Fangzhou Xier, starting with failing the art exam

The opening remarks eased the tense atmosphere considerably.

"Your Excellency Lexi".

Ziegler Augustine spoke first, and he appeared very worried.

"I won't bother with formalities. You've probably already seen the Royal Deprivation Decree and the economic sanctions order."

“Now, we are all labeled as ‘accomplices to traitors’.”

"Trade in the capital region has been completely cut off, and several of my caravan leaders have been detained in Trilintelme. What should we do?"

Gabriel and Alfred nodded in agreement; their situation was equally dire.

Although Mecklen appeared calm, the anxiety in his eyes was undeniable.

A large portion of the profits of his business empire depended on trade in luxury goods and raw materials with the capital region.

The sanctions will result in astronomical losses for him.

Lacey looked around at everyone, taking in their expressions.

"What should we do? I invited you all here to tell you that we are not doomed at all, but have instead ushered in an unprecedented opportunity!"

He walked up to the map, which had been marked with lines of different colors to indicate the connections between the seven major regions.

"Her Majesty the Queen has shown us the way through her actions."

"Their attempt to strangle us with the capital's economic circle only proves that our economic community model is correct and has instilled fear in them!"

"They can prohibit us from trading with the capital, but can they prohibit Kepranya's grain from being transported to Vaser Territory? Can they prohibit Shitong Territory's ore from being sold to Vaser Territory's factories? Can they prohibit Vaser Territory's manufactured goods from being sold to each of your territories?"

Lacey's voice was strong and clear.

"They can't!"

"Because our seven major regions have formed a perfect internal cycle in terms of population, resources, and market!"

"Their sanctions did not strangle us, but rather severed our last economic ties with the Old World, forcing us to unite even more closely!"

He looked at Mecklen: "Your Excellency Mecklen, you have lost the luxury goods trade because of the sanctions, but have you ever thought about how much cheap food and daily necessities from Keprania will be needed by the millions of workers in Vasser when our railway is completed?"

"Isn't this market much bigger than the pockets of those nobles?"

He then turned to Ziegler: "Your Excellency Ziegler, the ladies of the capital no longer buy your high-end fabrics, but the hundreds of thousands of children in our newly opened schools need uniforms. Can you handle this order?"

These words immediately dispelled the confusion in everyone's minds.

They only saw the losses, but not the new markets behind the sanctions.

"The Queen has given you empty promises of trade privileges," Lacey said with a sneer.

"What I offer you are real orders and tangible benefits!"

“Therefore, I propose it.” Lacey’s tone became serious.

"Upgrade our Leitanian Economic Community to the Leitanian Economic and Mutual Assistance Alliance!"

He instructed Lenia to distribute the documents that had been prepared beforehand to everyone.

"The alliance will establish a unified tariff, dismantle all trade barriers, jointly invest in the construction of standardized infrastructure, and, more importantly!" Lacey emphasized.

"We will sign a mutual defense clause, under which any military threat against one member of the alliance will be considered a threat to all members!"

This is Lacey's open scheme.

He wants to deeply bind them with economic interests and then completely lock them up with a military alliance.

He wanted to make these electors understand that once they were on his ship, there was no turning back.

We either reach the other side together, or we sink together.

Werner was the first to stand up and solemnly signed his name on the document.

He had long ago tied the fate of his family to Lacey's.

As Mecklen looked at the documents, greed once again triumphed over fear in his eyes.

He weighed the pros and cons and found that the future Lacey envisioned was far more profitable than clinging to the royal family.

He laughed and signed his name: "I love this high-stakes gamble!"

Ziegler, Gabriel, and Alfred exchanged glances, seeing in each other's eyes the helplessness, and also a hint of excitement at being persuaded.

Ziegler sighed and picked up his pen: "Times have indeed changed... We'll sign."

Thus, the "Leytania Economic and Mutual Assistance Union" was officially established.

A political entity, independent of the royal family and possessing formidable economic and military potential, has risen to power in the heart of Letania.

……

……

Meanwhile, at the border between Wasser Territory and Haydenschwell District.

Abraham Rossetti and Hoffman Herbert, two former noble electors who hated Lacey to the core, stood side by side on a hill, observing the distant plains through a telescope.

The Imperial Order Restoration Force, which they formed on the orders of the Twin Empresses, has already amassed more than 50,000 men.

“Hoffman, do you see that? That’s Lacey’s army.” Abraham put down his binoculars, his face ashen.

On the plains, a large army is conducting exercises.

It was a modern military unit with neat formations and impeccable military bearing.

The soldiers, dressed in uniform, marched in unison, changing into complex formations at the command of their officers.

“That’s not just the army of the Vasseur territory.” Hoffman’s voice was a little dry.

“I saw the flag of the Shitong territory, and… Good heavens, that’s the Mecklen family crest! His private guard is here too!”

What they saw was a large-scale joint military exercise held by Lacey to intimidate them.

The guards of Vaser, the elite troops of Shiton, the newly formed militia of Rupercan, and even the private armies of Mecklen and the other three electors all sent representative troops to participate.

The total strength of this allied army is no less than that of their anti-rebel army, and in terms of equipment and morale, it is even better.

"How...how do we fight this war?" Abraham murmured to himself.

He had initially thought it would be a relaxed armed march, but now it seems it might turn into a bloodbath.

Hoffman fell silent.

He was a pragmatic man, and he knew perfectly well that once war broke out, even if they won, their own army would inevitably suffer heavy losses.

And that madman Lacey has countless incited workers behind him, and his army is almost limitless; they could overwhelm him with sheer numbers.

