PS: I've seen the news! This is indeed a good thing. Don't be too happy yet. It will probably take a long time before it's released. Also, as I said, the Middle Ages story is a supplement to AOS, just like how the Horus War is a supplement to 40K. But I still have to say, 'this is great'!
Year 2512 of the Empire Calendar, the end of January, the capital of the Empire, Brunswick Palace, Emperor Karl-franz's private office.
The Emperor was sitting behind his desk, looking at the financial report. It was snowing heavily outside the palace. White snowflakes fell outside the palace. Inside the room, there was a fire burning. The carpet with purple and gold stripes and a red background was branded with the image of a golden griffin and a golden double-headed eagle. The former was the coat of arms of Ludwig the Savior, which symbolized that Karl-franz had inherited the legitimacy and glory of the Frey Drich Family. The latter was the coat of arms of Emperor Charlemagne, which symbolized the entire Empire.
The snow-covered Brunswick was still as prosperous as ever. Even in the palace, the Emperor could hear the chaotic footsteps outside. He knew that it was the patrolling sound of the Knights of the Inner Circle. Even the most elite of the Guards of Brunswick only had forty knights who could enter the Inner Circle and become the core personnel who accompanied the Emperor in his charge and protect his safety.
Looking at the snowflakes outside the window, Karl-franz stretched out his hand and rubbed his forehead tiredly. He pushed away the documents in front of him and leaned back on the soft armchair, letting out a long sigh. He had been the Emperor for more than ten years. In the past ten years, he had fought wars all over the world, used every single one of his brain cells, squeezed every single gold coin in his treasury, and finally managed to unite the entire Empire once again. Every time he sat in the palace, the Emperor would always have an illusion.
He felt that he was always the Lord of Brunswick and not the Emperor of the Empire.
Karl-franz didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the sight of the golden gryphon on the carpet. He knew why his family and his palace had to decorate and paint golden gryphons everywhere. It was because his family wanted to emphasize that they were the rightful heirs of Ludwig the Savior.
On the contrary, Boris Todbringer never had to consider this problem. The White Wolf City's coat of arms was the White Wolf City's coat of arms, because Boris Todbringer's grandfather was the younger brother of Ludwig the Savior, Heinz. He didn't need to do this to prove himself.
Perhaps this was a guilty conscience? The Emperor's mind was filled with random thoughts. He reached out and took the cup on the table. It was filled with coffee ground from the finest coffee beans from Luscia. The quality and taste of this coffee was better than the coffee from Arabi, not to mention the second-rate stuff from Tyrell.
General Weidenfeller and the others weren't going well in the new world, the Emperor thought as he gently sniffed the aroma of the coffee and took another sip. The Brunswick Territory had once again sent three legions of 10,000 troops to the new world. According to General Weidenfeller, they had successfully established a new colony on the Vampire Coast of Luscia and swore the powerful military force of the Empire. The primitive and ignorant lizardmen in the tropical rainforest were no match for the Empire and were beaten back repeatedly.
In addition, it was said that the commander of the Ashes Corps, Forgen, was also somewhat moved by the title of Count of the Empire and the personal invitation from the Emperor, but he obviously still needed time to consider. The Emperor also expressed his understanding. He had even prepared an edict and a full set of Count's attire. However, the recent news showed that the Empire's army had been attacked by the Skaven Ratmen and a large group of vampire pirates in Luscia. The situation was not optimistic, but Karl-franz could no longer send more troops. The Emperor could only let General Weidenfeller ask for help from the Ashes Corps. Luscia was four to five months away by ship, and by the time the Emperor received the request for help, it was already very late. It was almost impossible to form an expeditionary force just for a request for help.
The only thing that could make the Emperor feel at ease was that, for the sake of Leon, Legion Commander Forgen should not disregard his fellow humans … The Emperor often hoped that he could have a brother as strong as Legion Commander Forgen, but he quickly realized that if he had such a brother, then the throne would definitely not be his.
The Emperor forced himself to focus on the current situation. The lack of military strength made it impossible for the Emperor to form an expeditionary force. In recent years, the Orcs in the Drakoward Forest had become more rampant. The peace treaty with the Brittany had allowed the Emperor to free up many of his border troops, but he had no choice but to send the border troops to the North and South. The forest defense line in Middleton had to be strengthened, and the Blood Pine Forest near Brunswick had to be cleared by the army. The Sol Hill in the South had to be rebuilt under the leadership of Gard. That place was in chaos because of Tarim Khan's invasion and the Night Goblin Tribe's rampage. When the Emperor decided to rebuild Sol Hill, the entire Brunswick Territory's wealth and army were sent there.
The finances were in trouble, and the army was also lacking.
