King
Chapter 523 - 523 95 Confrontation of the Southwest Nobles_1

523: Chapter 95, Confrontation of the Southwest Nobles_1 523: Chapter 95, Confrontation of the Southwest Nobles_1 Just after concluding a military meeting, where they had decided on the plan of attack against the Warhammer Kingdom, Crown Prince Alex suddenly felt off.

His intuition told him that something big was about to happen.

As if he realized something, Alex’s countenance changed abruptly.

“Guards, make the body double go out on patrol!”

Feeling still insecure, Alex decisively left his own tent.

He even left his favorite magic armor to his double, himself exchanging it for ordinary leather armor.

Anyone who was not a close acquaintance, seeing his new outfit, would undoubtedly mistake him for a Bimon soldier.

After getting ready, Alex began to patrol the camp under the guise of a common soldier.

Not long after, a golden giant eagle carrying an old man descended from the sky and landed in the midst of the camp.

Those officers who recognized the old man’s identity hurriedly stepped forward and greeted, “High Priest, why have you come here?”

Scanning the crowd, the old man spoke gravely, “His Majesty has had an accident and is unconscious.

The imperial court cannot be without a leader for a day.

I have come to request His Highness’s return to take control.

Where is the Crown Prince?

Take me to him quickly!”

As he spoke, the old man looked slightly uneasy.

As the High Priest with high authority, he hadn’t lied like this in many years.

However, he had no choice.

The order of the Bimon Emperor had to be carried out, and Crown Prince Alex wasn’t an easy-going Master.

The imperial court had dispatched more than a dozen edicts without him responding.

If there wasn’t a reasonable excuse, the old priest doubted he could even meet the Prince, let alone talk to him.

Alex had been in the army for more than a year, and as long as one wasn’t overly dull, one could cultivate a group of followers with the position of Crown Prince.

Let alone the face of the High Priest, even if the Bimon Emperor himself came, there might still be accidents.

The tradition was to blame, usurpation was simply too common in the Orc Empire.

Even the Bimon Emperor himself came to power through political upheaval.

The power of example laid before him, it wouldn’t be strange if his son tried to imitate him.

“His Highness is on patrol, you might want to rest a little.”

The High Priest glared at the garrulous officer, scolding angrily, “How can I rest at such a time?

Take me to His Highness immediately!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the body double on patrol appeared in the sight of the Bimons.

Without a moment’s hesitation, the old priest darted to the double’s side, “Your Highness, His Majesty has had an accident, and the imperial court needs you to take control.

The matter is urgent.

We can discuss the details on the road.”

As he spoke, the old man was already forcefully pulling the body double onto the giant golden eagle.

Before leaving, he didn’t forget to leave a word for everyone: “His Highness and I will go ahead, you guys take care of the army.

End the battle as quickly as possible and return to the imperial court!”

In the blink of an eye, the two Bimons and the giant eagle disappeared from sight, leaving a group of officers staring at each other.

Crown Prince Alex, who witnessed the whole scene, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He estimated it had probably been fooled successfully, but he didn’t know how the old priest would be accounted to the Bimon Emperor when things turned out wrong later.

But this was uncertain.

This body double wasn’t just an ordinary Bimon, she was also a descendant of the Bimon Emperor, with royal blood.

If the old priest was fooled this time, there was a chance that the trick could work later on as well.

In his heart of hearts, Alex began to imagine the moment when the enthusiastic Bimon Emperor completed the secret ritual only to realize that the body double was a fake.

He wondered how the Emperor would react with that mix of anger and helplessness.

……

Perhaps everyone was desperate to get home, the expeditionary army moved faster than Hudson had anticipated, returning home a day earlier than planned.

As soon as they stepped into the kingdom, they were warmly received by the local nobles.

Not having allowed the flames of war to spread here, the expeditionary army had performed a great service.

However, this was not the main reason for their thanks.

The primary reason was that the aggressive-looking expeditionary army was too frightening, making the local nobles feel uneasy.

To prevent their own lands from suffering war damage, they decided to make the first move and hoped that General Hudson would maintain army discipline.

It was a delicate matter, a side-effect of the departure of the expeditionary army.

The First Legion led by Hudson was disciplined.

Though not utterly without offense, at least the soldiers did not deliberately cause trouble, and were highly praised all the way.

But the other legions were a different story.

Although the aristocratic military officers had restrained them, the ragtag group inevitably included many petty thieves.

It was said that there had even been conflicts with local nobles on the way.

This move was most probably to avoid another disaster.

Looking at the greeting and toothless nobles, Hudson didn’t dare to speak too loudly for fear that an accidental slip of the tongue might give people the wrong idea.

Those capable of wielding a sword were all on the frontline—the remaining nobles who stayed behind were too old or too young.

Those few of the old ones with some power were now in the Orc Empire, striving for the last chance at the longevity secret.

Of course, Hudson would rather believe they went there to stir up trouble.

Given the prowess of an army of humans, they would naturally take the opportunity to strike at the Orc Empire, otherwise, it would be a waste.

As the local bigwigs, guiding the way was basic etiquette.

Where there were Orc tribes, they would happen to pass by—completely normal.

If they didn’t overturn the Orc Empire, they would be failing their ancestors who died at the hands of the orcs.

