Cumberland shook his head and muttered, "So, if everything is important, then that's all there is to it?"

Emerson threw the burlap he was wearing at Cumberland's face and shouted, "I haven't finished speaking yet!"

"Why do I say that the Kingdom of Muxi is in a terrible situation right now? Let's look at it one by one, starting with the economy. I've calculated the production capacity of Muxi City. Even with the refugees outside the city, the population has already exceeded 50,000, but the consumption level within the kingdom has remained stagnant. Most of the goods produced have to be consumed through trade. But have you ever considered what you would do if Muxi's main trading partner—the Southern Empire—restricted or even banned imports to protect its own industries? Would you dump the excess wine into the sea?"

"Look at religion. The Kingdom of Muxi clearly takes the Father's Religion as its foundation, yet it has accepted a large number of chaotic heretics. Let me count for you: the Northern Islanders who believe in the gods of Asgard, the barbarians who believe in the ancient gods, the alien races who believe in the unified god of Taro, and those scholars who shout atheism every day. Religious conflicts and factional contradictions are intertwined. Right now, it does seem like nothing serious, but this is entirely due to the king's personal charisma in suppressing them. If this continues, sooner or later, religious conflicts will erupt."

"Next is the people's livelihood. Cumberland, stand on the hills of Muxi City and look at the city, and you'll understand where the problem lies. There are workshops and shops everywhere, but don't you feel something is missing?! Damn it! Where is the farmland?! Muxi City's food supply relies mostly on imports! Have you ever considered that this kind of low-priced imported food completely suppresses the farmers' enthusiasm, forcing them to abandon farming and turn to production or commerce! Do you know what this means? If I were the kingdom's enemy, I only needed to send a fleet disguised as pirates to block the sea trade routes, or to go on a buying spree in the food market, and within a month, without a single soldier, the Muxi Kingdom, with its skyrocketing food prices, would collapse on its own!"

"Next is diplomacy. Oh, diplomacy? Does Muxi City even have diplomacy?! Since the founding of the kingdom, how many diplomatic envoys have you sent out, and how many countries have you established diplomatic posts in? Zero! You're gloating over defeating the combined forces of the barbarians and the Silver Ring, unaware that this victory has already pushed the Muxi Kingdom into the abyss! With the Silver Ring Kingdom destroyed and the barbarian army defeated, the Heavenly Father Church can finally free up its hands to deal with the Muxi Knights. Let me think... stripping the king of his church membership, declaring the Knights invalid, issuing a warrant for war, even sending troops directly—the Church is capable of anything!"

"And military matters! Cumberland, I don't know what you taught King Muxi? The theory of the supremacy of force?! The theory of plundering national power?! Remember, no matter how well your theories are taught, they can only produce a general at most, but they are absolutely unsuitable for a monarch! War is a continuation of politics and a bargaining chip in diplomacy! To start a war recklessly for a little bit of petty gain without paying attention to the big picture is a foolish act that will destroy the kingdom!"

With a deep sigh, Cumberland covered his forehead with his hand: "Old tortoise, come with me to see His Majesty. As I said before, he needs you, and the Kingdom of Muxi needs you."