Strategic-level deception requires careful design and precise execution, both of which are indispensable. But on top of both, strict secrecy is the most important thing. Feige planned everything and hid it all in his head. He laughed, cried, angry, and helpless on the floating continent, vented all his feelings, and then returned to the Yongli continent.

The Knights of Hell have begun their autumn offensive, and they have reclaimed control of the castles of the three minor lords, as well as the surrounding area, without suffering casualties. Thanks to Kazmuk's hard work, the members of the Hell Knights have been equipped with defensive talismans, and they are nearly invincible against enemy swords and crossbows, which has become a guarantee for their attack. Feige has said before that armor and protection are the ultimate offensive weapons, especially in this age of cold weapons.

With the advantage of weapons and tactics, victory is simple, but after victory things are not so simple. After returning to the palace, Feige first asked Xia Ni to accompany him around the garden, and at the same time convened a royal council to deal with important government affairs. His silence and seriousness made Xia Ni feel that something was not right, and his body language seemed to be closed off, and there was no emotion to be seen. As a result, Xia Ni uncharacteristically asked to also participate in the Imperial Council.

The corners of Feiqi's eyes twitched slightly, nodded in agreement, and didn't say anything more.

"You used to say: you don't like that dull and boring political atmosphere. ”

"It doesn't have to be boring," Feige argued, "and I don't have to." ”

His Majesty the Emperor and Empress reappeared hand in hand, making the Imperial Council much more enthusiastic. During Feige's absence, Xia Ni helped with many government affairs, but most of them were other matters that had nothing to do with military and finance. Ensuring the autumn harvest, stabilizing prices, and establishing a benevolent hall can also be done by the ministers themselves, and they give the problem to Xia Ni, more to make her feel involved. The real trouble needs to be Fige's back to really be solved.

"Your Majesty, the Knights of Hell are progressing very well, and the strategic teleportation circle ensures that their supplies are always very sufficient, so this autumn offensive will be completed sooner than previously expected. Chancellor of the Exchequer Goode handed a detailed report to Feige. "However, from the noble territories that have surrendered or been defeated, they have not received the expected benefits......

Feige had a cold face, and no one had ever seen him smile since he had returned from the Second World. "Mercers, can you explain what's going on? You're in charge of the previous intelligence gathering. ”

"Your Majesty, Lord Good, according to the latest information, many lords are transferring their assets to the Church, and then choosing to resist or surrender. While the Church is clearly not going to war with us, they are willing to shelter devout believers. Maxhers said, "I guess Lord Goode didn't notice that those lords were missing a few sons except for their possessions. These missing sons are now in the Holy Trinity Castle, training as probationary paladins or priests. ”

"Oh, so there can be that way. I have to admit that these old aristocrats surpassed me in some aspects of their ingenuity. "Let the Imperial Guard talk about the duplicity of doing so, arrest them, write letters to their children in the church, and come and ransom them." As long as they are all in order, and the amount calculated by Maxes is paid, they can be released. ”

"Isn't that kidnapping?"

Feige looked at Eddie and nodded. "Yes, that's kidnapping. In my knowledge, there are only two ways to avoid chaos after a transition. One is to completely eliminate one side and leave no future troubles at all. I had the ability to do so, but I didn't, and instead gave them a chance to surrender, and they should be grateful. The second is to make an agreement, and then both parties strictly abide by it and get a chance to live on their own credit. Do you remember what the letter of surrender to them says, Eddie?"

The letter of persuasion was drafted by Eddie, Staff Officer Tron, Feige revised, how could she not remember?Feiqi said with a serious expression: "All the personnel report, and hand over the equivalent of one-third of the value of the chattel, they can get compensation for the same area of arable land occupied by the castle, as well as housing and production tools...... Now it's simple, either I kidnap them, or I don't think they surrendered, which is better?"

Those who did not surrender, Feige gave the order to all be beheaded. So Eddie had to admit: "Kidnapping is better." ”

"Thank you for your understanding. Feiqi's statement was a bit weird, which caused Xia Ni to look sideways slightly.

"What if their son doesn't come back?" Maxhers wasn't going to let the question go.

