What's wrong with building a steel torrent in a dungeon?

"Hello, both of you." Lilith bowed to them and said, "I have heard of your heroic deeds for a long time. Seeing you today, I can see that you are indeed heroes."

"Thank you!" said Christina.

Although Lilith was very polite, she always gave Christina a weird feeling, and she couldn't tell what it was.

"Your Majesty sent me here this time to join the Vienna Alliance!" Lilith said, "Together we can fight against the possible invasion of the elves. You know, the elves have controlled our country for so long and gained so many benefits. It is obviously impossible for us to escape from their control so easily."

Join the League of Vienna?

After hearing this, Fran's eyes lit up.

Does this mean that my products can be sold freely in the Feruman Empire?

Margaret added: "Before the two of you came, I had a little chat with Miss Lilith. This time Emperor Arthas did come with sincerity. For this reason, he is willing to return the territory occupied by the Holy Roel Empire eighty-nine years ago and join forces with us to fight against the elves."

"The Saint also attended the meeting of the Holy Alliance." Lilith said, "You should be very clear about the attitude of the elves towards the Holy Roll Empire and the City of Aurora at the meeting! The Northern Alliance wants to eliminate the Vienna Alliance as soon as possible. We must unite, otherwise we will be defeated one by one."

Margaret asked, "I wonder what you two think?"

The two of them talked back and forth, and it seemed that Margaret had agreed from the bottom of her heart to accept the Feruman Empire to join the Vienna Alliance.

Christina glanced at Fran, obviously wanting Fran to make the decision.

Fran then said, "I think it is very necessary to unite against the Northern Alliance, and Orila City will fully support it. But...do we need to discuss the Vienna Alliance a little more?"

"Oh? Lord City Lord, do you have any concerns? Please feel free to tell me. If it is within my authority, I will reply immediately." Lilith said.

Fran paused, then said: "The Vienna Alliance is not just a military alliance, but also an economic alliance. For this reason, when signing the alliance, our three forces reached many economic agreements. Originally, Your Majesty Margaret, the Shinra Church and our Orila City are geographically adjacent and live in the same area, but

To learn from each other's strengths and weaknesses, and even exchange between citizens, but the Fruman Empire..."

After hearing what Fran said, Lilith immediately showed a confident smile on her face, as if she had expected Fran to ask such a question. She said, "Before coming here, Your Majesty has carefully studied the various treaties between the Vienna Alliance, especially the economic treaty between Orila City and the Holy Roll Empire! So

I can reply to the city lord in the name of His Majesty Arthas that our Feruman Empire is willing to comply with all of them."

All, comply??

Fran looked at Lilith in surprise.

"Excuse me, but your Majesty may need to review it carefully again. This includes measures such as taxation." Fran said.

Even Margaret beside her asked Lilith to think it over.

"Lord Fran, don't be so surprised. I can say this because I have read the alliance agreement countless times." Lilith said, "In the next three years, all goods from Orila City and the Holy Roll Empire entering the Feruman Empire will enjoy zero tariffs."

When these words were spoken, the three people present were stunned.

Which power doesn't know the importance of tariffs? After Margaret conquered the various principalities, the first thing she took back was the tariff rights. But such an important thing was thrown away by Emperor Arthas. Is it really that the new ruler didn't understand the high cost of firewood, rice, oil and salt?

However, what surprised them even more was what came next: "Important figures from the Holy Roll Empire and Orila City all enjoy extraterritoriality in the Feruman Empire. The Feruman Empire is willing to give up a portion of its territory as a trade zone with the Holy Roll Empire and Orila City, and promises to give up the sovereignty of this area and hand it over to Vie

"

Extraterritoriality, cession of land.

How can this be a trade agreement? This is clearly an unequal treaty that is a loss of sovereignty and humiliation to the country!

Seeing the three people's stunned expressions, Lilith took out a scroll calmly and handed it to Margaret. Written on it were the few things Lilith had just mentioned, and below it was the seal and signature of the Emperor of the Feruman Empire.

After a long while, Margaret said, "So what does the Feruman Empire want to gain from the Vienna Alliance? The same zero tariff?"

