Throne of the North.

Chapter 701 The Wars and Politics of the Empire (Thanks to Mo Ke for the 100,000 reading coins reward!)

"Damn, how could this happen?"

Volvo, his face contorted with rage, loudly questioned Harald, arguing that the human army had fought orcs before and shouldn't have suffered such a crushing defeat.

“Those nobles, they have become complacent.”

"They thought the orcs were still cannon fodder, just like before, but this time the orcs that appeared on the battlefield were very fast in the mountains and could easily hunt our soldiers."

Harald offered no explanation or excuse; he simply stated the facts.

Indeed, the imperial army of today is no longer an army composed of nobles, but is under the unified command of the empire, with nobles serving as officers.

The problem is that the nobles are a mixed bag; some are excellent, while others can't even stand up straight when they see an orc.

"Damn it, replace them all!"

Volvo was furious. He had been doing well in the capital, but because of this incident, he kept running into obstacles in the city.

The nobles and the royal family both needed to see the new and stable environment he brought to the empire.

The fortresses of Twilight Province must never repeat what happened a few years ago.

"I will deploy more resources and slaves to Twilight Keep. Within ten days, no matter what methods those mages use, Twilight Keep must be rebuilt."

Volvo knew that humanity had no choice but to defend against the orc invasion; otherwise, what happened a day earlier on the battlefield ten miles north of Twilight Keep would not have been an isolated incident.

This is the result of his reading, but it is also the crystallization of human experience and lessons learned over a long period of time.

In terms of macro-level management, Volvo, as expected of an elector educated in royalty, arranged everything in an orderly manner. After he calmed down, Ryan visited and inquired again.

"Does His Highness the Chosen One have a means to deal with that Beastman Emperor favored by the gods?"

"do not know."

Volvo's expression darkened upon hearing this.

He was not yet the emperor and did not have that much power. Moreover, dealing with the power of the gods was not something that could be accomplished with a single word; it required opportunity and patience.

Otherwise, Columbus III wouldn't have died like that.

Ryan lowered his eyes, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.

He was a little anxious.

“Your Highness, I may need to return to the North Wind Province.”

"Oh? Why? I still need you, Ryan."

Volvo asked in surprise, wondering what had happened to Ryan.

"A large number of orcs have appeared in the Northwind Province. The werewolves, one of the six royal families of the orcs, have appeared in the north of the Northwind Province. They are driving a large number of orc cannon fodder to attack the fortresses of the Northwind Province."

“Beifeng is also a province of the empire. If I don’t go back, the fortresses of Beifeng Province may not be able to be defended. At that time, Your Highness’s plans will still be affected.”

"That's right."

Volvo relaxed, thinking that the changes in the war here had caused Ryan to have a different opinion of him. Volvo was now very concerned about the nobles' thoughts on this matter.

After listening, Volvo simply waved his hand dismissively.

“Then you should go back, Ryan. I will have Lord Twilight allocate the supplies I promised you. However, I do not want the Northwind Province to become a gap in the Empire. I cannot allow a stain to appear on my crown at my coronation.”

Volvo looked at Ryan with an aggressive gaze, who smiled and nodded, saying:

"Rest assured, Your Highness, the North Wind Province is protected by Ryan. I am the invincible Ryan."

“I believe you can do it, Mr. Ryan.”

Volvo laughed heartily and patted Ryan on the shoulder.

Ryan laughed and continued:

"However, Your Highness, I wish to obtain command of the Empire's military support for the Kingdom of Andara and the Gerald noble territory."

“I think your vision is not limited to the Empire. On the continent of Norris, only the Empire can stand against Dawn. You also need the support of the Kingdom.”

"Of course. I have already written to Lord Farrell, the commander of Winged Canyon, in my capacity as the commander-in-chief of the North. The decision of the Imperial Council of Elders is to send the Winged Canyon Elephant Legion to the Kingdom of Andara to support the kingdom's war against the orcs."

"You can discuss it with Commander Farrell at that time."

"I need Your Highness to grant me a military identity."

Ryan waved his hand helplessly and said that he needed official power within the empire.

Volvo didn't care about that and nodded in agreement.

"If this war in the North succeeds, Ryan, we will all be the new victors."

Volvo didn't say it directly, but he believed that Ryan was intelligent enough to understand, and in that case, Ryan could become his loyal supporter.

"Your Highness will surely succeed."

After briefly observing the war situation at Twilight Keep, Ryan could only marvel at how wealthy the Empire truly was.

The orcs' advance was slowed down. The power of money overwhelmed the orcs' pace. The empire's extraordinary foundation, built over a century, made Twilight Keep, a fortress that had not yet fully recovered, indestructible.

"I'm so envious."

Ryan was filled with envy. If he had so many resources, the disadvantages of a poor geographical location would be meaningless. He could create the most prosperous place in the world.

Even in the North, people can feel the ultimate warmth that wealth brings.

In any case, this place has nothing to do with him.

Ryan is about to return to Northwind Province, and Twilight Keep will not change much because of his departure.

The orcs' attack intensified.

More and more orcs were driven from the depths of the North to the front lines against humans, bringing unfamiliar changes to the war. Even though they were not powerful, they caught the Imperial army off guard.

Faced with the unexpected war brought by those unfamiliar orcs, Volvo had only one choice.

Throw money.

The Empire's Mage Association, established less than six months ago, is celebrating its first major event. All mages in the empire are receiving requests from the northern frontier. All magical means that can be used in the war are cash cows, and Volvo is buying them without reservation, all for the sake of a smooth war.

"War should not be like this!"

Within the capital city, some nobles were dissatisfied, but it was useless. The fact that their territories were not plundered or harassed by the orcs was the best outcome. "Volvo has gained too much prestige in the north."

