After knowing that Alfred Frey was fine, Laing felt relieved. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. According to the news, Alfred Frey will be staying in Brunswick for a while. His Holiness the High Priest has announced that he will be promoted to a cardinal," Talleyrand leaned on his cane and smiled at Laing. "This is really good news, Your Majesty."
"It can't be said to be good news, Talleyrand." Laing had already recovered from his ecstasy. When Knight King heard that Alfred Frey was going to be promoted to a cardinal, he couldn't help but frown. "What does it mean to be a cardinal? It means that Alfred Frey will have to stay in Brunswick and act as the High Priest's advisor and assistant. Then the Western Brittany Diocese will have to appoint a new patriarch. "
"Yes, but it is said that the Church of Justice is willing to break some small conventions for this. I mean, perhaps Alfred Frey will also be the patriarch of the diocese as a cardinal." Talleyrand leaned on his cane and smiled. "I think that's what the High Priest has arranged."
"It's possible." Before Laing could speak, Suria spoke first. The female knight looked at Laing and said, "It is very likely that in addition to Alfred Frey, there will be a large army of papal guards, a complete administrative team, and a group of battle priests …"
"Okay, okay, Suria!" Laing was really impressed by his queen's political sensitivity. Knight King sat back in his chair and stopped Suria from continuing. "Don't jump to conclusions so quickly. If the Church of Justice gives Alfred Frey a ready-made team, then we will have to be vigilant. My dear, think about it. Is it possible that Archbishop Vicmar will let Alfred do as he pleases and set up his own administrative team?"
"That's not impossible." Suria thought about it and accepted Laing's point of view. The female knight sighed. "What I'm worried about is that the losses are so great. The Church of Justice must have suffered a great loss in recent years. Moreover, the 800 people that Alfred Frey took away suffered so many casualties. What about the local civilians? How were they going to deal with the issue of compensation? There is nothing to be gained from this war, and it has nothing to do with protecting the country. In the end, if Ah Fu can't provide enough compensation and appease the soldiers' families, won't you be blamed for it? "
"That's a problem." Laing was reminded by Suria.
After a series of glorious victories in the Great Expeditions allowed the Brittany to enjoy unparalleled dividends, it also had a side effect. The Brittany had begun to get used to the fact that "victory is a given".
At the same time, Ah Fu's participation in this war was not enough to convince the people. Laing knew that it was very easy to make the people understand that "to protect their homeland and their own interests" was very easy. Moreover, participating in the war had the opportunity to rise in social class, so the people were naturally eager to participate.
However, it was very difficult to make the ignorant serfs and even the majority of the free people understand that "we are fighting for the welfare of mankind and the safety of order". This was something that was almost impossible to achieve.
Of course, there would be people who would say that it was impossible. For example, in his previous life, there was the Chinese Empire where the people used small carts to achieve victory.
Bro, let's talk about something here. Spirit and ideals are great, but the real thing that affects people's hearts is the benefits. The land reform is in the true sense of the word. It is to let all the oppressed peasants gain benefits and benefits. Only then will everyone be willing to win the grain.
Why was Laing able to subdue all the Dukes without shedding a single drop of Brittany's blood? Wasn't it because he directly brought benefits to the civilians and protected their rights?
But Ah Fu Frey's actions were not the case.
"How many of Ah Frey's troops survived?" Laing thought for a moment before asking Talleyrand, "Is there any information in the message?"
"Yes!" Talleyrand looked at the letter again to confirm it. He added, "A total of 46 people survived. They are staying in Brunswick with Ah Frey."
"Promote all 46 of them. The serfs will be promoted to free people, and the free people will be promoted to honorary free people." Laing said calmly, "If they are already honorary free people … If there are, I will make them knights. Integrate these 46 people into a new group. They will be Ah Frey's future administrative team."
"Then they will need a name. Your Majesty, a name that you will personally give them," Talleyrand said respectfully.
"46 people." Laing stroked his chin. The number 46 vaguely reminded him of a fragmented memory.
"Then let's call them … Nogizaka46!"
… I'm Nogizaka46's section break …
Three days later, Brittany, on the canal from Jean City to Muxilon, the King's coat of arms with a yellow sword on a yellow background fluttered above the river.
The Knight King, Laing, was going to Muxilon personally to investigate the situation.
On the deck of the ship, Laing and Bellegar stood together and looked at the scenery along the river. The first phase of the canal project was completed, the second phase was nearing completion, and the third phase was about to begin.
"Brother Laing, I heard that the money you used to build the canal was all borrowed from the national debt?" Bellegar asked with interest, "Using the canal's customs and tolls as collateral?"
