"More than a hundred years ago, the first humble businessman to lend money to King Mindis," Grand Duke Heisha said silently: "His descendants are one of the thirteen prominent families in the Star Kingdom today, the wealthy 'Sunrise Flower'.
The Xiukadel family, which occupies the position of Earl of Qingdao."
There was silence again.
But the air seemed much colder than before.
Even the flames in the brazier were much weaker.
After a long while, Archduke Olesiu spoke with difficulty.
"The Star People are better at drilling camps under the table - just like the ancient empires in the past, this doesn't mean anything," the jar-headed Grand Duke shook his head solemnly, as if trying to convince himself:
"We were still the victors in the war twelve years ago."
The other princes looked at him, Trudida looked hesitant, and Lecco was silent.
"A secret camp under the table?" Lumba's eyes narrowed as he chewed on these words.
He then snorted coldly: "I bet that even if you go back more than a thousand years ago, to the most powerful period of the ancient empire, you still wouldn't be able to see the current situation of the stars."
"And, the winner twelve years ago?" Lumba straightened up, his eyes sharp: "Really?"
He said coldly: "Twelve years ago, the Kingdom of Stars was in a state of civil strife. It had no time to take care of itself, and it was running out of troops and food, so it was difficult to protect itself."
"We are using the strength of the whole country to attack the dying stars." The veins on Lumba's hands were exposed, and he was almost scratching the scabbard of his sword.
The expressions on the faces of the several princes became ugly.
Lomba's expression was dazed, as if he had returned to the battlefield that year: "At that time, none of us doubted that Exeter's army, known for its ability to conquer the West and was invincible, would wipe out their futile resistance in just a few months.
.”
"Just as it has been for hundreds of years."
"Our cavalry will break through every formation, our slingshots will break down every gate, and our heavy infantry will tear apart every Southerner who tries to resist."
"We will effortlessly conquer the northern border, conquer the cliff, and then take over Yongxing City."
"At least be like the 'Djinn Archduke' Karn Trudida four hundred years ago. Just like him, he marched his army to Yongxing City, plundered every village, plundered every bit of wealth, and put the black and red
The dragon flag was placed in front of Yongxing City before leaving!"
Lumba raised his head suddenly, as if he had come back to his senses.
"The results of it?"
The face of the Grand Duke of Heisha was extremely sad, and the next words seemed to be bitten out from the gaps between his teeth, word by word:
"We spent several months under the fortress and suffered heavy casualties. Even the poor supply line was riddled with holes by the butcher of the star. Until the traitor betrayed Horace Bright Star, and an archduke died at the cost of it.
At a great cost, we used our power to capture the fortress."
Olesiu lowered his head, seeming to remember something.
Lomba took a deep breath and seemed to be trying his best to suppress his emotions: "Spring has begun, and we are heading south to the north. Facing these northern neighbors who are similar to us, Exeter's absolute superior force is a guarantee of invincibility, except for a slight
With the increased casualties, we have a smooth journey from Cold Castle to Glacier City."
Trudida sighed.
"Then," Lumba said in a daze: "It's the Star Legion."
Lecco snorted softly, with a complicated look on his face.
"Although the entire war situation is generally advancing, as the front becomes longer and longer, supplies become more and more unfavorable, and the troops become more dispersed. We are dragged through the mud by those child soldiers, and it is difficult to advance and retreat. This makes it difficult for us to capture Yongxing City within a year.
The bold statement looks like a joke."
"Soon, we had to give up the idea of launching a multi-front war and all-out invasion. Instead, we concentrated our forces and attacked the Central Territory and Yongxing City in an attempt to defeat the enemy with one strike." Lomba took a deep breath and said seriously: "We didn't
success."
"So we had to turn into the Yadi Territory and try to find another battlefield."
Lumba clasped his hands together, the veins on the back of his hands slightly bulging:
"At the same time, our casualties are increasing, the pressure on logistics is increasing, and the Star Legion is more difficult to deal with every time than the last time."
"Not only that," at this moment, Archduke Lecco added hoarsely: "They are also recruiting troops locally, replenishing them while fighting, and fighting while replenishing."
Lumba nodded, his expression solemn.
"What's worse," the Duke of Black Sand sighed: "After just a few months, our supplies will not be enough."
Trudida frowned: "We have always planned to replenish supplies on site, haven't we?"
Lumba snorted angrily.
"Come on, Xingchen has been in ruins for a long time, and local supplies cannot be made in time," he said coldly: "Spring sowing and grazing have been delayed, the country is complaining, the vassals are full of conflicts, and our poor transportation--
—An expedition of one hundred thousand men, for Exeter’s logistical equipment, is simply more terrifying than a disaster.”
Archduke Olesiu clenched his fists.
"When there is a problem in transporting baggage to Broken Dragon Fortress, when the soldiers can no longer grab enough food, when even the most powerful troops no longer have a complete establishment, when our invincible army has nowhere to exert its strength,
The results have been in vain for a whole month..." Lumba's face was extremely gloomy:
"Yes, Xingchen was the first to propose peace talks. It seems that they are asking for help from everywhere, using foreign intervention, begging for peace, admitting failure, and begging us to let them go."
