Chapter 186 185 The essence of politics is in gaming, commonly known as jumping left and right sideways

Chapter 186 185.The essence of politics is in gaming, commonly known as jumping sideways left and right

Marshal Loren got a promotion, not just a rank, but a knighthood.

The title of Baron Frederic, which he had inherited from his mother, was promoted to the rank of Count by King Louis, but there was no fief.

It’s not that the king is not generous enough, it’s just that Marshal Loren is half Dwarf, and while the king trusts the marshal’s loyalty quite a bit, giving a half-blood a fief could easily cause some unwanted ripples in the next generation.

What’s more, the Silver Dwarves already had their own large ancestral land within the Kingdom of Sealand.

Although Marshal Loren hated his irresponsible Dwarf father, as the grandson of the Supreme Archduke of the Silver Dwarves, his “hereditary lands” in the mountains near Silverburg were much richer than those of an ordinary human earldom.

Moreover, once he is married to the granddaughter of the current Supreme Lord of the Silver Dwarves, who is also his cousin, Her Royal Highness Livrosa Silverheart, he will own eleven peaks from Bourbonnais to Anjou as his territory.

Its area was already comparable to the entire Transylvania, which would have been a duchy in size if it was placed more than a hundred years ago.

Therefore the marshal didn’t need these out-of-body things at all.

It’s just that this marriage is…
How can I put it, it’s not so good.

Though his cousin was only three years younger than him, having been 68 this year, Miss Livjosa was clearly still in her pre-teen years, given the long lifespan of dwarves.

Marshal Loren just couldn’t bring himself to do it.
He grew up in a human society, and although he also received a traditional education from the dwarves, certain human morals constrained him to resist this marriage that he actually didn’t hate.

Another reason is that although Marshal Loren accepted his own bloodline, and relied on his own glorious resume in the Silver Dwarf community from the deviation of the “sinful” as the pride of the community, but he and his grandfather as the supreme lord of the Silver Castle of the relationship is not good.

In his youth, the Marshal always felt that his grandfather was responsible for his mother’s tragic end, and that it was his exile of his father, who had no responsibility, that caused his poor mother to pass away in a state of sincere longing.

As he grows older, especially after following King Louis to fight in the wars of the North and the high position, the Marshal also gradually understand his grandfather’s pain.

He knew that many of the decisions of those in power were not made by the will of the individual.

But the dwarves are a stinky and hard stubborn temper, want to let him really bow down is not so easy. And just as the marshal was upset, this bad mood seemed to have crossed time and space and passed on to another kind of unlucky person who was trying to climb up the ladder.

“What?”

In the office of the Blood Vulture’s Cloister, Murphy, who was planning with Maxim on how to kick off a purge of the many jackal bandits on the Transylvanian land, tilted his head and stared in shock at the Scarlet Consul in front of him, who had personally run to report the news.

He said to the panting Miriam:
“Say again, who wants to talk to me remotely?”

“Marshal Loren ‘Steelheart’ Frederick, commander of the Pathfinder Legion, commander of the Eastern Front Battlefield in the Kingdom of the Golden Sparrow, the last time we heard from him, he was still a general.”

Miriam was also confused.

But understanding the importance of this matter, she said in a serious tone:
“Major Fraser of the Pathfinder Fortress just sent an expedited message to the communication band of my Operational Treasure Pearl, and he explained this matter, that that Marshal Loren wants to speak with the lords of the Transylvania region.

It’s said to be about discussing the defense against the Black Plague, as well as sending a portion of the Canary Flower Kingdom’s soldiers into the southern part of Transylvania to assist in the formation of a defense line.”

“Is that the half-dwarf butcher who ordered the destruction of Cadman City?”

Maxim asked with a strong emotion:

“Did that bastard come here specifically to provoke?”

“That was an act of war! While I too reserve myself on this matter, I must emphasize, both of you, that the nature of this matter is serious, and it is directly related to the authority and rule of His Lordship.”

Pulling out her chair to sit at the map-covered table, Miriam explained to her lord and fellow lords:

“Before I came here, I talked at length with Professor Malcolm, and the professor believes that it is not enough for Lord Murphy to simply receive the title of ‘Governor’ appointed by the Queen of the Kingdom of Nordtorf! Given the current circumstances we find ourselves in, the Governor of Transylvania must then be recognized by the Kingdom of Goldfinch, so that Transylvania can be established as neutral between the two countries.

And two governorships would be enough to give Lord Murphy an undisputed strong claim in Transylvania! No one will be able to legally refute Lord Murphy’s right to rule this land.

This is very important for the future development of our territory.

Only with a sufficiently reasonable dominion and claim will your subsequent decrees and laws be able to stand and be obeyed by the inhabitants of the other two countries, and to put it more seriously, this may be a matter of ‘national character’.”

