The flag had fallen, but this was just the beginning. It was not easy to establish a new order, and before everything stabilized, there were countless things that needed to be dealt with. For Gwen, the only good news was that the resistance he had to face had been completely eliminated due to various reasons. Ansu had been completely wiped out in this disaster, and what he faced was a pile of ruins waiting to be built.
Furthermore, he had the support of the two guardian dukes, as well as the support of the remaining families of the Captical — at least on the surface.
The battle in the southern and eastern regions of Saint Sunil was not completely over yet. The mechanical troops and field fortresses had already cut those regions into a large number of dead zones. The Crystal Cluster Monsters that wandered over from the Holy Spirit Plains were constantly turned into ashes in those blockade lines as if they had walked into a grinder.
The fleet docked at the Gorgon River had completed their firepower support mission. Other than the Pathfinder and a few small gunships that were on standby near Saint Sunil, the other two main battleships had already retreated with the remaining battleships. They would return to the Gorgon River and continue their mission of sealing the river to prevent the Crystal Cluster Monsters from entering the western part of the plains.
The armored cargo ships also left, but it was not that they would never return. They would maintain the transportation line between Saint Sunil and the southern part of the plains for a period of time to ensure the supply of resources on the Captical side.
After the war, Saint Sunil was lacking in resources, especially medical supplies. If the supply of the Captical's necessities could not be restored in time, this city would very likely self-destruct after the victory. This was a lesson learned more than once in history.
After entering the city, Gwen first ordered the granary of the Silver Fortress to be opened and opened the entire city's granary. At the same time, he sent out a large number of messengers to read notices all over the city. He also let the White Knight walk on the streets and let them treat the diseases of the citizens for free to calm the people. He was not in a hurry to lock down and confiscate the properties of the nobles who had lost power because this would cause unnecessary panic and pressure. However, he immediately replaced all the guards in the city and stationed soldiers in all the cities.
During this process, Amber also mobilized the Military Intelligence officers in the city. These agents who had been in the city for a long time secretly worked in the dark and dug out a large number of thieves who wanted to profit from the chaos. They also continuously provided the military with information about the grassroots in the city, allowing the officers in charge of maintaining order to quickly control the situation.
With these effective methods, the atmosphere in Saint Sunil calmed down in a short period of time. The residents were still nervous, but at least they maintained a normal life order, and the city's functions were also restored. After all, the traditional city management organizations of this era did not have many complicated functions. The 'wartime military management' process that the Cecil Army was familiar with was more than enough to restore order in this city.
Inside the Silver Fortress, in a study room with a dark blue carpet, luxurious bookshelves, and exquisite silver candlesticks, Gwen was standing behind the crystal window, looking at the open area in front of the castle with a fountain and a large lawn. Two Warhammer-I Main Battle Tanks and two Steel Ambassador Multi-purpose Tanks were parked beside the elegant flower bed. A team of fully armed Mana Combat Soldiers was walking past the fountain in an orderly manner. Four White Knight wearing heavy armor and holding mechanical warhammers were standing in the distance, looking very vigilant.
The classical Royal Castle and the modern arcanotech mechanical army appeared in the same picture in a strange way, with a sense of fantasy-like separation, but miraculously merged together.
"I did not expect you to be able to take over the Captical City so easily and control its order in such a short period of time." The middle-aged man's voice came from behind. "It seems that you are very familiar with it, even rehearsing it in advance?"
Gwen turned around and looked at Wales. "We have not rehearsed it, but the Cecil Army has plans for most situations, and it is enough to deal with this city as long as we follow the rules. As for familiarity … we have indeed taken over quite a few cities in the south. "
"This city is an even bigger quagmire. Although my reminder may be a little unnecessary, I still hope you can deal with it carefully." Wales smiled and picked up the teapot on the table. "You can try the black tea here. It is one of the few good things in the Silver Fortress."
Gwen calmly accepted Wales' kindness and said casually, "It sounds like you don't have a good impression of the Silver Fortress."
