King

"Marshal, the Hessians compromised!"

He received this good news as soon as he got up. Even though Hudson, who had learned to keep his emotions and angers secret, couldn't help but smile.

The planning ahead was finally not in vain. Facts have proved that the pressure of survival is the most powerful thing that makes people give up their bottom line.

Under the simultaneous attack of military pressure, financial pressure, and logistical pressure, the Kingdom of Hesse had to choose to compromise.

"They also agreed to fully liberalize trade?"

Hudson asked.

It is necessary to abandon the Hundred Mile Corridor. Once the Alpha Kingdom sends troops, it will inevitably occupy this place. The Hessian Kingdom is simply unable to compete with it.

It will be different if we fully liberalize trade. This means that the last obstacle to trade between the two countries has been cleared, and the southeastern province will soon be rich in wealth.

Different from the aristocratic serf economy of the Kingdom of Alpha, the Kingdom of Hesse has a large number of free people and its internal economic vitality is much higher.

In terms of the corresponding economic system, the Kingdom of Hesse has also gone further and achieved tariff unification early.

"Marshal, the Hessians agreed much more readily than we expected. This is the text of the signed treaty!"

Governor Pierce said enthusiastically.

This plan was jointly planned by the two of them, but the actual execution was handled by him alone.

Politics pay attention to what is right and what is right.

Although Hudson held a high and powerful position, he was still the military commander. Except for a few provinces under military control, the internal affairs of other provinces have no right to interfere.

The only person who could represent the local province was the local administrative head. Hudson, who didn't like to take charge of matters, naturally pushed the matter to Governor Pierce.

To be precise, local governments do not have the right to conclude treaties with foreign countries without the authorization of the kingdom. The legal effect of this treaty is now very limited.

Including the final signature of the contract, it was not the Southeast Provincial Government, but the Southeast Provincial Noble Council.

From a legal point of view, this is a group of nobles from the Southeast Province, and the non-governmental commercial cooperation signed with the Kingdom of Hesse is not very binding.

As for the ownership of the Hundred Mile Corridor, it is not mentioned in the treaty at all. That is the job of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As long as substantial occupation is caused and subsequent legal issues arise, the Royal Government will be responsible for the aftermath.

"The Hessians are in a hurry. It seems that the pressure from the inner earth races is really quite big on them.

Now that the strategic goal has been achieved, we will fulfill the treaty and send troops to the Blackstone Mountains in three days! "

After glancing at the treaty, Hudson said calmly.

There are not many items in the treaty, but the content is very explosive. Although there is no direct exemption from tariffs, there is not much difference between the tax rate imposed and the exemption.

In theory, this treaty treats all nobles in the Southeast Province equally, but the real beneficiaries are mainly two large families.

It is especially of great strategic significance to the Koslow family!

In the past, there was no vigorous development of industry and commerce. The biggest problem was the lack of product sales market. The Hessian Kingdom's market is not too big, but it is a good start.

Everything is difficult at the beginning. As long as you take the first step, everything that follows will be easy to solve.

If the Hessians can sign such a treaty with the Southeast Province, they can sign a similar treaty with the royal government.

Someone took the initiative, and then persuaded the other three countries to join in, and the difficulty dropped by 90%.

In the most ideal situation, the five-nation alliance would open markets to each other, reduce or even eliminate tariffs, allow goods to flow freely between countries, and establish an economic community.

From today onwards, Hudson is the most determined reformer in the kingdom, at least until the domestic tax rate is unified!

If this obstacle is not removed, establishing an economic community will be a joke.

The boss can get an extra share, but the most basic fairness must also be ensured.

Originally opening up markets to each other, the four countries with a higher proportion of free citizens would be the losers. If they set up cards everywhere and charge arbitrary fees, it would be too bullying.

Not only do you want to be a reformist yourself, but you also want to attract more people to become a reformist.

For example, Governor Pierce in front of him was still immersed in the joy of signing the treaty, and had no idea that he had passively joined the reformists.

Having tasted the sweetness of free trade, even if he reacts afterwards, the benefits will push him to contribute to the reformists.

The two major families in the province are both reformists, and the younger brothers below can only be reformists.

With the addition of an additional heavyweight province, the situation of the reformists will be completely different. Not to mention surpassing the conservatives, at least the strengths of both sides are balanced.

For Hudson, a close match was enough. In situations of equal strength, conservatives would not dare to overturn the table.

Even if conflicts intensify, he can "persuade" people back to the negotiation table by standing in the center of the battlefield.

Put an end to civil war, and all that remains are political issues.

…

Emerald Palace.

After receiving Hudson's letter, Caesar IV's head was buzzing.

