dognovel Chapter 342 Funeral
Chapter 342 Funeral
Under the gloomy sky, the capital of the Lana Kingdom, Leon, looked particularly solemn and heavy. The tall silhouette of the cathedral looked like a lonely fortress against the dark clouds, and the dark blue light and shadow wandered between the stone pillars, as if adding a bit of mystery and solemnity to the funeral.
Inside the church, candlelight flickered, illuminating solemn faces. King Rana and Archbishop Rana sat in the front row, their expressions solemn, especially King Rana, whose eyes flickered with hidden sadness. All around were ministers and nobles from the entire city, all wearing black formal attire, with solemn expressions, and the air was filled with a depressing and heavy atmosphere.
General Schneider's black wooden coffin was quietly placed behind the church podium, simple and solemn. The coffin was surrounded by flowers, red roses and white lilies complemented each other, and the petals shone slightly in the candlelight, as if bidding farewell to this great general. The fragrance of the flowers formed a sharp contrast with the surrounding sadness, and a hint of desolate beauty was revealed in the fragrance.
Outside the window, tens of thousands of citizens and soldiers lined up on both sides of the road to the church. In the sky, dark clouds rolled, as if they were uneasy about the departure of this hero, and from time to time a few drops of drizzle were sprinkled, as if crying for General Schneider.
"Dear friends, today we gather here to remember this great hero, General Schneider. His life is a shining example of the Lana Army and a true portrayal of selfless dedication. During these difficult years, he always had a belief in his heart: to protect the king, guard this land and every citizen..."
The funeral officially began as the archbishop read the prayer aloud. The clear voice echoed in this quiet space, giving people a sense of peace. Every guest in the church bowed their heads and prayed silently, silently remembering the general's courage and sacrifice during his lifetime.
In the solemn atmosphere of the cathedral, John, Hoss and other Midlanders sat quietly in the back seats, carefully observing the reactions of the Lana people around them. John thought that such an occasion might be just a routine mourning for the Lana dignitaries, but he soon found that he underestimated the deep feelings of the Lana people for General Schneider.
Many Lana people in the church looked sad, with endless nostalgia and sorrow in their eyes. This general was obviously not just their military leader, but more like a hero and guardian in their hearts. John noticed that several officers in armor had already collapsed, holding onto the back of their chairs, tears silently falling. Even the most hard-hearted people would be moved at this moment.
As Archbishop Lana finished his eulogy, the solemn atmosphere became thicker. A dozen guardsmen slowly stepped forward and lifted General Schneider's coffin together. The heavy wood and metal details of the coffin looked particularly solemn under the candlelight. Everyone present held their breath and watched the scene quietly. The guards took steady and slow steps, and the coffin swayed slightly on their shoulders, but they moved firmly towards the church door.
King Lana and a group of ministers and nobles followed closely behind, their steps were solemn, and each step symbolized the final tribute to General Schneider. The hems of their formal clothes brushed lightly on the ground, and their silence seemed to express endless grief.
Finally, the coffin was carefully carried onto a solemnly decorated carriage surrounded by flowers. The funeral procession began to slowly walk to the cemetery outside the city amid murmured prayers. The army and citizens followed the carriage together, as if embarking on a long journey to pay tribute to this hero. The streets were filled with mourners, who bowed their heads slightly to pay their last respects to General Schneider.
After the funeral, the Midland envoys returned to their residences, looking forward to the upcoming high-level peace talks. John was thoughtful on the way back. The death of General Schneider left a deep impression on him. He looked around and his eyes fell on an officer in armor who was directing the soldiers to organize their weapons in an orderly manner.
This person is Gonzalo. According to Hoss's description, he has become the supreme military commander of Leon City since the death of General Schneider. John recalled that he had heard that Gonzalo had successfully prevented the king from launching a military operation against the Kingdom of Midlan in the early years. It seems that he should be a pro-Mitran or neutral faction among the Mitran generals.
So John walked slowly towards Gonzalo, and at this time Gonzalo also noticed John. When he was an ambassador to the Kingdom of Nice, he had been paying attention to the battle between Midlan and Yoda, and had heard a little about John's battle record. In his opinion, John should be regarded as a rising star among the young noble generals of Midlan.
"General Gonzalo, I am John, the governor of the southwest of Midland, and I would like to ask you about General Schneider."
John walked up to Gonzalo, bowed, and then asked him about Schneider's past deeds.
Gonzalo's face was heavy with emotion as he responded to John's question. When asked why the death of General Schneider was such a huge blow to King Lana, Gonzalo sighed and began to tell his story.
"General Schneider is not only an outstanding soldier, he is also the commander of the guards of the former King Lana," said Gonzalo.
"During the chaotic period after the death of the previous king, the power vacuum caused some nobles with ulterior motives to make moves. They attempted to establish a new king and overturn the legitimate line of succession to the throne."
He paused, recalling that pivotal moment in history.
"While the ministers were arguing, General Schneider stood up decisively. He slammed his sword heavily on the conference table, and the sound shook the whole hall. He announced in a firm and majestic tone:
"I obey the order of the late king and make the heir designated by the late king the current king. Whoever agrees or disagrees! '"
Gonzalo looked into the distance, and seemed to still feel the tension and solemnity at that time. "Those nobles who opposed were all afraid of General Schneider's overwhelming momentum, fearing that they would be executed for treason by the Guards if they were not careful. In the end, they had to hold their noses and recognize the current King Lana as the legitimate monarch."
John thought to himself, "I see. It looks like we can start from this aspect."
Today, the Rana Kingdom no longer dares to act rashly and maintains a cautious attitude towards Mitlan. However, the pain and casualties left by the war will inevitably cause some Rana people to accumulate anger in grief, forming an unstable factor that cannot be ignored.
“If we can skillfully transfer these emotions to the Yoda people, this will not only resolve the Rana people’s hostility towards Mitlan, but also encourage them to support maintaining good relations with Mitlan.”
John thought to himself and then returned to his residence.
The next day, when the Lana people were preparing to leave the city and return home, they found a striking notice posted on the bulletin board at each city gate, and several Midlan soldiers were guarding it.
"What's written on it?" a farmer who had just fled to Leon from the countryside asked curiously, with anxiety and expectation in his eyes.
"let me see."
A literate Leon citizen stepped forward, glanced at the text on the notice, cleared his throat, and began to read:
"My fellow Lana civilians, King Lana was deceived by the Yoda people and launched a war to invade the Kingdom of Midland. However, thanks to the efforts of the people of Midland and Lana, Yoda's conspiracy failed."
The crowd suddenly quieted down, and then began to discuss in low voices, with emotions spreading in the air. And those Lana people who had recovered from their grief also began to think about the causes and consequences of this war.
"I would like to express my condolences to the soldiers of Mitland and Lana who sacrificed their lives on a battlefield that should not have happened. Especially General Schneider who was loved by the people."
The citizen's voice became more and more emotional. He grew up listening to the story of General Schneider. At this time, General Schneider had just been buried. Many Lana people were still feeling grief and resentment because Schneider was killed by a traitor.
"However, today, His Majesty King Lana is preparing to go to the Kingdom of Mitlan for peace talks. Our Mitlan army has completed its mission and will follow His Majesty King Lana's convoy back to the Kingdom of Mitlan and return the previously controlled Lana territory to King Lana and the people of Lana."