Section 166 Changes

When he spoke, he deliberately emphasized the word "before".

"Hey, bring it!" Cleo called out the door. A few minutes later, the entourage delivered a box. Essien opened the box, and the Marquis of Marduk immediately saw a human head preserved by lime. He couldn't help but gasp. When he recognized who the head belonged to, he cried out.

"How can you do such a thing...... He's a nobleman, even if he dies......"

"He's not a nobleman anymore. Clio said coldly. "Whoever raises an army to betray the queen is a traitor who is innocent. The etiquette and rules of a qiē nobleman were no longer common to him, because he himself violated the most basic duty of a nobleman, that is, to serve his own monarch. So I'm going to keep his head and give it to the queen to prove his fate. ”

He put the box aside, but deliberately did not close it. In this way, Marduk on the opposite side was able to observe the dead man's head repeatedly.

"Is your family castle, though strong, comparable to his city?Is your loyal guard, though as large as his troops?, I said, I sit here out of my personal affection for you, for we are friends, otherwise I would not have wasted my time at all. ”

"However, it never occurred to me to betray the Queen...... It's all Byron......"

"It's too late to say that. Lord Marquis Marduk, you should know that when you made an agreement with Byron that you would finance his war...... None of your arguments will work. Clio said in a sympathetic tone. "Because we're friends, what I can do now is get the best outcome for you in this situation. Believe that, you will never deny it. ”

Marduk let out a long sigh, the remorse on his face so clear that Clio had to express sympathy.

"Rest assured, you're not completely hopeless. When the dust settles and you don't openly raise your troops against it, you may still be able to get the Queen's forgiveness. You have a lot of friends, and surely many of them will become courtiers of Her Majesty the Queen. As long as everyone speaks for you...... You're sure to have a chance to make a comeback. ”

Marduk bowed his head and said nothing.

"Think about it. By the way, that guy named Essien, although he is my colleague, is a rough man from a mercenary background! You know, that kind of person is different from aristocrats like us, who only know how to fight and kill, and are full of thoughts about building up feats on the battlefield to get themselves promoted and rich. He was very unimpressed by my behavior. In fact, I have only three days to fight for it, and in three days he will be under your castle with his army...... When the time comes, it may be the one that will embarrass me the most, and the result that will make you the most unlucky. ”

Cleo put away the box and left the hut.

The road was not particularly long, and it was not long before Clio returned to his army's camp, where Esin was waiting for him.

"How's that?" the two asked, as the two met.

"一qiē顺lì. Clio smiled. "In three days, you should be able to take over Marquis Marduk's family castle and domain, as well as most of his troops. ”

"Haha, it looks like it's smoother than we expected. Essien let go of his nervousness and burst out laughing.

"That's how it is. Clio replied. "The troops left behind by the Marquis of Marduk...... There are at least two or three hundred people. In this way, our forces have been further strengthened. ”

"That's true. Essien returned to his desk. "We're a lot faster than we expected. Come, I've got a good bottle of wine, let's have a drink together. ”

The two quickly opened the bottle of wine in the tent.

Speaking of which, it has been a long time since the two friends had been drinking like this. When they first accepted this task, they didn't expect things to go so smoothly. What can be done about this? Essien now flies the White Eagle banner of the Gruni royal family. The little queen's victory is no secret now, and anyone with the slightest ear knows about it - in fact, after many people's mouths, the rumor has now become that Byron is seriously injured and dying, and the city of Fornoros is about to fall.

In this case, Clio's persuasive ability is increased by a geometric multiple.

The traitor's biggest dilemma is the current situation. They can only rely on their own power to suppress them until they officially receive the royal throne, but once their power is destroyed, or when it looks less terrifying, their own subordinates will also have thoughts of betrayal. Worse still, this betrayal can be supported by the name of righteousness.

As the saying goes, "the upper beam is not right, the lower beam is crooked" is what it means. The assault on Count Rebas's city was the only decent battle so far, and it was far easier than expected. According to the original plan, Clio needed to divide the four sons of Count Rebas, but this plan was unexpectedly changed before it could be implemented.

One of Count Rebas's subordinates visited Essien and Cleo one step ahead of him. What happened was a logical ensuing, and after being offered the title of knight and the promise of temporary trusteeship of the city, the servant, loyal to the queen - and perhaps to the interests - immediately turned against the enemy at the beginning of the battle, kidnapped the count, and opened the gates.

There is no second possibility in the next battle.

