Kingdom’s Bloodline

"Blood of the Kingdom ()" Find the latest chapter!

In a week, the Duke of Thales settled down in Star Lake Fort, but the lessons for the heir to the kingdom could not be missed (Thales sighed deeply).

"Language itself is a competent historian, it records the history of the past."

Bachelor Bona is dedicated to his duties. Despite his advanced age, he still insists on coming to Star Lake Castle once a week to teach grammar lessons for Thales. To Xinghu Fort, the biggest resistance and obstacle is far more than the distance between urban and rural areas.

"In the era when the ancient imperial language prevailed, the empire was prosperous and peaceful, and the grain was plentiful. Agricultural production took up a huge space in the composition of the language. You see, just this small textile house, from the loom to the winding, is filled with Many commonly used words in later generations have been derived, some of which we would never have thought to be related to agriculture, animal husbandry and textiles at first glance..."

Fortunately, the old bachelor came out of the city, but he was more energetic. He often took Thales into the nearby fields or farmers on a whim, and there were ready-made teaching materials at his fingertips.

"Pursuing, Your Royal Highness, tracing the origin and history behind words and characters will allow you to master the knack of using them faster," Bachelor Bona said with emotion, "Believe me, this will be very interesting, allowing you to see through the so-called expression. the truth."

After Bachelor Bona first set an example of academics not being shaken by politics, other teachers were also deeply encouraged, gradually returned to normal, and came to the castle to attend classes. Volunteer to stay overnight.

"Production and life are the source of mathematics! When we arrive at Xinghubao, we can concentrate on studying the mysteries of mathematics without distraction!"

In mathematics class, Maester Julio looked at the clear blue star lake outside the window, his eyes almost burst into laughter.

But Thales knew that what the bachelor really didn't adapt to was the formal and strict atmosphere of Mindis Hall. On the contrary, he was more at ease in Star Lake Castle on the outskirts of the countryside.

It's just that Thales suffered.

"Exactly, as we mentioned last time, in the nautical industry, captains often need a lot of complicated multiplication and division calculations to determine the relationship between direction, orientation and time. How about simplifying it into a convenient and easy-to-understand addition and subtraction operation? A wise man in ancient times left behind a genius idea. If we can derive the power of the power separately as the object of the operation..."

The prince couldn't bear it anymore, and slapped the table with his palm:

"Exactly, Maester Julio! I have big, big, big math questions!"

Julio's complexion changed, he put away the charcoal, and sat upright:

"yes?"

Thales hooked his hands, and Rolf immediately walked over with a stack of booklets.

"These ledgers were given to me by Baron Quentin. They record the current population, land, output, and taxation of Star Lake Castle. The numbers are complicated. These days, I have been devastated and have trouble sleeping and eating," Thales said (laughing) (Stuck) Julio’s hand, and sincerely handed one of the Grange Maps to him, “And I urgently need a talented person to check, summarize, summarize and answer for me...”

Julio's eyes widened: "No, Your Highness, I am your teacher, and I am here to teach you..."

But Thales is extremely sincere:

"No, Julio, you are not only my teacher, but at this moment, the person in my castle who understands numbers and calculations best, and who is closest to the mysteries and tricks of numbers—I believe that you can help the people of Star Lake Castle .”

Julio was a little moved: "Well, thank you for your appreciation. I may be able to help you a little bit, but I can't reduce the time for your class. After all, this is related to the study of the heirs of the kingdom and the ability to cultivate..."

"These account records are related to the happiness and well-being of my people, and they are also my business," Thales sighed, "Look at this beautiful land, are you willing to let the people on it starve? What do you think, as the Duke of Xinghu, I should first consider my ability and quality,

Or the happiness and well-being of the people of the kingdom? "

"You are right, and I admire Your Highness for your selfless ambition, but it still doesn't work..."

"I'll give you an extra raise, twice."

"Your Highness, you really love the people like a son, shall we start now?"

"But on credit."

"What? Your Highness, eh, wait, you didn't mean to reduce the time of math class, or even skip class..."

"How could it be? By the way, this is the book "Alien" you recommended before. The story about the sacrifice of Prince Hayman in it is very interesting..."

