Winters suddenly sighed and asked softly, "Are you going to fight?"

"If you want to fight, you must have an enemy?"

"The Republic wants the archipelago." Winters calmly gave the answer: "I am so slow that I only figured it out now."

Antonio did not deny or affirm it, but just asked back: "Then why did Venetta go to war with his important sources of raw materials and trade objects?"

"I don't know the reason. I learned from history that people can have ten thousand reasons to start a war or ten thousand reasons to stop a war. War is not a duel between two people, and the interests in the war have reasons for conflict. As for the fundamental reason of the war, it can only be learned from history books after the war is over. I am just guessing the direction of the wheel through the ruts."

"What ruts?" Antonio seemed to be interested.

"Some fragmented information, rumors in the military academy, the contradiction between the archipelago and the sea blue, the tense atmosphere within the army headquarters, what you mentioned casually is going to recruit reserves... and the most important point is, what is the point of putting the case on pirates? Can the army still control pirates? It's just to lead the fire to the archipelago."

"It's interesting."

Winters asked with difficulty: "Does it be necessary to fight?" This is really not a question that a soldier should ask.

"Not necessarily, war is just a means, not an end. Prepare for war with great fanfare, sometimes just to get more bargaining chips. Vineta is not a mountain front, and the final means will be decided by the ruling committee." Antonio's voice was clear and calm,

He said slowly: "But military deterrence comes not only from force, but also from the determination to use force. If the wrong message is transmitted and the Federation of Islands believes that Hailan dares to use force, then there is only one way to war. Have you ever seen the general and the young general fight with the wild cats from the yard?"

"I've seen it, the young general is small but even more fierce." Every spring and autumn night, cats are fighting around Winters' house, howling with ghosts and wolves.

"I'm wrong. It's not that the young generals are more fierce, but that the wild cats think that the young generals can be bullied and dare to challenge the young generals. Look at the generals? As long as you see the wild cat enter your territory, you will fight a life-and-death battle. The wild cats nearby are afraid of it, and they hide far away when they see it. In the end, the young generals who don't like to cause trouble fight more with the wild cats."

"Then is the Republic ready for war?" Winters digested the passage, feeling that he knew too little.

"Yes, nor are there. The plan was made one after another a few years ago, but the government was not determined. The plan was just a piece of waste paper." Antonio snorted coldly, as if very dissatisfied: "It was not until a month ago that the consul gave the fierce speech in the Senate that the Thirteen-member Committee agreed to prepare materials for the war."

[The Thirteen-member Committee, namely the Military Commission of the Republic of Veneta, is composed of senior leaders of the Army and Navy]

"I think the Union may not watch us control the archipelago." If Hailan takes over the archipelago, it will inevitably break the delicate balance within the alliance.

"'Filengcui' is now on the northern Jiehe River and the 'Benliu River'. Otherwise, why wouldn't you let you go by land this year, but let you go back to Venetta from the sea?"

[Fourth ‘Filing Cui’ Legion, Marine Blue Republic Army]

[Second ‘River’ Corps, United Provincial Republic Army]

Winters's hair was standing up behind him, and the two alliance standing corps had already confronted each other at the border. No wonder this year it was changed to a boat. But he felt incredibly ridiculous: "Can we still fight with the Unionists first?"

"How is it possible? No matter how crazy the United Provincial Army is, it will not dare to risk the world's tyranny and fight a civil war." Antonio laughed and comforted his nephew: "Their mind is nothing more than to restrain us and prevent us from using our full strength to buy time for them to control the archipelago."

“The United Provinces also want to control the archipelago?”

Antonio asked back: "The sea blue and the mountain each occupy half of the bay. Whoever can get the archipelago can control the trade in the inland sea. I ask you, if you are the Secretary of State of the United Provinces, do you want to control Taniria?"

In the past, the Tanirian Islands were also a direct royal territory. But contrary to Hailan's wealth, Tanirian was so barren that no one wanted to do so and had to become the royal territory. Before introducing economic crops such as sugarcane, there was a wild land. Apart from the islanders who fled themselves, there were only prisoners who were exiled.

More than thirty years ago, the Alliance Navy, which had only a few galleys, set out from Taniria and plundered the empire's maritime transport ships, forcing the emperor to cross the shaded mountains to supply the Duke of Ally. The Archipelago, as the stolen land and supply point for the Alliance Navy, attracted the most greedy sailors, mercenaries and speculators on the continent, and the Archipelago began to flourish.

It was also during this period that sugarcane was introduced into this land. Inland islands, plantations began to appear.

After the madman Richard withdrew from the army, the Captain and the Planters Federation also took this opportunity to announce his separation from the empire and become a permanent "neutral free port". For more than 20 years, he has lived in the cracks between various forces as a loose consortium.

Antonio said unquestionably: "To be fair, do you think the conflict between the United Provinces and the Archipelago is greater, or do you think the conflict between the United Provinces and the Archipelago is greater? Do you think the price that the United Provinces can offer to the Archipelago is better, or can we offer to the Archipelago?