Some of the other lords were also unable to put up any decent resistance. Everyone knows that a strong castle can resist the enemy for a long time, but that must be built on the firm confidence of the defenders. At the moment when Byron was "defeated and seriously wounded, and the city of Fornoros was in danger", who had such firm confidence to resist the army under the banner of the White Eagle? Besides, Essien did not look like he was slaughtered, he at least gave them a chance to preserve their property.

This is a trick to take advantage of the loophole of the queen's order, but it also avoids others from fighting to the death. In fact, during this period, Essien's army grew more and more. He left the queen's camp under the city of Fornoros with five hundred men, and his strength had now swelled to ten thousand.

In addition to this, Essien also established a relationship with Prime Minister Irynn of Eagle City. Every time he succeeded in banishing a liege, officials sent by Irynn would soon arrive and take over the entire territory. This averted chaos and gave Esin peace of mind to his actions.

In short, the current situation is a qiēshun lì. Both Essien and Clio were very satisfied.

After three drinks, the conversation turned to Byron in Fornoros. This is also the biggest hidden danger for the two of them. Byerheim's death was the result of the two of them, which means that if Byron can turn over...... I'm afraid the two of them will not die well.

It was precisely because of this consideration, and of course the consideration of serving the queen as a sign of allegiance, that Esin had a trick before leaving the city of Fornoros - and he completely burned down the city's grain storehouses. This was simple for him, as his original duty was to guard the warehouse.

"Our Lord Duke...... I'm afraid I'm going to be wiped out this time. But things ...... in the north," Cleo said with a drunken expression. "That's a variable. ”

"Don't worry, that Ashrufat isn't easy to deal with. "Essien was only two points drunk, and his mind was very clear. "He absolutely knows which is more important. He would definitely watch Byron die before returning to his division. Hey, we were colleagues at the beginning, and when it comes to knighthood, I was above him. I was a knight when he was a commoner, but now ...... He's an earl, and I don't even have the title of knight. ”

"He used to be the Chancellor of the Exchequer and attended the Imperial Council! Now he is not the Chancellor of the Exchequer? He has fallen out of favor. ”

"But I don't think he's going to be that simple. Do you know what, when he was standing next to the little queen...... I have a feeling...... A vague feeling. Perhaps, he did not fall out of favor. Even the whole thing, maybe he faked it. Have you noticed that the little queen sees Ashrufat completely differently than everyone else?"

"Alright, Essien, don't be jealous. When people were in Eagle Falcon City, they also used their hard work to get today's blue eyes. Besides, aren't you a general now?"

"A general is a general, but the title has not yet been secured. Essien replied, admiring the drink in his glass.

"The position of general...... The lowest form was also held by the baron. Clio said. "Besides, Her Majesty the Queen has made a promise that you will become a hereditary nobleman, one of the highest nobles in Gruny...... You can also choose a suitable territory for yourself as you like. What do you think of the county of Rebas, and his city is very well built. It was a very rich territory...... Although the overall area is not very large, more money is the last word. ”

"Hell, I think it's better to be a duke. I'd rather my territory be barren...... If it's a duke, I'll be able to find a wife who is the right person......" said Essien.

"Ah, Essien, your ambitions are too great. Clio suddenly sighed. "I don't know what reward I'll have. ”

The queen had made a promise to Essien, but had not said anything to Clio. Although he was sure that he would be rewarded for his merits, he did not know what kind of reward he would give. A sum of money, a hereditary domain, or just the title of a high nobility?

"Don't worry, Clio...... But, to be honest, I don't think I'm worried about it at home, it's abroad. I'm afraid we'll have to speed it up, or we'll ...... It's possible ......"

"Ah, you say the barbarians?"

"It's not just barbarians," Essien said, gulping down the wine from his glass. "And Tiberius. You know, if Byron is cornered, then he has one last trick, a trick that will end in nature. That was to introduce the Tiberioids into this war. The result was a profit for Tiberius. ”

"Ah...... I didn't expect that. ”

"I should have thought of this a long time ago. Essien said confusedly. "I'm sure Ashrufat must have thought of this, too. Although Fornoros City can only drag on for three or four months, it ...... I am afraid that this war will not be able to drag on for even such a little time. What do you think he'll do?"

"I don't know. I'm not good at that, but that's your specialty, right?"

"It's not a specialty. But I think...... The future won't be as smooth as we think!, but I can't guess what the end up will become......"