The War Court and Lap Pillow, Austria's Mandate of Heaven

Chapter 1628 Awakening from a Dream
A Russian officer riding a tall horse entered the village, and his imposing manner instantly made Eva's scalp tingle. She whispered to her husband.

"Let's go back first."

"it is good."

Like Ivan and his wife, many people were still shouting "Long live Russia!" excitedly, while the children were still waiting for a response from the other side.

However, the officer on his tall horse merely waved his hand dismissively, and the Russian soldiers scattered like wild dogs.

"Hand over the grain, the wine, and all other valuables!"

Russian soldiers frantically looted everything they could see. Eva's necklace was violently ripped off her neck; it was a keepsake left to her by her grandmother. Ignoring the bloodstains on her neck, Eva rushed forward desperately to retrieve her grandmother's keepsake.

How could the frail Eva be a match for the soldiers? She was roughly pushed to the ground, and two other soldiers laughed as they dragged her into a nearby house.

"what!"

Ivan roared and charged forward, but was knocked to the ground by a rifle butt. He crawled to the officer's horse.

"Didn't you come here to save us?"

The officer on horseback ignored Ivan, simply watching everything indifferently.

A soldier walked over and kicked Ivan in the head. His world immediately began to spin rapidly. Laughter and cheers were gradually replaced by pleas and screams. In addition to the smell of dirt, there was also the smell of blood in his nostrils. His consciousness gradually faded into darkness.

When Ivan woke up again, he was lying in his own bed. He was excited, thinking it was all a dream, but the bruises on his wife's face and her swollen eyes pulled him back to reality.

His home was in complete disarray; the jar where he hid his coins had been violently smashed, and even his winter bedding had been taken away.

"I'll fight them to the death!"

Ivan was about to get up when Eva grabbed him and pressed him down. She shook her head, just like when the bandits invaded the village.

In an instant, a wave of humiliation, resentment, anger, and regret washed over Ivan, and he broke down in tears. He never imagined that the people he considered his saviors would treat them this way.

Singing, laughter, cursing, and the sound of glass and pottery shattering on the ground filled the entire village, and garlands were trampled on in the mud.

Occasionally, women's screams could be heard, but no one came to their aid; they simply hid in their houses, trembling with fear that their own family would be next.

Fortunately, the priest donated the village church, so the villagers were not left homeless. However, the village chief's largest and most luxurious house was not spared.

The villagers' precious poultry and livestock were being roasted by soldiers, and their treasured wines were being squandered. The entire village had become a large military camp, and the villagers were the livestock within it.

At night, the priest attempted to set fire to the church and perish along with the Russian soldiers, but was discovered by soldiers who got up in the middle of the night and ended up being nailed to the cross.

The next day, the village chief's son tried to do the same thing, leaving the body in the village square.

On the third day, the village chief's wife and daughter-in-law, unable to bear the humiliation, chose to hang themselves.

On the fourth day, the village went mad.
Ivan and Eva huddled in the room, their eyes filled with despair and numbness.

Suddenly, the sound of horses' hooves rang out, and the Russian soldiers in the village also shouted.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

Ivan and Eva looked at each other, and a relieved smile unconsciously appeared on their lips.

However, the expected battle did not occur; instead, Austrian cavalry arrived.

Austria and Russia were allies. Although the Russian army had more soldiers, the Austrian side consisted mainly of cavalry, so the strength of the two sides was not much different.

The Austrian Empire's cavalry officer, Vincent Morris, glanced disdainfully at the Russian army's actions and then spoke in broken Russian.

Where are your officers?

"That's me." The Russian commander, not wanting to appear inferior, also mounted his warhorse.

"This is now Austrian territory. Please leave."

The Russian commander had just breathed a sigh of relief when his adjutant asked him a question.

What if we don't leave?

Vincent Morris frowned and looked at the Russian commander, the implication being clear: keep your men in check. However, the commander not only didn't intervene, but pretended not to see anything.

Vincent Morris clicked his tongue.

"Watch your words. Your actions constitute a provocation against the Austrian Empire. You are ravaging Austrian territory."

The adjutant burst into laughter.

"But they invited us to be their guests."

He pulled a girl into his arms and spoke to her through his alcohol-smelling breath.

Am I telling the truth?

"Yes"

The girl answered softly, tears welling in her eyes.

Did you hear that?

Vincent Morris fired a shot into the air.

"Let her go. You have fifteen minutes to get out of this village!"

Russian soldiers immediately rushed over with their guns, and Austrian soldiers also raised their weapons, instantly creating a tense atmosphere. Suddenly, something exploded in the sky, sending up a plume of smoke.

That was actually a signal flare that Vincent Morris had just fired. The Russian commander hadn't expected the other side to be so decisive. He didn't think his remnants were a match for the regular Austrian army, let alone the large army that might be coming.
"You win, we'll leave immediately, but could you give us a little more time? We weren't prepared after all."

"Half an hour, I am not responsible for anything that happens after that."

Vincent Morris stated bluntly.

The Russian adjutant wanted to say something more, but before he could speak, the commander ordered him to be pulled away.

In fact, the Russian commander was also somewhat frustrated. It was all his fault for his subordinate who loved to drink; if it weren't for him, things wouldn't have come to this.

"After all, we're allies; we should at least save face for each other," he said viciously.

"Pack your things up! Get out of here!"

In the following days, the Austrian Imperial government officially took over the village, and special officials began to assess the damage. Several clerks meticulously recorded everything and assured the villagers that relief supplies would arrive soon.

The villagers were very puzzled; some even suspected it was some kind of new trap. So some people fled the village under cover of night, but most didn't have the courage.

Soon, supplies from the Austrian Empire arrived, the wagons laden with grain, timber, cloth, simple tents and blankets, and even medical supplies and brand-new tools. Thanks to the constant supervision of officers and soldiers, the distribution of the supplies proceeded without the slightest chaos.

The priests and doctors accompanying the army began to treat the villagers. Fortunately, most of these people understood some of the local language, unlike the soldiers who could only communicate with gestures.

The church, which had been destroyed by fire, was rebuilt. All the villagers who participated in the reconstruction received a wage. Other buildings in the village would also be rebuilt in turn, but the specific order was entirely determined by Austrian officials.

They will also reassess the remaining buildings, demolishing and rebuilding them if they deem them dangerous, and repairing them on the existing foundation if the damage is not serious.

Everything before their eyes was tearing apart the passionate young people, including Ivan, and the ideals they once held as truth were being completely overturned.