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Ludwig's counterattack made Vittorio feel frustrated, and Fidel also noticed that in fact, Vittorio's cooperation plan was indeed very passive, and if the Duchy of Magini really failed to win over a reliable ally, then the Duchy would face all the predictable defeats, and there was no mercy at all. Pen × fun × Pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 infoThis situation will arise when the Kingdom of Cosai maintains a hostile relationship with the Eastern Oguna Empire, and no one will be able to stop the disintegration of the hearts and minds of the Duchy of Mageni.

"The 'deposit' you asked for... is the capital of a principality... Do you think it's appropriate for you to ask for that? Do you think the owner of this land would do that?"

"I guess the average person wouldn't, but," Ludwig stared into Vittorio's eyes, "but a profit-oriented merchant would definitely do this, because the merchant seeks to maximize his own interests, and since this cooperation plan is proposed by you, you must have something you want to obtain, that is, the Duchy of Magini will not be divided into the slightest." Am I wrong?"

The balance of negotiations was completely tilted in Ludwig's favor, and Phyllum had never tried to negotiate with someone else for such a large price, which was the capital of a country, an important city in the center of the continent. It's just that Fidel also noticed the change in the expression on Vittorio's face, and the other party was obviously quickly looking for a countermeasure.

"It doesn't do you the slightest benefit to have the Duchy of Magini carved up to nothing," Vittorio said with a sense of analysis that his peers don't have, "and you don't have any friends you can trust." ”

"You're suggesting that Duke Yannis, who you're about to lose support, is a trusted friend?"

"At least more trustworthy than the Mercenary Guild, the Duchy of Neo, the Republic of Marveil, and the East Oguna Empire," Vittorio's expression began to soothe, and the sweat that had just broken out dried up, "Governor Ludwig, it is absolutely win-win for us to cooperate and help each other, and it is also in our own interests to be able to fight those who have bad intentions against you." ”

Fidel listened intently as Vittorio pulled the other party back to the negotiating table, but the "deposit" that had never been expected before was clearly the biggest problem. No matter how much Duke Yannis and Count Endrida tried to find the allies, it was unlikely that they would surrender Black Swamp City, and such a move would not only be a loss of pride, but a humiliating mark on the history of the Duchy of Magini.

"It sounds like it's in our mutual interest, but I want you to remember that I was tasked by King Adam, and King Adam gave me the task of taking Black Swamp City to avenge my attack on my country. Even if I may be in danger, I will not be able to abandon my mission to this land because of my personal gains and losses. Ludwig's words surprised Fidel, who told Fide that Ludwig's biggest weakness was the powerful people of the Kingdom of Cose. Even an ordinary commoner in the Winter Kingdom knew that the plebeian faction led by Ludwig was deeply trusted by King Adam, and the aristocratic party was not happy about Ludwig's achievements, and they even wanted to see Ludwig defeated, so that they could have more say and control more power in front of King Adam.

So now Ludwig had only two options in front of him, either to take the gains back to Koseferti and face the nobles who might plot against him, or to continue to achieve more exploits and continue to expand his power by taking advantage of the invasion of the Duchy of Magini.

Vittorio calculated, "Yes, you can sacrifice yourself, Lord Doge, but who is the saddest and the most to lose if you do so?"

"The biggest loss..."Ludwig immediately realized what the other man wanted to say, and Vittorio did not give the other party a chance to think for long.

"It's the young and promising King Adam," Vittorio said categorically, "King Adam wants you to take Black Marsh, but he wants you to expand and maintain your power, occupy more land, and have more say, so that you can suppress the increasingly rampant Winter magnates." If you do not have the support of our Duchy of Magini, a defeated force that is willing to cooperate with you, then the northern part of the Duchy that you now occupy is nothing more than thatched houses that can be pushed down at the slightest push, which will not provide you with shelter from the wind and rain, and the ultimate benefit will be lost by the civilian officials who look down on you, and King Adam, who has entrusted everything to you. ”

Vittorio seemed to jump behind Ludwig and tied a rope to the person Ludwig cared about the most, the frail and hard-working King Adam. The young monarch was the most important thing for Ludwig, and he was the one Ludwig was willing to give everything. If it weren't for King Adam, Ludwig might still be regarded as a weirdo, a "leopard child" like a wild beast.

