Volume 2: Empire Chapter 57: Isn't the war going on?
Emperor Augustine's desire to kill Meteor has never been so strong. The empire would rather have a mediocre loyal minister than allow a shrewd and powerful minister to control the court.
However, Augustine the Great did not show it immediately.
Whether it was Meteorite who was behind all this still needed to be verified. We couldn't just punish an important official of the empire arbitrarily just because of suspicion. And if Meteorite could really affect two princes and a princess at the same time, we should be more cautious in dealing with him.
What happened in these days made Augustine realize that he had become a stranger to his children, and they might be closer to the meteorite than to their father.
The feeling of loneliness and desolation rose again, but Augustine quickly found his imperial heart and focused on this battle for the country's destiny.
The eldest prince Fania also explained some future strategies after this offensive operation, and he had more respect for Meteorite in his heart.
As expected, Alex left the imperial capital and went to the western front.
If there were no major military action on the southern front, my father would feel a sense of crisis if I stayed in the imperial capital. If I supervised the battle like Alex did, the initiative would be given to Agatha.
If I stay now, at most my father will find it annoying. As long as he doesn't think I will launch a coup, he will tolerate some things.
As for the destruction of the experiment of eternal life secret technique...
Judging from my father's behavior these days, this may not be a bad thing.
The experiment of eternal life secret technique was not restarted, the related experiments of supernatural species breeding center were not continued, and other similar experiments were terminated. I think my father also understood that I was not the only one who did not want him to extend his life span.
The emperor no longer pursues the continuation of life, the second prince goes to the western front to suppress bandits, and Meteorite and Agatha show signs of separation.
As long as the fighting on the southern front was fierce, demonstrating the strength of the Barbarian Legion, my father would not dare to make any big moves on the southern front.
I… just need to wait for big changes in the palace.
Feeling relieved, Fania did not feel troubled by the unsuccessful war on the southern front. Instead, he talked eloquently about his strategy for attacking Tedega Hill.
This was the early stage of the war, and the Empire was superior to Tedega Hill in terms of national strength. If Fania took the initiative to attack, the Emperor of the Empire would certainly not stop him. Augustine the Great ordered the cabinet to organize supplies and personnel as soon as possible to supplement the army on the southern front.
Then they talked about the City of Raging Waves.
Emperor Augustine said to Agatha: "The war against the Celts is not as optimistic as we initially thought. This battle may last for a long time and will be a huge drain on the empire's national strength.
As an important economic city in the empire, Raging Waves City should play a more active role in this war."
Agatha had talked a lot about the war in her correspondence with Luke, so she was prepared for this question.
“Father…when the Empire declared war on Tedega Hills, the Acting Governor of Meteoric Star had already urged the Senate of Raging Waves City to prepare supplies for the Imperial Army.
Now, Nutao City has prepared more than one thousand tons of military supplies, including canned food, bedding, palm oil, flour, dried fish, medicines, fire crystals and more than forty kinds of consumables.
Once the cabinet issues a pass, it can be transported to the southern battlefield.
The Acting Governor of Meteoric Star said that he would continue to prepare more supplies to support the Empire’s war.”
One thousand tons of military supplies is not much for a city of the size of Nutao City, but these are the most urgently needed things in the war, which shows that Meteorite is still concerned about this war.
Besides, this battle was fought very suddenly, and it was very fast for Nutao City to raise a thousand tons of supplies in such a short time.
It also shows the influence and control that Meteorite has over Raging Waves City.
Emperor Augustine praised: "After being governed by Meteorite, Raging Wave City is much better than before. Gabriel, you new lords should learn from Meteorite. Only when the empire is strong can you make money!"
Prime Minister Gabriel knew that Emperor Augustine was trying to warn the new nobles, so he immediately said, "Your Majesty, we new lords are also actively donating money and materials. These things will soon be delivered to the southern battlefield."
Fania smiled brightly at this time, and the value of staying in the imperial capital was thus reflected. Not only could he attend the imperial cabinet meeting, but all the donated materials were sent to the southern line.
No one mentioned Alec on the Western Front.
Fania glanced at Agatha and said: Sister, you miscalculated this time.
