In the next few months, whether it was the Knight King Ryan of Britannia, the Imperial Emperor Karl Franz, the Archduke of Nord (self-proclaimed king) Theodorik Geisel or Keith
Loew's Ice Queen Katalin, they were all afraid of the large-scale gathering and strange silence of the barbarians. The human kingdom in the north of the old world constantly sent scouts and spies to Norsca to obtain intelligence and confirm whether the barbarians were real.
plan to move south on a large scale.
As for Estalia and Tyrell, they still have a nonchalant attitude.
At the beginning, everyone was very nervous and on guard. Groups of troops were mobilized to the front line to prepare for possible large-scale invasion by the barbarians. At the same time, Britannia, Kislev and the imperial court also successively
Several meetings were held to discuss how to respond, and even messengers were sent to each other to prepare for coordinated operations.
However, in the end, the news came that shocked everyone.
The fight started! The fight really started!
But instead of the northern barbarians going south, it was the Norscan pirate fleet and the Dark Elves' Black Ark fleet that fought on the Sea of Chaos. Hundreds of Norscan dragon ships and the entire Black Ark fleet of the Dark Elves had a terrible naval battle. This
There is no winner in a battle.
Subsequently, Valkyrie, the wife of the Blood God, personally led a Chaos army of more than 35,000 people and began a war with the Dark Elves of Nagaros. This war was fought by the Witch King Malekith and the Witch Queen Morathi.
The kingdom of the dark elves was caught off guard and was once breached. The dark elves carefully
The established northern defense line, after sacking several Dark Elf fortresses, reached the front line of Hargansi, the capital of Kane's bride Heliban, Kalonde and the Peak of Resentment. The barbarians even attacked the Dark Elf Kingdom of Deadwood.
He built a Chaos Fortress named Frozen City to show off his achievements.
Malekith was forced to withdraw his fleet and main force that were preparing to attack the Desolate Islands of Ulthuan. The Witch King ordered his subordinate Malus Blackblade to lead the Dark Elf army to fight against Valkyrie's Chaos army. The Dark Elf and Chaos tribes
His blood warmed the ice fields of Naggaroth.
The initial battle situation was favorable to Valkyrie, because the Blood God's Wife has never lacked heavily armored Khorne berserkers to follow, but the Dark Elves are a race with rich martial arts, especially the 95,000 Dark Elves stationed along the northern route.
The defenders were all Druzi's elite and proven warriors. Gradually, the Dark Elves stabilized the situation and contained the Chaos offensive.
At this time, almost all human nations had received information that the Norscan barbarians had responded to the call of the Chaos Wasteland barbarians and were preparing to mobilize all their military forces for a decisive battle with the Dark Elves.
So that’s it! So that’s it!
The barbarians do not plan to fight us, but plan to fight the dark elves to the death!
That's okay, I can finally rest assured.
Humans throughout the old world breathed a sigh of relief almost at the same time, and the electors of the empire exclaimed luck, and were even ecstatic about it.
Okay, the barbarians fight against the dark elves, and the bastards fight against the bastards!
The imperial electors, who were originally worried, even held a banquet to celebrate.
The imperial capital Braunschweig, the Imperial Palace, and the Imperial Parliament.
Every year, the Emperor's Reik Guards will be reviewed in the capital, so that all citizens can witness the power of the Emperor's Guards. This is usually conducted by Marshal Reik. This is when he checks whether his knights are fully equipped with weapons and equipment.
The opportunity to see if the armor is in good condition is of great significance to the new knights who have performed the vigil after the last review and sworn to join the order. It is about a training and testing that can be traced back to the Reik Praetorian Guards.
The traditions of the era were less formal and strict.
Since modern times (after Emperor Leopold), the first review of a newly minted knight has become a symbol of his final acceptance as a member of the order, which is also important for aristocratic families interested in gaining more influence in the imperial court.
Said it was a perfect opportunity for them to participate in the ceremony and bask in the honor.
Emperor Karl Franz inspected the Reik Guards who were loyal to him during the day. The emperor's face was a little stiff because he smiled for too long. He even doubted whether he could make other expressions besides smiling.
But the emperor was destined to be tired. He had just reviewed the Reik Guards during the day, and he immediately convened a cabinet meeting in the evening.
Several core courtiers of the emperor sat together. Emperor Karl looked around and said with some regret: "Gelt is not here?"
"Our chief wizard and great alchemist brought a message saying that he is now unable to escape from one of the most important gunpowder improvement experiments, but he gave advice, that is, given the current situation, it is not recommended to relax vigilance."
Count Valfen, the chief spy of the empire, said cautiously: "But the information I got here is that the barbarians are indeed at war with the dark elves in the distant and cold continent of Nagaros, and the Norscan barbarians do intend to provide all their support."
"So your suggestion is to relax your vigilance? Valfen, you idiot, do you know that despicable, untrustworthy and shameless things like the barbarians have already dedicated everything to the God of Darkness? How do we know that the other party will
He won't suddenly turn around and attack the emperor.
