When the sun was shining in the west, the carriage stopped in front of the governor's mansion on Central Street, and a pretty woman came out of the carriage, her slender figure accentuated by the dark blue uniform of a senior officer. Seeing her, the Praetorian Guard officer on duty at the door stood up and saluted: "Salute to Your Highness!" ”

Zi Chuanning, who usually politely returns the salute to the guards, is frowning slightly at the moment, looking preoccupied. She just nodded and asked, "Is my uncle in there?" ”

"Your Highness" Li Qing Hongyi Qi happened to come out of it, and walked forward with a smile: "His Royal Highness the Chief Governor has just had dinner and is enjoying the shade in the courtyard." Your Highness, if you come to see me, you don't need to tell me, can I go in with you?" “

The last faint rays of the setting sun fell on the green ivy and grape trellises that hung from the garden courtyard, and the lampholders hung from the newly erected white pillars, and a few guards were lightly refueling the oil lamps. Because the governor's mansion was rebuilt, the newly built garden was far from the original scale, but it was dotted with some precious flowers and a few rockeries, and a small pond was arranged. Under the ivy-covered pavilion in front of the pond, a thin old man was sitting peacefully looking at the red burning clouds in the western sky, and the sunset reflected on him, his back seemed so lonely and lonely.

Li Qing stopped, smiled at Zi Chuanning, and whispered, "Your Highness, will you go by yourself?" I won't send it. ”

Zi Chuanning smiled and nodded, and Li Qing turned to leave. Towards Zichuan Shenxing's back, Zichuan Ning walked over lightly, and before she could walk behind her, the chief suddenly spoke: "It's A-Ning, right?" ”

Zi Chuanning was slightly startled and said with a smile: "Uncle, I wanted to scare you." I'm so light-footed, how do you know I'm coming? ”

Zichuan Samxing laughed softly. He turned his head, the red glow shone on his face full of vicissitudes of life, and his tone was a little gloomy: "A-Ning, when you reach my age, many things can be discovered without relying on your eyes and ears. ”

There is too much emotion in Zichuan Shenxing's tone, and the infinite vicissitudes are all in it. Zichuan walked over quietly, standing side by side with her most trusted loved one in the world, looking at the sparkling lake under the sunset.

The young girl in the flower season and the old man in the twilight stand side by side by the pond in the sunset, and the flowing black hair and the vicissitudes of white hair are blown in the evening breeze. It was a beautiful scene, like a moving famous painting.

Zi Chuanning asked softly, "Uncle, are you looking for me?" In such a hurry? ”

"It's not just you. I also informed Luo Minghai, Ge Shan, and Di Lin that all the commanders in the imperial capital will come, and you will be the first to arrive. Zichuan Shenxing sighed: "Sterling has returned, and he has important information to report to us." ”

"Debriefing? About what? ”

Looking at the sparkling water, the old man said lightly: "It is estimated that it has something to do with the 201 Post News."

Zichuan nodded silently. She knew about the expedited post, and she was probably the first to know. The urgent post that arrived at the Military Affairs Office two weeks ago caused a shock no less than an eight-magnitude earthquake, which shocked the Military Affairs Department, shook the Command Office, and even more disturbed his heart. The post newspaper has only two short lines:

"Special Urgency: The Far Eastern troops stationed in Vahnstad mutinied, and Shikawa Xiu was elected emperor by the demons!"

At that time, the despair of the heavens and the earth falling apart enveloped the entire governor's mansion. Upon hearing the news, Commander Goshan's first reaction was, "Oops, we have to move to Danya again!" ”

The post newspaper came too simply. With only two lines, everyone can't get a glimpse of more details, and can only imagine the truth out of thin air, and the most worrying thing is the safety of the family expeditionary force that hangs overseas alone. This team, which gathers all the strong soldiers of the family, is the last guarantee for the safety of the family. Zichuan Xiu actually joined forces with the demons. What happened to the expeditionary force? The lone army went behind enemy lines for thousands of miles, and was suddenly betrayed by the Allied forces, and there are countless examples of such battles in history, and the most common outcome is the total annihilation of the army. Could it be that the family is going to experience a fiasco in seven or eight years, and the 150,000 strong soldiers are not allowed to return to the pass?

