Steel, gunpowder, and spellcasters

Chapter 545 Negotiation (Part 4)

The four-wheeled carriage sped along the road, with Major Ranco Boyle, the special envoy of the "Allied Forces" Southern Army, sitting inside, completely unaware of what was happening outside.

Except for a small window in the roof of the carriage for ventilation and lighting, all other windows inside the carriage were boarded up, and even the gaps were sealed with strips of cloth.

In the Battle of River Valley, the Red Rose suffered losses not only in the main infantry forces of the Fifth and Sixth Legions, but also in their hard-won cavalry units.

In the sparsely populated land of the horse-riding nation, settlements were often far apart.

Losing cavalry meant losing control of the vast plains beyond the fortifications.

Therefore, Major Ranco Boyle and his party were discovered by rebel scouts before they even passed Birch Castle. They were intercepted by rebel cavalry as soon as they entered the province of Xilin.

It wasn't that Major Boyle lacked counter-surveillance awareness—he never intended to hide, nor could he possibly have.

The last remaining cavalry of the Red Rose now only dare to roam around the vicinity of Kings' Castle.

The scout cavalry of the newly established rebels moved freely in Xilin Province, and some audacious individuals even managed to sneak into the outskirts of Zhuwangbao.

Furthermore, the fact that both sides coincidentally chose to block the road has made it nearly impossible for merchants and travelers to travel between Kingsburg and Maplestone City.

Therefore, anyone who dares to walk on the road at this time is either a spy or a messenger.

Lanco Boyle is both.
-
Sunlight slanted through the sunroof on the roof of the carriage, casting a trembling patch of light on the wooden board covering the windows.

But it wasn't the sunlight that was trembling; it was the carriage that was shaking.

"How many days has it been?" Major Boyle stared at the patch of light, thinking silently.

It took him a moment to remember, “Oh, it’s the fifth day.”

"Is the carriage still heading west?" Major Boyle wondered again.

He struggled to clear his sluggish mind, and after a moment, based on the angle of the sunlight, he came to the answer: "No, it has already started heading north."

Being confined in an enclosed space for too long can cause a loss of direction and sense of time.

Since being "captured" by the rebels and imprisoned in this carriage, Major Boyle has never been able to step out of this mobile prison, and he has to handle all his life's big and small matters inside the carriage.

Fortunately, the one-eyed rebel captain in charge of escorting him still had basic respect for his fellow alumnus, changing the toilet frequently and preventing the tragedy of the carriage turning into a cesspool from happening.

Of course, Major Boyle resolutely refused to admit that he was a prisoner in front of the one-eyed captain, but this did not improve his situation.

“The carriage is starting to head north,” Major Boyle muttered to himself, “which means we’re almost there.”

People always talk about a distance of a thousand miles, and the journey from Maplestone City to Kings' Castle is almost a thousand miles.

Ever since Major Boyle was crammed into this carriage, he has been bouncing around for more than ten hours every day, starting before dawn and not stopping until it is completely dark. Except for necessary horse changes and repairs, he never stops in between.

It seems we've arrived at our destination.

With this in mind, Ranco Boyle took a deep breath, roused himself, and closed his eyes to meditate.

The image of Secretary Jason Cornelis resurfaced in his mind.

“No matter when or where,” the minister began slowly, “politically dismantling the enemy is more effective than militarily striking them.”

As he concentrated, the minister's voice became clearer and clearer in Boyle's mind:
"Efficient decision-making and rapid action are the most easily overlooked, yet most formidable, skills of the rebels."

"While the Kings' Fortress was still secretly plotting and the City of Gui was still hesitant, the rebels had already made up their minds and acted with lightning speed."

"This is the most important reason why they were able to win the Battle of River Valley Village."

"However, the rebels have now lost this advantage," the minister declared emphatically. "The fact that Kingsburg has not yet fallen is proof of that!"

Jason Cornelius's piercing eyes pierced through the fog of memory, staring intently at Boyle:
"Therefore, the task you bear is more important than anyone else's."

"You must find the cracks within the rebels, divide them, break them up, and drive wedges into the gaps."

“The outcome of the Battle of South Paratú will not only depend on the success or failure on the battlefield,” Jason Cornelius said, his hand piercing through the mists of memory as he placed it on Boyle’s shoulder, “but also on your results.”

Suddenly, the carriage shook violently, and with a loud neighing of horses, it came to a stop.

The image of Chief Inspector Cornelius burst and dissipated in Major Boyle's mind like a bubble.

A series of rapid footsteps sounded outside the car, and then the door was pulled open, revealing the face of the one-eyed captain.

The bright sunlight outside the car made Ranco Boyle instinctively shield his eyes.

"Get out of the car, Major," said the one-eyed captain. "We've arrived at Maple Leaf Fortress."
-
The sack over his head was removed, and Lanco Boyle tried to rub his eyes, but his hands were strapped to the chair and he couldn't move.

So he could only blink and try to adjust to the light in the room.

