Kingdom Bloodline

Chapter 563 Sowing Seeds and Reaping Effects
After a long period of suppression, Duke Cullen was the first to sigh:

"I think their second mistake was splitting their forces?"

Sordor Red's face was tense, and he remained silent.

At the head of the long table, King Kessel sat up straight, his cold, stern face emerging from the darkness for the first time:
“Gilbert?”

The former Foreign Secretary, who had not spoken for a long time, "The Cunning Fox" Gilbert, nodded slightly with a solemn expression.

"Perhaps the Exter people understand the pros and cons of this matter in their minds, but in practice... they just can't do it."

Thales's teacher, with his keen insight, began to analyze the situation:
"Qi Yuancheng has the most pressing interests and the strongest motives, which is why he seeks advancement."

"Defending the city is none of my business; being cautious and careful will naturally lead to stability."

Gilbert snorted softly:
"As for Dragon Sky City, firstly, the Hall of Heroes has a deep foundation, which arouses people's fear, and secondly, the Walton Lady is in power, which makes people look down on her."

"The most awkward position is that of being caught between two difficult choices."

Thales felt a weight lift from his heart.

"It's normal for them to prefer using unconventional methods to gain prestige."

Gilbert sighed slowly:

"I think the considerations behind this choice are more political than military."

"A hundred stubborn wise men are not as good as a hundred fools who work together."

Thales stared at the divided white pieces on the map, his mind in turmoil.

No.

Selma, what were you thinking at the time?
"Speaking of politics..."

Joker Mann broke the quiet tension, and the treasurer asked in confusion:
"This war was started by the murderer of his own kin. While the war was raging, didn't Lumba interfere behind the scenes? For example, with prices and supplies, intelligence and public opinion? To sow discord among the three city dukes?"

Sodor looked at the scarred man from the secret society.

The latter put away the intelligence in his hand and nodded:
“Ever since Chaman’s coronation, Black Sand Territory has been constantly trying to trip up the grand dukes who disobey the king’s orders; this has been the norm.”

But the scarred man's tone changed:
"But this time it was very strange. From the declaration of war to the conscription, from the departure to the engagement, from the spies to the officials, Black Sand Territory almost stopped all internal and external means of harassment and obstruction, did not interfere in the war in the three cities, and focused on dealing with its own internal affairs of quelling the rebellion."

The guests at the imperial meeting were all taken aback.

The king looked toward the former foreign minister.

Gilbert nodded, but looked worried:

"Yes, in diplomacy, King Chaman even issued a wide-ranging proclamation and note of support, condemning the Free Alliance and fully supporting the westward expedition of the three cities to seek justice."

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback once again.

Only Thales bit his lower lip.

“So this time,” Prime Minister Cullen rubbed his chin thoughtfully:
"Rumba not only didn't do anything wrong, but he was more like a generous and selfless king than ever before?"

The men looked at each other, completely puzzled.

Until the king's words broke the doubt, it was as if a block of ice had been thrown into the lake:
"He moved."

King Kessel clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with a cold light:
"In a way that did not move."

Even after he finished speaking, many people still did not understand.

"Moved? Tampered with it? But in a way that didn't involve physical contact?"

Viscount Connie was puzzled:

"Your Majesty, I don't understand."

"You mean, Lumba has some undisclosed private dealings with them?"

The king did not answer, but simply raised his gaze.

"Thales".

At the long table, the only boy subconsciously clenched his knees.

But King Kessel's voice still rang out, cold and clear, penetrating his ears without hindrance:

"Tell me, why did King Chaman move?"

"And how did he move?"

Thales felt a chill run down his spine.

Why did Chaman move?
All eyes turned to him, and he struggled to lift his head.

Thales stared blankly into the king's gaze.

On the other side, Gilbert, despite his deep concern, coughed lightly and encouraged him with his eyes.

Thus, Duke Thales of Starlake spoke for the first time at the royal council.

"After Nunn's death, the only thing that could unite Walton, Ronnie, and Lyco was King Chaman's ruthless and unscrupulous methods, which made them feel threatened."

The second prince took a deep breath, trying not to think about anything else, and slowly began to speak:
"But when King Chaman made it clear that he wanted to back down and not get involved in their affairs..."

Thales didn't continue.

The ministers exchanged glances, and a sense of understanding dawned on them.

But the king's voice rang out again, carrying a scrutinizing, even interrogative tone:
"anything else?"

Thales' knee tightened.

He struggled to loosen his grip on his knees.

"Originally, the combined forces of Longxiao, Qiyuan, and Jieshou to attack the Freedom Alliance was a move to counter the King."

Duke Starlake spoke again, and this time, everyone listened attentively to his analysis:
"But after the scene of Lumba's surprise visit to Dragonhill on the day of the plebiscite, the whole country of Exte knew that the king had won a great victory in the political struggle."

The day of hearing the government.

Thales tried to dispel the shadow of that day:

"It would be pointless for the three cities to use this war to fight against King Chaman."

