king.

The public opinion storm has subsided, but the smell of gunpowder smoke has not dissipated.

Amid the turmoil of public opinion, many reformist aristocrats and bureaucrats who had failed in the political struggle chose to side with the radical militants.

Everyone accuses the conservative government of being weak and incompetent.

The cult organization did it, and it was also the orcs who did it. It is reasonable to launch a war to liquidate it.

The kingdom was not yet ready for war, a reason they considered equally untenable.

In all the previous wars, the kingdom has never been prepared for war and defeated the enemy.

In the eyes of the radicals, as long as everyone is willing to fight bravely, the Orc Empire can be destroyed.

If the food and grass reserves are insufficient, then use orcs as food and grass.

The orcs can do this to the humans, and they can naturally take revenge.

Although orcs were synonymous with filth in the eyes of many nobles, they did not need to eat them.

Fortunately, this is an extraordinary world. The older nobles not only occupy the mainstream discourse, but also have stronger fists.

Maybe it’s because the kingdom doesn’t have a tradition of subjugating superiors to superiors, or maybe it’s because everyone has received traditional education and is relatively conservative in their thinking.

The younger generation only clamored for war against the Orc Empire, and did not radically shout "God punish the national traitors".

However, in the minds of the younger generation of aristocratic children, the conservative government is a group of old diehards with old-fashioned ideas.

No one wants to be scolded, including those at the top of the conservative government.

Internal pressure gradually spread to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Strategic materials have been being raised and will be available in a few years. The biggest problem in launching a war was directly transferred to diplomacy.

……

Lutetia, Alpha Kingdom Embassy.

After receiving the order from the royal capital, Count Predrag's expression did not look better.

If it is something else, let him mobilize his personal connections for public relations, and there may be a possibility of success.

But now it's a war!

It is no secret that the Franks are ambitious and want to pursue external expansion.

But their patience is much stronger than that of Alpha Kingdom.

The nearby alien groups were wiped out, and the alien dwarf kingdom closest to the Franks was separated by several countries.

Since they are not bordering each other, there will definitely be no border conflicts.

There may be conflicts, but they are just differences in the price of purchasing weapons and have nothing to do with hatred.

The nobles who advocated invading the dwarf kingdom were simply interested in the dwarf's military manufacturing industry.

The Franks felt no urgency in waging war.

The ambitious Charles III was about the same age as Caesar IV and still had a lot of life left.

It is entirely possible to wait until the newly occupied land is digested, and then steadily launch a war against the dwarf kingdom.

After wandering in the room for a long time, Earl Predrag gave instructions to the deputy envoy: "Send a reply to the royal capital and tell the royal government that the Franks at this time lack the motivation to invade the dwarf kingdom.

It is recommended that the kingdom take action in countries adjacent to the dwarves and escalate the situation with local conflicts in neighboring countries.

When things get serious, we will add fuel to the flames and gradually involve the Franks! "

There is no good way, only stupid ways can be used.

After going in a big circle, it seems that we are reaching the same destination by different paths, but the final result is completely different.

The Franks directly invaded the dwarf kingdom, and the human countries along the way would hardly suffer any losses.

With the support of the Human Alliance, they had little problem preserving their foundation after the war.

But once you get involved in the storm and become the protagonist, it's hard to say.

The Dwarf Kingdom is also a second-tier powerful country. It cannot defeat big countries like the Frankish Empire and the Iliban Kingdom, but it is not difficult to deal with other countries.

Even if the human race is the winner after the war, the autonomy of these countries whose strength has been greatly reduced will inevitably be affected.

If unfortunately the inheritance of the royal family is cut off, it might be divided between the Franks and the Iberians.

There is also competition among the three major countries, and the competitors' strength continues to increase, which will be disastrous for the long-term development of the Alpha Kingdom.

Knowing that he was "drinking poison to quench his thirst", Count Predrag believed that the kingdom would still choose because everyone was too eager to destroy the orc empire.

The sequelae are in the future.

What's more, there is the Central Continent across the way. Even if the competitors become bigger, it will be difficult to pose a fatal threat to the kingdom.

The Alpha people, who are extremely obsessed with strength, are much less politically sensitive than the nobles of other countries.

When it comes to international politics, the big nobles can still understand it to some extent, but more small and medium-sized nobles have no idea at all.

……

Emerald Palace.

When the thorny issues came back, the well-educated Caesar IV threw them directly to the royal government without any hesitation.

With power comes the responsibility and obligations that come with it.

From the perspective of a high-level member of the Royal Government, no matter what choice I make now, I will inevitably be scolded.

The difference is that one is being scolded now and the other is being scolded in the future.

Although the struggle on the Aslant continent was bloody, the internal struggle of the human race still retained a sufficient bottom line.

Provoking conflicts between human nations and alien races for their own benefit is undoubtedly a violation of the rules.

