Xiao Chen, wearing a wizard robe, slumped in a reclining chair, quietly looking out the window at the firelight reflected on the ground. Tonight's dance was taking place in the hall next door. The Earl had summoned all the nobles from his nearby territories, bringing their wives and children to attend. With the thirty or so people Xiao Chen brought, the atmosphere was very lively. Even through the corridor and heavy wooden doors, Xiao Chen could still vaguely hear the music, as well as the sounds of people laughing or clapping.
However, for him, leaving early and coming to this dim side hall was because of something more important.
The negotiations have been going on for two days. Everything that should be said has been said. However, there are some issues that are more suitable to be discussed in such a setting.
Sure enough, a while later, the Earl pushed the door open alone. He was wearing a court dress today, with his collar and cuffs tied tightly with lace, looking like a goose with its neck tied. He unbuttoned his collar, took a long breath, and then walked slowly to a chair opposite Xiao Chen and sat down. He took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat on his forehead, and smiled, "I hate this kind of court dress. The purpose of the tailor designing this kind of clothes must be to take revenge on us nobles. This kind of dress, a twirl dance can make me breathless."
"Perhaps your Majesty the King wishes you nobles would not be so energetic."
"Ah, every king hopes that his country is composed of a group of law-abiding nobles, a group of ignorant peasants, a group of brave and loyal knights, and a group of beautiful girls."
"There seems to be no place for a mage here?" Xiao Chen asked.
"Aren't you mages the people that kings fear the most?" Arias shook his head and laughed, "Or is it not the case in the distant country where your hometown is?"
"In our place, the king may be more afraid of the power of ordinary people than magicians." Xiao Chen answered vaguely.
"Ordinary people?" The count groaned for a moment. "Your place must be a place where magical artifacts are particularly prosperous, which would allow ordinary people to have power that cannot be underestimated. Otherwise, it would definitely not be like what you said."
Xiao Chen was somewhat surprised at the earl's sharpness, and nodded in response: "In our place, some 'magic devices' controlled by ordinary people even have the power to destroy a city."
"This is not a good thing. You are too tolerant and careless. If power is not concentrated in the hands of people of noble birth and rationality, it will be a terrible disaster. There must be constant conflict between countries in your country."
Xiao Chen was a little stunned by the question. The Earth is indeed a place of constant conflict. He nodded and said, "That's true. However, as long as there are people in the world, there will be constant conflict. You see, we have only been here for three months, and we have already fought against bandits, eliminated goblins, and defeated rebellious slaves. It's not peaceful here either."
The Earl laughed. He stood up, walked to the wine cabinet, took out two glasses produced by the school, poured the wine from a silver pot into the glasses, and then handed a glass to Xiao Chen and said, "Isn't this proof that the people there are aggressive?"
Xiao Chen took the wine glass, took a sip and said, "But we still love peace. That's why I came to negotiate with you. You must also understand that in addition to the military force we can boast of, we can also provide many products and knowledge. These things can be converted into wealth anywhere."
The Earl leaned back in his chair, clasped his ten fingers together alternately, and then tapped the backs of his hands with his fingers. He stared at Xiao Chen, as if he wanted to look into his heart.
"Cooperation, and wealth. Well, I like these words, but I haven't felt your sincerity yet. Sufficient, guaranteed sincerity." The count shook his head slightly as he responded to his words. "The world around us has only one very simple rule, which is to respect power... and not to respect things other than power. Agreements can be betrayed, people's hearts can be manipulated, and goods can be plundered. Only power can ensure that these things operate the way we want them to. Therefore, if we cooperate, it must first be based on power. As for the goods, technology, and trade routes you mentioned these two days, they are too fragile in the face of power."
"But aren't these other things also necessary?"
"I know, and I know that many people, such as some guys in Suero, are willing to cooperate with you in other aspects. But you have to understand that I want more, and I can give you more. We are not sitting here to sell more goods to merchants and make a little money. This is too little for me... the descendant of the Berserker, and you... the descendant of the magician."
"What do you want?"
