I will be crowned king

North of Yangfan City, in the outer suburbs.

In the endless wilderness, there are stretches of broad military camps that follow the river and occupy the sunny highlands. The golden irises swaying in the wind are in full bloom among the large and small hills, and across the gently undulating slopes and plains, overlooking the panic-stricken mountains. The city of Sail was in a state of panic and prepared for battle.

When Louis took Freya, escorted by a group of cuirassiers, out of the city to negotiate, the imperial army had completed all preparations for the early stage of the siege:

The hillside is already covered with ravines and shallow trenches and low walls used to block enemy counterattacks. Forts to protect the flanks have been erected in the gentle areas between the hills; many trees in the central highlands have been cut down, and simple buildings have been built. The guardrail... Judging from the view, the rear machine is probably the artillery position of the army.

"It seems that Uncle Bernard is not planning to scare us. He is really angry."

Louis, who felt heavy in his heart, put down the telescope in his hand and couldn't help but sigh: "It would be nothing more than Commander Casper Herred taking personal command. As for me... it is probably impossible to complete everything in such a short time anyway. Preparations for the siege."

"That's not true!" The elf girl raised her brows and said slightly unconvinced:

"Louis is also very strong, not worse than them at all...at most there is only a difference in age!"

The young knight gave a wry smile and did not take Freya's words. Seeing this, the surrounding cuirassiers consciously turned their sights around to search for enemy information that did not exist at all.

"Based on the strength comparison between the two sides, if we are unable to persuade in the end, Sailing City is not without the power to fight." Louis had to change the topic, explaining the current situation to the elf girl while organizing his thoughts:

"The city defense facilities of Yangfan City are still very strong. It is difficult for a large-scale artillery offensive to have a decisive effect in a short period of time. If I were him, I would give up the idea of ​​a short-term quick attack and instead try to fortify the walls and clear the field, harassing and harassing while constantly releasing The suggestion of peace talks prompted a dispute to break out in the city and the city surrendered.”

"But the premise of doing this is to have absolutely no worries about the rear. Judging from the current situation and the final failure of using the same tactic at Black Reef Port, he will probably choose a quick attack with greater casualties."

"Then...if we really want to fight, is Louis sure of winning?" Freya only cares about this point.

The young knight hesitated for a moment, then shook his head:

"Yes, but only a little bit - the strength gap between the two sides is too big. Unless he makes some fatal mistakes, there is no possibility of reversal."

Hearing these words, the elf girl's eyes moved slightly, and her expression suddenly became a little more expectant when she looked at him.

Louis shook his head decisively and rejected her proposal with serious eyes - of course he knew what Freya wanted to do. Unless it was a last resort, even just using her power to "intimidate" Bernard would have extremely serious consequences. .

While the two were still communicating silently, a group of cavalry also holding a negotiation flag appeared from the horizon and came towards them under the gaze of everyone.

The exact same golden fleur-de-lis flag, the exact same cuirassiers, and even the costumes of the coaches of both sides are highly similar, looking as funny as the two sides in the mirror.

It's just that this "funny" not only failed to make the colonial minister laugh, but made him even more angry - especially when he saw that the leader opposite was actually Louis Bernard, the kind of betrayal by someone close to him The stinging feeling became more and more profound.

When there was still about ten meters away, Bernard, with an ugly face, raised his right hand and stopped the team; he took a deep breath, pursed his lips, and suppressed his anger as much as possible:

"I didn't expect...it was really you?"

Compared to Bernard, who was about to explode, Louis, who was equally nervous, seemed a little more calm. He bowed respectfully to him on his mount and said without changing his expression:

"Long time no see, Uncle Bernard."

Facing the young knight's politeness, Bernard, who didn't appreciate it, snorted coldly, causing the elf girl to glare at him.

"Although I know very well that I am asking knowingly, but out of admiration for you taking the initiative to take responsibility, I still have to ask again - are you willing to accept my conditions?" He said solemnly:

"Open the city gates and let the army disarm and hand over the city defenses. All those who participated in the rebellion are awaiting trial and sentencing?"