Putting aside other issues, from a purely emotional point of view, the Alpha Kingdom should not do this.

In the past three hundred years, these countries have worked hard to pull them over at critical moments.

Although people do this for their own purposes, if they help, they just help.

In this society of favors, if you have received help from others, you must accept the favor.

Considering that we are fighting for the hegemony of the human race, even if there is no need to talk about repayment, we cannot turn around and go back to repay kindness with hatred.

This kind of behavior that violates the rules of conduct of the nobility is frowned upon by everyone.

Everyone can make rational judgments about the dispute between future and present interests.

Whether or not to break through the bottom line is a battle between morality and interests, and everyone has become hesitant.

As the commander-in-chief of the three armed forces, Hudson was also engaged in a fierce struggle in his inner world.

“Everyone, there are some things that cannot be purely based on interests.

If big countries like Frank and Iliba get involved in the war, it will not have much impact.

It is different for a group of small countries. If they are involved, it is very likely to be a disaster for the country.

Historically, all countries in the Southern Continent have provided help to the Kingdom, and the Kingdom cannot cheat its allies!"

After saying what he was thinking, Hudson felt much more relaxed.

It may be a bit impulsive, but issues of principle must be adhered to.

Since morality has not been corrupted yet, we must work hard not to let it corrupt, at least not in our own hands.

"Marshal, if we don't do this, the Franks and Ilibans will not go to war against the alien alliance in a short time.

Without drawing them into the battlefield, it will be difficult to destroy the Orc Empire with the intervention of the alien alliance with our strength alone.

A mainland war will break out sooner or later, and the countries involved are destined to be unable to avoid it. We are just moving the time forward. "

Duke Richard, Minister of Military Affairs, said in embarrassment.

If there was a better choice, he would definitely not choose the plan proposed by Count Predrag.

It's just that the kingdom's cards are limited at the moment. Even if the Five Nations Alliance is strengthened, it will be difficult to fight against the entire alien alliance.

"Duke Richard, the matter is not that serious. It is just that the time to destroy the orcs has been extended.

The mainland war will indeed break out sooner or later, but it cannot be detonated in this way. The kingdom needs to win in an upright manner.

Not all precedents can be set. Once we break the rules, the original international order will fall apart.

If the royal government can break its promise, then naturally some of the nobles in the country will follow suit.

You can imagine the horrific scene then! "

Hudson's words directly broke through everyone's inner defenses.

Once something is done, there is no turning back. If, after setting a precedent, the world only recognizes interests and ignores friendship, no one will be able to bear the consequences.

As a person with vested interests, he is naturally a defender of interests.

"The marshal is right, the consequences of this are indeed immeasurable, everyone should think of other solutions first!

If that doesn't work, just have a showdown with the two countries and see what they want. "

Prime Minister Beckett said slowly.

By paying the price and playing by the rules of the game openly, you will feel more confident when you go out.

Regardless of success or failure, we will never lose our magnanimity as a great nation.

“What if two countries proposed to annex these countries?”

Finance Minister Marquis Zuel asked slightly hesitantly.

In troubled times, if you want to increase your own strength in a short period of time, the most effective way is to annex small countries of the same clan.

Sometimes you don't even need to take action. As long as the external pressure is strong enough, you can force a small country to choose to annex.

"They want to expand the kingdom and can't stop it, so naturally I have no choice but to agree to it!"

Prime Minister Beckett said without changing his expression.

The same ending, different operation methods, and different political impacts.

From the perspective of the Alpha Kingdom, all countries in the Southern Continent have provided help to them, and this friendship must be maintained.

You can't attack them, and you should help them when they encounter foreign enemies.

Only when these countries are fighting among themselves, the kingdom can declare neutrality.

Of course, if a royal family that failed in a political struggle comes into exile, the kingdom should also resettle it according to etiquette.

The probability of this happening is very low, and ordinary nobles will not do things so decisively when fighting among themselves.

Seeing this scene, Hudson knew that the era of human race's contention of a hundred schools of thought was coming to an end.

The day the alien alliance is destroyed, a new era begins.

It is very unfair to small countries.

But there is no way, this is the only way for the development of the times.

Affected by the threat of alien races, whether it is the human race of the northern continent, the human race of the central continent, or the human race of the southern continent, they are all one.

In terms of culture and beliefs, everyone is very close, and there is no differentiation due to geographical isolation.

This close connection creates the basis for mergers between great powers.

Hudson can roughly guess the future continental structure, which is nothing more than a matter of how many powerful countries will stand side by side.

For specific reference, you can refer to the human empire in history. When it expanded to a certain extent, it would stop because the cost of governance was too high.

In the past, aristocratic mergers hardly involved the people at the bottom, but now the situation has changed.

The outside world thinks that the Kingdom of Alpha created the idea of ​​all citizens being soldiers, and that Hudson pushed this system to its peak.

