Fangzhou Xier, starting with failing the art exam

"Are we just going to let Casimir bleed to death?" Russell retorted sharply.

"We must preserve the flame of hope, leaving Kazimir with the chance to restore its kingdom! This is an order!"

The young knight commander opened his mouth, but ultimately lowered his head, his eyes filled with tears.

……

The order to retreat was given, but its execution proved extremely difficult.

Under the combined air and ground attacks from Ursus and Letania, Kazimir's command and communication systems were already in a state of semi-paralysis.

Many troops did not receive orders at all, or were intercepted, surrounded, and annihilated on their way to retreat.

Countless civilians were swept up in the torrent of war.

They brought their families and belongings, and were stuck in traffic on the road leading south.

Leitania’s Stuka bombers would sometimes roar overhead, causing panic even though their targets were military units ahead.

A boy named Tomash was crammed in with his parents among the fleeing crowd.

He looked back and saw thick smoke billowing from his small town in the distance.

He used to think that those knights who shone in the arena were omnipotent heroes who could protect everything.

But now, the heroes are in defeat.

Flyers drifted down from the sky like snowflakes.

Tomash picked up a card with the image of the Leitanian Emperor Leisi and his young, handsome face printed on it.

The flyer read:

"People of Kazimir, war was not our intention. The corrupt Merchant Guild and the decadent knightly nobles have dragged your nation into the abyss..."

"...Lay down your weapons and welcome the new order. Letania will not enslave you. All assets exploited by the Commercial Federation will be redistributed to you who truly create value..."

Tomash couldn't understand those complicated words and phrases.

He rubbed his rumbling stomach, then looked at the young emperor's face on the flyer, his eyes filled with confusion.

……

Meanwhile, on a secret path leading to the Ursus military camp, an inconspicuous land vehicle was bumping along.

Inside the carriage, Charne, who had been "escorted" out by guards, was sitting with an Ursus diplomat.

“Sir, on behalf of the Kazimierz Commercial Association, we are willing... willing to pay one billion, no, two billion Ursus rubles, if only your country would cease its attack.”

Charné was now like a stray dog, begging humbly.

The Ursus diplomat, a middle-aged man with a thick beard, slowly took a sip of vodka and let out a burp.

"Two billion? Mr. Chairman, do you know how much our Emperor spent on this special military operation?" He looked at Charné with the eyes of someone looking at an idiot.

"What we want is not your money."

"Then what do you want?"

“We want your land, your mines, your cities, everything you have.” The diplomat grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.

"Most importantly, we want you to surrender unconditionally."

Charné slumped in his seat, his face ashen.

……

Holy Lytanian Empire: Chapter 117: Provisional Autonomous Government of South Kazimir

Under attack from two fronts, several of Kazimir's defensive lines fell one after another.

Taylor's armored onslaught over Letania, employing a pincer movement, captured several key cities with unstoppable momentum; meanwhile, in the north, Ursus advanced with unparalleled force.

Within days, the vanguard forces of both countries had already penetrated into the central plains of Kazimir, their advance aimed directly at the Great Knight's Territory.

This city, once a symbol of knightly glory, is now shrouded in a cloud of panic.

The upper echelons of the business association were thrown into chaos, with many wealthy businessmen secretly transferring their assets. The morale of the city's garrison was low, and fear gripped the city. The once bustling streets were now filled with despair and terror.

You ordered Gertrude's intelligence department to spread the pre-prepared rumors.

Rumors quickly spread throughout the city through various clandestine channels that the high-ranking members of the Commercial Federation were colluding with enemy states, betraying knights, and preparing to surrender the city to save their own lives.

The public believes that the Business Federation betrayed Kazimir.

Meanwhile, the Ursus people in the north seemed to have gone mad with victory.

[They plundered mineral resources and industrial facilities with impunity in their occupied territories north of Qazimir, and wagons laden with spoils kept heading towards the permafrost.]

Emperor Fyodor's attention was clearly drawn to these generous rewards, thus slowing the advance of the main force; only an advance party was sent out to scout.