Karl-franz had asked Lady Emmanuelle for help, but she rejected him. The Emperor even asked Emmanuelle for help as a personal friend and as the Godfather of Frey Derick Jr., asking the Nur to send a few legions as reinforcements. Emmanuelle's reply was simple. "Our dear Emperor, when we were facing Tarim Khan's attack, where were you and your army? Where were your Rik Guards? Nur needs time to rebuild and repair. The army lost in the Battle of Tarim Khan needs to be replenished. Next time, Karl. Definitely. "
The Emperor knew that Emmanuelle was lying. In fact, the losses in Nur were quickly replenished after the Battle of Tarim Khan. There were refugees everywhere who were willing to join the army. Nur may have suffered heavy losses, but the endless large orders from all over the Empire, Brittany, and even the Ashes Legion sent the entire city into a frenzy of production. The impact of the war did not weaken Nur, but instead made it stronger. This was a city born for war, and also the city of Ludwig the Savior. Karl-franz knew how much the Savior loved Nur. It was his hometown. Even though he re-established Brunswick as the capital, the Savior spent most of his time in Nur before he took off his crown and disappeared.
The more likely reason was that the Emperor's attempt to rebuild Saul had angered the Countess and the Nur nobles behind her.
Karl-franz was helpless. Compared to Nur's army, the armies of Mildenheim and Tara Beheim were even less likely to listen to the Emperor's command. According to the Emperor's private intelligence officer, Count Siegfried von Walfen, Nur's military factory seemed to be producing a new type of war machine. It was said to be an order from King Laing.
Out of respect, Karl-franz did not send anyone to spy on it. Instead, he asked openly. Emmanuelle's answer was simple. Laing needed an "enhanced version" of a land ship.
Well, at least I don't have that much money in my treasury to build a land ship. The Emperor decided to throw all thoughts out of his mind. He noticed hurried footsteps in the distance. It was the sound of a woman's high heels tapping on the ground. The Emperor could distinguish the sound of the Inner Circle's boots and high heels.
"May I come in, Your Majesty?" An elegant female voice came from outside the door.
"Come in." The Emperor immediately stood up from behind the desk.
The one who walked into the room was Lady Hawkswall. Her full name was Lotte Hawkswall, Baroness Stimwald, and the Minister of Finance of the Empire. She wore a mink coat and a silk dress, paired with black stockings and high-heeled boots that covered her ankles. She looked to be in her forties. Her facial features were firm, with a thin nose, narrow eyebrows, and deep wrinkles. Her hair was tied up high at the back of her head. Behind her, a dozen Inner Circle Guards were carrying a few large boxes.
"Good news, Your Majesty. The money has arrived." Lady Hawkswall bowed slightly. "Brittany's payment for the goods and the contract has arrived."
"Wonderful." Karl-franz finally let out a sigh of relief. The Emperor looked at the boxes placed on the ground by the Inner Circle Guards. He personally opened one of the boxes. It was filled with gold crowns. The bright yellow light made the Emperor feel very comfortable. "How much?"
"Twenty one thousand crowns," Claude said. Lady Hawkswall's expression was serious. The Minister of Finance, her husband, and even her family were known for being stingy. It was because of this that she became the Empire's Minister of Finance.
"Very good." Karl took out a gold coin. One side of the Brittany crown was printed with the portrait of the founding Knight King, Arthur. The other side was printed with the coat of arms of the Duke of Muxilon. It was a brand new coat of arms made up of a longsword from a book, a holy grail, and a Muxilon iris. It was also Laing's family coat of arms.
"It's 100% new. It seems that Laing's expedition this time was quite fruitful." The Emperor sighed and put the gold crowns back into the box. He then gestured for the Minister of Finance to sit down. Lady Hawkswall tidied her dress and sat opposite the Emperor. A servant brought in a cup of hot coffee. "He's very capable."
"No, Your Majesty. The one who's truly resourceful and in control of the situation is you. The contract you signed and your outstanding eloquence allowed the Knight King's spoils on the frontlines to belong to us. The gold was minted into coins and sent to Brunswick not long after we received it. This is the embodiment of your outstanding talent," Lady Hawkswall said seriously.
Karl-franz only smiled. Having been in charge of the Empire for more than a decade, his ears could automatically filter out such flattery. He thought for a moment and said, "Then, will this money be enough to tide us over the current financial crisis? Will the new army I want be able to be formed? And Galt's needs? "
"If we use it sparingly, it will be enough," Lady Hawkswall replied after some mental calculations.
"Very good." Karl-franz finally let out a long sigh of relief. The Emperor could feel the burden on his shoulders lightening. For now, the Empire that was riddled with scars finally had time to breathe and recover. The destroyed walls would be rebuilt, and the crops would be replanted. At least, the Empire would be safe when the next Chaos Tide approached.
