The residence arranged by Brando for Prince Lenaret is located to the east of Valhalla, in a palace formed by hollowed out tree trunks. This is one of Valhalla’s abilities. You only need to pay mana in the town hall. This tree fortress can generate an unlimited number of cavities inside. Of course, if you want to turn these cavities into rooms, you need to decorate and With furnishings, Brando asked Antitina and Oldham to imitate the fir castle to design this palace as Valhalla's guest room. Today, this luxurious guest room is exclusively owned by the eldest son of the Cruz people. Outside the guest room, there are Krüz sword knights guarded by the Cruz people in shifts, day and night.
Most of these folding sword knights knew Brando, and after being informed, they respectfully led him in after getting Lenaret's approval. The entrance to the palace is very cleverly arranged. It is located on a terrace and is connected by a path made of vines; the other end of the path connects to the second floor of the tree top square above. The entrance is very remote and is guarded by tree elf shooters. ; Directly in front of the terrace is the main branch of the giant tree extending upwards. In that direction, there are the tree elves archer’s post and the tree house hidden between the branches, but through the lush shade on both sides of the branches, it is still It can be said to be able to overlook the scenery of the mountains in the clouds and mist on the east side. It can be said that it not only takes into account the safety, but also does not hinder the owners of this place from enjoying the wonderful scenery. It is an excellent design.
At the entrance, vines full of green leafy vines hang down from the tree wall, as if forming a curtain. Behind it is the palace hall, which is also semi-outdoor, and there is a giant crystal above the hall. You can filter in the light from outside, let the sun or moonlight pour on the magic fountain in the center of the hall, and let the glittering spring water gurgling on the pebbles. When Brando and Antitina walked into the hall, they happened to see the eldest son of the Cruz people standing by the spring water, looking down at the shining golden water stream, not knowing what they were thinking.
"His Royal Highness, are you satisfied with your stay?" Brando walked to a place not far from him and stopped to greet him.
Lenaret looked back at them and nodded, but didn't answer, just waiting for them to speak.
This guy is still bored as always, Bu thought. He took the initiative to speak: "His Royal Highness, the wind elves have started the battle in the four fields, and the golden mane lion men are also gathering the army. The holy war can be said to have begun. I don't know if your Highness has any opinion on this? "
At the beginning of the Holy War, the Silver Queen had to rely heavily on the military nobles in the empire, and most of these nobles supported the eldest son of the emperor. Lenaret nodded silently and asked: "As usual, the Temple of Flames should summon envoys from various countries to Ruschta. I have not had time to congratulate Mr. Earl for being appointed as the head of the envoy."
"His Royal Highness Lenaret has also lived in Tonigel for a while, shouldn't he not want to return to the Empire?"
The eldest son of the Cruz people raised his head and looked at him with light blue eyes, his indifferent gaze seemed to say, Is it possible that your little Earl Tonigel also wants to intervene in the empire's heirship dispute
Brando spread out his hands and smiled slightly: "His Royal Highness, it's not that I want to take chestnuts out of the fire, but because of helplessness, I have no intention of intervening in the Cruze's internal affairs, especially the most troublesome imperial domination dispute. But this is the end of the matter. , I have to think of a way to protect myself-this matter is good for you, good for me and bad for me, so I hope to get some advice from you."
"What advice?" Lenaret asked.
"First of all, I want to know who in the Empire will spare no effort to support you."
Lenaret frowned slightly, as if thinking about the value of this meeting. After thinking about it for a moment, he gestured to Brando—the gesture meant:'please come inside and say it', and then turned to Go to the study direction. Brando seemed to have expected this, and brought Antitina to follow. Several people came all the way to the study. In the study, there were a few light spirits waiting for the eldest son’s order. Lenaret asked them to arrange the room and put black tea and snacks—though these light spirits also listened to Brando’s orders. , But Brando waited well for the Cruz's eldest son to exercise his power, although his power was limited to this palace.
After a while, when a few bright lights flew out of the room, the eldest son of the Cruz people solemnly replied: "Mr. Earl, the Octaviar family is my wife’s family, Duke Ludwig Will spare no effort to support me."
Brando really did not expect that the eldest son of the prince would have a wife at a young age, but this kind of political marriage is equivalent to standing in line in Vaughan, and the Octavill family can be said to be as proud as Lenarit. In the Cruz Empire, Duke Ludwig can be regarded as the kind of person that the eldest son of the prince can trust. "What else?" he continued to ask.
"The Nona family is my ally."
"What's going on?" Brando asked.
"The old Yinhounhou publicly opposed the passing of the first king to his mother's queen, so he forged an enmity with my mother's queen. This hatred will not be resolved with the passage of time. Therefore, the family who is most keen to let the mother abdicate is the Nora family. I had a secret agreement with the Nona family, and the Marquis of Inoen promised to transfer a part of Inoen's mine shares to my benefit, and unreservedly support me to seize the throne." Lenaret replied calmly.
