I will be crowned king

The exciting speech came to an end with thunderous applause. At the same time, the departure time of the representatives who came from various colonies was also put on the agenda.

Members who can be sent out as envoys and speakers by various colonial parliaments will definitely not have low status and voice within the parliament; now that the empire has begun to counter the rebellion, of course, as important members of their respective cities, they must rush as soon as possible. Go back and discuss the next countermeasures - plus dividing the front.

The "liberals" and the "loyalists" who were originally able to tolerate each other and co-existed, were destined to be on the same side after the "Grey Pigeon Massacre"; the situation has reached this point, and there is no room for compromise between the two sides. Not you. Death is my death.

At the end of the meeting, before everyone left, Anson announced three more things:

First, the Storm Division is about to set off, and its first stop is the "close ally" Red Hand Bay, to assist the city council there in eradicating internal loyalist forces and handing over their properties to "really reliable" people.

This point was not met with any objections at the scene, except for the representative of Winter torch city who made some suggestions, hoping that Red Hand Bay and Beluga Harbor can "maintain certain restraint" in dealing with this issue, "not to expose the terrible crimes committed by the empire." Repeat it again,” and the rest of the colonies agreed—including Red Hand Bay itself.

But compared with Red Hand Bay, Winter Torch City has this euphemistic idea not because they have the idea of ​​​​riding on the fence, but because they really don’t care: this is the bridgehead for the imperial colonists to open up the interior of the New World. The situation was completely different from that in other colonies.

For them, the biggest threat comes from the desolate and primitive natural world, and the biggest dispute is whether to cultivate the land they already occupy or to continue exploring more fertile new territories.

As for whether to maintain independence or continue to be loyal to the empire, it is really not something they care about. The voices of both sides do not have much influence there.

If all the colonies decide to form an alliance, "purging loyalists" will be the "letter of surrender" that everyone uses to hand over to other allies, which will become a very troublesome thing for Winter torch - because they have not seriously considered it at all. Under such extreme circumstances, everyone can be considered a liberal or a loyalist.

If the Clovis army did something extreme in Red Hand Bay and asked all colonies to comply, it would definitely be a big blow to the originally united Winter Torch City, and it might even cause division.

In this regard, Anson said that the Clovis people who advocate justice and freedom will never collude with the empire and will treat those who hold different ideas more fairly.

In fact, he understood the concerns about Winter Torch City very well - he originally did not want to participate, but in a moment of anger, he was coerced by other colonies to join the rebellion; if it were not for treating everyone equally, Anson would not even intend to do anything to Winter Torch City.

Immediately afterwards, the matter of the "Common Front" was mentioned again. This time, the representatives present did not have any objections - or in other words, they did not dare to have any objections anymore - and they all expressed that they would discuss it in parliament after returning to their respective colonies. We should actively promote this matter within the country and reach a customs union and a defense alliance as soon as possible to ensure that supplies and troops will not be hindered in their movements in various places.

It must be admitted that although it is a colony, the Empire and the Hantu people are different; such things that will happen in the Seven Cities Alliance and even need to be explained are simply embarrassing to these colonial councilors who are well-off and well-educated. As natural as breathing.

As long as someone is willing to "unite", they can naturally think of a governing structure like an empire with unified sovereignty but considerable local autonomy; they can spontaneously form a "New World Parliament" that is equal to each other and includes everyone.

Even if this understanding is not the same as the "common front" that Anson envisioned, it is still better than nothing; a voluntary coalition is ultimately better than having to have the Stormtroopers personally take action and put a bunch of half-hearted people who don't even know they are there. What are the guys doing and forcing them together?

As for the last thing, there are actually two things, that is, let each colony allow the Beluga Port Promise Keeper League to operate within their borders, and at the same time let the "Beluga Port Good People Newspaper" open branches in major cities and ports.

Anson did not elaborate on the details, but just talked generally about the former being an organization of followers of the Universal Sect, and the latter being just like the "Moby Dick Port Good People", except that it will become their local newspaper after it is established.

The representatives didn't think much about this and nodded in agreement.

Compared with the model of the Church of Order, Universalism is the truly influential "Ring of Order" faith in the New World; Bishop Riper of Beluga Port is also very popular in several surrounding colonies, and even the Winter Torch Johto had heard of his name, and it was not unacceptable to allow his religious organization to operate everywhere.

As for newspapers, which are relatively new to the New World, the representatives did not really understand their significance. They just vaguely felt that the Clovis people might want to use them to collect intelligence; everyone was actually doing similar things. One way doesn't seem to matter.

But these two are what Anson really wants, and they are moves that must be actively accepted by each colony in order to exert 100% power.

For the New World immigrants with complex backgrounds and unknown origins, faith is the absolute greatest common denominator and the only force that can unite everyone; but the most popular Universalist sect in the colonies is a de-centered sect that pays great attention to individualism and is empty. There is great power but no way to exert it.

But if there is a voice, an organization that can mobilize this force... he can even bypass the seemingly powerful parliaments in each colony and directly establish contact with the lowest level and the largest number of immigrants.

As for the newspaper... In addition to the "small goals" of building momentum for the Luen family and collecting intelligence, the Gray Pigeon Castle massacre has proven how charming it really is.

A few simple drawings and some words can make you "empathize" with what is happening between a group of unknown people thousands of miles away.

Let small things that would not cause any splash in the first place create a storm.

In fact, no one knows what happened in Gray Pigeon Castle, and no one is clear. All the confessions are only one-sided words from a group of refugees, who watched from a distance with a few traders outside the city, and then made random assumptions. the content that comes out.

But when the two came together and became a newspaper's "According to Reliable Sources", it immediately gained magical power and became a force that could directly shake the Empire's rule in the New World colonies.