"If Your Majesty is willing, we would also like your country to open up its tariffs." Lilith said, "But the Feruman Empire has no output and is not very useful. The same is true for extraterritoriality. We only have one request - we hope that the Vienna Alliance can stand together and resist the attack of the Northern Alliance with all our strength!"

After hearing this, Fran frowned slightly. Although the elves put a lot of pressure on the Feruman Empire, forcing him to lower his status and seek help from the Vienna Alliance.

Even if we ask for help, is it necessary to lower our posture so much? Once such a treaty is released, will the nobles of the Feruman Empire accept it? Will the common people accept it? It seems that it would be better to surrender to the elves... What on earth is Emperor Feruman thinking?

Putting aside other things, the policy given by Emperor Feruman was too generous. With such sincerity, it would be unreasonable not to allow the Feruman Empire to join. And they really needed the Feruman Empire as an ally.

Margaret glanced at Fran, as if asking for her opinion. Fran nodded when she saw this.

"Then welcome the Feruman Empire and His Majesty Arthas to join the Vienna Alliance!" Margaret said to Lilith with a smile.

Chapter 145 Who is behind you?

"What exactly does the Feruman Empire want to do?" On the way back, Christina Baisi was puzzled: "We have common interests with them. Even if we don't have these things, we will still fight against the Northern Alliance with them?"

Experience (from Fran) taught Christina that when the other party in a transaction offers too many benefits, you should be wary of whether it is a scam.

"I don't know." Fran also shook her head and said, "The Feruman Empire is not a closed country. In my previous trade fairs, there were many chambers of commerce from the Feruman Empire. Arthas should be very clear about my production capacity. If the tariff is opened, wouldn't it mean that he would lose a lot of money in vain?

?Is he really willing to do it, or does he simply not understand the pros and cons?"

"That Lilith doesn't seem like someone who can't tell the difference between the important and the unimportant." Christina said, "And Arthas doesn't understand, so don't his subordinates understand either? Any normal noble would understand what tariffs mean."

"Is it to tie us deeply to his chariot?" Fran said.

"We were already on the chariot, but he insisted on coming up!" Christina said, "And from the beginning till now, I have always felt that this messenger named Lilith is weird, and I have an instinctive disgust towards him."

"Instinctive disgust? Why?" Fran asked.

"I don't know either." Christina said, "I rarely hate others instinctively. But, there is a kind of inexplicable feeling of disgust."

"Now that you mention it, I also have an inexplicable emotion towards this Lilith." Fran said: "But it's not disgust, but closeness."

"Close? Just because her breasts are small?"

"What a mess! How did sister learn to make jokes like this?" Fran said unhappily.

"Hahaha, I thought my sister was used to it." Christina couldn't help but smile.

"Let's talk business!" Fran said, "I suspect this messenger is from the demon world."

"The Demon Realm?" Christina said thoughtfully, "If she is from the Demon Realm, then the power she exudes may indeed make me feel instinctively disgusted."

"Ah? Then won't my sister hate me too?"

"That won't happen. You're still too weak to disgust me."

Fran: …

I thought you were going to say something nice.

Christina continued, "If she is from the demon world, this seems to have some reasonable explanation. The people in the demon world like to see the disputes among the various forces in the main plane the most."

"If I remember correctly, that Arthas had been guarding the area around the space rift when he was still a prince. It is entirely possible that he came into contact with the forces of the demon world." Fran said.

"Yes!" Christina said, "And the first thing he did after taking office was to eradicate the Northern Orthodox Church in the Feruman Empire. The Northern Orthodox Church was a member of the Holy Alliance and was the mainstay in the fight against the demons. For the demon world, such a religion is naturally something they want to destroy as soon as possible."

"Even the emperor couldn't eradicate the religion, but a mere prince managed to do it in such a short time. I absolutely don't believe it if there is no one supporting him!" Fran said.

"Sister, do you remember? At the Holy Alliance meeting, the Patriarch of the Northern Orthodox Church once said that the forces of the demon world were ready to make a move and were building a large-scale project on the other side of the space rift."

Fran nodded, and then said, "Although this matter was later interrupted and turned to the discussion of Aurora City, the chief patriarch did not seem to admit that this was his scam. Instead, he swore that other forces could send spies to the demon world to confirm his words."

"If that's the case." Christina frowned, then said, "Doesn't it mean that the demon world will invade the main plane again? If we unite with Arthas, won't we become traitors to the plane? In the last war, the forces that were traitors didn't have a good ending. They either followed the demons to the demon world,

There was a massacre.”

"That's what you say." Fran said, "But I don't think the current demon world has the ability to counterattack the mainland, no, counterattack the main plane."

"why?"

"Based on my understanding of the demon world, the strength of the demon world has been stagnant in the past few hundred years, and has even regressed." Fran said: "The Demon King, the leader of the demon world, has disappeared. As a result, the seven demon kings of the demon world are independent and constantly fighting each other. They haven't even completed their integration, so how can they invade in a big way?

Invasion? Isn't this just throwing away lives?"

"Is the demon world really that bad?"

"At least it was this bad when I left." Fran said, "In the Kingdom of Ashes where I live, the king is a complete moron! The blood clan she leads has been running out of talent in recent years, and the lords under her rule are all idiots, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to defraud so much money."

Uh...but when you came to the main plane, didn't you also cheat a lot of money?

Christina immediately thought of the tulip storm.

"Although the Ash Country ranks last among the seven countries in the Demon Realm, the other countries are not much better. The tribes in the Demon Realm have long lost the courage of their ancestors and only want to live in peace in the Demon Realm. On the other hand, the elves and dwarves in the main plane have risen strongly, and there are four more sanctuaries. Both the comprehensive strength and the top strength are far superior to the previous

"We should be thankful that we don't attack the demon world. How can they have the courage to attack?"

"But if they are not seeking to counterattack the main plane, why are the demons doing this?" Christina asked curiously, "Originally, the main plane has already ignored the demons. But this time they have angered the elves. When the elves overthrow the Feruman Empire and find out that it was the demons who instigated Arthas! Then the Northern Alliance will probably launch a massive attack.

Invasion of the demon world."

"Then we can only ask the people behind Arthas." Fran said: "Anyway, as far as I know, the seven demon kings of the demon world have neither the will nor the courage to attack the main plane."

Christina said, "But no matter what, Arthas has the power of the demons behind him. If the elves really find out, we won't tell them what will happen to the demons. The Vienna Alliance will definitely be accused of this, and then even the Chinese Alliance won't be able to help us."

"That's right. The elves are best at talking nonsense," Fran said. "But for now, let's find a way to repel the elves. The matter of the demons is just our speculation. Maybe Arthas just found an assistant from the demons."

"Yeah, everything is just speculation." Christina nodded.

Judging from the current situation, even if Arthas really has connections with the Demon Realm, they can only bite the bullet and continue to cooperate. The Vienna Alliance alone is really difficult to resist the attack of the Northern Alliance. They must rely on the vast empire of Feruman as a buffer.

Moreover, there are no eternal friends or eternal enemies in this world! But there are eternal interests. Given time, perhaps even the demons will join the Holy Alliance.

Chapter 146 The Shadow of War

The news that the Feruman Empire had joined the Vienna Alliance quickly spread to every corner of the continent.

Such a statement is equivalent to the Holy Roll Empire directly declaring war on the Northern Alliance.

The enemy elves were naturally furious, and immediately issued a long manifesto. The gist of it was that the Fruman Emperor Arthas persecuted members of the Holy Alliance and deliberately imprisoned and killed clergy of the Northern Orthodox Church, which constituted a crime against civilization. Therefore, as the beacon of world civilization, the elves would use the iron fist of justice to attack evil.

hit

At the same time, the elves did not forget to advise the Holy Roll Empire not to interfere in other countries' internal affairs (Flan: Isn't it considered interfering in internal affairs if you send troops?), to take care of themselves, and not to go along with the evil emperor.

As soon as this manifesto was released, it received an immediate response from various forces in the Northern Alliance.

The most active among them are the Northern Border Kingdoms and the Crazy Sand Empire. These forces are closest to the Feruman Empire and are also on the Calradia continent. Naturally, they will serve as a bridgehead for the Northern Alliance's attack. After the Vienna Alliance is crushed, they will be able to get a share of the pie. Maybe they can even

Can take the opportunity to expand territory.

