The time of early summer is the most enchanting season in the kingdom of Orem. From time to time, the breeze whipped up the sweet fragrance from the field, wafting and wandering, blowing through the meadows as smooth as a girl's hair, and across the slightly raised mountain beams. She walks across the clear river, bringing innocent smiles to the playful children, and she walks through the shade of the trees in the afternoon, taking away the sweat of sleepiness for the resting people.

Year after year, she sang the hymn of life to this beautiful continent, decorating it with dazzling gold. Some people will ask, will the breeze of early summer grow old? No, she won't, the power of time will never be able to dispel her gentle countenance. Some people will ask, will we be old? Yes, we will be old, and the power of time can always bend our backbone silently. Some people will ask, what is the time?

Time is like the girl when you first fell in love, when you meet her, she sings beside you. When you look back, she's gone beside you. When you want to chase her, you can't touch her beautiful clothes again.

......

For the people living in the capital, this is a very ordinary day. The morning sun shone through the gaps in the houses in the cloisters of the Oak Palace, and with the sound of steady footsteps, a tall man approached. A dark blue tunic was draped over a loose tunic with a half-long hair, a thick, well-groomed beard clinging to his chin, and his eyes were bright and full of insight.

Strictly speaking, Aiden was a diligent king, and since he inherited his father's throne, he has always thought about the instructions that His Majesty had entrusted him in his last will, and worked hard for it for ten years. Although his temples were a little gray and there were a few wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, he won the general praise and support of his subjects, which was the most gratifying thing for him.

During this decade, the kingdom has also quietly changed. After the war, the province of Sardinia had a new governor and was restored to life in the shortest possible time, and even today the city of Sardinia is much more prosperous than it was before the outbreak of war.

The sad news that the elderly Minister of the Interior, Canute Douai, closed his eyes the year after the death of the former king, and the sad news really saddened Aiden for a long time, after all, the loyal old butler could be said to be a relative who watched him grow up. The current Minister of the Interior is Canute's son, Fasti Douai.

Of course, the deputy commander of the Kingdom Guard was also replaced, and after the departure of Lupe Lacanis, the former chief historian of the Imperial Empire, Corno Yuye, finally offered his son Daruch a position.

However, the hot-tempered Tandra always complained to Aiden that his lieutenant was like his old man, like a boring history book. Aiden was used to this, and although he had a good personal relationship with Tandra, he couldn't refuse the request of the aging Corno.

Montoe, the former prime minister who had returned to the city of Thousand Streams, became more low-key and mysterious, and spent ten years quietly, as if people had forgotten the existence of the old duchess. Of course, not everyone will forget.

As for Donis, Aiden did not remove Donis's Knights of the Heart of Frostwood, but reduced it to a size of about a thousand, after all, he didn't want to be charged with fratricide. In addition, after the death of his original wife, Donis actually married Serya, the sister of the Duke of Kareni Meyer in the province of Tambang, who is known as the "first beauty of Orem".

To this day, the nobles of the capital still remember the first time Selia visited Oak City years ago, and her charming figure, like talking eyes, made many young lads crazy. Soon after, however, she married His Majesty's younger brother, the Duke of Donis. It is even said that even without the throne, Donis is the happiest man in the kingdom.

The newlywed Donis was much gentler than before, which was one of the reasons why Aiden didn't limit his brother further.

In short, the current kingdom of Orem is calm and rich, and there is really nothing worrying about it. At least, on the surface, it is.

It wasn't long before Aiden arrived at the door of the council chamber, and today was the day of the Imperial Council. Through the wooden door, he heard the deep and powerful voice of the former Prime Minister Sirian.

“...... Before autumn, the river from the port of Belém to the city of Sardinia will be fully connected. In a letter from the day before yesterday, the Governor of Sardinia, Mr. Jalani, mentioned that after his field visits, the speed of export from the three major mining areas of Sardinia could be increased by at least one-third after the river was cleared. Ladies and gentlemen, this is much faster than we expected. Sirian said as he circulated Jalani's letter to the ministers present. "On the other hand, the expansion of Sardinia is in the final stages, and the expansion of the garrison and the settlement of workers' salaries are probably on the agenda. ”

Sirian finished today's topic in one breath, leaning back in his chair and waiting for the other ministers' answers, Duke Junhe was obviously much older than ten years ago, and the serious expression on his brow seemed to have become his signature move. To be honest, he didn't like the position of prime minister, and he couldn't bear to be torn between fighting and compromising every day.

