Volume 3: Artifacts Chapter 21 Three-Party Choice
Holy Mountain, Duke's Castle.
The Duke of Celtic met the trusted sergeant sent by General Joshuel. The sergeant had been exhausted after riding all the way here, but he still managed to convey General Joshuel's message to the Duke of Celtic.
Duke Celtic did not expect that the consultant Quinton sent was killed by the meteorite, and the rock giants were discovered. He did not know how the meteorite knew about the Dreamland, and how it could lock up so many rock giants, but these did not seem to matter.
Sinclair issued a notice to give up his right to inherit the throne, which was absolutely fatal news to Tedega Hills. Tedega Hills was now thriving. Since the factory restriction was lifted, factories were everywhere. In addition, Rio and the Art Corps sent assistance, and some factories had already started production.
I have to say that machines are more efficient than manual work.
The Duke of Celtic was confident that within a year, the Barbarian Legion could complete a complete equipment change with the combination of self-production and external assistance, so that at least every soldier would have a set of sophisticated armor and weapons. Within a year and a half, basic supplies such as food and cloth could be supplied to the Barbarian Legion and the Northern Legion for wartime consumption.
At that time, the Barbarian Army and the Northern Army jointly launched an attack to the north, overthrowing the usurper queen and her party, and supporting the emperor's grandson Sinclair to ascend the throne. After the success, Tedega Hills can not only continue to maintain its independence, but also take the opportunity to bring the southern part of the empire into its own rule.
But if Sinclair gave up his right to inherit the throne, the entire Northern Army would return to the hands of the Empire. The Northern Army did not even need to launch an offensive, as long as it strictly enforced the blockade, the industrialization that had just begun in the Tedega Hills would die on the spot, and then they would be trapped to death.
That notice must not leave the Triumph Fortress, Agatha and Meteor must die, forcing Sinclair to raise an army.
"Why would His Royal Highness Sinclair agree to give up his right to inherit the throne? He has the most elite legions , and he has the support of ministers in the court. As long as he nods, Tedega Hill will be his most steadfast ally. What did Meteorite say to him that made him make such a ridiculous decision?"
Sinclair's decision was so incredible that the Duke of Celtic asked Sinclair in detail about his meeting with Meteor and Agatha.
General Joshuel's trusted non-commissioned officer attended the meeting and told the Duke of Celtic what it had contained.
When the Duke of Celtic heard Meteorite say that Tedega Hills had officially started the process of being incorporated into the direct jurisdiction of the Empire, all he could do was to speed up or slow down the process.
The Celtic Duke was stunned!
Have I fallen into the trap of the meteorite?
The Celtic Duke did not dare to underestimate the meteorite, and he immediately examined what he was doing.
After the factory ban in Tedejia Hills was lifted, Nutao City, as the largest import and export port in the empire, most of the materials ordered by the factory owners in the Holy Mountain were transported to Tedejia Hills through Nutao City. However, Nutao City did not block these materials that were obviously entering Tedejia Hills, which really made people confused about the intentions of Meteorite. The Duke of Celtic also sent people to investigate the incoming materials, and found no suspicious items except the materials themselves.
Factory construction and production require purchasing, so the Celtic Duke could only suppress his doubts.
Then there is the investment in livelihood facilities made by the Fury City Charity Organization in Tedejia Hills. Could it be that Meteorite wants to undermine his rule over Tedejia Hills by building roads, schools, hospitals, and improving water conservancy?
Baron Sergei said that these livelihood infrastructure projects were investments with no or low returns, and that the Raging Waves City charity organization could not make money, and that this was true charity. With the investment of these suckers, the factory owners of the Holy Mountain could invest their money in high-return factory production, which could greatly accelerate the industrialization of the Tedega Hills.
If you reject these charitable investments, you will have to pay for the money out of your own pocket.
Now, when the Duke of Celtic heard what Meteorite said to Sinclair, he immediately realized that Meteorite's attack on Tedega Hill must start from these two aspects.
But what Meteorite did was to help Tedga Hills complete industrialization as quickly as possible. It should only become stronger and stronger. Why did it seem like it was digging its own grave?
The Celtic Duke couldn't figure it out.