Ludwig's brief silence was seen by Vittorio, what a shrewd businessman, he knew that he had guessed the other party's hole cards this time, "Your offer to make Black Swamp City part of the conditions may sound rude, but I will not completely dismiss your idea, I must tell our master, Duke Yanis, this new 'offer'." But I still insist that our cooperation is beneficial and harmless, whether it is for King Adam, the Kingdom of Cose, Governor Ludwig, you and our Duchy of Magini. ”

Ludwig's hesitation again gave Fidel hope of a negotiated agreement, "I will seriously consider the cooperation plan you offered, of course, the 'deposit' I asked for must not be changed, this is the most basic and only requirement of our side." I think we both need time to think about it and confirm the sincerity of both sides. I will ask my forces to temporarily stop attacking the Duchy of Magini, but the cities we have taken are already ours. ”

"Of course, our negotiations and cooperation are based on your victories Sir Ludwig, a quarter of the land of the Duchy of Mageni already belongs to the great Kingdom of Cosse, if I have a choice, I must hope that the other quarter of the land now occupied by the Empire of East Oguna will be in the hands of the Kingdom of Cose, and into the hands of Governor Ludwig, so that we will have one more friend and one less enemy. Vittorio's face did not blush as he said this, and he smiled and said that he would give this land to outsiders, and if Vittorio really loved this land and its people, how painful he would be at this time.

Ludwig turned to look at Fidel, the wooden face in black armor basically did not speak, "Captain Fidel, you are an excellent warrior and an excellent leader, I don't know what you think of this cooperation plan?"

In fact, Fei De already had the answer in his heart, "The Duchy of Mageni is in a desperate situation, our army cannot be sacrificed in vain, they will get back on their feet after gaining allies, and fight against the enemies who have ravaged this land." ”

"I see, I'll consider your proposal. ”

It was only after Ludwig had left that the other captains came out of the wooden house by the river, where they had been hiding and eavesdropping, listening to the basics of the negotiations.

"What a lion's mouth! How can we accept such a condition? Even if the Duke of Yannis is young and ignorant, can the other nobles, the regular army, and the people of this land accept it?

"I also agree with Squadron Leader Jasmine, Ludwig is too deceitful, just like in the Battle of Doret, he looks invincible, and his conditions cannot be accepted by Duke Yannis, so let's try to do something else. ”

"I don't think Ludwig was really shaken, at least when Vittorio said the name 'Adam', he really had a deep bond with the sick king, and that bond would make him give in..."

Winote's words made Vittorio feel a little embarrassed, and Vittorio immediately said that his talent was far inferior to that of the Winter Governor nicknamed the Lord of the Snow Leopard, but he just guessed Ludwig's weakness, and at the same time laid out all the situations that the other party would scruple about.

"Actually, we don't really know for sure... Not to mention whether Duke Yannis will accept Black Marsh City as a 'deposit', even if we do get Ludwig's promise, there is no guarantee that he will regret it, and then we will have to completely abandon the center of the Duchy of Magini, and we will no longer be able to retake Black Marsh City." ”

Vittorio's words were unanimously agreed by all the captains, who agreed that the cooperation plan was extremely risky, and whether or not the Winter Army would become allies, such a condition would disappoint the army and the people of the Duchy Magini. After all, it was not only the potato mercenary regiment that would cooperate with Ludwig at that time, but also the last regular army of the principality, the mercenary Guard Regiment and the Southern Army. They didn't know that Duke Yannis had instructed Fidel to carry out this negotiation, and they couldn't even understand that the young Duke Yannis would make such a judgment. If they think it's all Count Endrida's preservation, then all the unpredictable bad things will follow.

Patrick thought for a long time before he said, "If Ludwig really agreed to cooperate with us, then will we unite all the armies to attack the Imperial Army of East Oguna?"

Lukka scratched his ears, "Yes, unless the Duchy of Noo also sends an army to invade the Duchy of Magini, our enemy will be the Imperial Army..."

"Actually, I thought for a long time that we could backstab Ludwig after reaching an agreement with them," Vittorio looked at Fidel, and even Fidel's expressionless face was a little surprised, "When the Winter Army and the Imperial Army have a conflict and attack each other, we can immediately betray Ludwig, who has just become an ally." ”