Trudida, who was rebuilding the tower, narrowed his eyes: "His Majesty Nunn once said that the joint threat of all countries made him suspicious, and he was worried that after annexing the stars, we, empty and unstable, would become the target of public criticism..."
"Diplomatic mediation of various countries?" Lomba punched his sword hard on the scabbard: "Those fly-like forces, what do they mean to us Exeter?"
"Commas? We have taught them countless lessons in the Golden Corridor! Humble? The defeated general in three continental wars! Suye? It takes several months for their army to cross the ocean!"
"As for the Kingdom of the Holy Tree, the City of Steel, and even the Fox of the Stars who came to negotiate? Huh!" Lumba gritted his teeth.
"Do you think that with the temper of my uncle the king, he has never given in because of diplomacy outside the battlefield!"
Trudida said no more.
"Admit it, the reason why we are willing to negotiate for peace," Lomba exhaled and said painfully, "is because in that war, we had exhausted all our trump cards and exhausted all our strength. Even if we had some remaining strength, if we wanted to continue fighting,
Not sure at all.”
"Compared to the Star Kingdom, which suffered numerous heavy losses and was on the verge of collapse, it is only a little bit better."
Grand Duke Ronny closed his eyes after listening to all this.
"King Nun is a smart man," Lomba shook his head weakly: "He has fought more battles than anyone else. He knows the wisest thing to do is to stop. He can use the steps to retreat so that he won't make too much noise in the end.
Ugly."
Olesiu raised his head and looked blankly at the dragon spear pattern in the clouds above his head.
"So with the Treaty of Fortress," Archduke Lecco took over Lombard's words with a sad face: "With that humiliation we have been cursing for twelve years."
Lumba nodded solemnly.
"But only a few people, only a few people know," Lumba trembled, lowered his head, and in the darkness where the firelight could not reach, struggled to speak out: "The real humiliation..."
"It is our powerful and proud Kingdom of Exeter..."
Trudida tilted her head and stopped looking at them.
"In the face of the robbery of the royal family, the new king is unstable, the last drop of blood has been exhausted by internal and external troubles, and the Star Kingdom is trembling in fear..."
Olesio looked gloomy and remained motionless.
"Facing the Kingdom of Stars, which is so weak as never before that it can't even produce a complete legion and can only rely on a group of child soldiers to fight..."
Grand Duke Ronny looked at Lombard in disbelief and then at Lecco.
Lumba's expression was ferocious as he said: "We, seven Grand Dukes, with a hundred thousand troops, the overwhelming strength of the country, led the invincible Exter warriors, but even Muhe separated the Northern Territory and the Central Territory..."
"I can't even beat him."
Everyone was silent for a long time.
Only the firelight flickered.
After a long time, Lumba sighed:
"I believe that you felt it to some extent during the war back then, but your pride, your honor, and your arrogance prevented you from admitting it."
No.
There are people, there are people who felt it earlier than all of you.
only……
Lumba glanced at the main seat on the rectangular table and clenched his fists.
"And what about the other party?" He seemed to speak subconsciously.
"The Kingdom of Stars, after experiencing tragedies like the Year of Blood," Lomba frowned: "It is obvious that the population is empty and the damage is hard to recover, but..."
Grand Duke Ronnie raised his head, his eyes flashing.
"But five years ago, Kessel V brought the sick kingdom to the end of the desert war." The tightly held arms of the Grand Duke of Qiyuan City trembled slightly: "The information we sent back from the desert -
—His troops are insufficient and his combat effectiveness is poor. Even the main force was almost destroyed in the desert. We are all laughing at him for overestimating his capabilities."
Lombard shook his head and said in a tired tone: "He is reminding us."
The Grand Duke of Black Sand turned to Ronnie.
"Kulikun Roni, when you face the desert," he said calmly, "you can lead the army deep into the center of the desert, maintain supplies and ensure logistics along the way in the desert with harsh conditions, and keep up with the orcs and deserters.
After the bloody battle, will the Bone Man return safely?"
Ronnie fell silent.
But everyone knows the answer.
"Don't say it's you," Lomba's words sounded painful and weak: "That's a vast desert that even the powerful ancient empire has had trouble with for thousands of years, and hundreds of thousands of troops are helpless..."
"But Star Kingdom, they did it," the Grand Duke said softly, seeming to be very unhappy: "No matter the outcome, they did it: they went in, and then came out carrying countless skulls of orcs and desolate bones."
"Remember one of King Kessel's titles?" Lumba said with a lonely expression: "'Conqueror of the Dragon Skeleton Throne and the Altar of the Desert God' - don't you understand this?"
The four princes exchanged glances in silence.
"Wake up, everyone." Lumba whispered, as if whispering in his ears:
"Whether you admit it or not."
"Kingdom of Stars."
"It's no longer the same."
Under everyone's complicated and subtle gazes, Lumba's face darkened, and he leaned back on his chair, as if unable to get up:
"In the era of Mindis III, few people understood his actions, and even blatantly opposed him - even now."
