Kingdom’s Bloodline

"Um, Garrison?"

Heather put on the crutch between his knees again, pretending to think seriously: "It is an interesting choice to use killing and fear, blood and death to deter opponents and dissatisfied people, and to end the people's dependence on and habits of the old system. . . lwxiaoshuo."

Thelma on one side seemed to keep up with the rhythm. She interjected with great interest: "However, a long-term garrison in the northern border means high military expenses, exaggerated supplies, long-term mobilization costs, and complaints from vassals. It’s not something any Grand Duke can afford—Charles told me that a man in his prime who leaves home for a month is enough to affect local output and bring dissatisfaction among the people.”

Thales was clear in his heart: "So, in the Year of Blood, although Exeter defeated Xingchen, he couldn't rule the northern border normally, and he couldn't use the garrison to keep the opponent's land."

Heather flashed his ugly but kind smile again.

"Very interesting discussion, sir and ma'am," the new teacher changed the subject again: "Since this is the case, we have another question: why don't they support the local nobles that already exist in the northern border because they can't rule directly by themselves? How about ruling the North instead of them?"

Thales frowned.

On the other hand, Selma rolled her eyes: "After King Nunn broke through Cold Castle, he hanged himself from the Duke of the North to several lords who refused to submit to his subordinates, trying to extinguish the resistance in the North."

Thales thought of Val Aarend who was in prison, and remembered his hoarse accusations in the Fuxing Palace.

The Grand Duchess opened her mouth like an endorsement: "But he failed to destroy the other party: Old Arend's son is still in the capital, so he has not been able to destroy the blood ties with the land in the north."

"More than that, Exeter has never attacked the south of the Muhe, Eternal Star City is still standing, and the robbed royal family quickly re-established the king," Selma added her words: "For the northern border, for both As far as the major families are still civilians, their kings and dukes are still resisting in the war, the hope and lighthouse of their resistance are still there, and the legal principles and righteousness of fighting for them are still there, and Exeter is still an illegal and evil invasion By."

"Just like Dragon Clouds City, under the siege of King Nightwing, has stood unshaken for a long time even though it is in danger. This is an eternal battle flag."

Thales suddenly remembered the scene where Miranda and Cohen were trapped in Dragon Clouds six years ago.

I see.

Miranda Allende, as the heir of the Allende family, was also a vital pawn for the Lombards to occupy the northern border six years ago.

Whether it's supporting puppets, or...

That's why she was targeted by the black sand leader during the dragon's blood operation: from Nunn's death to the invasion of the northern border, this is a set of chess moves that echo back and forth.

"Conversely," Thinking of this, Thales said unconsciously, taking over Thelma's words: "Once Exter broke through Eternal Star City back then, the captives even cut off the Arend family and even Can The blood of the star royal family..."

"Whether it is the northern border, or the Yadi and Western Wilderness they have already touched, by supporting puppets or garrisoning troops, it may become easier to rule and occupy."

Heather coughed.

The old man stretched out his hand and tremblingly grabbed an upside-down cup at his hand.

Thales stood up quickly, picked up the kettle on the desk and poured water for him.

"Well, that's an interesting argument - thank you, kind sir - as long as the family blood that represents the legal right to rule is still there, and has not surrendered," Heather said while drinking water, not forgetting Smacking his mouth: "Invaders are far from conquering, they can only occupy, use time and violence to eliminate dissatisfaction, and maintain the status quo."

"Or support the local puppet, let it become your own vassal, and indirectly control the northern border." Speaking of this, Heather suddenly raised his gray eyes, radiating a strange look, and said quite meaningfully: "It's like Freedom Alliance, for the Kingdom of Exeter."

The prince and the grand duchess were startled together.

Hearing the familiar place name, they looked at each other in surprise.

But the old crow did not continue this topic, but returned to the topic.

"So, dear Thales and Selma, let us summarize the discussion just now: For the natural king, the people and vassals in the occupied area-the northern border did not become his allies, but sent troops with him The vassals of the country have not received corresponding benefits, do you agree?"

Selma looked cold and nodded: "Yes."

The old man coughed again, and said with emotion: "You know, at my age, if you want to eat something good, other than good teeth."

"You have to have a healthy stomach."

Heather put down her water glass, looked at the two people who sat up unknowingly, and let out a long sigh: "So, behind the seemingly dazzling victory, Exeter couldn't To rule the northern border for a long time, under the premise that the disadvantages outweigh the benefits, you can only leave the land you can't keep, and you are forced to withdraw your troops and return to the country... Isn't it so difficult to understand?"

Thales took a deep breath, nodded and said, "Of course, it seems so."

Heather looked at Thales, who used words cautiously, slightly curved the corners of his wrinkled mouth, and said with a slight smile: "Then, there is one more thing, I think it's a little strange."