Miriam said a great deal, and took a sip from her glass of water, before speaking to Murphy in a tactful tone:
“So our suggestion is that even though the other party has demolished your old home, we still hope that Lord Lord will restrain his inner anger and emotions and complete the remote meeting with Marshal Loren tomorrow. The other party’s psychic master will be responsible for setting up a special psychic communication culvert, and our psychic master only needs to cooperate in casting the spell.”

Miriam herself felt that Murphy definitely had emotions about Marshal Loren, after all, it was by the other party that Cadman City was ordered to be destroyed.

But in reality, Murphy had no special feelings for the city that had not welcomed him.

As for the destruction of Cadman City, although it was humanitarian to offer condolences, and Murphy also had feelings for those innocent dead, but when it came to his attitude towards Marshal Loren it was not just hatred, but even a little bit of guilt .
After all, the arithmetic pearls he snatched in the smuggler’s woodland are the marshal’s “private property”.

Isn’t this the same as the Bitter Lord taking the initiative to talk to the robbers? Moreover, with the current importance of the arithmetic pearls in the Scarlet Fort system, Marshal Loren is basically Murphy’s “angel investor” after rounding up.

If this “spiritual energy phone” is connected, the other party comes up and asks where his treasure pearl is, how embarrassing it is.

However, I think that with the status of Marshal Loren, should not be in the formal “diplomatic occasions” to talk about this kind of thing to make him lose face, right?

Murphy’s mind turned sharply, he coughed a few times and said:
“I don’t have a problem, it’s just about the conversation itself, it shouldn’t be that easy to get the Goldenrod Kingdom to commit to the existence of the Governor’s District, the Goldenrod Kingdom is not Nordtorf. The ongoing reforms in that country make it like a hungry wolf, it has enough ambition and appetite to eat Transylvania.

If it weren’t for the impending Black Plague, I don’t think the peace between these two sides might even last a few years.

So, do you and your lieutenants have any advice for me on a political level?”

“Yes!”

Miriam took out a manuscript and handed it to Murphy as she explained:

“This is the advice that Professor Malcolm has put together, along with his understanding and description of the Kingdom of the Golden Sparrow on all levels, and he feels that it will give you a clearer picture of that country and its institutions.

As for your strategy during tomorrow’s conversation, the professor advises you not to get bogged down in the details.

Marshal Loren is a man of heavy military style, and he will probably prefer a straight forward exchange of words, even if they are verbal.

According to the information given by Major Fraser, Marshal Loren has been appointed by King Louis as the commander-in-chief of the Kingdom’s Eastern Front in response to the Black Plague, so on a power level, he is well qualified to determine whether you can be appointed Governor of Transylvania and to provide King Louis with a political level of advice.

And according to some of the gossip circulating in the Golden Sparrow Kingdom, Marshal Loren is King Louis’ closest military member, so his attitude can basically be equated to King Louis’ attitude in this matter as well.”

Maxim didn’t hear the deeper meaning in Miriam’s words, but Murphy did.

He raised an eyebrow and asked rhetorically with a stern face:

“So, the advice my scarlet consul gave me was to try to curry favor with that enemy marshal?”

“Uh-huh.” Miriam said with a serious nod:

“It’s the strategy available, and from what I’ve learned in my history classes with administrative subjects, it tends to be very effective.”

“It doesn’t work!”

Loyal Maxim immediately vetoed:

“How can a lord curry favor with his enemies? This will definitely cause unnecessary ripples if the lords know about it, and our people currently hate the Kingdom of Canary Blossom and especially the Pioneer Legion with a passion. Miriam!

You should consider the attitude of our own people when making suggestions instead of always seeing yourself as someone outside of this land.

This is also your homeland!”

“Ugh, just don’t let them know, no?”

Miriam sighed:

“As bad as this sounds, covering up is part of the essence of politics. Lords and lords are meant to lead the people, not be held hostage by their opinions, and Mark, you actually know that having a good relationship with the Kingdom of Goldfinch at this stage wouldn’t do any harm to Transylvania, right?”

Maxim was stone-faced and silent, but that silence itself was a clear enough answer.

“I won’t curry favor with him!”

Murphy shook his head:
“Not to mention the truth of this matter in my heart, let’s just say that in my other capacity, as a person who has already been recognized by Her Majesty the Wolf Woman of the Kingdom of Nordtorf and granted the position of Acting Governor, if I were to bow down to the Border Marshal of the Kingdom of the Golden Cockatrice on such an occasion, it would mean that the support of the Yankees, which I had managed to secure with great difficulty, would also fall flat on its face.

I must complete the conversation with Marshal Loren on an equal footing, but this is actually an opportunity!”

Murphy narrowed his eyes and said to Miriam who was listening attentively:
“The Wolf Woman’s Certificate of Appointment is already in my hand, and the King’s stamp on it belonging to the Winter Palace is the ‘weapon’ I can use; Marshal Loren and his King Louie could care less about the attitudes of the Transylvanian townsfolk, but they can’t ignore the majesty of the Castle of the North Winds.

Miriam, you are right, this is a matter of statehood.

