Volume 2: Empire Chapter 90: The Status of the Royal Court
At this time, Qingkong was standing by the window of the room, wearing a coat covered with dust. He shook off the sand and took off the coat, revealing the magic professor robe of Oulu College.
Then Qingkong walked towards the door of the room and said, "It seems that I arrived just in time. You guys continue to talk, I'm going to take a rest, and let me know when you are going to take action."
Qingkong opened the door and walked out, asking the servant waiting outside to take him to find a room to rest.
During the whole process, Count Urd was stunned.
This elf is so bold that he dares to be so rude to the eldest princess of the empire.
Looking at the eldest princess again, she seemed to be accustomed to the elf's behavior. Not only was she not angry about it, but she looked happy instead.
Count Urd asked carefully: "Which master is this elven magician?"
Now that the clear sky has arrived, Agatha knows that Meteor has revealed his cards. Although she doesn't know what exactly has happened, she can just sit and wait for victory as before.
Agatha said to Count Urd in a happy mood: "This is Miss Qingkong, the head of the Department of Mystic Arts of Oulu College in Nutao City, the dean of the Saint Lun City branch of Oulu College, and a senator of the Upper House of Nutao City.
In the battles between Raging Waves City and Saint Lun City against the Abyss Temple, Miss Qingkong successively killed the seventh apostle Harriman, the fifth apostle Portlem, and the fourth apostle Morris of the Abyss Temple.
No matter which apostle the Abyss Temple sends, just let Miss Qingkong deal with it."
After hearing that the elven wizard who just passed by was such a person, Count Urd couldn't help but stand in awe, and at the same time was glad that he surrendered in time. It was obvious that the Princess and Governor Meteor were ready to close the net, and his arrival only reduced their difficulty.
"Your Highness, Governor General, when will we wipe out the rebels?"
Agatha looked at Luke and asked, "When do you think is a good time?"
Luke waited for Qingkong to arrive in the room and log off. The red battery level on his phone made him sweat.
Prices in Sun City are rising, and great nobles from the West have arrived. Luke knows that the decisive round may begin at any time, so he asks Qingkong to come to Sun City for support as quickly as possible.
Qingkong handed over the task of forming the Moonlight Court Elders' Council to Golan, the high priest of the Fierce War Song, and left Jennifer and the others to participate in the Harvest , while he himself rushed to Sun City at full speed.
Fortunately, they arrived before the battery was completely exhausted, and Luke immediately took Clear Sky offline to recharge and prepare for the upcoming battle.
Hearing Agatha's question, Luke asked Count Urd, "When are they going to start?"
"Gather at 2 a.m. and launch a full-scale attack on the castle on the central island at 3 a.m. At that time, a wizard will freeze the lake, and the rebels can use the ice to encircle this place."
Luke pulled out his pocket watch and checked the time.
10:23 am.
Luke considered restoring as much power as possible for Qingkong, and after some consideration, he said: "In besieging us, Erguya will definitely go all out and not give the Western Territory nobles any room to turn around. He will gather all the forces he brought to Sun City and throw everything into the battle tonight.
This gives us the opportunity to gather them all together and destroy them.
Since the rebels set the time at 3 a.m., we also set the time at 3 a.m. At that time, Her Royal Highness the Princess will be responsible for defending the castle and stabilizing the nobles in the Western Territory. The Earl, Miss Qingkong and I will concentrate our forces to deal with Erguya. "
Agatha considered Luke's strategy.
The nobles in the Western Territory were more shrewd than the others, and they certainly did not want to bear the crime of killing the eldest princess of the empire, so as long as Erguya did not take action, they would definitely not move. By staying in the middle and stabilizing the nobles in the Western Territory, he could buy time for the encirclement and suppression of Erguya.
"Okay, let's follow Governor Meteorite's plan."
Count Urd discussed some details of the joint operation in the evening with Agatha and Luke, and then quietly left the Central Lake Castle.
Luke also recounted what he had done in Sun City during this period and the changes in the ancient grasslands.
After hearing that the World Tree has revived and the Moonlight Court has been established, Qingkong is now the Moonlight Queen.
Agatha was completely stunned.
"You, are you kidding me? Clear Sky came from the Prairie of the Ancients, was a fierce war song, and now is the queen of the Moonlight Court?"
Luke spread his hands helplessly: "I just asked Qingkong to go to the grasslands of the ancestors to revive the world tree and gather the barbarian power to put pressure on Earl Urd, but I didn't expect that this world tree would share the legacy of the previous generation of world tree with Qingkong.