"No, when did I recommend you... No, this is a banned book! Where did you find it?"

"The collection of forbidden books in the Temple of the Setting Sun. By the way, I also found this, the complete copy of "Gonghai City Enlightenment Collection" written by Bishop Saint Lisieux."

"What? The complete copy of Saint Lisieux's "Enlightenment Collection"? Your Highness, let me read—wait, the forbidden library? No, how did you borrow it?"

"To be exact, I didn't borrow it. Then can you help me look at these field account books?"

"I can't, it's class time! Didn't borrow it? How did you get it?"

"It's a pity. The little nun guarding the forbidden books has to count the treasury once a year. Counting the time, I will return the "Enlightenment Collection" next month. Tsk tsk, what a pity. Let's continue with the class, bachelor. Bachelor? Huh Maester Leo? What's wrong with you?"

"Woooo, Your Highness, woooo, I understand, please give me the account book, I'll take a look..."

In contrast, the theology class, which was also moved to the countryside, also showed another side.

"It's okay, it's nothing, the setting sun will not punish you for this, on the contrary, the setting sun is tolerant and loving, she will take pity on your misfortune... just don't believe in that name anymore, instead of relying on external things, it is better to believe in your own hands, you can Well-fed and well-clothed."

Priest Megan comforted a trembling farmer who was tied up with five flowers in a gentle voice. The latter was reported by the housekeeper in the farm, saying that he was kneeling in the field wielding a torch in the middle of the night, while cutting the neck of a sheep. While chanting some unknown mysterious name, praying for good weather and a productive field.

This made Wyatt quite upset.

"You just let him go? Even if he is superstitious and heretic, and doesn't respect the sunset?"

The attendant looked indignantly at the farmer who was terrified out of his wits and returned home with the help of his wife and children.

"The temple has been investigated," Megan prayed without turning her head. "It's not a heresy, it's just a folk belief that has existed for a long time. It is especially popular in Yadi, and that poor farmer happened to be a child when he was a child." Moved from the cliff."

Wyatt glanced at Thales:

"so?"

Priest Megan finished his prayer, and when he looked back, his tone was both instructional and reproachful.

"Our history is not broken, dear Adjutant Caso."

"Even the goddess of the setting sun has to shine after the brilliance of the gods and the holy sun, and maybe part of the sun will go away."

Megan looked at the farmers and craftsmen who were busy coming and going in the farm:

"Look at them. Their ancestors have been bound to this land for generations, farming, animal husbandry, farming and weaving. This has been the case since the Myojin era."

"So in the fields and countryside, ancient gods and old beliefs, even superstition and heresy worship are naturally passed down from generation to generation, and it is difficult to leave. But it is not their fault, nor is it disrespectful, it is just habit, just ignorance, just ignorance, but it is definitely not a crime .”

Megan showed a smile:

"That's why, we must be charitable, tolerant, preach unremittingly, and persist in educating."

The nun Nia behind her was full of approval and admiration.

"Well, I'm not embarrassing the farmer, it's just..."

Wyah looked at Thales:

"A few days ago, His Highness was reprimanded by you for doubting a sentence of classics. You punished them for copying and reciting them. They were not tolerant. However, they believed in different methods in the field, but they were comforted by your gentle words and lenient the net."

"That doesn't seem fair?"

Megan raised her head and looked at the sunset in the west.

"fair."

"What is fairness, Officer Caso?"

"It was the prince who broke the law with you, but I gave you exactly the same attitude, punishment and price?"

"Even if you have a completely different body size than he can afford?"

Wyah was taken aback.

The old priest looked at Thales and Wyah with a stern expression:

"Remember, my Wyah Castle, in the name of God, always remember."

"You should be strict with the strong and merciful with the weak."

"You should be stingy to the rich and generous to the poor."

"You are cruel to the merchant, and kind to the farmer."

"Treat the dignitaries without false words, and speak softly to the common people."

"Beware of those who wear armor and hold swords, and be lenient to those who hold hoe and push plow."

Hearing this, Huai Ya couldn't help but put the exposed sword back under the hem of his clothes.

