Infrastructure Throne

With the increasing number of merchant ships and civilian ships traveling on the Beiyuan Grand Canal, the cities along the banks of the river in the south of Beidi are increasingly relying on the circulation benefits brought by this canal.

Moon City's trade monopoly in the North was forcibly broken, and tax revenue plummeted, but other cities along the river took advantage of the opportunity to quietly develop.

Along the canals with well-developed waterways, and inland cities with inconvenient transportation, the imbalance of economic benefits has further widened. Every time Moon City holds a Zhucheng Alliance meeting, there are always frictions and quarrels between various cities, which arouses the envy of the nobles and thick necks, making them restless.

The final spearheads all point to the Beiyuan Kingdom, which is wantonly grabbing wealth.

Relying on a powerful steel fleet, Beiyuan regards the taxation of checkpoints along the river as nothing, and even set up checkpoints on a narrow river channel south of Pearl Lake, and all ships passing by must pay tolls to them.

The location of this checkpoint is unique. It is close to the southern edge of the Northland. It is the narrowest section of the entire canal. The terrain on both sides is a naturally formed canyon. In peacetime, it is a toll station for the fleet. In wartime, immediately It can become a pass fortress that is easy to defend but difficult to attack.

Ships on the canal come and go throughout the year. Although the fee charged by each ship is much lower than other checkpoints, the advantage lies in the large number. The gold coins earned by collecting tolls for a month alone are worth a small city in the Northland Taxes for one year.

This made the nobles of the Zhucheng Alliance bleed with jealousy—who made this canal dug by others?

Any fleet that dares to break through the customs or refuse to pay the toll, just look at the cannons erected at the checkpoints on both sides of the river, and the black shooting ports of those bastions, will immediately change their faces in fright.

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With the hostility of the two great empires of the East and the West, Beiyuan did not directly use force against the cities of the Northland, but adopted a soft offensive of moistening things silently and eating away.

The first is to infiltrate the neighboring cities, invest in the establishment of newspapers and printing agencies, print news newspapers and periodicals for free, introduce popular literature about customs and culture, and down-to-earth gossip popular with ordinary people.

Immediately afterwards, the storytellers who contracted various taverns and teahouses, as well as the roles of folk speech leaders, changed their tricks to publicize the happy life of the people in Yuanliu City. One piece of promotion per day can get five cents of Yuanliu coins.

It doesn’t even need to be embellished, as long as the facts are presented, the fact that every citizen has the right to education and the right to take the official examination is enough to make all the people who want to get rid of the poor life of the bottom envy and hate.

The loss of population is irreversible, especially among the poor at the bottom, slaves who can't eat enough, and farmers in the suburbs. Under the high taxation of the noble rulers, the North Deep Kingdom's attraction is undoubtedly huge.

Every day the guards caught an endless stream of fugitives, coupled with Beiyuan's monarch's policy of encouraging immigration, even though they knew it was a felony to be executed if they were caught, there were still a large number of people who ran to Beiyuan's territory regardless of their own safety.

The two small cities closest to Beiyuan have almost become half-empty cities during the year-long population loss. A large number of fields in the noble manors were abandoned due to the lack of serf farming, tax revenues were decreasing day by day, and the treasury was becoming more and more empty.

The more money you have, the more taxes the city lord's mansion has to increase to make up for the shortfall. It's a vicious circle. No matter how rich the foundation is, it can't afford such years of consumption. Willing to lend a helping hand.

Finally one day, the city lord's mansion could no longer hold on, and in the rioting civilians and depressed streets, it was completely declared bankrupt. The city lord and his family took refuge in the Beiyuan kingdom, offering all their rights and wealth, and only asked the Beiyuan king to protect the lives of the whole clan. .

As a reward for the original refugee, Shen Qingze promised to keep his private property except the fields.This move undoubtedly made the Zhucheng Alliance, which was not so reliable, receive another heavy hammer.

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In the panic-stricken Zhucheng Alliance, the poorer the small town, the calmer it is. For these down-and-out nobles in the countryside, it is natural for them to depend on the strong.

The richest and most powerful Moon City is undoubtedly the one most afraid of Beiyuan's attack. The more you have, the more you are afraid of losing.

Moon City is also the most active one against the Beiyuan Kingdom. Without even discussing with the other nobles of the Zhucheng Alliance, it decided to bow its knees to flatter the two empires, in exchange for the temptation of the two empires to "borrow troops" in name. ".