Clear Sky is a fierce war song, and has the rationale to lead the barbarians in the west."
Agatha could only slowly accept this information, while thinking about the impact that the appearance of the Moonlight Court would have on the western border of the empire.
She quickly asked Luke, "Qingkong has become the queen of the Moonlight Court. Even I have to address her as 'Your Majesty' when I see her. Her status has seriously distanced her from yours. Can your relationship still be as stable as before?"
Luke answered affirmatively: "My relationship with Qingkong will not be shaken by any changes."
"Why?" Agatha demanded.
Luke smiled meaningfully and said, "No comment, you just need to know this fact."
Agatha couldn't understand how the relationship between Meteorite and Qingkong could be so strong. Although Qingkong had denied that she and Meteorite were lovers, even if they were lovers, it was impossible for them to have such an unbreakable relationship.
If what Meteorite said is true, the Empire must reconsider how to treat Clear Sky and Meteorite.
"The Empire has dominion over the West!"
Agatha said what she cared about most. Although the Empire had never really entered the West, it had always claimed that the West was the Empire's territory. Now the Moonlight Court suddenly appeared in the West, and it naturally had a centripetal force towards the barbarians in the West. It was an existence that could truly split this vast land from the Empire's territory.
Luke knew that the appearance of the Moonlight Court had put a lot of pressure on Agatha. If it wasn't handled properly, it could become a more serious incident than the rebellion of the West Territory nobles.
"The World Tree is a great existence that existed at the same time as the five ancient civilizations. Although it was destroyed in the ancient war, its remaining roots have still nourished the Western Territory for thousands of years. Miss Qingkong traveled around the world to find a way to revive the World Tree, and now she has succeeded.
Now the Empire must face up to the existence of the World Tree and respect its influence in the West ."
Agatha said: "The Empire must not give up the West Territory now, otherwise our war against the Tedega Hills will have no legal support. I hope that the Moonlight Court will declare itself a vassal state of the Golden Shield Empire, and the Empire can grant the Moonlight Court the greatest autonomy in the West Territory.
This is the limit of what the Empire can compromise.”
Of course, Luke would not agree to such a request, and he also knew that it would be difficult for Agatha to make further concessions. He said as a friend: "Agatha, you have not yet figured out how much impact the revival of the World Tree will have on the world.
Because the Moonlight Royal Court inherited the legacy of the previous generation of the World Tree, it was equivalent to the existence of the five ancient civilizations. And because the previous generation of the World Tree was destroyed in the ancient war, the Moonlight Royal Court was the victim and should hold the five ancient civilizations accountable.
Do you think the Moonlight Royal Court can deal with the five ancient civilizations as a vassal state? Which benefit can the empire get more from the compensation demanded by the Moonlight Royal Court or from a vassal state with a high degree of autonomy? "
Luke's words instantly made Agatha's mind come alive.
She whispered to Luke, "The Moonlight Kingdom is still demanding compensation from the five ancient civilizations?"
"Of course we have to pay compensation!" Luke said firmly, "What did the previous generation of the World Tree do to anyone? It nurtures all living things without asking for anything in return. Five civilizations just fought and burned down such a great World Tree. Why?
In the past, no one could speak for the World Tree. Now that the current World Tree that inherits the previous generation of World Tree has grown, it is completely reasonable and legal for the Moonlight Royal Court to hold the heirs of the five ancient civilizations accountable. "
Agatha felt that what Meteorite said made a lot of sense.
The previous generation of World Tree had never participated in the ancient wars, and was completely caught in the crossfire. As the successor of the previous generation of World Tree, this generation of World Tree held the five ancient civilizations accountable, which was absolutely the highest moral point, and the five ancient civilizations had no way to refute it.
Although the five ancient civilizations are very low-key now and not as powerful as before, they are all civilizations composed of extraordinary species after all, and a lean camel is bigger than a horse. If they come out to cause trouble, no country can handle it.
If the Moonlight Court really pursued the five ancient civilizations for compensation, it would be inappropriate for the Empire to include the Moonlight Court as a vassal state. Moreover, if the Moonlight Court angered the five ancient civilizations and the World Tree was burned again, the Empire should stand further away.
But allowing the Moonlight Court to cut the Western Territory off from the empire's territory was a real headache for the empire, and it was unable to quell the internal opposition.
