"I don't know what happened, but one thing I'm sure of is that I, an old prisoner, still have value for you, right?" Philip stared at Rudolph with blazing eyes.

Rudolph shrugged, noncommittal.

The corners of Philip's lips turned up slightly, and he pulled himself over the chair and sat down, with a subtle arrogance in his tone.

"We're all smart people, you can't talk in circles, Rudolph, what the hell do you want me to do?"

Rudolph exchanged glances with his son, sat down across from Philip, and gave a brief introduction to the current situation in the Assanian Empire.

"The Imperial authorities were forced to propose peace talks to Fijin and Hailan in the colonies when the war for the Magic Crystal Mines was not going well, and the government and the opposition were very unhappy with this result, and the military was anxious to shake off the infamy of incompetence and tried to start a new war to deflect domestic pressure, and unfortunately, the warmongers felt that the Far East was suitable as a stepping stone for them."

"So you're scared?" Philip asked sharply.

Rudolph smiled indifferently, "I'm afraid that I can't do it, since the day I declared the independence of the Far East, I expected that sooner or later I would fight with the Imperial Crusade Army, and I have been actively preparing for war all these years, the Far Easterners will not bow to the invaders and give up their hard-won freedom, but then again, after all, war is a human tragedy that costs people and money, and lives are ruined, who wants to fight if they can live in peace and stability?" As the monarch of the kingdom of Koras, I must give priority to the will of the people over my own vanity, and since the people of the Far East desire peace, I can only do everything in my power to strive for peace, and I will not start a war until the last moment. ”

"Rudolph, you are still so eloquent, but no amount of beautiful words can save your throne, instead of wasting time with me, it is better to surrender to His Majesty Charles as soon as possible, lest the Far East fall into war and the people are displaced, this is the rational choice that a benevolent monarch should make." Philip smiled coldly, "If you refuse to do this, it will only prove that the beautiful words you just said are all lies, and you care more about your throne than the well-being of the people of the Far East." ”

"The invaders have invaded our homeland, oppressed our countrymen, and plundered our wealth, yet you have asked me to surrender and take them in hand? What a robber logic! Rudolph looked up to the sky and laughed.

"The Far Eastern Province was originally the territory under the rule of the Yashan Empire, and the imperial army's eastward crusade was to regain lost territory and quell the rebellion! You self-proclaimed thief is the real robber! Philip snapped the case, his face full of anger.

"Philip, my friend, you say this too unreasonable, if our rebellion against the tyranny of the Empire is a rebellion, a rebellion, then what is the nature of the uprising of the founding pioneers of the Assanian Empire who led the people against the Arcane Lords? According to your logic, doesn't that also become a shameful rebellion? Were not all the kings of the Assanian Empire the sons of thieves? What legitimacy does the imperial power of the Hansenberg family, which has lasted for more than 1,600 years, have to speak of! ”

Philip was stammered by Rudolph's series of harsh questions, his face flushed, and he sat back indignantly.

"No matter how much you use your tongue, you can't hide your cowardice, the empire's military strength is far stronger than your group of rebels, and it is not the sharp teeth that determine the fate of the Far East, but the victory or defeat on the battlefield!"

Rudolph spread his hands, "In the end, what you believe in is not 'might makes right'. ”

"The two of you are discouraged, in fact, it is still unknown whether the empire will crusade or not, and there is no shortage of anti-war voices in the holy city of Yashan." Roland interjects at the right time to stop Philip from escalating the argument with Rudolph and bring the conversation back on track.

Philip listened to Roland's account of the existence of at least three influential anti-war forces in the Imperial authorities, and the anger on his face gradually subsided, replaced by a contemplative brow.

"Your Excellency Philip, the current situation is complicated, the forces clamoring for the crusade by the Imperial authorities are none other than military radicals, the Holy See has not yet expressed its position, and the industrial and commercial financial groups in the Empire, the Muller cabinet and the reformers led by Prince Frank are all opposed to the war, in line with the principle of peace first, our Koras government is willing to join hands with all anti-war people in the imperial government and opposition to create a new type of relationship between the two countries in harmony, for this we need to ask a significant person to come forward to convey the above goodwill on our behalf, I think about it, No one is better suited to take on this responsibility than you. Roland pleaded earnestly.

Philip tugged at the corners of his mouth, revealing a hint of sneer.

"You father and son are really calculating, and you have imprisoned me in this dungeon for three years without seeing the light of day, and now you want me to come forward to pray for peace for you, it is too high to think of my belly!"

"Your Excellency Philip, with your identity and status, you don't need me, a little hairy child, to guide you to political wisdom, those who achieve great things are not informal, and your personal honor and disgrace are more important than the general trend of the world, you have a rod and scale in your heart, take a step back and say, are you willing to live in this small room for the rest of your life and die in obscurity? By taking this step, you will not only gain freedom, but you will also gain the friendship of the entire 'Far Eastern Court' and the opportunity to make a comeback, and you will have the opportunity to take charge again and implement the reforms that were not realized at the beginning. Roland smiled slightly, and his gentle voice echoed in Philip's ears like a whisper full of temptation from the devil, igniting the long-suppressed ambition in the old man's chest, "The three leaders of the Imperial Curia, in addition to the emperor and the crown prince, are really born in the people and represent the interests of the majority of the church is the universal patriarch, Patriarch Gregory is now very old, and has a deep grudge with Prince Frank, in the future, when the prince ascends the throne, most of them will kick away this old rival, and choose a cronie from among the cardinals to serve as the universal patriarch and implement the Reformation, You are the only bishop in the Empire's dioceses who openly supports the Reformation, and with the aura of a Reformed vanguard and Frank's appreciation, you have no chance of competing for the position above the ten thousand people under one man. ”

Philip's face twitched slightly, and he replied coldly: "Young man, you are talking in a dream, I can't even keep the Far Eastern Province, where can I be qualified to compete for the position of Ecumenical Patriarch." ”

"The Empire is not guilty of losing the Far East, even if you are held responsible, the first thing that should be held responsible is the Miller cabinet who implemented the tax hike policy in the Far East, and secondly, it is Krautz who is blamed for the violent suppression of popular protests, it is precisely you who openly supported the tax resistance movement of the people in the Far East, carried out the Reformation, tried to save the building from the top, and fulfilled your duty, and it was also luck that you did not do your part, which we in the Kolas government have openly acknowledged, and who in the imperial government and the opposition can blame you for your fault."

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