Then Fania said: “Father, after the Acting Governor of Meteorite took over the City of Raging Waves, he not only brought more tax revenue to the empire, but also donated so many military supplies.
He even wiped out the Abyss Mages lurking in the Imperial Capital in one fell swoop, and killed one of the Abyss Apostles. Such an outstanding talent should shoulder more responsibilities.
I heard that you intend to marry Princess Dai'er to Yunxing... If Yunxing can become a member of the royal family, she will definitely be more loyal to the empire."
At the Royal Cabinet meeting, Fania proposed marrying Princess Dai'er to Meteorite, which was beyond everyone's expectations, but also reasonable.
The battle to eliminate the Abyss Mage exposed the complex relationship between Meteorite and the royal family.
Some people couldn't help but look at Agatha.
If the meteorite really hits the eldest prince, it will be a heavy blow to Agatha.
Emperor Augustine didn't expect that Fania would bring up this matter before him... He still couldn't keep his cool!
But since the eldest prince brought it up, Augustine also wanted to see other attitudes.
He first asked Agatha: "Meteor is yours. His true identity and real name... are only known to you. Meteor is indeed a very rare talent, and his age is also suitable for Dale. But whether he can marry Dale based on his identity and background is something you have more say in."
Meteor is a code name. Agatha has never revealed Meteor's true identity, making everyone think that he is involved in too many secrets of the CIA.
But marrying an imperial princess is not just an imperial matter, it is also a major international event, and the identity of Meteorite must be made public.
But Agatha really didn't know who this meteorite was.
She recalled what Qingkong had said to her, and her promise to Dale. Agatha said, "Meteor's true identity has always been the top secret of the Secret Service, and releasing his information requires many considerations.
However, we should consider Princess Dale's wishes more when it comes to her marriage. After the attack, as a sister, I just hope that Dale can be happy and not become a political tool."
Agatha wanted to respect Dale, but in the eyes of others, she was trying to prevent Dale from marrying Meteor.
Considering the rumors that have always existed in the court, Agatha's attitude this time is simply an admission of the correctness of those rumors.
Family love?
Is there family affection in the Augustine family?
Fania thought he had found Agatha's weakness. If Dale married Meteor, Meteor would definitely leave Agatha. He said, "As an imperial princess, you should fulfill your responsibilities as a princess! Your three sisters did very well. Their husbands did not participate in the Celtic rebellion.
Meteor and the Raging Waves City he manages are extremely important to the empire, and I believe Meteor will treat Dai'er well, and Dai'er will be very happy in the Raging Waves City."
Agatha sticks to her promise to Dale.
"If Dai'er is willing to marry Yunxing, I will definitely bless her. But if Dai'er is unwilling to marry Yunxing, I will definitely protect her wishes. The kind-hearted Dai'er is different from us. She deserves the happiness that we expect but never have."
Fania was even more certain that this was Agatha's weakness, and he said to Emperor Augustine: "Father, as a father and as the Emperor of the Empire, we all obey your wishes."
If it were in the past, Emperor Augustine would certainly be willing to see Meteor fall to Fania, and perhaps he would give him the position of crown prince after he achieved some decent results on the southern front.
But now Augustine is very suspicious of meteorites. If Fania relies too much on meteorites, it will be detrimental to the empire.
You need to see for yourself what kind of person Meteorite is.
Emperor Augustine was very confident in his ability to judge people.
And thinking of his little daughter, Augustine found it hard to harden his heart. These days, Dale really came to accompany him whenever she had time, and happily talked about the interesting things she experienced in class.
Dale's pure innocence and kindness were unknowingly warming Augustine's cold heart.
"Faniya is right. As a princess of the empire, while enjoying a distinguished status, she also shoulders heavy responsibilities. But the empire is no longer an empire that needs princesses to marry to maintain stability.
Dai'er will get married when she comes of age. She has the right to choose her own happiness, but she must choose within the scope I set.
The palace will hold a coming-of-age ball for Dale, and all the noble children of the empire who are of marriageable age and unmarried can attend. I will send my blessings to every couple who are attracted to each other."
It is a tradition for the Imperial Palace to hold a coming-of-age ball for every adult prince and princess, but inviting all the eligible aristocratic children in the Empire is definitely a rare and grand event.
