Thales raised his head, took a breath, adjusted his breathing, and brought his heavy thoughts back to the classroom:
"I have seen relevant historical data in two books, including "The Oath of Co-Governance" and "The Disaster of Black Eyes": Compared with the endless melee after the death of Nekaru, Xingchen is good at fighting and warlike.
'Black Eyed' John Brightstar I successfully inherited King Fuxing's army and territory, and gained the allegiance of his ministers."
Both Xixer and Thelma were listening to his words attentively, but only Thales himself knew that even now, he was still preoccupied and was just reading from his notes.
"In less than a year, Black Eyed almost unified the south and completed what the Renaissance King had not done. He brought part of the land including the Blade Territory and the coast, which is today's South Coast Territory, under his command. The Kingdom of Stars became more and more powerful.
…”
Thales thought of the disdain on Putilai's face and his explanation when Nicolai showed off the "Oath of Co-Governance" to them when they first arrived in Exeter.
"At this stage, because the peace treaty between Nekaru and Tormund has expired, and because the lords in Exeter are full of conflicts and fighting among themselves, the Kingdom of Stars began to take the opportunity to expand northward: when the Arlend family of Stars
When there was a conflict with the Tann family in the North over the ownership of Watch City, Black Eyed John gathered an unprecedented army of stars and headed north..."
"Just two days after the 'Black Eyes' marched into Watch City, Nun Walton, the 'Smiler' of Dragon Sky City and the first Nun, issued an initiative. With the help of the Sky Queen, he mediated the threat
During the conflict between Lanling and Qiyuan City, ten lords gathered in front of Nekaru's tombstone, and the oath of co-governance was signed. Nun I was crowned king, and nine lords became grand dukes."
Thales exhaled and flipped through the notes he had taken in the library a few days ago: "So, to a certain extent, I think it is the threat from the newly rising Star Kingdom that makes the ten lords so conflicted
Put aside the past grudges, compromise with each other, and join forces to fight the enemy, and what happens next is the evidence."
"In response, the Tann family asked Nunn I for help in the name of the "Oath of Co-Government". Although the archdukes were still at odds, with the effectiveness of the "Oath", Nunn the Smiler still collected what he wanted.
The army and vassals fought against the Xingchen army around Watch City, forcing Black Eyed John, who had the upper hand, to give up the idea of advancing north and turn west to attack the Western Wasteland."
"That was the first time that the "Co-Governance Oath" took effect, and it was also the first time that Exeter went to war with the stars in the name of the kingdom. To a certain extent, it was also the first time that Exeter shocked the Western Continent. No one could imagine it.
, after the end war, apart from facing disaster, which other force can mobilize so many troops."
Xixer rolled his eyes, thoughtfully.
Thales sighed: "So back to the topic, the strength and rise of the stars also largely contributed to the "Oath of Co-Governance" and the unification of the most powerful country in the Western Continent, allowing the ten grand dukes to temporarily put aside their past grievances and join forces.
Create the system that this country will follow."
"In other words," Thelma asked strangely: "Xingchen wanted to take the opportunity to attack the Northland, but it contributed to the unification of Exeter?"
"Yes," Thales nodded: "In this regard, Black Eyed John launched a war and wanted to invade Exeter from the north. Not only did he fail to achieve it, but he also made the Dragon Kingdom more powerful."
After Thales finished speaking, he found that Thelma was already looking at him with starry eyes, and couldn't help coughing.
Xixer laughed out loud.
"Starting from the oath of co-governance, we seem to have found a more interesting topic. You want to weaken someone or a certain country, but your intention is to defeat the other party's fist, but instead help the other party," the old crow sighed slightly and chewed out something from his mouth.
In another language: "There is a word in the Far East called 'self-defeating'. Are there any more examples?"
Thales narrowed his eyes: "Of course."
Unknowingly being attracted to his attention, he lowered his head and rummaged through his notes: "It's still Xingchen and Exter, but it's just the opposite of the changes of the 'Wise Lord' Mindis III."
At that moment, Xixer's eyes narrowed slightly.
"During the Fourth Continental War, Exeter's pressure and destruction on the stars left devastation everywhere, but also left gaps and opportunities: the lords across the stars were weak and in urgent need of assistance and recovery, scrambling to
Fearfully seeking help from Yongxing City, this made the obstacles faced by the monarch unprecedentedly small. Mindis III was able to promote his officials on a blank sheet of paper, create his system, borrow debts and tax without any scruples, and use all his resources to
The small price paid to reconcile the dissatisfaction of the nobles: the threat and invasion of the dragon made it easier for him to start his own chess game, and created the system of the Star Kingdom today."
Thales quickly summarized this example that he was very familiar with in one sentence. He raised his head and found that Xixer was looking at him with a strange look.
