Volume 2: Empire Chapter 43: The Grand Prince's Trust
The carriage that Luke and Sinclair were riding in drove directly into the lobby of the Silver Manor. The guards immediately closed the door. The windows had long been sealed, and there were swaying magic barriers all around.
If there hadn't been a red carpet outside the open car door and servants lining the aisles to welcome him, Luke would have thought that the eldest prince Fania was going to close the door and beat him..., to catch him in a trap...
At the other end of the red carpet, Fania, wearing a formal attire that she would wear for celebrations, was waiting for the distinguished guests with a majestic smile.
Luke and Sinclair got out of the car one after another. Seeing this scene, Sinclair was tactful enough to lag behind Luke. He knew that his father would never welcome him in this way.
Anyone else would surely bow their heads and swear allegiance to receive such a grand tribute from the Grand Prince of the Empire.
Luke walked across the red carpet to the front of the eldest prince Fania and greeted him as a subject would greet the royal family: " Good day, eldest prince. Meteorite was invited here, and I am flattered to receive such a grand welcome. I hope I have not caused you any trouble."
Fania patted Luke's shoulders with both hands, quite forcefully.
"You have a very strong body and amazing wisdom... If you join the army, you will definitely become an invincible general. The empire is facing many wars now, and it is a good time to establish great achievements."
The eldest prince had made a certain assessment of the military force that Luke possessed. He expressed his favor for Meteorite and hoped that he would join the war on the southern front.
Facing Fania's blatant poaching, Luke said tactfully: "I am already busy with trivial matters in Nutao City, and the tasks assigned by the Secret Service Headquarters are also very heavy. I really don't have the energy to join the army. Thank you for your appreciation of me, Prince."
Fania was not dissatisfied. He never thought that Meteorite would surrender to him so easily.
The purpose of this meeting is for both parties to test the waters and discuss terms.
Fania took Luke to the prepared room, speaking flattering words along the way and praising his achievements in Raging Waves City.
"Now almost every day, someone tells me that the economic vitality of Raging Waves City is much better than that of Grover's time. Raging Waves City is full of opportunities and wealth... I already know that several lords are going to open factories in Raging Waves City and gradually transfer the production capacity of the factories in the imperial capital there.
At the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Gabriel also mentioned an intention... that is, to merge the five towns surrounding Nutao City into Nutao City, and then move the population to Nutao City, so that Nutao City can double its size. "
After entering the room, the two sat down separately. Luke asked curiously, "Did the Prime Minister really mention this intention?"
Fania waved her hand to let everyone go out, including Sinclair. After the door was closed, she said to Luke, "You didn't expect it! But it's just an intention, far from being submitted to my father.
Even if I don't tell you, this news will soon reach you. Gabriel wants to negotiate with you."
Luke was very interested in this topic.
Now the only things that limit the development of Raging Waves City are land and population, especially land. When the existing idle land is developed, the city's development will reach a bottleneck, and land expansion must be prepared in advance.
As for Gabriel wanting to negotiate with me on this issue, let's talk about it.
"Thank you, Your Highness, for informing me of this. The next step in the economic growth of Raging Waves City requires more land. The intention proposed by Prime Minister Gabriel is a great thing that will benefit the empire.
I think Your Highness will support it. "
Fania laughed and said, "Whether it is a good thing or not, it still needs to be discussed by many parties. Besides, I am not a cabinet minister, and Agatha's opinion carries more weight than mine.
By the way... Governor Meteorite, you came to my place, Agatha probably doesn't know."
"She doesn't know."
Fania asked again: "Based on your performance in Raging Waves City and after coming to the Imperial Capital, you should not have concealed from her the fact that you came to Silver Manor."
Luke leaned back in his chair with a melancholy look on his face.
"Her Royal Highness the Princess has the talent of an emperor, and I am willing to help her become the first empress of the empire. But this time she refused to listen to my advice and insisted on forming an alliance with His Royal Highness the Second Prince. I can't help but worry about the future."
Fania asked, "My father has entrusted the war on the southern front to me, and many ministers in the court have pledged their allegiance to me. I am almost sitting on the throne of the crown prince. Alec and Agatha want to check and balance me. Isn't joining forces the best way?"