It is clearly illogical for two electoral districts to wage war against seven electoral districts.

“Perhaps we should report the actual situation to the Queen,” Hoffman finally said.

"It is unwise to act rashly without absolute certainty."

Although Abraham was unwilling, he could only acquiesce.

The military threat has resulted in a stalemate.

……

Holy Leitanian Empire: Chapter 78: Execution Order - Eliminate the Traitor Leisi!

After withstanding the Gemini Queen's initial offensive, you shifted to a defensive stance.

[You, along with Mecklen, Volner, Rudolf, and three opportunistic allies, announced the establishment of a permanent body—the Supreme Reform Council—aimed at "promoting modernization reforms in Letania."]

This was tantamount to establishing a separate central authority outside of Triinttelme's imperial power, blatantly undermining the Empress's rule.

Your propaganda machine is running at full speed, and Gertrude's writers are working day and night.

They portray Triinttelme as a "conservative, decadent, and alienated old-world nest," while depicting your allied district as a "progressive, prosperous, and hopeful future for Letania."

[In no time, rumors about the workers in the Vase territory having meat at every meal and children attending school for free spread faster than the royal decree.]

[You secretly instructed Taylor to have Rupercan's border troops engage in several small, controlled border skirmishes with Abraham Rossetti's Hayden Schweil forces.]

[After a few brief exchanges of fire, the corpses carried back became your best source of material.]

Your newspapers and radio immediately began to sensationalize the enemy's acts of aggression, tearfully denouncing the cruelty of the old aristocratic electors.

[You yourself delivered a speech, bitterly accusing the Gemini Queens of "condoning or even instigating infighting among the Electors, thus undermining national unity."]

Amidst the uproar, you, in your capacity as Chairman of the Supreme Reform Council, issued a sincere proposal to Triinttelme: inviting the Twin Queens to send a plenipotentiary envoy to hold peace talks at a neutral location to jointly discuss how to "bridge the national rifts and rebuild the peace order."

……

In the early morning in Trinity, before the mist had fully dissipated, the cries of newsboys could already be heard.

"Breaking News! Breaking News! Hayden Schweil has launched a brazen invasion, and the heroes of Rupercan have shed their blood on the frontier!"

Workers' Party leader Lacey issued a peace initiative, calling on Her Majesty the Queen to stop the civil war!

Outside a bakery, the owner, Haddock, snatched a newspaper from his employee. The newspaper, with its shocking headlines and pictures, detailed the devastation at the border.

Several citizens who were queuing to buy bread also gathered around and started discussing it amongst themselves.

"Good heavens, has that Elector Abraham gone mad? He actually dared to open fire!" a coachman exclaimed.

"What do you mean he's crazy? I think it's the idea of ​​those two upstairs." A thin watchmaker lowered his voice and gestured towards the Twin Towers.

"The newspapers all say that Lord Lacey is building roads and factories, and the workers have jobs and are doing very well."

"Here, taxes are getting heavier and heavier, and doing business is getting harder and harder."

Boss Haddock frowned and muttered, "But that Lacey is, after all, a... worker foreman. It's against the rules for him to overthrow a nobleman."

"Rules?" the watchmaker sneered.

"Is Elector Otto's rule to tax us to the bone? Is Count Dominic's rule to let his son steal other people's school places? And now the Queen's rule is to let the Electors kill each other?"

"Hardek, is the bread you bake for noble gentlemen, or for us starving people?"

"If Lord Lacey's unconventional behavior can ensure my child has enough to eat, then I'd rather have this unconventionality!"

His words fell silent.

Haddock opened his mouth, but found himself unable to refute.

Yes, his bakery business is not as good as before.

Those wealthy people who used to frequent the place now spend their money on novelties smuggled from the Elector of Mecklenburg.

Meanwhile, the pockets of ordinary citizens are becoming emptier day by day.

The balance of public opinion is tilting at a visible speed, fueled by extensive propaganda.

……

Meanwhile, inside the Twin Towers.

Queen Liselotte sat on her throne, listening expressionlessly to the report from the Minister of Finance below.

The economic sanctions not only failed to kill Lacey's alliance, but also brought the economy of the capital region to a standstill first.

Mecklen's caravans stopped bringing luxury goods, Ziegler's cloth supply ceased, and even basic food and mineral supplies became scarce due to Warner's defection.

Queen Helena slammed her hand on the armrest in frustration, interrupting the minister's statement: "Enough! Get to the point! What's going on with the border conflict?"

A general stepped forward, his voice hoarse: "Your Majesty, according to the battle report from His Excellency Abraham, it was Rupercan's army that crossed the boundary marker first to provoke us, forcing them to retaliate..."

"Forced to retaliate?" Herlinmat stood up abruptly.

"Abraham and his comrade had 50,000 'Imperial Order Restoration Forces' under their command! A forced counterattack turned into a messy battle with casualties on both sides?"

"And Lacey even found something to use against him, causing a huge uproar?"

"A bunch of trash!"

Liselotte raised her sister's hand, stopping her anger.

Her gaze fell on the Peace Initiative from Eisenwild on the table. The words on it were humble, yet they stung her eyes.

“Lizelot, did you see that? That country bumpkin is humiliating us!” Herlinmat pointed to the document.

"He created the conflict, and then hypocritically came to ask for peace! He's declaring to all of Leitania that we don't even have the capacity to maintain national order!"

The old nobles in the palace also echoed this sentiment.

"Your Majesty, we must not agree! This is a trick by Lacey! He is definitely stalling for time!"