The Last Frontier of Fire and Sword

　　 That night, Franco announced the order of surrender to all members of the mercenary group. The place where Franco called the crowd to announce the order was in the courtyard of the castle. Several sparse bonfires were lit in the courtyard, dimly lit. And in the recorded Cossack camp in the distance, it was brightly lit. The Olegs are very happy about the "liberation" of Smolensk by their so-called Cossack brothers. As early as Oleg left the parliament, these Cossacks, who were free from all shackles, robbed the shops and houses of the Jews in the Jewish quarter.

Standing in this courtyard, Cheerchen felt a sense of reincarnation of fate: When he first came to the castle, the mercenaries were practicing here with full of energy, and the spirit head made people know that this was a one-on-one elite soldier. ; Later, he and everyone here accepted Feodor’s interview, and formally became a member of the mercenary group and began his career as a mercenary; and in the end, Captain Franco actually chose here to announce his surrender. Order.

　　 When Cheerchen fell into memory, Franco began to announce the matters concerning the handover of the castle tomorrow. This self-disciplined soldier did not forget his duty as a soldier even when he was about to surrender. He asked every mercenary to stand at the last guard tonight, in case the Xiaoxiao gang took advantage of the chaos and robbery. He asked everyone to wipe their weapons and armors, iron the uniforms of the mercenary group, and tidy up their appearance.

　　 "We are not going to surrender, we are just going to hand over weapons." Franco said.

　　 The head of the mercenary group’s speech about safeguarding the honor of the mercenary group made the members of the mercenary group tears into their eyes. Yes, they did not lose. During the months of siege, the mercenary regiment defeated the mighty Tsarist Russian army and the Cossack rebels of Zaporozhye, blocking the front of a prince and a company captain. There are thousands of people in the enemy; and there are only a few hundred people in the mercenary group. They defeated the "Winter General", and even the storm did not make the mercenaries succumb. In the winter and snow raging weather, they guarded and strengthened their positions every day, and even launched a raid, blowing up the enemy's siege tunnel.

　　 Even in the end, they were not defeated. Obeying orders is the bounden duty of soldiers. Since the chief orders them to surrender, they can only follow the orders. But their hearts are proud because of loyalty.

　　 Tetsuchen was also completely affected by the atmosphere of the venue. He covered his mouth and tried to keep himself from crying, because it was a sign of cowardice. But at this moment, he really found a sense of belonging in the mercenary group. Because this is a force that regards honor above all else.

　　 "Uncle, Captain Franco is really the best mercenary captain." Cheerchen said to Uncle Pidro.

　　 "It's okay. In fact, Cheerchen, my uncle was better than him before." Hearing Cheerchen admiring Franco so much, Pidro was a little jealous, he said sloppyly.

　　 Ke Chelchen's attention has not been put on listening to Piedro's speech at all.

"Tomorrow morning, I hope everyone can leave the castle in the fullest state. I also hope that everyone will not clash with the soldiers of Tsarist Russia who came to hand over, because each of you lives is precious." Franco finally Said.

　　 After finishing speaking, Franco seemed to be relieved of a heavy burden. He stepped off the stage and shook hands with the officers one by one, thanking them for their efforts. When he held Pidro, Pidro said to Franco: "Old friend, wait for a drink."

　　 Franco hesitated for a while, and said: "Let's have a drink. But I don't want Coleica, wine or honey will suffice."

　　Ge Laika has great stamina. He is afraid that he will be drunk and miss tomorrow's affairs.

　　 In the middle of the night, Pidro carried five bottles of wine and brought Cheer Chen to Franco's room. This is also the first time Cheerchen has visited Franco's place. Franco lived in a small place, and it was divided into two rooms. One was a bedroom with only one bed and one shelf; the other was a study room with a bookshelf and a set of tables and chairs.

　　 "Hello, leader."

　　 "Children, are you here too?" Franco greeted him seeing Pidro taking Chechen.

"This little guy heard that I was coming to have a drink with you, and he clamored for me to take him with him. He admires you, and thinks you are the greatest mercenary captain in the world." Piedro was right. Franco said.

