Earl Raymond's dungeon is at the innermost part of this floor.
Robinski did not lie, the place where Earl Raymond lived was indeed a clean single room that had been specially taken care of.
After his subordinates opened the iron gate, Du Wei saw his father sitting behind the desk reading a book with a relaxed face.
In one hand, he gently held a heavy second volume of "General History of the Mainland". Concentrate on reading. It's definitely not like pretending, but really immersed in the book.
Even when Du Wei came in, the former Earl just raised his head, with a slightly relaxed face, and greeted casually: "Oh, you're here."
This tone and demeanor were almost the same as Du Wei's expression when he walked into his study in the earl's mansion.
Baron Robinski withdrew tactfully, leaving the father and son alone to figure it out.
Earl Raymond was still holding the book and didn't intend to put it down. Du Wei looked at the cell with his hands behind his back.
Objectively speaking, this is still a very clean room. Floor walls and ceilings. They are all huge and solid stones piled up. Moreover, it is said that in order to prevent the prisoners in custody from escaping (many generals in custody are masters of martial arts), the walls that look like stones are actually embedded with a layer of steel plates.
There is only one slap-sized subway window in the room, which is high from the ground. There can be a little bit of sunlight coming in from the outside, the subway railings on the windows are full of rust, and the room is full of a musty smell that cannot be concealed due to the lack of sunlight all year round. In addition, the room is still very clean, but as a prison cell, there is only one hard bed inside. Although it is covered with white sheets, it is conceivable that it is definitely not as good as in the Earl's Mansion. The bed was comfortable.
A desk is an extra special care for the head of the Luo Lin family.
Besides that, the last item left. It is a dung bucket placed in the corner.
crude. Rough and cold.
This is the prison cell of a generation of famous imperial generals who once held a lot of power and led the imperial naval fleet to expedition thousands of miles to Nanyang.
Du Wei was not in a hurry to speak, and Earl Raymond didn't seem to be in a hurry either. He still calmly turned over the last few pages of the second volume of the Continental Mastery in his hand, and then let out a sigh of relief. Stretching, he stood up slowly. I stretched my muscles and bones on the spot, turned to look at Du Wei, and smiled calmly: "I guessed that you would come, but I didn't expect you to come so fast. I thought it would take a few days."
Then he pointed to his own bed: "Sit down, the only place to sit here is the bed."
After Du Wei sat down, Earl Raymond had put down his book, looked at his son quietly for a while, and then asked slowly, "How is home?"
"Not bad." Du Wei hesitated. Said: "The guards who were transferred took control of the city defense of the imperial capital, and the mansion at home was surrounded by the guards, so they couldn't enter or leave for the time being, but because of my relationship, they were considered a lot more polite. Apart from the inconvenience of entering and leaving the house, other places It's fine."
Count Raymond nodded: "Where are your mother and brother?"
Du Wei sighed: "Mother's mood is very bad, and the body is not very good. But I invited the teacher of the temple to see it, but I was worried, and there was no big problem. My brother is still young. I have been a little emotional recently. But I will protect him."
Count Raymond pondered for a while. Then he raised his head, his eyes were shining brightly, and looked at Du Wei: "So, what should I call you now? Or... just like everyone else. Call you "Lord Duke"?"
This tone made Du Wei feel as if a needle had been stabbed in his heart. He turned his head slightly and did not meet Earl Raymond's gaze directly: "Do these words make sense?"
Both father and son fell silent.
After a long time, Earl Raymond laughed, and he laughed a little self-deprecatingly: "Yes, what you said is right. It really doesn't make any sense for me to say that.
In fact, I just can't let go of it. Although I have lived here for a few days, I have reminded myself that I have to face the reality of failure, but in life, there are few people who can really be happy with such a scene... "
After finishing speaking, Earl Raymond stared at Du Wei, his eyes seemed to be trembling, his lips parted and opened again, and finally he uttered a sentence slowly: "You are fine, fine... son , you are stronger than me."
Seeing that Du Wei seemed about to speak, Earl Raymond waved his hand: "Listen to me first. I was locked up here for the past few days, and I was very unwilling at the beginning. But these two days, I have been quiet. Come down, read a book quietly, read this general history of the mainland, and suddenly understand in my heart.
We are born in the field of power, fighting and struggling, intrigues, life and death. Some people are famous, some people are ruined. But at the end..."
He casually pointed to the book next to him: "After a hundred years, everyone will be written in this book. No matter how beautiful it is, it will be just a sentence in the book."
Du Wei didn't speak, but carefully savored his father's words.
The count looked at his quiet son, his eyes looked eager, and then he lowered his eyelids. He whispered: "I have been thinking about where my biggest mistake is. I have been thinking about it for the past two days, but I can't figure it out. I finally figured it out... My mistake is not because I helped the eldest prince fight for the position, but also It’s not that I’m on the wrong team. In the political arena, no one has a lifetime of glory. Some people win and some lose. It’s nothing. My biggest mistake is that I didn’t see you, my son, from beginning to end.”
"You are outstanding, even far beyond my expectations." Earl Raymond smiled sincerely, looking at his son: "On the square that day. You broke with the family in public... In fact, both you and I knew what was going on in our hearts. Du Wei, I didn’t really regret it until that moment! Because I saw you clearly, and I saw that you were actually responsible for this family in your heart. You I hope to preserve the family. That's why you broke with the family in public... That kind of behavior shocked me. If I said that when you returned to the imperial capital, many things I said to you were false, and even sent people on the way The matter of assassinating you was also decided by me. I hurt your heart afterwards. In fact, I didn’t regret it at the time. Because I always thought that losing a son and preserving the family is worth it. But that day, on the square, you actually Take the initiative..." Earl Raymond sighed, staring at Du Wei's eyes: "Until that moment, I regretted it! Du Wei, your excellence exceeded my expectations, and far exceeded! I suddenly understood. I The loss is not just a son, but the loss of an outstanding heir I dreamed of! Unfortunately... I was wrong from the beginning. But it pushed you further and further away. By the time I understand, the rift between us has been irreparable .”
Du Wei didn't speak.
"I lost the coup, but I don't hate you. Because of the incident that day, I think about it carefully now, and I feel that Prince Chen planned everything first, but he kept it secret. Such a smart, really It is not comparable to the eldest prince. That day, he followed one after another, from the temple to the magic union, from the guard army to the knight's spear. And his means of winning people's hearts, his foresight... These are far superior I support the eldest prince. I read the general history of the mainland in the past two days, and I saw one thing in history. I suddenly understood. This is an inevitable law. The strong are respected. The weak will naturally become the cornerstone of the strong. .What happened that day, I guess you didn't expect that Prince Chen would win in the end, did you?"
Du Wei nodded and admitted: "I really didn't expect that. Originally, I planned to be. If the eldest prince succeeds in the coup, I will take advantage of the chaos to rescue Prince Chen and save his life, and I will be worthy of him."
Earl Raymond smiled: "That day, with you and without you, we were all doomed to failure. So, I have become like this now, and it has nothing to do with you."
Du Wei heaved a sigh of relief. He looked at his father with a calm face, and then said slowly: "Father, tell me, what should I do to protect the family?"
"Huh?" Earl Raymond was taken aback for a moment, he really didn't expect Du Wei to ask such a question.
"I promised my mother." Du Wei said lightly: "One day when I am here, I will definitely not let the family's glory be destroyed."
Count Raymond was silent for a while, then sighed: "You have already done it."
He smiled bitterly and said, "Although you have nothing to do with Luo Lin's family in name, who would really think that in their hearts among those nobles and ministers? Although I have fallen from power, everyone will regard you as the Luo Lin family. Continuation. I used to be just an earl, but you are now a duke. Although you were given the surname Rudolph, who would take it seriously? You know that although my coup d’état failed, I was not in despair after I was captured, because at least , but you managed to save it, and if you stay, no matter if, it is a seed left by the Luo Lin family."
