Visiting Ronald and the other seniors was the last thing on Winters' mind.

Thinking about "Why do we (we) rule Tiefeng County" made Winters realize: No one among these captured alumni will stand on his side. If there is, it must be with bad intentions.

.

Winters believed that he defeated the old rulers by "force" and thus "conquered" Tiefeng County.

If he rebelled against the New Reclamation Legion with a clear-cut banner and sent battle messages in all directions, maybe one or two ambitious Plato officers would come to defect to him.

But if we do that, the crusade army may come to visit us next week - and even General Winter can't stop him.

General Adams has many headaches, and Winters doesn't want to be the one that causes him the most headaches.

So he tried to show weakness as much as possible, deliberately pretending to be in a corner. The field troops in Wargne County were wiped out by Don Juan, but Winters did not send any organized troops across the border.

Instead, he sent a letter to Maplestone City to explain, and also symbolically paid a bag of gold coins as arrears in taxes. He still has the house number of [Rewardan Residential Office] to this day.

This moderate attitude is also beneficial internally: there is less pressure to rule, it can maximize recognition, and it can inherit the authority of the old garrison.

Just like the North Eight Towns, they do not really support Winters, and Winters currently has no energy to directly rule the North Eight Towns.

Therefore, Winters issued decrees in the name of the garrison. They were still on good terms with each other, so Beiba Town pretended to be deaf and dumb.

Of course, there are always some particularly "brave" guys who refuse to obey discipline. Winters has been busy with autumn plowing recently and has no time to pay attention to the flies, so he just stands by and watches the mosquitoes and flies dancing.

"When you have some time to relax." Winters rubbed the hilt of his sword: "Let's see which of us has a stronger hammer."

But this ambiguous attitude also has obvious disadvantages. If enemies look down on Winters, potential allies will look down on Winters even more.

Not to mention that from any aspect, the New Reclamation Corps has an overwhelming advantage. In the eyes of many people, it is unclear whether the new government of Tiefeng County can survive until this time next year, and of course they will not place their bets easily.

The only people Winters could really rely on were his companions, his old troops, and the soldiers who were assigned land. But even his old troops and soldiers would inevitably feel uneasy because they all relied on his prestige.

So he simply gave up the idea of ​​recruiting captured alumni and honestly managed his real foundation.

As Winters rode on horseback, he couldn't help but feel sad, because he gradually figured out why the aristocratic system emerged: "To gain the support of most people, you must benefit most people. This is too difficult. It is better to only benefit a small number of people."

It's easy to conquer some people by force of arms. Knight? Aren't knights just like Charlie the Hammer's 'soldiers' who have horses, retainers, and fiefs?"

As he walked, he came to a camp in the north of Wolf Town, far away from the village and outside the farm.

When the guard saw Winters coming, he immediately lowered the hanging door.

This camp is very interesting. Its hanging door faces inward instead of outward, because it is a prison. The soldiers who stayed in Wolf Town all call it [Wolf Forest Prison].

After an unpleasant escape incident, all the officer prisoners were transferred to Wolf Town. Samkin did not want the officers to come into contact with ordinary prisoners, so he built this prison specifically to hold the officers.

Major Ronald was writing a letter when he heard the sound of horse hooves outside and looked up to find Winters walking to the door.

"Why are you here?" Ronald put down the pen and paper and smiled.

"Winter is coming soon." Winters walked into the cell carrying the package and replied with a smile: "My lady asked me to bring you a coat and blanket."

He took out a pipe and a large pack of cut tobacco leaves from his bag, and apologized: "This is the best I can find. No one is growing tobacco this year, so please don't dislike it. There are also two cans of sugar.

It’s also in the bag.”

"I'm not welcome." Ronald took the tobacco leaves, dug out his pipe from the box next to him, and filled it: "Haha, my inventory has been smoked out long ago."

After Ronald filled the tobacco leaves, Winters naturally had to take the pipe and light it for his senior.

"Your wife is still living in the official residence, as are the families of other seniors in Gevaudan." Winters handed the pipe back to the senior: "The salary will be as before, and each family will send flour and non-staple food every week. Please

no need to worry."

Winters' tone was devoid of any charity or pity, as if he was chatting with his senior.

Ronald took the pipe, took a pleasant puff, and slowly exhaled: "How is Changsheng?"

"Don't mention it." Winters got a headache when mentioning Changsheng: "Changsheng drinks goat's milk, plays with dogs, shakes his head and jumps like a puppy all day long, and even wants to imitate the barking of dogs. He is completely led astray.

"

Ronald laughed so hard that he shed tears. Wiping away his tears, he smiled and said, "If you come to see me, it means you have won the battle."

Winters nodded.

"How was the process?" Ronald asked curiously: "Can you tell me about it?"

Winters took the pen and paper, took out two chess pieces and sat down facing each other, and started to deduce it for his seniors. The two of them said something to each other, and the atmosphere was very lively.

That's all, Ronald couldn't help but admire: "Your fights are getting more and more handsome."

"You deserve the prize."

"Your army has a sword and a dagger. Your enemies are all staring at your sword, but they don't notice the dagger hidden behind them. It's not surprising that you lose the battle."

Winters thought of Don Juan and Moritz, and said sheepishly: "I am actually a dagger, and the one hidden behind my back is the sword, the fatal sword."