In the following days, the elves successively announced the list of the Northern Alliance's attacking forces.

The members of the Northern Alliance would naturally not miss the opportunity to curry favor with the Elf Empire, and they all expressed their willingness to join the war together with the Elf Empire. If we only look at the data on paper, the number of the Northern Alliance expeditionary force to defeat the Vienna Alliance is as high as 200,000.

Of course, we don’t know how much of this is true. For example, there is a country called Gambifi on the Indo-Asian continent. Its population is only 800,000, but it said it would send an army of 50,000 people and claim to occupy the entire Holy Roel Empire within 30 days, which is ridiculous.

But regardless of the facts, an army of 200,000 can indeed scare people. At least it can scare the civilians of the Vienna Alliance. And no matter what other forces are like, the Elf Empire has actually drawn 20,000 troops as the vanguard, and they are sailing towards the Baishajie Empire in a mighty manner. There are also 60,000 troops ready to follow.

发

The elves' powerful mobilization and troop deployment capabilities did indeed bring great pressure to the Vienna Alliance.

In order to counter the pressure from the elves, Emperor Arthas directly invited Margaret to send troops into the country. He seemed to be worried that Margaret would refuse, so he even took the initiative to provide money and food to cover Margaret's logistics. This posture almost had "Sir, this way" written on his face.

From the outside, it seemed that Emperor Arthas was indeed too attentive to Margaret.

Although the army of the Feruman Empire has been very weak in recent years (otherwise it would not have become a stepping stone for Margaret's title of military god), no matter how weak an army is, it still has its own dignity. Where does such a move put the dignity of the empire's army?

If the emperors of other countries dared to do this, the army and nobles would probably mutiniate. Maybe before the elves could take action, the situation would have changed.

But two months later, the Feruman Empire was still stagnant and calm, and no nobles or gentry expressed any opposition. This surprised those forces who were originally waiting to see the show.

There is no reason!

Arthas's prestige in the country is not high, so why can he firmly suppress the various forces of the Feruman Empire?

It must be said that the whole territory of the Feruman Empire was full of weirdness, which made Fran a little worried, so she was not in a hurry to dump the goods there. Anyway, she had a vast market and was not worried about not making money, so there was no need to invest in a place where war was about to break out.

Christina and Fran had the same idea. They both felt that they were not in a hurry to benefit from the Feruman Empire, so they rejected Arthas's invitation and said that everything would be decided by Margaret. At the same time, she also sent a number of spies to collect intelligence. Christina mainly searched from the noble level, while Fran focused on

A large number of nails were thrown at the lower-class civilians.

In contrast, Margaret did not have so many concerns and sent troops directly to the Feruman Empire.

It's not that Margaret was not cautious, it's just that the pressure from the army was too great.

After the civil war, Margaret actively recruited the elites of the various grand dukes, which made her already huge army grow again. The already financially weak Holy Roel Empire simply could not maintain such a large army. This was no longer just a waste of military power, but a universal mobilization of the people.

Margaret was no fool. She knew she couldn't afford to support so many troops, so she started to streamline and reform the army on the eve of victory.

As a soldier, Margaret naturally did not want to see the number of troops under her command reduced. Moreover, a smaller army would mean that many officers would be unemployed, so in the entire group, Wallenstein was probably the only one who was actively preparing to streamline the army.

If there hadn't been a request for help from the Feruman Empire, Margaret would have probably already started to drastically cut down the army!

But Arthas's request for help gave Margaret an excuse to slow down the reform! The army still had to fight, how could it be cut at this critical moment! What's more, Arthas also promised to provide a large amount of military pay and supplies, which undoubtedly further reduced Margaret's burden.

So even though Margaret noticed something strange in the Feruman Empire, after weighing the pros and cons, she still ordered Tilly, who had been promoted to Duke, to be the vanguard and lead 20,000 vanguard troops into the Feruman Empire, which was considered to be a distant response to the Elf Empire.

In the rear, Margaret also stepped up the organization of the new army.

She used the imperial army as a framework and organized a total of five new legions, each with about 20,000 men, led by herself, Wallenstein, Duke Bieson, and a count from the Habsburg family.