But not our statehood.
Believe me, if you reveal this letter of appointment to that schoolmaster of yours right now, I’m sure that Dwarf Marshal won’t be too put out by the time tomorrow rolls around!”

“Right!”

Maxim immediately cheered up.

He clapped his fists and said:
“Master Murphy can totally use his power to fight, like finding the delicate balance in a swordfight, and use the wolf girl’s kingship to suppress that damn marshal.”

“And the Kingdom of Goldfinch needs us!”

Miriam’s eyes lit up as she mused:

“Just as the Northmen of the Nordtorf Kingdom need us on the front lines of the Black Plague to die in place of their soldiers, the nobles of the Goldfinch Kingdom won’t be willing to send their children to the front lines of danger.

So, if the most optimistic scenario occurs, that marshal will even take the initiative to pull in and pacify us!

Ah, who would have thought that the dreadful Black Plague could actually become Transylvania’s talisman in this difficult time?”

“Ch, you young people, if you had read more of the chronicles of the Portia Confederacy, you wouldn’t have come to this realization only at this point in time.”

Tris’s voice rang out from the doorway.

The Blood Vulture Archduke who had just finished touching fish and happily finished a bottle of fine Ice Fire Wine, and was stepping out to kill time and walk around the corner, was very indecently leaning against the door of Murphy’s office.

She played with the ends of her mischievous hair as she spoke:

“From the moment the first city of the Porcia Confederacy was established, using the threat of the Black Plague and the Jackals to extract benefits from the Nords, Silans, and Caitans has been the foundation of this country!
Murphy’s previous report to the Wolf Woman had a very good saying that war itself was the most profitable business, and over the past few hundred years, the human nobles of the Portia Confederacy had carried this out to the extreme.

Every Black Calamity would cause the Portia Confederation to lose a lot of money, but after every Black Calamity, this country’s strength would see a wave of explosive growth! It was said that relying on the mountain to eat the mountain and relying on the water to eat the water, if you wanted to live comfortably in this hellhole of Transylvania, you had to learn to utilize the threat of those vicious jackals.

They are indeed formidable foes, but that doesn’t stop the Portia Confederacy from using them as a way to make a living.

The unique location of this place is our biggest killer when it comes to asking for all kinds of aid from other powers.”

The Blood Vulture Archduke revealed a slightly disgusted but largely satisfied smile, stepped forward and stroked Miriam’s small head, and said in a warm voice:
“Murphy’s regard for you is justified, and you have relied on yourself to realize the code of survival for the administrators of this land, but this is only the beginning, Miriam. As a Scarlet Consul, you have much more to learn and figure out in this regard.”

Miriam’s impression of Lady Tris was extremely favorable.

She had always thought that if vampires were all like Lady Tris, then the possibility of peaceful coexistence between humans and vampires might exist.

But it wasn’t until today that she realized for the first time the cunning and knowledgeable soul that Madame Tris had hidden underneath the appearance of a wastrel king.

She realized that the ancient one who had lived in Transylvania for 400 years had watched the founding, rise, and destruction of the Portia Confederacy with her own eyes.

Her life story is in itself a rare treasure for governors.

Miriam also seemed to have truly figured out the reason why her lord, Lord Murphy, was so young yet so cunning and dark, probably because Ms. Tris had taught her well?
“May I invite you to be my political advisor? Ms. Tris.”

Miriam rose and said seriously:
“I and this land are in great need of your wisdom, ma’am.”

“Huh? You want to give me another job? Are you trying to wear me out?”

Tris said, rolling her eyes:
“Never mind! Taking care of a little family business is getting on my nerves, and it’s not like it’s a hard job, you just need to learn to jump sideways from side to side. The Yankees bring in Westlander power when they’re having a fit, and the Westlanders lean on the Yankees when they’re planning to raise the table.

It’s a shame that the Kingdom of Isha has been annexed by the Sealanders, otherwise that wily island nation that hangs offshore and has been playing the ‘balance of continents’ strategy would be your most loyal ally.

Your predecessors were dancing on three eggs, and when it’s your turn there are only two eggs left, which is enough to test your political wisdom and keen sense of smell.

You do need helpers and advisors, but not me.”

The Blood Vulture Archduke glanced at Little Murphy, who maintained his handsome smile and looked at her imploringly, and skimmed his lips as he said to Miriam:
“Little Murphy has said that vampires won’t be the rulers of this great land in the future, and we are just a member of the living beings nurtured by this land. So go to your compatriots and take wisdom, experience and lessons from them.

Now would you all excuse us for a moment?
I need to talk to Murphy about something.”

Miriam’s eyes immediately got nosy and she and Maxim exchanged a glance and withdrew obediently beyond the office, and after they had left, Tris moved her shoulders and shook her slender neck as she spoke to Murphy:
“Femis is coming back, she just sent a message and brought back a directive from His Holiness Pa Ying.”

“I don’t care for another woman right now .”

“Be serious! Those two little guys were listening outside the door. Well, now, they ran away.”

(End of chapter)