The mainland is in chaos, and the letter from its own marshal is not asking for reinforcements, but urging the reformists to act quickly.

"Marshal Hudson suggested that the royal government completely abolish the tax farming system, speed up the process of tax system unification, and strive to complete the tax system reform next year.

What do you think is the risk of doing this now? "

Ask when you don’t understand, and hold meetings when you don’t know. This is the governance experience that Caesar IV summed up after he succeeded to the throne.

He has not achieved many political achievements, but the victory is that he has not made any big mistakes.

Including the previous reforms in the kingdom, they were only tried out in one location and were not directly promoted to the whole country.

After the reform was blocked, it was decisively halted without causing large-scale armed fighting.

“Your Majesty, from the time when the Royal Government initiated reforms to now, although the government’s direct fiscal revenue has declined slightly, the grain collected has increased by 30%, and private grain reserves have also increased significantly.

Facts have proved that as long as the reforms are implemented, the kingdom's comprehensive national strength will rise rapidly.

There must be a reason for the Marshal to believe that the conditions for abolishing the tax farming system are now available. It’s not convenient to say it in a letter, but we can try to figure it out. "

Prime Minister Marquis Delgado's hint made everyone think of the previous four-way expeditionary force.

At first, I just thought that Hudson selected heavyweight nobles to lead the army just to restrict Alpha I from reaching out to the army. Now it seems that there is obviously a foreshadowing.

The expeditionary force along the way represents a big force, and it is also the most stable force on the top of the kingdom.

The head of the family and the main force of the private army are fighting abroad. Even if they oppose tax reform, it is difficult to do anything.

The tax farming system was originally established temporarily. From a legal point of view, it is completely legal for the Royal Government to abolish the tax farming system.

Thinking of this, everyone's resentment towards Alpha I increased even more.

If he hadn't caused the death of Duke Towus due to his nonsense, there would have been four mountains missing.

Without the leadership of these respected old nobles, even if the conservatives want to cause trouble, their destructive power will be much less.

Similar operations have been performed before. It was by taking advantage of the nobles' expedition to the Papal States that everyone had the opportunity to rally the reformists.

Thinking of the smooth progress in the early stages of the reform, everyone began to be eager to try again.

From the time they founded the Reformists, people like them could never look back. Either carry out the reform to the end, or succumb to the reform process.

To compromise is to be irresponsible for your own life.

Local powerful people like Hudson and conservatives may selectively pretend not to see it, but they will not be merciful to high-ranking officials like them.

Once the reform fails and conservatives launch a political counterattack, it will be their doom.

"The prime minister is right. There is indeed an opportunity now. We have already missed an opportunity. If we miss it again..."

Count Francis finished speaking halfway and left a look for everyone to understand.

it is more than words!

Sometimes making up your own mind is often the most fatal thing.

…

In the winter morning, the fluttering dragon-bear war flag flutters in the wind, as if echoing the sunlight falling from the sky.

The rally horn sounded, and countless soldiers appeared on the school field, waiting for Hudson's lecture.

"Set off!"

The swearing-in meeting had already happened when we fooled the Hessians, so naturally there would not be a second time.

Against a group of defeated generals, there is no need to boost morale too much. Although the combat effectiveness shown by the Centipede Army is not weak, everyone is still confident of victory.

According to the advance deployment, the army advanced towards the Blackstone Mountains in an orderly manner.

As the coach, Hudson did not lead the team, but looked down at the earth from the sky.

Maxim's huge figure is the best benchmark, and he can be recognized at a glance even from dozens of miles away.

Different from all kinds of strange schemes in the past, this time Hudson did not arrange any tactics, and just played steadily.

The terrain of the Blackstone Mountains is special. It is full of high mountains and ridges, and there are also a large number of magical beasts entrenched in them.

When it comes to any strategy, the first thing to consider is: how to implement it!

If it were not for the division of the "Hundred Mile Corridor", it would be difficult for the army to pass normally, and there would be no roundabouts.

"Night raid" or something like that is even more unthinkable.

People live in the inner earth world all year round, and the dark night is not an obstacle at all. Hudson won't do any tricks.

The army moved forward in a mighty manner, and soon alerted the giant centipede who stayed behind.

"How can this be!

The group of sacred monsters had promised that humans would not attack the Blackstone Mountains. Now that the enemy's troops are approaching, why don't they react?

Could it be that the Alpha Kingdom is so powerful that it can ignore the warnings of Warcraft and not hesitate to provoke a war with Warcraft to kill us!

…”

Full of questions, King Centipede quickly recovered from his panic.

