Volume 3: Artifacts Chapter 27 Do you understand what I mean?
The room fell into a brief silence, so quiet that one could almost hear the heartbeats of the three people. This was a mental game, and everyone had a goal they wanted to achieve.
Luke looked at Sinclair standing in the corner. He had no expression on his face and did not make eye contact with General Joshua. Then Luke said to Joshua, "Your Highness Sinclair asks the Princess Royal and me to spare your life."
Qiao Xiuer showed no surprise, and said calmly: "You finally have an excuse to execute me, so you probably won't agree to His Highness Sinclair. After all, if I die, you can better control His Highness Sinclair and complete your crime of stealing the country!"
"Yes, this is a good opportunity to get rid of you." Luke nodded in agreement: "If you die, all the political legacy left by Prince Fania will soon collapse, and His Royal Highness Sinclair will be able to safely perform the duties entrusted to him by the Empire. After the reorganization of the Northern Army, it will belong to the Empire, and the Tedega Hills will be in the Empire's pocket.
Unfortunately, in order to keep you alive, His Highness Sinclair made an offer that we could not refuse."
"What conditions?" Qiao Xuer looked at Sinclair, already having a bad feeling in his heart.
Luke narrowed his eyes at Joshua and said slyly, "In order for us to spare your life, His Royal Highness Sinclair is willing to give up his royal status and no longer use the surname Augustine."
"No!" Qiao Xiuer stood up excitedly and shouted to Sinclair: "How can you have such a stupid idea? Are you worthy of your dead father and mother? Are you worthy of my teachings to you?
They can do whatever they want with me, but you are destined to become the emperor of the empire!
You must not be bound by any emotion, you must have the heart of an emperor!"
Sinclair replied: "Uncle Joshua, please don't get excited. As long as you promise not to do anything harmful to the empire, you can live."
Qiao Xiuer was very angry: "I have never done anything to harm the empire. Instead, the Queen and Meteor are working together to steal the empire. I can die, but my spirit will definitely be inherited by someone.
Sinclair, you must live well with the honor of the Augustine family, and never give the power of the Northern Army to anyone else. He is the most precious treasure your father left you. "
Sinclair was afraid that what Joshuel said would anger Meteorite, so he urged him anxiously, "Uncle Joshuel, please calm down. If you listen to Marquis Meteorite, I can keep my royal status, and you may not have to die."
Qiao Xiuer looked at the seated Luke again and asked hatefully, "Are you so kind? What conspiracy are you planning?"
"Sit down!" Luke ordered.
Sinclair might lose his royal status, which made Joshua a little apprehensive. He sat back heavily in his chair, stared at Luke and said, "What on earth do you want to do?"
Luke replied: "I want to create a super empire that has never existed since human civilization."
Qiao Xiuer laughed and said, "The current Golden Shield Empire has been shattered by you. I don't know how many people want to overthrow you. You are still dreaming of creating a super empire that has never existed before. I think you are digging your own grave."
“Whether I am digging my own grave or not, I don’t know yet, but I am definitely doing it.”
Luke said this seriously, and Qiao Xuer stopped smiling.
"Are you telling the truth?"
Luke smiled and said, "Of course it's true. Your Majesty and I once had a special one-on-one meeting, and we worked out the prototype of this super empire together. Therefore, Your Majesty specially approved the expansion of Nutao City and included the eastern coastal cities of the empire into the Nutao City economic zone.
Now, Raging Waves City is not only the center of the empire's wealth, but also the engine for the empire to extract wealth from all over the world. Even though the empire is fighting two wars and has various internal consumptions, the empire's finances are still very healthy.
If the Empire can resolve the security issues of the North, the Tedega Hills, and the West, the integrated Empire will have the foundation to become a superpower."
General Qiao Shuer recognized the status of Raging Waves City in the empire and the world.
Wars are fought with real money, especially for an industrially armed army like the Northern Army, which is a money-eating beast. Since the Northern Army came to the Tedega Hills to fight, the Empire's logistical supply to the army has never been delayed or interrupted.
The Empire not only supported the Northern Army to fight in the Tedega Hills, but also built the Snow Army from scratch. From the movement of the Northern Front in the Spring War, it can be seen that the Snow Army has a strong combat effectiveness.
The combat effectiveness of a new legion largely comes from weapons and equipment and logistical supplies, which shows that the empire's finances have not been affected by the war.