That night. The lights in the Governor's Mansion were kept on all night. The commanders prepared for the worst, once the main force of the expeditionary force was annihilated, Zichuan Xiu and the family turned against each other, what did the family use to resist the coalition forces from the Far East and the Demon Kingdom? As the temporary military chief, Zichuan Ning was under heavy pressure. She searched the map for reservists and capable soldiers who had been demobilized just a few months earlier, including the Boy Scouts and the garrisons of the most remote counties.

In those days, because of anxiety and worry, and because of the pain of Zichuan Xiu's rebellion, she lost a lot of weight, her eyes were black, and her figure stood - in the end, Zichuan Shenxing couldn't stand it anymore, he ordered Qin Lu to take over her work, and drove her back home from the military affairs office.

Fortunately, in the past few days, further news has gradually arrived from the Far East. The situation is not as bad as everyone expected. Shikawa Xiu ascended the throne as emperor, but he did not turn his face in the Yu family, and Sterling rushed back to Vahnstad alone on the way to withdraw the army, and also had a long talk with Zichuan Xiu. The outcome of the conversation is unknown to the imperial capital, but now, Stirling has left his army in Dak, and 100,000 people are rushing back, and it should be necessary to report the details to the chief and the command.

After a while. Luo Minghai, Ge Shan, Pigu, Di Lin and several others came after taking the lead. The servants of the Governor's Mansion brought chairs to the commanders, and everyone sat in a group around Zichuan Shenxing in the garden, talking in a whisper, guessing what kind of report Sterling was going to bring to everyone.

When it was dark, the sound of horses' hooves and loud passwords sounded at the door. A guard came into the garden and shouted loudly: "General Stirling, Chief of Military Affairs, Commander of the Southeastern Army, Commander of the Expeditionary Force, and member of the Commanding Office, asks to see His Highness the Commander-in-Chief!" ”

Zichuan Shenxing raised his eyebrows, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "It's really busy for one person to do so many things!" How many guards did Sterling bring over? ”

"His Royal Highness the Chief Minister, the commander only brought one groom, and there is no one else."

"Hmm." Zichuan Shenxing smiled and showed a satisfied look: "Please let him in." ”

Luo Minghai and Goshan glanced at each other quickly, exchanged glances in tacit understanding, and quickly turned their heads again. They are all old people who have followed the chief for many years, and they know the chief too well. The problem with Zichuan Shenxing is that the suspicion is too heavy. Stirling was the most loyal and reliable of his men, but he was in charge of the army, and now the commander suspected that he had become arrogant and domineering over time. Fortunately, Sterling is still as modest and low-key as ever, otherwise it would be really difficult for this monarch and courtiers to get along with each other.

In the darkness of the night, led by the guards, a tall soldier appeared on the path of the garden. He was dressed in simple civilian military clothes, with a wide cavalry cloak, and his clothes were dusty. As a result of the journey, he looked very haggard and weather-drenched. The blazing sun of the Demon Kingdom tanned his skin black and thick, and his eyes were red.

Seeing the Commander and the Commanders, Sterling was visibly stunned, as if he had not expected the Commander to meet him in the garden. He slowly stood up and saluted, with a slight tremor in his voice: "Your Highness, Weichen is back to restore his life!" I'm sorry, Wechen is incompetent. Didn't get the job done. He bowed his head heavily.

The chief slowly got up from his chair and applauded slowly. "Pap, papa, pap", all the commanders followed and stood up and greeted and paid tribute to the general who had returned from the expedition with applause. Sterling hurriedly saluted all sides, and said in his mouth: "Don't dare to be, don't dare to be!" ”

"Sterling, sit down. In the past six months, you have worked hard. The sun of the demons is very poisonous, and it looks like it's not like you're getting sunburned. Looking at Sterling, the chief sighed with emotion: "In short, we are relieved that you can come back." You also brought back the expeditionary force, which is not easy. Alas, we all misread him! Sterling, come over there, tell everyone what he's thinking? ”