"I don't like moldy places, and this is the most moldy house in the entire kingdom. I once left here for twenty years, and when I came back, I found that there was no change here." Wales smiled. "Fortunately, I don't have to continue to live here."
"Do you regret this decision?" Gawain glanced at him. "In fact, you've chosen the most unfavorable route for yourself. You don't have to leave the throne in such a disgraceful way. I'll deal with the nobles myself, and you can smoothly hand over the power. You might even leave behind the title of 'Hero King'. In this situation, even if I have protected your reputation to a certain extent, you are still a king who has been overthrown because of a stain, and it is the kind of stain that is difficult to wash away. "
Wales said flatly, "This is exactly the situation I want. A king who hands over power peacefully will leave a lot to be missed. In the future, there will be people who use my name to try to restore the Ansu throne, but overthrowing the king can extinguish most of the sparks in the future, especially when the one overthrown is a tyrant with a bloody conspiracy. No one will want a tyrant to be restored. "
Speaking of this, the king who had been crowned for eight days suddenly smiled with a trace of self-deprecation on his face. "In fact, I even prepared a gallows for myself. This is the most complete 'overthrow of myself,' but I didn't expect you to express your attitude in such a direct and strong way, and quell the anger of the nobles who were about to lose control … My gallows was not used."
Gwen could not help but look at Wales? Moen, but the latter just maintained a faint smile as if he was talking about a trivial matter that had nothing to do with him.
"In fact, even if you are dead, as long as there are people who still miss the old era, the revivors will still appear. They may not use your name, but they will find your descendants, other Moen bloodlines, the heirs of the collateral branches, and even create a 'descendant'." Gwen shook his head. "What is needed to prevent the revival is not the ban of bloodlines, but the washing of time and the attractiveness of the new era itself. As long as the new order is better than the old, and the interests of the majority of the people are guaranteed, then there will naturally be no space for the revivors to exist. "
Wales sighed softly. "Then this is your mission."
"… Yes, this is my mission."
Gwen turned sideways and glanced at the square outside the window.
Some carriages painted with family coats of arms were driving across the road in front of the square.
Wales also came forward and looked out of the window with Gwen.
"… The Corinthian Family … should be here to discuss with Duke Bodwin about reopening the market."
"These families are now on the opposite side of you, and they are about to be governed and 'transformed' by Cecil's law," Gwen said. "Many of them used to be loyal to you, even until now. Cecil's new order will be a difficult test for them. They will lose their long-time way of life, a large amount of property will be confiscated, they will lose their land, they will lose their army, and they will lose almost all their privileges. For their former status, this is almost unbearable suffering, and some of them who fail to pass the test and adapt to the new order will even lose their lives, just like the old nobles in the Southern Territory who were executed. "
"Many of them are good people, moral good people, but Ansu … this country needs to be reborn," Wales said calmly. "The problem is the entire aristocratic system, so we have to destroy the entire aristocratic system. This has nothing to do with whether they are good people or not.
"On the other hand, even these 'good people' who I did not send to Crow Mesa and once bravely defended the Captical are also a hindrance and a hindrance to the country.
"The Knight who defended the city wall also squeezed the serfs, the counts and viscounts who fought to the death also took the last bit of food and land from the peasants. Those who donated their belongings to support the frontline, those who sent all their children to the city wall, and those who died in the shield nodes … they are also the owners of the land, the owners of the serfs, and the owners of the wealth. They are both reformists and conservatives, but no matter which one, they must become history, just like me, the king."
Gwen looked at Wales seriously. After a long time, he nodded gently. "You see it very clearly."
"It's just that I see it clearly, but it's hard for me to do it myself. I know where my ability is limited … I can see it, but I can't create an army like you. I know people's minds, but I lack the wisdom to plan a whole new order like you. I may have some courage … but not enough to ignore all the traditional forces like you and always stick to your own direction." Wales shook his head self-deprecatingly. "Crow Mesa is a gift from me to you, but it's also a test for you. Only when the skyfire falls on the mesa can it prove that you are completely opposed to the current aristocratic system …
"As long as the cannons are fired, there will be no room for reconciliation between you and the nobles. They will submit to you, but they will never try to win you over. You will reform them, but you will never integrate into them. Even years hence, even if I should die, even if you should die once more, the heavenly fire on the floor of Raven's Terrace will remain in the memory of those who witnessed it, and their first- and second-generation heirs, and will not fade away.