But if they want to stop the meteor from stealing Tedejia Hills, they must immediately stop all materials and personnel related to the City of Rage from entering. But Tedejia Hills can't afford this price. The factory restriction order has caused serious losses to the interests of some barbarians. If the ongoing industrialization is stopped based on suspicion alone, the human race will definitely be strongly dissatisfied.
The Celtic Duke finally understood what it meant... All he could do was speed up or slow down the process.
The fact that Yunxing dared to say this in public meant that he believed that there was nothing he could do even if he knew.
Meteorites must die!
Whatever he was doing with Tedega Hill, he couldn't do anything if he was dead.
The Duke of Celtic immediately sent someone to call Belgar, the third apostle of the Abyss Temple. As for what the sergeant close to Joshur said about the Northern Army being reorganized into the "Royal First Magic Army", he did not pay much attention. The barbarians had not yet figured out the steam industry, so naturally they did not know the level of magic technology.
Since the expulsion of the first apostle Victor, the Abyss Temple has now been completely controlled by the Duke of Celtic. The third apostle Belga received an order from the Duke of Celtic and immediately led a team of Abyss Mages to the Triumph Fortress.
Agatha and Meteorite will not stay in Triumph Fortress for too long, time is very urgent.
Triumphal Fortress.
All the gifts brought by the royal delegation were distributed, and each soldier received a new multi-purpose lunch box, soap, towels, some sausages and canned fruits. The legion reading room has many more books and picture albums, as well as many balls, cards and other leisure and entertainment items.
The soldiers got some of the caviar, red wine and other high-end foods that Meteorite mentioned. Although it wasn't much, everyone was very happy.
The condolence evening party was also prepared. A large bonfire was lit in the fortress square, and the officers and soldiers of the Northern Legion stationed in the Triumph Fortress enjoyed the performances of the artists who came with the condolence group.
His Royal Highness Sinclair reached a reconciliation with the Empire, and most of the officers and soldiers in the entire legion were relaxed.
The entire legion's senior command was extremely nervous.
Something big is going to happen tonight.
Sinclair boarded the royal delegation's train. Agatha and Luke were sitting in the dining car, enjoying their after-dinner dessert while watching the performance outside.
Sinclair sat down and said seriously, "General Joshua has just assembled a group of officers. They are all hardline hawks within the legion and have always opposed my giving up my right to inherit the throne. You will leave the Triumph Fortress tomorrow, and I think they will take action."
Luke asked the waiter to serve Sinclair a dessert and poured him a glass of red wine, then asked, "Is there any unusual movement from the Barbarian Legion?"
Sinclair replied: "Since there is a party at the Triumph Fortress tonight, I have specially sent people to patrol the surrounding strongholds. If the Barbarian Legion has any major actions, they will not be hidden from our surveillance. Small actions will not pose a threat to the Triumph Fortress.
Do you suspect... that General Joshua will seek help from the Duke of Celtic?"
The Barbarian Legion did not move, which meant that General Joshua did not dare to risk the life and death of the Northern Legion. What he could do was probably similar to what he had guessed, a small-scale mutiny to cause chaos and create opportunities for the assassin.
Now General Joshua has called together trusted officers; it appears that the assassins from the Holy Mountain are already in place.
Luke said to Sinclair, "Her Royal Highness and I both believe that General Joshull will not let us leave with your notice, but the success rate of inciting the Northern Army to encircle and kill us is not high, so he is most likely to ask the Duke of Celtic for an assassin to carry out the assassination.
If my prediction is correct, the assassin should have already infiltrated the soldiers outside."
Sinclair looked out the window and saw that the campfire was full of soldiers from the Northern Army. All the high places where people could stand were filled with people. Although there were imperial spies outside the train forming a human wall to prevent the soldiers from approaching, the number of spies was limited and they could only defend these important carriages.
"For your safety, we must end the party as soon as possible and keep the soldiers away from the train. I will go to General Joshua now and hope to convince him."
Sinclair was about to stand up, but Luke pushed him back down: "You stay here! Get out now, we can't protect you."
Sinclair said, "General Jossauer will not hurt me."
"But the Celtic Duke will."
Sinclair was stunned for a moment, then figured out what Luke meant.
Princess Agatha and Marquis Meteor were the assassins' primary targets, and he was the second target. Regardless of whether the assassins succeeded in assassinating Agatha and Meteor, as long as they kidnapped him, the notice would be worthless even if it reached the palace.