"My dear, I really didn't expect that you would use 'Xian Jun' as an example," Old Crow hummed softly: "Please note that even in Dragon Kiss Academy, the evaluation of 'Xian Jun' is mixed.
Of course, it focuses on his imitation and innovation of the Suye official evaluation system and his support for private establishment of colleges."
Thales scratched his head: "Sorry, uh, for various reasons, I am relatively familiar with this period of history, so I try to find historical materials on this aspect in the library."
"So, according to what you just said," Xixer coughed lightly: "War is a very complicated subject, because the temporary victory or defeat seems to be just an appearance, and the positions of the victor and the defeated will change at any time?
"
Thales' eyes have left the notebook.
He suddenly thought of King Nun and Lomba, King Kessel and Arend.
King Nun took action against the Black Sands and suppressed the Lombard family for decades, but created a terrifying hero who would later take his own life.
Arend conspired to usurp the throne, which once put the Star Kingdom into crisis, but after its failure, it gave Kessel the reason to fully control the north with royal power.
And what about himself?
He seemingly perfectly and skillfully saved the fate of the Walton family, put the Grand Duchess on the throne, and ensured the interests of the stars.
But...all the self-righteousness he had in the past was thrown into doubt after Lumba's visit.
Thales sighed slowly.
Suddenly, he had a deeper understanding of Xianjun's words: Victory or defeat is temporary, but the waves are fleeting.
It's really...interesting.
"In fact, I think it is unconsidered to simply use victory or defeat to describe the outcome of the war." Thales raised his head and said silently.
Old Crow raised his eyebrows slightly: "Do you mind saying more?"
Thales cleared his throat, as if he had returned to the past in his dream.
"War is not a carpentry game, and the opponent is not a piece of wood that sticks out here. If you give it a hammer, it will behave itself, no."
Thales pondered for a while.
He continued: "War is a collection of multiple factors, and it is also the linkage of two or even multiple parties. The wood you hammer may become fragile, it may become tight, it may become harder, it may become rougher
It is difficult to touch, but it is not determined by whether you give this hammer, but depends on the conditions and factors of countless wars, as well as our perspective of observation."
Xixer encouraged him to continue with her eyes.
Thales took a breath: "War, it is a time for the warring countries to unify their ideas, reconcile contradictions, sharpen their weapons, and define themselves in blood and fire..."
"But it is also an opportunity for the warring countries to react spontaneously in the crisis, decisively break the mold, reinvent themselves, put their loose fingers together, hold a tight iron fist, and face the enemy with a new state."
"Even after the war is over, this impact will continue."
He couldn't help but think of Xianjun.
"After the war, neither of them will be the same again. I think Stars and Dragons are the best examples. On a longer historical scale, the two sides of the war have changed accordingly, and their forces have waxed and waned, and the balance has changed.
By moving, the society and situation we live in will become what it is now, and it will profoundly affect our lives until now."
"Perhaps, compared to what we can see in a short period of time, the glory or pleasure of victory and the shame or pain of defeat are the things that we have always ignored when facing war?"
Thales finished his words and fell into deep thought.
"Very good," Hixer clapped softly: "I have to say, it exceeded my expectations, little sir."
Thelma frowned and thought thoughtfully: "So, in other words, when facing a war, we should think more, not just 'whether we can win' or 'what will happen if we fail'
Shallow level?”
Thales's eyes lit up and he gave her a thumbs up.
Hickser smiled slightly: "That's right, dear Thelma, I like this conclusion very much."
He blinked his eyes casually, showing a hint of cunning.
"So, I can still summarize it."
Both students looked interested.
I saw the old crow sighing, and the eyes behind the lenses trembled slightly.
"First of all, stars and dragons, your destiny is closely related to each other. This is by no means an empty statement: no matter past, present or future, for hundreds of years, you have been entangled together and inseparable: your origin is so deep and the distance is so far.
The connection is so close that changes in either party will have an impact on the other party that is difficult to detect immediately, but cannot be ignored and irreversible in the future."
"Right?"
The two students nodded fiercely.
Their teacher sighed and coughed rather uncomfortably: "I think we can at least reach a consensus: wars are not that simple. They are neither simple destruction and reconstruction, nor simple plunder and war."
As for winning or losing in reinvention, this is the most superficial thing among them."
Xixer looked out the window, and there seemed to be emotions flowing in his eyes: "So, you two, you are both people who have the conditions and power to launch wars in the future, even to each other. I am not admonishing you to hate war, but when you make up your mind,
Before starting a war, I think you should think clearly: Can this really achieve your goal? How many unexpected things will happen? What additional consequences will there be? What will it mark in the longer-term future?
How should the impact on both of you be calculated?"
Thales and Thelma both fell silent, thinking about something.