"Give them a year. Feige said: "Then it will be treated as a war criminal." ”

"That's probably going to kill a lot of people. Maxers spread his hands to his side and said, "I'm not sorry for them, especially when their own families don't respect life, we don't need to be precious for them." It's just that killing them all after a year is just a vent of anger, and it will not bring much benefit to the empire, and it will also affect His Majesty's prestige among the people. ”

Eddie and Goode stole a glance at Messers, a rare hint of appreciation in their eyes.

"No, you're understanding in the wrong direction. Feige said: "It is a loss for something that should be over now to have to cause a mistake and increase the burden." So after a year, if you don't come to ransom them, killing them is a stop loss. As for what the people think of me?"

Feige glanced at Xia Ni, then turned his face and said with a gloomy expression: "Obviously, what do the people think of me being led by the church, and the church is still harboring duplicity, my reputation will be good? Otherwise, I don't mind letting the church all ascend to the kingdom of God. ”

Everyone looked at Feige with surprise, after all, such a blatant display of friction and conflict with the church had a great impact on them. Fei Qi pulled out the pit sword, his fingers stroking the sword, and when he "accidentally" touched the blade, a small wound and a drop of blood appeared. He backhanded the Pit Excalibur to the Iron Throne, right at his feet. The pit sword went straight to the handle, and the exposed hilt became a "pedal" for sitting.

"The church has been overrun by careerists, and the faith of the goddess has become a means for them to compete for power. Good fellows, now anyone who gives money can become a probationary priest and probationary paladin?Why, are they priests and paladins of gold?" Feige said: "In the Empire, my orders must be carried out, if you don't understand, you can ask questions, you can't learn, but if you try to play tricks on me, then I will ask for their hearts or eyes!" Eddie, how many teams are there on standby now, and how much can they control?"

Eddie was taken aback, and hurriedly replied: "After the students of the magic school joined the team, the number of new working groups is the same as that of all the working groups last year, so the area that can be controlled has doubled, and it can completely cover the territory recaptured by this autumn offensive. ”

"It's just the same number, and if there are so few graduates from the magic school, it will affect the progress of my plan too much. Fitch held his chin, and when everyone thought he would come up with a solution, he said, "It's okay, that's fine." The training of the working group needs to be strengthened, and the task of the next stage is heavy, so it is impossible to increase the number quickly. ”

"The next phase of the mission?" said Eddie, "and the team will have to complete the allocation of newly acquired land and register the population, mobilize supplies, and then start spring planting." As in the past......"

"The 'past' is only a year or two of experience, Eddie. "As you gain work experience, you should be more productive," Feige said. Will the workload of the land controlled last year be reduced in the next year? Don't turn the working group into a new lord, rotate and second, and improve efficiency. Also, next year is no longer an autumn offensive, but spring, and you get ready. ”

"Winter? There will be no spare teams next spring, and the new places will be unmanaged. ”

"Don't worry, you can just think differently. Feige said: "The place where this fight was fought was the Feinberg battlefield all year round, and it was already vast and sparsely populated. Add two Scarlet Meteors, and each village will have a lot of idle land, and what is lacking is people. It's still those working groups, but it's necessary to prepare more populations. I'll ship all the people I got from the winter offensive to you. Well, from the look in your eyes, I know you get it. That's right, this is also kidnapping. ”

"Your Majesty, I didn't mean that. Eddie said quickly.

"As long as it's the truth, what's not to say?" Feige shook his head, but he didn't laugh, so no one in the room could relax. "I will personally lead the winter offensive, the journey will be long, and the Hell Knights will have to defend the area that has just been recaptured, so I will only take the elite there. Goode, you have to prepare food and winter supplies in advance, and don't be reluctant to spend money. A new shipment of gold will arrive soon, and I'd prefer to see you take full control of the market. ”

Goode was stunned, he looked left and right, and everyone had doubts on their faces, so he could only ask: "Your Majesty, is there a new deposit for the Royal Magic Workshop?"

"No, the productivity of the Magic Workshop is now full, and I promise Thunder White not to train new slaves for the time being. What I'm going to give you is the income I get from other sources, you don't have to worry. Feiqi looked at Xia Ni and said, "These are all rewards for fighting evil, and they can be used with confidence." ”

As soon as Xia Ni heard this, she knew that Feige must be fighting in Hell again, but she didn't know which devil he had killed. Although killing the devil is not a bad thing, every devil lord is not simple, and the relationship behind them will always be linked to a certain Hell Layer Lord, and eventually to the King of Hell. She was worried that if Feige continued to kill like this, she would eventually provoke too strong enemies......