Augustine's move was obviously to hold a large blind date party in the name of Dale. Considering that it was wartime, it had more meaning. If it was done properly, the empire could collect a lot of benefits from it.
When they heard that Augustine was going to publicly recruit a husband for Princess Daier, all the cabinet ministers' expressions changed immediately.
They originally thought that they had nothing to do with the fight between the eldest prince and the eldest princess over the meteorite, but they ended up getting such a big surprise.
Who doesn’t have a few young people of the right age?
If he could win the favor of Princess Dale at the ball, it would be like picking up a big bargain in this royal struggle.
Prime Minister Gabriel immediately stated that he would make every effort to prepare for the coming-of-age ball for Princess Dale and ensure that the noble children who came to the imperial capital would witness the power of the empire.
Neither Fania nor Agatha expected that Augustine would suddenly change his strategy. Didn't he always want to marry Dale to Meteor?
What does father want to do?
After the Royal Cabinet meeting ended, all the approved topics were overshadowed by Princess Dale's coming-of-age ball.
Marrying a princess is a fairy tale for most people.
Now, the fairy tale is right before our eyes.
Emperor Augustine said that as long as Princess Daier likes the other person, he will give her his blessing.
All the nobles who were eligible to attend the ball were eager to participate. They received court etiquette training, took extra classes to learn literature and poetry, and invited the most professional dancers to undergo the most rigorous dance training.
They all fantasize about catching this crown that falls from the sky.
Luke, who was in Raging Waves City, also received news that the palace was going to hold a coming-of-age ball for Princess Dale. One message came from Copper Mulberry Avenue, and the other was from Agatha's handwritten letter sent by Kaileena.
Agatha said she couldn't see through her father's intentions. After all, he had privately said many times that he wanted to hand Dale over to Meteor. This time Fania brought it up in the cabinet meeting, and his attitude turned to a completely irrelevant direction.
That's not his style.
Luke couldn't figure out Augustine's intention. Was he really trying to attract all the noble children of the right age in the entire empire to the imperial capital?
So Luke wrote back to Agatha.
It means that no matter what Augustine the Great's intentions are, this is a good thing for Dale. She can choose who to like or who to dislike, which is a major breakthrough.
Then Luke told Agatha that he was now in Raging Waves City and would return to the imperial capital after finishing his business here.
The letter was sealed and sent out.
Luke sneaked back to the City of Raging Waves and stayed in the Sisise Palace of Viscount Iscolan. After sending the letter, Luke went to the private room on the second floor of the opera house, where he and Viscount Iscolan had an appointment to meet.
Iscolan had been waiting here early, and after Luke came in, he asked his men to guard outside.
"Governor, I heard some rumors from the Imperial Capital that you and the First Prince have jointly carried out an important military operation. Everyone in the Reform Society wants to know your intentions so that we can cooperate with you in your actions."
The Reform Society was established under the banner of the eldest princess. This time, Meteorite is so close to the eldest prince, which is bound to cause some confusion and discussion.
Luke drank red wine and enjoyed the opera on the stage below. He said casually: "There is not a single word in the Reform Society's charter that is loyal to the Princess. The Reform Society serves the interests of all members. Everything I do in the Imperial Capital is based on the interests of Raging Waves City, to ensure that what Raging Waves City has now and will have in the future will be recognized by the Empire."
Viscount Iscolan was shocked. Doesn't this mean following whoever has the possibility of becoming the emperor of the empire?
"Your Excellency the Governor..."
Luke turned around and said to Viscount Iscolan, who looked worried and confused, with a smile: "Convey my meaning to other members of the Reform Society and let them work for the society with peace of mind. Nothing will happen in Raging Waves City."
Viscount Iscolan understood immediately.
The Reform Society is now very large, and not everyone is loyal to the eldest princess. Governor Meteorite's inclination towards the eldest prince may be what most people want to see.
What the Governor just said was intended to send a wrong message to the outside world.
In fact, he is still loyal to Her Royal Highness the Princess.
"My Lord, I know what to do."
Luke nodded and said, "It's good for you to know this. I came back for an important purpose this time, which is to form a city militia."
Viscount Iscolan asked in surprise: "Are we going to fight?"
"Isn't the war going on?"