"Yes, but the premise is that you are willing to make a promise not to retaliate afterwards, and to recognize the legitimacy of the Sailing City Council at the moment."

Raising his head slightly, Louis looked at the other party in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "Otherwise, agreeing to the weapon is equivalent to asking them to be captured without mercy... Although it is arrogant to say this, I made a promise to them that I will protect their lives."

"You are indeed arrogant - making such an unendorsed promise in a private name without any authorization!" Bernard frowned slightly:

"This matter has nothing to do with you! Now either go back to the chapel and don't come out, or follow me back to the military camp; I will tell you the whole story after everything is settled."

"I know the whole story very well, Uncle Bernard."

Louis still refused to give in: "I understand that you hate the liberals, and I don't like these traitors who make trouble for nothing, but their appearance itself proves the shortcomings of the empire's rule in the colonies! If the shortcomings are not solved, the rebellion will It goes on forever and ever, without end.”

"Now you have the opportunity to solve the problem once and for all. Why don't you accept it?"

"Because it's not an opportunity that can be solved once and for all!"

Bernard suddenly roared angrily, angering the young knight with a sincere face; he wanted to explain the matter simply and neatly, but it would probably have the opposite effect.

What can I say? Sir Sado is a liar. His purpose is to make the negotiation fail, or to force me to acquiesce in the rebellion he had fled before, so that I would lose my prestige and completely lose my authority. Are you just a puppet he pushed out to deal with me? !

Based on Bernard's understanding of this young master Bernard, this explanation is meaningless, and he will regard it as a deliberate way to sow discord and make them suspicious of each other so that they can defeat each other one by one.

Even in the worst case scenario, he really didn't consider accepting Louis' plan, letting him bear all the responsibilities as the governor of Sailing City, and giving legal status to everyone in Sailing City - at least stabilizing the situation as soon as possible, so that he can turn around and face the aggressive people. Clovis's army.

But after a moment's thought, I realized that this was definitely not possible. Not to mention the liberal traitors, if even Sado and his gang of deserters were let go without any punitive measures, then what prestige would he have as the chief minister?

Now he can still maintain control of the army by relying on high-pressure methods and the legitimate method of punishing traitors; once his authority is lost, he will probably be sidelined by the officers led by Sado and completely become a puppet at their mercy.

No matter how much you pay, you can never encourage this arrogance. Let everyone - especially the troops who are still loyal to you - see the consequences of defying authority!

Looking at Bernard, who had a frosty face and showed no sign of looseness at all, Louis, who was silent for a moment, shook his head slightly and said slightly disappointed:

"It seems that you insist on using the most extreme way to solve this matter?"

"It's not that I insist, but that some people are still kept in the dark and don't understand the seriousness of the matter." Bernard's expression was even more disappointed, and even a bit sad:

"Originally, I thought that a war in Hantu would help you and Arthur grow up to some extent; now it seems that I thought too much, and you didn't learn any lessons from your mistakes at all."

"No, I know!"

The young knight shouted loudly, his pupils shrinking suddenly: "Uncle Bernard, I know why you are so angry!"

you know?

Bernard, who was surprised in his heart, remained motionless. The corner of his eye quickly scanned the cuirassiers around Louis, trying to get the answer from their expressions: "Really?"

"Yes!" Louis nodded solemnly, and at the same time looked at Bernard with increasingly sad eyes:

"This kind of thing...I can understand your feelings of not wanting to tell others; but if you don't tell many things and don't have anyone to talk to, it will often deepen the pain in your heart."

The young knight looked at him with burning eyes and sincere feelings.

Bernard was startled, and his surprised expression gradually faded away, replaced by...confusion.

"You...please explain clearly, what is the pain?"

"You don't have to hide it, Uncle Bernard, I know everything." The young knight slowly shook his head, he pursed his lower lips tightly and said in a slightly heavy tone:

"Even if we know that many things may have bad consequences, when they happen, we will still be unable to withstand the emotional impact, leading to many disastrous consequences..."

