Empire, Year 2514, August.
In the next few months, whether it was Brittany's Knight King Laing, Empire's Emperor Karl-franz, Nord's Grand Duke (self-proclaimed King) Theodoric Gaither, or Kislöw's Ice Queen Katarín, they were all fearful of the Barbarians' large-scale gathering and strange silence. The human kingdoms in the north of the old world constantly sent scouts and spies to Northka to obtain information and confirm whether the Barbarians were really planning to invade the south on a large scale.
As for Estalia and Tyrell, they still had an indifferent attitude.
In the beginning, everyone was very nervous and on guard. Batch after batch of troops were sent to the frontlines to prepare for a possible large-scale invasion by the Barbarians. At the same time, Brittany, Kislöw, and the Empire's court held several meetings to discuss how to deal with it. They even sent messengers to each other to prepare for a joint battle.
However, in the end, the news that came shocked everyone.
They were fighting! They were really fighting!
However, it was not the Barbarians from the north who were invading the south. Instead, it was Northka's pirate fleet and the Dark Elves' Black Ark fleet that were fighting on the Chaos Sea. Hundreds of Northka's dragon ships and the Dark Elves' Black Ark fleet engaged in a terrifying naval battle that ended in a draw.
Subsequently, the Blood God's wife, Valkyrie, personally led an army of Chaos of about 35000 people and began the war with the Nagaros Dark Elves. This war caught the Dark Elves Kingdom, led by Witch King Malekith and Witch Queen Morasi, off guard. At one point, the Dark Elves' meticulously built northern defense line was breached. After looting several Dark Elves' fortresses, the Dark Elves' capital, Hal Gunsi, Kalond, and Resentment Peak, approached the Dark Elves' capital, Khalibon. The Barbarians even built a Chaos Fortress on the Dark Elves' Dead Wood Kingdom, named Icebound City, to show off their achievements.
Malecis was forced to withdraw the fleet and main forces that were preparing to attack the Barren Islands of Ossouin. The Witch King ordered his subordinate, Marus-Blackblade, to lead the Dark Elven Army to fight against the Valkyrie's Chaos Army. The blood of the Dark Elves and the Chaos Tribe warmed the ice field of Nagaros.
In the beginning, the battle was in the Valkyrie's favor because the Blood God's Wife never lacked heavily armored Terror Berserkers. However, the Dark Elves were a race rich in martial arts, especially the 95000 Dark Elves stationed along the northern border. They were all Duruzi's elite and experienced warriors. Gradually, the Dark Elves stabilized the situation and restrained the Chaos.
At this time, almost all the human kingdoms had received the news that the Norsk barbarians had responded to the call of the barbarians of the Chaos Wastelands and were preparing to gather all their military forces to fight against the dark elves.
So that's how it was! So that's how it was!
The Barbarians didn't plan on fighting a decisive battle with us. Instead, they planned on fighting the Dark Elves to the death!
Then everything was fine. He could finally be at ease.
Almost all the humans in the Old World heaved a sigh of relief at the same time. The Kurfürst of the Empire felt lucky and even ecstatic.
Great, the Barbarians were fighting the Dark Elves. The b * stards were fighting the b * stards!
The Kurfürst of the Empire, who were originally filled with apprehension, even held a banquet to celebrate.
Brunswick, the capital of the Empire, the Empire Palace, the Empire Parliament.
Every year, the Emperor's Rick Guards would be inspected in the capital so that all the citizens could witness the strength of the Emperor's personal guards. This was usually conducted by Marshal Rick. This was an opportunity for him to check whether the members of his Order of Knights were complete and whether their weapons and armor were in good condition. This was of great significance to the newly promoted Knights who had been sworn into the Order of Knights after the previous inspection. This was a tradition that could be traced back to the era when the training and testing of the Rick Guards was not so formal and strict.
Since modern times (referring to the era of Emperor Leopold), the first inspection of a newly promoted Knight had become a symbol of his eventual acceptance into the Order of Knights. For the noble families who intended to gain more influence in the Empire's court, this was an excellent opportunity for them to participate in the ceremony and bask in the glory.
Emperor Karl-franz of the Empire inspected the Rick Guards loyal to him during the day. Because he smiled for too long, the Emperor's face was a little stiff. He even doubted if he could make any other expression besides smiling.
But the Emperor was destined to be tired. After inspecting the Rick Guards during the day, he immediately called for a cabinet meeting at night.
Several core courtiers of the Emperor sat together. Emperor Karl looked around and said with some regret, "Gelt didn't come?"
"Our chief wizard and great alchemist brought a message saying that he can't get away from the most important experiment of improving gunpowder. But he gave a suggestion, and that is, for the current situation, it's not advisable to relax our vigilance." The chief spy of the Empire, Count Walfen, said carefully, "But the information I received is that the Barbarians are indeed at war with the Dark Elves in the distant and cold Nagaros Continent, and the Barbarians of Noskar are indeed planning to send their main forces to support them."