　　Franco glanced at Chechen again, and the little guy's eyes were indeed full of worship.

　　 So Franco invited Pidro and Chechen to sit down in the study. Although the study is small, it is more than enough to accommodate four or five people.

"I’m the greatest leader. If I had the skills of Captain Jan Skrzedusky and Captain Mikhav Volodyavsky, Smolensk would not Occupied." After taking his seat, Franco shook his head mockingly and said.

　　 "Captain Jan Skrzedusky and Captain Mikhav Volodyavsky, who are they?" Chechen asked in a puzzled way.

　　 "They are the heroes of the Republic of Poland. In Zbaraj, it is because of these two heroes that Prince Jarimay can hold the fortress and finally wait for the king's reinforcements." Captain Franco said.

　　 "Zbarari," Cheerchen remembered the place name, and he asked, "Did they also face so many enemies at that time?"

　　 In his opinion, Smolensk's achievements of 3,000 to 40,000 are unprecedented in the past.

"It's much more than this." Captain Franco said sternly, and the scene of the battle appeared before his eyes: "I was in Zbaraj at that time. That scene is really unforgettable for a lifetime. Half of my life. All Ukrainian rebels are here, Khmelnitsky is here, Maxim is here, Vasily Zolotarenko is also here, these are the famous generals of Zaporozhye Cossacks, even if they are big The army commanding Potocki was also defeated by them. The Khan of Crimea also came, and he brought all the powerful troops on the steppe, including the Nogai, Astrakhan, There are Crimeans. Their army obscures the sky, more than locusts."

　　 "Then how many people do we have? I mean how many people are there in Prince Jarimei."

　　 "The prince only has 8,000 people."

　　 "Eight thousand people!" Cheorchen was shocked by the number.

　　 "Yes, there are only eight thousand people." Franco raised his head, his face flushed for excitement or because of drinking.

"But these 8,000 people not only repelled the coalition forces of the Cossacks and Khan, and kept the fortresses; they also continued to launch surprise attacks and harassment, and the tortured coalition forces had no peace during the day and night. Only in the first three days, the coalition forces suffered losses. There were tens of thousands of people, and even the general Tuhai Bai under Khan’s command was severely injured by the head of Jan Skrzeduski."

　　 "I really want to see it." Cheer Chen was excited by Franco's words.

　　 "You don't even think about where Zbarari is." Pietro patted Chechen on the head and said. Pidro invited Franco to drink tonight. There was actually another important thing. He didn't want to listen to Franco telling stories to Chechen all night.

　　 "Franco, my old friend." Piedro took the wine glass and filled Franco's empty glass with wine.

　　 "Huh?" Franco responded. He also saw that Pidro was not just looking for himself for drinking.

　　 "Franco. We are about to surrender tomorrow. What are your plans?" Piedro and Franco are old friends.

　　 "The Russian army should ask me to sign an agreement. I plan to take the team to Warsaw after the agreement is over." Franco said.

　　 Warsaw is the capital of the Republic of Poland. Franco obviously meant to continue to play for the Republic of Poland.

　　 "Why?" Piedro asked.

"what why?"

"I asked why you still play for the Republic? Didn't you see that this so-called republic is rotten to its roots? Who is the hardest defender of Smolensk? It is our mercenaries. But this is their Polish talent. The owner of a piece of land. But what are they doing when we work? Intrigue, intrigue, and fight for power. Once we lose, those nobles will sell the country faster than anyone else. With such an employer, we will be sold by them sooner or later. "Pidro said.

　　 He led the group of mercenaries who had led the caravan to take refuge in Feodor, because he saw Feodor’s stupidity and deceit. Pidro believes that only by doing things under such a lord can we get more benefits. Facts have also proved this point. Flicker at the first meeting earned everyone a salary of twenty Taylors (forty for him and Cheerchen) a month.

　　 But later, Pidro discovered that Fyodor was not only stupid, but also totally out of mind. This reached the culmination since he gave up the supreme command and established the so-called military conference. From that time, Pidro had a foreboding that Feodor would lose. And after Doronin's death in the battle, the performance of these nobles' knees and flattery made Pidro even more disgusting.

