Chapter 426: Chess Pieces on the Chessboard
On the outskirts of Thunder City, on a muddy field, a powerful roar echoed above the heads of hundreds of people, urging these new recruits to run in the mud.
Not only did they have to run, they also had to keep their steps in sync, because only by keeping their steps in sync could they avoid bumping into each other and falling down with their chests pressed against each other's backs.
These young men were all newly enlisted conscripts, and only about half of them had received military training.
Before heading to the Dusk Province to rescue their compatriots, they need to undergo two weeks of training in the recruit camp before they can become qualified privates and join their own company.
The time left for them is very short.
Fortunately, their instructors did not have high expectations of them.
They only need to learn how to shoot, reload, and maintain their formation in the hail of bullets, try not to escape before the enemy throws away their weapons and armor, and maintain the stability of the line.
The ones who were truly responsible for breaking the enemy lines were the Principality's cavalry.
Not only have they received professional training, they also possess extraordinary powers that are difficult for mortals to achieve!
Even when facing monsters blessed by Chaos, they still have the strength to fight!
Of course, the Knights of the Trident will not be on the field this time, after all, the opponent is just a group of peasants.
And he's not trained at all.
"Hurry up! You pigs!"
"The enemy won't wait for you to slowly find your formation before opening fire! Their arrows and pitchforks will poke your asses out before you even know where to go!"
"Put your arms up! Damn idiot, I didn't tell you to put them above your head!"
Finally, someone couldn't hold on any longer and stumbled to the ground. Looking at the instructor walking towards him, the young man's face was filled with fear, and his mouth trembled as he spoke.
"Instructor, I..."
Before he could finish his words, a strong and powerful hand grabbed his neck and lifted him out of the mud pit like a chicken.
"Shut your mouth! The only thing you can say is 'Yes, sir'!"
“I…”
"Your answer!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Very good! Now get back to your team, and everyone will have to add two more rounds to their mission today! Because there's a coward among you!"
The shouts in the recruit camp were earth-shaking, and the exciting training continued.
Compared to the cruelty they were about to experience, these insults were nothing.
Every veteran knows that this is just an appetizer before the main course...
Compared to the princes and nobles who exchanged the lives of these young men for land, they are the ones who are truly doing good for them.
On the other side of the recruit camp, a very special unit has a completely different picture.
These soldiers were tall and strong, but none of them looked very smart.
During normal training, they are either listless or pointing east and west.
What made the instructors speechless the most was that no matter how they whipped them, they always had a playful smile on their faces, with no fear at all. In the end, it only made the exhausted instructors angry and hurt themselves.
Punching each one and making them cry: "Damn, why do I have to do military training in this game?"
Professional nuclear submarine repair: "Is it okay if I don't train?"
Mr. Wang, the hair perm master at the village entrance, said: "Damn planning! Why is it so difficult to organize an event? I'm really drunk."
Felling Woodcutter: "Does it have to be this real?!"
Punching each one, the whimpering monster responded: "MMP! For the sake of the land, I'll endure it!"
The instructors in the recruit camp called them the "Idiot Army" because they were really stupid. It was as if there was sand in their heads. They could neither understand orders nor march in a uniform pace. They couldn't even be serious.
The instructors in charge of training them were even a little confused. They wondered whether they didn't understand what they were saying or were deliberately going against their will.
But when I think about the fact that these people may not want to be like this, but are just born with intellectual disabilities, those eyes that hate them for not fighting back turn into sympathy.
They can punish the troublemakers who disobey the orders, but they have no way to deal with a group of fools who do not respond to beatings or scoldings.
One or two can serve as a warning to a hundred, but a hundred... it's really hard to find a place to bury them.
The key point is that so many "talents" were wasted and morale was lost for nothing. It's not worth it.
Dinner time.
Looking at the group of big, stupid guys who were just eating, Chief Instructor Kruger couldn't help but curse.
"What's the recruiting officer for? Why did he recruit these bastards?"
What's the difference between this and sending them to their deaths?
The veteran who was in charge of training them also looked embarrassed and said with a cough.