"[Old saying] Youth is a terrible power." Ronald was a little sentimental and asked: "How is Lieutenant Colonel Zipper of Wargne County doing?"

Winters was silent.

Ronald sighed deeply, but comforted Winters: "[(Ancient proverb) Only the dead will not suffer the disaster of swordsmanship], these are inevitable, don't worry too much about it."

The two chatted for a few more words, but there was nothing more to say.

Winters stood up: "Do you have any letters? Do you want me to take them back?"

"There are exactly three letters." Ronald carefully took out two pieces of letter paper, then hurriedly finished writing the third letter piece on the table, and handed it to Winters together: "Please give it to my wife."

Ronald didn't seal it with paint, didn't fold it, and handed it to Winters open.

Without looking at it, Winters carefully folded the letter for his senior and put it in his arms: "I will definitely deliver it. When I return to Gevaudan, I will send you some chessboards, books and other entertainment things."

"It couldn't be better." Ronald smiled and nodded, gently pointing to the next door: "You'd better go and have a look over there where the lieutenants live. Second Lieutenant Adam... is feeling a little wrong, and I need you to persuade him."

"I'll go right away." Winters turned and walked towards the cell door.

Ronald was silent until one of Winters' boots stepped outside the threshold, and then he spoke softly: "Thank you."

What is Ronald thanking for? For taking care of his family? For respecting him? For not saying anything to try to surrender?

Winters didn't know either. He nodded, left, and the cell door closed again.

The situation among the lieutenants and prisoners was different from that of Ronald. Ronald lived in a single cell, while the lieutenants lived in several large cells side by side.

Winters actually captured some lieutenants from Baishan County and Wargne County, but he temporarily left those seniors in Gevaudan and did not put them with the prisoners from Tiefeng County.

Epel and Asko, two men who had suicidal thoughts, lived in one room, weaving baskets in silence like skilled bamboo craftsmen.

Istvan and Adam lived in the same room. The former sat against the wall, looking out the window at the blue sky; the latter lay on the straw mat and fell asleep with his head covered. Both of them were shackled on their hands and feet. The little boy who failed to escape from prison once

souvenir.

Most of the other officer prisoners were like this - sitting listlessly, playing with straws and wickers carelessly. Except for Epel and Asko, no one was seriously weaving baskets.

"Dong, dong, dong..." footsteps came from the corridor. The officers and prisoners suddenly became alert. Even Adam suddenly sat up straight. Only Epel was still concentrating on weaving baskets.

Because this sound was very familiar to them, the guards' feet were wearing straw sandals, clogs and leather-soled shoes, and in the corridor there was obviously a pair of military boots studded with iron nails.

Then, Adam saw a certain hateful junior student appear in front of him.

Before Winters could say anything, Adam slammed into the cell door, causing the wooden bars to tremble: "Winters! Kill me anyway! Do it quickly! Don't insult people!"

"Hello, squad leader!" Winters raised his hand and saluted: "According to your military rank, you should salute me first, but you will always be my squad leader!"

"Stop doing this!" Adam shook the cell door frantically, and the shackles rattled: "Let me out, let's duel! I will fight you to the death!"

Winters laughed it off and turned to salute the other seniors and say hello. No one responded to him, only Senior Epel nodded and continued to weave baskets.

Winters silently placed the paper packages containing raisins and tobacco at the door of the cell, one package at the door of each cell. He didn't say anything, he was just giving things anyway.

Adam stared at Winters and shouted angrily: "With this small favor! You want to bribe us?"

"You're dreaming!" Adam kicked the paper bag away hard.

The paper package was kicked out of a huge hole, rolled and hit the wooden fence on the opposite side of the corridor, and dark green raisins and tobacco leaves were scattered on the floor.

Even though Winters's threshold had been raised a lot, he was still aroused. He glared at Adam: "What are you doing?"

Adam was stunned at first, and then became even more furious: "You deserve to ask me?!"

"The soldiers guarding you have no raisins to eat, and I have no raisins to eat." Winters picked up a raisin with an expressionless face: "If you don't want it, just return it. Don't waste anything."

Adam was so angry that he started banging against the wooden fence again: "[Vicious expletive to insult Veneta people]!"

Winters blew the dust off the raisins, wiped them, and ate them. Ignoring Adam who was like a mad cow, he turned around and walked outside Epel's cell.

István, who shared a cell with Adam and had his hands and feet shackled, grabbed Adam and asked coldly: "Winters, what do you want to do by locking us here?"

"Nothing." Winters answered honestly: "I'm locking you up because I can't let you go. Officers are valuable war resources. Letting you go means endangering the enemy. I can't let you go, and I don't want to kill you, so

It can only be closed."

"What did you say?" Adam laughed wildly: "You said you didn't want to kill?"

Winters frowned slightly and asked, "Squad leader, do you want me to kill you?"

"Come on!" Adam roared like thunder: "Kill me! I will never say a word! Open the door! Duel!"

"Enough!" Epel, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly shouted.

Epel's voice seemed to have a miraculous effect. Although Adam stared, gasped, and his face was blood red, he closed his mouth.

Among the lieutenant prisoners, only Epel and Asko could earn full portions of bread, while other prisoners who were unwilling to work could only receive half. When Adam was so hungry that he was dizzy, it was Epel who gave him the full portion every time.

The bread was given to Adam. So Epel spoke, and Adam obeyed obediently even though he was dissatisfied.
To be continued...