"The nobles looked down on the king's self-destructive behavior and depraved behavior, while the common people regarded him as a benevolent monarch with a natural kindness, and rushed to take advantage of him."
Grand Duke Ronny and Grand Duke Olesio looked at each other with complicated emotions.
"With the ridicule behind the backs of the nobles and the grateful tears of the people, Mindis III passed away in obscurity."
"A benevolent 'virtuous king' who is good at compromise and mediation?" Lombard raised his head and looked at the four grand dukes one by one. His expression was serious and his tone was cold: "This title is half mockery and half sincerity."
"Except for a few artists who expressed their gratitude for his kindness and painted his biography, no one cares about the kind-hearted 'virtuous king' who was praised by the people, but secretly scorned by the nobles, and his small and small roles in history.
episode."
Lumba narrowed his eyes and grasped his sword tightly: "However, what about now more than a hundred years later?"
No one spoke.
The scene was very solemn.
Several seconds passed.
"This is the Xianjun, Mindis III," Lumba calmed down his emotions and said calmly: "The more I know about his affairs, the more shocking and creepy they become."
Grand Duke Lecco stared blankly at the brazier in the distance, his eyes unmoving for a long time.
Ronnie crossed his arms so tightly that he almost broke his teeth.
Trudida frowned, her usual cunning expression changed, and she was filled with sorrow.
As for Olesio, he just stared at Lumba, as if he wanted to see something more from his face.
"For more than a hundred years, even though he is dead, his officials have built the star into a steel chariot with complete parts and high quality - we were only slightly aware of it twelve years ago."
Lumba closed his eyes tightly, and his shoulders seemed to be shaking slightly uncontrollably.
"Mindis Bright Star III, to me, he is a terrible chess player that is rare in the world," he said with difficulty and pain: "More than a hundred years ago, he made a start as if by accident, but the royal power, the vassals,
The people, the country, history, everything is in his humble chess game."
"He used a long-term chess game that even his grandson could not see, so that the Kingdom of Stars, which was originally at a disadvantage to us, was completely transformed. Unknowingly, he had left the Kingdom of Exeter, which we are proud of, far behind.
Behind you."
"Even the 'Great Emperor' Kessel Carother I, who conquered the world a thousand years ago, is hard to compare with."
Lumba sighed deeply, his eyes filled with sadness: "Compared with Mindis' century-old chess game for the Kingdom of Stars, and his exquisite interlocking moves..."
"Tormund's restoration seems crude and ugly, and Nekaru's victory seems superficial."
"As for the endless power and destruction of the Scourge, it is as despicable and ridiculous as a stronger baby swinging a hammer."
"What Mindis III cares about is not the success or failure of one day, one day, one place, or one place." Lumba looked lonely, and his mood was a little desperate: "It is not the gains and losses of one family, one city, one territory,"
"He uses the country as a chess piece, the world as a chessboard, billions of living beings as bets, and the eternal inheritance as the result."
The brazier crackled.
The princes were silent.
Finally, Rumba closed his eyes and sighed softly:
"Once you make a move, it will last a hundred years."
A deathly silence fell in the hall.
After a while, Rumba "came back to life" from the almost paused atmosphere, started breathing again, and began to speak.
"So, more than a hundred years after the death of 'Xianjun'."
Lumba left his seat - or rather, the seat of Grand Duke Camarun.
"I, the Grand Duke of the Black Sands, Charmaine Solon Holt Lombard." He walked towards the four Grand Dukes step by step.
"Parricide, and regicide." Lumba's face darkened, and he spoke these words for the first time with a trembling face.
Several princes were slightly moved.
"As a Northlander and an Exeter," Lombard gritted his teeth. He glanced at every Archduke of Exeter who held heavy troops and held great power: "I stand here to beg you, to beg Eck.
Grand Dukes of St, I implore the lords who hold the future destiny of the dragon kingdom in their hands."
His voice was as thick, hoarse, and full of vicissitudes of life as ever.
"Stop your meaningless internal fighting and suspicion, let go of the inextricable family grievances and conflicts, and don't fall into the trap of co-governance oaths that both safeguard unity and promote division. Don't be immersed in blood ties and conflicts like King Nun."
There is a lot of dementia in the family, and it is difficult to extricate ourselves."
"Let us stand together again and face the terrible chess player from a hundred years ago and the terrible stars a hundred years from now."
Several grand dukes responded solemnly. At that moment, even the most articulate Trudida felt heavy.
"Because in this endless duel between us and the Kingdom of Stars, between the people of the North and the people of the Empire, no matter how noble a family is, it seems humble, no matter how powerful the army is, it is extremely weak, and no matter how powerful the monarch is, it is weak.
No matter how vast the country is, it is empty and poor."
Lumba exhaled slowly.
"Besides, I have a hunch." Under the solemn gazes of several grand dukes, Grand Duke Heisha narrowed his eyes: "It has been more than six hundred years, and what we are facing now..."
"I'm afraid it's from this duel..."
Lumba clenched his fists and said in a lonely voice: