I, the prince in distress, send money

Chapter 506 Loyalty
The news that King Chris was going to inspect the Minisian region quickly caused quite a stir in Bagnia.

It's clear to anyone with eyes to see why King Chris is doing this. This is by no means a simple tour to comfort the people. It is a major political and military operation aimed at accelerating the "indigestion" of Minicia and consolidating the unity of the kingdom.

The roots of the Minisians’ resistance are complex and profound.

The first issue is the tearing apart of identity.

In just one year, they transformed from independent Minisians into new citizens of Bagnia. The kingdom's laws, tax system, and even Chinese language and culture surged in, disrupting their original way of life.

Many people rationally understood that resistance was futile, but emotionally, the pain of national subjugation and the longing for their homeland were hard to dispel. Especially when deliberately amplified by the remaining nobles and those with ulterior motives, this emotion transformed into a silent or non-violent resistance to Bagnian rule.

Secondly, there is a real loss of interests.

During the merger of the two countries, the privileges of the old nobles and some guilds were stripped away, and their resentment would be transmitted downwards, distorted and amplified, making it easy for ordinary people to also experience various difficulties in their lives.

They attributed both the burden of the new taxes and market fluctuations to Bagnia's rule.

Finally, there is the uncertainty about the future. Although the kingdom promises to treat everyone equally, the divide between the "conquerors" and the "conquered" cannot be eliminated overnight. The lower classes fear discrimination and oppression, and this fear becomes a breeding ground for discontent.

King Chris's inspection tour was precisely aimed at fundamentally counteracting these resistance sentiments and cleverly "fishing" out potential opponents.

On the one hand, the inspection aims to "rectify the name" and "appease the public".

The king's personal arrival itself is a sign of the highest level of importance attached to the event.

Chris will preside over trials, issue decrees, inspect the lives of the people, and demonstrate the kingdom's authority and justice to all Minisians during his inspection tour.

He would deliberately portray himself as of Miniese descent, as the king of all Bagnians and Minieses, rather than simply the king of the Bagnian conquerors.

In this process, Chris will also reduce some taxes, recognize locals who have contributed to integration, and may even grant limited pardons for some less serious acts of resistance in the past, thus dividing the resistance camp.

By winning over centrists and those who are still observing, and by making ordinary Minisians truly feel the order and potential benefits that "becoming a Bagnian" might bring, the grassroots support for resistance can be weakened.

On the other hand, this inspection was also a carefully planned "fishing ground".

The king's procession and itinerary are like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, inevitably stirring up all the hidden forces beneath the surface.

For staunch opponents, the king's personal visit was undoubtedly a godsend and a tremendous temptation.

They might see this as the perfect opportunity to carry out an assassination, incite a large-scale riot, or at least create trouble to damage the kingdom's prestige.

At the same time, the high pressure brought by the inspection will force those "soft resistance" elements hiding in the quagmire of daily administration to make a clearer response... whether to continue to outwardly comply but inwardly defy, or to take advantage of the situation to gain leniency.

Or will he slip up under pressure?

No matter what choices they make, once these people start moving, they can no longer hide.

The Ministry of Military Affairs' intelligence bureau, the court, and the Blue Flag Army, which followed closely behind, were all laying their trap.

Any public provocation, carefully planned "accident," or even overly obvious passive resistance that emerges during the inspection will be quickly flagged, analyzed, and used as irrefutable evidence in subsequent purges.

This is far more efficient than discerning things bit by bit under normal circumstances. The king's presence is like a bright light shining down, making all shadows nowhere to hide.

Therefore, this inspection is a high-risk, high-reward political gamble.

Chris was betting on his authority, the Blue Flag Army's deterrent power, and the effectiveness of his divide-and-conquer strategy.

Success will greatly advance the integration process of Minicia and consolidate the kingdom's territory.

Failure, or even just a major blunder, can trigger a chain reaction, rendering all previous efforts futile.

But Chris clearly felt that rather than letting the abscess continue to fester in the shadows, it was better to remove it completely with a decisive surgery.

The land of Minicia is about to witness a pivotal moment that will determine its future.

Just as preparations for the inspection were in full swing and the entire kingdom’s attention was focused on Minicia, an unexpected turn of events, like another boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirred up even more hidden and turbulent waves deep within the palace.

Queen Elena has been diagnosed with pregnancy.

At first, she only felt persistent fatigue and occasional dizziness, which she thought was due to overworking recently.

It wasn't until the royal physicians conducted a routine check-up that they realized Queen Elena's body didn't appear to be fatigued, but rather that she was pregnant.

This news was strictly kept under wraps and circulated only among Chris, Elena, and a very small number of trusted court physicians.

This should have been good news for the royal family, but at this critical juncture, it has become an extremely troublesome matter.

Chris's plans were completely disrupted.

In his original vision, Elena, as an important member of the former Minisian royal family, would be a key symbol of appeasing the people of Minicia by accompanying him, the king who was half Minisian.

Her presence softens the image of the "conqueror" to the greatest extent possible, conveying a message of "integration rather than oppression".

Now that she is pregnant, the long journey, the fatigue of the inspection, and even the potential risks make it almost impossible for her to accompany her.

Chris knew very well that Bagnia needed a successor, and that this need took precedence over the pacification of the Minissia region.

Even if all the regions of Minicia rebelled, they could not overthrow the current Kingdom of Bagnia. However, if Chris were to die suddenly, the kingdom would surely be finished.

Chris knew very well which was more important.

Elena needs to rest now, especially during the first trimester of her pregnancy. Long journeys, travel fatigue, and even intense emotional fluctuations can pose unpredictable risks to both the fetus and the woman.

You can't go.

Chris decisively told Elena his decision, stating that it was the only choice based on reality and reason.

Elena leaned back on the soft couch, her hand unconsciously covering her lower abdomen, her expression complex.

Her face showed the joy of becoming a mother for the first time, but more so a sense of bewilderment and deeper anxiety after her plans were disrupted.

Elena had high expectations for this inspection tour, because although the trip was very risky, the rewards were also great. If successful, her prestige as queen would be greatly enhanced.

As the king's wife, once she gains prestige, Elena will not be just a pretty face. She won't need to curry favor with ministers inside and outside the court; she will naturally possess real power.

But... this unexpected child not only thwarted all her plans, but also plunged her into deeper contemplation.

However, after a brief moment of disappointment, a more realistic and acute question immediately occupied Elena's thoughts, causing her to slightly tighten the fingertips of her hand resting on her lower abdomen.

Is it a boy or a girl?

The gender of this unborn child will directly determine Elena's future political status and the succession of the Kingdom of Bagnia. Its importance even surpasses the short-term gains of this inspection tour of Minicia.

The preference for sons over daughters was not only a common occurrence in ancient China, but also very prevalent in the West.

Such as now.

If Elena gives birth to a prince, and if it's a boy...

Therefore, he will be King Chris's rightful heir and the undisputed first in line to the throne of the Kingdom of Bagnia, which will undoubtedly greatly enhance the legitimacy and continuity of the royal family.

Meanwhile, for the Kingdom of Bagnia, which is striving to integrate with Minicia, a legitimate prince with Minican royal blood would be the strongest signal to appease the people of Minicia. For Elena, this is undoubtedly the strongest cornerstone to consolidate her position as queen and even to seize greater power in the future.

She will become the mother of the future king, and her Minician blood will be further integrated into the core of the kingdom through this child.

At that time, Elena will not need to accumulate prestige through inspections at all; her position will be as secure as Mount Tai because of this son.

However, if she gives birth to a princess, the situation will be completely different.

Although princesses also enjoy royal honors, in the line of succession to the throne, princesses are often ranked after their half-brothers.

Elena's Miniese heritage already harbored resentment among the old Bagnian officials, and her position would become precarious if she could not produce a male heir.

Chris kept the news of the Queen's pregnancy a secret, but he couldn't completely shut it down.

It's possible, but we can't do it, because the child in Elena's belly isn't just Chris's problem; the child's situation is related to the future of the entire country.

As news of Elena's pregnancy spread quickly, various factions within the royal palace began to secretly plot their moves.

The former Bagnian officials worried that the Minician influence would further infiltrate the core of power through bloodlines, while the Minician officials hoped that the child would become their future representative.

Elena's absence during the inspection deprived Chris of a key partner who could soften the conqueror's image. Without Elena as a buffer, Chris's direct confrontation with the local forces of Miniscia may become more intense, resulting in more deaths.

Some of the appeasement strategies that were originally planned to exert influence through the Queen had to be readjusted.

What's more subtle is that although Elena couldn't travel far during her pregnancy, she didn't completely withdraw from the political stage. In fact, she had more opportunities to contact various forces in the capital and build her own network of relationships.

Some potential opponents who might have been exposed during the inspection may now turn to more covert methods to approach the Queen and test her stance.

……

The news that King Chris was about to inspect Minicia spread like a thunderclap over the former capital of the Kingdom of Minicia... Treasure Island City.

In this once-powerful center of royalty, now a bustling metropolis under Bagnia's rule, the surface tranquility was shattered in an instant, and undercurrents suddenly accelerated.

In a seemingly unremarkable but heavily guarded mansion located in the city's old aristocratic district, Sir Doron is about to have a sleepless night.