"To keep the balance stable, you need to move the speed to the lighter end."

Megan stared at Wyah:

"This is the supreme advice given by the Goddess of the Setting Sun to the King of Restoration through the dying mouth of the Prophet Muhasa."

After hearing this, Thales saluted solemnly:

"Thank you, I will remember this lesson."

Huai Ya was silent for a while, and followed the Duke to salute.

Priest Megan's stern eyes left Wyah and turned to Thales:

"Very good, but I hope you don't just remember it."

The prince paused: "Then, what about believers and true heretics?"

Megan smiled:

"I have the answer. But I don't think you'll like it."

Two weeks have passed, Star Lake Fort has become more and more clean and tidy (relatively speaking), food and clothing have been solved, and everyone's life is gradually getting back on track.

Thales studied his lessons in an orderly manner:

He began to master the reading, writing, chanting, and singing of Common Elvish; Different lands, populations, and outputs in the fief; he can accurately find Changyin City in Dragon Kiss Land, the classical three capitals in Thorn Land, the Hall of Kings in Steel City, and the eight main cities of Mihai Three Kingdoms on the map. The four major powers and sixteen city-states of Kangmasi, as well as the locations of the Westland and the Seven Seas; he can find the intersection of them and the kingdom's various histories from the Canxing family tree with a long history and many branches...

The newly appointed Duke of Xinghu soon gained a good reputation in the fiefdom and the countryside because of his gentle administration (hands-off), no taxation (no ambition), and laissez-faire (zero sense of existence) attitude.

But this made some people quite critical.

"Is this the end?"

One day during the martial arts class, Mallos was temporarily called to the capital for something, and D.D, who was in charge of the training partner, relaxed and complained to the prince in the "lumber mill": "I thought, with your courage, wisdom and knowledge , will you do something... different in Star Lake Castle?"

Thales held up the wooden sword, and while fighting with Huayya, he replied:

"Very well, Wyah, I like that - something different, like?"

D.D flicked his armor, bored:

"I don't know, reform, improvement, innovation, progress? Just like some knight poems say, a knight with lofty vision got his own fief, promulgated the New Deal vigorously to sweep away the ailments, accumulated land and army food, and finally achieved a party A developed and advanced country sweeping the world and making history?"

Thales smiled.

"Reform, improve, innovate, progress."

He flipped his sword and blocked Wyatt's attack.

"Very good, Your Highness," the attendant was hardly surprised, "Compared to Dragon Clouds City, you have improved a lot, and you have even cultivated the power of finishing."

"Practice makes perfect." Thales pressed his aching left wrist, showing a false smile.

He threw the wooden sword to Wyah, prepared to rest, and answered Doyle's question at the same time:

"It's not that I don't want to bring about change, D.D, it's just that..."

Thales was silent for a while.

"Do you know how many kinds of farmers and workers there are in this field, how are they classified, what is their source, where is their hometown, how many people are in the family, how many livestock are there, how many farm tools are there, how many different land farms they belong to, and their daily routines. How, when to start work and when to leave work, how many labor tasks in a year, what is the difference between the work of the master and the hostess, how do they cooperate with each other, how many kinds of crops and products are produced in an orderly manner by their respective division of labor, and among them How many things are self-sufficient, which products are exchanged in the market, who should be responsible and who should report to whom, what ratio and rules should be handed over in money or in kind, what kind of friends do you have the most contact with, and what entertainment do you use outside of work? Leisure, what is the staple food for meals, what hobbies and topics do you have when you are resting, how do you spend holidays and festivals, and how do you deal with beliefs, marriage, social interactions, illnesses, and funerals at home?"

These words attracted the attention of many people. Glover, who came up with clothes and towels, and Paul, who was practicing sword at the side, stopped at the same time.

After listening to the long list, D.D looked at him stupidly and shook his head.

Thales smiled:

"Good, because I don't know either."

The prince turned around and sighed:

"But these people, who were born here, lived here, and died here, for hundreds of thousands of years, know this land better than anyone else. Why do I think that a so-called Duke of Xinghu who just came from the sky and fell from the sky with his fingers not in the mud, Can they have more, deeper, more professional, and more adaptable wisdom and knowledge to the local ecology than them, to guide them how to live a better life?"

