Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 300 Victory and Defeat

Thales looked up, took a breath, steadied his breathing, and pulled his heavy thoughts back to the classroom:

“I have seen relevant historical materials in two books, including ‘The Covenant of Co-governance’ and ‘The Black Eye’s Disaster’: Compared to the endless wars in Exeter after Nekaru’s death, John Brilliant Star I, the warlike and belligerent ruler of Starry Sky, successfully inherited the army and territory of the restored king and gained the loyalty of his ministers.”

Hixer and Selma were listening attentively to him, but only Thales knew that even now, he was still preoccupied and was merely reading from his notes.

"In less than a year, Black Eyes almost unified the South, completing what the Restoration King had not finished. He brought Blade's Edge Territory and parts of the coastal lands—which is today's South Coast Territory—under his control, and the Star Kingdom became increasingly powerful..."

Thales recalled the disdain on Putila's face and his explanation when Nikolai boasted about the Covenant of Governance to them when they first arrived in Exeter.

"During this period, due to the invalidation of the peace treaty between Nekaru and Tormund, and because of the numerous conflicts and infighting among the lords within Exter, the Star Kingdom began to take the opportunity to expand northward: when the Aarond family of Star Kingdom clashed with the Tann family of the North over the ownership of Watchtower, Black-Eyed John assembled an unprecedented Star Kingdom army and marched north..."

"Just two days after 'Black Eyes' marched into Watchtower City, 'Smiling One' Nunn Walton of Dragonsky City, who was also the first Nunn, initiated a movement. With the help of the Sky Queen, he mediated the conflict between Wilan Territory and Qiyuan City. Ten lords gathered at the tombstone of Nekaru and signed a co-rule oath. Nunn I was crowned king, and nine lords were promoted to Grand Dukes."

Thales let out a breath and flipped through the notes he had made in the library a few days ago: "So, to some extent, I think it was the threat from the newly rising Star Kingdom that made the ten lords, who had many conflicts, put aside their differences, compromise with each other, and join forces to fight the enemy. What happened afterward is the evidence."

"In response, the Tann family sought help from Nun I in the name of the Oath of Co-governance. Although the dukes were still at odds, under the effect of the Oath, Nun the Smiler was able to gather the army and vassals he wanted. A great battle broke out with the Stars' army around Watchtower, forcing Black-Eyed John, who had previously been in the lead, to abandon his plan to advance north and instead turn west to attack the Western Wilderness."

"That was the first time the Covenant of Governance came into effect, and it was also the first time that Exster, in the name of the Kingdom, went to war with the Stars head-on. In a sense, it was also the first time that Exster intimidated the Western Continent—no one could imagine that, after the final war, in the face of calamity, any other force could mobilize so many troops."

Heath rolled his eyes, seemingly lost in thought.

Thales sighed: "So, back to the main point, the strength and rise of the stars also greatly contributed to the 'Co-governance Oath' and the unification of the strongest country in the West, allowing the ten dukes to temporarily put aside their past grievances and create the system that this country will follow in the future."

“So,” Selma asked curiously, “the Stars wanted to take the opportunity to attack the North, but instead they helped Exter unify the lands?”

“Yes,” Thales nodded, “In this respect, Black-Eyed John’s idea of ​​launching a war to invade Exter from the north not only failed to achieve its goal, but also forged the power of the Dragon Kingdom.”

After Thales finished speaking, he noticed that Selma was looking at him with starry eyes, so he couldn't help but cough.

Hicksher laughed out loud.

“Starting with the co-governance pledge, we seem to have found a more interesting topic—you want to weaken someone or a country, but your intention to crush their fist actually benefits them,” the old crow sighed slightly, chewing out another language: “There’s a term in the Far East called ‘backfiring,’ are there more examples?”

Thales narrowed his eyes: "Of course."

Unconsciously drawn to the subject, he lowered his head and flipped through his notes: "Still Stars and Exter, but reversed—the reforms of 'Wise King' Mindis III."

At that moment, Hixser's eyes narrowed slightly.

"During the Fourth Continental War, Exter's pressure and destruction on the Star Kingdom left behind devastation, but also created gaps and opportunities: the lords across the Star Kingdom were weakened and in dire need of aid and recovery, and they flocked to Everstar City for help. This made the obstacles faced by the monarch smaller than ever before. Mindis III was able to promote his officials, establish his system, borrow money and levy taxes without any scruples, and appease the discontent of the nobles at a very low cost: the threat and invasion of the dragons actually made it easier for him to start his own game, which led to the system of the Star Kingdom today."

Thales quickly summarized this all-too-familiar example in one sentence, then looked up to find Hixser looking at him with a strange expression.