You keenly seized this opportunity.

[With a single order, General Taylor's armored group abandoned its rest and, without sleep or rest, advanced at full speed along the central plains towards the heart of Kazimir—the Great Knight Territory.]

Finally, on the outskirts of a city in central Qazimir, a dramatic scene unfolded.

The Leitania vanguard reconnaissance battalion arrived almost simultaneously with the advance troops of the Ursus Fourth Army.

After a brief standoff, for reasons unknown, the Ursus side opened fire first. This small-scale conflict, intended as a probing attack, was met with a resolute and merciless counterattack from General Taylor.

The superior tactical skills and firepower displayed by Letania's tanks and mechanized infantry turned Ursus's probing attack into an embarrassing rout.

[You sent a strongly worded diplomatic note to Ursus through Serafina.]

[After receiving battle reports from the front and your diplomatic warning, Emperor Feodor, faced with Letania's tough stance and considering the turbulent factional struggles at home, ultimately chose to compromise.]

A potential conflict that could have escalated was quietly averted when Ursus diplomats entered the Letanian military camp.

From this point on, no force could stop the advance of the two empires.

Ursus's army was arrayed north of the Great Knights' territory, while Letania's armored onslaught halted to the east of the city.

Two armies are about to deliver a fatal blow to Kazimir.

On the eve of the fall of the Grand Knights, Chairman Charney, with his last remaining confidants and the wealth he had amassed, attempted to escape through an abandoned underground tunnel.

However, Gertrude already had his movements under control.

As he scrambled out of the exit, he was met with the menacing gun barrels of Letanian agents. This business tycoon, who had once stirred up the Kazimierz region, had ultimately become a prisoner.

Inside the city, the final moment has arrived.

[At the urging of Marna Nearl, Ioleta Russell, on behalf of the Supervisory Council, announced the unconditional surrender of Kazimir.]

She hoped that Marna could use the prestige of the Lightbringer family to rally the remaining knights to leave the Great Knight Territory, thus preserving the flame of Kazimierz's restoration.

But Marner refused; he chose to stay.

“We have betrayed all the knights who died in battle,” Ioleta Russell said somberly, her eyes closed.

“No, we are saving all the living Qazimirs,” Marna Nearl declared firmly.

"Lord Ioleta Russell, you are first and foremost the guardian of Kazimierz, and only secondly a knight."

Russell swayed, as if those words had drained all his strength.

[Laetnia and Ursus accepted the surrender of Qazimir, and after negotiations, the two countries established a "Provisional Autonomous Government of Qazimir," which Ioleta Russell rejected.]

At her recommendation, they decided to support Manna Nearl as the leader of the new Casimir.

[Afterwards, the two sides began discussing the "division of spoils."]

"According to the supplementary agreement to the Leu Non-Aggression Treaty, the central plains of Kazimir shall be the boundary." Serafina drew a clear red line on the map with her baton.

"To the south, all commercial cities and transportation hubs, including the Great Knights' Territory, belong to Letania."

"All mining areas, industrial bases and agricultural areas to the north belong to Ursus."

The smile of Grand Duke Vanya, the representative of Ursus, froze for a moment.

He hadn't expected Letania to have such a big appetite, not only wanting the Great Knight Territory, the heart of commerce, but also all the trade routes to the south.

This takes away almost 80 percent of Casimir's commercial value.

“Minister Serafina, this division seems unfair, doesn’t it?” Grand Duke Vanya tapped the northern region of the map.

"Although the land in the north is vast, it is mostly barren hills and undeveloped forests, while the south is the heart of Kazimierz."

"Our warriors shed their blood and sacrificed their lives in the north, not to carry the palanquin for Letania."

Taylor, standing next to Serafina, snorted and said:

"If it weren't for our Letania's blitzkrieg in the east, which drew away the most elite Silver Spear Pegasus of Kazimir, your warriors would probably still be eating mud in front of the first line of defense, wouldn't they?"

"You!" Grand Duke Vanya's face darkened.