You can study the truth slowly when you go back. The top priority is to block the enemy's army.

The giant centipede family may not care about a mere hundred-mile corridor, but the entrance to the center of the earth must be guarded.

If they lose the entrance to the center of the earth, their way back will be cut off.

Without the protection of the army, it is only a matter of time before the clan members are old and weak who have not yet had time to migrate out of the inner earth world.

The army that enters the surface world will also become rootless if it loses its home base.

The disaster of annihilation was imminent, and King Centipede did not care so much, and immediately ordered:

"Send someone to notify Marshal Howell and order him to immediately dispatch half of the troops to return for reinforcements!"

As a king who knows his troops well, King Centipede is very aware of strategic defense and cannot give up the newly occupied land.

The more dangerous the moment, the more we must remain strong externally.

Once their own weakness is exposed, the Hessians fighting them will also come out of the castle and bite the army behind.

If you are not careful, a retreat can turn into a rout.

Even if the troops are successfully withdrawn, they will still face front and rear attacks from the two major human kingdoms.

Deep in his heart, King Centipede silently greeted all the sacred monsters in the Blackstone Mountains.

When they were bullied before, one was more ruthless than the other, but now they saw that the human army was indifferent, and the different treatment was too obvious.

If you still believe in the promises of the Warcraft, King Centipede will not have to mess around.

The cruel reality told him that the Warcraft clan had tricked them. The so-called promise to "guarantee the safety of the Blackstone Mountains" is simply deceiving them.

You can be deceived by anyone, but you can't be deceived by a group of "simple-minded" monsters.

Once such news spreads, their reputation will be discredited whether in the inner earth world or the surface world.

“Your Majesty, it may be too late!

Because of the commitment of Warcraft and the fact that the Alphas remained stationary for a long time, we neglected the defense of the camp.

The only troops currently stationed in the camp are the Guards Corps and the newly arrived Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Legions.

First, let Marshal Howell lead some of the elites back to increase the camp's defense capabilities, and then urge the 43rd, 45th, and 47th legions that are coming from the inner world..."

Before Prime Minister Jawat could finish what he said, King Centipede interrupted:

"Except that Marshal Howell must stay on the front line to direct the battle and cannot move lightly, everything else is as you say!"

Ever since they knew the value of the "Human Marshal", the giant foot centipedes' fear of Hudson has skyrocketed, and no one thinks that the last defeat was just an accident.

No one dares to take it lightly when encountering such an enemy.

"It's all that damn Azure Beast. If we hadn't believed his lies, we wouldn't be so passive!

Next time I meet him, I will cut him into pieces! "

Lord Golan on the side couldn't help but cursed angrily.

Half of it comes from guilt, and half of it is for my own face.

If it weren't for his pull, King Centipede wouldn't have believed in the promises of the Warcraft so easily.

Of course, no matter whether you believe it or not, they will launch an attack on the Hessian Kingdom. It is just a matter of time.

The land under the sun needs to be watered with blood.

The territories of each tribe on the mainland were carved out with one knife and one shot. The giant foot centipede must also go through this if it wants to gain a foothold in the surface world.

"Send the order and kill all the Azure Beasts you encounter in the future!"

King Centipede added coldly.

The decision was made by him. Instead of blaming his own people, it would be better to vent his grievances on his enemies.

…

"stop!

Set up camp here today and hit the road tomorrow morning! "

The army could only march thirty miles, and the sun was still high. Setting up camp so early was beyond everyone's expectations.

"Marshal, did you find something wrong?"

Governor Pierce asked doubtfully.

Along the way, except for a dozen sneak attacks, it was almost smooth sailing.

Thanks to the destruction of the giant-footed centipedes, the originally lush and lush forest was now a piece of white land, with not many places suitable for hiding.

It's okay to ambush a small number of spies, but with more troops there is no place to hide.

“No problem was found, it’s just that the journey is almost done today, and it will be the same in the next few days.

The Hundred Mile Corridor is no more than a hundred miles long. If we push forward all the way, if we don't run into the enemy's main force tomorrow, we will definitely run into it the day after tomorrow.

Let the soldiers rest for a while to recover their strength first, so as to prevent the enemy from attacking at night and affecting everyone's performance. "

After hearing this explanation, Governor Pierce suddenly understood why Hudson had said before: It would be the same no matter who commanded him.

A steady march, and then a decisive battle with the enemy. There are no fancy tricks in the whole process.

Any experienced general can complete the task well.

In addition to containing the enemy's strong men, Hudson's presence only served to boost the morale of the troops.

Setting up camp and cooking rice were completed in one go. The sun had just begun to set when bursts of snoring could be heard in the camp.