"This test is offensive, I hope you don't mind."
"If I mind, I won't be standing here." Gwen glanced at Wales. "But I'm curious, if I didn't give the order to fire, what would you have done?"
"I've arranged about half of the Knight Regiment in Mill Town." Wales smiled. "Compared to the real Knight Regiment, those noisy clowns in Crow Mesa are nothing. But this is the worst-case scenario. Once I do this, the only order left in the capital will immediately collapse, and the number of people who will die will increase by several times. There will be no lack of talents who can be used to rebuild the kingdom … But I also believe that if the situation really becomes like that, you will still act and take over this even worse mess. "
Gwen was startled. He could not help but laugh. "Then it seems that fortunately I fired the cannons. Wales, you're just like Charlie when it comes to scheming."
"That's the highest praise I've ever heard," Wales said frankly. He then changed the topic. "But now I have one last worry. Do you know what it is?"
"What is it?"
"The order of the Duchy of Cecil may seem beneficial today, but the aristocratic system of Ansu was also beneficial when it was first established. As time goes by, the order established by people will eventually be eroded by people, especially a new social order. No one can prove that it is correct in advance. One day, or if in the near future, your Kingdom of Cecil, or the Empire, goes astray, and the rules you set are proven wrong. When that day comes … "Wales paused. He looked up and stared into Gwen's eyes." Will you overthrow yourself? Or, can anyone overthrow you and your descendants? "
Gwen was silent for two seconds before he said seriously, "Yes, I promise."
He did not list a lot of laws of social development or the special properties of magical technology to support his words. Wales did not ask for any evidence either. The two just smiled as if they had reached some kind of tacit agreement.
"Then I have no more questions." Wales put down the teacup in his hand, tidied his coat a little, and then took half a step back. "It's time for me to leave. A king who has been dethroned should not stay in the Captical for too long. This stage is left to you."
"Don't you want to stay and help?" Gwen looked at Wales who was about to turn and leave. "You are a talent, a very valuable talent. The new country needs people like you. I have many positions, and I don't need to consider your identity as a 'former king'."
"You really like to recruit talents as the rumors say, but unfortunately, I am a lazy man." Wales shook his head. "I have used up my life's diligence in these eight days as a king. Now I have to go back to my original life. Seeing that I have more or less contributed to the defense of the city, allow me to be lazy."
Gwen did not give up. "Just see if my new order is correct. You can also see with your own eyes if I can fulfill my promise to the end."
Wales thought for a moment and spread his hands. "… Forget it. I'm afraid I can't live longer than you."
Gwen was speechless.
The former king left the study.
Gwen sighed. Amber's figure slowly appeared in the air beside him. The latter blinked and poked Gwen's arm. "You didn't take him away …"
"Just trying. I didn't have much hope."
"But you look very disappointed …"
"You came out just to say this?"
"That's not it." Amber jumped out of her invisible state and stretched. "It's the first time I've seen someone who can talk so much like you … And this Wales's views are very similar to yours. If I didn't know in advance that it was impossible, I would have suspected that you taught him …"
"There is more than one smart person in the world. Unfortunately, not all smart people can be recruited by me …" Gwen shook his head and temporarily put aside the irrelevant sighs. "Anyway, send someone to keep an eye on him. Maybe one day, he will be willing to stand up and do something for the country."
"Don't worry. I knew you would arrange it like that."
"Where are Duke Bodwin and Duchess Victoria?"
"They are receiving the nobles and merchant representatives in the reception hall on the first floor. At this stage, there are many people who need to be appeased. But they should be done by now. Do you want them to see you? "
"Let them come up." Gwen nodded. "Also, send a magic network terminal up. I have an internal meeting."
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