Rose Empire

Just when Logan was busy persuading Mariasis to surrender, a group of uninvited guests arrived at the Viscount Lanwan's territory.

Matt is an elder of Little Sassini. He had come to Ambratu not long ago. On that occasion, he took advantage of Apo's victory on the battlefield and held his head high in the Ambratu Elders' Council. He was bossy and vented his anger. He also asked Ambratu to pay a huge amount of compensation. At that time, the Ambratu elders naturally did not dare to refuse. They begged Little Sassini to be lenient and let them raise the compensation.

This time, Matt came just to get the money.

However, when Matt brought the Little Sasini delegation to Ambratu for the second time, he found that the city-state of Ambratu had disappeared, and what existed now was Ambratu County, which was ruled by Viscount Lanwan of the Oran Empire.

Jonathan Hackman didn't know what to do with this delegation, so he had someone escort them across the Lanwan Isthmus to the Viscount Lanwan's territory.

At that time, Charlotte was busy testing her improved copper ore smelting furnace and was unable to meet Matt immediately, so Cecilia arranged for Matt and others to stay in a hotel at the Elm Village market. This gave Matt some time to think about the current situation.

Why did Viscount Lanwan occupy Ambratu?

Does Viscount Lanwan really only want to occupy Ambratu?

Is it really Viscount Lanwan who wants to occupy Ambratu?

Matt may not know what geopolitics is, but as an old politician, the way he thinks about political issues is definitely more complicated than that of a general like Mariasis.

Mariasis only cared about whether Viscount Lanwan had a legitimate reason to fight, whether he could defeat Viscount Lanwan, and if he couldn't, whether surrender was appropriate...

However, from the perspective of a Sokya city-state manager, Matt not only paid attention to Viscount Lanwan himself. Behind Viscount Lanwan were the Green Plains Principality and the Orlan Empire.

The Sokya Peninsula lies next to the Oran Empire like a kitten next to a lion. The reason why it has been occupied by a group of city-states until today is that the Sokya mercenaries' martial spirit and bellicosity are only a minor reason. The more important reason is that the Oran Empire has never thought of fighting them.

To the north of the Oran Empire there is a vast plain with lush grass and a large population. It is much more cost-effective to expand northward than to the remote corners in the south.

But now the new Viscount Lanwan has gone against his norm and occupied Ambratu, which has never happened in thousands of years. Matt couldn't help but wonder - could it be that the mainstream attitude of the Orlan Empire's top leaders towards the Sokya Peninsula has changed?

Although Charlotte had good reasons to capture Ambratu, and it seemed that she was a victim from beginning to end, this did not matter to Matt at all. All he cared about was that the border of the Oran Empire was pushed to the doorstep of Little Sassini.

If the Oran Empire intends to conquer the Sokya Peninsula, do the city-states on the Sokya Peninsula have any hope of stopping the Oran Empire's army?

Matt thought there was probably no hope.

For thousands of years, the Orlan Empire was too lazy to attack the Sokya Peninsula. On the one hand, it was not cost-effective, and on the other hand, the Sokya Peninsula did not pose a threat to the empire. The Green Plains Principality alone could basically keep the Sokya people out of the country. The Orlan Empire had four other great lords of the Green Plains Principality.

On the other hand, on the Sokya Peninsula, the Aiye Alliance and the Delmo Alliance continued to fight and waste their internal resources. Even if an external enemy invaded, it would be a question whether they could unite to face the enemy. How could they resist the attack of the Orlan Empire?

The more Matt thought about it, the more worried he became. Plus, it was very noisy outside the hotel, so he could hardly sleep all night. Fortunately, Charlotte finally summoned him the next day.

"Greetings, His Excellency the Viscount."

At the noisy and bustling racecourse, Matt saluted Charlotte.

Charlotte returned the greeting and said with a smile, "I apologize for not being able to receive you right away."

"No, no, Viscount Lanwan is busy with official duties. It would be rude of me to visit him suddenly without sending someone to inform him in advance." Matt said quickly.

"I wonder what brings Elder Matt to my small viscounty?" Charlotte asked with a smile.

Matt knew that Charlotte was asking a question that she already knew the answer to, but he had to answer her question. "Not long ago, Ambratu invaded my little Sasini. Although our loyal and brave citizen soldiers successfully defeated those villains, little Sasini still suffered heavy losses. The Ambratu Elders Council once promised to compensate us for our losses, but now Ambratu..."

Matt didn't finish his words, but his meaning was clear.

However, Charlotte looked at the horses and riders ready to go on the track, and said nonchalantly: "What the Ambratu Elders' Council agreed to has nothing to do with me, Viscount Lanwan. Go find the elder who promised you compensation."

"Don't be ridiculous, Lord Viscount," Matt said with a wry smile, "Now all the surviving elders of Ambratu are locked up in the dungeon by you. Who can I turn to?"