"What do I want? Ask yourself what you need first. I have heard clearly over the past two days that you don't know what you want. The terms you mentioned in the negotiation are nothing more than exchanging some worthless goods for the land of my ancestral home, and using the power of those poor people and slaves in the area to run that place, and then produce all kinds of goods that no one has ever seen, earn money and materials, and finally turn Black Mountain into an enviable territory. There, ordinary farmers can eat white bread three times a day, a slave may become a small official, and everyone will live according to your new order. It is simply a paradise on earth! Am I right?"
Xiao Chen had to admit that the Earl had foresight, which was really the idea of many people in the school. Although he had long realized that the Earl's image of a life of debauchery was just a cover-up, the words he heard in private today made him look at the Earl with a new eye. Xiao Chen himself did not completely agree with this view, but this did not prevent him from admiring the Earl. He replied: "Your Excellency, it seems that you have done a lot of research and understand people's hearts. You actually have such an interesting view of us."
"But, in my opinion, this is nothing more than a foolish dream!" The count drank the wine in the glass in one gulp and then put the glass heavily on the table. "If you continue like this, you will only become a public enemy and be drowned in this land. Because you have forgotten who is the real master of this world."
He stood up and walked to the window. He put his hands behind his back and looked out. The light from the lamp illuminated his face, and he looked like he was giving instructions: "Strength brings power, and power controls all living things. Commoners and slaves are numerous, but they do not have real power, so they are suppressed by us and use their labor to support the rest of us. The ones you really need to unite with are us, the nobles, warriors, mages, and priests, the owners of power. Only with the recognition of these people can you gain a foothold in this world. Otherwise, no matter how many farmers you control or how many slaves you own, they are just sheds made of leaves that will be blown away by the wind."
Xiao Chen showed an imperceptible smile and said calmly: "We are seeking their acceptance. Our goal is to achieve a win-win situation with the owners of these powers."
"But there is a problem. Why should they accept you? Why should they allow you to appear and take away their land, trade routes, slaves and wealth? The wealth in the world is limited. The more you occupy, the less they occupy. Why should they allow you to do this and let their people use the food and materials they produce to exchange for your flashy things?" Count Arias turned his head to look at Xiao Chen, with a look of compassion in his eyes. He said in a deep tone, "I don't need to think too much to know that your weapons and armor will make their blacksmiths unemployed, your glass and porcelain will make their workshops go bankrupt, and your soap and perfume will make them obediently put all the gold coins they have worked hard to accumulate for many years into your pockets. As time goes by, you will become richer and richer, and more and more dangerous. When someone can't help but take action against you... Whether it is because of greed or jealousy, or because they feel threatened by you... That is a force countless times stronger than the horse thieves. Can you really withstand it?"
"This is not what I want to see. Because I don't want to play my trump card. That would be a disaster for everyone." Xiao Chen said calmly, "But since you said that, you should have thought of a way out for us."
The Earl nodded appreciatively and said, "You are a calm and intelligent person, Mage Xiao Chen. Yes. My solution is very simple, a military alliance. The alliance between you and me is a true alliance with our backs to each other. It will be an alliance of sword and magic, an alliance of strength and knowledge, and an alliance of outsiders joining the local forces. If so, I and my other allies will regard you as our partners. Business can be unimpeded and safety can be guaranteed. Your enemies will become my enemies."
"However, more importantly, your enemies will also become our enemies." Xiao Chen said slowly.
"This must be a price worth paying. Because of the geographical location and familiarity, no one in the Iberian Kingdom is more suitable to be your ally than me." The Earl laughed, but his laugh was a little grim.
Xiao Chen knew that he hadn't said half of what he wanted to say: In the Kingdom of Iberia, no one is a more threatening enemy than me. Xiao Chen laughed, stood up, and also stood in front of the window. He looked at the earl seriously and said, "My country has a very long history. Anyone who has simply read through history knows that countless military alliances have ended in betrayal. This is also the reason why we are unwilling to make an alliance easily."
"However, that is better than not even being qualified to be betrayed. Moreover, I am willing to provide a guarantee with my utmost sincerity."
"What promise?"
"Marriage. Everyone in the kingdom knows that my lovely and beautiful only daughter is the apple of my eye."
"You mean, Serinda and Li Jia?"
"No, I mean, Serinda and you!"