Viscount Tanggiro stayed in the capital of Polyvicia for three days before he set off on his return journey with his regiment of imperial guards, feeling satisfied.
The purpose of his trip as the kingdom's envoy was very satisfactory, or it could be said that it exceeded his expectations before he came.
The two generals of the autonomous region were easy to talk to. Not only did they satisfy him with 1.5 million crowns worth of gold and silver, they also packed up all the military supplies seized from the allied army camp for him to take away. They even sent a regiment of light cavalry to escort him back to the camp.
Since Claude and Bolonik were so hospitable and sincere in their hospitality, he didn't want to make things difficult for them as an envoy.
So, Viscount Tangbagiro returned the favor and told Claude and Bolonik all he knew about Blancarte's reformation of the kingdom so that the two generals could understand more about the political situation in the royal capital. The three of them got along very well in those three short days.
As the kingdom's envoy, apart from handing over the gold and silver to Claude and the others, Dombagiro was also responsible for verifying the contributions of Thundercrash and Monolith's troops.
He also had to check on the properties of the former Nasrian royal family, as well as the seven small and medium-sized gold and silver mining bases.
However, the envoy pushed all of that to Claude and Bolonik. He said that he didn't have the time and that the royal court needed the gold and silver urgently.
He only took away the merit and promotion lists of the two corps. He said that based on Thundercrash and Monolith's combat prowess and the interaction he had with Claude and Bolonik over the past two days, he didn't think the two generals would resort to trickery in that regard. He believed in their characters.
Because of Viscount Tangbagiro's unreserved trust, Claude and Bolonik were very touched.
So, they handed over all the military supplies and ammunition they didn't need from the allied army to the envoy and asked him to bring them back to the royal capital to replenish the kingdom's armory.
These armaments and weapons were indeed useless to the overseas autonomous military zone, but for the royal court, they were the best aid to build a local garrison force.
Claude didn't feel it was a waste to give away the supplies worth a million crowns to the kingdom just like that.
To him, these things were of little value. They were an eyesore, and it would be a pity to throw them away.
Things like potions, bandages, blankets, tents, basins, and towels could still be of some use, but military uniforms, boots, belts, and canteens weren't suitable for the soldiers of the autonomous region's military region and the local garrison forces.
It was fine to occasionally take some as a souvenir from a victory, but there was no need to carry it on one's person. Furthermore, the army soldiers did not even bother with weapons and ammunition.
Even if he wanted to sell these things, it would be very difficult to find a suitable buyer. Even if there was a buyer, they would be chased down to the lowest price.
Since that was the case, he might as well let the kingdom take advantage of it. At the same time, he could earn a favor from the envoy and have someone to speak up for the autonomous region in the royal capital.
Seeing Viscount Tangbagiro lean out of the carriage for the last time and wave goodbye, Claude and Bolonik raised their hands in salute to send the envoy off. At the same time, they ordered the military band to play a cheerful tune to wish Viscount Tangbagiro a safe journey.
It wasn't until the envoy's carriage caught up to the carriages that Claude and Bolonik returned to the royal capital.
"Let's go for a walk on the walls," said Bolonik.
So, Claude accompanied him to the top of the wall. Their adjutants and guards followed about ten meters behind them so as not to disturb the two generals from their stroll on the wall.
"Let's enjoy the scenery here," said Bolonik. He took out two cigars from his pocket and handed one to Claude.
After lighting up the fire, the two of them leisurely smoked on the city wall.
"What do you think of the secret plan that Viscount Tangbagiro revealed about Blancarte's proposal?
The one that grants hereditary fiefs to the nobles? "asked Bolonik all of a sudden.
For the past three days, the two had either been accompanying the envoy or dealing with official matters. They hadn't had the time to discuss the matter in private.
Now that the envoy had left, Bolonik was eager to hear Claude's analysis.
Claude spat out a mouthful of smoke and watched it form two circles in the air before he slowly said, "Actually, I've always thought that Viscount Tangbagiro's other purpose in coming here was to reveal his plan to grant hereditary fiefs to the nobles and see how we would react."
Bolonik nodded. "I feel the same way. But what I find strange is that we're from the autonomous region.
Logically speaking, the royal court shouldn't dislike us.
After all, we're the ones in charge of the kingdom's autonomy in Nubissia. To the kingdom, we should be considered a rebel.