Country?" Marshal Rick Kurt Helberg still maintained his anger and vigilance. He shouted dissatisfied: "We must not take it lightly. You think we should relax our vigilance and disband our army. You are wrong.
,Walfen, you are so wrong!"
"But we can't go on like this!" the spymaster also fired back: "That's what the intelligence says. Yes, we probably should be vigilant, but it's August now. Heilberg, look at your mustache.
It’s already August!”
"August?" Heilberg was stunned for a moment. Marshal Rick didn't understand why the other party suddenly said this.
"The autumn harvest is coming soon, my marshal." Mrs. Hawkswolf, the finance minister, looked at Heilberg with displeasure. She seemed to be looking at a madman and an idiot: "The autumn harvest is coming in September, and there are a lot of complaints in the army.
, you have to know that the food we use as military expenses... and the basis of taxation are agriculture. If we continue to station heavy troops on the border, we will be able to raise rats in our own treasury without waiting for the barbarians to come!"
"But..." Marshal Rick blushed and wanted to argue again.
At this time, the emperor spoke, and Karl Franz said with some frustration: "If the electors themselves begin to relax their vigilance, then what is the use of us persisting here? The army cannot be stationed for a long time
Outside, the Rick leaders already have strong opinions on this."
Helberg had to admit that the emperor was right. There were not many professional soldiers in Rick's army who were truly full-time. Most of them were semi-professional soldiers, who usually worked as farmers and spent two or three days a week training.
Salary soldiers cannot leave the territory to fight for a long time, especially when the autumn harvest is approaching and there is no fighting on the front line. The soldiers are very dissatisfied with this inexplicable recruitment.
Isn't it already fine?
The barbarians have to deal with the dark elves. What does it have to do with our empire?
What's worse is that by doing so, the emperor has harmed the interests of the middle class peasants and citizens.
Mrs. Squire, a famous female artist and litterateur in the empire who has written many books, said in public: "The test of a country's civilization is never about how high your palace is or how fast your carriage is.
It depends on how powerful your weapons are, how powerful your army is, not how advanced your technology is, how brilliant your art is, let alone how luxurious your meetings are, how gorgeous your fireworks are, or even how many businessmen you have boldly go out and buy up the whole world. Test you.
There is only one problem: your attitude towards vulnerable people."
Subsequently, Mrs. Squire began to give speeches at aristocratic salons and banquets in the capital, with rhythm and rhythm, which disgusted the emperor. However, many dignitaries in the emperor's court especially liked her theory and always protected her.
On the contrary, the emperor really had no choice. After all, what he said sounded reasonable, and he was still speaking for the citizens and the poor. It was naturally politically correct. This rhythm was very successful. Everyone felt that the emperor was making a fuss out of a molehill to expand his power.
It hurts the interests of the Rick people.
Moreover, a song "We hope the old Emperor Luitpold will come back" has been circulated in the streets of Braunschweig.
We hope the old Emperor Luitpold comes back
We hope the old Emperor Luitpold comes back
It's the one with the beard, the beard
It's the one with the beard, the beard
Our parents talk all day about how wonderful the old days were
A long time ago, in that peaceful time
But it was really good then, those were the good days
…………
The meaning of this song is nothing more than that the new emperor Kaiser is not good enough. There are too many wars and conquests and heavy taxes. People prefer the old emperor Luitpold, but Karl Franz knows deeply.
His father, Luitbold, was nothing more than a dumpster.
The emperor's national policy of ruling by inaction, compromising with the nobles and electors, and trying to avoid wars to maintain stability. Many problems eventually accumulated and were difficult to recover from. In the end, it was his son who cleaned up the mess for him. Now his people blame himself for it.
Too many things?
At the same time, a new argument emerged in the imperial court and spread rapidly.
That is the "Breton Threat Theory". Many scholars and bureaucrats believe that the northern barbarians will fight the dark elves decisively, and the empire can at least enjoy a good life for several more years. At this time, compared with the enemies in the north, the recent
The Kingdom of Knights, which has risen rapidly and won another victory in the Great Crusade of Obiun, will become the real enemy of the empire and must be guarded against and punished, even with the use of force.
There is quite a market for this argument, and it is spreading crazily throughout Braunschweig.
"Can't we leave a small number of elite regiments?" Marshal Helberg still insisted: "Your Majesty, Geert also said that we cannot relax our vigilance."
"Enough, Heilberg, where does the money come from?" Mrs. Hawkswolfe said frustrated and angry: "You can have a good time, but who will pay the money? Do you know that His Majesty has begun to use himself?
’s private treasury?”
Heilberg suddenly understood something. Marshal Rick turned his gaze around the emperor's entire private cabinet. He sighed: "I understand. All of you hope to be able to remove your defenses, right?"