Sterling shook his head, and the guards came over to help him untie the cavalry cloak, and he sat down on the chair, his expression was very calm: "Your Highness the Commander-in-Chief, my lords, I'm afraid there is still an inside story in this matter, and it is not good to make a sudden conclusion." Commander of the Far East... He also has a hard time! ”

Zichuan Shenxing raised his eyebrows slightly: "Bitter? He even became the emperor, and he still has a hard time? ”

"Your Highness, I have had a detailed discussion with him after the incident. He assured me that the ascension to the throne as emperor in the Demon Clan was only a means and an expedient measure to bind the various tribes of the Demon Clan. He has no hostility towards his family, he is still the family's Far East leader, and all the lands, including the Far East and the Demon Kingdom, are still the family's territory. As for himself, he is willing to become the clan of the east, defend the security of the eastern border for the family, and never change his loyalty to the family! ”

Zichuan Shenxing snorted, turned his head to look at the water on the pond, but did not speak.

Seeing that the chief was angry, the commanders didn't know what to say, and the scene was a little embarrassing for a while.

At this time, Zi Chuanning spoke up: "Sterling, according to you, what the Far Eastern Commander said...... Is it true? ”

Sterling said calmly: "Your Highness, Weichen thinks that the Far Eastern Commander is very sincere, and he has no hostility towards the family and no ambition. ”

Zi Chuanning lowered her long eyelashes, her gaze wandering. She didn't know how to ask any more, and looked pleading at the Commanders around her, but the Commanders looked away and could only respond to her with silence.

This is also the reason why Zichuan Shenxing is angry, a courtier has done such a rebellious thing as being the emperor, but he still has to claim that he is still a loyal courtier of the family, which is too ironic. What is even more infuriating is that the family government has no way to punish this traitor, but can only sit back and watch the fact that it acquiesces.

Zichuan Shenxing asked, "Sterling, have you been over there, how are the troops under his command?" Are you sure if you fight him? ”

The commanders exchanged glances in horror, could they still support a full-scale counterinsurgency war with the exhausted and crippled family contract responsibility system?

"Your Highness, under the command of the Far Eastern Commander, commands the entire orc army, with a total strength of about 200,000. But the Far East has a tradition of all the people being soldiers, and the Far Eastern commander is extremely popular among the people, and if something happens, he can easily recruit 500,000 strong orc soldiers. I've seen several half-orc teams with my own eyes, and they are the best armies in the world. Compared to the family army, their equipment and weapons are slightly inferior, but because of their high morale and fierce bravery, their combat power is not below us in the slightest.

There is also an elite special forces called the "Xiuzi Battalion" in the Far Eastern Army sequence, which is composed of human beings, and the number is about 15,000. In the Battle of Bataan, this unit had fought head-on with the Demon Clan's armored beast legion, and it did not fall behind at all.

Moreover, the Far Eastern Commander has ascended the throne as emperor in the Demon Clan. Once in a crisis, he also had the support of various demon tribes. Although the demon army has suffered a heavy blow from my family, according to what I have seen with my own eyes in this crusade, the demon still has a deep war potential. At the time of my departure, there were already nearly twenty demon armies that had been submissively subordinated to the Far Eastern Commander, and after he ascended the throne, there would be more demon armies and tribes that had returned to him......"

"Enough!" Zichuan Shenxing let out a low snort, with anger and helplessness in his voice.

Sterling immediately stopped narrating, followed by an awkward silence.

Needless to say, everyone knows that after conquering the Demon Kingdom, Zi Chuanxiu has already achieved his wings, and the family can't help him. The strength and weakness have changed, and if Zichuan Xiu really secretly colludes with Liufeng Shuang as the legend says, it will not be difficult for Zichuan Xiu to wave his troops west to defeat the imperial capital.

The night was dark, and lanterns were lit up in the attic of the garden of the governor's mansion, and the bright yellow light flickered in the night. The sound of frogs came from nowhere, and the noise of frogs came and went, but the silence here became more and more abrupt.