"I was thinking, can we issue war bonds like Laing?" The Emperor brought up a new topic. "Perhaps we need to …"
"No, we don't!" Lady Hawkswall sternly rejected the Emperor's idea. "We all agree, Your Majesty, that the ordinary citizens are not ready to know about the financial difficulties of the Empire. When we rebuild everything that has been destroyed, your people must believe that this is the result of the strength of our great nation. We will not submit to anyone, whether it's our Knight brothers on the other side of the mountain or our ancient Dwarf allies. This will make us look weak, and it's not in line with our basic national conditions."
"Perhaps you're right. Laing has the Eight Peaks Mountain. He and his Knight army can conquer the Badlands, but we can't even solve the internal security problems. I'm curious. Let's not talk about the entire Kingdom of Brittany. How did Laing ensure that there are no Green Dwarfs or Orcs in the forest and mountain range in the north of his territory?" The Emperor agreed.
(Anglo, who was hunting in the forest, sneezed. He looked puzzled as he wrapped his White Bear cloak tighter around him.)
"We don't understand. The other side of the mountain is a mystical kingdom. The Holy Grail Knights have incredible power." Lady Hawkswall nodded and said, "But this doesn't mean that Charlemagne is inferior to the Lady of the Lake. Your Majesty, this matter cannot be discussed. The Church of Justice has their own position. Archbishop Vicmar has his doubts about you."
"Lord Vicmar." Thinking about this, Karl-franz's expression changed. It was as though he recalled a very uncomfortable experience.
After attending Laing's coronation ceremony and returning to the Empire, Karl-franz invited Archbishop Vicmar according to Laing's instructions. The Archbishop reluctantly agreed. After drinking, they relaxed a little and discussed the next steps and plans.
Until the Emperor requested a wrestling match.
Vicmar gladly agreed. Drinking, eating, wrestling, and taking a bath were some of the few entertainments the Church of Justice had. In just ten minutes, the Emperor was KO-ed ten times. He was badly battered and carried out by his attendants. He didn't even get to take a bath.
Karl-franz thought that Laing's suggestion wasn't that reliable after all.
So, how did Laing manage to win over Morgiana?
Lady Hawkswall was waiting for the Emperor's reaction. Karl-franz quickly turned his attention back to the topic. "Then, tell me everything you know about the Eight Peaks Mountain's debt."
"So far, the first issue of Eight Peaks Mountain's debt is estimated to be 50 thousand crowns. It's a one-year term with an annual interest rate of 10%. At first, the debt wasn't selling at all. You know why, "Hawkswall nodded and said," But after the successive victories on the frontlines and the large amounts of captured resources were shipped back to the Knight King, the debt's sales skyrocketed. In fact, the first issue of Eight Peaks Mountain's debt sold for at least 80 thousand crowns. "
"An annual interest rate of 10%, is it?" The Emperor furrowed his brow. There were banks everywhere in the Old World, but not only did they have no interest, they also had to pay a 1.5% deposit tax. 1% went to the bank and 0.5% went to the Emperor's treasury. If the depositor asked for a certificate of credit, the deposit tax would be tripled.
"Now, according to reliable sources, the second issue of Eight Peaks Mountain's debt is ready to be sold. It's also a one-year term and is estimated to be between 100 thousand crowns to 150 thousand crowns with an annual interest rate of 8%." Hawkswall nodded. "Now, the Eight Peaks Mountain's debt has caused a frenzy. What's more …"
"What's more …?" Karl-franz seemed to have thought of something. "Demand doesn't meet demand? Or … is it a form of participation? Reselling? "
"That's right. Every citizen who bought the debt is frantically trying to find out more about the Eight Peaks Mountain's army. Every time news of the army's victory comes, the people will cheer." Hawkswall's brow furrowed. "Your Majesty, can this be seen as a way to win the hearts of the Empire's citizens? Should we ban it? "
"That won't be necessary." The Emperor shook his head calmly. "It's just bonds. It's not like we haven't issued them before. Back then, when His Majesty the Savior gathered the army of the old world to fight against the army of Chaos in the north, he also issued war bonds. At that time, all the people of the Empire were proud to buy war bonds."
Hawkswall wanted to say something, but she saw the Emperor's stern gaze. The Emperor had once defeated the princes and the Kurfürst with the same expression, uniting the fragmented Empire after more than ten years of conflict and war.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Everything is as you wish." Hawkswall chose to compromise. "My only wish is to serve you."
"You've done well, Baroness." The Emperor nodded lightly. "Everything Laing has done is in line with the rules and principles. We are allies with them. We also benefited from their elimination of the green skin. The Eight Peaks Mountain's debt is not without interest."
"True strength comes from the bottom of your heart, not from useless praises and praises, or from suppressing the opposing opinions."
"What we need to do is to make the Empire great again."
"For the Empire!" Hawkswall said sincerely. She bowed again and left. The Emperor watched her finance minister leave. His attention quickly shifted to other things. "Men, send this letter to the other side of the mountain and hand it to the Knight King, Queen Suria!"
"Yes!"
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
