“Nice speech.”

"But you also have to understand."

"We can't just rely on your sensational speech," Archduke Ronnie said with difficulty, but his voice was already hoarse and seemed unconvincing: "We feel that the stars are already invincible, and Exeter is in danger and will not cooperate with you.

It’s a dead end.”

"This is unrealistic."

Lumba took a deep breath.

"Of course you can question me," he turned around and faced Ronnie without flinching: "But you can't deceive your own eyes - King Kessel's expedition in the desert is right in front of you."

"They can transport grain and grass all the way smoothly into the vast desert," Lomba continued without any doubt: "They can also transport them without any difficulty to Longxiao City, and even to guard the city, Qiyuan City, or even guard the city.

Within the scope of the leadership.”

He shook his head: "Qiyuan City has been alert to the movements of the Golden Corridor and anomalies in the desert for generations, and is used to taking precautions before they happen - I hope this is not an empty talk."

Ronnie remained motionless and did not speak.

"Of course you can say whatever you want about things that haven't happened," Grand Duke Trudida exhaled, seemingly still suspicious: "Alarmist words can confuse idiots who are not thinking..."

He narrowed his eyes: "But it's best not to use it on us."

Grand Duke Lecco raised his head and glanced at Trudida.

Olesio lowered his head and looked at the ground, saying nothing for a long time.

"But they have an efficient and powerful official team. This is not a lie."

Lumba gestured to the four Grand Dukes: "After the Bloody Year, the standing army directly under the Bright Star Royal Family has increased year after year, and the number of valuable equipment such as magic guns on Broken Dragon Fortress has also increased significantly - these will all affect our victory or defeat."

"You can even ask Mrs. Cassian for confirmation: Over the years, the quality of members absorbed by the Secret Service has greatly exceeded that of the Dark Room. Faced with their spying and schemes, the famous Scarlet Witch can only passively fight back in many cases - but please believe me

, she is unwilling to implement such a risky strategy whenever there is a slight possibility of taking the initiative to attack."

The Grand Duke of Heisha walked past the four Grand Dukes step by step, his eyes solemn, giving people a strong sense of oppression.

"It's not difficult to look through the war cases from more than a hundred years ago, and compare it with now," he said solemnly: "But we are at a critical juncture that determines the future of the kingdom. There is no doubt that if we miss this moment, we

They will all regret it."

Lumba walked all the way to the brazier, and the blazing flames reflected his back in the eyes of the four archdukes.

At that moment, Charmaine Lombard's voice seemed to contain a heavy weight.

"We and Xingchen are like two seriously injured swordsmen. In the last life-and-death battle, we saw each other's weaknesses," he said softly: "That is time."

Grand Duke Lecco's expression changed.

"Our weakness is that we cannot afford to delay. We cannot give the Star Kingdom time to recover from its trauma and slowly change."

"The weakness of the stars is that they must buy time. They will definitely delay the conflict at all costs until the scars of the Blood Year heal."

Lumba looked solemn: "In the past twelve years, our back and forth battles have revolved around this theme."

He turned around, his eyes blazing: "I later figured it out that King Kessel's costly desert expedition, in addition to demonstrating their expedition capabilities, was also a smoke war. In order to allow us to control the existing forces in the stars,

Hesitation arose and he was undecided about sending troops south."

"Over the years, Xingchen and the Secret Department have tried every means to cause civil strife in our country, in order to delay time and clean up the devastation in the country." Grand Duke Heisha raised his hands and clenched his fists: "And I have tried every means to use the prince or the territory to expand the local conflict into a

The purpose of war is to seize time and defeat the calculations of the stars."

"So you want us to send troops?" Olesiu suddenly said: "Even if you tempt us with benefits beyond expectations?"

Lumba nodded wordlessly.

Trudida breathed out and rubbed his palms: "Let's be realistic. Even if we all agree with you, we will all send troops south..."

"Then what are you going to do?"

"Twelve years ago, when we had the greatest advantage, we were unable to conquer the south of Muhe River." The Grand Duke of the Rebuilding Tower spread his palms with a strange expression: "If it is true as you said, our neighbors to the south are no longer what they used to be.

…”

Trudida chuckled: "Then why do you think we will definitely succeed in twelve years?"

The princes all fell into deep thought.

But Lumba seemed to have been prepared. He hummed softly, walked to the rectangular table, and knocked on the table.

"There is still a difference," he shook his head and said softly: "Twelve years ago, and now."

Archduke Olesio looked interested.