If the Koslow family did not lack strong individuals, they too would have followed to join in the excitement.

“Everyone can rest assured, as long as the logistics along the way keep up, the expeditionary army soldiers will absolutely not enter the villages and towns along the way on their own initiative!”

Hudson assured with a hearty laugh.

The quality of soldiers might not be praiseworthy, but when it comes to discipline, no one in the expeditionary army would dare leave camp without orders.

The things the army managed to do in the Moxi Duchy, there’s no reason they can’t replicate back in the kingdom.

Under the collective responsibility of military law, those wanting to go out have to consider whether their fellow soldiers would agree.

“Thank you, Your Excellency the Earl, for your understanding.

We are merely ordinary people without worldly exposure and prone to panic in the face of conflicts.

Mostly it’s because we are getting old and can no longer go to the battlefield, let alone handle even the smallest matters.”

Listening to the old man’s self-deprecating words, Hudson raised his wine glass, giving a slight shake, and said, “Your Excellency the Marquis, you’re too modest.

You are a treasure of our kingdom.

Back when you were leading soldiers in bloody battles against the orcs, we youngsters had not even been born yet!

Now it’s our turn to defend the Alpha Kingdom, and we could not do it without your wisdom and advice.”

Although he was polite on the surface, in his heart, Hudson was muttering curses.

If he knew this old man wasn’t going to the front lines, he wouldn’t have attended this banquet whatever it took.

This old man, who is over a hundred years old, is so close to the longevity technique, yet he could resist the temptation.

Hudson didn’t quite know what to say about that.

However, it is because of this “prudence” that this old man, whose ability is merely that of a Silver Knight, could live to such an old age.

Not particularly powerful and excelling at “playing it safe”, the kind who would remote himself from conflict whenever he could.

Naturally, he doesn’t have many outstanding merits to boast.

As a result, Hudson had to resort to awkward small talk as he could not find a suitable topic to flatter him.

However, to survive in the cutthroat aristocratic circles, simply being “prudent” would not suffice.

While this old marquis might be inept at leading troops, he is a masterful family steward.

Before he took over the Alram Family, they were on the verge of falling out of the major nobility circles.

Under his efforts, they eventually developed into the first family in the southwestern area.

In terms of overall strength, they are even above the Dalton Family.

Encountering this kind of local tyrant, Hudson faces quite a headache.

The rise of new powers inevitably faces the suppression of old ones.

This is an unchanging truth.

Although it was not explicitly stated, the sudden appearance of this old man is clearly a warning.

It represents the native forces of the southwestern provinces telling him: new players are not welcomed here.

Do not dream of settling down here while appeasing the refugee crisis.

Clearly, a reshuffling of power within the kingdom has begun.

The internal struggle is even fiercer than what Hudson expected.

He had no plans to expand his influence to the southwest.

Naturally, Hudson would not confront these individuals over some unpleasantness.

Actually, if there were no conflicts of interest, these old-timers are relatively easy to get along with.

Corresponding to seeking personal gains is the weighing of pros and cons.

By analyzing issues from a standpoint of interests, most of them could be solved.

On the contrary, the younger generation is more troublesome.

Apart from interests, they also deal with jealousy from their peers.

“Someone else’s child” is always a target of envy.

Unfortunately, in Hudson’s age group, he is that “someone else’s child”.

Not only envied by his peers but also by his father’s generation.

That’s the price of excellence.

“Your Excellency the Earl is humble.

As the youngest Marshal on the continent, you are the leader of the young generation of the kingdom.

If nothing untoward happens, there will be a place for you in the next round of Kingdom Senate re-election.”

Duke Zuell said laughingly.

Typical behavior of giving a carrot after a stick.

The message is very clear: if you don’t come for the cake, then we are friends.

By offering a position in the Senate, he mainly fears Hudson bearing a grudge, causing trouble for them in the process of pacifying the refugee crisis.

Indeed, that is exactly what Hudson plans to do.

Although he wouldn’t intentionally redirect people to their territory, a little slowness in his actions is feasible.

In the past year, the various provinces in the southwest have had a hard time.

Everyone has tightened their belts to build fortifications, with every man, woman, old, and young enlisted.

If they are to be tormented by the refugees again, even the abundant resources of the Alram Family couldn’t recover in a few years’ time.

At this critical juncture of political reshuffling, any harm to the vitality of the family could prove lethal.

“Hudson, thank you for your generosity, Your Excellency the Marquis.

I sincerely appreciate the nomination!”

As he spoke, Hudson raised his wine glass to signal everyone, and drank it all in one gulp.

This is a naked transaction, using the pacification of the refugee crisis promptly as a price, in return for the nobles of the southwestern provinces supporting him in kingdom politics.

This is the aftermath of lack of representation in the court.

If he doesn’t make any strategic moves, he won’t even get a nomination at the critical moment.

The Senate may seem powerless, but that’s only because Caesar III is strong enough to gradually neutralize this institution with a series of clever operations.

As an organization composed entirely of major nobles, the Senate’s political status in the kingdom is innately high.

If anything untoward happens to the King, the Senate becomes the regency body.

This institution may seem unimportant in normal times but becomes essential in critical moments, making it an indispensable decorative piece.