The next day, Mason was very happy to learn about Colonel Bode's decision.

Because of the hangover, the senior's skull cavity felt empty and painful.

He said straightforwardly: "Okay! Great! Now we are no longer a 'small group of foreigners commanding a large group of Platoans'."

Senior Mason hoped from the bottom of his heart that the colonel would join the group.

The new government of Tiefeng County, which is the local government of Plato, is led by Venetas and United Provinces people, and the composition is really embarrassing.

That is to say, the current territory is small, the population is small, and the blood wolf's reputation can still deter those who are ready to take action. This is why the new government has not been caught and beaten up.

The addition of Bode Gates will increase the concentration of Platoans in the decision-making layer from [0] to [14.3%], which can be called "a small step for a colonel, a giant step for the new government."

However... the concentration of soldiers is still 100%.

In addition to the above reasons, the senior also has a little selfishness.

With Bud absent, Winters not caring, and others invisible, all matters big and small inside and outside Gevaudan now rest on Mason's shoulders, causing the senior's hairline to recede at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Having one more helper to share the common chores is a dream for the seniors.

But Mason never invited Colonel Bode.

Who is Bod Gates?

In terms of status, he is the chief captain of the Sixth Army, only half a step away from the position of army commander. It is logical that one day in the future, he will receive the general's baton.

In terms of background, he comes from a famous family in Plato; the [Bode] family has as long a history as the [Arpad] family, and both can be traced back to the period of the seven ancient tribes of Plato.

Want to recruit him to join the "rebels"? The possibility is slim.

Mason didn't know what method his junior used to convince the colonel. Although he was very happy, he always felt a little uneasy in his heart.

…

When Colonel Bode attended the resolution meeting, there was no ceremony, and no introduction was needed - Winters and several others had been his subordinates. Adding a chair next to the table would be enough to complete the whole scene.

Winters made the opening remarks: "The total number of votes in the resolution meeting has always been an even number before. With Colonel participating in the meeting, we no longer have to worry about a tie vote!"

Senior Mason clapped weakly.

Lieutenant Colonel Moritz was not present - Winters had not yet found a chance to inform Colonel A and Colonel B of the existence of Mr. A and Mr. B. There were only three people in the conference room: Winters, Mason and Colonel Bode.

"Wait a minute, I haven't agreed to rebel with you yet." Colonel Bode leaned back in his chair and mocked: "Don't worry about including me yet."

"How can we call it a rebellion?" Winters asked doubtfully, "We are all appointed officers of the Plato Republic."

Colonel Bode snorted lightly and ignored Winters.

"Winters came to me excitedly this morning and told me that you had joined the gang." Mason joked: "Did you lie about the military situation?"

Colonel Bode raised his eyebrows: "Join the gang? Are you robbers? Do you want to swear another oath?"

"If you want to take an oath... there is no problem. I will lend you a holy relic." Winters recommended enthusiastically: "How about the emblem of Saint Athos? It is said that there is a fragment of the true holy emblem hidden inside."

"Don't be careless. I didn't drink too much last night. I can stay at Arpad's place in Tiefeng County. I don't want to go; I'm too lazy to serve those idiot members of the Kings' Castle faction." Colonel Bode changed the subject.

, his eyes became serious: "But there are two things I must ask clearly."

"Excuse me." Winters sat down in full clothes: "I will not lie to you if I can answer any questions."

Colonel Bode stared at Winters closely, trying to discern clues from the latter's eyes and expression: "What is your relationship with the Hurds?"

"Hostile relationship." Winters spread his palms.

"I'm not asking about the Terdun Department." Colonel Bode's body leaned forward involuntarily: "I'm asking about the Chihe Department! It's the Chihe Department that fought bloody battles with us, captured me, and then released me!"

"Two years ago, I accidentally saved the white lion Yasin's younger brother. It's that simple."

"Yasin owes you a favor, so let me come back too?"

"Don't always want to use me as a scapegoat." Winters propped up his chin and said with a chuckle: "In Plato, in Periphery, and in Styx, I have fulfilled my responsibilities. If you feel bad, you should go

Get angry with Janos, Arpad and Szekler. Why should you hold us petty centurions accountable?"

"Stop prevaricating me! I'm not trying to vent your anger on you because I lost the battle. You know what I mean."

"Then I will give you a dignified answer." Winters put away his smile and looked directly at Colonel Bode: "White Lion let me go, maybe to repay a favor. Because I was alone at that time and had nothing. Let you go

When you come back, you are obviously helping me. There are three purposes.

"First, if I can gain a foothold, he can trade with the outside world through me; second, Tiefeng County resists the New Reclamation Army, and no matter who wins or loses, it will consume Plato's strength; third,

Tiefeng County is close to the sphere of influence of the Terdun tribe, and I have an old grudge with the Fire Roarer. He can use me to contain the Fire Roarer.

Killing three birds with one stone, why not do this? And what White Lion has sacrificed so far is nothing more than being a slave to you. Now that he has sent you back, do I still have to say ‘no’ and send you back again?”

