Chapter 586: The Empire's Final Madness
On February 1, 318 of the New God Calendar, Luo Yi returned from the abyss.
He stepped out of the space channel and took the magic train from the ruins of the Blood Moon Castle. He had a smooth journey, passed through the space gate, and returned to the East Railway Station in Brussels.
Then change to the magic carriage and enter the Lion Manor under the protection of the black swordsman.
When he stood on the sixth floor of the Mechanical Mage Tower and looked out the window, he saw the bustling streets and the endless stream of people.
From time to time, the sound of crisp bells could be heard. It was the magic tram carrying busy people, passing by in the rumbling sound.
In the distance, there was a huge poster hanging on the building. On it was a gorgeous and charming beauty wearing an off-shoulder halter dress. It seemed as if a strong wind had blown through, and she pushed down the hem of her skirt, revealing a pair of thighs as white as jade.
This is the hottest star at the moment, named Monroe. She has made several phenomenal movies. With the promotion of cinemas and Magic Crystal TVs, she is loved by countless people.
At this moment, Luo Yi was even a little dazed!
Because of the tense situation in the Abyss War Fortress, he hasn't been back for several months. Seeing this prosperous world again, he felt a little dazed.
"My Lord Earl!"
Ange's voice came, and he was holding a pile of information and placed it on the desk.
Luo Yi turned around, nodded slightly, and said, "Thank you for your hard work during this period."
Ange, who was used to having a blank expression, grinned brightly, "It is my honor to share the Earl's worries."
"Haha, that's right, smile more and you're still a sunny young man.
Don’t try to imitate Mr. Oliveira.”
"That won't do. I have to establish enough prestige in front of my subordinates. Only when they are afraid of me will they work seriously."
“You, you!”
Luo Yi did not say much, because the underground front was special. Although Ang was young, he was already a mature manager and did not need him to talk too much.
Waving his hand, he said, "Come on, tell me your shocking news!"
"good!"
With a swaying movement, Luo Yi had already sat behind the desk.
Picking up the thick materials, a blue light flashed in my eyes. A large amount of text was included, and the key points were listed and presented one by one.
Ange was already accustomed to his Count's amazing reading speed, so he just started to narrate according to his own thoughts.
"A year ago, the Church of the Sun God used the incident of the vampires raising humans and animals as an excuse to launch a massive purge of the vampires.
All dark races, including the New World, are within the scope of cleansing.
At that time, we all thought that this was the church asserting sovereignty on behalf of the human race and intimidating other races.
But now it seems that His Majesty in the Papal States really has far-reaching plans."
"With the help of the Great Purge, the Bright Empire has completed the consolidation of power. The leaders of the autonomous states have either died or surrendered. The previous chaotic state is no longer the same.
There are even rumors that the one in heaven also took action and negotiated with the alien gods. After paying a certain price, he gained their support.
This is also the reason why those foreign races were so obedient and didn't resist."
Luo Yi looked up suddenly when he heard this, and asked in disbelief, "Is the news reliable?"
"The level is too high for us to collect, so it's just a rumor. However, there is one thing worth noting: in the New World, the Illuminati has already recognized the status of the alien gods."
"In other words, the great Sun God gave up the glory of the One God. This invisible price is truly enormous."
Luo Yi exclaimed in amazement and asked again: "Anything else?"
"As you know, last year, due to the 'Unrestricted Magic Submarine War,' the Habsburg Empire and the Glorious Empire fell out.
However, due to internal conflicts within the Glorious Empire, they only issued statements, condemnations, and material support; they did not personally send troops."
“But now, when the Glorious Empire has completed its internal centralization, in order to resolve conflicts, they will inevitably unify their goals towards the outside world.
So, the democratically elected head of state actually appeared at the international conference with the so-called "Fourteen Points of Peace".
He issued a final ultimatum to the Habsburg Empire: peace talks would only take place if the Habsburg Empire accepted these fourteen points.
At this time, Luo Yi also turned to a certain part of the information, and after a quick browse, he understood.
"The Fourteen Points are quite normal, but they are all led by the Glorious Empire. In other words, they want to replace the Habsburg Empire and become the new world hegemon!
The Bonaparte Empire and the Kingdom of Sardinia, just watch?"
Luo Yi did not mention the Slavic Empire, because the Ice and Snow Kingdom, the overlord of the Far East, had fallen into civil strife.
A group of workers holding hammers started a revolution and almost overthrew the Slavic royal family.
It was also because the Slavic royal family invested too much manpower and energy in the Eastern Front, suffered heavy losses, and was so "weak" that even a group of workers could not suppress it.