This shows that Emperor Augustine had the foresight to suddenly and vigorously support the city of Nutao, provide land for urban expansion, and divide the city into economic zones, which led to the current strong national strength.
This was something Qiao Xuer had not expected. Emperor Augustine not only had economic arrangements in Raging Waves City, he even had plans to create a super empire.
And the person who created the super empire was actually a meteorite.
Qiao Xiuer said half-doubtfully: "We don't know what you talked about with His Majesty. Of course, the content is whatever you want to say."
Luke nodded and acknowledged Joshua’s suspicion: “Yes, lies can be told casually, but what is happening will not lie.
The World Tree is revived, and ancient civilizations that have been secluded for thousands of years are born. There are even more ancient creatures staring at this thriving world. A super empire is not just a great existence that we want to create subjectively, but only a super empire can survive in a new civilization war. "
General Joshuel couldn't help but be moved by Luke's words.
Although he has been in the Triumph Fortress, he is also paying close attention to the changes in the empire and the world.
Since the World Tree revived, major world-class historical events have occurred one after another. Angels forcibly descended on the Imperial Palace, and the five ancient civilizations gathered in Saint Lun City.
Anyone with a brain can guess that something big is going to happen.
Is it true, as the meteorite said, that this is the beginning of the battle between civilizations?
General Joshua asked Luke: " Do you think that by telling me this, I will approve of your invasion of the Empire? This is not the legal basis for your usurpation of power!"
"But only by doing so can we quickly complete the unification and integration of the empire."
General Joshua laughed and said, "You finally admit that you are usurping power."
Luke said nonchalantly, "After the Grand Prince Fania launched a coup and stormed into the palace, something unspeakable happened. Fania was killed by His Majesty, and I, Queen Christina, Princess Agatha, and even His Majesty's most trusted Chief Royal Knight Milscom all believed that His Majesty was no longer fit to run the empire.
Therefore, we have unanimously decided to continue to carry out His Majesty's last order, with Queen Christina as regent."
General Qiao Xiuer asked: "What happened to your majesty?"
Luke refused to answer: "It is a matter of your majesty's honor."
General Qiao Xiuer said unwillingly: "If Your Majesty really can no longer rule the empire, his direct descendants should be regents. It should never be the turn of the queen who has not given birth to Your Majesty's children."
Luke sneered, “Your Majesty has never appointed a crown prince because he believes that none of his descendants are capable of leading the empire forward in the future world tide.
As for me, the eldest prince Fania and the second prince Alec have their own interest groups behind them. In the eyes of those big families, family interests are far higher than national interests. Once they are in power, I will fall into endless internal disputes.
Queen Christina comes from a vassal state of the Empire. She has no roots in the Empire, so she can only rely on me. The City of Raging Tide, which I rule, can provide the Empire with officials with a global vision. This allows the entire Empire to have only one voice from top to bottom, and to perfectly complete all my policies, so that we can avoid internal friction and concentrate our efforts on doing great things. "
This is the powerful official who has been criticized by countless people.
But General Joshua had to admit the benefits of such top-down consistency in policy, especially in turbulent times when internal friction can be more serious than the consequences of wrong policy.
Moreover, the officials trained by the bureaucratic system of Nutao City are much better at making money and seeing opportunities than the old officials of the empire.
General Joshua argued: "Where do you put the authority of the royal family by doing this?"
Luke smiled and replied, "All your struggles are because you are unwilling to see His Highness Sinclair lose his right to inherit the throne. But you also saw that His Highness Sinclair gave up his royal status for you. As you said , he does not have an emperor's heart.
Pushing him to a higher position during this special period will only harm him.”
General Qiao Xiuer heard another meaning from Luke: "If it weren't for the special period, would you support His Royal Highness Sinclair to become the emperor of the empire?"
Luke looked at Sinclair and replied, "General Joshua, you don't have to ask me to make any promises for the unforeseeable future. If it were peacetime, Sinclair would definitely be an accomplished emperor, but while I am building a super empire to deal with future dangers, I don't want to worry about who will become the emperor.
You are putting His Royal Highness Sinclair in danger.
Do you understand what I mean?"
Sinclair said at this time: "Uncle Joshua, one of the reasons why I gave up my right to inherit the throne is that I believe I cannot lead the empire out of this vortex, but the Marquis of Meteorite has the ability to do so.
Who will become the emperor of the empire in the future? Why not let us decide?
