Bab 413: Chapter 50: Breaking the Defense_2

Colin clutched at Winters's sleeve, almost begging, "Don't... don't do this..."

"Shh!" Winters signaled his senior to be silent. "Don't speak, don't ask. If there's blame later, just say I held you hostage."

The lieutenant's gaze was piercing as he stared at the captain, "Or would you rather die?"

Colin shivered and groped his way back to his chair.

"Whatever the obligation, my men have more than fulfilled it." Winters seemed to be speaking to the colonel, but it was more like convincing himself, "They are civilians paid half a ration, not the Standing Army who willingly eats the military's grain. I won't let them die for a fort we can't hold."

Jeska gently shook her head and said, "I told you long ago not to have personal feelings for your soldiers. To Paratu, this Floating Bridge is more important than ten thousand militiamen's lives. Don't you understand that?"