Chapter 1406: Visiting the Empire (2)

Chapter 1406 -598: Visiting the Empire (2)

After the banquet came a series of personnel changes and arrangements. Laine began to build large numbers of workshops and new manors along the lower banks of the Grismore River. The marshlands of Musillon had already begun to recede in part, and the newly opened tracts of farmland could now be cultivated. Wave after wave of peasants seeking opportunity were directly relocated by Laine to Musillon, to clear and reclaim new land.

After several months of work, Laine finally completed the full layout of the entire industrial belt. The Dwarfs of the Angland Clan in Karak Breeze Castle and Black Stone Stronghold in the upper reaches of the Grismore River could now use the river to send an unending stream of ore and all manner of supplies downriver.

Surya also played a very important role in all of this; the lady Knight’s talents in Internal Affairs were fully on display.

When the time reached November, Laine, in his capacity as Duke of Musillon, formally signed the “Old Musillon Territory Accord” with Duke Adheid of Leonais. Leonais returned its southern lands once more to the Duke of Musillon, in exchange for a vast military fund of ten thousand Gold Crowns, along with large quantities of grain and military aid. This also meant that this tract of land, which had been ceded away for five hundred years, had once again returned to the embrace of the Musillon Duchy.

Along with the territorial return came rebellion. Since the nobles of Leonais had already extensively encroached upon the manors and lands of the Old Musillon Territory, when faced with the choice of rejoining Leonais or accepting Laine’s rule, they repeatedly emphasized that these lands had been obtained legally by themselves, demanding that Laine accept their conditions and guarantee their “independence and autonomy” and “right of self-government.”

Laine’s answer was very simple: either surrender—early surrender could earn them “pacification,” just like Count Durin and Count Larot, who only needed to swear fealty and accept Laine’s reforms. Surrendering later was also acceptable; although their lands would be confiscated, their noble status and Knightly titles could still be retained.

Or we fight.

In the end, the war to suppress the rebels was fought. Baron Merovin Armand led the Old Guard and three thousand troops to rout the entire rebel host outside Musillon City. One after another, more than thirty Knights had their Knightly titles and noble status stripped from them and were reduced to peasants.

The entire Kingdom remained silent in the face of Laine seizing and stripping so many Knightly titles in one stroke. First, Laine’s deeds now shone so brightly across the world that no one dared oppose his will. Second, the rebellion had indeed taken place; the vassals would show no mercy toward traitors. Finally, there was the support of the Lake Fairy Church.

By the time all the rebellions had been pacified, winter had already arrived.

The second turkey banquet of Laine’s rear court was convened in the Lady’s Courtyard of Laine’s Duke’s Castle.

At the banquet, resolutions were passed on a more rational distribution of Laine’s personal time, on how to ensure internal unity and present a united front outward, and a resolution was passed to admit Chief Maid Sylvia into the circle.

At the closing ceremony of the turkey banquet, Surya, as Duchess, delivered an address.

After the Winter Festival was over and all matters had been understood, Laine formally set out from Musillon in his capacity as Duke of Musillon, Divine Chosen Champion of the Lake Fairy, and Crown Prince of the Knight Kingdom, bringing his whole family to visit the Empire at its invitation.

Emperor Carl Franz expressed a warm welcome for the arrival of Laine and his family.

Emperor Carl Franz invited Laine to cruise the Rick River together by boat, welcoming Laine once again to his homeland, and introduced to Laine the local customs of the Rick Territory and the architecture along the way.

Duke Laine stated that he was very pleased to have the opportunity once more to visit the Empire and visit Emperor Carl’s homeland of Brunswick. The scenery here is beautiful, the cultural and artistic atmosphere rich. This fertile soil of civilization has witnessed many major historical events and nurtured a great multitude of heroic figures. In particular, in a whole series of wars in the Old World—against Chaos, against Green Skin, against Vampire forces—it paid a tremendous price and made important contributions in securing victory. It is the pride of the Empire and of the Imperial people.

Aboard a great ship of the Rick Navy, Laine and Emperor Carl Franz enjoyed the scenery along the banks while freely discussing the two nations’ exchanges in history and culture and their unity and cooperation in resisting foreign enemies. Laine sincerely stated that the consensus between the Empire and Brittania on deepening mutual trust and cooperation is unshakable. At present, both the Empire and Brittania are in a rare period of peace. Under the current circumstances, both sides must deepen strategic cooperation and continue to contribute to safeguarding peace, tranquility, and stability in the Old World and the Mortal World.

Emperor Carl Franz expressed his agreement with Duke Laine’s views. The Emperor stated that the current pattern of the Old World has undergone great changes, the Chaos Eternal God Chosen in the north has already appeared, and the external risks and shared challenges faced by the Empire and Brittania have escalated. Emperor Carl Franz emphasized that, whether in the past, present, or future, the Empire and Brittania are good neighbors that cannot be moved away and true partners that cannot be broken apart. Both sides must treat each other as neighbors and companions, practice Mutual Aid, and stand together more closely and resolutely.

Emperor Carl Franz stressed that win–win cooperation must always take mutual trust as its cornerstone, solidify their strategic reliance upon one another, increase mutual support on issues involving each other’s core interests, vigorously promote affinity between their peoples, and consolidate the popular foundation of generational friendship. He encouraged all sectors of society and all localities in both nations to strengthen exchange and mutual learning, jointly passing on the baton of generational friendship between the Empire and Brittania.

Both sides agreed unanimously to deepen political mutual trust, strengthen strategic communication, and increase mutual support, issuing a declaration that the two nations would jointly confront challenges in the field of strategic security, strengthen strategic cooperation on regional security hotspots, and, when necessary, conduct coordinated operations. Duke Laine stated solemnly that the Empire, beset by enemies on all sides, has held firm for two thousand years. The Knight brothers beyond the mountains will not sit idle while our Imperial brothers encounter difficulties. As fellow humans, the Knights will provide what support they can to the Imperial people, continuing to strive together to resist the southward invasion of Chaos.