"They lost their greatest motivation to fight the king together, but were forced to mobilize and go to war because they could not take back the promises they had made and in order to fulfill the alliance."

The people at the meeting whispered among themselves and nodded to each other.

Thales breathed a sigh of relief.

"anything else."

The king spoke again, seemingly unwilling to let him go.

Thales was silent for a moment.

At that moment, he vaguely knew what King Kessel wanted him to say.

but……

Thales remained expressionless, his mind a jumble of thoughts, yet he spoke instinctively:
"On the day the alliance was established, Prince Xingchen, who was a hostage in Dragon Sky City, secretly colluded with King Chaman..."

The officials exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable at that moment.

Thales breathed in a daze:

"Then he was suddenly kidnapped and mysteriously disappeared."

"That not only disrupted the situation, but also caused the three cities that had made an alliance to lose trust in each other... and become suspicious of one another."

At this point, Thales felt a void in his heart.

Yes.

Everything is interconnected.

It was his choice on the day of the hearing that influenced the battle situation at Freehold, thousands of miles away.

Perhaps this is what King Kessel wanted him to say.

Among the factors that caused the three cities to drift apart and led to the cunning little devil's failure...

There is him.

Thales felt a moment of disorientation.

"And so, this expedition was launched with the pretext of Longxiao City, the profit of Qiyuan City, and Jieshou City wavering between them, seeking to gain some advantage."

Thales strained his lips to open and close, as if he were talking about something unrelated to him:

"They have lost the greatest foundation for sincere cooperation, and are left with only a superficial harmony with their own ulterior motives."

"Disagreements or splits of forces are inevitable."

Yes.

Each harbored their own ulterior motives, and their relationship was outwardly harmonious but inwardly estranged.

Isn't this the biggest thing he's seen and heard in the North these past few years?
Isn't that the strongest weapon he used to counter Rumba on the Night of Dragon Blood?

After the prince finished speaking, his face stiffened, and he remained silent for a long time at the long table.

After a long while, Kessel let out a soft hum.

He rarely, and perhaps for the first time in his life, praised his son:
"very good."

On the other side, Gilbert sighed and tactfully took over the conversation. "The sky is high and the throne is far away; when the enemy is gone, traitors arise."

The former foreign minister's words were filled with emotion:

“In the far western border of the kingdom, King Chaman deliberately remained still, letting the previous events slowly ferment, so that the people of the north would forget why they stood together and why they fought side by side.”

In the Ballard Room, everyone was immersed in the indescribable atmosphere of the moment.

Until Sodol let out a long sigh.

“Your Highness is right, and Count Cassel is also correct.”

"This is not war, not military affairs, not a game of chess," the military advisor said, his eyes showing weariness.

"It's politics."

"Perhaps at the negotiating table and in the banquet hall, facing the king's relentless pressure, and with a shared goal, the alliance of the three cities can become as close as brothers."

"But under these circumstances, when the armies meet on the battlefield and the stakes are high, the three cities each have their own plans, are not under each other's command, and there is no strongman like King Nuen to suppress them..."

Sodor's face was grave:

"Therefore, it is inevitable that discord will arise, making it difficult to work together, and even ideological differences will lead to each fighting their own battles."

Thales gently closed his eyes.

At that moment, a fragment of a distant memory flashed through his mind, seemingly a few lines of ancient poetry:
[The army's forces are not well-coordinated, and they move hesitantly in formation, like geese flying in formation.]

Viscount Connie coughed:
“I had a feeling when I was traveling in the North… When to be aggressive and take risks, and when to show weakness and retreat, the king who murdered his own parents made every move clearly and understood everything. There must be a mastermind behind him who made the decisions.”

On the other side, the scarred man from the secret department nodded.

“‘Night Falcon’ Lhasa Kambida has been placed on the Secret Service’s key list,” he replied cautiously.
“We are closely monitoring his every move, whether he is meeting with the King or returning home for a holiday.”

Viscount Connie nodded in satisfaction.

The king tapped the table:
"continue."

After the recent reflections and sighs, the royal council returned to its previous atmosphere, and Sodor Red's voice rang out once more:
"After the division of forces, Kerkekor of Dragon City personally led his troops to advance day and night along the Shanliu River, keeping the only elite force of the Free Alliance firmly in their grasp."

He selected one of the three groups of white pieces and placed it next to the black knight.

Feeling distressed, Thales looked at the war simulation on the long table and suddenly remembered his first meeting with Ashida on Red Street many years ago.

That was also a card and chess room.

The Qi Mage was equally adept at strategizing and moving pieces.

But times have changed, and things are no longer the same.

"It went smoothly at first, but as the battle progressed..."

The next moment, Sodor's pupils contracted, and several of his white pieces fell to the ground.

"The one-armed man has been captured."

Everyone was stunned for a moment.

Including Thales.

The next second, the conference room erupted in an uproar:
"How did you do it?"

"That's Kierkegaard!"

"The elite troops and generals of Dragon Sky City..."