"What should I do?" Du Wei asked in a deep voice, staring closely at his father.
He came today to ask for advice from the bottom of his heart.
Although the coup d'état in the imperial capital was over at this moment, Du Wei was favored by Prince Chen, and he was made a duke when he was young. After driving away the powerful green-robed Gandolf, he is now considered to be at the top of the mainland even in the magician's army. Such a character can almost be said to be the most popular person in the imperial capital now.
But Du Wei himself also understands his own problems. Although he has been a man in two lifetimes, he is conceited and smart, but he is not born to understand political things.
Although he was born in an aristocratic family all his life, he has tried his best to avoid curling up these things since he was a child. His experience in politics is definitely not something that talent and intelligence can make up for.
In politics, in this field, Du Wei is very clear about his position, and he is still a complete rookie! Although he has been a human being in two lifetimes, he has never experienced the real test of politics. No matter how good he is in other aspects, he can't even think about becoming a qualified politician.
In the imperial capital. Although the limelight has been gaining momentum recently, Du Wei has faintly felt a sense of crisis.
Ever since that day, the prince gave him the map of the Roland Empire in public, and made bold words to let him draw out the territory at will. At that moment, Du Wei could clearly feel the envious or even jealous and hostile gazes from his colleagues around him!
Du Wei to the side. Although there are many strange companions, there is Hussein in Wu, and there is a mouse Gargamel in magic. There is also a Medusa. But there has never been a think tank that can really serve as his staff—because he used to think that it was unnecessary at all, and his own brain was enough. With the experience of being a human being in two lifetimes, Du Wei even unconsciously developed a sense of superiority towards the people in this world.
However, it was none other than Prince Chen who shattered his superiority!
At that time, the prince was strategizing, one move after another. After forcing the eldest prince to death, this was hidden. And the prince who is always smiling and gentle to others made Du Wei feel deeply jealous!
Say a joke, sometimes. Du Wei even had an absurd thought: Who is the one who came from time travel? This Prince Chen. Even more like a person from time-travel than himself!
It was only later that Du Wei figured it out, it had nothing to do with time travel or not. Political things can never be honed without the experience of being in it, without that kind of environment.
I have lived my life since I was a child, trying to avoid the whirlpool and live peacefully and freely. Prince Chen, on the other hand, has been in the fierce struggle for imperial power in the palace since he was a child, and the distance between them is really hard to calculate.
After thinking about it, maybe only this father who has lost his power can solve his doubts.
It can be said. This strange pair of father and son has never really had a heart-to-heart relationship like today. Du Wei is seeking advice wholeheartedly, and the Earl, who has lost power, is also wholeheartedly for his son at this moment: after all, he has fallen, Luo The Lin family's hopes are all pinned on this son!
"If you really want to preserve the hope of the family..." Earl Raymond smiled wryly: "Then the most important thing you should do now is to keep a distance from me! Keep a distance from the original Rowling family!"
The earl tapped his fingers lightly on the table, and said slowly: "As soon as I fall, Prince Chen will have to clean up! This is inevitable. No matter how much he values you, it is impossible for you to save your face." And let the Luo Lin family go! So. In the short term, the Luo Lin family has become a quagmire and whirlpool. Whoever gets involved will be unlucky. And now you are my only hope. To preserve the hope of the family, you must first protect yourself! So , For a period of time, the best way for you to stay away from the vortex of the Luo Lin family is to act detached to the outside world, indicating that you have really broken with the Luo Lin family and have nothing to do with it!"
paused. Earl Raymond said with a smile: "Do you know why Prince Chen still puts us guys here instead of killing them?"
Du Wei nodded: "I know.