"I don't know... But honestly, I don't think they're that bad. Aside from being unable to maintain a stable formation and not understanding human language, they do have some fighting skills... For example, they're fearless when charging, and they can throw a half-pound grenade a hundred steps away. Even I can't do that."
Kruger scoffed.
"What a joke! Do you think we're going on a picnic? Soldiers without discipline are completely useless! Once they reach the front lines, they won't last a minute!"
The instructor was silent for a while, then suddenly spoke.
"But...what if we let them crumble into the enemy's ranks carrying jars filled with gunpowder?"
Kruger froze for a moment, staring into his eyes and frowning.
"……What's the meaning."
The instructor coughed and said.
"I mean, they're already like this anyway. There's no way we can fix their brains in two weeks. We might as well make use of them...to save them from coming back and becoming our neighbors."
"Damn, you're a fucking genius!" Kruger cursed as if he was spitting on a madman.
However, when he thought of those unruly and stubborn people, he couldn't help but feel moved.
Of course, he was just an instructor in a recruit camp, not a commander on the front line.
Maybe he should talk to the rescue army commander and set up a special "hunter" unit instead of privates.
This way, we can make use of these stupid wastes...
…
The shouts on the training ground of the recruit camp were earth-shaking, and there was also constant noise in the city council hall more than ten kilometers away.
While the new recruits of the Principality of Campbell were sweating on the playground, the parliamentarians representing the citizens were clamoring for their rights at the conference table.
"Your Highness! My esteemed Princess! You can't do that!"
"I know that your kindness cannot bear to see our compatriots in Twilight Province sinking into a dire hell, but your kindness is pushing us into hell as well!"
"Our taxes are already high, and you just announced Bill 6, which hasn't even been passed yet. And you're asking us to pay even more for your war? Where are we going to find that much money?!"
At the front of the conference hall stood Eileen Campbell, dressed in military uniform. Her golden hair was meticulously tied behind her head, and her straight nose was like the eternal light of the Duchy of Campbell. However, the sword-like brows that framed that light were now filled with worry.
At this moment, she was facing her dearest people and her brother's most steadfast supporters.
Among them were presidents of chambers of commerce, craftsmen from handicraft guilds, owners of emerging factories, and even some with badges of knighthood or knighthood hanging on their chests.
As the most prominent citizens of Thunder City, they represented the other citizens. Although the Campbell royal family didn't need to deal with these mascots most of the time, they did seek their opinions when it came time to levy taxes.
This was the case five hundred years ago!
Theresa, who was standing next to him, looked at His Highness with some concern.
Although Her Royal Highness the Princess has grown a lot compared to two years ago, even her father and brother would find it difficult to deal with the issue of taxation.
The citizens support this just war and are willing to sacrifice their lives for it.
But asking them to donate money is another matter.
This problem is not difficult to understand.
Although those who donated their lives and those who donated money were both citizens of Thunder City, they were not the same group of people.
Looking at the congressman who was fighting for his rights, Irene took a deep breath of the hot air and spoke in an earnest tone.
"Everyone, I know you're having a hard time, but please also spare a thought for our compatriots far away in the Twilight Province! They are also citizens of the kingdom, children of Saint Sith just like us. If we don't lend a helping hand and allow them to slide into hell, the flames that ignite from them will eventually burn us too!"
A craftsman wearing a felt hat couldn't help but shout.
"Then they should go to Saint Sith! Or their king! Instead of asking their neighbors to clean up their messes for them!"
"God bless you, can't we just let King Ryan or the provincial governor pay for this? The Campbells are determined to bleed for them, but they're not willing to pay even a fraction of the price!"
"No one will agree to such an unequal treaty!"
Looking at the angry congressmen, Irene fell silent.
What they said made sense, and she even knew in her heart that she was forcing them.
For the prosperity of the Duchy of Campbell, the citizens of Thunder City have borne a very high tax burden, even far exceeding the money contributed by the feudal lords.
And now, I want to squeeze more money out of them, which is unreasonable and illogical.
Besides, looking at how excited they are, I'm afraid they really can't squeeze out much money.
And most importantly, if Bill No. 6 fails to gain broad support in Parliament, those poor people will probably continue to live in dire straits.
For the prosperity of the Duchy of Campbell.