The political entity of the Archipelago Federation is too loose, and negotiations with the Federation are like shouting with a hundred ducks at the same time. If one island fights one by one, then Taniria will sooner or later become the eighth province of the United Republic. It is not that the Hailan wants the archipelago, but that the Hailan does not want the United Provinces to obtain the archipelago, and the means have to be more intense."

After hearing Antonio's words, it was obviously midsummer, but Winters felt a chill from the inside out: "Tell me the truth, the Victory Arsenal was not burned by the Throne, right?"

This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! "What are you thinking?" Antonio said to Winters in a reproachful tone: "The competition between the United Provinces and the Aquarium for Taniria is only an internal competition for the alliance. Although the United Provinces do not deal with us, we are also brothers and allies, not enemies. The Victory Arsenal is an important equipment procurement site for the Aquarium Army. How can we burn the Victory Arsenal?"

"That's good, that's good." Winters breathed a long sigh. For a moment, he was really worried that the republics would be nervous to the point where they would fight in the next second.

Antonio taught Winters earnestly, "I told you these things to help you get out of the limits of chess pieces and see what the chessboard looks like. Taking this assassination from the customs is nothing more than the war-first-wing people who want to take advantage of the issue and put pressure on the ruling committee, encourage public opinion, and promote war. This trick is meaningless, don't learn it. Because no matter whether the assassin is a Venetta or a pirate, it will not affect the decisions of the ruling committee."

"Then are you a warring faction or a peace faction?"

"I am not a pro-war faction or a pro-political faction. I only have one principle, that is, to put Veneta's interests first. You must also remember this point. You are a Veneta soldier. Your duty is to protect Veneta's interests, not to fight against the common people." Antonio's tone was very solemn.

Winters nodded heavily: "But I still don't understand why this case is fortified to the Gendarmerie Department?"

"No matter who investigates this case, there are only two ways to go. Either investigate this headless unsolved case; or follow the intentions of those pro-war factions and put the blame on the pirates. The subsequent path is simple, but if it cannot be done, the consequences will be serious if the case is reversed in the future." Antonio laughed: "Felder is too crazy and has no one to keep his mouth shut. Recently, somehow he offended people again. Everyone has a big opinion of him. The case was given to Fielder purely to disgust him."

Antonio added: "But you don't have to worry, you are just interns at the gendarmerie. Even if the verdict is overturned, you will not be implicated in the future. But Field, the kid, has to go to the War History Department."

Winters remembered Lieutenant Colonel Field's "heroic posture" at the internship volunteer introduction meeting. It was probably that it was at that time that all the senior officers present were offended.

When the case was mentioned, Winters suddenly remembered the coachman, and he hurriedly said to his uncle: "I think it's best to replace the coachman at home."

"Why?"

Winters explains in detail how he discovered that the coachman at home seemed to be involved in a secret association.

Antonio disagreed: "Isn't it just a secret society? There are some such things like Hailan City, let alone coachmen, and there are secret societies on the docks, and there are several."

However, Winters insisted that he wanted to change a coachman. After all, the most common people ride are not two men, but two ladies in the family. He felt that the coachman must be a reliable person.

Antonio finally agreed to his nephew's opinion. In the end, the two agreed that Antonio would send someone to talk to the coachman. If he confirmed that the coachman had no problem, he would give him a severance fee to dismiss the coachman. Finally, he hired two honest auxiliary soldiers from the Third Legion to serve as coachman and Ma Li.

——————————

One hundred beeswax candles illuminate the side hall of Navare's Mansion. The faint fragrance generated by beeswax burning spreads in the room, giving this elegant living room a little more private atmosphere.

This is a small reception, with not many people. The main hall is too big, which will make the guests feel deserted. Of course, Mrs. Navare would not make such a low-level mistake.

There is no dance floor in the side hall, but at this moment, Madame Navare is the most elegant dancer.

She lingers among every small group of guests. Wherever there is a sign of dispute, Mrs. Navare will use a funny pun to eliminate the conflict invisibly. When she finds that a guest is restrained, Mrs. Navare will skillfully guide the guest to a conversation circle that is more suitable for him.

The men talked loudly in the living room, and they were erotic and talked endlessly. Men longed for listeners and attracted the attention of others, while Madame Navare did not pursue everyone's ears.

Through a look, a smile, a glass of wine, and a witty remark, she made every guest feel like a spring breeze and had plenty of room to protect the pleasant atmosphere of the party.

Although the men occupied the stage, here the person who truly dominated the order was this understanding mistress.

However, even if Mrs. Navare, who can lift weights and tweak the atmosphere of the party, there are people who can make her helpless. While she is taking care of her, part of her attention has been focused on her daughter, for fear of something going on again.

Her eldest daughter is now standing in front of an Aphrodite tempera painting, surrounded by several men. People in this small circle are listening to a handsome man with a beautiful beard who comments on the painting.

For this critic, this young girl is probably the most competent listener in the world. She is only seventeen years old and has escaped the immatureness of children, but she has not matured as a married woman. She is in the most youthful and energetic stage of life, with every frown and smile, and her look shining.