“My dear, I really didn’t expect you to use ‘wise ruler’ as an example,” the old raven hummed softly. “You should know that even in Dragon Kiss Academy, opinions on ‘wise ruler’ are mixed. Of course, the focus is on his imitation and innovation of the assessment system for day and night officials, as well as his support for the establishment of private academies.”

Thales scratched his head: "Sorry, well, for various reasons, I'm quite familiar with this part of history—so I try to find relevant historical materials in the library."

“So, according to what you just said,” Hicksor coughed lightly, “war is a very complex subject, because temporary victories and defeats seem to be only superficial, and the positions of the victors and the vanquished can change at any time?”

Thales's gaze had already left the notebook.

He suddenly thought of King Nunn and Lumba, and King Kessel and Aarond.

King Nuen took action against the Black Sand Territory, suppressing the Lumba family for decades, but in doing so, he created the terrifying tyrant who would later take his life.

Aaron's plot to usurp the throne once plunged the Star Kingdom into crisis, but after his failure, it gave Kessel a reason to take full control of the North with royal power.

And what about himself?
He seemingly perfectly and cleverly saved the Walton family's fate, placing the Grand Duchess on the throne while also securing the interests of the Stars.

However... all the self-righteousness of the past became questionable after Rumba's visit.

Thales sighed slowly.

Suddenly, he gained a deeper understanding of the wise ruler's words: "A moment's victory or defeat is but a fleeting wave."

That's really... interesting.

“In fact, I think it’s ill-considered to describe the outcome of a war simply as victory or defeat,” Thales said quietly, raising his head.

The old crow raised an eyebrow slightly: "Would you mind saying a little more?"

Thales cleared his throat, as if he had returned to the past in a dream.

“War is not a carpentry game, and the opponent is not a piece of wood—it’s protruding here, and you can’t just give it a hammer and expect it to behave. No.”

Thales pondered for a moment.

He continued, “War is a combination of many factors, and it involves the interaction of two or even multiple parties. The wood you hammer may become brittle, dense, hard, or rough and hard to touch, but it is not determined by whether you give that hammer blow, but by the conditions and factors of countless wars, as well as our perspective.”

Hicksher encouraged him with her eyes to continue.

Thales took a breath: "War is a time for declaring the unity of warring nations, reconciling conflicts, honing weapons, and defining oneself in blood and fire..."

"But it was also an opportunity for Ying Zhanguo to be forced to react spontaneously in the crisis, to break free from old ways, to reshape itself, to clench its loose fingers into a tight iron fist, and to meet the enemy in a completely new state."

"Even after the war ended, this effect continued."

He couldn't help but think of the wise ruler.

"And after the war, neither will be the same as it was before—I think the stars and the dragons are the best examples. On a longer historical scale, the two sides in the war change as a result, their power rises and falls, the balance shifts, and the society and situation we live in become what they are today, profoundly affecting our lives until now."

"Perhaps, compared to the glory or pleasure of victory that we can see in a short time, the shame or pain of defeat is what we have always overlooked when facing war?"

After Thales finished speaking, he fell into deep thought.

“Very good,” Hicksher clapped lightly. “I must say, it has exceeded my expectations, young sir.”

Selma frowned, pondering, and said, "So, in other words, when facing war, we should consider more than just the superficial questions of 'whether we can win' or 'what will happen if we lose'?"

Thales' eyes lit up, and he gave her a thumbs up.

Hicks smiled slightly: "That's right, dear Selma, I like that conclusion very much."

He blinked casually, a sly glint in his eyes.

"So, I can still summarize it."

Both students showed interest.

The old crow sighed, and his eyes behind his glasses trembled slightly.

"First of all, stars and dragons, your fates are intertwined—this is no empty statement: for hundreds of years, past, present, and future, you have been entangled together, inseparable: your origins are so profound, your distance so close, and your connection so tight that any change in one will have an impact on the other that is not immediately noticeable, but will be undeniable and irreversible in the future."

"Right?"

The two students nodded vigorously.

Their teacher sighed and coughed uncomfortably. "I think we can at least agree on one thing: wars are not so simple. They are neither merely destruction and reconstruction, nor simply plunder and rebuilding—and victory or defeat is the most superficial aspect." Hixser looked out the window, a flicker of emotion in his eyes. "So, you two, you both have the means and the right to wage war in the future, even against each other—I'm not advising you to abhor war, but before you decide to go to war, I think you should first consider: will doing so truly achieve your goals? How many unforeseen events will occur? What additional consequences will there be? What will it signify in the longer term? How should the impact on both sides be calculated?"

Thales and Selma both fell silent, deep in thought.