"That's all," Charlotte said coldly, with her hands behind her back. "I also have a grudge against the Ambratu Council of Elders and the Citizens' Assembly. You can't ask me to pay my enemies to compensate you for your losses."

"Your Excellency has occupied Ambratu, and all of Ambratu's savings over the years belong to you. I wonder if you can spare some of them..." Matt said again.

"Elder, what you said is really unreasonable," Charlotte sneered, "You also know that I conquered Ambratu, why should I share the spoils of the city I conquered with you?"

"Without my little Sassini's citizen soldiers fighting in the front, how could Your Excellency have captured Ambrato so easily!"

Matt's tone was a little anxious, because Little Sasini really needed this compensation. Although Little Sasini won a great victory in the battle with Ambratu, the inner city was burned down, the population was severely damaged, and the proud wool industry was almost completely destroyed. If Matt gained nothing from this trip, Little Sasini would be out of money next year.

But after saying this, Matt felt a little regretful and worried that Viscount Lanwan would turn against him.

However, what Matt didn't expect was that Charlotte thought for a moment after hearing what he said, and actually nodded and said, "You are right. Little Sasini's battle did give me an advantage."

"Are you willing to pay compensation for Ambratu?" Matt said in surprise.

The horses started to race, the rumbling of their hooves made the ground tremble slightly, and the spectators and gamblers around cheered.

Charlotte smiled and shook her head, then said, "I didn't invade Little Sasini, so why should I pay compensation? However, I can pay to redeem those Ambratu militiamen, what do you think?"

"Redeem the Ambratu citizen soldiers?" Matt frowned slightly, and became alert. "This is not something I can decide."

"Then go back and discuss it. I'm in short supply of slaves, and keeping those citizen soldiers would waste food. It would be better for you to sell them to me at a good price. This is a win-win situation." Charlotte said.

Sokya Peninsula, Filipino city-state.

As the city-state with the longest history and the most prosperous culture and economy in the Sokal Peninsula, Fidelity also has the most beautiful Elders' House among the Sokal city-states. It not only has magnificent sculptures and gorgeous precious metal ornaments, but also collects precious artworks from all over the world.

However, if there is a citizen of Feidi who does not know the truth and listens to the daily discussions, after a few days, the only thought left in his mind will probably be - Feidi Pills.

In the past two years, most of the things discussed by the high-ranking elders of Fei Di were not very pleasant. Either the Delmers attacked again, the army of the Ai Ye Alliance was defeated again, or a certain city-state did not want to pay war taxes, and a certain city-state wanted to withdraw from the Ai Ye Alliance.

Not to mention others, even the elders who gather here every day feel numb.

"The city-state of Ambratu, a member of the Aiye League, was captured by the Oran people."

Agostino Luigi, the oldest elder in the Fidei Senate, read out the information he had just received.

For a moment, the Elders' Council was silent.

After an unknown amount of time, a hoarse voice smiled bitterly and said, "This is really a fresh topic. It has been three years since the Delmers conquered our city. I prayed to God last night. I really didn't want to hear the news of the Delmers conquering our city. It seems that God heard my voice."

“Elder Urbano, now is not the right occasion or time for you to joke.” A young elder who was not very old but looked calm and steady frowned.

The old man called Urban shook his gray beard and laughed, "Forgive me, little Cleon, you are just too serious, not like a young man at all."

Faced with this sudden news, it was obvious that most people were not in the mood to joke like Urbano.

"Olan people? Are they bandits from the Oran Empire, or mercenaries, or..." an elder asked.

However, Agostino ruthlessly broke his fantasy: "It was Charlotte Melerfield, the Viscount of Lanwan appointed by the Emperor of the Oran Empire and a member of the Melerfield family."

"Why did Viscount Lanwan want to capture Ambratu?" someone else asked.

"The intelligence doesn't provide enough details, but it seems that the Ambratu killed her cousin," Agostino replied.

"The Ambratu people are really making a fuss out of nothing!"

“It’s disgusting!”

"That's right! We shouldn't have let the Ambratu militia leave!"

……

Several emotional elders had already started cursing, but they were not cursing Charlotte, but the people of Ambratu, because the previous sneak attack on little Sassini by Ambratu was still fresh in the memory of the elders of Feidi.

Is it appropriate for the boss to lead his men to fight with other gangs outside, while the younger gang members in the gang are fighting among themselves in the back? It is not appropriate in terms of emotion or reason, right?

But that’s what the Ambratu did.

This set a very bad precedent for the Aiye Alliance city-states. If other city-states followed suit, how would the alliance fight on the front line? The Feidi Elders' Council even proposed to send troops to severely punish Ambratu, but the war on the front line was too tense, so the proposal was not passed.