Since the opening of the Grand Canal, the blockade to Beiyuan has become a sieve that leaks everywhere, and the Chiyuan River cannot be covered. The number of stowaways and fugitives is increasing at an astonishing rate every day.

Now the Zhucheng Alliance has been pushed to the edge of a cliff by Beiyuan.

The moonlight was like a cold blade, splitting the dark clouds in two.

In the meeting hall of Moon City, eight iron chandeliers with red candles hang from the ceiling, and the flames flicker slightly.

At the long table, the nobles silently looked at City Lord Moon on the first seat, watching him speak impassioned words:

"Everyone, there is no retreat behind us! Or, with the passage of time, we will be eroded by Beiyuan little by little and occupy the territory, just like those two bankrupt small cities, sooner or later it will be my turn!"

"Or, simply fall to the two empires, with desperate courage, strike first, and formally declare war on Beiyuan!"

The nobles looked at each other, faintly moved, but more afraid.

"As long as we can force the opponent to spit out the huge wealth they have seized before, as well as the secrets of those steel machines and steel fleets, our Zhucheng Alliance can also rise like Yuanliu City!"

City Lord Moon straightened up and said loudly: "Next, let's vote, whether to die cowardly or win a chance in desperation!"

Looking at the arms slowly raised by everyone either willingly or unwillingly, City Lord Moon secretly heaved a sigh of relief.

Although the nobles are afraid of Beiyuan, the strength of the two empires is undoubtedly the strongest in the Shuguang Continent. Compared with them, the small Beiyuan Kingdom is like a hard stone on the side of the road. In front of them, they will eventually be crushed to pieces.

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The Northland before the war was immersed in a certain delicate balance and eerie calm.

The Beiyuan Kingdom and the Zhucheng Alliance, the upper echelons of both sides are sensitive to the wind and rain that is coming.

The three self-proclaimed civilized empires are different from the Grand Canyon orcs who regard battles as commonplace. Although Beiyuan's wealth and overly advanced technology are mouth-watering, it is not proportional to its small territory and sparse population, but as Like robbers, they sent troops to rob nakedly, obviously they came from nowhere.

Especially in the context of the grand canyon orcs' ambitions to go south, it is not in the interests of a big country to take the lead in launching a war and provoke a civil war among the human race.

However, if the Northern Cities Alliance is willing to become a vassal of the empire, even if it is only in name, the two empires can justifiably "borrow troops" from it and save the people of the northern land who have been "oppressed" by Beiyuan from fire and water.

It is in the interests of the empire that the Northland maintains its own way of governance and order in the chaos, while still having the strength to resist the threat from the Grand Canyon, so as to become the northern barrier of the three empires.

By the way, we can also get wealth and advanced technology of steam engine from Beiyuan, so that we can get several in one fell swoop, wouldn't it be a pleasure?

In the entire Shuguang Continent, most people of insight who care about the current situation have similar judgments. Almost no one is optimistic about the Beiyuan Kingdom, including the Bikong Merchant Alliance, an ally who has always been friendly to Beiyuan.

As a business alliance, the Blue Sky Merchant Alliance is a real businessman, the most important thing is to pay attention to the interests, to maintain neutrality, and not to offend, is the way to survive.

For the Mansi Allies and the Great Xia Kingdom, which occupy the vast territory of the mainland, it is not a problem to send 20 troops each, or even [-] or [-] troops. It is just a legion of hundreds of thousands of standing soldiers.

On the other hand, Beiyuan Kingdom only occupies six cities, two of which are not burdened with any combat power, and the total number of standing soldiers is even less than [-], including the defenders that cannot be easily moved in each city.

Even though Beiyuan is good at defeating the many with the few, and defeating the strong with the weak, those glorious achievements in the past were also based on the premise that the enemy could not afford to consume.

Now the enemy has been replaced by the two empires behind the Zhucheng Alliance. With their profound background, huge military power and wealth, and the disparity in population and armaments between the two sides, even if the 20 troops fail to attack the city, the two empires can still send 30 troops. , [-], and it will not be to the extent that it hurts the muscles and bones.

And Beiyuan Kingdom, whose total population is not even as large as others' standing soldiers, is bound to die in such a war of attrition.

Several forces in the mainland, the Zhucheng Alliance is the sworn enemy, the two empires are the accomplices, the Blue Sky Merchant Alliance is watching from the sidelines, and the Grand Canyon orcs are ready to move.

No matter from which angle you look at it, Beiyuan Kingdom has no chance of winning.It is really fighting against the world with a corner of the land.

