When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 772 Rumor or truth?

When Meliati stepped into the tent, the noisy discussions stopped for a moment.

But the next second, the noise turned into low whispers, passed on by word of mouth among the nobles and monks.

Looking at these core members, a hint of coldness appeared on Meliati's face.

There are three types of people in Meliati's ruling circle.

The first category is the hardcore mountain people, mainly small nobles and small landowners, including both knights and commoners, who fully meet Meliati's "elite" needs.

Their loyalty was not to title or blood, but to Meliati herself.

The second category is the mountain nobles, that is, the nobles from Upper Rivershire, North and South Moundshire and other places.

These people are basically of Kushite descent, who were defeated by the old Grand Duke and have the unique Kushite tradition of emphasizing blood ties.

They were originally loyal to the old Grand Duke's throne and bloodline, but they mixed with the die-hard mountain people, which led to internal disagreements and impure loyalty.

The third category is the plain nobles who surrendered later, their loyalty is quite pure.

They will follow whoever is stronger.

Except for Horn.

Back then, Horn launched a great holy war in Hotham County, beheading or exiling the local nobles.

So far, in the entire Thousand River Valley, the nobility in Longsand County has the lowest status, and the only difference between them and the common people is just a title.

The current situation is -

The die-hard mountain people are absolutely loyal as long as they receive food and wages, and do not need any explanation or wining over.

The nobles of the plains would sit on the fence and join whoever was stronger, without any need for explanation or win-over.

What Meliati needs to deal with most at the moment is the mountain nobles in the middle.

You should know that in the current government team of Meliati, the key and military positions are all held by these mountain nobles.

His cold gaze swept across these mountain nobles, and when these mountain nobles' eyes touched Meliati, they always dodged unnaturally.

After seeing Meliati enter the camp, he sat on the chair without saying a word. Finally, someone couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, don't you have anything to say?"

"What are you talking about? The defeat in Gravel Plains was indeed my fault. You can scold me all you want on this point. I will accept it." Meliati said bluntly.

"The matter of Gravel Plain is secondary." A stout earl with gray hair stood up and asked in a thick mountain accent, "We are asking about your background."

"Fake news." Meliati's words were brief and disdainful.

The people in the tent were stunned for a moment, as if they had not expected Meliati to respond in this way.

They looked at each other, and their original impetuousness actually dissipated a little.

"You, don't you want to explain?" The fat count didn't want to.

"What do I need to explain? Prove that I'm my mother's daughter? Prove that I'm my grandfather's granddaughter?" Meliati stared at her with a lightning-like gaze. "Ask my mother to come over and do a blood test to prove my relationship with me?"

"Do you admit that your mother is a witch?"

"Yes."

"Then you..."

"Catherine is a witch, Jeanne is a witch, you both worship her as saints, but I am just the daughter of a witch, and I have the blood of the old archduke, and you cannot accept that."

"So, you are a witch?" A question came from somewhere in the crowd.

"Okay, let me ask you." Meliati walked up to the man, "I am a witch, what do you want?"

The chaotic scene suddenly became quiet. The little knight shrank behind the pillar, looking embarrassed: "That's not what I meant."

Squinting her eyes and looking the knight up and down, Meliati turned her head and looked at everyone:

"The one who led you to rebel against Codburg was me, the witch!"

"The person who will lead you to seek justice for the Blueblood Monastery is me, the witch!"

"It is I, the witch, who has brought you from the mountains to the plains and brought you all the wealth and prosperity!"

"Everything you do is based on the fact that I am a witch. How about that?"

"Which one of you wasn't promoted by me? Which one of you hasn't received my grace? Huh?!"

"A hunchback can be a king, a leper can be a pope, not to mention the two fraudulent popes in the empire today."

It has to be said that the original mountain nobles were in chaos.

After all, the secret files of the Imperial Academy of Heraldry prove that Meliati's mother Lulos is a witch.

This is why, when Grand Duke Hemashi had the ability to compete for the throne, he still went to Qianhe Valley and hid in the ravines to be a local king. In essence, he was implicated by his own daughter. All of this makes sense.

Then it also makes sense why the Joan Party in Black Snake Bay supports Meliati so much.

