This is a rare sunny day, with clear blue sky above, soft wind and soft waves beside you, and even groups of docile marine animals in the distance playing in the waves. But ten out of ten humans in this sea area
Eighty-nine, but their faces are not very kind, because today is the day when the Sibia Navy handed over the first batch of ocean-going ships to the North-South Treaty Merchant Group's Ocean Transport Team.
The Sibia Navy is a proud force. Although they are still very young since their birth, they have never been defeated since they formed the army. The white uniforms and dazzling golden threads show their glory, bravery and romance, and they must
If these people hand over the ships they depend on for survival, how can they feel better if they are asked to hand over half of their lives?
On the deck of one of the ships, the captain announced to the crew the handover order jointly issued by the Military Secretariat of Emperor Sbia, the General Staff and the Naval Command. He was a typical seaman, although his face was gloomy.
But he read meticulously, and his dark-skinned subordinates were also listening attentively.
The low, hoarse voice spread all around, and also to the ships next to it. The officers and soldiers of the treaty merchant group who were waiting to receive the ships - or should we call them "sailors" - were about to take over the weapons from the hands of the devil.
Their moods were more complex, some clenched their fists, and some had distorted expressions. No matter how they looked at it, they did not feel the joy of a windfall.
After the order was read out, the captain turned around neatly and faced the imperial flag and military flag.
"Everyone stands at attention!" the star officer shouted: "Salute to the flag!"
Amidst the roaring sound, hundreds of people simultaneously performed a standard military salute to the royal flag and navy flag in the sky.
"After the ceremony - lower the flag!"
Amidst the sound of military music, two flags of extraordinary significance were slowly lowered from the flagpole. The flag guards with serious expressions stepped forward, folded the flags concisely and held them in front of their chests.
"Everyone..." The captain's eyes scanned the deck: "Abandon ship!"
"Abandon ship?" On a distant cruise ship, Duke Swice Hepburn frowned: "Is this a form of self-comfort?"
"I prefer to understand it as a kind of catharsis. After all, they are handing over weapons, the foundation for military achievements and the source of all glory." A middle-aged man standing next to the Duke gently shook his wine glass and expressed his gratitude for the words of the Sbia Navy.
He was explaining, but when he saw the captain who was about to leave the ship using an ax to chop off the nameplate, he couldn't help but add: "That's too rough!"
For Duke Swice Hepburn, who holds great power and cares about all the people, participating in this ritual with established procedures is actually a kind of rest that is beneficial to the body and mind. But there is a prerequisite here, that is, there cannot be Carl Urisi around him.
A person like Prince Si.
Unfortunately, the person standing next to the Duke at this time was none other than Carl Ulysses - because the North-South Treaty Business Group had a series of important matters to discuss with Sbia, these two business group leaders could be here.
Meet near the military port.
"Report to His Highness the Duke, the four transport ships and two escort ships handed over to me by the Sibia Navy have been handed over!" The adjutants reported behind them: "Report to His Highness the Prince, the three transport ships handed over to me by the Sibia Navy,
The handover of the three escort ships has been completed!"
"My pick-up crew boarded the ship and raised the flag, and the Sibia fleet has separated from our fleet!" On the sea, the flag of the treaty merchant group was rising, and the ferry carrying the "abandoned ship" Sibia naval officers and soldiers was sailing inland.
...In the following period, such handover ceremonies will be held several times until the fleet of the North-South Treaty Merchant Group is gradually completed. Although everyone understands that a fleet armed with old-fashioned ships cannot have much combat effectiveness, this is after all
This is a big step for the treaty trade group, because this is actually a new type of maritime power.
"Your Excellency." Duke Sivis put down the wine glass in his hand and extended an invitation to Prince Ulysses: "Are you interested in visiting our ship?"
"Our ship?" Prince Ulysses smiled slightly, nodded and said, "It's rare that the Duke is interested, so he should accompany him."
The ships handed over by the Sibia people did not include small liaison ships such as traffic ships, so even these two extremely noble and powerful figures could only use the small boats without sails equipped on the cruise ships. The two
Two adjutants, one at the helm and one at the oars, slowly sailed towards the "Treaty Merchant Transport Fleet" that was born less than a quarter of an hour ago.