Colonel Bode's face turned from red to white, and then from white to blue. He tensed his cheeks tightly and said nothing.

Mason was frightened when he heard this. He gently pulled Winters to signal his junior not to be so aggressive.

Winters ignored the senior and continued: "I have never betrayed the interests of the Platos to the Herds, nor have I betrayed the interests of the Platoans. I am upright and have a clear conscience.

But if the Hud tribes profit from my actions, even though it is not what I want, I will not stop there. The New Reclamation Army sends troops to attack me. I can't just not fight back just because the Hud tribe will benefit, right?

"

Colonel Bode was speechless.

After sitting quietly for a while, he sighed deeply and asked again: "Second question. Since you have contact with the Red River Department, do you have any way to get those prisoners in the wasteland back?"

"There is a way! And I will do my best to rescue them - there are also my subordinates among the slaves." Winters took out a knife: "I have a verbal agreement with the White Lion to exchange supplies for prisoners. As long as you give me a chance,

I will open up the trade route to Chihe and bring back the people little by little."

"Exchanging supplies for prisoners?" Colonel Bode asked with a frown. Plato maintained a long-term blockade of the wasteland, and exchanging supplies for prisoners was nothing more than smuggling.

"What else?" Winters asked back: "If you don't take goods, how about gold and silver in exchange? Not only do I have no gold and silver, but what's the use of gold and silver in the wasteland? White Lion values ​​material profits and will never trade people for money."

Colonel Bode was speechless again. He gritted his teeth and warned Winters: "The White Lion and the Red River tribe are more dangerous than the other Hed tribes combined."

"I know, of course I know. This is feeding meat to the lions." Winters said frankly: "But exchanging the veterans will also make us stronger. After all, 'my' survival is more important."

The colonel asked: "What will happen after you change back? Will you continue to let them fight for you?"

"Yes, that's what I thought at first." Winters sighed: "But after meeting you, I realized that they are also living people, with families and relatives. They are not puppets or weapons, nor are they weapons.

It’s not my tool. So... let’s do it.”

Winters made up his mind and said to the colonel with a smile: "You are free to stay or go. If you want to stay, you can continue to serve as a soldier for me. If there are disabled people, I will give them land. If they want to go home, I will pay them travel expenses."

How's it going? Are you satisfied?"

"What am I dissatisfied with?" Colonel Bode snorted.

He straightened up his appearance with his only right arm, stood up, and solemnly raised his hand to salute Winters: "If you can do this, I will pay my respects to all the Plato veterans and my subordinates who are living in the wilderness and cannot go home.

Thank you!"

Winters accepted the gift and raised his hand in return.

After hearing this, the big stone in Senior Mason's heart finally fell. After understanding Colonel Bode's motives to a certain extent, the senior Mason's uneasy feeling eased a little.

But then, his spirit became tense again.

Because the senior heard the colonel say to Winters: "I want to ask you for something."

"What do you want? I'll give you what you want." Winters agreed wholeheartedly at first, and then hurriedly declared: "I don't need any money. Our finances are tight."

"I want an official position."

"What official position?"

"The highest official position." Colonel Bode sneered: "Whoever has the highest official position, just give it to me."

The atmosphere suddenly turned cold, and Mason subconsciously shrank his neck. He has a gentle personality and doesn't like fighting. The last thing he wants to see is a struggle for power and internal fighting.

"You don't have to be like this." Winters winked.

"It's not necessary?" Colonel Bode pretended to be confused: "I'm a great colonel, what's wrong with asking for a high-ranking official?"

"There is no need to think about the future for us. Since we have embarked on this path, we voluntarily bear the risk of not being able to escape unscathed."

The air is no longer frighteningly cold, but the conference room is still quiet.

"Are you naive or brave?" Colonel Bode sighed deeply: "You little lieutenants can't withstand this thunder. Use me as a shield and hand me over when the end of the line comes. Maybe you guys can still survive?"

Wouldn't it be great to change it to a school official?"

"You are too pessimistic." Winters smiled and recommended his backup plan: "In the worst case, you can also go to Veneta with us. Anyway, we won't have one more partner in the business."

Colonel Bode's anger surged up again: "Silly boy, do you think Venetta will protect you when that day comes?"

"Then escape overseas and go to the west." Winters drew a circle in the air: "I heard that if you keep going west, you can reach the Far East."

Colonel Bode leaned on the table and could not say a word for a long time.

"An official position is nothing more than a seal. Can't you just engrave one for you?" Winters explained sincerely: "It's your request - the largest official position. This is a bit..."

"You said it was just a seal." Colonel Bode blew his beard and glared: "You are stingy even for a seal?"

"The biggest official position here is that of marshal." Winters asked tentatively: "Then I can engrave a marshal's seal for you?"

The colonel's breathing stopped for at least a beat. Senior Mason stared at his knees, trying hard not to laugh.
To be continued...