He sighed: "Whether it is Luo Lin's family or Solomon's family, they all have their own territory and their own private army. Prince Chen is such a smart person, of course he knows that if he kills you rashly now, then the first family The territory is in chaos! The Luolin Plain is almost the private property of the Luolin family, and everyone there is proud of being part of the Luolin family. If you act rashly, the territory will be in chaos, which will lead to civil strife in the empire and even lead to civil war... How can a person like Prince Chen not understand this truth?"
"That's right." Earl Raymond looked at his son with satisfaction: "You see it very clearly. So, I'm not dead now, because Prince Chen wants to free up his hands first, and play this game well. The family's territory has been taken back, and the private army has been dismissed. Only then will we come to liquidate our charges. Anyway, we leaders are locked here, and we can't escape. We are always in his hands, one day earlier Kill. What difference does it make to kill one day later? Therefore, he is not in a hurry, and he can still gain a good reputation for being generous."
Du Wei frowned: "Do you think he will kill you?"
"It's hard to say." Earl Raymond smiled bitterly: "I can't help it..." At this point, his face suddenly changed, and he looked at Du Wei solemnly: "You must promise me two things!"
"Speak." Du Wei sighed. He had already guessed what his father's request was.
Sure enough, Earl Raymond's face was serious: "First, if one day in the future, if Prince Chen orders me to be executed, you must not try to dissuade him. Don't even try to make him change his mind! Du Wei, you must understand that the emperor is Emperor. He may look at you differently, but the bottom line of the emperor's heart is absolutely not allowed to be challenged by anyone! Once you challenge his bottom line, no matter how good he treats you, he will never show mercy to you! So. As I said just now, from the current point of view, protecting yourself is the best way to leave hope for the Luo Lin family. Therefore, if he wants to kill me, you must not do anything from it. The best The way is to say nothing, don’t ask questions!”
Du Wei said nothing: "What about the second one?"
"Second..." Earl Raymond's eyes showed a trace of loneliness: "After I die, take care of your mother and brother. If you read the words of affection. In the future, after you get married and have children, choose one at random Son, changing his surname to Luo Lin is already my biggest request to you."
Du Wei was silent.
Count Raymond fell. Not only is he himself unlucky, but also the land. Even Du Wei's younger brother Gabriel was also implicated. The crime of a coup is not a general one. Although the order has not been issued yet, Earl Raymond's lineage will definitely never want to set foot in an official career in the future.
A sentence of never being knighted is enough to make this line never turn around in the future.
In other words, Gabriel, don't even think about becoming a nobleman for the rest of his life, and the same is true for Gabriel's descendants.
After this coup. The final winner, without a doubt, is Prince Chen himself. Or to put it further, in fact, such a coup d'état had a certain degree of stabilizing effect on the imperial power.
Although the Roland Empire owns the entire continent and has a vast territory, it has not known how many rich and noble families have been enshrined since the founding of the country for thousands of years, and the land on the mainland has been heavily annexed. Moreover, the hereditary nobles of each family have their own territorial private army and the right to levy taxes. A country within a country has been formed one after another. This is obviously a cancer growing on the empire.
But in this coup, many aristocratic families who supported the First Prince were almost wiped out. Cut the magnate. Take back the territory, disband the private army... and so on and so on.
After some statistics, the central government of the empire has reaped a lot, and the territory directly under the central government has increased a lot. After those private troops were dismissed. Part of it can also be converted into a ready-made local garrison (of course, the transfer of changing regions is inevitable.)
A large area of land was taken back, a large number of private troops were reduced, and the wealth accumulated by many wealthy families was also taken back, which eased the originally tense imperial finances by a lot.
Prince Chen does have the potential to become a wise king. He was very wise in dealing with the finishing work after the coup d'état. He was not in a hurry, little by little, cut off a little today, and cut off a little tomorrow. In less than ten days, he took a few in his hands The power of the wealthy family has almost been reduced. He obviously didn't prepare these things today, most of them were premeditated, from his non-stop mobilization of the local garrison, the transfer of defenses back and forth between several regions, while monitoring the disturbances in the nobles' territories participating in the coup d'état, and at the same time Clean with lightning speed.