"War is not an overly idealistic game, not a one-way advance by one side against the other to determine the winner—I wish it were that simple, so simple that, apart from the fighting, we could just sit in our tents, calculate the number of chips, listen to the shouts of battle outside, and that would be the end of the matter."

Hicksser stared out the window, seemingly forgetting that he was just summarizing, just 'chatting,' and said to himself, "But it isn't."

"No."

“Death? Sacrifice? Interests? Costs? Victory or defeat? These are merely the most superficial aspects of war,” the old crow remarked with deep emotion. “More importantly, the fates of tens of thousands of people in both countries will be determined by it, and the course of history for thousands of years will be influenced by it. All factors will be tested in this cruel crucible. And you and I, whether high-ranking lords or ordinary people adrift in the wind, are nothing more than the most powerless pawns in this game, because it is often not up to us to decide, even if you are the initiator or the victor of the war.”

"Please remember, dear gentlemen and ladies."

"Beyond hypocritical moral condemnation, beyond simple calculations of self-interest, beyond the empty honor of warriors," Hexer sighed deeply, as if recalling something from the past, "and do not underestimate war itself—it is far more complex than you think, not a game of win or lose, of profit or cost, of survival or death."

Seeing their teacher's expression, Thales and Selma seemed to sense the weight of the situation. They looked at each other, not daring to utter a sound.

“Alright, just some minor reflections,” Hicksser snapped out of his reverie, giving a dismissive chuckle. “So, let’s get back to the main point. Do you have any more examples like this where the outcome can’t be judged by a single moment’s result?”

“If not for the time being,” the old crow said, blinking his eyes behind his glasses before they could speak, “then I would like you to think of another example.”

Thales and Selma were slightly taken aback.

Until the frail old man uttered a single word:

"A Bloody Year".

"Beyond victory and defeat, from what perspective and to what extent should we evaluate this brutal year filled with war?"

Telston stood there, staring blankly at his teacher.

He had a feeling that Hicks glanced at him briefly the moment he uttered that word.

It was a scrutinizing look, a stark contrast to his usual relaxed and carefree demeanor.

"Consider this your extra homework, but don't submit it to me, because we won't be discussing it next time," the old crow said, struggling to his feet. He laughed and said, "Well then, that's all for today."

Before Thales could even ponder the meaning of the question, the two students hurriedly and respectfully saw their ailing teacher out the door.

Click, click, click…

“Selma,” Thales said to Selma in the most serious tone, watching his teacher’s departing figure, shaking off the shadows in his mind. “Listen.”

Selma, who was tidying up her notes, paused slightly.

"what happened?"

The prince looked serious. He took a deep breath and stared intently into Selma's eyes.

The girl felt uneasy watching this.

"Today, after the outdoor class, around dinner time."

Thales clenched his fists, his heart pounding with tension as he recalled what he had witnessed the day before.

"I...I have something very, very, very important to tell you."

The tone was unprecedentedly strong.

Selma stared at him blankly, seemingly very unaccustomed to the prince being so serious: "Is it very important?"

“Yes,” Thales said, seemingly sensing that the other person wasn’t taking it seriously enough, so he quickly added, “You must think this through carefully! It concerns—it concerns our future!”

"It's a major event that could even affect our entire lives!"

The Grand Duchess was stunned.

She blinked behind her pince-nez glasses, and then...

Blushed.

“Alright, alright,” the girl cleared her throat, somewhat flustered, but she immediately adopted her usual Grand Duchess demeanor, haughtily raising her chin and giving a light snort: “I hope you’ll be on time, Your Highness.”

Before Thales could react, Selma took a perfect dance step and darted out of the study.

Huh?
Why did she run away before she even finished packing up all the books?

Thales looked at her back with a puzzled expression, noticing her reddish ears.

And why did she...?

The next second, Thales suddenly remembered something.

The prince was taken aback. He jumped to his feet, stretched out his right hand, and chased after them with a strange expression.

"Hey, aren't you overthinking things again, you little rascal!"

The other end of Valhalla.

Heathcliff walked away, leaning on his cane, out of the corridor.

He exhaled a breath of air from his weak lungs, coughed painfully, and then waved his hand, refusing the servants who came to help him.

"Thank you, but I'm not that old yet..."

Click, click, click…

As Hixser watched the northern landscape recede into the distance outside the window, recalling their earlier conversation, his relaxed and playful expression vanished, replaced by seriousness.

Although he was very intelligent, and although he had those kinds of eyes.

but……

No.

“But he’s neither like his father,” the old crow sighed emotionally, muttering under his breath, “nor like you…”

Hicksor curled the corners of his mouth, looked at the sky outside the window, and shook his head with a hint of amusement.

What do you think, Thrann?

The old man, hunched over and limping, walked alone out of the corridors of Valhalla.

(End of this chapter)