"No, no, no..." Seeing that Louis was showing signs of continuing, Bernard quickly interrupted and said:

"I have no idea!"

"ah?"

Louis was stunned for a moment: "You...you don't know?"

"Yeah, I really don't know!"

"What don't you know?"

"I..." Bernard opened his mouth and paused for a few seconds before continuing:

"I don't know either, what on earth are you talking about!"

The young knight finally understood, but then he had a new question: "Of course I am talking about Sir Ed Levent...otherwise what else could it be?"

"Ed Levent!"

Now it was Bernard's turn to be shocked: "Do you have information about Ed Levent?!"

"Yes." Louis nodded subconsciously and asked in a matter-of-fact tone: "Of course, I only got the news about him recently, so I understand why you are so angry about the 'betrayal' of Sail City."

"But I still want to say that the death of Sir Ed Levent was not your fault. He was just a little unlucky. Otherwise, he would not have encountered Clovis's fleet under normal circumstances at that time, let alone Needless to say……"

"Wait, wait!"

Bernard was shocked and quickly raised his hand to interrupt the young knight:

"Ed Levent is dead? That's impossible!"

Bernard knew him too well - with that extremely weird power of blood, it was impossible for anyone to capture or kill him alive, even at sea!

"Nothing is impossible, especially in a terrible sea battle, nothing is surprising." Louis sighed. Born in Adland, he certainly knows the sea better than Bernard from the south:

"I know something about the power of Sir Ed Levent's blood, but under the encirclement and suppression of two Clovis warships, even if he could escape the initial battle, he would not be able to escape the subsequent explosion of the ship. "The surviving sailors told me that the flames ignited by the Green Dragon could be clearly seen even two or three kilometers away..."

The words stopped abruptly.

The young knight who had been talking endlessly just now suddenly seemed to feel that he had discovered something. He looked at the shocked Bernard opposite with disbelief:

"You...you don't know about this?"

Bernard, with a dull face, could not even speak a word.

Sending Ed Levent and the battleship Green Dragon as envoys to the three North Sea countries was almost the only breakthrough he could find in the current corrupt situation; as long as they launched an offensive against the Clovis colony from the west, in time he would be the only one left There is also the possibility of a comeback from the desperate situation in the last territory of Yangfan City!

On the contrary, if it fails, a battleship and hundreds of sailors on board can at least harass the Beluga Port, forcing the Clovis garrison to retreat for reinforcements, which can also turn the situation around slightly.

But Ed Levent, he...he's dead? !

Not only dead, it sounds like even the Green Dragon is doomed!

No wonder I haven't gotten any information about them for so long!

Bernard, who could barely maintain his composure at first, felt as if he was falling from a high altitude. The siege of Black Reef Harbor failed, the Sail City rebelled, Ed Levent died tragically, and in order to regain the Sail City, he took the initiative to kill Gray Pigeon. The last line of defense, the fort, was handed over to the Clovis people...

"Bernard, Uncle Bernard?" Louis' eyes widened, looking at the minister in charge whose expression changed rapidly and became twisted into a ball, he asked slightly worriedly: "You...are you okay?"

"puff!"

The expressionless Bernard suddenly spurted blood, his dull eyes looked helplessly at the astonished young knight, and his body fell forward softly.

"The Minister in Charge?!"

"It's not good! Hurry, save people! Save people!"

"Lord Bernard?! Sir Bernard, please wake up, wake up!"

The governor's guard on the opposite side suddenly became confused, and they hurriedly helped Bernard, who was already unconscious, onto his horse; before Louis could say anything, they left in a hurry, even throwing the military flag on the ground.

All this happened so fast that Louis didn't even have time to react. He could only watch the back running away from the opposite side; the surrounding cuirassiers also looked at each other in confusion, their backs overwhelmed by this sudden scene.

Two hours later, the siege of Yangfan City officially began.