Thales and Selma leaned forward quickly, and they had gradually gotten used to the teacher's way of "chatting".

"I can't eat too hard meat, but it's okay to eat some small snacks," Heather narrowed her eyes, and the old man at that moment reminded Thales of Gilbert inexplicably, and the well-deserved reputation of "Sly Fox" The sly look:

"Exter gave up the northern border, but why did they even give up on Broken Dragon Fortress?"

"Just like abandoning the northern border, let the people of the stars take back such an important fortress?"

Thales and Selma exchanged glances, and both fell into confusion again.

"Because Broken Dragon Fortress is just a defensive fortress," Selma tried to answer cautiously: "And the guard post? So it needs a long-term garrison, and the benefits of occupying it are far less than the cost of maintaining it."

"Using the fortress to monitor and suppress the stars is a benefit in itself," but Thales shook his head: "But on the other hand, the harm of abandoning it is also great-the stars can use it as a base at any time to go north, this The reasons are not necessarily valid.”

Heather looked at the two men who were thinking hard, and smiled slightly.

"It sounds like a difficult choice." The old man changed his posture and beat his right leg lightly. It seems that sitting for a long time is not good for his health: "So, when King Nuen made a choice back then, he was How did you consider it?"

King Nun.

Thales' thoughts trembled again, and a tough and compelling image of a dignified old man appeared in front of his eyes.

right.

King Nun!

Thales' gaze refocused: "Because King Nun didn't allow it."

Thelma's and Heather's eyes returned to him.

"If Exter controls the fortress, no matter who is stationed here, it will mean that the status and role of the Black Sand Territory will be greatly improved. Facing the stars, Broken Dragon Fortress can only rely on the supplies and support of Lumbard. It will increase his leverage and weight."

"Secondly, with the fortress as a line of defense, the pressure on the Heisha leader to face the stars will be greatly reduced, and Lunba will be able to free up his hands, which will greatly enhance his threat."

Telsto held his chin, thoughtful: "So, if King Ruo Nuen took the fort by himself and sent his cronies and troops to garrison it, it would not only block the threat from the south for Heisha, but also rely on Lumbard The support is tantamount to handing over the bargaining chip to Heisha collar."

"And if the fortress is handed over to the black sand leader——that's even more impossible."

"The reason for taking down the stars is for Exeter," Thales mused, "but before that, he does not allow the northern border and even the fortress to become the nourishment of any Grand Duke Exeter outside of Dragon Clouds City. "

Thelma showed a "wow" expression from the air.

From the opposite side came the old crow's weak but relieved laughter.

"I think our discussion has gone from the country and the rule to the level of the lords' game. This is a good thing and a bad thing. The good thing is that you can see more, and the bad thing is..." Heather playfully pointed at the two The person blinked, and the pupils behind the lens became clear: "You will see less."

The two students were taken aback for a moment, then fell into deep thought.

The old crow slightly helped his glasses, coughed, and pulled the crutch from between his knees again, and put it on his right hand.

"Very well, we chatted for a while today," Heather looked up, still with that kind but slightly weak smile: "May I say: We have reached a mutually agreed and interesting conclusion: What is the difference between invading and occupying a place and holding and ruling it?"

Thales and Selma glanced at each other, and the latter nodded: "Of course."

Heather's eye sockets dilated slightly.

"You know, it reminds me of playing chess and maps." The skinny old man tugged at his crooked scarf: "On the chessboard and the map, everything is very vivid, you move a chess piece, a war game, swallow Eat an enemy, and its square will be planted with your flag, dyed with your color: this place is yours."

The prince and the grand duchess looked serious and listened attentively to the words of the new teacher.

The old crow lowered his head slightly, with a playful expression on his face: "But in reality, Exeter's example tells us that everything is very complicated, and everything requires more consideration: you have eliminated the enemy and won victory, but it definitely does not mean that you to keep the land."

"You can order an army to attack and win, but it doesn't mean you can accept the price that comes with it—even if it looks like a war profit."

Heather raised her head, looked at the sky outside the window, and sighed: "Perhaps, this is the limit of domination."

"When you are facing war and peace, hostility and alliance, maybe you first understand what and where the boundaries of domination are, and there is no harm in the end." He turned his head, and the flashing eyes behind the lens made Thales unconsciously Straightened his chest: "Do you agree?"

Prince Xingchen took a deep breath and nodded solemnly: "Yes, I very much agree."

Thelma nodded vigorously.

Heather turned his head to the side, and the wise eyes at that moment seemed to disappear. He showed a relaxed and happy smile again, and said happily: "So, we had a very happy chat today, didn't we?"

While speaking, the skinny Xixer tremblingly supported his crutches and stood up: "Maybe... today... that's all for now?"

Thales and Selma quickly stood up and saluted him politely.