After all, the leader of the Joan Party, Lulule, is Meliati's "mother", so she will naturally support her daughter.

If we emphasize Meliati's bloodline as a duke and downplay her identity as a witch.

Sechinger couldn't help but stand up: "Your Highness, that's not what we meant..."

Before he could finish, Meliati interrupted him and said, “Let me tell you, the old duke has been fighting on the battlefield for so many years, doesn’t he have any rare items in his hands?

I was able to be born because I was protected by the Holy Angel. I am not an adopted daughter at all. Those were all lies told by the Leia people, and you actually fell for them!

Now, with the Leia army in front of us, you are still arguing over such a small matter. It's really meaningless."

Under Meliati's gaze, the mountain nobles lowered their heads in shame.

"Tomorrow, I will lead the troops to fight. Those who want to join the battle should gather in the training ground tonight."

…………

"Meliati, with all due respect..." Herman handed over the thick potion, "It's best for you not to engage in a direct battle with the Leia army right now.

I know you want to join the war, but the current situation is that Lavle is advancing slowly and cautiously.

We are at a disadvantage, so it is best to defend first and accumulate strength before counterattacking. Hotam County has enough depth to defend."

"What am I like in your eyes?" After drinking the potion, Meliati's mouth trembled, as if she was about to vomit because of the bitterness, but she still forced herself to hold it back.

"Stubborn?" Herman asked.

"Radical?" Mo Ruo said.

"Are you being too picky?" Fili asked.

"That's called perseverance, okay?!" Melia wrinkled her nose. "Of course I know that we should defend first and then attack, and join forces with Horn, but the question is how to join forces?"

Herman and the others looked at each other and saw the solemnity.

"Given my current physical condition, I won't be able to fight on the battlefield for at least three to four months. I also have to bear the political burden of the defeat," Meliati whispered. "If we combine our forces like this, all of them will become Horn's soldiers."

"This is indeed a problem." Herman also felt a headache.

Unlike Meliati who used a hard and violent approach to seize power, Horn used a soft knife to cut the flesh, moistening things silently.

Here, Meliati had just taken care of the Thousand River Valley, while Horn quietly took over the Black Snake Bay and then the Windmill Land, and recovered more than 300,000 gold pounds.

These gold pounds were turned into roads, ports and small canals, connecting all parts of the Thousand River Valley.

Through the control of various commodities and tax registrations, although the local priests are subordinate to the county governors, they are actually on an equal footing.

If Horn were to seize command again, the nobles, regardless of whether they were from the mountain faction or the plains faction, would surely join forces.

At that time, there will be an external war outside and a civil war inside.

Meliati looked at the burning candlestick on the table and said, "Besides, do you think I have completely subdued those mountain nobles today?
I may bow my head today and tomorrow, but maybe I won’t bow my head the day after tomorrow. I need a victory to rally people’s hearts.

Even a small victory can lead to a publicity spree in the newspapers.”

Seeing that the three were still hesitant, Meliati was silent for a long time before speaking: "I asked Horn, and he said that he was not at the front line and had no first-hand information, so he had no right to speak.

But if I combine the intelligence and think we can fight, then he will support me in fighting this battle.

But don’t make big moves, because the main theme at the moment is defense, and appropriate counterattacks are part of defense.”

"But given the current situation, it's difficult to win." Several people were in a dilemma.

Meliati pointed to the map on the table and said, "In the past, we had good teeth and could eat fatty meat and chew hard bones.

Now we still have the strength, but we have lost the confidence, so we have to take on some scraps and build up our confidence first.

Originally, there was no such opportunity, but fortunately, the Cheka provided us with an important piece of information."

"What intelligence?" Herman looked at the marked map. "The vassal army of Xianshidian?"

“Yes, perhaps it’s because the vassal of Xianshidian does not accept Lavle’s leadership, or perhaps it’s to grab the credit.

These 6000 people actually broke away from the main force and ran to the town of Komita, kilometers away from Xialu City.

We have clockwork cannons and holy musketeers. We have more people, equipment and training than them, so the probability of defeating them is very high.

And it’s close enough to Xialu City, so even if we lose, we can retreat calmly.”

(End of this chapter)