As long as you promise not to endanger the security of the empire again, you will become a civilian and then serve as a lecturer at the Imperial Military Academy.
Her Royal Highness the Princess also agreed ."
General Joshuel asked Luke: "As long as I promise not to endanger the safety of the Empire, I can live?"
"Yes!" Luke nodded in confirmation.
"Those subordinates who follow me can also be forgiven?"
Luke said: "We followed His Majesty Sinclair's wishes and only investigated the main participants, and all of them were given lenient sentences. But people's hearts are complicated. If we forgive them this time, they may be grateful, or they may continue to do outrageous things under the protection of His Majesty Sinclair.
Therefore, you have an obligation to supervise them and prevent them from making the same mistake again.
Do you understand what I mean?"
Luke hinted at Joshua again.
After being hinted twice, Qiao Xiuer was stunned for a moment, then nodded in understanding: "I understand!"
"I'm glad you understand!" Luke stood up and said, "This incident ends here. I will convey your attitude to Her Royal Highness the Princess. When His Royal Highness Sinclair wanted to give up his royal status, it was Her Royal Highness the Princess who refused to accept it and asked me to make a judgment that would satisfy both His Royal Highnesses.
This is a difficult problem! "
"This is indeed a difficult problem, but your judgment satisfies both Your Highnesses, and I hope you are satisfied too." General Joshua turned to Sinclair and said, "You and the Marquis of Meteoric Star should report to Her Royal Highness the Princess. I will gather the main people involved in this assassination and tell them of the Empire's grace."
Sinclair hesitated, his intuition telling him that something bad was going to happen.
But Meteorite has made it clear that he will spare the lives of all those involved in the assassination. Meteorite's attitude is the same as Agatha's attitude.
This is a good thing, why do I feel sad in my heart?
Sinclair said, "I stay..."
General Qiao Xiuer smiled and said, "We old friends are discussing what to teach at the Royal Military Academy after we retire. What are you going to do here? After meeting Her Royal Highness the Princess, you can go around the barracks and take a look. This legion will be yours from now on.
Remember never to give up your military power under any circumstances and don't trust anyone.
Come with Marquis Meteorite, I'm fine!"
General Joshua kicked Sinclair out of the room and then sent his trusted non-commissioned officer to call all the officers involved in the assassination.
Soon the officers arrived one by one and gathered around Joshua's desk like they did yesterday.
Qiao Xiuer took out wine glasses and red wine from the wine cabinet and poured wine for the officers himself.
An officer holding a glass of wine said to General Qiao Xiuer: "Commander, I have won over a group of sergeants. As long as you give an order, we can immediately complete the arming and surround the train.
In this kind of regular offensive and defensive battle, the Imperial spies are definitely no match for us. As long as Agatha and Meteor are killed, His Royal Highness Sinclair will have to declare war on the usurper Queen.
The Celtic Duke will certainly support us as well."
General Qiao Xiuer paused for a moment while pouring the wine, then continued pouring as if nothing had happened, and said, "I just met Meteorite. He said that because of Her Royal Highness Sinclair's insistence, he and Her Royal Highness the Princess forgave our mistakes. We will lose our military positions, but we can avoid death."
The officers were very happy to hear the news.
An officer said: "His Highness Sinclair still has our heart, we should be more loyal to him and devote everything to help him regain the throne."
General Joshua poured his wine and said, "Yes, His Highness Sinclair deserves our all."
Another officer said, "Although we have lost our military positions, our subordinates are still in the legion, and we still have our own families. Even if we are no longer in the legion, we can still control the legion for Your Highness. As long as Your Highness needs us, we can put on our uniforms and fight for Your Highness at any time."
After General Qiao Xiuer finished pouring the wine, he picked up his glass and said to the officers, "His Highness Sinclair has grown up, and the Northern Army has been handed over to him. I have completed half of the task that His Highness Fania gave me. The rest is to assist His Highness to ascend the throne and become the emperor of a great empire, which requires him to have an emperor's heart.
To His Majesty Sinclair! To the great empire!
cheers!"
All the officers raised their glasses together: "To His Royal Highness Sinclair! To the great empire! Cheers!"
General Qiao Xuer watched all the officers drink up their glasses, then he laughed and drank up his own glass.
An hour later, General Qiao Xiuer's trusted non-commissioned officer reported:
General Qiao Xuer and all the officers who participated in the assassination of the eldest princess and the Marquis of Meteorite committed suicide out of fear of crime!
