With the overall situation in Floating Continent decided, Qianye decided to leave and return to a neutral place, leaving Song Zining behind to deal with the aftermath.
Song Zining also learned about Lin Shuai's death at this time. He looked at Qianye who had regained his composure and could not see anything strange on the surface. He just sighed. The two of them were relatively silent and did not even exchange a word.
Words have never been as empty and useless as at this moment, and there is some pain that even a touch is unbearable.
When Dark Fire came, they formed a mighty and huge fleet, but when they returned, it was very empty. Most of the troop transport ships were empty, and some ships even lacked crew members and could not find anyone to sail them.
Song Zining and Qianye discussed and simply sold many transport ships to the empire. After this battle, although Yong Ye suffered heavy losses, the empire also saw the benefits of large-scale airborne operations by transport ships. Although the transport ships in the neutral ground were dilapidated , but it is reliable, strong, easy to maintain, and suitable for military use.
There were so many corpses of mercenaries and Zhao Clan's private army that it was already difficult to distinguish them from the dark races. It was impossible to pick them apart and identify them one by one. Some of those who died in the Hall of Valor were buried in the void.
Following common practice, the empire put away all the warrior nameplates it could find, then incinerated the bodies, buried the ashes, and erected a high monument on the old site of Baicheng.
After the simple but grand ceremony, Qianye took the surviving veterans of Dark Fire and set off back.
The fleet had a battle cruiser as its flagship, frigates on guard on both wings, and a huge transport fleet in the center. Almost every ship in this fleet was injured and moving slowly, so Qianye asked the Hall of Heroes to return to the Hokuriku first to rest and repair equipment. In addition, the mild environment of Hokuriku is also good for Carol's injuries.
The journey was calm and calm, and the fleet slowly sailed towards the neutral ground. Although it was moving slowly, after a few days, the neutral ground was still in sight.
Qianye stood at the porthole of the bridge and looked forward. At the end of the void, the Neutral Ground was already vaguely visible. Looking from a distance, it was a scattered land mass, wrapped in a circle of mist. Only from a distance could he see , only then can you vaguely see the traces of the fall of Xu Guxing.
As the neutral ground gradually approached, the captain repositioned his route. With the battle cruiser as the leader, the huge fleet quietly turned an angle and sailed towards the neutral ground.
From the perspective of an outsider, there are land masses ahead, and only Qianye can see the hazy layer of fog. When the battle cruiser rushed into the fog, a subtle sizzling sound sounded throughout the ship, and many instrument pointers jumped sharply, and some instruments even Spewing sparks.
"Damn, it's happening again!" the captain cursed, then released the force, protected the cockpit, and shouted: "Why are you still standing there, why don't you repair it quickly? Replace the broken one and see if there are any spare parts. Top. By the way, look for those older models, the older the better!”
The crew quickly started working, and the captain urged him a few more times, then came to Qianye and said worriedly: "Sir, a batch of parts have been replaced when I came here, but it still doesn't look good now. Just replace it like this. If it goes down, it will affect the performance of the ship."
"That's what the neutral ground is. It doesn't matter. Your opponents here are also old antiques. In addition, I will find a suitable place for you to park the ship." Qianye said.
The captain's expression became slightly better and he said: "Sir, I'm not complaining, but just looking at her makes me feel bad."
After that, the captain left the bridge and inspected the entire ship.
This battlecruiser is the most cutting-edge battleship in the empire, and the darling of every captain. Although it has been refitted once before coming to the neutral land, it is obvious that the shipyard still underestimated the harsh environment of the neutral land. Qianye sensed
There was an obvious aura of corrosion and destruction in that layer of mist, and it was also mixed with the force of the void. Ordinary materials used to construct the force array simply could not withstand its corrosion.
What happened to the battle cruiser was just a small episode. The fleet passed between two land masses, and an extraordinarily large land mass appeared in front of it, which was the East China Sea.
At this point, every mercenary could find their way back. The fleet headed straight for Nan Qingcheng. The landmass gradually enlarged in front of them. Through a cloud layer, the outline of a city appeared on the distant horizon.
A mercenary general next to Qianye couldn't help but look happy and said: "Finally back!"
Qianye sighed in his heart and said, "Yes, I'm back."
An officer loudly said: "Come back this time, Lord Qianye, you really have to lead us to have a good fucking!"
Qianye was awakened by this sound. Looking back, he saw that the mercenaries in the bridge were very excited, and their faces were filled with joy. Each of these mercenaries showed extraordinary aura. In addition to a few generals, there were several
This one has a faint tendency to break through the warrior ranks.
Qianye didn't expect him to say this. At a glance, most of the surviving mercenaries' eyes were shining, looking at him eagerly. The people who are still with Qianye are all survivors of the Battle of Baicheng.
After the great tribulation, many showed signs of breakthrough.
Qianye originally thought that nine out of ten Dark Fire mercenaries died in this battle, and those who were still alive should be heartbroken. Even if they did not plan to completely quit the mercenary group, they should want to stay away from the battlefield. But he did not expect
, after a big battle, it seemed that these people were completely ignited.
"We have lost so many brothers this time. I originally thought that you would want to take a good rest for a while before making plans." Qianye said.
A group of mercenaries looked at me, and I looked at you, and finally pushed out a general in his early thirties.
This general was originally the leader of a small mercenary group. Later, under Ji Tianqing's threats and inducements, he led the entire mercenary group to join the Dark Fire. Among the original Dark Fire generals, he was not that outstanding, but miraculously he became a leader in Baicheng.
