Upon hearing this answer, Wolfgang even wondered if he was hallucinating, because the answer seemed utterly absurd to him.
Life should be precious and meaningful, not like a game where you can be easily eliminated, leaving only the final survivors, and even then, there's no guarantee that anyone will survive.
The lives of the people should not be so cheap, and the leaders of the people should not be so indifferent.
But why can the Emperor say such things so indifferently now? Doesn't he care how many of his people will lose their lives in this war?
Wolfgang then asked in a trembling voice, "Your Majesty, haven't you considered that we might lose many people in this war, perhaps even everyone..."
Before he could finish speaking, Von Palen interrupted, "I've already said it, no, we can't be defeated."
Wolfgang immediately pressed on, asking:
"As you said, when millions of civilians are needed on the battlefield to face bullets fired by the Yan people, how many people will lose their lives? Have you thought about this question?"
Feng Palen nodded with a stern expression and said, "Of course, sacrifice is a way of embodying value."
"In the past, it was through the baptism of iron and blood that we finally achieved the great empire we have today."
Hearing this, Wolfgang felt as if a heavy stone had been placed on his heart. He shook his head and said:
“But Your Majesty, this is not an evenly matched war. The military strength of the Yan Kingdom is far too formidable. If civilians go to the battlefield, they will be easily killed. If the men are all gone, what about the women and children, and those who are unable to go to the battlefield…”
At this point, von Palen suddenly stood up, walked over to Wolfgang, patted him on the shoulder, pressed his forehead against Wolfgang's, and said:
“I can’t bear to see them suffer. Just thinking about them being enslaved by the Yan people makes me want to cry.”
"Absolutely not, I cannot stand to see our people oppressed and bullied by these cruel people."
At this point, even Wolfgang's voice trembled slightly.
“Rather than endure suffering, every Goth should go to the battlefield to fight and end their life there.”
"So as long as there is one Goth alive, this war will not end. There will be no surrender, only resistance."
Wolfgang looked at the face so close to his own. Unlike before, he could now clearly see compassion on that face, and even a hint of pain in those pale blue eyes.
He believed that this was not a disguise by Von Palen; it was his true expression, and the words he spoke were absolutely from the bottom of his heart.
He seemed to genuinely believe that it was better for people to die on the battlefield, even if it meant total annihilation, than to live in misery.
Wolfgang, his breath quickening, pressed on: "You mean... to prevent civilians from suffering, they should go to the battlefield, even if it means dying?"
Von Palen pulled himself back, stood still, and his expression gradually returned to calm.
"Yes, you finally understand."
boom!
It was as if a cannonball had hit his brain; Wolfgang felt as if an explosion had shattered his thoughts.
His hands and feet turned icy cold in an instant, and he could hardly breathe in fresh air. More than anything, he was deeply confused by the sight of Von Palen before him.
The man before me is undoubtedly a hero of the Gothic people, yet his thoughts are now so complex as to be self-contradictory.
Does he value human life or disregard it?
In this current war, if it really comes down to the point where civilians, even the elderly, women and children, need to go to the battlefield, wouldn't that just be sending them to their deaths?
In other words, isn't this just—killing someone because you can't bear to see them suffer?
What a bizarre idea! Is it compassion or cold-blooded ruthlessness?
Wolfgang couldn't understand and was deeply confused, but he gradually came to understand something.
The man before me was neither a glamorous hero nor a violent and cruel murderer.
He must be a paranoid madman.
Having figured this out, Wolfgang calmed his racing mind and slowly nodded:
"Yes, Your Majesty, I understand."
Hearing this, Von Palen nodded with slight satisfaction, turned and walked to a chair, and after sitting down, continued:
“I can see that you are a little down, and I understand. The recent battle situation is indeed not optimistic, even very bad.”
“There have been some weak voices in the military, but I never thought you would be affected as well, which shouldn’t be the case, Wolfgang.”
“You are the person I trust most, my right hand. I will not allow you to lose heart at this time, so I can pretend I didn’t hear what you just said.”
"But this will only happen once." He tapped the table with his finger as he said this.
Although still recovering from the intense emotional turmoil, Wolfgang immediately nodded upon hearing this:
"I apologize, Your Majesty, I apologize for what I said earlier..."
Von Palen interrupted, "I have already forgiven you."
"Let's stop worrying about this and focus on the current battle."
"I've made up my mind. After tomorrow's meeting, I will immediately send the 7th Army to Enzos to join forces with Saski's troops. They need to reclaim Suenham Province as quickly as possible. The army needs more weapons; that's the most important thing."
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