"Why? Is there a problem? " Laing smiled slyly, "I didn't need to spend a single cent, and I even strengthened the national debt's credibility."
"Yeah, national debt." Bellegar suddenly sighed, "It's a pity that this method can't be used on the dwarves. You know, brother Laing, all the dwarven clans only recognize gold … or mithril, vibranium, obsidian, or something else. No one will recognize this kind of bond."
"You're trying to say that humans are more likely to trust others?" Laing smiled as he understood Bellegar's meaning.
"Oh, brother Laing, you're trying to tempt me. Unfortunately, I'm the true king of Hakone Mountain, and I won't fall for your trick!" Bellegar laughed and stroked his white beard, "But brother Laing, I have something to tell you."
"Go ahead," Laing said casually.
"Dugan told me privately that you seem to be deliberately suppressing Muxilon's military factory," Bellegar said honestly. Belle Gar said honestly, "He remembered that he had said more than once that he wanted to open more factories and recruit more apprentices. At the same time, he also wanted to take over a few places nearby. But you didn't agree. Why? Why, brother Laing? "
"Isn't the reason very simple?" Laing smiled, "Expanding the industry without limits is easy to say, but what if the products can't be sold?"
"How can it not be sold?" Bellegar still didn't understand, "You have such a big country with more than eight million people. How can it not be sold?"
"Yes, there are a lot of people, but what if most people don't have the money to buy it?" Laing continued, "Most people work hard to ensure that they have enough food and clothing. How can they have the money to buy weapons produced by the military factory? Don't tell me that they don't need to eat and farm? "
"Uh …" Bellegar was speechless.
Laing knew that the industry had an endless cycle, and he was now using his administrative power to suppress Muxilon's industry from developing too quickly.
What was the endless cycle of the industry? In fact, the reason was very simple. Industrial production needed a very strong agricultural support, and during the production process, industrial production would always be relatively excessive. It would always tend to produce more, and it would always tend to have higher profits.
Therefore, after excessive production, goods would be hoarded. When the industry developed, the wages of labor would naturally rise. At this time, the industry would begin to tend to open more markets to dump their goods and obtain cheaper labor and cheaper raw materials to pursue higher profits.
What if the domestic demand was satisfied? Then open the foreign market.
What if the domestic labor was too expensive? Then bring in immigrants to find cheap labor.
What if the domestic raw materials were too expensive? Then try to lower the price of raw materials or import raw materials from outside.
Saturated again? Labor expensive again? Raw materials increased again?
That was another cycle of perseverance.
There was no need to say more about how to do it. There were a few key words: Triangle Trade, Never Setting Sun Empire, Opium War.
But in this world, it was very difficult to take this step.
Triangle Trade? Go to Ossouin and Nagaros to catch elven slaves? Go to Luscia to catch lizardmen?
Even without considering the hidden dangers of separation and independence, the premise of overseas colonization was to be able to defeat the natives. The Brittany won against the Arabians, but the Tomb King in the depths of the desert …
Or turn to the neighboring Empire, the Dwarves, and the Wood Elves?
Once the industrial expansion could not continue, the crisis would begin.
Of course, there was one thing that Laing also told Belega, and that was that he also had to ensure the development of agriculture and social stability. Many people had always looked down on agriculture, but Laing was very clear that agriculture was the foundation of a country. He had to ensure the development of agriculture and social stability in order to have a chance to survive the end of the Knight King Kingdom. Agriculture was the main factor, and industry was the secondary factor.
In fact, Laing had always been deliberately hostile to the princes of the Marineburg business community.
Capitalists were never kind people. The first thing that wealthy businessmen thought of was not to encourage production and healthy competition. Instead, they often used deceit and forced good people to be cheap. Capitalists only pursued two things. The first was profit, and the second was the increase of their own value.
In Laing's view, emphasizing agriculture and suppressing business were essentially the same as developing manufacturing to suppress the financial industry.
For example, if I can live by collecting rent, why should I work in the fields? Work in the factories?
Collecting rent is too slow, why not speculate in real estate?
Speculating in real estate is too slow, why not speculate in real estate?
Speculating in real estate is too slow, why not just speculate in real estate?
Beating the drums and spreading the flowers, looking for people to buy the land, that was how the land price of Nur rose.
But in the face of a real disaster and the threat of the end of the world, the so-called prosperous real estate market and developed capital would be squeezed out of the water, and what would be left?
"Brother Laing is right." Belega listened thoughtfully, and the King of Eight Peak Mountain nodded silently. He thought a lot in his heart, and he understood why Solgreen constantly emphasized that the dwarves had to be self-sufficient in food and beer after becoming the Supreme King.
It seems that Solgreen's beard is still very long, Belega thought. Unfortunately, he's still not as good as my brother Laing.