Even if we sent out troops to save the kingdom, the royal court shouldn't have thought of granting us fiefs of their own accord. They could've used the fact that we're from the autonomous region as an excuse to exclude us from the list of hereditary fiefs. "
Claude chuckled coldly. He didn't answer Bolonik's question. Instead, he changed the topic. "I've been quite interested in Blancarte's proposal to grant hereditary fiefs to the nobles, so I sent someone to look into him.
According to the reports, Blancarte's full name is Blancarte se Servilio. He's 41 years old and was the commander of His Majesty's guards when he was young. He grew up with His Majesty.
"Our prime minister comes from the Servilio Family, which is one of the most powerful noble families in the kingdom.
The Servilio Munitions Workshop, the kingdom's third largest military industry, was founded with the Servilio Family as the leader and six other noble families.
However, our prime minister isn't the legitimate son of the Servilio Family, but the eldest son of a concubine.
His mother used to be his father's personal maid and was later taken in as his second wife.
It was because he was the eldest son of a concubine that he was assigned to be the third prince's guard.
At that time, no one knew that the inconspicuous and cowardly third prince would become the current King Frederick the First.
Blancarte had served His Majesty for more than two decades and was deeply trusted by the king.
Coupled with his talent and ability, he was quickly appointed as the new prime minister of the kingdom and given great responsibility.
His Majesty had just ascended to the throne and nobody was willing to go against his wishes.
Blancarte was also from the Servilio Family and could be considered one of them. So, the other noble families of the kingdom tacitly agreed to the result.
That was all the information they had on the prime minister. However, it was rumored that Blancarte didn't have a good relationship with the current head of the Servilio Family, his younger half-brother.
It was said that many in the Servilio Family suggested for the prime minister to become the new head of the Servilio Family. That way, they would be able to gain more benefits for the family.
However, his younger brother, the current head of the family, Count Turleck, refused to abdicate.
If the plan was proposed by the prime minister himself, I think we can be sure that he doesn't belong to the old noble families and is only loyal to His Majesty.
If it wasn't the prime minister's idea, then the one who proposed it must be a very smart person who loathes the old noble families.
You're right, this plan is aimed at the old aristocratic families, while our overseas autonomous region is caught in the crossfire. "
The cigar in Bolonik's hand fell to the ground. His eyes widened as he stared at Claude. "How did you come to that conclusion?"
"Sometimes, the history we know isn't the truth. It's just a facade."
Claude took another long puff of his cigar and blew out four to five rings of smoke. He looked at the scenery outside the city walls and replied faintly,
"I remember the history books of our country saying that Stellin IX started the war to revive the kingdom because his elder sister, Princess Ilynia, and his brother, Prince Ernest, caused chaos in the kingdom for the throne. At the same time, the nobles of the kingdom's territories caused the people of the kingdom to live in destitution.
That was why Stellin IX was the first to raise the banner of righteousness and crusade against the nobles who bullied the good and had no respect for the monarch. He severely punished the corrupt local officials and advocated for reform to save the nation. In the end, he emerged victorious and became a heroic ruler.
I think that's what you read in the history books when you were in military school. We all had the same history classes.
However, I've been going to the archives in the capital and flipping through Nasri's historical records about Aueras.
I found that the real reason Stellin IX started the war to revive the kingdom was because there weren't any more lands in the kingdom that could be given to the new nobles.
I found the records of Stellin VIII's era and found that apart from the royal capital and Ibenister Plains, all the towns and cities in the kingdom were given to the new nobles.
In the three hundred years of the kingdom's history, the kingdom had produced countless nobles. When the kingdom stopped expanding, there was no more land to bestow to the new hereditary nobles and the nobles who had made great contributions to the kingdom.
So, the kingdom didn't give new nobles any more during Stellin VIII's era. As a result, the royal family's prestige was greatly diminished in the eyes of the nobles and the royal decree didn't leave Ibenister Plains.
The records also said that Princess Ilynia and Prince Ernest didn't start a war during the fight for the throne. There were only small skirmishes in the royal capital.
However, Stellin IX seized my hometown, Whitestag, a hereditary baron's fief, and formed an army to attack the nobles.
When the nobles of the kingdom realized that Stellin IX was going to dig up their roots, they hurriedly banded together to resist the restoration army. Their momentum was lost and they were the losers.
After Stellin IX ascended to the throne, he removed the land bestowed to the nobles and changed it to a yearly salary system.
He may have hoped to leave a complete kingdom for his descendants.
But he didn't expect that the nobles who lost their lands would focus on the economy and unknowingly form a long line of noble families. They controlled the kingdom's military industry and vigorously cultivated their influence in the kingdom's army. Even the royal family had no choice but to bow down to them.