Luke looked at the room, which was tall and majestic, with large murals telling heroic stories from the founding of the empire. The crystal chandelier cast a soft light, and the air was filled with luxurious magical spices.
Fania saw Meteorite's worry and said, "Don't worry, there are only you and me in this room, and no one can hear a word we talk about."
Luke then said, "The eldest prince should know that His Majesty is very concerned about the experiment of extending life recently. He did not favor you in the war arrangement on the southern front, but he had to use you.
You should understand what I mean."
No one dared to say such words to Fania, so when Fania heard what Meteorite said, it was as if he had suddenly been enlightened!
As the eldest prince, Fania insisted on not marrying a new wife all these years after his wife's death , just to win over the Joshur family, which has a very strong influence in the military.
In this battle against the Celtic Grand Duke at Tedega Hill, the Northern Legion in the north was forced to withdraw troops to fight on the southern front, further increasing the military power controlled by Fania.
If Emperor Augustine just wanted to choose the crown prince, then this was clearly biased towards the eldest prince. But Emperor Augustine still wanted to live another 500 years, and it was not a good thing for you to have so many troops in your hands.
Fania felt a chill on his neck. He asked Luke, "Did you also tell Agatha these words?"
"I told her... I told her that it would be best to do nothing at this time to reduce His Majesty's attention. Whether the war on the southern front goes smoothly or not, it will be a waste of His Majesty's evaluation of the eldest prince.
Moreover, the two princes did not go to the front line after receiving the appointment, but stayed in the imperial capital, as if waiting for Your Majesty to die. How would Your Majesty, who still wants to prolong his life, think of this?"
Fania felt her neck was being tightened and she felt a little suffocated.
If the meteor hadn’t woken me up today, I really wouldn’t know how I died.
"Your analysis is so thorough, why doesn't Agatha listen to you?"
“Because she thinks it’s a matter of chance… She will unite with the Second Prince and persuade him to go to the Western Front to train an army loyal to him.
If you, the eldest prince, see the truth and choose to go to the south, then no one in the imperial capital will compete with her. Once there is a change in the palace, you and the second prince will not be able to rush back.
Even if you still insist on staying in the imperial capital, you will have to endure His Majesty’s suspicion…”
"Agatha has become more and more vicious since she took over the Secret Service!" The eldest prince, who knew Agatha's strategy, could not help but curse, and then asked Luke: "Don't you support her in doing this?"
"Of course not!" Luke said firmly, "Her Royal Highness the Princess only cares about the throne and ignores the consequences of doing so.
If there is a change in the palace, she can proclaim herself the emperor of the empire, but the two princes have armies outside. If the empire is divided into three parts and they fight against each other, the hereditary nobles will definitely fight back, and the enemy countries will also take the opportunity to invade.
I have tested my development concept in Raging Waves City and found it to be correct. I want to promote it throughout the empire. I want to assist a wise leader to create an unprecedented prosperity and open up a vast territory for the empire.
Rather than wasting the rest of your life in civil war!"
Luke became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he had a million strategies for governing a country but had no place to put them into practice.
Fania was also very excited.
The unrivaled heroes of ancient times were probably no more than this!
Fania grabbed Luke's hand across the table and looked at him affectionately: "I have spent the first half of my life preparing for the empire you envisioned. If you come to help me, we will become the most shining emperor and prime minister of this era!"
Luke pulled his hand back.
"Your Highness, I am not here to serve you."
Fania was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "I understand, I was too impatient. Being able to hear your true voice is my greatest gain this time. My door here is always open to you."
"Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness. I don't want to disappoint the Princess. I hope that after Your Highness ascends the throne, you can forgive her mistakes."
Fania thought of the rumors about Meteor and Agatha, and said with a smile: "Agatha should not covet the throne, but her talents in other aspects are what the empire needs. Don't worry, as long as Agatha admits her mistakes to me, I will definitely forgive her."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"And if you want me to forgive her, you have to work for me even if you don't pledge allegiance to me. How should I break the trap that Agatha has set for me?"
Luke replied: "The trap set by Her Royal Highness is very clever and cannot be completely cracked. My suggestion is... to launch several large-scale main force confrontations at Tedega Hill, causing large-scale casualties to both the enemy and us, while maintaining a stable front line.
