Chapter 230 The Alliance
Chapter 230 Alliance
After Paul and Myron returned to the territory, they described their experience in the Larnaca Territory to the higher-ups of the Council of State and the army.
The Parker family was actually secretly forming an alliance against Count Kent? The people were surprised by this news.
“So, what do you guys think we should do in response? Is it to participate in this secret alliance? Or to inform on Earl Kent? Or should we not help either side and adhere to neutrality? We still have a chance to make a choice before the two sides start fighting.”
Paul asked the crowd. He wouldn’t fall to the secret alliance in a fit of pique just because there was a suspicion between him and the Kent family, what if he stood on the wrong side and lost the fight?
The sound of hammering the table with his fist rang out.
“Of course it’s to participate in this alliance and beat up the Kent family’s assholes, have you forgotten how they treated us last year? I’m all pissed off right now just thinking about it.”
The speaker was Bryce, who hammered his fist on the table repeatedly, voicing his opinion.
“In the past, we were very weak and struggled against the Kents, and we had to act as if nothing had happened to their rude behavior. But now that there are so many lords opposing him, why don’t we seize this opportunity to get back at them for the humiliation they imposed on us?”
“Blaise! Mind your manners in front of the Lord Earl.”
Schroeder reached out to stop the 1st Battalion Commander’s impulsive speech.
“Maltz Kent is now the heir to the Duke, if that letter is true then the Lord Duke is already under his control, he can order the other vassals of the Ferdinand family through the Duke Ferdinand, and we’re not dealing with just the Kent family.”
Bryce was unconvinced, “As soon as that letter is made public, who else will support him?”
Schroeder shook his head, “It’s just a letter, it’s not very convincing, even I myself doubt the authenticity of this letter, it’s very likely that Earl Parker has long wanted to fight over the Kent family, and Viscount Henry was disgruntled because he didn’t become the duke’s heir, so the two of them clicked together, and forged this letter, the reason why they wrote it scribblingly is to avoid because of the imitation of the words that don’t look alike. words reveal the truth.”
“Well …… it’s possible.”
Bryce was speechless.
“Which side do the two Lord Earls want to take in their hearts?”
Chief Steward Ford asked out loud while stroking his beard? He had just been closing his eyes and listening to the crowd’s discussion.
“Both Myron and I are inclined to participate in the alliance against the Kent family, if …… if the forces gathered by Earl Parker are sizable enough.”
Chief Steward Ford nodded, “Morally speaking, the Kent family has always acted with impunity in the Northwest Bay, and we have all been bullied, so eradicating or weakening the Kent family is surely something the crowd would like to see. And there’s also the matter of holding the Duke hostage and premeditated betrayal of the Kingdom – ah, it doesn’t matter if it’s true or not, it’s two hundred percent true when everyone needs it to be true – either of which is a major offense, and ……”
Chief Steward Ford paused and said slowly, “According to the letter, the Earl of Kent is also suspected of practicing witchcraft ……”
Paul noticed a slight tremor in the body of Laddie, the female counselor in charge of writing the minutes of the meeting.
Chief Steward Ford continued, “In terms of realistic interests, the existence of the Kent family is a threat to us. They are powerful and exert a great deal of pressure on us militarily, and they did threaten us last year, nearly coming to blows. Not only that, among the surrounding territories, the Kent family has the highest tax on our goods, which is almost equivalent to robbery, and this family controls several important transportation hubs.”
“So …… I suggest you take advantage of this opportunity.” The old chief steward’s words made Paul even more inclined to join the alliance against the Kent family.
The others also expressed their agreement with Chief Steward Ford’s words. Especially Hansel, he was very sensitive to the suspicion that Earl Kent was planning to start a rebellion, the kingdom government was concentrating on the rebels in the south, he had just received news from the royal capital that the counter-insurgency army was about to head south, another rebel army popping up in the big rear at this time was greatly not good.
“Now that we’ve set the general direction, it’s time to start making preparations. Revise and activate the various plans from last year’s response to the Kent family’s threat, strengthen our armaments, and shift the center of production to the military side.”
The meeting made the above resolution.
……
After Paul and the others left, Earl Parker continued to contact nobles around the country. The lords exchanged letters and exchanged views on the Kent family with each other. Gradually, an anti-Kent family faction began to form among the northwestern lords.
A month after the last invitation to Paul and Myron, Earl Parker felt it was almost time. After many tests and screenings, he identified some firm faction members, and as long as he led the way, 100% of them would join in his alliance.
It was time to bring everyone together to discuss specific matters.
Lakeheart once again received an invitation from the territory next door.
Paul and Myron also departed again and arrived at the Earl of Parker’s castle on the appointed date.
Upon entering the hall, Paul was startled, there were already quite a number of people gathered here, all of them were the prestigious lords of the Northwest Bay.
If you scrutinize them carefully, you will find that most of the lords are direct bannermen of the royal family or their vassals, and there are only a few from Duke Ferdinand’s line.
“Gentlemen! Let’s get down to business.”
After everyone had arrived, Earl Parker called the meeting to order.
“The most important reason why everyone is gathered here today is – to pursue the matter of Maltz Kent holding Duke Ferdinand hostage and premeditating to betray the kingdom. As His Majesty’s subjects, we absolutely cannot sit idly by and do nothing about this kind of thing, and we must put out the fire year before he starts a rebellion. Now that the rebellion in the south has not yet settled, it is the time for us to do our duty for His Majesty, and we must ensure the stability of the kingdom’s great rear.”
A resounding response rang out in the hall, and a scant few others stepped forward to show some loyalty to the crown.
Earl Parker continued in a loud voice, “Of course, there is a secondary reason to unite against the oppression of the Kent family. I’m sure everyone is aware of Maltz Kent’s spotty behavior, and most of us have even suffered from his brutality. He was so excessive when he was an earl, and he will surely get worse when he really gets the dukedom.”
Paul secretly thought, “That’s the main reason why everyone is here, isn’t it?”
Sure enough, as soon as the old earl’s words were finished, the hall immediately erupted in flames, and one by one, the lords who had problems with the Kent family stood out to complain bitterly about Maltz Kent’s bad behavior, and the meeting began to change in the direction of a complaint meeting.
(End of chapter)