As if sensing Shani's concern, Feige said to Goode, "Remember, although there is income this time, it will not become the norm. The empire is mine, but the empire can't be a money-losing deal for me, right? I let the empire exist because the empire will provide me with the resources to build the magic tower I need! I have basically decided on the construction plan for the magic tower, and the construction will start next fall at the latest. At that time, I needed people and resources, and you had to be prepared. ”

Goode's heart ached when he heard the magic tower, and his chest was choked at the same time. He thumped his chest, his voice trembled slightly, and asked, "Your Majesty, is the cost of a magic tower still the same as before?"

"No, it's a lot cheaper than before, about four percent off. ”

Goode was about to breathe a sigh of relief when Feige's next sentence choked him again. "The first phase of the project, nine magic towers. ”

With Hell Healing and Infinite Zero Runes, Goode's vertigo was quickly cured, and Feige announced the dissolution of the meeting. Although he told Gude to pay attention to his body, not to panic, and not to feel that the ten magic towers were falling into the sky, but for a while, Gude couldn't get rid of this shadow, after all, it was a heavy burden.

Fege's meeting added a "burden" to everyone. Eddie's task force is to prepare for more residents, Goode is to collect supplies, and Maxes is to catch more duplicity. However, Xia Ni felt that the burden was the heaviest Feiqi. When the meeting was over, he walked out without saying a word, and before he even called Shani to accompany him, she felt that something was wrong and hurried after him, grabbing Feige's arm from behind.

"What's wrong with you? Are you deliberately avoiding me?"

"If I want to avoid you, I'll just teleport away, and I can still let you catch up?" Feiqi smiled slightly, but Xia Ni felt that the smiling face was a little fake. "I'm going to go to the dungeon, things don't suit you there, but I'm going to teleport directly to make you worry even more. I'm a little embarrassed, but I'm glad you've caught up. ”

"I want to see it!" said Shani, "I also want to know if you have taken a psychological test." ”

"Xia Ni ......" Fei Qi restrained his smile, but an unnatural twitch at the corner of his mouth was noticed by Xia Ni, which was the "evidence" that he was deliberately hiding his emotions. "I'm stronger, and that answer is useless. I've tried, I can get whatever I want, I can control my mind and what happens to me, including answering questions. I should have changed, but I'm certainly not a devil or an ordinary person...... Nor is it God. I'm not sure what such a change means, I'm only sure he's good for me to complete my plan to save the Forever Continent. ”

Xia Ni frowned, and all the snake's hair swayed slightly like aquatic plants, a sign of hesitation and doubt. She didn't know what to do, so she could only hold Feige's hand tightly, at least follow him all the way to where he was going:

"I'm with you, even if it's something I'm not suitable for. ”

Feiqi nodded, without saying a word, dragged Xia Ni over, and the two of them teleported directly.

Every time such a quick teleportation was not very comfortable for Shani. Her snake hair provides a global view and a great sense of observation, so the abrupt transition of the scene and the consequent spatial dizziness are all the more severe. Feige often uses hell to get her back quickly, or a drink from the Harvest Horn is not bad. But this time Feige held her with his right hand, and he didn't know what he had done, and Xia Ni was free from the discomfort in an instant.

"This is the dungeon under the palace, are there still people locked up in it?"

"I don't know. I've ordered the family to be released as promised, who are you going to arrest later?" Feige replied as he motioned for the guard to open the door. "It's better that no one is there because I don't want today's events to leak out. ”

"What are you going to do?"

"I'll ask Sam to find me a death row inmate, or someone who wants to sell his life. I'm going to experiment with a spell. ”

Xia Ni immediately grabbed Feiqi's arm with both hands, she pushed very hard, but Feiqi didn't feel any pain. His skin was as hard as cold stone.

"This spell can't be tested on a dead man, and there's no point in testing it on other living creatures. Feige said to Shani, "It's cruel and not for you to see." Are you still coming?"

"I said I would follow you, and I would follow you. Xia Ni sighed, and then said, "But I didn't say I wouldn't pinch you." ”