"Is there no other more suitable solution?" Agatha asked Luke, and said firmly: "You must have a way."
Luke also knew that given the current situation of the Golden Shield Empire, taking the Western Territory away would mean the death of the Empire. Moreover, the Moonlight Court's rule was spiritual, so the size of the territory was not important.
"The Western Territory still belongs to the Empire, but the barbarian tribes and oases that are affiliated with the Moonlight Royal Court must govern themselves. The Moonlight Kingdom's territory is the Oasis of the Ancients, and it enjoys the same independent autonomy as the Golden Shield Empire.
This is the bottom line, we can't give in any further!"
Agatha imagined the location of the western border and the grasslands of the ancestors. According to the division of the meteorite, the Moonlight Royal Court is a country within a country embedded in the western border of the Golden Shield Empire, and the area is not too large. Considering the special status of the World Tree, it is not a bad idea to give this oasis to the Moonlight Royal Court for independence.
As for the autonomy of the barbarians in the western border... the empire has no control over that. As for future matters, they can be dealt with later. Now we should solve the current problems first.
"This is probably a division that both sides can barely accept. And the Moonlight Royal Court cannot be treated as a country in the traditional sense. On behalf of the Golden Shield Empire, I can acknowledge that the Moonlight Royal Court is an equal to the Empire, but the division of territory still requires the approval of the Emperor of the Empire."
Luke said cheerfully, "Qingkong has to go back to the imperial capital anyway, so he can talk to His Majesty when he has time."
Agatha couldn't help but ask, "Qingkong Xiao... Is Her Majesty going to Saint Lun City for a visit? Or is she staying there permanently?"
"Privately, we should call her Qingkong. We are all friends. There is no need to make things too distant." Luke said with a smile, "Qingkong and I have communicated through magic messengers. She feels that she has been away from the grasslands of the ancestors for too long and is unfamiliar with many things. Therefore, she established the Council of Elders in the Royal Court. All the affairs of the Royal Court are under the charge of the Council of Elders. She... will return to Saint Lun City to continue to be her magic professor, and teach those children while learning."
Agatha was surprised to hear that Qingkong gave up her role as queen and returned to the academy to continue being a magic professor: "Ms. Qingkong's broad mind is admirable."
Luke rubbed his head, which was a little tired from overthinking, and said to Agatha, "Didn't you just say that the Moonlight Court is not a country in the traditional sense, and Qingkong wants to hold the five ancient civilizations accountable on behalf of the World Tree. It is much more convenient to negotiate with them in Saint Lun City or Raging Wave City than in the Moonlight Court.
Let's just leave the discussion of the Moonlight Court here. After all, there's plenty of time in the future and we can talk about anything slowly.
What remains is to recruit the sand bandits and let them open up trade routes to the west.
With the oppression of the Moonlight Court and the surrender of Count Urd, the construction of the railway between Crescent City, Sun City and Moonlight Court could be promoted. With the railway as the main road and the trade route opened up by the Western Border Logistics Company, the trade exchanges between the Empire and the Western Border Barbarians could be increased.
In this way, the nobles of the Western Territory would not be able to act as middlemen, and would naturally return to their original position. They could easily become wealthy by relying on the output of their own territories, but they definitely did not have the financial resources to support a strong army.
At that time, the crisis in the western region will be resolved."
“No, as long as tonight passes, those Western nobles will be able to see their future.
You have permanently eliminated the threat to the west for the empire."
Luke laughed and said, "It seems that when I return to the imperial capital this time, I can receive His Majesty's reward again."
Agatha smiled bitterly and said, "I don't know what kind of reward my father will give me this time to match your contribution to the empire and the other status you have gained because of the Moonlight Royal Court."
Luke stood up easily: "That is something your Majesty needs to worry about. Now all we need to consider is how to do the job tonight cleanly and beautifully.
I will go and mobilize and select the men for tonight's attack."
Luke says goodbye to Agatha and leaves.
Agatha sat there for a long time without moving. She looked at the sky outside the window and the sand that was shaken off by the clear sky.
With Qingkong's strength, she could have been less embarrassed, but for the sake of Meteorite, she didn't care about her identity as the queen at all, and came all the way from the grasslands of the ancestors alone to provide reinforcements.
Even if he returns to Saint Lun City to live permanently in the future, the main reason may be to protect the meteorite.
What is their relationship?
And...how should the empire and myself treat the meteorite that controls the Moonlight Court, the World Tree and the Raging Waves City in the future?