"Twelve years ago, we were too arrogant. When we sent out troops, our strategy was to destroy the country." Lomba shook his head, seeming to be very regretful: "The all-out attack after crossing the fortress not only hit the stars hard, but also

We brought huge pressure ourselves, leaving a loophole for the Starlight Legion's harassment."

"By the time we realized something was wrong, we were already in deep trouble."

Lumba raised his head sharply.

"But now, we have realized the opponent's situation, and our advantage is still there," the Black Sand Duke nodded: "Twelve years ago, the most correct thing King Nun did was to end the expedition early and bring the

Most of the strength retreated without risking an attack for the sake of uncertain interests."

"What an irony. Twelve years ago, almost all of us were cursing him," Trudida sighed, looking disappointed: "Twelve years later, the only person who speaks for his decision back then is actually you.

.”

He shrugged towards Lumba, expressing his helplessness.

Lombard paused briefly, but then he clenched his fists and spoke again.

"This time, it is enough for us to just set the goal at 'capturing the northern border'. If things really go wrong, 'capturing the fortress' can also be used as the minimum standard."

Lumba slid the scabbard against the table, as if drawing a map:

"You all know that the Star people are the bad guys in the meeting in the country - as long as their own interests are not involved, the nobles of the Star fiefdom will not be willing to assist King Kessel, who has pushed them too hard in these years.

So cruel."

"So, just like twelve years ago, we will face an isolated northern territory except for the royal standing army - even better, because the grudge between South Trist and Bright Star has not yet been resolved, so the nearby Cliff

The territory will not send troops, and the northern territory is far from recovering from the huge damage it suffered twelve years ago."

Grand Duke Lecco's eyes flashed.

Lomba raised his head and looked directly at the grand dukes: "And we are still holding on to the righteousness of avenging the king, and holding on to their princes and heirs in the north. This can increase our bargaining chips outside the battlefield."

There seemed to be endless confidence in his words: "In this war, we will concentrate our forces, take advantage of the military advantages that Exeter still has, and fight steadily on the frontal battlefield. We will only capture the northern border. We must not aim too high, and we will not aim too high.

I am confident that it will not add any logistical difficulties."

Lumba nodded to the archdukes.

"After achieving this goal, we can base ourselves on the northern border and take root, and we can completely reverse the three hundred years of confrontation: Yongxing City loses the northern border, which means it is almost impossible to defend - we have the absolute initiative.

You can attack when you advance, you can defend when you retreat, and if you don't advance, you can't retreat. It can also give Yongxing City invisible pressure and threats."

He tapped the invisible "map" on the table with his scabbard.

"So you asked yourself to acquire the land in the north and guard the south," Olesiu raised his head keenly: "Is it for this purpose? To put pressure on the stars? Are you sure you can do it?"

Lumba nodded slowly.

"To accomplish this," he snorted coldly: "Is there anyone better suited than me?"

"Tell me about it." Ronnie on the side said coldly.

Lumba glanced at him, but nodded.

"I will use my constant intrusions and troops to put continuous pressure on the stars, especially Yongxing City." Lumba frowned with a solemn expression: "On the way, I will gently let go of Yadi, Xihuang, etc.

The bordering star vassals - they will understand what they can gain from the decline of the Central Territory and Eternal Star City. Whenever King Kessel wants to do something, whether internally or externally, I will not make it easy for him.

.”

Trudida and Lecco looked at each other.

"This will severely damage the reputation of the Bright Star Royal Family, and will also force the Fuxing Palace to put a lot of money and energy into military defense and diplomatic mediation, leaving no time to take into account other territories and vassals, thereby weakening the royal family's influence on the kingdom.

Influence and control. And those fiefdom nobles who have been suppressed by Kessel for many years are not simple things." Lomba's expression became solemn, but there was a trace of incomprehensible fanaticism in his eyes:

"In short, we will not defeat the enemy in one fell swoop, but we can use threats that cannot be ignored to highlight our existence, forcefully insert foreign chess pieces on Mindis's chessboard, force them to erupt into uncontrollable chaos, and postpone it indefinitely.

Or even interrupt the changes they are taking place.”

"As time goes by, the stars will step by step on the troubled road of change and transformation, beset by internal and external difficulties and fall ill," Lomba raised his gaze, the look in his eyes becoming more and more fierce: "And we will turn the tide."

“Even turning against customers.”

All the princes fell into deep thought.

At this moment.

"Your Excellency," a sassy female voice came from outside the door: "I'm in!"

The sound of weapons rubbing against each other suddenly came from outside the door of the stone hall.

The four princes' expressions became tense and they all looked at Lumba.
To be continued...