Freud finally realized something and looked north with immense resentment.

Logically speaking, he should have been the one to go to the North to command the war. Columbus III was too confident. If he were still alive, Volvo's trip to the North would have been just a test, and all the credit would have gone to him. But now that he is dead, the war against the Orcs in the North will affect the next emperor of the Empire.

"The nobles have forgotten my contributions in the south, but only I can lead the empire to greater glory."

Freud spoke to Grand Duke Rodrigo before him, his fists clenched. Though not hysterical, it was clear to everyone that the elector was displaying all his discontent.

"Volvo wants to be the victor of the Electors in the North, and we absolutely cannot let him succeed."

Grand Duke Rodrigo looked at Freud and calmly asked:
"Does Your Highness want Volvo to fail? The orcs will then break through the Empire's defenses and invade the Empire's territory."

Freud's expression froze for a moment, then he said matter-of-factly:
"Of course not. I will take over the military command and lead the empire to victory over the orcs."

"What does Volvo know about war? It is I, Freud, who can make the empire stronger."

"The Empire cannot be defeated by the Orcs, but it cannot be Volvo who defeats the Orcs either."

Freud looked at the Grand Duke and the other high-ranking nobles around him.

"Only when I become the emperor of the empire will your needs be recognized. Volvo's interests are not the same as your interests."

"Support me, beat Volvo."

"The nobles do not wish for the spread of war, so you can rest assured. The empire's territory is already large enough, and I will not easily start a war."

Freud stared at the nobles, who also harbored great resentment towards him, especially Grand Duke Rodrigo, whose support for him was far too limited. It seemed that a magicians' guild was all that Grand Duke Rodrigo needed.

This shouldn't be the case.

"Grand Duke Meyers prevented me from being crowned emperor in the capital, but Volvo is not qualified to be emperor either, is he?"

"He is not yet qualified to be emperor."

"Let's think of a way."

Rodrigo sighed as he looked at Floyd. He understood that Volvo becoming the emperor of the empire was not a good thing for his grand ducal family, and Floyd was not the best choice either. However, compared to other options, he had to support Floyd.

"The nobles do not want another war to break out next year. The empire's war has lasted for five years. If Volvo defeats the orcs in the north and completely eliminates the threat to the empire's north, then the nobles will unite and let Volvo manage the empire."

"He has a huge advantage in the war in the North."

"What should we do then? Volvo has wasted a lot of money in the north, but that's precisely why the orcs haven't been able to achieve better results."

Floyd was very anxious.

"There is a way; we need to get Volvo back to the capital."

"In that case, the war in the North wouldn't be as helpful to Volvo."

Rodrigo offered his advice.

"Volvo won't be coming back. He returned to the capital for two days before being urged to leave by Duke Meyers."

Freud said helplessly that if it weren't for Meyers' actions, they wouldn't have understood the nobles' plans. They realized that staying in the capital was the worst choice.

These electors could not become emperors in the capital city because of the sudden death of Columbus III; they had not been fully tested, and no victor had been determined among the electors.

They also need competition.

There is no need for competition within the capital city. This magnificent capital city is dominated by the emperor and the Senate, but now the Senate is like a toothless lion; they have no power left.

Nowadays, all the orders of the empire are simply the collective will of the nobles, issued through the council of elders.

They were the mouthpieces during the emperor's vacuum, nothing more.

If he could, Freud would have loved to replace Volvo. He felt he could have done better than Volvo, and those evil orcs in the North would never have been able to break through the Imperial defenses where he was stationed.

"No, he has to come back."

Rodrigo shook his head and said:
"His Majesty has been dead for almost a month, but we still haven't held a funeral."

Grand Duke Rodrigo's words caused Freud to lower his head.

Under divine punishment, Columbus III's body was never found, leaving only the imperial scepter, representing the emperor's authority, lying forlornly on the ground.

However, as an emperor, even without a body, one must still have a grand funeral.

"Damn Solarion."

"I'm going to kill him!"

Freud's eyes were filled with hatred, and this wasn't just something he showed to the nobles. If Columbus III had been alive, the empire would never have been in such a passive position. Moreover, the nobles didn't have the courage to oppose the emperor's orders. At that time, Freud still held the greatest prestige among the electors, and the war in the south had given him far too many benefits.

The nobles who benefited from the war were all his supporters.

But now everything is different. With Columbus III dead, the imperial authority that had been pressing down on the nobles has completely disappeared. Do the nobles not want the war to spread? No, they simply don't want an emperor who gains the same prestige as Columbus III through war.

Hereditary power brings prestige to the emperor of an empire, which is quite different from the prestige gained by fighting against powerful enemies and winning victory after victory.

The former is due to bloodline, while the latter is due to recognized ability.

"His Highness Volvo absolutely cannot be absent from His Majesty's funeral; otherwise, the war in the North will not have achieved such great merit."

"Not only that, we'd better... end the war in the North during His Majesty's funeral, that way, even if Volvo wanted to return to the North, he wouldn't be able to."

“We need to select someone, the commander-in-chief of the war in the North after His Highness Volvo returns, to replace the merits he can gain.”

"How are the Vikings?"

Upon hearing this, Freud's eyes lit up, and he immediately suggested a name.

Grand Duke Rodrigo frowned at the elector, then shook his head.

“He was not qualified. His Majesty banished him, and even the Duke of Freming could only imprison him on the west coast, no matter what he tried.”

“That is His Majesty’s will, and we cannot change it unless you become the new emperor of the empire, but that will be after that.”

"Moreover... the Viking electors should have no further opportunities in the Empire."

This was a tacit understanding among all the nobles: the Vikings could not have any opportunities in the Empire, otherwise all the nobles of the Empire would become victims.

"So, who is qualified?"

(End of this chapter)