Volume 2: Empire Chapter 74: Sandstorm
Ham took away more than ten bottles of water element essence and easily dealt with all the sand bandits gathered in the Jiaomu camp. Qingkong once again showed his strength, making them glad for their choice, otherwise they might really be drowned in the desert.
With the guarantee of clear sky, they set off after a rest. They rode three camels, led three spare camels and four pack animals carrying supplies, and headed westwards towards the Harmutu Basin.
If you want to reach the ancestors' grassland within a week, you must reduce your rest time and travel day and night, and you cannot be delayed by other things in the middle.
The Jiaomu camp disappeared in the wind and sand, and the trail of footprints left by the camel caravan on the sand was quickly buried by the dust.
At the same time, a train was traveling on the Gobi Desert hundreds of kilometers away from Jiaomu Camp. The steam generated by the pressure relief formed white smoke, drawing a white cloud belt above the train.
The sound of the whistle echoed far and wide across the vast Gobi Desert.
After the train passed a rocky hill, more than ten horses suddenly jumped out from the other side of the boulder. On the horses were bandits wrapped in robes. They waved their weapons and made a "whooshing" sound, desperately urging the horses to speed up.
The sand bandits on horseback lined up close to the railway, kept a constant speed parallel to the train, and then nimbly jumped onto the horses' backs.
Just as the sand bandits were about to jump onto the train, the carriage door opened from the inside, and several men dressed as imperial spies drew their swords and swung several blades at the sand bandits.
When the sand bandits saw the guards in the carriage, they immediately gathered sand and gravel to form a barrier in front of them, and all the sword beams that came at them hit the barrier.
Then several magicians used short-distance flight to fly out from the front carriage and rushed towards the sand bandits who were chasing them, with powerful magic condensed on the magic wands in their hands.
Seeing this scene, the sand bandits knew they had robbed the wrong train and immediately turned their horses around and ran away from the train.
The magicians did not pursue, but quickly returned to the receiving carriage, and the train continued to run forward.
The bandits made a big circle and returned to the ambush site. No one was frustrated by the failure of an ambush. Even a lion that is good at hunting may not always catch prey.
This is the daily routine along the western border of the empire. Behind the high-profit business opportunities is the risk of high mortality, and not every train can withstand the attacks of the sand bandits.
"Your Highness, the Princess, Your Excellency the Governor, we have just encountered another attack by sand bandits, and the military train guards have repelled them."
In the luxurious carriage near the locomotive, Luke and Agatha sat on leather seats and listened to the report of an imperial spy. This was the fourth time they had been attacked by sand bandits since entering the West Territory, and they were a little numb.
Agatha said, "I see. Go check the guards of each carriage and make them cheer up. We brought a lot of supplies this time, including supplies for the Western Legion and goods for the Harmutu Basin."
"As you command, Your Highness the Princess."
After the spy left, Agatha looked at Luke, who was sitting opposite her. She noticed that he was looking at the desert outside, so she said, "The grass is getting thicker and thicker. We should be getting to the Crescent Oasis soon. I feel like my body is about to fall apart after sitting on the train for a few days.
When we get to Crescent City, we'll take a shower, have a good rest for a day, and then we'll head to Harmutu."
Luke continued to look out the window. Although he could see a little green, it was still extremely desolate. He couldn't help but sigh, "It's a great feat that the Empire built a railway here. Otherwise, it would take nearly a month to travel here relying solely on animal power, and most of the animals they carried would be consumed on the way."
Agatha couldn't help but say with deep emotion: "I heard that when my father ascended the throne, everyone in the court wanted to give up Crescent Oasis. It is too difficult to station an army in Crescent Oasis that can control the western border.
It was my father who defied all odds and used up all the money in the treasury to build the railway to Crescent City. So far, although the Empire could not control the entire Western Territory, the Western Territory could not escape the influence of the Empire.
I still remember when I was a child, the tribes in the western border went to the imperial capital to pay tribute. All the leaders and nobles were shocked by the power of the empire. That was the first year when the Crescent Railway was opened to traffic. "
Luke could understand how the tribes in the Western Territory felt when they saw this continuous railway and the trains running on it.
He then asked: "Since the Empire has already built the railway to the Crescent Oasis, why not continue to build it into the Halmutu Basin?"