Just when Irene was in a dilemma, a respected gentleman suddenly stood up.
"Everyone, please allow me to say a few words."
The moment he finished speaking, the restless atmosphere and arguments in the parliament hall subsided as if a basin of cold water was poured on them.
Irene subconsciously turned her gaze towards that person, and a glimmer of hope subconsciously flashed across her eyes, which were as calm as a lake.
That gentleman was none other than Jan Andes, the current head of the Andes family.
This middle-aged gentleman is not only the wealthiest businessman in Thunder City, but also her brother's most steadfast ally.
This expedition, launched to save millions of people, was initiated by his brother. He thought that Mr. Andes would surely help her with some advice to prevent the 50,000-strong expeditionary force from falling into an unsustainable predicament before even setting off for the battlefield.
"Your Highness, with all due respect, the citizens of Thunder City are not unwilling to share the Duchy's worries. If it is to defeat the legendary Demon King and defend our own homeland, I believe everyone here is willing to donate generously to ensure Campbell's survival."
As soon as he finished speaking, voices of agreement rang out around him. It wasn't just casual flattery, but genuine recognition.
“That’s right!”
"We would give everything for the Duchy of Campbell, but our money doesn't come from the wind, so why should we do this for our neighbours?"
"We've already handed over almost half of our income. How much more are you going to take?"
"Mr. Andes..."
Irene looked at Andes in surprise and was about to say something, but was dissuaded by the latter with a look that said, "Your Highness, please be patient."
He paused, then changed the subject and continued.
"I think the problem is not the imbalance between obligations and rights, but the uneven distribution of benefits."
"What do you mean?" Theresa frowned slightly and looked at him, dissatisfied with his interruption of Her Royal Highness the Princess.
She had no good impression of this mercenary guy.
Every Campbellite knew that at least half of the reason the Duchy's sheep had become "man-eating" beasts was because of him. He had no eyes for glory, only money.
Of course, she did not deny that the prosperity of the principality and the consolidation of Grand Duke Edward's power were indeed due to the Andes family's contribution.
Both the funds Her Royal Highness the Princess used to build the new industrial zone and the auction that attracted the attention of the entire principality were made possible with the help of the Andes family.
“It’s very simple.”
Facing the knight's sharp gaze, Andes continued calmly, "The peasants of Twilight Province have been redeemed, and the peasants of the Principality have received land. But what have the citizens who worked hard and paid for this received? Apart from a heavy tax bill and a pale glory, I can't think of anything else."
Theresa flew into a rage upon hearing this and put her hand on the hilt of her sword.
"Shut up! You rude wretch! Who do you think you are? How dare you question the glory of the Duchy of Campbell!"
The council hall was completely silent, and every face was trembling with fear.
Obviously, the parliamentarians present did not expect that Andes would be so bold as to question the priceless honor in front of the knights of the principality!
Of course, they couldn't imagine it.
Because they don't realize that they are just the slightly fatter sheep in the pen.
Mr. Andes used to be like that too.
However, since Grand Duke Edward came to power, the prosperity of the duchy has in fact become inseparable from him. He and his family have become the de facto emerging aristocracy and no longer need to bow to the traditional aristocrats.
They have become a force, and a de facto force.
What's more, at this moment he was not speaking for himself, but for the respected Grand Duke.
"I didn't, my esteemed Lord Knight. I was simply discussing a more practical issue with you. If you want your subjects to willingly follow your Highness, you must show them the benefits of doing so."
Andes calmly answered the conservative knight, and then looked at Her Royal Highness the Princess, who was wavering between conservatism and radicalism, with neither arrogance nor servility.
Irene didn't get angry. Instead, she stopped Theresa who was about to say something and stared at him with mature and wise eyes.
"I understand your loyalty, Mr. Andes, but tell me, do you have a better suggestion?"
"certainly."
Andes nodded slightly, a pleasant smile on his face, and proposed an idea that no one had expected.
"My suggestion is that this time, the taxes won't be levied in the name of taxes, but rather that the royal family 'borrow money' from Parliament, the citizens of Thunder City, and even the entire principality. Of course, the royal family borrows money just like the citizens do, and everyone needs to pay interest on the loan. I think that this way, no one should object to supporting our neighbors."