All around were stones, there were no windows, the air was stuffy, and a chill ran through him—Boyle judged that he must be in a basement.

Three colonels and one lieutenant sat together behind a bloodstained long table, looking him up and down—unsurprisingly, these were the four leaders of the rebel army.

Behind the officer, a man dressed as a hermit stood in the corner of the room, his face hidden under his hood, making it difficult to see clearly in the dim light.

Boyle's heart tightened—who was this? Why hadn't the intelligence mentioned any collusion between the rebels and the Catholic Church? Could it be a confessional priest? Were the rebels planning to use torture directly?
The four rebel officers simply stared at Boyle without saying a word. The ascetic in the corner remained silent, like a stone statue.

Then Ranco Boyle broke the silence.

“Colonel Gaisa, Colonel Skull, Lieutenant Colonel Matthias, Captain Montagne,” Major Boyle stretched his arms, which were bound by leather straps, causing the chair beneath him to shake. “Please allow me to protest your mistreatment of the envoy.”

Seated in the middle of the long table, the bald officer with half his face covered in horrific scars spoke first, his expression arrogant: "Prisoners have no right to protest."

“You are mistaken, Colonel Gaisa. Prisoners also have the right to protest,” Boyle said neither humbly nor arrogantly. “Besides, I am not a prisoner; I am an envoy tasked with negotiating.”

"Get your facts straight, United Provinces man," the bald colonel said, his gaze icy. "If I say you're a prisoner, you're a prisoner; if I say you're alive, you're alive."

“You’re right, Colonel Gaisa, my life or death is entirely in your hands,” Boyle said with a nonchalant, polite smile. “But even for a death row inmate, it’s inhumane to transport him in that kind of carriage.”

"Isn't that inhumane?" The lieutenant sitting on the far left of the long table laughed. "I'm the kind of Palatine who came in one of those carriages."

Upon hearing the officer speak, Boyle carefully examined him.

Unfortunately, although Lanco Boyle found the young lieutenant before him to be handsome and distinguished, he still found it difficult to connect him with the "blood of the wolf" mentioned in the intelligence.

“You’ve fallen into a logical fallacy, Captain Montagne,” Boyle replied with a smile, “You’re essentially saying that because you were treated inhumanely, that inhumane treatment becomes humane, which is tantamount to denying the inhumane treatment you suffered.”

“My logic is simple,” the lieutenant said calmly, “[an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth].” “Then there’s no problem, we’re even, I withdraw my protest,” Boyle replied cheerfully.

The next moment, he bowed deeply to the lieutenant and said earnestly, "But regardless, please allow me to apologize for the inhumane treatment you suffered. I hope you understand that not all officers of the United Provinces agree with treating you that way. For this, I have brought you a small gift, which is on my person..."

"Is this it?" The lieutenant took a small box from his pocket, opened the lid, and placed it on the table, facing Boyle.

A simple signet ring lay quietly inside the box.

Boyle has the same ring, Gaisa has it, Skul and Matthias have it, but the lieutenant has never had one.

“That’s right, the Ring of the Great Alliance,” Boyle nodded, “yours, and Lieutenant Bard’s, and Lieutenant Andrea Cellini’s.”

The lieutenant gently closed the box lid: "This was originally ours."

“Returning it to its rightful owner,” Boyle readily agreed, “is the best course of action.”

"'Returning the item to its rightful owner' is considered gift-giving?" the bald-headed officer asked sarcastically. "When did people from the United Provinces become so shameless?"

Before Boyle could answer, the tall, thin officer sitting next to the bald officer coughed lightly, stopping the pointless attack. "Major Ranko Boyle, since you say you are responsible for negotiations, then state your purpose."

The tall, thin officer had deep-set eyes, an elegant demeanor, and a touch of poetic melancholy in his expression.

Boyle thought to himself, “Without a doubt, this is Skul Mecklen, ‘deeply thoughtful and eloquent,’ ‘good at planning but lacking in the ability to handle situations on the spot.’”

“First of all, General Cornelius has asked me to congratulate you all,” Boyle said, clearing his throat and beaming. “You have won a remarkable victory. General Cornelius said that even as an enemy, he would applaud you. The Battle of Rivervale will be forever recorded in the history of the Alliance.”

“No thanks,” the bald officer said with a forced smile, making the scars on his face look even more gruesome. “I don’t think it’s a good thing to be written into your war history. Jason Cornelius has become a general? Is that a reward for staging a coup? Not easy, really not easy.”

“It’s not as easy as promoting yourself,” Boyle said with a slight smile.

The bald-headed officer frowned.

The black-haired officer, who had been sitting at the far right of the long table and hadn't spoken until now, smiled gently and finally spoke.

His voice was magnetic and pleasant: "We have already received congratulations from Chief Cornelius. Major Boyle, what else is the purpose of your visit? Please state it here as well."

The black-haired officer was younger than the other two officers, with a well-proportioned figure and elegant demeanor. His officer uniform was ironed very neatly, and his thick black hair and beard were also very well maintained.