What the Celtic Duke wants is that the Northern Legion does not turn to the Empire. The process does not matter as long as the result is the same.
There may be secret passages in the fortress that have not been discovered. If chaos occurs later, I might really be captured by the enemy.
"Okay, I'll stay here. Perhaps General Joshull will give up the operation if he knows I'm here."
"I hope he gives up." Agatha said as she watched the performance outside.
At this time in General Joxus's room, more than a dozen senior military officers gathered around his desk, listening to General Joxus arrange tonight's operations.
"At ten o'clock, everyone move together. Do not carry weapons and do not cause large-scale chaos. We will put pressure on the condolence train in the name of admonishment, and try to gather as many soldiers as possible to join us. When the attention of the imperial spies is all drawn to us, the Abyss Mage can quickly deploy secret magic to pull the train into the space they have preset.
Most of the imperial spies are outside now. As long as we successfully pull the train into the preset space, Agatha and Meteor will be dead. "
On the desk in front of General Joshua was a map of Fort Triumph, which showed the location of each person involved in the operation and what they were supposed to do.
There are some red dots on and around the train, which are the locations where the Abyss Mage has placed secret words. Qiao Xiuer and the officers of his organization are trying to create time and space for the Abyss Mage to place secret words.
The action plan was not difficult at all for these officers.
Just as the officers took out their pocket watches to check the time, a trusted non-commissioned officer rushed in and said, "Commander, His Royal Highness Sinclair just boarded the train of the condolence delegation and has not come out yet."
What!
General Qiao Xiuer couldn't help but stand up and asked: "Your Highness, why are you looking for Agatha and Meteorite at this time?"
"His Highness didn't say. Commander, do you need us to call out His Highness Sinclair?"
"Quick..." General Joshua was about to order Sinclair to come out, but if he did so, Meteorite and Agatha might see through him. If he didn't call out Sinclair, he might be in danger during the upcoming assassination.
When General Joshua was thinking of an excuse to call Sinclair out of the train, a voice rang out from the corner: "Please rest assured, we will not harm His Highness Sinclair."
“Who’s there!”
The alert officers drew their weapons and pointed them at the dark corners of the house.
A dark shadow was swaying in the corner: "I am Belga, the third apostle of the Abyss Temple. Following the order of Duke Celtic, I came to the Triumph Fortress to assist General Qiao Shuer in assassinating the Empire's Princess Agatha and Meteor.
This is the first time that the Abyss Temple and the Northern Legion have cooperated, and it is a good start for both sides to turn enemies into friends."
Qiao Xiuer signaled the officers to put away their weapons, and then asked Belga: "Can you really guarantee the safety of His Highness Sinclair?"
"Of course, if something unexpected happens to His Highness Sinclair, the Northern Army will be the mortal enemy of the Barbarian Army. We will not do such a stupid thing."
General Qiao Xiuer asked again: "Will you kidnap His Highness?"
Belga smiled and replied: "As a future ally, I think I should tell you the truth. Yes... Another order given to me by the Duke of Celtic is to take away His Highness Sinclair.
His Highness Sinclair will not be harmed in any way in the Holy Mountain, and he will be treated with the courtesy that matches his status. When we successfully seize the palace, the Duke of Celtic will personally escort His Highness Sinclair to the throne that belongs to him. "
"That's not in our cooperation agreement," General Joshua said.
"It is not in the cooperation agreement. But General, you cannot control His Highness Sinclair. We can prevent him from announcing his renunciation of the throne this time, but we may not be able to prevent him from doing so next time. His Highness Sinclair is too young. He does not know what the throne means, nor does he know the responsibilities his bloodline has bestowed upon him. As the successor to His Highness Fania's will, you must have the courage to correct His Highness Sinclair's mistakes, even if you have to do something disrespectful.
Please trust the Duke of Celtic, he has never regarded the Augustine family as an enemy, and the barbarians have always abided by the covenant of their ancestors. Now the Duke has lifted the factory ban, he did the same thing as Augustine the Great, and the conflict between Tedega Hill and the Empire has disappeared.
Our common goal is to confirm the health of Emperor Augustine, expel the usurper queen, and eliminate the Falling Star faction that intends to seize the empire."
General Joshua thought for a moment and said, "Yes, we cannot let His Highness Sinclair continue to be deceived. Let him live in the Holy Mountain until we regain the throne for him!"