"Even without the support of the other two cities, we shouldn't have lost to such an opponent, right?"

Faced with a torrent of questions, Sodor's expression was equally grave; he shook his head.

"Without intelligence, all we know is that whether it was coincidence or luck, it just happened."

The scarred man from the secret service nodded, acknowledging the military advisor's answer.

Thales's expression was uncertain as he recalled Kierkegaard.

That was "the most capable fighter under King Nuen".

It's hard to believe that he would lose in a head-on confrontation to a small, unknown country's isolated army and be captured.

The scarred man retrieved the intelligence:

"All we know is that after the commander-in-chief was captured, the morale of the troops in Longxiao City collapsed."

"They suffered repeated defeats under the enemy's flexible and victorious attacks, and at one point their command failed, leaving them unable to coordinate their efforts."

"Even the Grand Duchess herself was lost in the chaos of war, and her whereabouts are unknown."

"Without a leader, they are practically walking corpses."

They were scattered amidst the chaos of war.

Little rascal.

The prince took a deep breath, trying his best to keep his expression unchanged.

Thales felt Gilbert's hand press against his palm, signaling him to calm down.

Sodor's words echoed again, replaying the battle situation a thousand miles away:

"At the same time, on the main battlefield, the troops of Qiyuan City are at the forefront, intending to take advantage of the emptiness inside Freedom Fortress and launch a full-scale attack on the city."

But the next moment, Sodor's face darkened, and his fingers tapped incessantly on the map next to Freehold, vibrating the black and white chess pieces that were vastly different in size.

"The Exter people suffered more casualties than expected—this time, the soldiers and civilians of the Liberal Alliance fought bravely and tenaciously."

"Qiyuan City has been attacked repeatedly but has not been captured."

The words were solemn, and the underlying meaning was even more heart-wrenching.

"Failed to break through despite repeated attacks..."

Gilbert silently repeated the sentence, seemingly moved by its meaning.

Amidst the ministers' puzzled expressions, Sodor coughed, moved the last group of white pieces to the flank, and continued his explanation:

"As for the last troops defending the city, they went to the surrounding areas to consolidate the battle lines, collect provisions, and maintain order."

"But they not only gained nothing, they also encountered fierce resistance from countless suffering people, and the morale of the army plummeted, as if they were stuck in a quagmire."

The king, at the end of the long table, frowned and looked at the former foreign minister:
"The suffering people?"

Gilbert raised his handheld glasses and opened a notebook beside him:
"Most of the Free Alliance, the eastern part of the North Sea Kingdom, including the western part of Qiyuan City's territory, these areas originally belonged to the Xitao Province of the Empire, and the natives of these areas were called the Xitao 'bitter people'."

"Although they live at the end of the Golden Corridor, most of them live in poverty and have low social status. For hundreds of years, whether it was the Exter and Commas who successively took over, or the Senate of the Free Alliance established by the nobles through compromise, they were all quite harsh on them."

Thales suddenly remembered the story of the suffering people of Xitao that Ian, the heir of Qiyuan City and "the annoying guy," had told him.

"I don't know."

The Minister of Commerce, Viscount Connie, spoke up to voice everyone's questions:

"They fought to the death and were so determined... Based on my experience traveling the Golden Corridor, the soldiers and civilians of the Freedom Alliance shouldn't be this fierce, especially when facing the Yankees?"

Sodolz shook his head:
"No, precisely because we are facing people from the North."

This time, Sodor looked at the cunning fox of the stars.

Gilbert sighed and reopened the record:

"Twenty years ago, Nun's son, Suril Walton, led his army to conquer Freehold."

"After the city fell, in order to avenge his fallen men, he massacred the city for three days, looting indiscriminately, leaving nine out of ten houses empty and the people starving and resorting to cannibalism."

Thales frowned.

This intelligence...

In the records of the Exter people...

No.

Treasurer Joker Mann nodded grimly:
"I remember that incident. It's said that the Northerners initially tried to suppress the news—and some even went so far as to compare that inhuman beast to Prince Horace, which was absolutely laughable."

Gilbert frowned and continued:

"The Allied Governor had all ten fingers cut off and was dragged around the city for twenty miles before dying. His body was hung up as a warning to others. The scene was so gruesome that it shocked the surrounding areas."

The former foreign minister took off his glasses and closed his notebook:
"And the current Allied Governor is the grandson of the previous Governor."

Thales looked at Gilbert's notebook.

History on paper is depicted lightly, while the past in reality is heavy and oppressive.

"So they rebelled."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Kulun sighed deeply:
"No people are born weak and helpless under tyranny."

Perhaps this remark struck a nerve, for the imperial council fell silent for a moment, with no one responding.

Only Gilbert nodded, and remarked with emotion:
"What you sow, you reap. The current state of this war was actually predetermined twenty years ago."

"Now, the Northerners are only lamenting their past atrocities..."

"It's just paying off a debt."

There's one more chapter, still being revised, it should be released around 3 or 4 pm.

(End of this chapter)