"Dillin, Goshan." Sam Xing took a heavy breath, but turned to the family's chief inspector and chief of staff: "For so many days, has the news of him becoming emperor gotten out?" Did the Ministry of Justice and the Ombudsman find anything? What are the people's discussions? ”

The two important ministers who were asked glanced at each other, and Goshan took the lead in replying: "Your Highness, Weichen is in charge of the imperial capital and the young policemen of the provinces. For the time being, the social mood is stable, prices are balanced, and the law and order situation is still good. The proclamation of the Far Eastern Commander as emperor did not have a great impact on the people. ”

Di Lin also spoke up: "Your Highness, the supervision offices and gendarmerie troops stationed in various places have sent reports to the ministers. The claim of the Far Eastern Commander to the Emperor has indeed become a hot topic lately, but it is only a discussion. The people don't think it's a big deal, because the Demon God Castle is too far away from us. The reason why this matter became the focus was only because of its novelty, a human became the emperor of the demon race, which is a strange thing that has not happened since ancient times, so they are curious.

The mood of the army has not been disturbed, there is no panic among the people, and the people's will and sentiment are very stable. Weichen believes that the family only calms down and ignores it, and the impact of this matter will soon disappear and cease to be a topic. ”

"Calm down?" Zichuan Shenxing repeated disappreciatively, but did not speak. The implication of Dilin's words is obvious: it is better not to do anything, and the matter will pass naturally. The more noisy it is, the more embarrassed the family becomes!

He looked at the head of the Command Office: "Luo Minghai, you are responsible for negotiating with various countries. Now that Liufeng and the Lin family have expressed their position? ”

At today's meeting, Luo Minghai didn't speak, and when he heard the chief question, he replied in a dull voice: "Neither the Lin family nor the Liufeng family have expressed their position on this matter. ”

Zichuan Shenxing pursed his lips tightly, his eyes blinked, his eyes flickered, and no one knew what he was thinking.

"Your Highness, Weichen has something to say, please ask Your Highness for permission."

Zichuan Shenxing looked at the person who spoke: "It's Di Lin!" What do you want to say? ”

"Your Highness, the situation is already obvious, the independence of the Far Eastern Ruler has become a fact, and the family must have an attitude towards this."

"You're right." Zichuan Shenxing nodded in agreement: "In your opinion, how should we deal with it?" ”

"Don't dare to be. This is a military policy, how to decide what should be judged by His Royal Highness, Weichen does not dare to say more. But please allow Your Highness to let Wei Chen analyze the current affairs. ”

"Say it."

"According to Weichen's opinion, what the Far Eastern Commander said, he called the emperor just out of helplessness, and this matter should be true."

Everyone looked at them suspiciously, and Luo Minghai said coldly: "How can you see it?" ”

"Your Highness, my lords, if the Far Eastern Commander had really had a counter-intent and a premeditated plan, he would not have ascended the throne like that. The time is not right, the place is not right, and the timing is not right. ”

Di Lin said three things in one breath, and then explained: "Ladies and gentlemen, the battle report sent back by the expeditionary force at that time, Wei Chen has paid attention to it. The family and the Far East alliance army besieged the Demon God Castle, and then a large number of beasts in the east of the Demon Kingdom suddenly invaded, defeated many servant armies under the command of the Far East Commander, and threatened Vaensta-Steling, was this the case at that time? ”

Sterling nodded: "Your Excellency Inspector General has a good memory. ”

Sterling and Dilling had a good relationship in private, but in such formal settings, the two had a tacit understanding that they only addressed each other as official officials, and put on a posture of only official dealings—even though they both knew that such a trick could not fool anyone present.

Di Lin nodded and continued: "Then the Far Eastern Commander suddenly became emperor. Your Highness, ladies and gentlemen, don't you think this is too abrupt? The army was already demoralized when it stormed the city, and coupled with the sudden attack of the barbarian orcs, the army was in danger and was about to withdraw - in danger, demoralized, and disheartened, no conspirator with a normal IQ would rebel at this time. Therefore, Weichen dared to believe that the Far Eastern Commander's claim to be emperor was purely an emergency forced by the situation, and there was no premeditation in advance. ”

"So?"

