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The 189th chapter "Old Smoke's Choice"
Inside the temporary Duke's Mansion's stable, the men recruited by Longbottom were lined up in a row.
This somewhat simple (of course, that's only in comparison) Duke's Mansion doesn't occupy a large area. In the capital filled with mansions, such a mansion can only be considered below average. Obviously, it doesn't match Du Wei's status as a Duke.
However, the Duke's Mansion does not lack horses.
When the original Rowling family withdrew from the capital, the house was sold and the people were dismissed. However, as a military family, Count Rollin's Mansion has a lot of horses. All of these horses were taken over by Du Wei.
"You may choose your own mount." Longbottom's command made the faces of the downtrodden warriors reveal a pleasantly surprised expression.
Arriving at the Duke's Mansion, everyone already knew the identity of the owner. Unexpectedly, it was the recently famous young Grand Duke! Just a day ago, they were pitifully looking for food in the slave market. But now, they have entered the empire's most famous family!
And they can even own their own horse?!
Longbottom secretly shook his head as he watched these guys strenuously riding their horses. Looking at Du Wei, he whispered: "Sigh, these guys are only warriors. They are not Knight. In the future, if they go to the Northwest, how can they not know how to ride a horse?! In the Northwest, even children know how to ride a horse. "
Generally speaking, as long as a warrior is a true warrior, they have passed the Knight's Association's assessment. But for most people, they are only "warriors" and cannot be called "Knight".
The so-called Knight's principle is simple: you must at least know how to ride a horse, right?
But for these low level warriors, they can't even feed themselves. Where would they find the money to raise a horse of their own? The cost of raising a horse is far more expensive than raising a person!
The decline of warriors is the current situation in the mainland. The "Knight's Association" that exists in name only, was once a powerful organization on par with the Magician's Guild. But now, it has fallen to the point where it can't even be seen in public. The Knight Association was responsible for assessing and awarding the Knight Rank Badges.
But most of the people who practice martial arts can't even afford to raise a horse … They only know martial arts, but they don't know how to ride a horse.
Therefore, the people on the continent had gradually gotten used to separating the two groups of people, "warriors" and "Knight".
And these guys in front of him were obviously just warriors, not Knight …
"Eh?" Longbottom's eyes suddenly lit up when he saw Old Smoke was the last one to mount. The strongest person they had recruited today actually knew how to ride a horse! Moreover, his horsemanship seemed to be quite good. The way he mounted the horse was neat and tidy. It was obvious that he had undergone strict training. Furthermore, the way he rode the horse … His upper body was perfectly straight, and his legs were not clamped onto the horse's stomach like the other rookies. He looked very relaxed.
"This guy is a 'Knight'." Longbottom was getting more and more curious about this Old Smoke: "His martial arts aren't bad, and his horsemanship isn't bad either. With such strength and horsemanship, how could someone like him end up in the slave market looking for food? "
This question was also on Du Wei's mind.
•
Although the temporary Duke's Mansion was small, but as a typical aristocratic mansion, it was still equipped with some basic facilities. For example …. Although the scale was small, but it was still enough for the time being.
After leaving the rookies to practice their horsemanship, Longbottom called Old Smoke into the room alone. Also waiting in the room was Du Wei.
Old Smoke's expression was somewhat complicated. He probably knew why the Duke called him in.
Sure enough … …
"Report the number of your service, Knight!" Longbottom didn't wait for Old Smoke to settle down and suddenly stood up, shouting at him.
Almost like a conditioned reflex, the result of years of training made Old Smoke involuntarily straighten up his body. Putting his hands and legs together, Old Smoke fiercely stomped on his leather boots. Puffing out his chest, Old Smoke shouted: "King's City Defense Legion, Royal Defense Legion, Fourth Cavalry Squadron, Sixth Cavalry Squadron …"
At the end of his sentence, Old Smoke suddenly realized that he was no longer in the Royal Army.
However, Longbottom and Du Wei were already very satisfied with this result.
Looking at the unnatural expression on Old Smoke's face, Du Wei smiled: "You used to be an officer in the Royal Army?"
"… … Yes."
Longbottom smiled with relief: "No wonder I saw you like to stuff your trousers into your boots … … Only those who like to look good in the Royal Army would do that."
Old Smoke blushed a little. Indeed, the Royal Army is extremely focused on the prestige of the Royal Army. In many aspects, they are different from the average army. Especially when it comes to personal appearance, the Royal Army can be said to be a model.
Their uniform is always ironed, without a single crease on their trousers. They also like to stuff their trousers into their long boots, making them look particularly tall and straight.
But the phrase "like beautiful things" still deeply stung Old Smoke. It reminded him of the day of the coup d 'état. Three thousand of the most elite members of the Imperial Army, still wearing their "beautiful" equipment, were chased around like rabbits by a thousand rebels.
Soldiers should pay attention to appearance, but if they are overly obsessed with appearance … … then they can only be regarded as an honor guard.
"That's enough, my General." Du Wei smiled and waved his hand at Longbottom. Then looking at Old Smoke: "I think I don't need to ask. You already know what I want to ask, right?"
Old Smoke nodded and sighed: "My Lord, are you going to arrest me for desertion?"
Indeed, this was what Old Smoke was most worried about. The punishment for deserters in the Imperial army is extremely severe. There is no room for negotiation … … Desertion, death!