Everyone was silent. After several minutes of silence, the Imperial Privy Councilor and Chief Foreign Minister Baron Amadeus Mencken of Stilgau finally spoke: "Kurt, there is an argument that if we don't withdraw,
With the army in the north, the Norscans would not feel at ease to fight the dark elves. Some Norscan chiefs even directly asked some Nord lords and Marienburg merchants for "protection fees"... Some people have already given
Yes, do you understand what I mean?"
"Stupid!" Heilberg shook his head in disappointment, and Marshal Rick stopped talking.
Emperor Karl-Franz also realized this.
After decades of court career, the emperor deeply understood that Heilberg was a soldier, while others were bureaucrats.
For bureaucrats, maintaining stability, tact, peace, and stability are their natural pursuits and political correctness. They are not wrong about this. The empire is indeed in financial constraints now, and the war loan it owes the Supreme King has not yet been repaid!
"Withdraw the troops. Now, the autumn harvest is the top priority!" The emperor finally made the decision.
"yes!"
At the same time, Ryan was also holding a meeting in the court of Britannia. The King of Knights summoned the dukes to discuss the barbarian trends.
If someone sees this, they may be very surprised to find that whether it is the Empire or the Brittanian court, the topics and discussions they discuss are almost exactly the same.
So that’s it! So that’s it!
The barbarians do not plan to fight us, but plan to fight the dark elves to the death!
That's okay, I can finally rest assured.
Great! The barbarians fight against the dark elves, and the bastards fight against the bastards!
The Dukes of the Kingdom of Knights were all smiling and applauding.
In the newly built and somewhat crude palace of Mu Silon, Aurora, as the leader of the intelligence department, reported the situation to everyone.
Yes, it is not the prophet of the Lake God, nor the man sent by Lao En, but Aurora, a mature, beautiful and charming witch from the sanctuary who is reporting on everything that has happened in the recent period in the conference hall of the new palace.
The intelligence summary, based on the information from scouts and spies and the analysis of multiple intelligence sources, it seems that the barbarians are indeed planning to fight the dark elves. Dozens of intelligences have been verified correctly. In this regard, Aurora has done a good job.
.
Aurora only felt that she had the face to be able to enjoy the position of reporting alone to the core power and decision-making level of the human country as a witch. The Holy Witch only felt that she was a little arrogant. This was due to her previous role in the Gloria Council.
Status and treatment that I never dared to imagine.
Of course, it would be better if all this didn't come from this guy Ryan, Aurora thought a little unhappily.
"It seems that the barbarians will not come." The Dukes expressed their opinions one after another. Francois smiled and said to Ryan: "All signs indicate that the barbarians are targeting the dark elves. We have been vigilant in vain.
.”
"It seems like this at the moment, but we can't take it lightly." Ryan motioned Aurora to come down and sit behind him, sitting on the left side of Beria, who had just returned from Marienburg: "It should be
You still have to be on guard.”
But Aurora moved her long legs, bringing with her a burst of lavender fragrance, and sat directly in the seat of the absent palace butler Katzenberg. Both Morgiana and Sulia glanced at her.
Ryan didn't object and didn't say anything.
"But the autumn harvest is coming soon, Your Majesty." Lao En reminded in a low voice: "We must ensure the autumn harvest. Agriculture is the foundation of the country. The army cannot always be concentrated on the northern coast. Military salaries and military rations will become a serious burden. Soldiers
Keeping us on the front lines is not a long-term solution."
"Well..." Ryan had to admit that Laun was right, but the King of Knights still felt that something was wrong.
"Can't we leave a small number of elite legions?" At this time, Duke Bohemond proposed a compromise plan: "Chaos bastards are really not worthy of trust!"
"So, where does the military spending come from?" Duke Adehad asked.
"Military expenditures come from the national treasury. A principality produces 700 people, completely independent knights, knight attendants and professional troops. Military salaries and military rations are paid by the national treasury." Ryan said decisively: "Those under your command who have nothing to do and fight and disrupt all day long will be paid.
rule
An's knights-errant and the elite infantry regiments formed after returning from Bafeng Mountain were sent to me along the northern route! Even if the barbarians don't come, they still have the right to train and travel! Tell them that the king is in charge of food, so there is no need to worry about three meals a day.
, and also provide military pay!”
"Hahahaha!" There was a burst of laughter in the conference hall. Ryan's prestige was so high that no one dared to object. Moreover, he also clearly stated that the maintenance fee would be paid from the national treasury, so the Dukes would not object at all.
The professional army and the distribution of 700 men would not affect the crucial autumn harvest, so everyone agreed, and even the Duke asked if he could send more.
In this way, the meeting ended. A professional army of more than 8,000 people was quickly formed. Ryan handed over the command to his own Marquis of Loire, the Great Holy Grail of the Holy Land, Touras-de-Changel.
, and another Sanctuary Grand Holy Grail Count Calamente was seconded from Bastogne, and Calard was appointed as the commander-in-chief and Turas as the deputy general.
After arranging everything, Ryan announced that the meeting was over and he would return to Jean City.
The humans in the old world finally breathed a sigh of relief, and it seemed like they would have a good year this year.