In the hall of the banquet, the two discussed the recent changes, and finally inevitably talked about the Irma people in the northern part of the empire.

"Old General Jeff, the recent movements of the Elma people are really not small. You say, will they blatantly raise the anti-flag? ”

Jeff Carian pondered for a moment, then he looked up and said slowly, "If the turmoil in the Savage Lands is really behind their scenes, then soon, within a few months at most, they will start a rebellion. ”

"The armies of the Savage Lands are to be used to suppress the rebellion, and it is impossible to support us." Durin Bart said helplessly. "And even without this rebellion, the support from across the ocean is very weak."

"Your Majesty, the most important thing is that the coastline of the Savage Lands is controlled by chaos. And the inability of the navy in the Wild Lands to dispatch is the most significant loss of the Empire. ”

"What's the explanation?"

"The Wastelands are in chaos, and in the event of a rebellion, the Irma can easily seize several important seaport cities in the Wastelands by using naval superiority, and in this way control the trade routes across the oceans in preparation for a protracted war."

Durin Bart held on to the dining table and sat down on the bronze chair next to the table, and he said, "This is a series of preparations, and the group of red-haired men are going to drag my army to death. ”

Then he looked up at Jeff Carion and asked, "Lord Duke, if the Empire loses its naval superiority, can this battle still be fought?" ”

"Your Majesty, do you still want to admit that the Irma people are independent?"

"Now the empire is in the most difficult period, if you succumb, let them become independent for the time being, and wait for the Salga empire to revitalize, and then it is not too late to take it back."

Jeff Carey soothed the beard on his face, and he shook his head slightly: "Your Majesty, you are still young, and there are some things that you can't think through. ”

Then, two cold glints flashed in the eyes of the fifty-year-old uncle: "Your Majesty must not agree to this matter, don't even think about it." ”

"Why? My ancestors were able to build an empire only when they were weak in an unfavorable situation. ”

"It's not the same." The old general pondered, organizing the language. "Your Majesty, do you think you can show weakness now? Do you dare to show weakness? If His Majesty were to show weakness to this blatant rebellion, it would be a major signal. The wolves will smell the blood, and the empire will enter the abyss of destruction. ”

Durin Bart's face changed slightly.

After the old general Jeff Carian finished speaking, he stood up and bowed deeply to Durin Bart: "Your Majesty, it is the minister who has lost his words, but the truth is so, and the minister cannot help but say it. ”

"Hmm..... I knew the old general was telling the truth. But otherwise, the Empire can still use force to eliminate the Irma people's anomalies this time? Durin Barthes's expression was a little painful, a mess weighed heavily on him, and in just a few days since he took office, the weight was almost overwhelming.

"There is no guarantee for the minister, but this time the empire must gamble that if it succeeds in eliminating the unrest caused by the Irma, the empire will regain its deterrent power and be able to usher in a stable situation for about ten years."

Durin Bart asked eagerly, "What if it fails?" ”

Jeff Carian took a deep breath, and he was silent for a few seconds: "Will there be a worse ending than letting the Irma rebel?" The only choice now is to use the power of the country to suppress the Irma. ”

Durin Bart bowed his head, and he placed the crown on the table: "Old General, please give it a go." ”

"Your Ministers obey." 52

Durin Bart gathered his thoughts for a moment, and then he asked, "General Jeff, if you really want to draw a sword against the Elma, there will be any specific difficult things to deal with, you can tell them together, and I will do my best to help you solve them." ”

Jeff Carian picked up an empty plate, dipped his fork in a little red liquor, and drew a diagonal line on the plate.

"The hinterland of the empire and the entrenchment of the Irma people, marching from the land, will pass through a natural barrier of mountains, forests, and isthmisms, which is the geographical advantage of the Irma. If you want to cross the Isthmus and attack the territory of the Elma, you need to go through the coastal corridor where the Imperial army invaded the territory of the Elma. ”

"That corridor must be controlled in order to smoothly supply the soldiers on the front line with armaments and food."

"This is no longer the case, when the Irma were divided into countless small city-states to fight each other, and they had little defense against this corridor. But now, although their forces are still scattered, they are quite united compared to more than they were more than a hundred years ago. Therefore, we can put together enough troops to control the defensive corridor, and without controlling the coastal corridor, we will not be able to defeat the Irma completely. ”

"Eun." Durin Bart nodded repeatedly.

"This is a quick win."

"It all depends on the specific situation in wartime, old general, please continue."

"In the second quarter, it is to find the main force of the Irma people for a decisive battle, and strive to defeat all the forces they have gathered in one battle."

"How to force out?"

"After entering the territory of the Irma, they burned the city, burned the fields, and expelled their civilians. Let them go north and force out the Irma for a decisive battle. Jeff Carian lightly hammered it on the table.

"Well, this point, old general, you are thoughtful."

"Your Majesty has overdone it." Jeff Carian stroked his beard, his eyes wide open.

"This third quarter is after defeating the main force of the Elma people. The territory of the Irma people is full of rivers, forests, bays, hills, and the terrain is quite complex, and their ethnic groups are scattered among them. ”

"At this stage, you must not rush forward, but lay down a stable land, eliminate the branches and leaves of the Irma, and finally pluck up their rhizomes. This stage will require at least half a year of fighting, and it will also require a lot of assistance from the hinterland of the empire to sustain itself. ”

Durin Badge nodded, and said, "I will certainly raise enough money for this expedition of the old general. ”

Jeff Carian stood up again and saluted, "Thanks to His Majesty's full help." ”

"I have one more thing to tell the old general."

"Your Majesty, please speak."

"I will give half of the southern fiefdom of my brother Freddie Barth, the old general."

Jeff Carian was a little apprehensive: "Your Majesty, how can this be. The war in the south presided over by the minister has already made many people hateful, how can Your Majesty reward the vassal fief at this time? ”

"Don't get in the way, old general, please take it." Durin Bart clapped his hands, and a maid held a bright red booklet.

"It is precisely because there are countless people who are attacking the old general that I have to show my attitude. Showing weakness to the old school is showing weakness, but it is better to be tough at the critical moment, otherwise it is better not to sit on this throne. ”