"So your suggestion is to relax our vigilance? Valfin, you idiot. Do you know that the despicable, untrustworthy, and shameless Barbarians have already offered everything they have to the God of Darkness? How do we know that they won't suddenly turn around and attack the Empire? " Marshal Rick Curt Helberg still maintained his anger and vigilance. He shouted in dissatisfaction, "We must not let our guard down. You think we should relax our vigilance and disband our army? You're wrong, Walfen, you're so wrong!"
"But we can't go on like this!" The chief spy also launched a counterattack. "That's what the intelligence says. Yes, we should be vigilant, but it's already August. Helberg, look at your moustache, it's already August!"
"August?" Helberg was stunned. Marshal Rick didn't understand why the other party suddenly said this.
"It's almost the autumn harvest, my marshal." The finance minister, Madam Hawkswold, looked at Helberg with displeasure, as if she was looking at a madman and an idiot. "The autumn harvest will be in September, and the army is full of complaints. You have to know that the food we use for military expenses … and the basis for tax revenue is agriculture. If we continue to station a large number of troops at the border, we won't have to wait for the Barbarians to come. Our own treasury will be able to raise rats!"
"But …" Marshal Rick's face turned red, and he still wanted to argue.
At this moment, the emperor spoke. Karl-franz said with a depressed expression, "If the Kurfürsten themselves have begun to relax their vigilance, then what's the point of us persisting here? The army can't be stationed outside for a long time, and the people of Rick Territory are already very dissatisfied with this. "
Helberg had to admit that the emperor was right. There weren't many professional soldiers in the army of Rick Territory who were completely released from their jobs. Most of them were semi-professional soldiers, who usually worked in agriculture and spent two or three days a week training soldiers who were paid. These soldiers couldn't leave their territory to fight for a long time, especially when the autumn harvest was approaching and there was no war at the frontline. The soldiers were very dissatisfied with this inexplicable conscription.
Wasn't it already fine?
The barbarians were going to deal with the dark elves. What did it have to do with the Empire?
What was worse was that the emperor's actions had already hurt the interests of the peasants and citizens of the middle class.
A famous female artist and writer of the Empire, Mrs. Squire, who had written many books, said in public, "The test of a country's civilization is never how tall your palace is, how fast your carriage is, how powerful your weapons are, how mighty your army is, how advanced your technology is, how brilliant your art is, how luxurious your meetings are, how dazzling your fireworks are, or even how many merchants boldly go out and buy the whole world. There is only one thing that will test you: your attitude towards the disadvantaged. "
Then, Mrs. Squire began to go around the capital to give speeches and set the tone at the noble salons and banquets, which disgusted the emperor. However, many of the officials and dignitaries in the emperor's court especially liked her theory and kept protecting her.
On the contrary, the emperor couldn't do anything about it. After all, what she said sounded reasonable and was speaking for the citizens and the poor. It was natural political correctness. This tone was very successful. Everyone felt that the emperor was making a mountain out of a molehill and was hurting the interests of the people of Brunswick in order to expand his own power.
There was also a song circulating in the streets of Brunswick, "We hope that the old emperor Luitpold will come back."
We hope that the old emperor Luitpold will come back
We hope that the old emperor Luitpold will come back
The one with the beard, the one with the beard
The one with the beard, the one with the beard, the one with the beard
Our parents talk all day about the good old days
A long time ago, it was a time of peace
But it was really good back then, the good old days
… …
The meaning of the song was that the new emperor, King Kahn, wasn't good enough. There were too many wars and too many taxes. The people preferred the old emperor Luitpold. However, Karl-franz knew that his father Luitpold was nothing more than an emperor who didn't do anything. He didn't do anything, he compromised with the nobles and the electors, and he tried his best to avoid wars. Many problems accumulated and in the end, it was his son who had to clean up the mess. Now, his people were blaming him for doing too many things?
At the same time, a new argument appeared in the court of the Empire, and it spread very quickly.
It was the "Brittany Threat Theory." Many scholars and bureaucrats believed that the Empire could at least enjoy a few more years of peace if the barbarians in the North fought the Dark Elves. At this time, compared to the enemies in the North, the Kingdom of the Knight King, who had recently risen rapidly and won the Obien Expedition, would become the Empire's real enemy. They had to be guarded against and punished, and they could even use force.
There was a market for this argument, and it spread like wildfire throughout Brunswick.
"Can't we leave a few elite troops behind?" Marshal Helberg was still insisting. "Your Majesty, Galt also said that we can't let our guard down."
"Enough, Helberg. Where will the money come from?" Madam Hawkswolf said in frustration and anger. "You can fight to your heart's content, but who will pay for it? Do you know that His Majesty has started to use his own private treasury? "
Helberg suddenly understood something. Marshal Rick looked around the entire private cabinet and sighed. "I understand. All of you want to withdraw the defense, right?" No one said anything.