"War is not an overly ideal game. It is not a one-way rush of one side against another. I wish it could be that simple to decide who will win. So simple that apart from fighting, we only need to sit in a tent and count the number of chips. After listening to
The shouts of killing outside the tent, even if the winner is decided, will be completely over."
Xixer looked out the window in a daze, seeming to have forgotten that he was just summarizing, just 'chatting', and said to himself: "But it's not."
"no."
"Death? Sacrifice? Benefits? Cost? Victory or defeat? These are just the most superficial things in the war," Old Crow said with emotion: "What's more important is that the fate of thousands of people in both countries will be determined by this.
The direction of the century will be affected by it, and all factors will be tested in this cruel furnace. And you and me, whether we are powerful lords or ordinary people who rise and fall with the wind, are just the most powerless pawns in it.
, because it is often not decided by us, even if you are the initiator or winner of the war."
"Please remember, two dear ladies and gentlemen."
"Beyond the hypocritical moral accusations, beyond the simple calculation of interests, and beyond the nihilistic soldier's honor," Hickser sighed deeply, seeming to remember something from the past: "Don't underestimate the war itself.
It is far from as simple as you think, it is not a game of winning or losing, benefit or cost, survival or death."
Thales and Thelma looked at the teacher's appearance and seemed to feel the heaviness in it. They looked at each other and did not dare to say a word.
"Okay, just some small emotions," Xixer came back to his senses and smiled nonchalantly: "Then, let's go back to the topic. Like this example where victory or defeat cannot be judged based on the moment, you have more examples.
Is it much?"
"If there is no one for the time being," Old Crow blinked his eyes in the lenses intentionally or unintentionally before they could speak, "then I would like you to continue thinking about an example."
Thales and Thelma were slightly stunned.
Until the frail old man uttered one word:
"The Year of Blood."
"Beyond victory or defeat, from what perspective and to what extent should we evaluate this tragic year full of wars?"
Taylor stood still and looked at the teacher blankly.
He had the illusion that Hickser glanced at him gently the moment he finished saying that word.
It was a scrutinizing look, which was very different from his usual relaxed and comfortable look.
"It's your extra homework, but you don't have to leave it to me, because we won't discuss it next time," the old crow stood up with difficulty and laughed: "Then, that's it for today."
Before Thales had time to think about the meaning of that question, the two students hurriedly and respectfully sent the ailing teacher out.
Knock, knock, knock...
"Selma," looking at the teacher's retreating back, Thales shook off the shadows in his mind and said to Selma in the most solemn tone: "Listen."
Selma, who was packing up her notes, was slightly startled.
"What's wrong?"
The prince's face was full of seriousness. He took a deep breath and looked into Selma's eyes very seriously.
Seeing this made the girl feel uneasy.
"Today, after the outdoor class, around dinner time."
Thales clenched his fists. Thinking of what he saw yesterday, he became more and more nervous.
"I...I have something very, very, very important to tell you."
The tone of voice was unprecedented.
Thelma looked at him blankly, as if she was not used to His Highness being so serious: "Very important?"
"Yes," Thales seemed to feel that the other party did not pay enough attention to it, so he quickly added: "You must seriously consider it! It concerns the future of both of us!"
"It's a big event that will even affect our entire lives!"
The Grand Duchess was stunned.
She blinked behind her pince-nez, and then...
Blushed.
"Okay, okay," the girl cleared her throat, a little flustered, but she immediately showed the majesty of a grand duke, raised her neck arrogantly, and hummed softly: "I hope you are on time, Your Highness."
Without waiting for Thales to react, Thelma took a standard dance step and left the study in a swoosh the next second.
Huh?
Why did she run away without even finishing the books?
Thales looked at her back and her red ears in confusion.
Also, why did she...
The next second, Thales suddenly remembered something.
The prince was shocked. He stood up suddenly, stretched out his right hand, and chased after him with a strange expression:
"Hey, are you thinking too much again, little slippery man!"
The other end of the Palace of Heroes.
Xixer walked away with a cane and walked out of the corridor.
He exhaled a breath of air from his weak lungs, coughed painfully, and then waved his hands, rejecting the servant who came to help him.
"Thank you, but I'm not that old yet..."
Knock, knock, knock...
Xixer looked at the scenery of the Northland that was gradually disappearing outside the window. Thinking of the conversation just now, his expression changed from relaxed and playful to serious.
Although he is very smart, even though he has those eyes.
but……
No.
"But he's not like his father," Old Crow sighed with emotion, muttering in a low voice: "And he's not like you either..."
Xixer raised the corners of his mouth, looked at the sky outside the window, and shook his head playfully.
What do you say, Selan?
The old man, hunched over and limping, walked out of the corridor of the Palace of Heroes alone.