“I presume you are Lieutenant Colonel Matthias Korwin,” Lanko Boyle nodded in greeting.

The black-haired officer nodded.

Ranco Boyle politely replied, "Your friend in Kingsburg asked me to convey your greetings."

The black-haired officer chuckled dismissively. "Save your breath, Major. State your purpose."

Boyle withdrew his gaze and looked at the two colonels sitting in the middle. "Besides offering my congratulations, General Cornelius sent me here on one important matter and one minor matter."

Gaisa and Skul exchanged a glance, and Skul said calmly, "Let's talk about the important things first."

Boyle cleared his throat. "Given that both your side and our side possess a considerable number of officers 'loyal to the other,' General Cornelius suggests that we conduct a reasonable exchange."

"What officers loyal to the enemy? Aren't they just prisoners?" Geza sneered. "We have plenty of prisoners, but what do you have to offer in exchange?"

“There are many suitable candidates in Kingsburg,” Boyle said with a smile, glancing at the three officers. “For example, Major Ronald, the former garrison commander of Iron Peak County, and his men.”

Then Boyle turned his attention to Winters Montagne, who had frowned when Boyle mentioned “officers loyal to the other side”.

“And for example,” Boyle’s smile deepened, “some of the Paratul officers from Venetta.”

Gaisa and Skul exchanged glances again, this time taking longer than before.

“You might think that as long as we break through Kings’ Castle, we can rescue the prisoners without exchanging them,” Boyle said at the opportune moment. “So I need to remind you that, considering this possibility, while we are speaking, the prisoners who were originally imprisoned in Kings’ Castle have already boarded a ship bound for the foothills.”

Colonel Skulel remained noncommittal. "Now that we've covered the important matters, let's talk about the less important ones."

“It’s a small matter, but it’s very important,” Boyle said solemnly. “Colonel Bode Gates’ family wants to take back his remains so that he can rest in peace in the family cemetery.”

The rebel officers spoke in silence again, and this time, they quickly gave a clear answer.

“Colonel Bode has been laid to rest in Maplestone Cathedral and it is not convenient to move his coffin at the moment,” Geza replied just as solemnly. “Please rest assured, Colonel’s family, the monks of Maplestone Monastery pray for the Colonel’s soul every day. If you must return the Colonel to the family cemetery… please wait until the dust has settled.”

“The bereaved family has anticipated this situation,” Boyle nodded, then added, “If it is inconvenient to move the coffin for the time being, they hope to come to Maplestone City to personally pay their respects to Colonel Bode.”

This time, not only Gaisa Adonis and Winters Montagne, but even the usually composed Matthias Corwin frowned.

“I must admit, even if I had the most wicked thoughts about you,” Gaisa spat in disgust, “I never imagined you would be this despicable.”

“Please explain,” Boyle said, feigning ignorance.

"You're actually using Colonel Bode's family as bargaining chips?" Gaesar roared in fury. "What's next? Arrest our relatives in Kingsburg and take them hostage?"

"How dare you insult us like this, Colonel Gaisa Adonis!" Boyle's face changed as well, his hair standing on end like an enraged hedgehog. He shouted, "If I weren't tied up here, I'd duel you right now!"

Gaisa squinted.

“I will not lie to you about this,” Boyle bowed to the other rebel officers. “Grove Magnus did indeed have a plan to capture your friends and family to take them hostage, and it was General Jason Cornelis who stopped ‘Viper’.”

Skul watched the major's performance with a blank expression.

With a serious expression, Boyle solemnly declared, "General Cornelius has entrusted me with the full authority to assure you, on the honor of a soldier, that your relatives and friends in Kingsburg and the Grand Council's controlled area will not be threatened in any way. You may bring your relatives and friends to the new settlements at any time, and the Southern Army will do its utmost to cooperate."

Boyle took a deep breath, a hint of genuine emotion in his voice: "Even now, as enemies, we are still heirs to the old marshal's mantle. We have indeed made many morally questionable decisions, but we will not stoop to using family members to blackmail the enemy. If anyone does, I will be the first to draw my sword—even if that person is Jason Cornelius. Battlefield matters should be resolved on the battlefield. That's all I have to say!"

Gaisa sneered and slapped the table.

The one-eyed lieutenant walked in from outside with two military policemen, and Boyle's head was covered with a sack again.

After walking a short distance in the darkness, Boyle returned to his cell.

This time, however, the shackles on his hands and feet were removed.

Ranco Boyle moved his hands and feet, knowing that even if the rebels knew he was putting on an act, he had still earned a little respect from them.

This is a good beginning.

[Actually, fellow readers, I'm more afraid than anyone of [old ailment relapse.jpg], and I will try my best not to step into that swamp again.]
[OrZ]
[Thank you so much for your patience and support!]
[Thank you to all the readers for your collections, reading, subscriptions, recommendations, monthly tickets, donations, and comments. Thank you everyone!]