He survived the battle. Among the surviving mercenaries, he originally had the highest position and the strongest combat power, so he was pushed out.
He bowed to Qianye first, and then said: "Sir Qianye, we mercenaries have been living a life of licking blood from the edge of a knife. Who will have a good death? Dying on the battlefield is a good ending. What I fear most is growing old.
He is injured and cannot go to the battlefield or do heavy work. It can be said that life is worse than death. In the past, there were mercenary groups to take care of us, which only prevented everyone from starving to death in their later years, but it was not much better."
Qianye nodded, this is the most common ending for mercenaries in the Neutral Land. According to Song Zining, this is also a natural rule. In order to survive, the human race in the Neutral Land has greatly increased their fertility and their individual strength has improved faster. But in the Neutral Land,
The land cannot support so many people, so brutal war is the way to reduce the population.
Mercenary groups, large and small, are all born to fight. They are either hired to fight with others or fight with each other. In short, they have to fight and kill people, otherwise no one can survive.
Even more cruel than this is the Eternal Night Continent, which is located at the bottom of the world and has even fewer resources. Even if you are young and strong and cannot get out of the garbage dump, you still live like a beast.
The general paused and continued: "In the final analysis, this bloody battle is just the fate of people like us. It's not a big deal. But this time is different from the past. Those brothers who died in the battle at least died.
It's very dignified. At least their wives and families don't have to rely on others and be bullied. You and Master Zining took us to fight this battle and let us understand that we mercenaries can also die with dignity and without worries."
Qianye didn't expect this at all.
The mercenaries who died in the battle in Baicheng this time were compensated by the empire in accordance with the standards of the regular army, which was also one of the conditions for participating in the war. Qianye did not expect that there would be a monument after his death, which would be of such great significance to these mercenaries.
.
In addition, the empire's standard pension is also of great significance to mercenaries in neutral lands. Their families can at least live with peace of mind. In the past, many mercenary groups were disbanded because they could not pay pensions. Once the mercenaries fight
Death is a disaster for a family, and it is not uncommon for wives and daughters to become prostitutes.
The general looked back at his companions and said: "Sir, actually we have discussed it before. Only with you and Master Zining can we realize that our mercenaries are also human beings. So we will not leave, but want to
Continue to follow you and create a new world!"
Before Qianye could speak, another elderly general said again: "Sir Qianye, this pension is divided into three parts. Just give out one part, and the remaining two parts should be kept in the dark fire. The dark fire will develop in the future.
Get up, you will never forget us."
Qianye smiled bitterly, "You trust me so much..."
"When you were in Baicheng, you were always in the most dangerous place."
"Yes, Master Zining is like that too."
"I can stand here alive because you pulled me out from under the werewolf's claws!"
All the mercenary generals were talking non-stop.
The general at the head raised his hand and pressed it lightly. After everyone became quieter, he said: "Sir, although we mercenaries are nothing, we can tell who is the real hero and who is worthy of our sincere following! Don't refuse,
Whatever we need to do from now on, all we need is an order! Even if it means fighting a battle like Baicheng again, there will be no need to say anything!"
Looking at these mercenaries who have survived a hundred calamities, Qianye couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
The mercenaries live a precarious life just for money. The empire has always provided generous pensions to soldiers, and the standards are completely astronomical for mercenaries from neutral lands. These mercenaries are willing to give up more than half of their pensions, which shows that following Qianye,
Determination to rebuild the dark fire.
One of the oldest mercenaries said: "Sir Qianye, that's it. The pension we leave behind is much higher than that of other mercenary groups. I believe that as long as you take us for a day, you will not let those brothers who died in the battle
My family members have been wronged.”
Having said this, Qianye suddenly felt a heavy weight on his shoulders. After agreeing to this sentence, he would not only be responsible for the surviving mercenaries in front of him, but also be responsible for the families of those mercenaries who died in the battle. That would be
There are more than 100,000 people.
The leading general said solemnly: "Lord Qianye, as long as you are willing, the initial reconstruction is not a problem. Many of the descendants of those brothers who died in the battle have grown up. In our neutral land, we are considered adults after ten years of age.
, give them a gun, they will definitely be good on the battlefield!"
Qianye finally nodded and said: "Okay! From now on, you should follow me carefully, and I will take you to conquer a big world!"
During the battle patrol, a burst of cheers like a mountain roar and a tsunami suddenly broke out!
A seed is planted.
The fleet came all the way, the sea was calm, and no one with an open mind wanted to come and rob it. Even the most vicious space pirates would put away all their inappropriate thoughts and quietly retreat after seeing the battle cruiser.
A frigate sailed to Nan Qingcheng first and hovered over the city for several weeks. After seeing nothing unusual, it sent out a signal. The huge fleet sailed to Nan Qingcheng and landed at the landing site one by one.
Ji Rui, the nominal city lord of Nanqing, had been waiting for him for a long time. When he saw Qianye walking toward the war patrol, he immediately greeted him with a smile on his face and loudly shouted from a distance: "It's really gratifying to be back after a great victory!"
Qianye shook his head and said calmly: "Nearly all the brothers died in the battle, what is there to celebrate?"
Ji Rui was surprised, "They all died in the battle? No way? There should be...50,000 people when you went there, right?"
"These are the ones who came back." Qianye pointed behind him.
The surviving mercenaries who got off the battle cruiser were only a few hundred, and they all looked weak in front of the huge battle cruiser, let alone compared to the entire fleet.
Ji Rui looked at the surviving mercenaries carefully and suddenly said: "They are all talents!"