Serafina reassured the other party and then said, "His Majesty the Emperor believes that the two are of equal value. For Ursus, the northern resource zone is obviously more valuable than the commercial zone."

"We both got what we needed, which is fair."

Grand Duke Vanya did not refute this point.

It is clear that what Emperor Fyodor needs most right now is the resources of the north to appease the old nobles and military-industrial groups in the country.

Moreover, when it comes to verbal sparring, ten Ursus diplomats couldn't out-argue one Letanian.

In the end, Grand Duke Vanya could only let out a cold snort, which was tantamount to acquiescing to the plan.

[Laetnia and Ursus officially signed the "Kazimir Border Agreement," with Laetnia gaining the rich commercial region and some mineral resources in southern Kazimir, while Ursus received the resource-rich northern region.]

Kazimir was split in two.

[Letania announced the establishment of the "Provisional Autonomous Government of Southern Casimir," and Marna Nearl was appointed as its first administrative governor, responsible for the reconstruction of southern Casimir. Leitania dispatched a commissioner to provide guidance.]

"Your Majesty, regarding the selection of a governor to be stationed in South Kazimir..."

Inside the Twin Towers, Intelligence Minister Gertrude inquired in this manner.

Lacey's gaze fell on the white figure standing silently beside the throne.

"Lizelot, I wonder if you are better at governing a region than your sisters?"

Liselotte scoffed at the mention of her sisters, but she did not reject Lacey's offer.

You've chosen Liselotte as your candidate for governor of South Casimir, exploiting her slight jealousy of her best friend's current situation; you believe she'll do a good job.

……

Holy Lytania Empire: Chapter 118: Marna Nearl, Traitor to the Nearl Family!

Although Charne, the chairman of the Grand Knights' Domain and the Merchants' Union, had been arrested, his remaining forces were still active throughout Casimir, attempting to obstruct the new government's reforms through bribery, incitement, and sabotage.

[You have ordered Gertrude's intelligence services to assist Marna in a thorough purge, ensuring the stability of the new government and the smooth implementation of Letania's reforms.]

[Upon assuming office, Marner Lingguang immediately issued orders to freeze assets related to the Business Federation, investigate corrupt officials, and implement land reforms, allocating some land to impoverished farmers, thus gaining initial public support.]

The traditional knightly class of Casimir was unhappy with Letania's intervention, believing that Marna had betrayed chivalry and harboring suspicions about her new regime.

The Ursus Empire, through trade channels and intelligence agents, has been secretly infiltrating South Kazimir in an attempt to cultivate pro-Ursus forces, create chaos, and weaken Letania's influence.

[Letania provided substantial reconstruction funds and technical assistance to southern Casimir to help it restore production and build infrastructure, demonstrating Leitania's goodwill as its overlord.]

With the support of Letania, Manna Nearl faces numerous challenges in her rule, including purging the old guard, appeasing traditional knights, and guarding against Ursus's infiltration.

……

For the vast majority of civilians, the announcement of the establishment of the Provisional Autonomous Government of South Kazimierz was far less important than the bowl of hot soup at the relief station set up by the Letanian army. The name of the cumbersome government and the identity of the newly appointed chief administrator were far less important than the tangible benefit of the announcement.

But for some, this announcement was nothing short of an earthquake.

On the outskirts of the Great Knights' Territory, in a secluded manor, a dozen or so surviving old knights gathered together.

Most of them had been wounded in previous battles, their bodies wrapped in bandages, their faces filled with grief, anger, and confusion.

“Marna Nearl! That coward! That traitor!” An old knight with one arm smashed his wine cup on the ground, shards flying everywhere.

"He's Nearl!!"

"He actually accepted the Letanian appointment! He's disgracing the Lightbringer family! He's disgracing all the Knights of Kazimierz!"

"He has tarnished the honor of knighthood!" another chimed in.

"We are still bleeding, but he can't wait to become the invaders' lackey!"

"You're only just realizing this? Didn't that Marner forget about the honor of knighthood a long time ago? Have you forgotten that he's been a dog of capital all this time?"