The moment he finished speaking, the entire conference hall was in an uproar.
Except for Theresa who stared at Andes in shock, the expressions of all the other parliamentarians gradually turned into excitement after a brief moment of surprise.
"The royal family borrowed money from its subjects?"
"Pay interest?"
"This! This is unheard of!"
"But compared to collecting taxes, this is a better way. At least once the taxes are paid, they are gone, and the money lent can be recovered."
"Hiss... I need to think about it again."
The whispers gradually turned into noisy discussions, and the entire council hall was as lively as a vegetable market.
"It's really crazy..." Theresa could only mutter to herself because she didn't know what words to use to describe this crazy idea.
She was a knight, and wielding the sword for the crown was her and her family's inherent duty, while the crown's duty was to protect its people.
Now that the royal family has started doing business with its people, what does the sword in her hand matter?
If one day the royal family decides to default on the debt and not pay it back, does that mean she has to ride a horse to beat up those... uh, creditors?
Of course, this kind of thing would never happen to the Campbell family.
However, this confusion between obligations and powers still made her confused about her own identity for a while.
Listening to the heated discussion, Irene looked at Andes with wide eyes, her face full of surprise.
Then her eyes sharpened and she spoke in a serious tone.
"Are you serious, Mr. Andes?"
"Your Highness, of course I am serious. Besides, this is the best solution I can think of."
Andes nodded respectfully and continued answering.
"Using war bonds instead of war taxes can appropriately alleviate people's suffering from the war and provide a certain degree of compensation to those who have paid more... It can even allow traditional nobles to participate."
"Of course, this may be somewhat unorthodox for a traditional royal family, and your concerns are justified. If you find this suggestion too presumptuous, then continue with the old-fashioned method. Let your army drain the citizens of the principality and show us where they've hidden their money."
This proposal was not an idea he came up with on the spur of the moment, but was inspired by the Colin Group's stocks a long time ago.
Since companies can be traded in the market in the form of notes, why can't their debts?
Moreover, that was a debt issued in the name of the royal family, and there was no more reliable guarantee than this.
Yan Andes was a man who was good at thinking and he quickly discovered the business opportunity!
In particular, the Campbell royal family is different from the reckless Ryan royal court. The benevolent Campbell family will consult with their people even when levying taxes, instead of rushing into their homes like robbers to find every copper coin.
This is also one of the reasons why the Principality of Campbell can create incredible miracles with such a small area!
Taking all these factors into consideration, issuing war bonds in Thunder City has a reliable and realistic basis, and the returns are completely predictable. Even without using Twilight Province's forestry and mineral resources as collateral, Thunder City's tax revenue is sufficient for the royal family to repay the debt.
He had long ago discussed with Archduke Edward the idea of issuing debt to raise state funds, and the Archduke, who was extremely open-minded about new things, also supported it.
Otherwise, he would not have brought this proposal to the parliament at this point in time.
Irene was silent for a moment, then looked at Andes and said.
"...I can't make a decision on this matter alone. I must consult my brother."
She believed that her father gave her the sword so that she could protect the people of Campbell for him.
Unlike Act No. 6, which protects the rights of the people, taxation is the king's power, and only her brother can decide whether to replace war taxes with war bonds.
She didn't want any self-indulgent people to misunderstand that she had improper ambitions for the throne.
Looking at the sensible Princess Campbell, Andes smiled gently and nodded happily.
"Of course, Your Highness, it would be most appropriate for you to ask for instructions."
Unlike those conservative aristocrats who missed the past and those nouveau riche who tried to break away from the past, he sincerely hoped that the brother and sister could live in harmony.
For the Andes family, who have already gained everything, nothing is more important than the stability of the principality.
…
On the other side, on the way to Dusk City, Mr. Colin's carriage was shaking.
This broken road is really bumpy.
Under normal circumstances, the Demon King, who was particular about the quality of life, might have cast some magic for the sake of travel experience, but unfortunately, he really had no mood to do so recently.
Irene Campbell's sudden arrival completely disrupted his plans.
He needs to think carefully about how to continue this story so as to avoid losing the big picture for the small.