Brando suddenly, no wonder Mangrove came to Tonigel from the Empire so anxiously before. The Imperial Legion is divided into four. The current Inonhoumangrove is the commander of the Black Legion. In addition, the Blue Legion is in the hands of the Eric family behind Veronica and has blood relations with the royal family. The Nigel family controls the White Legion on the border of Hazel and the Scarlet Legion on the border of St. Osor. These three major families are typical representatives of the northern military aristocracy. The attitude of these military aristocrats generally favors the emperor’s eldest son to inherit the rule—but this only represents an attitude. According to Lenareit, there should be people who are really willing to contribute. Only the Nona family.
Brando took this down and continued to ask: "Anything else?"
"Old Prime Minister Niedervan."
"Prime Minister Niederven?" Brando was startled, and asked again almost unsurely. Niedervin, the old prime minister of the Cruz Empire, is no ordinary person. He should be more than 150 years old now. He is the elder of the three dynasties of the empire. It was with his help that the then Emperor Cruz returned from the temple a hundred years ago. To regain power, if there is any legend for the Cruz people in this era, it should be the Prime Minister.
With his identity and wisdom, or to put it bluntly, how could such an old fox easily choose to stand in line
Brando looked suspiciously at His Royal Highness, the eldest son of the Cruz people, and Lenaret slowly replied: "The queen's favor on the Parut family is actually to use the power of the local aristocracy to suppress other forces in the court. The military aristocracy seldom intervenes in government affairs, so the world knows her purpose-nothing more than the prime minister and the temple. The prime minister understands that the queen has no favor with him, so naturally she will not stand there."
"But it may not necessarily be on your side." Brando thought to himself that there are princes and princesses in the empire, and one less prince's eldest son will be extinct; but the prince's eldest son is right at least one thing, that is, no matter what. Choosing the prince and princess to inherit the rulership, it is impossible for the old prime minister to stand aside with the silver queen.
This is enough.
He silently estimated that the three forces mentioned by Lenareit came from distant relatives of the royal family, military aristocrats and general aristocrats. Among them, the hardest party should be Duke Ludwig of the Octavir family. The Nora family is second, and the old Prime Minister Niedervin can only be regarded as a potential ally or not as an enemy. Brando still remembered that he had offended the granddaughter of the empire as the prime minister's daughter and the granddaughter of the old prime minister.
There are several powers in the Cruz Empire, royal family, military aristocracy, local aristocracy and temple—
These four forces basically control most of the empire’s land, population, resources, and army. The empire’s land, population, and resources are of little significance to Brando. The most important thing for his plan is the army. Among the empire's army, the four traditional legions are controlled by military nobles, and the royal family controls two of them by means of marriage. The patrol cavalry and local guard forces in various regions have always been the traditional spheres of influence of the local aristocracy, including the emerging navy, but the local aristocracy is divided into two, and the influence of the royal family and the temple is among them. Each accounted for one. The royal family mainly has closer relations with the autonomous grand duchy in the north, and the temple mainly affects the large and small lords in the south; and finally, the temple itself also has a military force that cannot be underestimated, including the most of the Cruz people. The elite part of the army, for example, the Bishops' Order and the Flame Warlord's Knights.
Brando thought for a while, and suddenly realized that he had missed something, "Where's Veronica? Shouldn't she also support the prince?" He raised his head and asked Lenaret somewhat strangely.
The eldest son of the Cruz people glanced at him and shook his head: "Mr. Earl, the teacher, she supports me because of the honor and sense of justice of the military, but the Erico family behind the teacher may not be on my side. "
Brando understood what was going on after hearing it, and he couldn't help being in awe. The names Lenaret mentioned before, even the military aristocrats in the north, were at best a qualified politician. But this female army commander is the real soldier and the knight of the empire.
He knocked on the knuckles, and began to analyze, while replied to Lenaret: "I probably understand, Your Royal Highness, then let's determine what our goal is now."
In Brando’s heart, of course, what he most hopes to see is that the prince returns directly to the empire, and pulls his supporters to fight against the queen. The slightest result of this is a coup, but the more likely result is A civil war, of course, he just thinks about this idea. The eldest son of the emperor is not a fool, and his supporters have not been affected by the mental retardation aura.
What is the ultimate goal of a plan depends on the power they have now. A beggar will not rush to become a king with the goal of becoming a king. Most of the farmer’s long-term plan is to pack a few acres of land instead of becoming a wealthy family. Giant merchants that cross all over the world. And Brando's specific goal for Lenari is to protect himself.
"Self-protection?" The eldest son of the Cruz people chewed the word carefully: "Self-protection, first ensure that my supporters in the empire will not be swept away by my mother, does that mean?"
Damn, this is really a wicked evildoer, Brando couldn't help cursing in his heart. Although he had heard about the wise martial arts of the eldest son of the emperor, he had long heard of him in history, but when he was actually facing him, he still couldn't help feeling that his IQ had been crushed by the opponent for several levels. But he discussed this plan several times with Antitina and Kaglisi, and finally determined the details one by one, and the decision was made. Unexpectedly, the other party heard the name and guessed what they meant.