After one thing is done, the order is clear and the effect is very good.
In less than half a month, the tense atmosphere after the coup in the entire imperial capital was swept away. The imperial capital was bustling again, and after the coup, Prince Chen, who bought a lot of people's hearts, immediately gathered around him a group of wealthy families who were loyal to the imperial family.
And at this moment, Prince Chen, who finished the preliminary work, finally turned his attention to the leaders of the coup d'état who were imprisoned in the inner prison of the Supervisory Office...
Almost all of the Solomon family's real estate has been confiscated. On the Luolin Plain, the four local garrison infantry regiments in Cote Province and Lille Province have been driven from all sides, supervising the completion of the retreat of the private army on the Luolin family territory. The Luo Lin family cooperated very well, and did not show any stubborn resistance. This has a lot to do with Earl Raymond's wisdom. The old earl understood that the general situation was over, and instead of dying together, it would be better to leave a sliver of vitality of the Luo Lin family, so that there would be hope of a comeback in the future.
In the end, the place on the Luolin Plain has been taken over by officials appointed by the central government of the empire, and teams of local garrison troops have replaced the original private army of the Luolin family.
However, extrajudicial favors are mostly because of Du Wei's face. The Luo Lin family still retains the Luo Lin Castle in their hometown and the surrounding land of more than ten miles.
Prince Chen has been proud of himself recently, but he still has that calm look of not being surprised, without the slightest feeling of pride and complacency. It's just that the extraordinary energy and wisdom of this young prince have already made many veterans of the empire look at him differently.
Originally when Augustine VI was in power. This overjoyed old man has already tossed the empire's finances into a mess, and several finance ministers were finally swept home. Smart people can see the decline of the empire. And after the regent came to power, he swept away his anger and acted decisively. Moreover, everything was arranged first, which immediately made the lifeless imperial capital a bit more vigorous.
It is said that the Chancellor of Finance, who has been frowning from day to day, demolished things to make up for land, after the first day of the government of the Regent. Back home at night, this strict old man was so broken that he drank a pot of wine and shouted in the yard while drunk: "The empire is hopeful! The empire is hopeful!"
It is conceivable that Prince Chen is very popular at this moment.
Finally, on this day. The king regent and the minister of finance looked at the list submitted by the report, the details of the land taken back by the empire, the aristocratic private army that was dismissed, and the information on how much revenue can be added to the central finance every year in the future, etc., the king regent just Smiled and sighed. Said: "The overall situation has been decided."
The Chancellor of the Exchequer was so excited that he almost shed tears on the spot.
He has worked in this position for ten years, and the most uncomfortable thing every year is that he cannot make ends meet. Destroying the east wall to make up for the west wall everywhere, looking at the long list of income in front of me, thinking that I don’t have to worry about financial income in the future, without those military bosses and people from other departments to call for money, I can’t help but feel depressed. sweep away.
And then, at an internal meeting of a small group of regents, Du Wei finally replied to Prince Chen's decision about his territory.
That day, the prince boldly threw the map and asked Du Wei to choose at will. Things like this. No small matter. Facing the envious or hostile gazes from around him, Du Wei was no longer the boy who had just entered the political arena. He smiled at the time, and just said that he would go back and think about it.
During these days, Du Wei went to the prison of the Supervisory Office three or five times. Every time, I talked with my father for a long time, and I also gave Baron Robinski a sum of money to treat the two hundred and five generals well.
Finally, on this day, Du Wei was in front of many cronies of Prince Chen. Holding the map with both hands: "Your Highness, I have made up my mind."
"Oh?" Prince Chen said with a smile on his face, "Okay. I think you must be delusional. Tell me, which feng shui treasure land have you set your sights on?"
Surrounded by envious eyes.
Du Wei slowly unfolded the map, and everyone around couldn't help looking at it with their heads up. Most agree: the teenage duke. Most will choose the southeast!
