Elden: Ring of Calamity

Chapter 285: Enfeoffment Plan
For the warm and dry land of Gaileyd, early September is just the end of summer, and even the morning breeze blowing from the sea is mixed with a hint of warmth.

Rodel, located in the center of the Yatan Plateau, has already reached the middle of autumn. The warm water vapor from Lienia can only stop at Mount Kerowell in the south of the city, turning into mist at dawn and dusk. The wilderness north of the mountain range has long been dyed with rich and magnificent golden color, dotted with the fiery red of maple leaves, just as gorgeous and prosperous as the capital at this time.

At this moment, in a majestic seven-story building located in the north of the inner city, Godwin was sitting on the main seat at the end of the long conference table. On his left and right were more than thirty government giants who could represent the discourse power of the new and old parties. In front of each of them was an identical document.

The document was very thick. The nobles flipped through its contents. Occasionally, someone wanted to discuss it in a low voice with the people around them. However, when they subconsciously cast their eyes upwards and noticed Godwin's sharp and serious eyes like a hawk, they could only suppress the idea of ​​discussing in awe. For a moment, the only sound left in the whole hall was the low sound of flipping papers.

About two quarters of an hour later, seeing the last noble close the manuscript, Godwin knocked on the table and said in a normal tone: "I have finished reading it. You may express your opinions now."

The nobles exchanged glances with each other. Most of the old party nobles, who numbered less than ten people, remained motionless, while the new party nobles were obviously much more active.

After several tacit gestures, Duke Kellier cleared his throat and spoke first, "The demigod enfeoffment plan drawn up by Your Highness is naturally not a problem in general."

"In fact, over the years, under the instruction of the two majesties and the prince, we have also had many similar discussions. The seven princes are about to come of age. According to the dynasty law established by Majesty Marica in the 17th year of the Golden Calendar, it is natural for the princes to share part of the power of the ring and station in various parts of the world by the law of fiefdom. Therefore, I think there is no need to waste time discussing the necessity and rationality of this move."

"However," Duke Kellier opened the document again, stopping precisely at page 46, and frowned, "I think the specific division of territory is still worth discussing."

Godwin's expression did not change, he just said calmly: "Tell me more about it."

"Yes," the Duke took the quill pen that had been prepared long ago from the side, and ran the tip of the pen along the draft in the document, analyzing it, "First, you will lead the former War King to conquer the former Storm Dynasty, His Highness Greg will take over the city of Stonewell on your behalf, His Highness Latan will lead Gaileed, and His Highness Lani will temporarily return to Kalia before the wedding - there is no problem with these four items."

"But the following two statements, regarding His Highness Lacard ruling the Weeping Peninsula and His Highness Lucia Sanx returning to Fam Azra, are inappropriate."

Upon hearing this, Godwin narrowed his eyes slightly, leaned back in his chair and looked around at everyone. Except for a few members of the old party who had remained silent, half of the remaining people lowered their heads and dared not look at him, while the other half looked firmly at Duke Kelly, as if waiting for him to give his arguments.

He was too familiar with those people - the Duke of Baldwin, the Duke of Stevenson, the Marquis Taylor Jones, and the Marquis Woodroffe. Each of them was a top military noble from the Western Expedition Army, and was also the most trusted right-hand man of the current King of Elden, Radagon.

The confrontation between the old and new parties is now very different from that of three years ago. Under Queen Marica's almost bottom-line connivance and concession, the political power and military strength of the old party are shrinking at a visible speed. More and more unstable small and medium-sized nobles have begun to join the new party. Even the old nobles who are vested interests have become more and more obscure when facing the friction between the two parties. In fact, if it weren't for the two forge chiefs such as Otopis and Siluria, who have been following the queen and the war king since the beginning of the golden calendar and still maintain a force that cannot be ignored, and if the dynasty still has the golden prince Godwin, who is a logical choice for both parties, I am afraid that the old party would have been on the verge of extinction.

This has nothing to do with how terrible the power of the Eternal Queen or even the "Black Sword" Malycus, who is the Queen's adopted brother, possesses. The ups and downs of the dynasty's party struggles in recent years have made the golden nobles increasingly aware of one thing -

The new party's complete replacement of the old party has never been the result of factional games, but a general trend that was acquiesced to by the god Malika and followed by the king Radagan.

Although it is difficult for people to understand why the Queen acted in this way, so-called morality and loyalty are not within the consideration of the vast majority of aristocratic groups.

Just as no one would ever publicly state that they were from the "New Party" or the "Old Party", the nobles only pursued survival and continuation, as well as the benefits that could be sought within a safe range. As long as the above conditions could be guaranteed, they would dare to pat their chests and guarantee that no matter which side they stood on, it was out of loyalty to the dynasty, and the factional differences were nothing more than rumors spread by the busybodies in the folk.

Therefore, Godwin was very clear that these new party members who were questioning his plan under pressure at this moment must not represent their personal will, but the voice of His Majesty Radagan behind them.

"I believe that the Weeping Peninsula has been an inherent part of the Nimgefu continent since ancient times. Due to the extremely harsh climate in the surrounding seas, it can only rely on the Sacrifice Bridge to maintain its connection with Stonewell. The peninsula has fertile land and abundant products. Morn's Stanley family still maintains strong control over the area. There are countless subhuman communities scattered among the mountains and fields. When a fertile land that is easy to defend and difficult to attack is mixed with two dangerous hidden dangers that may break out at any time, it may become a hotbed for rebellion at any time."

"Of course. His Highness Lacard is the son of His Majesty Radagon and your brother in name. In recent years, he has demonstrated his ability and character in handling many government affairs in the capital. It stands to reason that there won't be any problems for him to lead the Weeping Peninsula."

"It's just that." Duke Kellier rolled up his slack eyelids, observing Godwin's still calm face, and explained, "If according to your opinion, the Weeping Peninsula is finally separated from Nimgefor and handed over to His Highness Lakkad, combined with the ownership of Gaylide's fiefdom, will it lead to a situation where the Kalia Dynasty's sphere of influence is too wide, and it will in turn oppress Stonewell's strategic security?"

"I am worried that when Lienia, the Weeping Peninsula and Galide are connected, even if the loyalty of His Highnesses Latan and Lakkad is beyond doubt, the nobles of the Carlia Dynasty will inevitably have some dangerous thoughts."

"Once they win the support of the Morns and the Asians, the North Ninmgfu region with Stonewell as its core will become a piece of meat on the chopping board and be in danger of being destroyed at any time."

(End of this chapter)