"Look, everybody. Smolensk is already in sight," Aragon said excitedly at once.

"What? Here it is!" Chechen stood in the stirrup, looked up and said, "where? Where?"

"Look, it\'s right there. Do you see those two sharp things? That\'s the gate tower of Smolensk."

"It seems to be a good city. Fidel, it seems that we have come to the right place," said Pedro with a smile.

After a long journey, the destination is finally in sight. Everyone is very happy.

Soon, everyone approached the first row of houses on the outskirts of the city.

Chechen, Pedro and Fidel all looked at this strange snow country city with interest. Aragorn, the "little German", was cold in the past and enthusiastically introduced to his compatriots:

"Look, this is the Jewish Street on the left. There are all Jewish rent collectors who pass by specially gracious Jewish businessmen and nobles. Go along this street and you can walk to the market. When the market opens every week, it is crowded with nobles and dignitaries. People are sweating one after another. The whole Street is crowded with people entering the market. It is impossible to return by the same way, Because no one will roll you forward like a flood. "

Aragorn pointed to the right again.

"Over there is the city hall. Do you see the big clock in the middle? Even the clock in Warsaw is not so powerful. It is said that it took a hundred craftsmen a year to cast it."

While talking, they had come to the crossroads.

At this time, the leader of the caravan said goodbye to everyone.

"Thank you for your escort and Sir Franco for leading us into the city. Now, we are going to the market, where there is a Swedish inn. We will rest there tonight. I have paid the employment fee to Mr. Pedro. He also entrusted me to sell the booty seized from the robbers, which will be sold The money will be given to you. Just come to the Inn and find me. Finally, I wish you all the best. "

"God bless you too," said the mercenaries in unison.

After parting from the caravan, we moved on. The road ahead was wider and paved with stone strips, which was rare at that time.

Along the stone road, they finally came to the luxury castle of Smolensk. The castle was not built by the current city Lord Fyodor. Even if he was the supreme governor of Smolensk, he didn\'t have so much financial and material resources to build it. The original owner of this castle was the great aristocrat of Czar Russia. In the war more than 30 years ago, with the fall of Smolensk, it fell into the hands of the Republic. The City owners of all dynasties like to set their office here, because it has an excellent location and overlooks the whole city. On both sides of the main building, the two wings folded at right angles are slightly low wing rooms, which are the residence of sergeants and servants. Franco and Aragon\'s rooms are among them.

In front of the huge courtyard composed of wing rooms and castles, an iron fence sealed the front of the courtyard. On the left side of the fence is a guard house. At the gate of the guard house, three soldiers in long Spearman uniforms were standing guard with long halberds.

The soldiers of the three guards, seeing that Franco had returned, quickly opened the iron fence and let them go. At this time, everyone saw a group of mercenaries in the same long gun uniform practicing in the courtyard.

Chechen was very excited to see someone practicing. And Pedro and others also observed with the mood of watching the doorway.

"Uncle, look how energetic they are. They are really first-class soldiers."

"It\'s OK. It\'s far from the ring mercenary regiment where Franco and I are."

"Such soldiers are absolutely first-class in Netherland."

Everyone said one thing to me, while Franco stood beside him, his face as heavy as water, without saying a word.

"Hello, Franco. These can\'t be your soldiers." seeing that Franco didn\'t speak, Pedro pushed his arm.

Then Franco came back. He turned and said, "gentlemen, wait here for a moment. I\'ll meet Lord fiordo first and introduce you to him with his permission. Aragon, you go and transport the collected materials to the warehouse."

With that, Franco walked towards the gate.

At this time, the leader of the team of soldiers practicing in the courtyard gave a clear command: look to the left and turn back.

The team was then divided into four teams from two teams and came towards Franco. But even when passing through Franco, there was no trace of chaos and disorder.

"Are these your soldiers?" Pedro asked Aragon.

"Of course, they are all good soldiers trained by Lord Franco," Aragon said proudly.

Don\'t mention these people and things outside. Franco, who entered the castle, grabbed a passing attendant and asked, "where\'s Lord fiordo?"

"In the office, Captain Franco." the attendant recognized Franco and said respectfully.

Franco let go of his hand and hurried to the office.

Open the office door. Sure enough, fiordo obhovich sat decadent in the chair behind his desk as usual, leaning on his head with one hand.

"Lord Mayor, what\'s the matter with the soldiers downstairs? Shouldn\'t they go to other places to collect food?" Franco asked when he went to his desk.

Originally, according to his suggestion to fiordo, when he went to zamoshiya to collect materials, other teams of mercenaries would go to other villages and towns to collect materials. But when he came back today, the soldiers who should have gone out practiced in the courtyard. How can he not be shocked.

"Oh, it\'s Pedro. My dearest captain, you\'re back." fiordo raised his head and looked at Franco with his bloody eyes.

"Sir, you haven\'t answered my question yet," Franco continued, straightening himself.

"OK, OK. I didn\'t send them out. But there\'s a reason." fiordo had no choice but to say his own consideration.

It turned out that after making plans with Franco that day, fiordo obhovich didn\'t sleep well all night. Because he remembered a serious problem - except zamoshya, the villages and towns he was about to send troops to expropriate were owned by other lords of the Republic. According to the law, it is illegal to do so without the consent of other lords. These lords are not short of great figures at the level of city masters such as Anjie and volodyevsky.

"So?" Franco was angry and funny about Fedo obhovich\'s worry.

"So I wrote a letter to none of them. Tell them about it and ask for their consent." fiordo looked proud. He was very happy that he could come up with such an idea.

"Lord of the city. I have met two adults, Anjie and volodyevsky. They are respected knights and patriotic soldiers. I believe they will not care about this."

"It\'s better to ask. Ask." but no matter what Franco said, fiordo was determined this time.

Seeing that it was so far, Franco knew that it was useless to say more. So he spoke to tipidro and others.

"My Lord, when I came back, I met some Spanish compatriots. They are excellent knights, and they are willing to join the army of the Republic to serve the king."

"Really? That\'s great. Where are they?" fiordo was immediately excited when he saw that a knight was going to join his army. At this time, what he needs most is knights.

"I asked them to wait for your call in the courtyard."

"Let them up."