Ange did not rush to answer, but thought for a moment before saying: "The Bonaparte Empire did not react much, because they urgently need the support of the Glorious Empire.
But the Queen of Sardinia expressed great dissatisfaction.
In fact, before the Fourteen Points of Peace, someone had come up with something similar, but the Hohenzollern royal family simply ignored it."
"After all, the Kingdom of Sardinia is already deeply mired in war and unable to escape. The Empire doesn't care at all.
But the Glorious Empire is different!
If he joins the war, he will be the most ferocious new force."
"What was the Habsburg Empire's reaction?"
"According to my information, it's a mess! The military scoffed at this and even thought it was a joke. The war is not over yet.
The Home Secretary and the Foreign Secretary believed that there was no need to continue fighting and that they could try to negotiate and see what both sides thought.
There is also the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who believes that the Empire's economy is reaching its limit.
Most importantly, Hohenzollern III's health condition could no longer be concealed."
Luo Yi suddenly looked up and asked, "Is it confirmed?"
"The news was released by the Bonaparte Empire. It seems they have a high-ranking spy who, at the risk of exposing himself, managed to obtain accurate information.
That person is really on his last legs. Even several popes of the Church of the Seven have gone to the palace one after another, but it seems to have had no effect."
Luo Yi frowned even more tightly: "In the name of God, even he can't be saved, how is it possible?"
"I don't believe it either, and even many people don't believe it. But one thing is clear—Hohenzollern III's poor health has caused the empire's huge chariot to lose control.
Although the Crown Prince also holds a certain amount of power, he lacks the prestige of Hohenzollern III and cannot subdue the group of old foxes in the cabinet."
"At the same time, orders from Xianhualing are about to explode. Whether it's processing machinery or various military weapons, both parties have entered the competition stage!"
At this point, Ange paused slightly and continued, "So, I think the situation in the Old World is about to enter an extremely critical period.
That is why it is imperative that you, Lord Earl, come back.”
"The Abyssal Strategy is extremely important, but Helka is your foundation and your last resort. It must be foolproof."
Hearing this, Luo Yi nodded seriously: "You are right!"
"My Lord Earl, do you think there will be another war or peace talks?"
"Peace talks? How is that possible?"
Luo Yi made his judgment without hesitation: "What we can't get on the battlefield, we can't get at the negotiation table.
Therefore, even if it ends, there will inevitably be a final battle."
"So how do we deal with this?"
"Neutrality is a must. No one should mess with me. However, if the war is won or lost, many policies will have to be adjusted.
Have old Hoover notify everyone and call them over. I need to make some arrangements."
"yes!"
The world has never been a single-threaded world, and the impact of victory or defeat in a war is multifaceted.
Even if it is the Flower Territory, with Luo Yi in charge, it doesn’t matter whether the war is won or lost, no one dares to mess with him anyway.
However, major changes in the overall situation will bring about changes like stormy waves, and will also impact all walks of life in the flower industry.
At this meeting, Luo Yi clearly pointed out that we must be prepared to face the "tsunami", focus on stability, and ensure a soft landing in all industries.
At his level, there is no need to do everything personally.
The people below have also gained experience, and they must be given opportunities to perform, so he just needs to determine the general direction.
Afterwards, they will be free to play their roles. If they do well, there will be room for improvement; if they do poorly, they will be eliminated step by step.
Flower Territory is no longer just a small earldom, but a powerful force spanning the main material plane, demiplane and abyss, with a population of tens of millions.
If we don’t have enough capabilities, it will really cause huge losses.
The development of the situation was almost exactly as Roy had speculated.
At the end of February in the 318th year of the New Divine Calendar, news came from the Glorious Empire. The democratically elected leader delivered a speech, announcing that he would recruit one million soldiers, cross the endless ocean, and end the war in the Old Continent.
He wasn't just talking, but as the news spread, recruitment points were set up in various states.
In various colleges, cities, ethnic groups, and even factories...
Those magic apprentices who had completed the introductory meditation were distributed with guns and cannons and began to train magic legions.
In fact, it is not difficult to see that although the Church of the Sun God has problems of one kind or another, they always stand on the side of the Helka World and are also the biggest backer of the coalition forces.
Using the vampires as an excuse, they achieved centralization through the Great Purge, and the ultimate goal was here.
When the news came, the entire Habsburg Empire was in an uproar!
Because even the most ordinary citizens of the empire knew that when this new force set foot on the land of the Old World, it would be the day the empire was defeated.
It was also at this moment that a fierce quarrel broke out in the imperial cabinet.
The imperial capital, Tianwang Mountain.