"Mr. Colin, have you encountered any troubles recently?" Karin, who was sitting opposite Luo Yan and holding the "Book of Holy Words" in both hands, vaguely sensed something and said with concern.
"A little bit... but it's not a big problem."
Looking at the Demon King who was pretending to be calm, Taf, who was lying on Sarah's legs, almost couldn't hold back her laughter.
She happened to be awake last night when the Devil was chatting with Sarah, and heard a lot of interesting things.
Although she didn't know who Irene was, she could guess what happened by using her tail.
She is not curious about anything now, she just wants to see a certain devil capsize!
Hurry up!
Unlike Tafu who likes to watch the fun, the kind nun looks worried.
"Um...if you don't mind, you can confide in me."
Before Luo Yan could answer, Sarah's lips curled up slightly.
Is a mere human worthy enough to be the person the Demon King confides in?
So weak...
Sarah suddenly fell silent while thinking this, and her gloomy gaze moved away from Kallen and fell on the towering mountains outside the car window.
Karen seemed to feel that her words were a bit arrogant. Her cheeks flushed red and she added embarrassedly.
"Please, please don't laugh at me... I just think it might be better to talk about my troubles instead of keeping them bottled up inside."
There is no presumptuous intention.
She really just wanted to do something for this kind gentleman, just like he had selflessly helped her.
Although she had no money and no extraordinary abilities, she was still able to listen to the troubles of her believers.
And this was the only way she could think of to help as a nun.
Luo Yan didn't mean to make fun of her naiveté. No one loved his believers more than he did.
After all, every believer is his wing.
"Thank you. I appreciate your kindness, but you really can't help me with this matter. It's just that I have a problem with my time management..."
Luo Yan suddenly stopped talking mid-sentence, his gaze falling on Kallen. After thinking for a moment, he changed his words, "...Well, it seems not necessarily."
Things don't seem to be that complicated.
Until now, the refugees following the caravan only knew Kallen's name, praising her kindness and generosity, but did not know who Colin was.
In that case, why not just treat her as a chess piece active in the front and stand behind the scenes?
Thinking of this, Luo Yan's mind suddenly opened up, and a relaxed smile appeared on his face again.
At first he just thought it was interesting and helped the "nun" lady, but he didn't expect that his unintentional act would become a crucial move.
Sarah looked at the Demon King in astonishment, her shocked expression seemed to be asking why it wasn't her.
And Kallen, who was sitting opposite, had a look of surprise on her face that gradually turned into one of surprise.
"Really?! Like, someone like me... can really help you?"
"Please don't underestimate yourself, Miss Karen. You have qualities that others don't possess. I discovered this a long time ago. And now is the time for you to use them."
Luo Yan said this casually, then looked out the window of the carriage.
Almost at the same time, Sarah's eyes suddenly became sharp, and the dagger hidden at her waist revealed a hint of coldness.
Feeling the sudden murderous aura, Kallen froze in place, a look of shock on her face, not knowing what was going on.
"Miss... Sarah?"
"Someone's approaching..." Sarah said in a hoarse voice, "and there are quite a few of them."
Luo Yan nodded slightly.
"I know."
This piece of fat has been hanging out in the wilderness for so long, it should have attracted the vultures.
Just as he finished speaking, a loud gunshot was heard in the distance.
Bang!
At the sound of the gunshot, the caravan became agitated, and the carriages and covered wagons became huddled together.
The mercenaries were the first to jump off the car with weapons in hand, and collided with the refugees running around. The scene was extremely chaotic.
"Enemy attack! Damn it! It's the bandits with green turbans!" The mercenary leader roared and tried to organize a defense, but he despaired when he saw the number of people on the opposite side.
Looking at the bewildered Kallen, Luo Yan smiled slightly and gave her a reassuring look.
"Do you believe me?"
Facing that calm smile, Kallen felt the panic in her heart disappear.
She seemed to be back in that cold snowy land, and saw the light of salvation in the darkness.
"I trust you!"
There was only piety in those tranquil eyes, and even a hint of fanaticism.
Looking at that pure and flawless face, Luo Yan nodded approvingly, as if he was looking at a work of art.
"very good."
"Just do as I say in a moment."
(End of this chapter)
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