This former royal knight officer, only forty years old, became a highly influential figure in the minds of the remnants of the old regime because he refused to pledge allegiance to Bagnia during the merger, and because his corps was able to be relatively completely disbanded and hidden after the war. In addition, the original top nobles of Minisia had been wiped out in the war and purges.

The night the news arrived, the lights in the mansion's secret study remained on all night.

The heavy velvet curtains blocked out the outside view and also suppressed the mingled smell of tobacco and anxiety that filled the room.

"An opportunity! This is an opportunity bestowed upon us by Poseidon, the god of the sea!"

An elderly nobleman with gray hair and a trembling beard, so excited, almost leaned over the mahogany desk.

“Chris has left his lair and ventured deep into our territory. With careful planning and a single, decisive strike, we can reclaim Minicia!”

Sir Doron did not respond immediately. He sat calmly in the main seat, saying nothing, while the others shouted passionately. He simply silently recorded their names in his heart.

"Count Ralph, your passion is admirable."

Duolong spoke slowly, his voice deep and clear.

"But think about it, why would Chris dare to come? He must be heavily guarded, and those traitors from the Blue Flag Army will be sniffing out every corner like hounds. If we act rashly, we might just fall into his trap."

"Are we just going to stand by and watch him flaunt his power and further incite people's hearts?"

Another, younger former aristocratic youth, said indignantly. He was wearing a finely made dark blue velvet coat with frayed cuffs. The white lace trim at the collar was stiff, clearly having lost its original softness after being washed multiple times.

Her fingers were long and slender, with neatly trimmed nails, but the knuckles were rough and didn't quite match her outfit. Although the family crest on the scabbard of the sword hanging at her waist shone brightly, a closer look revealed a trace of repair that was barely noticeable.

All of this reveals an atmosphere of trying desperately to maintain a respectable appearance, yet being unable to conceal the decline of the family and the personal predicament.

Sir Doron's gaze lingered briefly on the repaired coat of arms and the rough fingers, and he understood that behind the young man's impassioned words was probably more resentment at losing wealth and glory than pure loyalty to his homeland.

He silently memorized the name... This was someone he could use and bribe.

"There are already rumors circulating among the people that the king will not only reduce taxes but also promote local people. If he succeeds in this show, the people's hearts will be scattered, and it will be difficult for us to gather strength again!"

The young man roared loudly, but he never expected that his true nature would be seen through.

At this moment, a middle-aged man who had been silent all along, dressed in simple merchant's clothes, interjected in a sinister tone.

“A direct confrontation would be unwise, but we can create trouble for him on his inspection route.”

For example, they might spread rumors in advance in the places Chris was going to pass through, saying that his tax reduction was a sham and that he was actually settling old scores; or they might incite some thugs to create small-scale disturbances during his inspection, thus greatly damaging his image of fairness and wisdom.

We must show the Minieses that the Bagnians' promises are unreliable and that their rule will only bring chaos.

Sir Doron nodded slightly. This man who proposed the "soft knife to cut flesh" approach was definitely a threat. His plan could potentially diminish the effectiveness of His Majesty Chris's appeasement policy.

"These methods are all usable, and we must begin immediately."

Duolong's gaze swept over everyone present, his face serious and utterly righteous.

"But we need to use this inspection to see who are truly loyal to Minicia and who... has already sided with Bagnia."

He paused, his voice growing even colder.

"Chris's arrival is like a mirror, reflecting everyone's true colors. Those traitors eager to prove their loyalty to their new master will definitely jump out. We need to remember them and settle accounts with them later."

Just then, a waiter knocked and entered, handing Sir Doron a note.

Queen Elena is pregnant and will not be accompanying the inspection tour.

Sir Doron looked at the few lines of text, his eyes flashing. Then he waved to his confidant to inform the core members present of the message.

A brief silence fell over the study, followed by deeper contemplation.

“Without the Queen’s arrival, Chris’s appeasement efforts will definitely be greatly hampered.”

The old nobleman Ralph seemed to be deep in thought.

"Chris will inevitably be distracted by this. A king who is about to have a legitimate heir will value his life more than ever before and be more vigilant about internal threats."

This might make him more suspicious and vulnerable, and we can use that to our advantage in the Bagnia capital.

The old nobleman's words opened up a new direction for this conspiracy.

The crowd began to whisper among themselves about how to use the news of the Queen's pregnancy to create new public opinion in Treasure Island and even the entire Miniscia region. For example, they could imply that the King disregarded Miniscia blood, or spread rumors about the succession to the throne to further stir up the situation.

As Sir Doron listened to the discussions, he gradually felt pleased.

As the night deepened in Taiwan, the heart of this ancient city throbbed with the impending storm.

(End of this chapter)