The Silver Queen set the grand goal of unifying Vaughan. What she must do is to gather the army first; it is conceivable that she will definitely take the Nona family at first, and she previously suppressed the northern nobles, she also prepared for this day— Military aristocrats are not fools. They naturally understand the truth that everything is good and everything is damaged. The only way that Her Majesty the Queen can deal with them is to use peacetime to reduce the army and reduce the power of these nobles. But the early arrival of the jihad forced the Silver Queen to let go of the restrictions on the northern nobles, because she knew very well that she still had many opponents in the empire. If she lost in the jihad, then these would hide in the dark. Opponents would jump out and force her to abdicate.
She has been in the empire for forty years. According to the previous agreement, she should have surrendered the throne. If she wants to continue to rule this huge empire, she must increase her prestige and give herself a justifiable reason for her love.
The best reason for this is that she can lead the Cruz people to victory.
And this is the opportunity for Brando and the prince's eldest son, but at this time, not only can not stand up against the supreme, but also must close hands and feet, try not to give her the opportunity to make mistakes. The army that Lenaret can control is obviously the Black Legion, plus the local aristocratic power that the Duke of the North can influence, but in fact there are not many armies that the Silver Queen can control, but the two are red and white. Legion only.
But compared to the eldest son of the emperor, she has more potential enemies. She has affair with the Kirk family, with the temple, and with the prime minister. The Erichko family is said to be very close to the Huaye Ling, presumably not. Support the Queen with determination, on the contrary, although they are not the loyal allies of the eldest son of the emperor, they have no shortage of opportunities to turn their enemies into friends—because at least they have a common enemy.
Brando's suggestion to Lenaret is to first secretly link up his domestic forces in his name, assist each other, and then hide deeply in the dark. This is a means of self-protection. Self-protection is itself a kind of defense, but defense is also for counterattack. This holy war is an indescribable whirlpool for the Cruz Empire. The Temple wants to win, and the Silver Queen wants to win, but the Temple is unwilling to make a wedding dress for the Silver Queen, and presumably the empire’s supreme is the same. idea.
The local aristocrats also have ghosts, hardcore supporters of the queen, and also surrounded by the temple. When the two sides wrestle with each other, the power possessed by the emperor’s eldest son becomes a decisive force among them. If he chooses to remain silent, then The Silver Queen's plan to integrate the power of the empire to achieve a jihadist military victory can be said to have failed in half.
Faced with this situation, it is not surprising that the old prime minister Nidevon would look on the side with cold eyes, and the attitude of the local nobles would change over time.
Because of a very simple truth.
A newly enthroned emperor, and an iron-blooded queen who has ruled the empire for forty years, have a completely different ruling power. No nobleman will like an overpowering emperor. This is Vaughan. There is a universal truth, so it is self-evident to whom they will be biased in the end. When the prestige of Her Majesty the Queen diminishes day by day as the quagmire of war is getting deeper and deeper, then the voice forcing her to abdicate will one day reach a consensus among all the nobles.
At that time, Lenaret could return to the empire without fail and accept the embrace of the nobles.
This is the final counterattack.
Of course, the self-protection at this stage is also good for Brando. He is going to the Empire to recapture the Azure Spear and Qian. It is conceivable that his enemies should be Her Majesty the Queen and the Temple of Flame. Therefore, he is least willing to see a completely unified empire, whether under the name of the Silver Queen or the Temple, so what he has to do is to maintain the turbulent status quo of the empire and seek opportunities for himself with the help of many confrontations. At the same time, Lenaret's allies in the north can also provide him with the necessary shelter, such as arranging a channel for him to escape the empire safely.
At this point, he and the eldest son of the Cruz people have common interests.
Lenarete listened carefully to Antitina's analysis and nodded silently. Finally, he looked at Brando, his eyes finally no longer so indifferent. He thought for a moment before he replied: "Mr. Earl, thank you for your frank proposal. I think I can completely trust you. If one day I ascend the throne, today's friendship between you and me will be a precious testimony. "
Brando smiled slightly, and finally heaved a sigh of relief in his heart: "So happy to cooperate, Your Royal Highness." He replied.
Lenaret nodded slightly to him as a gesture, but his stern face did not loosen at all. He considered for a moment, and suddenly said: "As a friend, I have some personal suggestions to tell Mr. Earl."
Brando was taken aback for a moment, and asked, "What advice?"
"I know very well the character and personality of my mother, your subordinate is in her hands, she will definitely use you and Eruin to coerce her into submission. I think Mr. Earl, if your subordinate's inner world is not If it is very indestructible, you'd better make some moves to give her some confidence." The eldest son of the emperor replied lightly.
The prince really knew the real reason for coming here, Brando thought in his heart, but he also immediately realized that the information that Prince Lenaret provided to him was very cheating. He thought for a while and felt that Her Majesty’s unrelenting personality is likely to really do this. Thinking of this, he suddenly felt that his trip was really not a loss, and he nodded to the eldest son of the Cruz people. : "I understand what I should do, thank you very much."