Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

Chapter 94 Monsoon (Part 3)_3



"You... you..." William Barenchi clenched the lapel of his coat tightly, his face pale with rage, and roared, "Bastards! You want to! You want to..."

The door was kicked open with a thud. An officer strode in with guards, and both Albert and Voss hastily saluted.

The officer took one look and immediately understood what had transpired in the office. He glared angrily at the two junior officers. "What are you wasting time talking for? Your orders were to keep an eye on him! Don't let him kill himself!"

Ignoring the livid expression on Barenchi's face, the officer pulled out a sheet of paper filled with signatures, slammed it onto the desk, and, with a mocking tone, said, "General, please sign."

"Sign? Sign what?"

The officer took out a handkerchief to wipe his nose and said nonchalantly, "An arrest warrant."

...

At the same time, across the Army Ministry building, the Army Commands building, various military institutions, barracks, and government departments, heavily armed "military police" carried out coordinated arrests.

These so-called "enforcers" from the headquarters military police executed their orders with extreme brutality, resorting to violence at the slightest resistance. To them, it seemed to make no difference whether they dragged away corpses or living bodies.

The lists in their hands perfectly matched the one placed before Brigadier General Barenchi.

...

William Barenchi didn't even pick up the list. He merely glanced at it from where he sat.

He could only recognize a fraction of the names, but those he did recognize were mostly pro-government figures within the army or long-serving officers in the Army Ministry who were not part of the Army Command faction. He even noted a few names belonging to members of the National Assembly.

Barenchi let out a cold snort, crossing his arms as he declared arrogantly, "I will not sign a list I did not write."

"Oh? Is that so?" The officer put away his handkerchief, drew a pistol, flipped open the flash pan, cocked the flintlock, and pressed the barrel against the Army Minister's forehead—his finger hovering over the trigger. "Sir, I assure you, either your signature or your brains will end up on this arrest warrant."

...

A moment later, the officer collected the arrest warrant, seemingly satisfied, and turned to leave.

A cold, grim voice came from behind him. William Barenchi was uttering his final curse: "Do you really think you can succeed? Do you think capturing Lionel while he's abroad in Varn is your victory? How do you know this isn't Lionel's plan to trap all of you in one sweep?

Never forget! Your power, too, comes from the authority of command. The moment you destroy its sanctity, you are destined to be bitten by this viper yourselves! It will devour you! Remember my words! Remember them!"

Faced with this defeated man's ravings, the officer sneered dismissively, nodded at Voss and Albert to signal them, adjusted his uniform, and left the room. The heavy oak door of the Army Minister's office shut behind him.

...

Meanwhile, in the State Palace's parliamentary hall.

News of the rebellion had already reached the palace through various channels, throwing the hall into chaos.

"There's no need to panic, gentlemen."

Amidst the summoned remaining assemblymen, Richard Mayerhaus, acting Speaker and State Secretary, displayed no signs of fluster: "You are the honorable representatives elected by all citizens. At this moment, you must show calm, composure, and dignity."

"Mayerhaus! Save the rhetoric!" a furious voice shouted from the assembly floor. "The National Legion has mutinied! It's all your fault!"

"I must respectfully disagree with your assessment," Richard Mayerhaus replied evenly. "Representative Quirkburn."

"Enough! We can address blame later!" another assemblyman shouted urgently. "We need to evacuate immediately! The Assembly! The Palace! We must evacuate now!"

"Order, gentlemen." Richard Mayerhaus hammered the podium heavily, and when silence finally descended upon the hall, he offered a calm and efficient smile. "There is no need for alarm. Lionel anticipated this."

...

[Outside on Martyrs' Square]

Upon hearing of the coup, the Honor Guard stationed at Martyrs' Square immediately began defensive preparations. Soldiers dragged over furniture and carriages to hastily block the square's entrances.

The commander of the Honor Guard, Captain Harlem Nalden, was filled with anxiety. The Honor Guard tasked with the State Palace was essentially a ceremonial unit, equipped with little more than muskets.