Agatha said helplessly: "The traditional forces in the West in the Halmutu Basin are too strong, and they do not allow the railway to be built in. They are afraid that if the power of the empire enters Halmutu, their own power will be gone.
I have said that the nobles in the West are very conservative, and for them, family interests are above all else."
Luke nodded.
When the nobles of the West Territory saw the transportation capacity of the railway, they knew that once the railway extended into the hinterland of the West Territory, they would be like fish on the chopping board facing the powerful empire. Only by preventing the imperial forces from entering the West Territory could they keep their power and enjoy it.
As for poverty and backwardness, what does it have to do with them?
Luke said, "I can foresee that our mission to the West will be very difficult. The nobles in the West must know that once the Empire has dealt with the Celtic Duke, they will be able to deal with them.
They have no power to stop the imperial army from advancing."
Agatha agreed with Luke's assessment of the situation in the West: "Therefore, we must let the nobles in the West know that the Empire will definitely defeat the Duke of Celtic, so that they will consider negotiating with the Empire and protect part of their family's interests while they still have bargaining chips.
But the thoughts of many old nobles are still stuck in the glorious days of the Brotherhood of the Blade, clinging to the honor and power bestowed upon them by their ancestors.
But up to now, I still don't have much idea about how to deal with them. After passing the Crescent Oasis, the Empire has few means to use. "
Luke turned his gaze away from the scenery outside the window, looked at Agatha and said with a slight smile: "To break a stubborn rock, it is not enough to rely solely on the strength of your fist. But as long as you find the right tools, even the hardest stone can be broken."
Luke's words aroused Agatha's great interest. Looking at Luke's expression, Agatha asked tentatively, "Since you use this metaphor, does it mean that you already have a solution to the problem in the West?"
Luke picked up the teacup from the table: "I have thought of a way."
Agatha immediately asked: "What is the solution?"
Luke took a sip of tea and said mysteriously, “It’s not that I don’t believe you, but I always believe that only those who are supposed to know something can ensure that things go smoothly.
I have already sent out the people to carry out the mission. I don't know what effect it will achieve yet, so I can only wait patiently."
Agatha was very upset that she didn't get an answer, but her trust in Meteorite made her put down some of the burden in her heart. Think about what Meteorite had done in Raging Waves City and Saint Lun City. When did he not grab a fatal place when no one knew about it?
During this mission to Halmutu, he must have discovered the weaknesses of those stubborn nobles.
"I'm already looking forward to what surprise you can give me." At this time, a large grassland appeared outside the train, and a flock of sheep flashed past the window. The sudden green and vitality made Agatha feel better. She asked Luke: "We have arrived at Crescent Oasis. What do you want me to do? How can I cooperate with you?"
"Relax and enjoy the journey from now on. Forget about your duties as the eldest princess and imagine how Princess Daier would play if she came to this foreign land.
Let all those who are watching us see that our coming to the Western Territory is just a formality. Our attitude should not make them feel that they are big shots who can influence the empire.
Maybe as they play around, they will come to terms with it.”
Hearing Meteor's advice, Agatha couldn't help but laugh: "It is absolutely a wise decision for your father to ask you to accompany me on my mission to the Western Territory. The nobles in the Western Territory know that the princess of the empire is coming, and they must think that they are important figures who can influence the future of the empire. If I give them too much courtesy, it will only make them raise their own status; and if I ignore them, it will give them a huge psychological gap.
It should make your work go more smoothly!"
Luke smiled and said, "Yes, just like in Raging Waves City and the Imperial Capital. You let those people have wild thoughts in the open, and I did everything I should do in the dark. By the time they realized what was happening... it was too late."
Agatha, in a good mood, picked up the teacup and said, "Let us, as a team, create another storm in the West."
Luke clinked glasses with Agatha: "It should be a sandstorm."
"Hahaha, it's...it's a sandstorm."
After about an hour's journey, the imperial delegation's special train stopped at the Crescent City Railway Station. The mayor of Crescent City, officials from the City Government Office, and the imperial military generals came to greet them, and then the delegation took the train to the headquarters building of the Imperial Western Legion to meet with the second prince, Alec.
After meeting with the members of the delegation, the second prince Alex took Agatha and Luke to the heavily defended Western Border Strategic Command Room.