Being able to be the adjutant of a duke or prince is certainly not an ordinary person, so while driving the boat, they also set up a top-notch magic barrier.
"This is a complete fleet, with seven transport ships and five escort ships, all of which are 80% new. According to the data, this was originally the logistics squadron of the Third Fleet of the Sbia Navy." He looked at the first arrangement in the distance.
As for the ocean-going ships, Duke Swiss suddenly sighed with emotion: "Compared to other aspects, the handover of the fleet to Sibia this time was carried out extremely smoothly. Does His Highness the Prince feel this way?"
"Perhaps Sibia Tai needs the treaty merchant group to transport supplies for it." Prince Ulysses kept a smile on his face: "Does your Excellency the Duke have other explanations?"
"Perhaps I think too much." Duke Sivis nodded calmly: "The current situation is a mess. The little princess of the demon clan eloped, the superior clan was furious, the whole world was in panic, and the disarmament of the Sibia Army was completely stalled.
Many treaties have also been temporarily suspended, but the transfer of the fleet has been without twists and turns, which inevitably makes people confused."
"I heard that Your Excellency the Duke has a very close personal relationship with that... friend?" Prince Ulysses asked in return.
"It was."
"I'm old and I don't know what the younger generation defines as friends. But in the eyes of people my age, friends should have a very clear criterion, that is, close friends." Prince Ulysses sighed: "
Without understanding, there is no understanding or tacit understanding. Then what is left between friends? Common interests? But interests are like the fleet in front of us, no matter how much there is, it is not enough."
"His Royal Highness is very good at summarizing, which I admire very much. Yes, the current North-South Treaty Business Group is a collaborator with only common interests." Duke Swice took over the words in an evasive manner: "What I once knew was just one person.
A simple human being, not an emperor of a super empire."
"If he approached you as an emperor, the first thing to do would be to extinguish your flame of hope for the demon alliance... But he did not do this." Prince Ulysses said: "Even if
He didn't kill me as a prisoner. I had no reason to survive, both publicly and privately. What do you think this is for? Is his compassion overflowing? Or maybe he thinks I will
Therefore, you are grateful to him and want to sacrifice the interests of the treaty business group to fulfill Sibia?"
"Obviously this is something worth thinking about. In many things, he is not a gentle person. I was able to leave the Holy City not because of my personal relationship with him; your release was not due to the intervention of the Gods. This
It can only be the result of him pushing the boat with the current." Duke Swice said softly: "How far can he...see and how far can he go?"
"I don't want to bother with this, because in fact, we currently don't have the ability to escape this fate. No matter how hard we struggle, we will still do what he wants in the end." The prince smiled: "I also want to see it.
Look, what role has he arranged for me and your Excellency after all these years?"
Having said this, the two of them fell into deep thought at the same time until the boat docked at the transport ship.
After being slightly shocked, Duke Swice spoke again: "By the way, His Excellency the Prince has recently taken charge of the Northern Treaty Merchant Group. How is the family matter going?"
"Your Excellency, are you asking about those bastards in my family? I just received a letter yesterday, and they are all still alive." Ulysses replied with a wry smile: "He said that the emperor of our country has recruited them and sent them to the treaty merchant group along with the troops.
, and also brought a batch of military pay and supplies. Where are you, have your family affairs been taken care of?"
"Unlike the relationship between the prince and the emperor, there is a generation gap between me and the emperor, so it is very troublesome to deal with it." Duke Swice also had a wry smile on his face: "The basic contradiction cannot be avoided, and the situation cannot provide any maneuverability.
Chance……"
"Your uncle must have prepared a feast for you!"
"Of course, and it is cooked using the royal family's traditional techniques." Duke Swice said calmly: "Your Excellency, please come aboard."
The transport ship on board belonged to the Northern Treaty Merchant Group, so Prince Ulysses was not polite and went up the gangway first. On the deck, a large group of soldiers were waiting for them to review. But a simple meeting
Before the ceremony was completed, it had to be interrupted. The prince's adjutant sent a business card and reported that an officer from the Sibia side had come to meet with orders and official documents.