As an audience, what is even more commendable is that there is no expression of impatientness on her face. Madame Navare's daughter admired the painting seriously, listened with a smile, nodded from time to time, yes, yes.

Critics believe that she has gained an admirer, but Mrs. Navare has realized from the subtle changes between the girl's eyebrows and the habitual hand movements that her daughter is now out of anger and is on the verge of anger.

"...The biggest problem is that the painter has a biased understanding of beauty." The beauty is on the side, and the critic is encouraged to criticize the painting in front of him more and more vigorously: "Aphrodite is clearly the god of love and beauty, but the goddess in this painting lacks beauty, and it cannot remind me of love..."

This chapter is not over, please click on the next page to continue reading! "Anna, come here." Mrs. Navare gently called her daughter standing a little far away.

Anna Navare nodded slightly to the men with a smile, as if apologizing for having to leave here, then walked straight to his mother and passed between the men who did not let go.

From an objective perspective, Anna's appearance is not a beauty in the traditional sense. She failed to inherit her mother's gentle and gentle face, but instead inherited more of her father's tough facial features. However, even if she had no sense of showing off her charm, the opposite sex would still involuntarily turn her eyes to her white shoulders and shiny hair.

Mrs. Navare took her daughter's hand and gently pinched her voice, reminding her to be polite. Anna understood what her mother conveyed and snorted dissatisfiedly, but she followed her mother to another location in the living room.

Mrs. Navare placed her daughter in a small circle with mostly young people, and continued to fulfill her mistress's responsibilities and went to take care of the guests.

Meanwhile, Antonio and his nephew had just arrived at the Navare Mansion.

Before Winters could ride, he reluctantly handed over the reins of the strong luck to the listener wearing the zither suit. Under the guidance of the butler, he followed Antonio into this magnificent side hall.

"General Serbiati, are you?" Mrs. Navare greeted Antonio enthusiastically and complained in an angry tone: "Why are you here so late? I thought you would not give me a favor."

"How could it be? I am your most loyal servant." Antonio bowed his head politely and gently kissed Mrs. Navare's hand.

Mrs. Navare covered her lips with a folding fan and said with a smile: "You are not faithful at all. Let's introduce me to this handsome young man."

"Don't you recognize who he is? My nephew Winters Montagne, just returned from the Army Academy this year."

"Elizabeth's son?" Mrs. Navare exclaimed softly. She measured Winters' waist with her hands and said with emotion: "Oh my God, I've grown up in the blink of an eye. But in my impression, there are only children of such a tall ones."

Hearing this, Mrs. Navare seemed to have seen Winters, but Winters had no impression of them anymore. She could remember everything from childhood, so Winters just smiled politely and didn't say anything.

"Oh, the military academy taught him to be a elm head, so you have to take good care of him."

"You have to guard against the fact that your baby nephew was deceived by a lady." Mrs. Navare walked up generously and took Winters' arm affectionately.

Winters felt the lady's soft body and body temperature in his left arm. Except for his family, he had never had such close contact with women. The sudden attack made him stiff all over and blushed all of a sudden.

"Your friends will be waiting for you for a while," said Mrs. Navare to Antonio. "Leave this young man to me."

Antonio nodded with a smile, leaving Mrs. Navare, helpless, withdrew from the party.

"Elizabeth and Cosai are both my friends, and you just think it's in your own home." Mrs. Navare thought the little guy's reaction was very interesting. She took a glass of wine from the waiter's tray to Winters: "Is it very restrictive to be with the elders? I'll introduce you to a few of your peers. Have some wine and don't be so nervous."

"Thank you, madam, but I won't drink." Winters said sincerely: "Uh... do you have anything to eat here?"

Mrs. Navare's words made her laugh. The first time she met someone looking for food at such a reception. A party of this type is not a banquet or a cold dinner. There is no food, only wine.

But Winters is really hungry and dizzy now. In the afternoon, he went to the customs prison with Lieutenant Colonel Field, but he spit out all the food he had eaten for lunch. When he got home, he was taken to the tailor shop by Cosci. He came back when it was almost dark, and then he came to Navare with Antonio. He had been hungry, but for some reason, his stomach began to churn again.

Winters looked calm and sincere. Mrs. Navare knew that he was not pretending, but was really hungry. She felt that the little guy had no social experience and was so cute that he explained to Winters: "There is no food here, but the kitchen will be there, and I'll take you there."

Mrs. Navare softly called her daughter and introduced to Anna: "This is Mr. Montagne. You take Mr. Montagne to the kitchen and ask the chef to make some of what Mr. Montagne likes."

She turned to Winters again and said, "This is my daughter, Anna, let her take you to the kitchen."

Mrs. Navare's daughter smiled and curtsyed in her skirt, saying softly: "Mr. Montagne, please come with me."

Winters looked at Anna's smooth forehead and graceful neck, and her face turned redder. But as a spellcaster, his keen perception made him see that Miss Navare was actually very unhappy.

She was laughing, but there was no smile on the corners of her mouth and eyes, which made Winters feel like a doll.
To be continued...