The loss of the elite troops of the Northern Legion will reduce His Majesty's suspicion. The stalemate in the war will increase His Majesty's reliance on you. In this way, even if His Majesty is uncomfortable with your staying in the imperial capital, he will still endure it. As long as there is no great victory or defeat on the southern front, Your Highness, you are safe."
Fania nodded.
Using the elite troops of the Northern Legion to fight hard shows that he is not greedy for military power. Even if there is no decent result in the hard fight, it shows that the Celtic Grand Duke's army is indeed very strong. As long as the southern front remains undefeated and a big battle is fought from time to time, the empire will not easily change the southern strategy.
Even if his father knew he was waiting for his death, he would still endure it for the sake of the greater good.
"It seems that we can only delay time like this and wait for the great changes in the court. I will write to General Qiao Xiuer immediately and inform him of the situation here."
The southern strategy that Fania and Joshua began to formulate was to use the original garrison troops on the southern front to consume the barbarian army, and the elite troops of the northern army would wait for opportunities to win a few beautiful victories. They would use continuous victories to consolidate their influence in the court and improve their father's rating of themselves.
By the way, we can also promote our own people from the lost southern garrison troops.
Now it seems that this is actually a minus. The better the Northern Army on the southern front fights, the more dangerous he will be. If he swallows up the southern garrison, and he is still waiting for his father to die in the imperial capital... he is really courting death.
Out of fear of Emperor Augustine, Fania changed his war strategy on the southern front. Instead of taking the opportunity to expand his military power, he wanted to reduce part of his military strength.
Luke's purpose of coming to Silver Avenue has been mostly accomplished, and what remains is to discuss joining forces to eliminate the Abyss Mage in the Imperial Capital.
At this time, Fania already trusted Luke, who helped her get rid of the potential crisis. Naturally, she also believed that Luke wanted to eliminate another crisis for herself, the future wise king, and close the case of the attack on Princess Dale.
I can also take this good opportunity to make some people shut up forever. It is normal for some people to die in the encirclement and suppression of the Abyss Mage.
After everything was settled, Fania, with the help of Meteorite, felt that he was infinitely close to the throne.
"Governor, rest assured. I will use my influence in the palace to get the proposal to expand Raging Waves City passed at the Imperial Conference. Saint Lun City is the brain of the empire, and Raging Waves City is the heart of the empire. Only an empire with a healthy brain and a strong heart can continue to grow stronger.
Once we have settled the internal problems of our empire, we will wield the iron fist of our empire to the world.
At that time, I will tell my father in front of his tombstone: his era was not the peak of the empire, I am the greatest emperor of the empire! "
Luke agreed very much: "A great emperor needs to have extraordinary skills and a heart that can embrace the world. It was Princess Dale who showed me these qualities in you and made me decide to visit you this time."
Fania asked, "Have you seen Princess Daier?"
"I found her and placed her in Miss Qingkong's museum. I was able to confirm that the person who attacked Princess Dale was the Abyss Mage, and it was Princess Dale who provided me with a small clue.
Please rest assured, Your Highness, Princess Dale does not know that it was done by the Abyss Mage."
Fania finally figured out how the meteorite found her head. It must be that the assassins did something dishonest and Dale found the clue. Fortunately, it was the meteorite that found Dale. If it was found by someone else, it would be a very difficult and troublesome matter.
This time, those people who are more likely to cause trouble than to accomplish anything should be completely eliminated.
"That's great! Ever since Dale disappeared, I've been worried about her safety. Now that I know she's safe, I can finally sleep peacefully.
Thank you, Governor Meteorite!
If we destroy the Abyss Mage, Dale can return to the palace, and our father will definitely be very happy.
Oh...and I want to congratulate you!
You saved Princess Dale and lived a happy life with her. It's simply a fairy tale that can be sung forever.
We will become a family too!"
Fania was sincerely happy, and even felt lucky that the assassin he sent out messed up. The result was not only not a bad thing, but also a good thing... Meteorite would naturally distance himself from Agatha if he married Dale.
I will gain your loyalty one day!