Powder and lead shot were in deplorably short supply—for fear of assassination attempts upon the assemblymen, the Honor Guard's musketeers were rarely issued ammunition.

Captain Nalden's only viable assets were two saluting cannons hauled over from the palace's front gates. Inside these six-pound bronze naval guns, he had stuffed every piece of iron nails, gravel, and gunpowder he could scrounge up.

If reinforcements from the garrison didn't arrive soon, Captain Nalden would be left hoping the rebels could be repelled by just two blasts of grapeshot.

Finally, at the far end of the street, densely packed spearpoints and overlapping shadows began to emerge. The rebels drew closer and closer; their faces became unmistakably clear. A mounted officer led the formation, followed by musketeers, and then spearmen.

Still, there was no sign of reinforcements.

"Step back!" Captain Nalden shouted. "You are trespassing on the most sacred grounds of the Republic! One thousand seven hundred and fourteen martyrs are buried here! Lay down your arms and surrender immediately!"

The rebel officer at the forefront continued forward until they were close enough to hear each other's words.

"You'll receive no reinforcements." Fritz removed his helmet. "Don't die for them, old friend."

Captain Nalden looked back at Martyrs' Square and the empty streets, struggling internally before finally making his decision: "My duty is to guard Martyrs' Square! Stand down!"

Fritz replaced his helmet, reined his horse: "Musketeers! Ready positions!"

The barricade stood like a mirror, reflecting two identical armies, both trained the same, structured the same, adhering to the same manuals, and embodying the same ideals.

But now, their blades were drawn against one another.

Despair etched across Nalden's face as he gazed at the enemies before him. He knew they wouldn't falter under cannon fire.

"Fire!" he bellowed.

A roar thundered twice in succession as two blasts of grapeshot swept the street with gusts of air like pelting rain.

Gunpowder smoke obscured the Honor Guard's vision. Suddenly, a well-disciplined volley echoed from behind the smoke; agonized cries followed. Armed with spears and sabers, the legionnaires vaulted over the barricade, and brutal hand-to-hand combat began.

...

[The Barricades After the Clashes]

The melee was brief yet fierce, with the outcome swiftly decided.

Captain Harlem Nalden lay in a pool of blood. Two musket balls had pierced through his armor and embedded in his chest, leaving each breath searing with anguish.

"Why... don't you understand..." Nalden coughed a frothy, pinkish blood bubble, his voice faint. "...They... are only... using you... as a tool..."

"I know." Fritz gripped his mentor's hand. "I know."

"...Why..."

"As long as it brings change." Fritz hesitated briefly: "I am willing to be that tool."

"I see..." Nalden seemed to nod slightly before the light faded from his eyes.

...

Later that evening, the infantry battalion led by Fritz seized control of the State Palace, Army Headquarters, and all key facilities within Guidao City.

The remaining assemblymen, under the chairmanship of Acting Speaker Richard Mayerhaus, convened an extraordinary session to pass a unanimous emergency resolution: to dissolve the Assembly, to strip Johann Lionel of all his positions, to establish a provisional Supreme Council as a transitional governing body, and to conduct new parliamentary elections at the appropriate time.

The anticipated reinforcements never came.

The rebel Fritz became the hero Fritz.

The brief skirmish at Martyrs' Square became the only organized resistance during the entire coup.

Harlem Nalden was the sole officer killed in the coup. Posthumously, his rank and commission were erased.

That night, the newly appointed Supreme Council Speaker Richard Mayerhaus departed for Varn, aiming to deal decisively with former State Secretary Lionel before word could reach Champagne City.

The Federated Provinces' April First Coup—this boulder had landed in the waters without much surface disturbance, but the undertow it generated would ripple through the Senas Alliance and across the entire continent.

Meanwhile, Winters Montagne and the migration convoy crossed Jiangbei Province and boarded ferries to return to Iron Peak County.


Tip: You can use left, right, A and D keyboard keys to browse between chapters.