The same is true today, and Sirian knows very well that this Imperial Council will not end easily.

The mountain-like Colin read the letter quickly, and to be honest, he was fatter. However, there is also a bonus, people say that fat people are more resistant to the ruthlessness of the years, and this is especially evident in him. "My lord, the renovation of the drainage system in Oak City is still under construction, and even if it can be made up for in Sardinia, it will probably be after autumn. As Chancellor of the Exchequer, Colin was unsurprisingly the first to speak, and then squinted at the Home Secretary sitting next to him.

Rogett smiled wryly and spread out his hands, his smile even kinder than before. "Lord God, Prime Minister, the civil magistrate of Velvet Antlers has been chasing me for a whole spring! Hey, if the renovation can't continue, I'm afraid I'll have to hide in my fiefdom. He scratched his head and continued, somewhat embarrassed, "My lords, you don't live in Downtown. It is no exaggeration to say that after every heavy rain, the smell that permeates the streets is enough to make you vomit up three months' worth of food. No, your soul will be spit out......"

Rogett's words provoked a few chuckles from the crowd, and the Minister of Justice, Gasula, said with a little doubt: "Your Excellency, with all due respect, there are more than 4,000 troops stationed in the Sardinia region, and there is still any need to continue to expand? It is just a group of farmers who can only mine." He paused, "And, as far as the kingdom is concerned, we only need Sardinia's purple phosphate ore, and it doesn't seem necessary to expand Sardinia City or even comb through the entire province, right?"

"My lord, I can understand your confusion. But can we go on a desperate mining spree in the ruined province of Sardinia? If we do, I'm afraid we'll have to go back into battle before we're too old to walk, and fight to the death against the resurgent rebels. Sirian pressed his fist against the long table, he knew better than anyone else what the followers of the Chaos Lord God already had, and that it wasn't just a farmer wielding a grass branch.

For the past ten years, Sirian has kept his eyes on the province of Sardinia, but there has been no preacher like Solam. Sirian would not be naïve enough to think that they were extinct, but more likely hidden, slowly accumulating strength and waiting for the beacon to be ignited again.

However, it would be tantamount to a fool's dream to convince the ministers of the Imperial Ministers, who were in high positions and had never confronted the rebels. Cyrian tried to keep his tone as calm as he could. "My lords, as long as you can live and have more and more gold coins in your pocket, and even a warm house, no one wants to raise the banner of rebellion. He looked around at the crowd and continued, "Believe me, the cost of building Sardinia is like the water in a cup and the rushing river compared to the cost of war. ”

Donis, who had rarely spoken at the Imperial Council, pondered for a moment and looked up at Sirian. "I agree with you, Your Majesty, that war is always the last option to solve problems. But even if we continue to raise the budget, it will be enough this year, and what about next year, or even later?" and then turned his gaze to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, "As far as I know, after the expansion of Sardinia is completed, several other towns in the province will also have to be renovated, and even the mining area is planned. I don't think the kingdom has the financial resources to support a budget of this magnitude. ”

"Prime Minister, I'm afraid Donis is right," Colin snapped his fingers and counted clearly, "this year, and even next year." But if we continue like this, we will soon run a deficit, and I, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, will probably not have to do anything. ”

"You have been generous, my lord, for nothing so merciful has ever happened in the history of the Kingdom. "The people of Sardinia have never been so nourished except in the past ten years." As a historian, I think the kingdom has done enough. ”

Sirian stood there and sighed softly. "Indeed, you are right, we have done enough. ”

His words aroused the confusion of everyone present, and even surprised everyone. "Could it be that the Prime Minister has compromised?" was the common voice of everyone at this time.

"The kingdom's finances are tight, but the Sardinia revival plan is still to be implemented, and these two things cannot be solved together. There was a hint of firmness in Cyrian's tone.

Gasula smiled, smiling as she straightened her cuffs. "Lord God, my lord, if gold is not an issue, then your plan is not a problem with me at all. ”

"It's simple, actually," Sirian pointed at the table as he drew the outline of the expanded city of Sardinia, "since Sardinia is far more prosperous than ever, it's time to raise taxes on the bulk merchants, isn't it?"

As soon as Sirian's words fell, the imperial ministers in the council hall collectively gasped, and there was no trace of their own concern in their intertwined gazes.

"That's the main course today. Many people thought to themselves.