The League of Trustees + Newspaper is Anson Bach, or the "combination punch" of the Luen family to penetrate into the entire new world; it can start from scratch without shedding a drop of blood, without firing a shot, without soldiers or threats. , establishing the foundation of a new kingdom.

This would have been impossible in the dark ages of the past, or even in the days before Saint Isaac. The squire and nobles at all levels had deep-rooted territorial control that could not be shaken by a few rumors and a group of fanatical believers.

But this is not the Dark Ages, but a modern era with steam cores, railways, printing presses, new factories, gunpowder, and countless roads carved out by the bones of our predecessors... modern times.

A quarter of the 101st year of the Saint's Calendar has passed, and Anson is enjoying it.

……………………

"...So what happened in Gray Pigeon Castle? Did the empire really kill all the liberals there?"

Carl, who was holding a pipe in his mouth, frowned and stared at the map while asking behind him: "Except for the part about getting chicken blood, how much of what you said is true?"

"I don't know, and I think no one will ever know." Sitting in the empty parliamentary seat, Anson, who was also smoking a pipe, had a faint smile on his lips and crossed his legs proudly:

"We only know that the empire sent out troops, took control of Gray Pigeon Castle, and made the colonial parliament loyal to the empire again - as for the rest, are they that important?"

"...Of course it's not important." As Anson's adjutant, Karl certainly knew what this guy was thinking:

"In any case, there must be a group of liberals who were hanged or shot by the empire, so those who survived must be loyalists - at least the empire must think so, so of course you can say that Pigeon Castle All liberals were killed by the empire."

"As for the liberals who escaped...as long as they are smart enough or not too stupid, they will definitely kill the 'massacre' thing after they find out that the people who protected them are Clovis people."

"Because only in this way can they, with the help of the Storm Division and other colonies, return to Gray Dove Castle one day to avenge the murderers of their relatives and get back what belongs to them."

"So...the truth doesn't matter."

Anson concluded proudly, raising his right index finger upward: "But it's important to do the right thing."

"Then what is the 'right' thing to do?" Karl rolled his eyes.

"The most correct thing now is to let Fabian lead the team to 'deal with' the loyalists in Red Hand Bay, and then you stay in Long Lake Town and be responsible for continuing to take over the industries here, especially those that are critical to the army - steel The person in charge of the factory, the steel factory must be one of ours!"

Anson, who had been smiling proudly just now, suddenly became solemn. The manufacturing capabilities of the New World were very weak, but on the other hand, any small-scale manufacturing industry could become a decisive factor.

Although he does not think that the mainland will choose to abandon him, considering the strength of the two navies, it is better to be prepared for possible interruption of support in the short term.

A small steel plant is not worth mentioning, and its output is barely enough to supply the Storm Division; but perhaps just such a small amount of steel production can determine the outcome of a war, and whether the Storm Division still has the victory after victory. The strength of the fruit.

"Wait, you asked Fabian to be responsible for suppressing the loyalists in Red Hand Bay?"

Karl was stunned for a moment, as if he heard something incredible.

"He is more experienced in this area and knows how to do it more cleanly without leaking the news...I mean, he is better at grasping the scale." Anson nodded lightly:

"Although you may not believe it, this is actually a very professional job. Professional matters should be left to professionals."

"No, I believe it." Karl waved his hand, his expression still not recovered:

"Go on, you haven't finished answering my question yet."

"what is the problem?"

"You want me to stay in Changhu Town and take over the property here?"

"Yes, it is the industries of those loyalists who insist on resisting us and are unwilling to accept the agreement." Anson said matter-of-factly:

"You are the chief of staff of the Storm Division. This is your job."

"Of course, if you feel that you are too busy alone, I can also ask Clerk Allen to stay and handle some of the more troublesome paperwork for you, but you are still responsible for the military matters."

"Then what are you going to do?"

Karl finally asked the core question.

"I want to go back to Beluga Port." Anson spread his hands and said confidently:

"The local people who responded to the letter are almost here. I have to go back and prepare before they arrive; and...do the remnants of the liberal faction in Gray Pigeon Castle need to be resettled? Do I need to step forward?"

"So you just threw a bunch of troubles at us and ran back by yourself with... your fiancée?"

"... Regarding this issue, I think there is a problem with your perspective on understanding the problem." Anson's mouth twitched:

"In other normal armies, subordinates generally regard this kind of behavior from their superiors as trust."

"The premise is that we have to be a 'normal army'." Karl rolled his eyes again:

"The official war with the Empire is about to begin. Do you really plan to leave the bridgehead of Changhu Town and run back to Beluga Port at this time?"

"There is no way, we have to confirm the local attitude."

Anson sighed helplessly: "If the mainland refuses to stir up trouble in the colony... Although it is regrettable to say this, we must be prepared to 'guarantee'."

Guarantee?

Karl thought for a second, and then asked tentatively: "You mean...sell the liberals?"

"You can use a more euphemistic way of saying it." This time Anson rolled his eyes:

"Of course, I predict that the local people will not refuse. It is definitely impossible to agree, but at least they will acquiesce."

Anson's expression was slightly uneasy. The Stormtroopers had already invested too much in the early stages of this war. Even if they were told to stop, even if the losses could be stopped in time, the price they would have to bear would not be too small.

"Actually...even if the local people don't agree, you can also consider taking ideas from the liberal remnants of Gray Pigeon Castle." Karl said:

"You don't have to actually send troops, but spend money to support one of their 'smart people' to be your puppet and use it as a symbol of resistance to unify the liberals. In the end, you can still take part of the cake."

"Huh? What a good idea... This is such a good idea. How did you come up with it?!"

"You're welcome. It's mainly because my boss teaches me well."