The business card belongs to a Commodore of the Sibia Navy, but the identity of this Commodore is not limited to the Navy. In any branch of Sibia's military service, even in the invulnerable Liaison Department, this man has the title of Commodore...
...Among the Sibia soldiers who dealt with the treaty business group, he did not have the highest military rank, but once he appeared, it would indicate that things had changed a lot. Prince Ulysses and Duke Siwes were slightly surprised
Without delay, he immediately arrived at the liaison ship of the Sibia Navy.
"Good day, Your Highnesses." The Commodore standing on the deck smiled and saluted, but glanced at the fleet in the distance: "Today is a good harvest day for you two."
"The general is right, it is a harvest day, but the harvest is not very good." Prince Ulysses was not surprised at all.
Duke Swiss just smiled and nodded, but said nothing, because his eyes were already attracted by the stack of documents in the brigadier's hand.
"This order has just been received, so I am here to inform you of the news." The commodore did not greet them politely, and directly opened the document in his hand: "There are some changes in the subsequent transfer of ships and supplies."
"Change?" The prince and the duke looked at each other.
"The order was jointly issued by the Emperor's Military Secretariat, the General Staff and the Naval Command. In view of the slow transfer of equipment to the North-South Treaty Merchant Group, which has affected the circulation of important materials in the empire, the joint order is as follows!" before conveying the order!
When speaking, the commodore did not stand at attention and read in a chatty tone: "First, the transport ships to be handed over to the treaty business group must be handed over within half a month. Second, the transport ships to be handed over to the treaty business group must be handed over within half a month. Second, the transport ships to be handed over to the treaty business group must be handed over within half a month.
Ten general-purpose ships, four ocean-going survey ships and a number of small ships will be added to the fleet. Third, other equipment and materials handed over to the treaty trade group will be increased by 30%."
The prince and the duke looked at each other again, with a hint of wariness in their eyes.
"The following is an order issued to the Treaty Business Group." The Brigadier opened a document underneath: "Order from the Secretariat of Emperor Sibia! The North-South Treaty Business Group must hand over to the Sibia Empire within the shortest time limit.
The first batch of compensation and supplies, follow-up transportation routes and various distribution plans will be directly issued by the liaison officer stationed by the General Staff Headquarters in Sibia. If there is any delay in the above orders, the responsibilities will be held accountable. This order is in duplicate, please keep it in hand
.”
"This is embarrassing." Prince Ulysses took the order and looked at the brigadier with a calm face: "The Northern Treaty Business Group just set up a shelf, and none of the personnel are equipped. How can they meet the time limit?
Can you complete this task within the time limit?”
"Yes, if nothing else, all the ships will be handed over within half a month, and we will have no time to prepare to receive the personnel." Of course, Duke Swice wanted to be consistent with the prince on this matter, and shook his head and said:
"Not to mention the additional ships, where are we going to find sailors now?"
"We have already considered this." The Commodore said with a smile: "You two also know that the transferred ships were forcibly retired from the navy, so a large number of active-duty soldiers were also forcibly retired. You must know that these people are young and strong.
They are all valuable assets... We are going to send these sailors who have retired together to treaty trade groups, and we hope your salary will satisfy them."
Upon hearing this "proposal", the prince and the duke showed no other expressions on their faces, because the treaty merchant group could not resist Sbia's order unless they informed the two temples and asked the priests to find trouble with Cohen Keda. Therefore.
, No matter what deep meaning there is in this arrangement of Sibia, it is not easy for them to put it on the table to discuss now - Sibia is looking for something to do for its retired naval personnel, but those vicious soldiers will never be engaged in
General work.
Is it so difficult for the treaty trade group to transport supplies to Sibia?
"If your country has made such a decision, then the Southern Treaty Business Group is happy to accept it." Duke Swice glanced at the prince beside him: "But this is a big matter after all, and it needs to be reported to the Dark Demon Palace."
"Report? That's an internal matter of the treaty trade group. We don't care." The brigadier general didn't take the Demon Palace to heart and replied with a chuckle: "As long as it does not affect the transportation of materials, once it is delayed, it will really
We will hold both of you accountable."
"Try your best." Prince Ulysses also smiled: "I hope it won't delay the time limit."