The tragedy of Prince Hansbach and Stellin XI is proof of the influence the old nobles have on the kingdom. His Majesty's ascension to the throne was also under their control.
In other words, our current emperor is actually a puppet, a rubber stamp.
Fortunately, these old nobles have their own internal conflicts and still maintain a certain level of respect for His Majesty. They don't dare to force His Majesty to do as they wish. "
Claude took a few more puffs of his cigar and crushed it with his foot. "I suspect that this hereditary fief is His Majesty's way of retaliating against the old nobles.
For a noble, the most valuable thing is their territory. A hereditary fief is the foundation of a family.
A territory that belonged to one's family could be passed down to one's descendants, and one could kill and plunder within the territory. One would have the final say, and one would be the true king of the territory and its people. One did not need to listen to anyone's orders, and one could do whatever one wanted without any scruples.
I call the shots in my fief. As long as it develops well, I'll be able to provide an endless source of wealth for myself and my family.
When there's no fief, the old nobles will band together to monopolize the kingdom's commercial interests and form trade alliances to expand their influence in the kingdom's army.
Now, they've become a giant that even His Majesty can't help but feel helpless about. Without their consent, the kingdom can't recover its strength and develop its economy.
The plan to grant hereditary fiefs to the nobles was a plan to break up the power of the old aristocratic families. Once they had their own hereditary fiefs, the old aristocratic families would at least put most of their energy into the development of their fiefs.
It's common knowledge that there will be all sorts of conflicts between the nobles over fief, which will affect their alliance.
Of course, there's another reason for this plan, which is to scrape a huge sum of money from the old nobles.
Didn't the envoy mention that if they're dissatisfied with the fief they're given, they can choose a better fief for themselves, but they'll have to pay a land selection fee.
The key lies in the land selection fee. His Majesty has the final say on how much to pay. It's his sacred duty as the monarch and no one can influence his decision.
Apart from that, don't the nobles of three generations and honorary nobles want a fief for their descendants?
It's simple, just pay up. I suspect that His Majesty and the court can use this plan to easily obtain a huge sum of money from the nobles.
Just because the kingdom doesn't have money doesn't mean the nobles don't have money. Who knows, Blancarte's plan to revive the kingdom can easily gather the money needed.
Most importantly, the fief will all be in the Nasrian region. For the kingdom, it'll be free from a heavy burden.
The civil unrest in the region will have nothing to do with the kingdom and will be the responsibility of the fief's fief.
The fief's fief will also have to form their own armed forces to suppress the area. This will force them to gather their trusted aides in the kingdom's army and weaken their influence in the army.
It can be said that His Majesty has the right time, right place, and right people in his hands. This plan to bestow fief upon the nobles is an overt plot that kills many birds with one stone.
As for our region, we're also part of the plan.
Think about it. If the five of us were to be given our family fiefs by His Majesty, what would the councilors of the overseas autonomous territory think?
Will we still be able to control the future development of the region? "
Bolonik's face paled. He thought about it for a long time before he stammered, "What if we all reject His Majesty's fief?"
Claude shook his head with a cold smile. "That's impossible. Are you willing? Will your family be willing?
I believe that after a period of time, your parents and relatives will soon send you congratulatory letters, and they will also give you advice on how to choose a good family territory in the letter.
After all, Freia is the heart of Faslan. No matter how well the region develops, it's still a place of exile and colonies in the hearts of the people.
"Also, even if we reject His Majesty's fief, what about our generals?
We've destroyed Nasri and Canas and reclaimed the newly conquered territories. It's all thanks to our two corps.
His Majesty will definitely use this opportunity to reward them generously.
Believe it or not, our overseas autonomous military zone will soon have dozens more nobles.
Of course, there won't be many hereditary nobles, but there will be plenty of nobles of three generations and honorary nobles.
"Perhaps I'm just thinking too much. A large portion of the wealth we plundered from Nasri will soon fall into His Majesty's hands.
What should we do when our generals want to borrow money from us or ask us to pay the promotion fee for their loans from the Overseas Minsheng Bank to become hereditary nobles and get a fief from His Majesty?
Refuse their requests?
Then the morale of the region will fall apart. "
"Then, what should we do?" Bolonik started to panic when he heard that.
"Nothing!"
Claude said fiercely. Then, he sighed deeply. "To be honest, I don't have a clue either. I can't think of any good ideas. We can only wait and see how this develops. Perhaps we'll have to wait for the rewards to come out before we discuss it …"