This is an easy-to-understand truth. Even the people of Yuanliu City who blindly worship His Majesty the Monarch have to face up to the fact that Beiyuan is only a small kingdom.

Some people even publicly stated that it is better to take the initiative to publish the blueprint of the steam engine, show favor to the two empires, abandon the checkpoint of the Beiyuan Canal, sign a no-war agreement with the Zhucheng Alliance, and continue to hide in a corner of the Northland, carefully surviving.

Under the psychological offensive deliberately exaggerated by the Zhucheng Alliance, pessimistic emotions began to spread in every city in Beiyuan.

Except for His Majesty the Monarch of Beiyuan, Shen Qingze.

He even changed his previous low-key and dormant attitude towards Xu Tuzhi, and became extremely radical. He even publicly announced at the court meeting he personally hosted that he required the whole country to enter a state of preparation for war. The big pattern!

He had been waiting for this day for many years.

Once the words spread, the mainland shook and the world was stunned.

Immediately afterwards, there was overwhelming ridicule and irony. Even the unified dynasty rulers of the Northland in the past were never so arrogant.

If the Shuguang Continent had Shen Qingze's previous social network media, it would have detonated the Internet by now and paralyzed the entire network.

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At this very moment, His Majesty the Monarch of Beiyuan, who was on the cusp of public opinion, was standing on the viewing platform of the palace, reviewing the vast number of soldiers who were about to go out to fight against foreign enemies.

The war is about to break out, and the [-] troops "loaned" by the two empires are bound to attack Beiyuan Kingdom from the east and west.

The number of soldiers in Beiyuan was already at a disadvantage, and fighting on two fronts made the situation even worse. There must be a commander on the front line to coordinate the overall situation. If one line of defense collapses and the enemy army drives straight in, it will immediately threaten Yuanliu City, the country.

The autumn sun overlooks the earth.

On the square, the densely packed sergeants were like javelins, and the banners were billowing like waves.

They didn't wear bulky armor, but uniform dark green military uniforms, which were light, warm, strong and easy to move.

Every sergeant is holding a quick-fire gun with a bayonet. The new-generation quick-fire gun has been equipped with a scope, which greatly improves the shooting accuracy. In addition, they also have a narrower caliber and a shorter barrel on their waist small pistol.

The chilling atmosphere was frozen in excitement, and everyone's faces were tense. This is life and death, it is glory, and it is a witness to the turning point of history.

In front of them, Yan Zui in military uniform was sitting on the back of a red horse, looking up at Shen Qingze.

His Majesty the Monarch did not say too many morale-boosting words, but as usual, conveyed firm and powerful self-confidence to everyone:

"Gentlemen, it's time for the world to see the truly powerful Beiyuan. I'm here, waiting for everyone to triumph."

"Beiyuan must win!"

The sound of boiling went straight into the sky, almost resounding throughout the city.

Shen Qingze walked down the steps slowly, walking towards Yan Zui step by step. He got off the horse, stared at him silently, and pinned the gleaming golden marshal medal on his chest.

"come back earlier."

"wait me back."

The two spoke almost at the same time, almost covering each other's voice.

Yan Zui smiled brightly, turned back to the back of the fiery horse, the warm golden sunlight poured down from the top of his head, hiding his dazzling face in the backlight, covering his whole body with a layer of pale golden glory.

"Your Majesty, don't forget what you promised to give me."

Yan Zui took one last longing look at him, forced himself to look back, turned his horse's head, and the sound of marching footsteps in the square was thunderous, and he set off on his journey.

Shen Qingze couldn't help but took a step forward, with a nervous expression on his face, he suddenly said: "Yan Zui!"

On the horse's back, Yan Zui turned around in surprise, and saw the other party's hand stretched out towards him, his straight eyes, and his lips parted when he wanted to speak.

Yan Zui blinked, and suddenly realized something, the atrium in his chest, which was lost due to parting, suddenly beat violently!

He pulled the rein, turned the horse back, and with a neighing of the fire, he carried his master and galloped towards His Majesty the King.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Yan Zui rode back to Shen Qingze, her flickering eyes locked on him firmly.

Shen Qingze was startled, then relaxed his tense back, raised his head and showed him a faint smile: "I seem to have forgotten to say, I love you."

Yan Zui's eyes widened in an instant, and he had imagined countless scenes, but he never imagined that at this very moment, Shen Qingze would be greeted with such a straightforward confession.

He didn't get off the horse, and taking advantage of the height difference, he leaned over and kissed the other person's forehead heavily.

"Me too, my lord."