In fact, these are just external factors. What really caused all this to happen was the increase in productivity.

The increase in food production allowed countries to have the capital to feed more armies, which was the key to serfs becoming soldiers.

In an era when productivity was extremely backward, at first only nobles were eligible to join the army, and later it was extended to civilians, and finally serfs.

Institutional changes are also a process that continuously releases the war potential of the human race.

It is precisely through these changes that the human race can gradually gain an advantage in the competition on the mainland.

From a racial standpoint, these reforms are certainly strategically significant.

But for the people at the bottom, it may not be a good thing. At least it's a little cruel to this generation of people at the bottom.

Not only do we have to fight against the alien race, but after the alien race is defeated, a civil war among the human race may break out.

There is nothing to feel guilty about. Only when a race wins can it have a future. The consequences of a defeated race are natural fertilizers.

What's more, the downward penetration of the military is also an opportunity for the people at the bottom to change their class.

We are not afraid of fierce competition among countries, but we are afraid that all countries will be flat and have no intention of competing.

Only when international competition is fierce enough can the aristocratic groups be forced to decentralize their power, and the people at the bottom have the opportunity to come into contact with extraordinary power.

……

When the national policy of the Alpha Kingdom changed, the first person to be affected was not the situation on the mainland, but the Human Alliance.

As the differentiation between the strengths and weaknesses of various countries continues to widen, the three major countries have an increasingly important say in the alliance.

Once the three countries agree on their positions, no one can stop it unless the remaining countries are tied together.

There is no doubt that this is impossible.

Cooperation between the three major countries only requires communication and coordination among the representatives of the three parties, and it can be achieved after some time.

The remaining dozens of countries have to cooperate. Any issue can cause a huge quarrel, and close cooperation is almost impossible.

Originally, the Human Alliance relied on conflicts between major powers to balance the voices of all parties, thereby constraining the behavior of major powers.

Now that the situation has changed, the Alpha Kingdom's acquiescence on the Southern Continent issue has led to the reduction of the human alliance's binding force on the two countries, directly fueling the ambitions of the two countries.

Lutetia, Royal Palace.

“Your Majesty, the obstacles on the alliance’s side have been cleared.

The Alphas want us to contain the alien alliance. While we are stationing troops in neighboring countries, as long as we use the banner of resisting the aliens, they will definitely support us.

The Ilibans have the same idea as us. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has communicated with them. This time everyone can act together and share the pressure! "

Marquis Jesus, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said with high spirits.

In the past few decades, the Frank Empire has gradually penetrated into many countries, and their politics, economy, and culture are full of Frank elements.

In recent years, the wave of reform has swept across the mainland. Governments aware of the danger have successively carried out salvation campaigns.

Many of the reform clauses in it touched the interests of the Frank Empire.

For example: the original tax-free treatment is gone, and now goods exported to various countries need to pay huge tariffs.

Another example: Their franchise privileges were withdrawn...

If this situation continues, all their previous operations will be in vain.

Unfortunately, these things cannot be discussed on the table. Internal affairs are people's freedom, and legally the Frankish Empire has no right to interfere.

Things that destroy people's wealth have always attracted the most hatred since ancient times.

Although the capitalists have no say, the big boss behind the scenes does.

In the early days of capital, if you wanted to influence a country's decision-making, these people were definitely not enough.

But with the addition of the power of the main war faction, the situation is different.

If directly invading neighboring countries doesn't work, let's use a euphemistic term - resisting foreign invasion.

As long as the army moves in, there will be no worries about lack of collaborators in the future.

“The action should be as small as possible, so as not to irritate the league’s nerves.

Tell the people below that this military operation is to resist the invasion of aliens, so we stationed troops in countries close to the front lines of aliens.

The rest of the things should be dealt with incidentally. Don't reverse the priorities! "

Charles III warned on the spot.

The political banner of "resisting alien invasion" barely created a legal basis for this military operation, but it was still less convincing.

After all, they were sent to their doorsteps by themselves, rather than actively invited by other countries.

Charles III wanted to be ashamed, and so was the Frankish Empire. If we were to resist foreign invasion, we must be resisting foreign invasion.

Even if there is no alien invasion, an alien invasion must be created in order to eliminate the negative political influence.

At the same time, the extent of the conflict must be controlled so that it cannot directly evolve into a continental war, at least not in a short period of time.

“Your Majesty, please rest assured.

The Ministry of Military Affairs will supervise the entire process and strictly restrict the actions of each unit, so that no big trouble will occur! "

Earl Phils, Minister of Military Affairs, immediately assured.

As one of the most powerful departments in the empire, the Ministry of Military Affairs has always been the headquarters of the Frankish Empire's main war faction.

Regardless of whether it is a national war or a local minor conflict, their value can only be reflected during war.