"Since you two have no objections, let's end this meeting!"
"You two." When the prince and the duke turned to disembark, the commodore suddenly remembered something: "I almost forgot, we also have a group of retired soldiers from other services. There are so many things in the treaty trade group, there should be enough work for them.
Are they?"
"Yes, the business group needs manpower." Duke Swice was no longer surprised by similar topics: "I wonder how many people there are?"
"Not much for the Empire, not much for the Treaty Merchant Group."
"We also need to report." The Duke nodded: "I wish you a pleasant day and say goodbye."
"I wish you both all the best." The brigadier general watched the boat leave, and the smile on his face gradually faded: "Go back."
The boat was still the same one, and the number of passengers it carried remained the same, but it seemed much heavier on the way home. The princes and dukes on board could not help but frown, and while they were shaking the oars, the actions of the adjutants
It also seems more gentle.
"Should Sibia's generous approach be said to be out of confusion? Or is it harboring evil intentions?" It concerns the North-South Treaty Business Group, so the prince does not mind analyzing Sibia's plan with the Duke: "Your Excellency, your understanding of Cohen Keda
It's obviously better than me, maybe you can try to interpret the emperor's original intention?"
"It's not like we are seizing the leadership of the treaty merchant group, because the superiors have high hopes for the treaty merchant group and keep a close eye on it." The young Duke is not stingy. In fact, he is more interested in discussing issues with wise nobles like the prince:
"Using the treaty trade group as a springboard to gradually radiate these forces to other empires? This is even more unlikeable. Who would not be wary of Sbia's expatriates?"
"When I was young, I was a restless person, I mean, when I was very, very young, full of curiosity and vanity." Prince Ulysses said: "I once talked to some beautiful, intelligent people.
Women have an intimacy beyond friendship. You should know that there are always some women among them who are not suitable for meeting or communicating with me, so I can only use other methods."
"Your Excellency has really rich experience. Fortunately, I don't have such a stage." The Duke was a little dissatisfied with the Prince's example.
"I will do something just so that the other party can know that it contains the information I want them to know. In the eyes of others, these things have nothing to do with the other party, but as long as the other party thinks about each other's identities before and after...the rest
The decision depends on the tacit understanding between the other party and me." The prince smiled and said: "My escort happens to be in front of me, and I have been spending a lot of time here. Why don't we break up and see you again when we have a chance?"
"That's good, there are a lot of things on my desk that need to be dealt with urgently." The Duke smiled and nodded: "The business group has a lot of affairs. I suggest that the North and South Treaty Business Groups set up senior liaison officers for each other. What do you think?"
"It's very necessary." The prince nodded: "It's very necessary!"
The smiling Duke of Swyth waved goodbye to the prince who boarded the escort ship. His calm expression remained until he boarded his cruise ship and came to the tightly guarded cabin.
"Send the order! All lurking units will move to Foxburg immediately. They will arrive at the location within ten days and complete the preparations for the Iron Pliers plan! Those who delay will be punished by military law!" The Duke, who was looking at the map, his face turned ashen: "There are 10 lurking units inside Foxburg.
Complete all action preparations within a day and approve their previous application. All personnel and means can be used, but the plan must be completed! Relevant personnel from all over the country will act accordingly and do their best to cooperate!"
Orders came out from the Duke's mouth one after another. The adjutants and assistants who recorded the orders were extremely nervous, because the target of this iron pincer plan that had been formulated long ago but could not be decided to be implemented was none other than the current emperor of the Buluk Empire.
, the biological uncle of Duke Swiss!
Although this uncle has always been a stumbling block for the Southern Treaty Business Group, the Duke himself is trying to find another way to solve this matter. What happened today that made the Duke suddenly make up his mind to implement it immediately?
No one knew the answer, and no one dared to ask, because the Duke's gaze at this time was very dangerous.
Only the Duke himself knows what happened and the information hidden in these things. Those dispatched personnel are of no importance at all, and may not even be dispatched at all...
Cohen Keda just wanted to tell him and Prince Ulysses that he was going to do something...
It’s still something that needs to be arranged in advance...
The rest is a tacit understanding... (To be continued)