If you look down from a high place, it is not difficult to find that the capital of the Habsburg Empire is actually on the plain. At first glance, it looks like skyscrapers spread on a scroll.
However, there are only two places where there are ups and downs.
One is the Imperial Palace, located in the center of the imperial capital, which is a towering mountain directly created by human power.
Located on it is the most magnificent palace on this earth, and living there are the most noble surnames.
The other place is Tianwang Mountain, an original mountain that looks like a protrusion in the flat earth.
The palace on it does not conform to modern architectural aesthetics, nor is it a high-rise building.
Yet, this was the center of power in the Habsburg Empire.
Countless people in politics and the military are proud to step into this Tianwang Mountain Palace.
In normal times, this place is also synonymous with solemnity and majesty. The huge beams and pillars and the polished marble floor even seem empty.
Every step you take must be taken with caution, for fear of making a bigger noise and disturbing those high-ranking figures.
But today, those bigwigs have lost their composure, and the roars and quarrels seem to be able to blow the roof off.
"War, war, war! All you know is war. Don't you know how dire the empire's situation is right now?
Go and look at the streets. All industries are in recession. There are not many men left. Half-grown children need to support their lives. The work in the factories can exhaust people to death.
Is this the kind of scene you want to see?"
"So you mean to lose our sovereignty and humiliate the country? Have you forgotten the pain of the empire? The best crown prince lost his life, and you won't avenge him?"
"And those soldiers on the battlefield, who slept in the open air and fought to the death, are they giving up just for you?"
"Do you have the guts to go to the front lines and tell those soldiers that the Empire has been defeated? Has it sued for peace? Their efforts were meaningless?
Do you think you can walk out of the battlefield alive?"
"I'm asking, can you guys do some economic calculations?
The empire's finances really can't sustain it anymore, and spending money like water is not an enough description.
Putting aside other things, the next payment for the flowers is only a few days away. How do you think we can get it together?"
"Defeating? Haha, I heard that guy killed a demigod in the abyss. Who do you think would dare to deny his debt?
If you dare to take on this responsibility, I will resign immediately and let you take my place!"
"Can you please stop talking nonsense? Right now, we are discussing how to deal with the Glorious Empire's army approaching our border."
"Isn't this what we are discussing?"
The chaotic and noisy sounds filled his ears, making His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, who was sitting in the highest seat, look worried and ugly.
It was not until then that he felt deeply how heavy the crown on his head was and how hot the chair he was sitting on was.
But just when he was at a loss and unable to make a decision, he caught a glimpse of a figure slowly approaching from the corner of his eye.
He thought he was seeing things, but after rubbing his eyes and making sure it wasn't an illusion, he stood up almost instantly.
"Father!"
His voice was not loud, but it seemed to have magical power, making everyone who was arguing with red faces stop immediately.
They looked back and saw an old man with a huge frame but a thin body walking towards them.
He was extremely slow, but every step he took was extremely steady.
His cheeks were sunken and deeply wrinkled, and he wore a seven-colored gem on his body. The power of the seven gods was within it, protecting his frail body.
However, no one can deny that even he is still a well-deserved king.
Wherever he passed, people stood up in unison and bowed their heads respectfully.
Pushing away the Crown Prince's support, he finally walked up to the throne, his hoarse voice echoing in the hall.
"I know the empire is difficult, I know it's not easy for you, I know the soldiers are suffering, I know supplies are scarce!
I know everything, I know everything!
Just like me now, it is clearly painful to persist, and I can clearly let go of everything and go to the kingdom of gods to enjoy life.
However, I just don’t want to! I can’t! "
"We are the noble Habsburgs. We have ushered in a new era of magical machinery. Our pride and glory are etched in our bones.
We cannot allow ourselves to fail!"
"The cowards of the Bonaparte Empire, the clowns of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and the oath-breakers of the Glorious Empire will all be burned to ashes in the wrath of the Habsburgs."
"At this point in the war, the only thing we can do is persevere!"
"So, my people, let's fight!"
"I will only speak while standing, never die while kneeling!"
The hoarse voice echoed in the hall. It was clearly very weak, but it ignited everyone's fighting spirit.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!"
It took only a few breaths to go from noisy to uniform, and the appearance and speech of Hohenzollern III completely unified opinions.
From this day on, the Imperial Military Department formulated the most crazy plan.
They even recruited soldiers according to the roster, and the number of newly established magic legions reached 190.
In other words, at least 2 million young and middle-aged people were sent to the battlefield.
Therefore, later scholars called this period of history: The Last Madness of the Empire!
(End of this chapter)
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