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Chapter 1026 - 1026 137 – Exchange of Land Looking for Monthly Tickets_3

1026: Chapter 137 – Exchange of Land (Looking for Monthly Tickets)_3 1026: Chapter 137 – Exchange of Land (Looking for Monthly Tickets)_3 “The tranquility we now see on the southern front wasn’t a gift from the enemy, but won through battles by our army!”

Alexander V said irritably.

Happiness is highlighted by a contrast, and so is sorrow by its context.

As members of the Continent’s Ten Great Kingdoms and being ‘good’ neighbors, the Black Forest Kingdom and the Alpha Kingdom have never ceased their rivalry.

Taking advantage of the Alpha Kingdom, which was greatly weakened, the Black Forest Kingdom had swallowed up the Columbia Country, gaining the upper hand in the competition.

This battle now has not only brought them back to their original state, but also exposed their military weakness.

Of course, these troubles are for the future.

The Black Forest Kingdom needs to fend off the Alien Coalition Army first to have a future.

“Your Majesty, we have recently received a secret letter from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The letter originates from the Elf Race, and it appears that the enemy is interested in opening negotiations.”

The words of Marquis Krasner immediately ignited the whole room.

The elves, with the absolute upper hand, actually wanted to negotiate with them—it was just like a fantasy.

After all, they were politicians, quick-minded.

After a brief lapse, everyone soon came to a realization.

It wasn’t the Black Forest Kingdom that the Elf Race feared, but the Human Race standing behind the kingdom.

Taking down two provinces in half a month was impressive, but if the battle wore on, the situation would be different.

The Allied Human Army had already begun to form, and once they joined the war, the whole scene would change.

On the Warhammer Great Plains, the elves had already experienced the might of the elite human race and did not think all human armies were as incompetent as they appeared.

Alexander V also became entangled with whether to push for negotiations or not as war always had a dual nature.

The current losses for the kingdom were indeed severe, but also presented opportunities.

The more ruthless the different races pushed them, the more likely his reforms would succeed.

In the face of an existential crisis, the Noble Parliament had made concessions: agreeing that emergency decrees during the war could proceed without parliamentary approval.

This seemingly simple legislation was something that past kings of the Black Forest Kingdom could only dream of.

Once a rift appeared, it would only widen, and royal power was being strengthened.

“Your Majesty, we can make contact with the enemy.

The Elf Race is not our real enemy.

Their stronghold is thousands of miles away, and even if they wanted to expand through opportunity, they couldn’t possibly swallow up so much land in one go.

Even if they did occupy it, with their population, they wouldn’t be able to control it.

For the Kingdom, grinding it out to the death with such an enemy yields no benefits.”

Count Baxterstrom, the Minister of Finance, urged from his area of expertise.

Ambition needs to be backed by power, and the performance of the military on the battlefield has already dashed any desires for expansion.

To be precise, the Standing Army’s performance was not bad, but their numbers were too few.

The military forces later expanded in number, but their fighting power was extremely pitiful.

Even the private armies of the major nobles, which seemed impressive on their own, turned into a disorganized mob when gathered to form the Allied Forces.

Political system, command structure, logistics system—serious problems existed in all these areas, and the Black Forest Kingdom needed to stop and fix its chronic issues before proceeding forward.

“The Elf Race now has the upper hand, so they must have demanded a lot?”

Alexander V asked with a gloomy face.

As a mature monarch, knowing when to relent was also a necessary lesson.

While it might feel good to keep fighting with the Elf Race, the price would be the decline of the Black Forest Kingdom.

In a few more months, the Allied Human Army would arrive, but the enemy could maim them before the reinforcements even reached.

Most critically, because of a series of previous defeats, everyone doubted whether the Allied Human Army could turn the tide.

After all, the composition of the allied forces was very complex, and if internal issues affected their combat effectiveness, and they failed to defeat the enemy, it would truly be all over.

“The Elf Race is asking for a territorial exchange; they want to connect the territories of the different races into an alliance!”

As soon as Marquis Krasner finished his words, everyone’s face changed dramatically.

Both the Peace Faction and the War Faction were dumbfounded.

It seemed like a simple land swap, but the consequences were more severe than taking land directly from them.

“That’s impossible!”

“If we allow the territories of the Alien Coalition to connect, our Human Race’s strategic advantage over the different races will no longer exist.

The strategic advantage that countless human ancestors exchanged with their blood cannot be lost in our hands!”

Count Nicholas urgently objected.

Although the army’s performance on the battlefield was atrocious, tarnishing his reputation as the Minister of Defense, the position of the War Faction could not be given up.

Moreover, the demands of the Elf Race were indeed challenging the bottom line of the kingdom.

Once they chose to compromise, the Black Forest Kingdom would struggle in the future.

“Count Nicholas, please stay rational.

If the military had performed just a bit better, we could have resolutely rejected the enemy’s unreasonable demands.

However, the current situation is apparent to all—the Kingdom’s Army collapses upon contact on the battlefield.

In less than half a month, two more provinces were lost.

At this rate, in less than two months, we will have to fight to defend the Capital.

Does the kingdom not fear war, but do we have any soldiers we can use?”

Count Baxterstrom argued with reason.

Wars ultimately depend on people to fight them.

The kingdom’s main force had been held up by the Stone People Race, and the hastily assembled rabble couldn’t stop the Elf Army.

One could say that every day the war continued, the Black Forest Kingdom had to pay a heavy price.

“The Elf Race wouldn’t only contact us if they want to negotiate, right?

From their strategic intentions, just our agreement is not enough; we need the cooperation of the nations of the Central Continent, at the very least, the support of the Dante Kingdom and South Coast Kingdom.”

Duke Milton analyzed calmly.

He supported negotiations, but the Black Forest Kingdom alone could not bear the brunt of letting the alien territories connect.

“The Chancellor is right, the territory exchange is such a significant matter that the Elf Race naturally wouldn’t just approach us alone.

I have brought the letter, and if interested, everyone can have a look.

The elves have made a direct threat on the letter: whoever opposes this proposal will be eradicated first!”

As he spoke, Marquis Krasner took out the letter and handed it around for everyone to read.