"Of course," the prince said earnestly, "Thank you, Mr. Hixer, you are a good teacher."

Heather laughed.

"Oh, don't rush to say that, after all, I don't even have a bachelor's qualification in the academy."

The old crow closed his eyes and shook his head: "That's right, everything we talked about today, why Exter withdrew his troops, why he gave up his land, and reached the limit of his rule...It's very interesting, isn't it?"

The two students nodded respectfully.

Heather opened her eyes slightly, and the eyes behind the lens flashed sly again, and the topic changed: "Since that's the case, then let's do it this way, when we meet next time..."

"I hope you will tell me with reason and evidence like today..."

The two students hurriedly listened.

Heather supported the crutches with both hands, squinted her eyes, and looked at the two solemn teenagers and girls with interest: "Why, everything we discussed today, all the conclusions from beginning to end..."

The old crow said softly: "It's all wrong."

Time seemed to stand still for two seconds.

Two seconds later, Thales and Selma were both shocked when they realized it!

Selma couldn't help but lost her voice: "What?"

Thales stared blankly at their teacher, unable to react for a long time.

Everything we've discussed today...

it's all...

"Don't be nervous, Selma, just like I said," Seeing the dumbfounded look of the two, Heather raised her left hand and waved, laughing like a child who has succeeded in a prank: "We're just chatting , which is the topic of our next chat: why everything we said today was wrong."

The boy and the girl stared blankly at the old crow and looked at each other, unable to accept each other's words.

A tutor, telling you at the end of the first lesson: everything he just said was wrong?

At that moment, Thales suddenly felt that the nickname "Old Crow" was so appropriate.

"I had a great chat today. The weather is nice. Why don't you go for a walk together?" Heather took a breath of air comfortably, blinked at the two students with special identities, leaned on her crutches, turned and left go.

"Don't disappoint your youth..." With the sound of crutches, the impressive new teacher pushed the door and left.

The two students were left dumbfounded.

"What's the meaning?"

Selma asked Thales suspiciously: "Is everything we said today false?"

At that moment, Thales let out a long breath.

Looking at the leather chair that Heather had sat on, he suddenly had some understanding.

"No."

"I think what he means is that the truth is not important," Thales thoughtfully, trying to understand the other party's intentions: "The important thing is,"

"He wants us to take the exact opposite position, faced with an almost certain conclusion, against the odds of having so much evidence."

Thales narrowed his eyes: "Convince him again."

etc.

Use the completely opposite position to overthrow a conclusion that has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people?

Such a familiar rhythm.

Thelma blinked, let out a sigh of relief, fell back on her chair, and pouted: "I don't understand."

Thales shrugged.

"It's okay if you don't understand."

"Just, prepare to spend the night in the library." With a faint sense of familiarity, the prince smiled, "I have a hunch that this topic is not that simple."

Selma sighed, her mouth was curled up, and she lay faceless on the desk with no image: "But there will be an etiquette class for Miss Jinx tomorrow, and it will continue..."

Thales chuckled, slightly disdainful.

"Forget etiquette lessons."

The prince turned around and looked at the unhappy Thelma meaningfully: "Do you remember what I said?"

"The education you received in the past was all aimed at cultivating you into a decent and elegant grand duchess," he said calmly with burning eyes, "to turn you into..."

Thelma cut him off.

"'but'?"

The Grand Duchess raised her eyebrows: "You're going to say 'but' again, right?"

The momentum Thales had finally built up was suffocating.

"Okay—but," Thales nodded helplessly, shook his head again, and pouted at the door where Heather left: "I think, this person."

"This old crow... the limit of its rule?"

The prince glanced at Heather's seat, looked seriously at the blonde girl in front of him, and looked at her aggrieved eyes: "He is actually teaching you how to become a qualified... "

At this moment, the familiar sound of crutches suddenly sounded outside the door.

"Knock...kkk...kkk..."

Under the strange eyes of the two, Heather reappeared at the door with an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, I'm old and forgetful," the old crow shook his head, "Although due to my physical condition, the time for our next class is uncertain, I still think that I should tell you in advance, and I will give you a lesson next time. When we meet, I want you to do things."

Thales and Selma nodded respectfully: "Of course."

Heather smiled slightly: "First of all, I hope that you may wish to take some notes and think carefully about every sentence in our discussion..."

Thelma nodded while taking notes in her notebook.

"Secondly, remember that we are chatting, welcome to interrupt and ask each other anytime and anywhere; then, we should all express in an orderly manner, grasping the key points;"

Thales was slightly taken aback.

etc.

These words……

Why……

I saw Heather coughed and continued: "Also, we might as well be cautious and humble during the discussion. Before questioning something, it's best to ask your own position and point of view."

At that second, Thales was stunned.

These words……

impossible.

————

The following part of the text, I put in the author's testimonial after the chapter.

Oh, it's free.