"Old Smoke, tell me about your experience." Du Wei smiled.
"I … … used to be a Royal Army soldier." Old Smoke gritted his teeth: "Just before the Summer Festival, I served in the Royal Army for a total of twelve years … …"
Following that, Old Smoke recounted what happened to the three thousand Imperial Army soldiers that he was part of on the day of the coup.
"… … I was shot by an arrow right here." Old Smoke pointed to the wound on his chest: "I fainted, but I didn't die. Later, when the battlefield was being cleaned up, I was treated as a corpse and moved out of the city. In the middle of the night, I woke up and found myself lying in a pile of corpses. The surroundings were quiet, and in the distance, the bodies were being burned. Some were rebels, some were our people. At that time, I didn't know if it was the rebels or us, so I didn't dare to go out. I quietly left the place … … They didn't have enough manpower and there were too many corpses. There were thousands of corpses, but there were less than a hundred people guarding the place. So I quietly left without anyone noticing. "
"And then?" Du Wei nodded.
"Then I slipped away to a nearby town and slept in a farmhouse's shed where hay was piled up. When I woke up at noon the next day, I stole a piece of clothing and went to the river to wash my wounds. In the end, when I was on the road, I was saved by a group of traveling merchants. I told them that there was a coup in the capital and that I was a commoner … Those days were very chaotic. Many commoners were injured in the capital. My story did not arouse any suspicion. The traveling merchants gave me some medicine and food before leaving. A few days later, I returned to the capital. "
"You're back." Du Wei nodded: "Then, at that time, you should already know which side won the coup, right? Since the royal family won, why didn't you return to the Royal Army? Men like you, who fought bravely on the day of the coup, were wounded, and survived, will be rewarded. Why didn't you go back? "
Old Smoke was silent, but Du Wei could see that this man in his thirties has a fire burning in his eyes!
"My Lord, we had a total of 3000 people and most of them are dead. Especially the small group I was in, all my brothers were killed. Also, in my platoon, my commanding officer died in battle. I'm afraid I'm the only one who survived! " Old Smoke's voice was a little agitated and dry: "I worked there for 12 years. I was loyal to the royal family and my brothers were there. The few people who were on the same shift as me, after every shift, we would go out to drink, gamble, and find women together. I still remember when I broke my leg while riding a horse, my commanding officer personally carried me back from the horse farm! But … … they're all dead. "At the end, Old Smoke's voice became a little dry:" They're all dead. "
Du Wei didn't say anything. Longbottom hesitated for a moment, biting his lips, but he didn't say anything either.
"I remember their names, they were all my brothers. My commanding officer, Captain Hank, he was a good officer. He was strict with us and even invited us to drink at his house when he wasn't on duty. There was also Lusa, I still owe him 16 copper horns from gambling. There's also Lun Er, one of the guys in our team. Before the coup, we had a fight over a girl. After that, I wanted to apologize to him ….. but ….. "Old Smoke's voice suddenly trembled. It was as if he was clumsily repeating a fact:
"But they're all dead."
"But their deaths are not your fault." Du Wei looked into Old Smoke's eyes: "They were killed by the rebels. You're lucky you didn't die, so why don't you go back? "
Old Smoke didn't answer Du Wei's question. Instead, he posed a question to Du Wei:
"Lord Duke, the news of what happened on the day of the coup has spread throughout the capital. Everyone knows what happened." There's a trace of grey in Old Smoke's eyes, making him look like a dying man: "My Lord, His Royal Highness Prince Son has become the Regent. On the day of the coup, he was already prepared. He already knew that the Crown Prince would rebel! He already knew, he already knew everything! That's why he made so many arrangements and easily won in the end. Now he is the Regent, and in the future he will become the Emperor. Am I right? "
Du Wei suddenly felt like he understood the heart of this middle-aged man in front of him!
"If Prince Son already knew, then why didn't he stop it?"
"If Prince Son already knew, then why did the 3000 of us die?"
"If Prince Son already knew, then why didn't he do something before the coup?"
"If Prince Son already knew … …"
Du Wei couldn't answer these questions. Or rather, he knew the answer, but he just couldn't say it out loud.
"Honorable Duke, do you think you can't answer?" Old Smoke bitterly smiled: "I actually already know."
Taking a deep breath: "Because Prince Son never thought of stopping the coup in advance. He needed to use the coup to get rid of the Crown Prince, he needed that coup! Therefore, the 3000 of us are chess pieces that he abandoned, bait that he abandoned. The death of the 3000 of us would mislead the Crown Prince into thinking that the coup was going smoothly … … The 3000 of us must die because we were abandoned from the very beginning. "
In the end, Old Smoke concluded: "I understand all of this."
Du-Wei sighed, but Longbottom, who was beside him, suddenly slammed his fist on the table.
"I am a member of the Royal Army." Old Smoke's voice was very heavy: "I was once extremely loyal to the royal family. As long as the Thorned Flower Royal Flag points to me, I am willing to fight with my life on the line! To defend the Royal Family! But that day, after I survived, I suddenly found out … … The person I was originally loyal to was not worthy of my loyalty! "
"I am a soldier, I am willing to die in battle! But … … I absolutely do not want to be betrayed and given up to die! Therefore, I, who survived, refuse to serve the Royal Family again. I will never go back! "
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