　　 This is already a hopeless country.

　　 Therefore, Pidro wanted to take this opportunity to change his house and take refuge in Tsarist Russia or Zaporozhye's Cossacks. He wanted to persuade Franco to join him, but he didn't expect that Franco was still preparing to play for Poland.

　　 "Not everyone is like this. Not everyone is like this." Franco shook his head and retorted.

　　 "Then tell me, who else? Is that Prince Jarimei? Where is he?"

"He is dead."

"Oh, so you want to find a dead person to lead your country? Wake up, Franco. We are mercenaries, not saviors. You have stayed here for too long, forgetting why we chose to be mercenaries. Is it?" Piedro shouted, and he tried to awaken Franco, who was "distracted".

　　 But Franco still shook his head.

"Pidro," Franco said as if trying to divert the subject: "Remember when we first met in Zamosye, did you ask me about the Ring Mercenary Group? You asked me Longjin. Head of Root, First Mate William, One-eyed Kenan..."

　　Pidro nodded. At that time Franco said he waited until Smolensk to talk about it, but too many things happened later and it was delayed.

　　 "They all died in the Yellow Water Beach. Just when the rebels in Zaporozhye rebelled."

　　 "That's why you." Piedro felt that he understood why Franco was reluctant to join Tsarist Russia or the Cossacks.

"Listen to me first." Franco interrupted Pidro's interruption and continued: "Captain Long Jingen and the others could not die. Cossack surrounded them and persuaded them to surrender and the salary is now. Twice. But the captain refused. He said that the mercenary group's employment contract will expire after three months, and the mercenary group can accept Khmelnitsky's employment, but that has to be after the current contract expires. "

　　 "That's because Captain Long Jingen has the spirit of contract." Pidro tried to explain.

　　 But Franco shook his head.

"I was on the ship at the time and I could understand the thoughts of the captain. The captain and us felt like we found a home in the Republic of Poland. This feeling is something we don't have in Germany. You only see the intrigues and deceit of the great nobles. Intrigue, but there are not only great nobles in this land, but also many civilians and little nobles. These people are warm and lovely, hardworking and brave. It is they who made us wandering mercenaries feel at home. "

Pidro was speechless. He asked himself that the number of times he had contact with civilians during his time in Smolensk was less than one-tenth that of Cheechen~www.NovelMTL.com~ The head of the team's answer, of course, could not be allowed. The Cossacks were satisfied, so we handed in the fire. In the end we were outnumbered and the whole army was wiped out. I was knocked unconscious and fell into the river. A farmer rescued me. Then I recovered all the way to Zbaraj. I participated in the defense of Zbarazh. After the war, King Kazimierz allowed me to reorganize a mercenary group and sent me to Smolensk. His Majesty is so kind to me, how could I betray him. "

　　Franco finished speaking and looked at Pidro. And Pedro did not know what to say for a while. He originally thought that Franco was just out of loyalty, but he didn't expect to have such a reason.

　　 While Pedro and Franco’s dialogue Cheerchen heard every word in his ears, but the amount of information and emotions contained in this dialogue was so great that Cheerchen couldn’t understand it all at once. He had to listen in a daze, without daring to insert a word.

　　 Seeing that Pidro didn't speak, Franco said, "Old friend, I don't blame you for changing the door. I just hope we don't have a day of war."

　　 "Uncle. Let's stay to help the leader." After Franco said that the soldiers met, Cheerchen looked at his uncle with some anxiety. Chechen wanted to stay in Franco's mercenary group, but Pedro was his relatives after all, and he was reluctant to be separated from Pedro in any case. He now only hopes that Pidro can change his mind.

　　 At this time, Pidro stood up abruptly. He drank the wine in the glass in one sip.

　　 "His grandmother Franco, you want to meet Lao Tzu, but Lao Tzu won't make you wish."

　　 After drinking, Pidro laughed louder than anyone else, and spoke louder than anyone else.

　　 "Uncle." Cheerchen exclaimed in surprise.

　　 "Pidro." Franco also laughed.