After a few minutes of silence, Baron Steergau Amadeus Menken, the Empire's Privy Council and Chief Foreign Minister, finally spoke. "Curt, there's an argument that if we don't withdraw the troops in the North, the Norse people won't be at ease to fight the Dark Elves. Some Norse chieftains even directly asked some Nord lords and Marimburg merchants for 'protection fees' … Some people have already paid. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Stupid!" Helberg shook his head in disappointment. Marshal Rick stopped talking.
Emperor Karl-franz also realized it.
After decades in the court, the Emperor deeply understood that Helberg was a soldier, and the others were bureaucrats.
For bureaucrats, stability, smoothness, peace, and stability were their natural pursuit and political correctness. They were not wrong in this regard. The Empire was indeed financially strapped, and the war loans owed to the Supreme King had yet to be repaid!
"Withdraw the troops. Now, the autumn harvest is the most important thing!" The Emperor finally made the decision.
"Yes!"
At the same time, in the Brittany court, Laing was also in a meeting. The Knight King had gathered all the dukes to discuss the barbarians' movements.
If anyone saw this, they would be very surprised to find that whether it was the Empire or the Brittany court, the topics and the discussion process were almost exactly the same.
So that's it! So that's it!
The barbarians don't plan to fight a decisive battle with us. They plan to fight the Dark Elves to the death!
Then it's fine, I can finally rest assured.
That was great! The barbarians are fighting the Dark Elves, the bastards are fighting the bastards!
The dukes of the Knight King were all brimming with smiles and clapped their hands in joy.
In Mu Xilong's newly built and somewhat simple palace, Aurora, as the leader of the intelligence department, reported the situation to everyone.
Yes, it was not the Lake God's prophet, nor was it someone sent by Laun. It was Aurora. The mature, beautiful, and charming Sanctuary Witch was in the conference hall of the new palace, reporting all the recent intelligence summary. According to the information of the scouts and spies, as well as the analysis of multiple sources of intelligence, the barbarians seemed to be planning to fight a decisive battle with the Dark Elves. Dozens of intelligence reports were verified, and Aurora did indeed do a good job.
Aurora only felt that she had gained face. As a witch, she could enjoy the position of reporting to the core power and decision-making of the human countries. The Sanctuary Witch only felt that she was floating. This was a position and treatment she did not dare to imagine when she was in the Garland Council.
Of course, if all of this didn't come from Ryan, that would be even better, Aurora thought with a little displeasure in her heart.
"It seems that the barbarians will not attack." The dukes expressed their opinions one after another. François smiled and said to Laing, "All signs indicate that the barbarians' target is the Dark Elves. We were vigilant in vain."
"It seems so for now, but we can't take it lightly." Laing motioned for Aurora to come down and sit behind him, to the left of Berliat, who had just returned from Marlin Castle. "We still have to take precautions."
But Aurora moved her long legs, bringing a burst of lavender fragrance, and sat directly in the seat of the absent chief steward of the palace, Kasenberg. Morgiana and Suria both looked at her, and seeing that Laing did not object, they did not say anything.
"But the autumn harvest is coming, Your Majesty." Lauren reminded in a low voice, "We have to ensure the autumn harvest. Agriculture is the foundation of the country. The army can't always be concentrated on the northern coast. The pay and food will become a serious burden. The soldiers will not be able to stay on the front line for long."
"Hmm …" Laing had to admit that Lauren was right, but the Knight King still felt that something was wrong.
"Can't we leave a few elite troops behind?" At this time, Duke Berchemund proposed a compromise. "The Chaos bastards are really not trustworthy!"
"Then, where will the military funding come from?" Duke Adahad asked.
"The military funding comes from the national treasury. A duchy will provide 700 people, knights, squires, and professional soldiers who are completely free from production. The salary and food will be paid by the national treasury." Laing said decisively, "Send the knights under your command who have nothing to do but fight all day and disturb the peace and the elite infantry regiment formed after returning from Eight Peaks Mountain to the northern coast! Even if the barbarians don't come, treat it as training and tourism! Tell them that the King will take care of their meals, three meals a day, and pay the soldiers! "
"Hahahahaha!" There was a burst of laughter in the conference hall. Laing's prestige was so high that no one dared to object. He also made it clear that the maintenance fees would be paid by the national treasury, so the dukes would not object. A professional army and the allocation of 700 people would not affect the important autumn harvest, so everyone agreed. There were even dukes who asked if they could send more people.
Just like that, the meeting came to an end. A professional army of more than eight thousand people was quickly formed. Leon handed over the command to his subordinate, Marquis Loire, the Great Holy Grail, Toulas de Schangle, and another Great Holy Grail, Count Garamente, who was seconded from Bastogne. Calade was appointed as the commander-in-chief, and Toulas was the deputy general.
After everything was arranged, Laing announced the end of the conference and that he would return to Gene City.
The humans of the old world finally breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that they would have a good year this year.
A good time had come!
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