The southeast has fertile land, a pleasant climate, good weather, and a dense population. It is the most prosperous area on the mainland. Coupled with the overseas expeditions of the Imperial Navy time and time again, maritime trade is becoming more and more prosperous, and it is even more profitable.
With the title of Duke of Duweidi, it must be no problem to point to a province near the sea in the southeast. On the contrary, with a province, millions of people, fertile land, and a few large ports that are constantly doing overseas trade, the wealth will be abundant in the future.
But after Du Wei slowly unfolded the map, he stretched out his hand and pointed at the map with a smile on his face: "This is the place I'm looking at."
He pointed his finger at a corner of the map, and everyone who looked at his finger was stunned!
Prince Chen originally had a warm smile on his face, but it gradually disappeared at this moment, and he took a deep look at Du Wei. His voice was suddenly a little dry: "You... have you really thought it through? Is this your final decision?"
Du Wei met the regent's eyes, and said slowly: "I figured it out, I want to be here."
Everyone around showed unbelievable expressions. For a moment, I am afraid that everyone thought that the young Duke was crazy.
"Don't you regret it?" Prince Chen had already stood up, staring at Du Wei.
"I don't regret it." Du Wei shook his head, then he suddenly smiled, and slowly bowed his body: "Please the Regent, please do it!"
This time, Prince Chen's face was still calm and gentle. He gritted his teeth and stared at Du Wei. After a long time, he breathed a sigh of relief, dropped a word, and then didn't even look around. Many trusted subordinates turned around and walked out of the palace gate behind them.
"allow!"
On June 10, the summer day of the 960th year of the Roland Empire, the coup d'état finally came to an end. All the aristocratic and wealthy families that participated in the coup were wiped out, the nobles were seized, the land was disarmed, and even the imperial capital and mansion were confiscated. The whole family could only leave the imperial capital in desperation and seek their own survival.
subsequently. Murderous orders passed down from the palace!
The families involved in the coup. From the Marquis of Solomon down, kill all the way down.
But there is only one exception. Earl Raymond who went to Rollin's house, but became "retired of all titles and titles, and will never be knighted"
Just such a soft word, but saved Earl Raymond from the death penalty. It's just that the Luo Lin family also took back the earl's mansion in the imperial capital, ordering the Luo Lin family to be below Count Raymond. Immediately left the imperial capital, and went back to Luolin Castle on the Luolin Plain to retire.
In addition, there is an episode: the empire has not conferred the title of duke in a hundred years, but the newly promoted young duke, Lord Du Wei, is so honored and favored by the regent. Putting down so many feng shui treasures, I just pointed to a place that makes people dumbfounded...
In the northwest, next to the Kilimaro Mountains is the "Desa Province".
A barren, ignorant. It is even full of barbaric backward areas. In terms of fiscal revenue, the annual revenue of such a province is not even that of a wealthy medium-sized city in the southeastern region.
Even more unknown. Because this scene will never be recorded in any orthodox historical materials: after Du Wei pointed out the territory that day, Prince Chen returned to his room, the always gentle and good regent. Suddenly, he became furious and smashed all the things in the bedroom that could be smashed into pieces. The trusted guards around him were all dumbfounded, and they didn't know why the noble regent was so angry.
"He still doesn't want to be loyal to me! He still doesn't want to!!" Prince Chen kicked over a three-foot-high coral shelf and shouted angrily: "The Luo Lin family gave him the land, and I gave it! The Luo Lin family didn't give it away!" I gave it to him, and I gave it to him! But now! He takes the favor I gave him, but he only wants to exchange the life of old Raymond!! He is facing the family! To the family! One by one, only the family’s Loyalty is more important than me!! Could it be that in this world, I can’t find a person who is completely loyal to me!! Du Wei, Du Wei! I thought you were an alternative that could satisfy me! But You let me down! So disappointed! …
Father, you are right, if you want to protect yourself, I really shouldn't save your life...
But, I am Du Wei!
If I don't... I, am I
Du Wei smiled. Smile sincerely. Get out of the palace.
Me, go the way I choose!