Now the Ambratu people have not changed their bad habits again. They have killed the nobles of the Oran Empire and recruited the Oran people as well. How could there be such a betraying little brother in the world?

Some elders suggested that Ambratu should be occupied, as it was such a small city-state that it was more capable of causing trouble than fighting.

"Everyone, everyone! Ambratu is a member of our Aiye Alliance after all. Even if Viscount Lanwan has a legitimate reason, we cannot turn a blind eye to his actions to capture Ambratu, otherwise the people in the alliance will be shaken!" This time it was still the young elder called Cleon who spoke, "We must send an envoy to question Viscount Lanwan, and even ask Viscount Lanwan to return Ambratu!"

“That’s the Oran Empire,” Urbano said, raising his eyebrows.

"So what about the Oran Empire?" Cleon raised his chin.

"That's right. So what if it's the Orlan Empire? They think they can take away our city-state just because of the death of a noble. That's too unreasonable!"

"that's right!"

Several elders echoed Cleon.

The Fidians and the Lesser Sassinis all knew how powerful the Oran Empire was, but they obviously had two different mentalities when facing the Oran Empire. Perhaps it was because Fidians were too far away from the Oran Empire and lacked a sense of reality. Or perhaps it was because the Fidians were used to being citizens of the first city-state and had more confidence. Many Fidians were not as timid and cautious as the Lesser Sassinis when facing the Oran Empire.

Finally, Agostino nodded and said, "It is indeed necessary to send envoys. If a city-state is captured and we do not react, the Aiye Alliance will fall apart."

"If the elders don't have a better candidate, I am willing to represent the Feidi and Aiye Alliance to go to the Viscount Lanwan's territory. I will argue with reason and ask Viscount Lanwan to return Ambrato!" Cleon recommended himself in a deep voice.

“You want to go to Viscount Lanwan’s territory too?” Urbano said in a frivolous tone, smiling. “Do you want to go to the place where your father-in-law’s soul is buried to pay tribute to your father-in-law, little Cleon?”

"Elder Urbano, please don't say such things," Cleon frowned again. "Although I respect my father-in-law, I just want to fulfill my duties as an elder for Fidei. My father-in-law...he also taught me to put the interests of the city-state first when he was alive."

"Urbano," Agostino also scolded softly.

“Oh,” Urbano shrugged. “I was just kidding.”

The voting began. Except for a few people who opposed, such as Urbano, Cleon was successfully selected as the envoy to Viscount Lanwan.

PS: Thank you for your votes. The second chapter is not finished yet. It may be updated very late, or tomorrow morning.

Volume 70: Chapter 62 Chapter Why?

Cleon's father-in-law is the necromancer, Regba Dando, who was hunted down by the church inquisitor Borodin all the way to the Viscount Lanwan's territory.

The people are shaped by the land they live in. Continental countries like the Orlan Empire and the Edissa Empire have a low tolerance for necromancers, and almost kill them if they find one - at least that's the case at the national level. But the city-states on the Sokya Peninsula have a certain tolerance for necromancers. This tolerance is relatively low in the north of the peninsula, but it becomes higher as you go south.

The reason is actually very simple. To the south of the Sokya Peninsula is the chaotic Wolf Continent. The two sides are separated by a not-so-wide Flowing Cloud Strait. Anyone with enough courage can paddle a small canoe across - of course, the prerequisite is that you have to have experience in distinguishing directions in the strange fog of the Flowing Cloud Strait. Aliens and beasts are rampant on the Wolf Continent, and humans are not at the top of the food chain. That kind of wildness and unruly temperament has more or less affected the Sokya city-state, making them not even consider the necromancers called "demons" by the church as a big problem.

Feidi is located in the south of Sokya.

Although Legba Dando hid his identity as a necromancer very well, when the secret was revealed, the other elders of the Feidi Elder Council did not make too much of a fuss. At most, they would sigh and say, "So he is a necromancer, he hid it so well." Other than that, there was nothing else.

Even the elders who had a close relationship with Legba Dando in the past expressed sympathy for him, thinking that the Archangel Cathedral and the Inquisition had gone too far. Legba Dando was just practicing at home, and he had neither killed nor harmed anyone. Wouldn't it be enough to punish him? Why kill him so completely?

This sympathy is a kind of political legacy. Regba Dando has no sons, only a daughter. In the city-state of Fife, women do not have citizenship, so Cleon, as Regba Dando's son-in-law, naturally inherited Regba Dando's political legacy and entered the Council of Elders before he was forty.

Speaking of which, Charlotte should be considered Cleon's benefactor.

Because Regba Dando hid his identity as a necromancer so well, few people knew the truth. After the incident, Regba Dando could easily guess that the person who reported him anonymously was his good son-in-law. If Regba Dando escaped back to Fidelity, Cleon would be finished.