On the wall of the command room hangs a large map of the terrain and forces in the Western Territory, which is densely marked with intelligence that the empire has on the Western Territory.
The door closed and the three of them sat down. Alex did not talk about the current situation in the West, but asked about any changes in the palace.
"I heard that after Dale's coming-of-age ceremony, my father no longer attended the cabinet meetings. Many important matters were left to the cabinet to handle, and only those that required his approval were sent to his study. In addition, the queen also began to participate in the empire's political affairs!"
After Dai'er's coming-of-age ceremony, the changes in the imperial court were indeed beyond everyone's expectations .
The cancellation of the Imperial Cabinet meeting gave the cabinet greater power.
The Queen assists the Emperor in approving government affairs, and gradually influences the decision-making of the empire on behalf of the Queen.
People who were familiar with Augustus the Great could not understand how he could possibly share the power in his hands.
But what is certain is that Princess Dale is not powerful enough to make Emperor Augustine make such major policy changes, and Augustine had secretly seen the meteorite before making these decisions.
After that, there will be great rewards.
If you want to know the answer, you can probably only get it from the meteorite.
Agatha didn't get the answer from Luke, so she naturally had no idea of her father's intention. She said to Alex, "Maybe my father feels that he doesn't have enough energy to handle all government affairs, so he delegated some affairs to the cabinet.
As for the Queen...from what I heard, she is only responsible for reading documents to my father and does not make any suggestions."
Agatha's answer did not satisfy Alec, and he said: "I know our father, he must have a more important reason for doing this.
Governor Meteorite, can you give me an answer? His Majesty made this important decision after having dinner with you."
Luke sat a little further away so that he could see the whole map of the western border. When he heard Alex ask him, he replied, "Your Majesty and I just talked about the economic development plan for the eastern coastal areas of the empire, which has been jointly implemented by the City of Raging Waves and the Cabinet.
As for why Your Majesty made those adjustments?
You don’t know, how would I know?
But it is better for His Majesty to let the Queen read the documents in the study than to let the eldest prince Fania read the documents in the study. His Majesty will give you another chance. Maybe in his mind... he likes you, the second prince, more."
Although Alec didn't get an answer from Luke, the last sentence made him happy.
In fact, after coming to the West, stepping out of the court circle broadened his horizons a lot, and he also realized how wise it was for him to follow Agatha's advice and come to the West.
He could not defeat the eldest prince by staying in the imperial capital. After annihilating the abyss wizard lurking in the imperial capital, the entire court tended to side with the eldest prince.
Now that I have arrived in the Western Territory and have taken over the army so smoothly, I can feel that my father sent me to the Western Territory to show my abilities.
This time, when my father made an important decision, he gave so much power to the cabinet, but he would rather let the queen who knew nothing assist in the government than give the eldest prince the opportunity to increase his power.
If this isn’t father’s favoritism, then what is it?
Alex's mood immediately improved. Since he left the imperial capital, the eldest prince has become an eyesore.
If there were a major change in the palace in a short period of time, Fania could naturally sit on the throne with her own advantages. But if it took a long time, the competitiveness between herself and Fania would be reversed in a state of one gaining while the other losing.
As long as he could make achievements in the western border, he might be officially named the crown prince. At that time... the Northern Legion would be stuck in the southern battlefield. What use would the Fourth Division of the Saint Lun City Garrison Army be ?
Agatha and Meteorite were sent to the West at this time. Wasn't it because his father was helping him to achieve an unprecedented feat?
It turns out... I am the son that the emperor loves most!
Anyway, it doesn’t matter why my father made such an important decision . What matters is how to cooperate with this mission and create a big event in the Western Territory!
Alex said in high spirits: “Father has always been far-sighted, so we won’t speculate on his intentions.
I have long been informed that you will be going on a diplomatic mission to the Western Territory, and the entire Western Legion of the Empire has also entered a state of combat readiness. The troops that will protect the diplomatic mission are ready to go, and the necessary supplies and laborers are all in place.
The entire escort and support team consists of 5,000 people.
I will also order the Western Legion to dispatch elite cavalry to deter all parties in the Western Border. Anyone who dares to harm the delegation will be punished by the iron hoof of the empire!"