"Since the proclamation of the emperor is an unexpected event and not premeditated, then the Far Eastern Commander should be able to believe that he has neither antipathy nor hostility towards his family. Since he still admits that he is a vassal of the family, then in the opinion of Wei Chen," Di Lin looked at everyone calmly, as if seeking support: "If the family is not suitable to break with it, it is better to be Huairou." ”

Luo Minghai snorted: "I heard that His Excellency the Inspector General and the Far Eastern Commander have a lifelong friendship!" The traitor has torn the earth and proclaimed himself emperor, but the chief inspector advises us to treat him well! When he spoke, he didn't look at Di Lin, but just at Zichuan Shenxing.

Di Lin didn't look at Luo Minghai either, and also said to Zichuan Shenxing: "Your Highness Mingjian, Weichen and the Far East Commander do have a personal relationship, but this has nothing to do with Weichen's proposal, Weichen is completely thinking about the family. Your Highness, please think about it, with the strength of my family, I may not be able to defeat the Far Eastern Commander, but what is the result of this? The family and the Far East are fighting, and both families are greatly injured, and the happiest are the Liufeng family and the Lin family - Wei Chen remembers that His Excellency the President has just returned from Danya, right? I heard that Lin Yan is a very generous person...... Hehe, it's no wonder that the president led His Excellency to help him. ”

Luo Minghai got up suddenly and said angrily: "Di Lin, what do you mean by this!" ”

Di Lin rolled his eyelids and sneered: "Being said to be weak-hearted, someone is annoyed and angry? Or, to cover up the weakness of the heart by being angry and ashamed? ”

"Bastard! Di Lin, you are dying, and you dare to be arrogant......"

"Enough!" Zichuan Shenxing shouted angrily: "What are you two like?!" You are high-ranking officials of the family, not street hooligans! Do you really think that my old man is dying and can't control you? ”

Seeing that the Inspector General was furious, the Inspector General and the President reluctantly got up and bowed to the Governor to apologize - anyway, it was not the first time for them to make such a fuss in front of the Chief, and it would never be the last, they were used to it.

Under the suppression of the two important ministers, Zichuan Shenxing looked majestic: "Di Lin, do you mean that the family ignores Zichuan Xiu?" ”

"Your Highness is wise, it would be better if we could pretend that this didn't happen at all!" Di Lin glanced at Luo Minghai suspiciously, and the latter had an expressionless face: "Your Highness, my lords, behind closed doors, say something ugly: Far East was lost to the Demon Clan back then, and it was Zi Chuanxiu who took it back by himself, and now even if Far East loses it, the family has nothing to lose." And the land of the demon clan has nothing to do with our family, so Zichuan Xiu took it, it's none of our business, in fact, we didn't suffer any losses! ”

The crowd did not speak, but pondered in their hearts. Well, the Inspector General seems to have a point. According to him, Zichuan Xiu's claim to be the emperor's independence does not seem to have caused much damage to the family, and it is not very serious......

Zichuan Shenxing was silent for a long time, and then, he shook his head: "Anyway, Zichuan Xiu is the leader of the family after all, and now, he is the emperor in the Demon Kingdom, and the family doesn't ask or ignore it, it's too much to say." Luo Minghai! ”

"In!"

"In the name of the family, if you send him a letter, just say that the family congratulates Zichuan Xiu - don't you say that you congratulate His Highness Lin He on successfully pacifying the Demon Kingdom, the family will continue to maintain friendship and friendship with him, and the two sides are willing to strengthen economic, trade and political cooperation and other aspects of cooperation - this is such a congratulatory letter, do you understand how to write it?"

Luo Minghai was stunned for a moment, and then replied: "Obey, Your Highness." ”

Zichuan Sanxing looked at the chief of staff: "Goshan, the rebuilding of the Valen Fortress must be carried out immediately. You make a plan as soon as possible. ”

"Yes. However, to rebuild the Valen Fortress, the project will be very costly, and I am afraid we will not be able to support it. ”

"No matter how expensive it is, you have to do it!" Zichuan Shenxing said coldly: "The fortress is related to the safety of the family, this must be the first priority!" ”

Then, he said to Sterling: "I remember that when I was fighting the demons, Zichuan Xiu led the troops into the interior, and he didn't take the route of Valen Canyon? It seems that he suddenly crossed the Gucci Mountains with his troops, and first appeared in the province of Bit? ”