Regardless of whether Cleon could defeat a four-winged necromancer, everyone could see how well Regba Dando treated his student and son-in-law. Cleon always told everyone that the person he respected most was his father-in-law, and even when Regba Dando was hunted down by the church's inquisitor, Cleon never changed his words. If Regba Dando sneaked back to Fife and revealed the truth, Cleon's reputation would be ruined first.

So, Charlotte really helped Creon a lot by killing the necromancer.

Unfortunately, Cleon did not intend to thank Charlotte for saving his life this time.

The reason why Cleon dared to volunteer to go to Viscount Lanwan's territory and brazenly stated that he wanted to take back Ambratu was because he guessed that the annexation of Ambratu was most likely a military action initiated by Viscount Lanwan on his own initiative.

Cleon's mother was born in a merchant family in the Oran Empire. He lived in the Oran Empire for a long time when he was a child. That life experience made him understand the Oran Empire better than most Filipinos. Cleon knew that even if the Oran Empire wanted to conquer the Sokya Peninsula, it would not choose to march in winter, because in winter, the Principality of Bonan and the Principality of Green Plains needed to concentrate on defending the tribesmen on the western border, and these two principalities happened to be the two forces in the Oran Empire that were most convenient to send troops to the Sokya Peninsula.

If they were only facing Viscount Lanwan, Cleon felt that the Ai Ye Alliance still had considerable negotiating power.

Cleon took the warship of the Ai Ye Alliance and went directly by sea. After three days of journey, he finally arrived at the Viscount Lanwan.

At this time, Charlotte was meeting with former Ambratu general Mariasis in the military camp. Charlotte was accompanied by the commander of the Lanwan Guard, Hermann Green.

Mariasis had surrendered to Charlotte with more than a thousand of his men. Charlotte, in accordance with the agreement, canonized 197 of them as knights. Of course, they were still not given fiefs, but rewards, and Charlotte also pardoned their families.

"After seeing the equipment of the Ambratu citizen militia, I have some doubts. I wonder if Mr. Mariasis can answer them for me."

Charlotte said, pointing at the former Ambratu citizen soldiers who were receiving Lanwan Knight armor in the martial arts arena.

"Please feel free to ask me anything, Your Excellency. I will tell you everything I know." Mariasis replied immediately.

"The citizen militia faction of the Sokya city-state uses javelins as its main means of attack. Why do you still wear such heavy armor?" Charlotte asked.

Mariasis shook his head and said with a smile, "Your Excellency the Viscount may have some misunderstandings. We do not use javelins as our main means of attack. In fact, we only throw two or three rounds of javelins before the two armies engage in battle, and then we will start to sprint and use swords, shields and spears to defeat the opponent."

"Eh?" Charlotte was even more confused. "Your javelins are so powerful, why do you still need swords, shields, and spears?"

"Well... Actually, we are also good at close combat. When the Citizen Militia faction reaches the third wing, it can awaken an ability called 'Mad Sheep'..."

The ability of 'Mad Sheep' can make a person have greater explosive power, sharper reaction ability, and stronger desire to attack after being injured. According to Mariasis' description, it is indeed very suitable for close combat - he himself is also a three-winged warlock of the citizen militia faction, and he has personally tested it and found it useful.

After listening to this, Charlotte shook her head and continued disapprovingly: "If we can directly eliminate the enemy from a distance, wouldn't we need to engage in close combat? No matter how powerful a close combat is, there will still be casualties, right?"

"You can't defeat the opponent by relying on long-range attacks alone, right?" Mariasis said hesitantly.

"What if there are enough javelins, so numerous that they cover the sky and are as dense as locusts?" Charlotte said again.

"This... shouldn't be possible, right?"

Mariases was also a little confused. He had never considered this problem before, because throwing a few rounds of javelins and then rushing to fight was the war mode used by the city-state heavy infantry for thousands of years. Using long-range strikes to completely solve the opponent was not within the consideration of traditional citizen soldiers like Mariases. After all, there were only a few famous generals like Awa who dared to let the citizen soldiers completely take off their heavy armor and carry a large bundle of javelins on their backs.

In her previous life, Charlotte lived in an era of hot weapons where everyone was thinking about "how to throw stones farther and more accurately". She knew that long-range attacks alone could completely defeat an army.

After witnessing the power of the javelins thrown by the Ambratu citizen militia, Charlotte came up with the idea of ​​having these people completely abandon heavy armor and melee weapons.

"Can we make some modifications to the Citizen Militia faction so that practitioners can also awaken the ability of 'Eagle Eye' when they reach the third wing?" Charlotte turned to ask Herman Green.

"You may need to consult the extraordinary scholars in Platinum City about this question. I am just a soldier." Hermann Green said helplessly.