regaining his composure, he stood up suddenly, so startled that the two lieutenants almost drew their swords.

But John Parr did not make any drastic move. He just supported the table with both hands, lowered his head and approached Cornelis, gritted his teeth and asked: "Have you never thought about... what will be the consequences once the boots really hit the ground..."

"You, today." Cornelius met Colonel Parr's angry eyes tit for tat, and said without refusal: "You just need to play chess with me."

"You think you are bringing two little cubs with no hair at all! Walking into my fortress with such swagger! Come up to me!" John Parr knocked on the table again and again, each time harder than the last, his

Veins popped up on his forehead: "You can threaten me?!"

"You are part of our system, so I don't need to threaten you." Cornelis replied calmly without fear: "I don't even need to convince you, because you, me, and our interests are the same.

It’s just that you haven’t realized this yet.”

Colonel Parr opened the drawer and took out a gleaming short knife.

Cornelius sat upright without blinking, but the two lieutenants did not show his calmness and immediately pulled out the accessories and blunderbuss.

At this moment, a series of urgent and heavy sounds of going up the stairs came from outside the door. The door was immediately knocked open, and another lieutenant staggered into the office regardless of his appearance:
Chapter completed!