According to the dwarven rules, Musilon Military Factory had two days off every ten days, a ten-hour working day, and all legal holidays. The cost of manpower was actually quite high, but on one hand, Laing insisted, and on the other hand, the dwarves were stubborn, so this rule was set. However, the result of this was that Musilon Military Factory could not compete with Nur Military Factory except for a few competitive products. But how could the Brittany completely rely on imports for firearms? So on one hand, Laing had to suppress them, and on the other hand, he had to subsidize them. The three chief workers of the factory, Dugan Tiehan, Sheogh, and Kalashnikov, all had some opinions about this. This time, Dugan complained to Belega, and Belega came to Laing to complain.
Laing narrowed his eyes. Now, all the goals were to build a high wall, accumulate more food, and develop wretchedly, with the goal of getting through the end of the world.
At this moment, the world once again underwent a drastic change. The Knight King subconsciously turned his gaze to the north.
Somewhere, the great guardian node had failed again!
At the same time, to the north of Brittany, in the mysterious land across the sea, Obion Island, which was always covered in thick fog.
North of the Great Ocean, west of the Noska Coast.
When the ancient sage descended to this world, the Guis had chosen Obion Island as a good place. The sun was bright here, the seasons were like spring, and the crops were plentiful. The ancient sage had chosen this place as an important stronghold.
At that time, there were already humans on Obion. The ancient sage had chosen to personally teach the humans here the spells of prophecy and truth. These primitive humans were called "Truth Messengers", and it was said that these Truth Messengers brought the fire of civilization to other humans. It was said that this was so, and no information could prove it.
Then, what everyone knew was that the ancient sage's portal to the two poles collapsed, and the enemy, Chaos, came knocking on the door. No one knew whether the ancient sage had escaped or was completely annihilated, but before he left, the ancient sage had left behind two extremely valuable treasures for Obion — the Great Stone Circle and the Ancient Giants.
The Great Stone Circle created a huge barrier, and the corruption of Chaos was limited to Noska, and no longer invaded the south. The Ancient Giants showed their unparalleled strength and defeated the Chaos invaders. They held on until the great whirlpool was built, and Chaos retreated.
However, the price was also great. The fog covered the sun and the sky, followed by heavy rain and storms. The whole of Obion quickly turned into a muddy swamp, and the beautiful past was gone. Due to the extreme isolation of the Truth Messengers tribe and the passage of time, a large number of inbred marriages caused them to become more and more stupid, and they kept losing the knowledge left behind by the ancient sage. The Ancient Giants also gradually degenerated into a group of idiots.
After thousands of years, the First Demon Prince, Birak, arrived in Obion.
Birak was the first Demon Prince in the entire universe. It was once second only to the four gods and above all demons. At the same time, it also received the powerful blessings of the four gods. However, Birak always had the ambition to become the fifth god of Chaos, and it began to resist the orders of the four gods. Therefore, in order to punish its arrogance, Tzeentch cursed and took away its body. Birak was forced to become a shadow, and most of its power was absorbed into the Divine Weapon of Chaos — the Crown of Dominion. From then on, it became a soul that was twisted in madness and chaos.
Birak only had one mission left, and that was to guard the Crown of Dominion, and to crown the warrior who passed the qualification test to become the new Eternal God of Chaos, and to be his follower.
After repeating this a few times, Birak would occasionally wake up, and it had its eyes on the Great Stone Circle in Obion. The First Demon Prince first corrupted the few remaining Truth Messengers on the island, and made them think that it was the ancient sage, and worshipped it like a god.
Then, after corrupting some of the Truth Messengers into Darkness Messengers, Birak successfully obtained the ancient sage energy in the Great Stone Circle, and almost recovered its physical body. Unfortunately, it failed at the last minute, and was defeated by the Alliance of Order of the High Elves, Humans, and Lizardmen.
But today, Birak's seal was opened by a traveler. After decades of searching, he finally found the Primordial Demon Prince.
"Where is the Crown of Dominion?" The Traveler's voice was a little happy, but also a little annoyed.
"Aha, another self-righteous idiot who wants to walk towards his destined fate!" Birak had just woken up from its madness. This First Demon Prince's entire body was purplish red, and its appearance was terrifying enough to frighten mortals to death.
"I will ask one last time, where is the Crown of Dominion?" The Divine Weapon of Chaos King Slayer was unsheathed, and the Chaos Demon Wu Zuer within the sword was ready to move.
"How direct … The last Divine Weapon, the Crown of Dominion, is in the Chaos Temple in the depths of the Blade Peak Mountain in the north of the Roof of the World!"
"Bring me there, now!"
"As you wish."
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