People in Terra, governing a bizarre little country

It's free to try. As for whether it will work out, I can only say I can't say.

From his personal perspective, the very idea of ​​the Grand Duke of Caesar of Victoria poaching the Twin Queens from Ludwig University in Letania by inviting Fremont, the scribe of the Sarkaz Lich King's Court, to take a position at the academy of the Duchy of Caesar was already quite abstract. There was a certain elegance to the Grand Duke's act of bringing Theresis to the imperial city of Londinium.

However, given that the Grand Dukes did indeed undertake such an abstract undertaking, and that Theresis actually agreed and moved into Londinium, Ernst remained skeptical about the likelihood of its success.

Neither of them are normal people.

The Duke of Caesar pursed her lips, clearly not satisfied with Ernst's ambiguous answer. She turned to Ernst and raised an eyebrow:

"This isn't a good place to talk. Why don't you get in my car and we can go somewhere else to chat?"

"Just consider it a chance to catch up."

What do I have to reminisce about with you? Ernst rolled his eyes inwardly. He and the Duke of Caesar didn't have any pleasant memories worth repeating. If they were to discuss it, it would probably not be a reminiscing session, but a public trial.

But since the Duke of Caesar had spoken, he must have something to say; reminiscing was just an excuse, and Ernst did not refuse.

"Then excuse me."

Chapter 423 Ernst: War? I think this is a special military operation

Kazimir, Grand Knight Commander Kavaleriaki, Duke of Caesar's private residence.

The Grand Dukes of Victoria have never shied away from expanding their influence abroad. In addition to their embassies, they also have private residences in most of the capitals of Casimir, Ursus, and Letania. These places are used to meet private guests, for vacations, or as temporary hideouts for "intelligence agents." After all, no country would dare to openly offend a duke by searching a Grand Duke's private property.

Except for Ursus, all crows are black, and all bears are straightforward. They're rather stubborn. If they actually find some evidence, let alone a search, it's not impossible for them to just open fire with cannons.

Of course, this almost arrogant style of behavior is based on Ursus's formidable military strength. In terms of economic development, Ursus as a whole may not be as good as a duchy of Victoria, but Ursus is very confident that as long as they launch an attack by the emperor, they can drive high-speed warships and war sorcerers to burn land, plunder trade routes, capture cities, and destroy Victoria's economy.

Kazimir clearly lacked the extravagant resources of Ursus. Therefore, the Duke of Caesar's private residence was, in a sense, a very safe place.

"Even if the Business Federation and the Supervisory Council were to break out into a civil war in the city one day, my private residence would be the first place to be jointly protected by both sides."

Ernst could sense the confidence behind the Duke of Caesar's bold statement.

At the same time, he could also realize that the Duke of Castells had probably called him here to discuss some sensitive topics, which was why he had said such a thing.

Duke Caesar showed no intention of avoiding the issue, instructing Fiona to stand guard outside and forbid anyone from entering, and then had Rita close the door before speaking:

"The dukes are preparing to besiege Londinium."

Ernst nodded in agreement, showing little surprise.

He had heard rumors of this from Ensiodoris. However, the source at that time was the Duke of Windermere, while now the Duke of Castells had confirmed the veracity of the information.

Ernst's lukewarm response disappointed the Duke of Caesar somewhat:

"Judging from your expression, you've already gotten some information from that woman Windermere?"

"That's true. That woman has a daughter who's always by your side. You can't hear any of her whispers in your ear."

"Defiance is still a minor."

Ernst frowned and interrupted the Duke of Kester.

"Moreover, although I did learn about this from Duke Windermere, it wasn't through Daphne who relayed it. It was through other channels."

Ernst didn't mention Ensioudis, because Ensioudis's business in the Duchy of Caster and its sphere of influence was no less than that of the Duke of Windermere. If the Duke of Caster knew that he was helping Windermere as a mouthpiece, who knows what she would think.

A woman's heart is as unfathomable as the ocean floor, and the Duke is a master schemer. The Karan trade is the economic backbone of Sherag, and even if it were just to avoid emotions and consider only practical factors, Ernst would not betray them.

Ernst has seen far too many small countries that damage their own economic pillars, or even sell them directly to foreigners, meet such fates.

The Duke of Caesar raised an eyebrow, nodded thoughtfully, and after a moment of contemplation, said:

"Actually, this matter has nothing to do with Sherag. But I'd like to hear your opinion, Prime Minister Ernst."

“Let’s make a simple assumption. Suppose that your World Summit system has been established, and Victoria has joined it as a member. At this point, all the dukes, including myself and Windermere, who sent his underage daughter to you, have unanimously decided to raise an army to annihilate the Sarkaz mercenaries who are causing trouble in Londinium, our great imperial capital. What would be the attitude of the World Summit and you?”

Ernst pursed his lips, but before he could answer, the Duke of Caesar interrupted him with even more meaningful words:

“I hope you will think it through before you speak. This is a test that Victoria is giving you.”

The test that Victoria gave me.

When Victoria, the most powerful nation on this land, was about to launch an attack on the Sarkaz within its own borders, it was curious how the [Summit of Nations System], which had emerged as a replacement for Victoria's hegemonic system, would react at this time.

Ernst defined the Universal Summit as a platform for debate, allowing participants to resolve disputes and ease tensions through verbal rather than physical means. Now, a dispute has arisen, and one party to the dispute is not within the Universal Summit system. In this situation, how should this self-proclaimed "all-encompassing" order respond?

This was a test question that Victoria posed to the World Summit.

Of course, just as the Duke of Caesar said, this was also a test for Ernst.

Besides the organizational structure, she was also curious about Ernst's perspective, because in her eyes, the value that Ernst, as the proposer and builder of this system, could bring was comparable to the value that this system encompassing Terra could bring.

Ernst rarely thought for such a long time.

There's nothing new under the sun. Often, Ernst can find similar problems and find solutions to many things on Terra based on his past experiences and learning.

But this is different; this is war.

Ernst had little experience with war, but in Terra, war was one of the main themes of civilization's development. Just as the Duke of Caesar said, the Summit of Nations system would sooner or later face such a test.

It does provide a platform for resolving disputes and can indeed create a better environment for Terra's development, but that does not mean that war will be eliminated.

Unstable factors like the Sarkaz, along with the potential future crises of the [Sea Heirs], [Demons], and [Originium], and many other conflicts that could erupt at any time, could all escalate into war.

This is where the World Summit truly needs to withstand pressure.

The Grand Dukes of Victoria besieged Londinium, a battle that seemed destined for victory. But so what? Back then, the Gallo-American Empire declared war on Letania, and its unstoppable offensive caused Letania to lose several important mobile cities and four Electoral Districts in just four months. Such an astonishing victory—who could doubt that the Gallo-American Empire, which held hegemony in the core sphere at the time, could ultimately win, and with so little effort?

But to find out the answer, we only need to look at any Terra map released after 1031.

How does the power of the Sarkaz compare to that of Letania?

Ernst felt that it was certainly inferior.

But how does Victoria's power compare to that of Gaul in its heyday?

Ernst felt that it was inferior as well.

While technological advancements have undoubtedly led to the iterative innovation of military equipment—theoretically speaking, high-speed warships from decades ago might not withstand the impact of modern high-speed warships today—at least until technology advances to the point of full AI command, the key to warfare remains "human."

When armies are not united, they hesitate and march in formation. Sometimes, the combined might of a Grand Duke and his troops may not be as powerful as the all-out effort of a single Duke.

Moreover, even if there is only a very small probability that Victoria suffers unexpected losses in this war, at this time, Ursus, which has long been eyeing the core circle, Letania, which was the first country to be declared war on in the four-nation war but has been trampled underfoot by Victoria for decades after the war, Casimir, who is unwilling to be left out, and Columbia, with whom there is a long-standing grudge, who can guarantee that these wolves and tigers will not rush in and devour the entire empire?

This is precisely where the effectiveness of the World Summit will be tested.

How to limit and transform this war into a limited war, how to ensure that no accidents occur, or how to control the development of the situation after an accident occurs, and how to ensure that, at least, things do not escalate to the worst possible state.

Frankly speaking, these are all issues that Victoria, who initiated the wars, needed to consider. Having held hegemony in the past, they naturally wanted to maintain it, and the subsequent problems arising from these wars were also costs they had to consider.

But at this moment, it's hypothetical. The Duke of Caesar was bold, and cunning. She handed the problem over to the international summit system, which was to replace Victorian hegemony, euphemistically calling it a test.

Ernst pondered for a long time before giving his answer to this challenge.

"First, regarding the World Summit's attitude on this matter."

"Your Excellency Duke of Caster, the World Summit recognizes Victoria's right to reclaim its legitimate territory. Londinium has always belonged to Victoria. If the Sarkaz illegally occupied it, then Victoria should reclaim it according to legal procedures, even if it means the use of force."

“However, Your Grace, I hope that you and the other dukes can reach a consensus on this: that this reconquest is not based on a war waged by one country against another.”

"This is obvious. The Grand Duke is not a country, nor are the Sarkaz mercenaries entrenched in Londinium. This is not another war between Victoria and Kazdel, nor is it another massacre and bullying of the demons. This is a just, justified special military operation aimed at countering the Sarkaz extremists who violate Victoria's legitimate sovereignty and persecute Victoria's legitimate citizens."

Ernst held his tongue for a long time before finally managing to utter the word.

Well, it feels a bit subtle. After all, the specific circumstances differ, and Ernst was just using this term as a general guideline.

Unlike Ernst's slightly awkward expression, the Duke of Caesar's eyes lit up the moment he heard the word. He immediately perked up, silently repeating the word several times, as if trying to savor its subtleties, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

"Special military operation, not bad, not bad, Ernst, I knew I hadn't misjudged you."

"It was definitely the right decision to call you here today. With this reason for starting the war, countries like Ursus and Letania will be unable to intervene under the pretext of fighting the demons. As long as nothing unexpected happens, this war will end quickly in the form of a limited war... no, I should say, the special military operation will end quickly and be a complete success."

Ernst rolled his eyes.

So you came to me just to freeload off my strategies?

That damn old woman, she's got more tricks up her sleeve than a honeycomb briquette!

As for the "accident" mentioned by the Duke of Caesar, it's quite simple: if Victoria is not defeated on the main battlefield, or at least does not suffer too much loss, then it cannot be considered an accident.

Why did the Duke of Custer emphasize this? Because if Victoria had truly suffered a major defeat, then the pretext for the war would become irrelevant. When people are starving and fighting for meat, who cares whether they first pray, "I'm eating!"

Seeing the Duke of Caesar's satisfied expression, Ernst sighed slightly and continued:

"Secondly, this is my personal opinion."

"I believe the Sarkaz problem is long-standing. If Victoria, including the nations of Terra, wants to completely resolve this issue..."

"Therefore, at the very least, it is necessary for Sarkaz to become an independent nation."

Chapter 424 Ascalon: If only His Highness were here!

Are the Sarkaz bad guys?

This question is actually quite general. The Sarkaz are a group of refugees. Their level of education is extremely low, they are destitute, they live in poverty, and their economic level is appalling. People only know etiquette when they have enough food and clothing. Under such economic conditions, it is indeed a bit unreasonable to expect the Sarkaz to have a high level of morality and civilization.

So, if you're asking whether the Sarkaz are bad people...

Ernst can say with certainty that the vast majority of Sarkaz are bad people in a social sense.

While not every Sarkaz has engaged in robbery, murder, or other heinous acts, every Sarkaz has certainly been involved in petty theft, extortion, and similar activities.

If the Sarkaz are convicted and sentenced under Victorian criminal law, all ten Sarkaz would be sentenced to hanging. Perhaps some would not be so guilty. But if only nine are hanged and one is let go, there will definitely be some who escape!

It could be said that they have no chance against Paradox Interactive players, and have committed a crime against them.

But does that mean Sarkaz should be like this?

At least Ernst thought so.

The ironic truth is right before the eyes of the Terrans, though most are unaware of it—the Lateran, also founded by the ancient Sarkaz, is hailed as the freest, most peaceful, and morally superior nation in Terra. Even Duke Kast himself, sitting on the sofa opposite Ernst, has to acknowledge this fact.

While there may seem to be a variety of methods to solve the Sarkaz problem, in reality there are only two.

Alternatively, accept the Sarkaz as part of the existing international order, allowing them to join other nations or become independent states, thus helping them become normal countries.

Either we eliminate them completely.

The latter is just right for the Terrans, but for Ernst, it seems a bit too extreme. Moreover, with Terra's current level of science, can it really carry out a thorough, ruthless, and complete purge of the entire race?

Ernst remained skeptical—no, he didn't even need to doubt it; Ernst was certain that it was impossible.

Because the Sarkaz are actually valuable to all countries in the world.

During the Four Kingdoms War, the Gallic Empire heavily employed Kazdel's Royal Court sorcerers as a countermeasure against the superiority of Letanian Originium sorcerers. In Ursus's Great Conquest era, Sarkaz were ubiquitous in their armies, with the most famous being the heavily armored Wendigo Legion, which rendered invaluable service to Ursus and still exists today, stationed in the North to fight against the demons of the wastelands. Even Victoria, Duke of Caster herself, chose the infamous, cheap, and non-stick Sarkaz mercenaries when eliminating the Steam Knights.

The people of Terra have long been accustomed to using Sarkaz as swords and tools, and as long as this interest exists, Sarkaz cannot be completely eliminated by Tutu.

There will always be nations or powers that, for their own interests, retain and hide a portion of the Sarkaz. They believe they can control these Sarkaz, and perhaps they truly can. But while this generation might be able to, what about the next? And ten generations from now?

The short lifespans of Sarkaz lead to power shifts that can cause varying degrees of chaos. This chaos, in turn, can lead to national decline, weakening, and internal divisions, which can also become stepping stones for Sarkaz to rise. Sarkaz live much, much longer. Perhaps several generations have passed since you died, and they are still lying in wait, waiting for you to lower your guard before launching a surprise attack – that's truly impossible to defend against.

At that time, however, what awaits the nations of the land is an even bloodier revenge.

But tragically, like the First Men, the Sarkaz could not completely wipe out their enemies. Completely and efficiently destroying a race is, to some extent, a technical feat. To accomplish this, we'll likely have to wait until the Age of Stars.

However, it is clear that given Terra's current internal strife, the cycle of hatred continues, accumulating layer upon layer, making it impossible to break the chains that bind us to the [Prosperous Unity] ending.

Yes, this is the current reality for the nations of Terra and the Sarkaz.

Is there a solution to this situation?

Of course there is. In fact, Ernst had one of the "final solutions" in hand. He just needed to go to Laterano, put the recording in front of the host, and press confirm in the options. Okay, wait a few minutes, and everything would be solved.

The Sarkaz hatred was gone, as was the hatred of the land nations. Ernst was awarded the Interstellar Peace Prize!

Why StarCraft? Because Terra isn't there anymore!

Therefore, the only rational and feasible solution in modern times is actually the first one.

"I believe the Sarkaz problem has a long history. Its original origins are difficult to trace, and there is no evidence to prove who is right and who is wrong. As the contemporary leaders of Terra, we should be more realistic."

"In cases where complete destruction is not possible, the reasonable approach is to destroy the extremists, treat the friendly members kindly, accept and win over the neutral members, and normalize the Sarkaz and Kazdel."

Ernst never tried to stop Victoria from attacking Theresis, after all, Theresis was the representative of the extremists in the Sarkaz.

This assessment is based on the position of Shelag and the World Summit. From a God's-eye view, the Sarkaz have been harassed by Tutu for thousands of years, and their revenge seems reasonable. But from Shelag and the World Summit's perspective, they are the destroyers of the current social order.

No one can analyze a problem without any bias or perspective; a truly rational and objective person does not exist. Even if such a person did exist, they would not be Ernst's friend, but only his enemy.

Because Ernst was going to stand on the side of Scherrag and the World Summit.