"I'm not Brother Mohasa, D.D, not a prophet who descended from the sky - that occupation is only found in the Sunset Scriptures, and I'm not so arrogant, so arrogant that I can see through history, so as to point out the direction of the 'future' to the muddy world .”

Thales came back to his senses and patted Doyle on the shoulder:

"Let's go, let's go home—I remember that today Kusta caught two wild boars in a trap in the hunting forest, and the logistics wing also hired a new cook. Dinner shouldn't be too monotonous."

D.D nodded ignorantly.

"But you also said that it has always been like this, and it may not be true."

Wyatt's words made Thales stop.

"Just like what you did in Dragon Clouds City," Huai Ya said in a deep voice, "Your astonishing feat broke the thousand-year-old shackles of the Northland and brought a new life. Only then did you turn the situation around and witness history."

"Perhaps the people in this land have accumulated habits and wisdom due to time and history, but if they remain unchanged, they will inevitably follow the old ways." The attendant looked at Thales' back, "Maybe sometimes, just need a wise and courageous ruler like you Or, to bring change and innovation, just like countless reforms in the history of the kingdom?"

Thales turned his back to him and didn't speak for a long time.

until he exhales.

"Yes, thanks for the reminder, Wyah."

He turned around and faced everyone in the training ground.

"However, if there is anything I have learned in the six or seven years since the Night of Dragon's Blood," Thales smiled, "maybe it is humility."

Wyah was taken aback.

Thales took the towel from Glover's hand, wiped his face, and took off the protective gear one by one.

"The owner of the one-winged crow, the lord of Wing Fort Dele Cromar, once told me a little story."

"Do you know when the Ravens appeared?"

Everyone on the training ground looked at each other in blank dismay.

"Ancient Empire."

The person who answered was Glover, and he said seriously:

"Emperor Comorra used ravens to convey military information on a large scale. They played an important role in the war, allowing him to command the army with incredible efficiency and control the overall situation, far surpassing his contemporary opponents and gaining the opportunity to win."

"Even after the conquest was completed, the ravens played a big role," Paul continued, "No matter how far the territories are, the summons were sent every day, so that the emperor who was sitting in the emperor's territory was able to firmly rule the major provinces, ordering the One, which improves the effectiveness of governance, strengthens the cohesion of the empire, and weakens the possibility of division, which is an important factor for the empire to maintain its rule after the epic conquest."

Listening to their answers, Thales nodded one after another.

"good."

"But that's not the first time ravens have appeared, it's not the first time they've stepped onto the stage of history."

Thales is looking for memories:

"About 700 Kings, or 200 years before the Great Emperor was born, a...a wise man discovered that certain birds reacted differently to certain lodestones. The reason why you can travel thousands of miles without getting lost is the origin of raven technology."

"Soon, a king of Xitaoya decided to put a group of carefully cultivated and trained crows into use to replace the communication channels between city-states, and to replace all messengers, mail, and beacons. future', he said with boldness and hope."

Thales paused.

"But the situation is not that simple."

"The ravens are very novel, fast, and convenient, but their technology is far from mature, and the cost of breeding and training remains high. The cost of raising them for one year is enough to feed and clothe an ordinary family. The cycle and effect are also unsatisfactory."

Thales' tone became more and more serious:

"But the king still firmly believes that the raven is the future. For this reason, he ignored all the contradictory advice and insisted on using the raven, which increased the taxation of the kingdom."

"Soon, ravens became a new trend. For a while, all the people in the kingdom were scrambling to collect bird species, build birdhouses, grow bird food, and dig magnetite. There is a story recorded that a poor family lived hard. They Keep the crow food, feed the ravens, but starve to death of children."

Hearing this, Wyatt sighed softly.

Rolf's arms became tighter and tighter.

"Secondly, the appearance of the letter crow has affected the lives of many people - lords, nobles, priests, messengers, postmen, guards, and even messengers and sentries. These are direct and indirect influences are also the bachelors and scribes who write , a poet who is used to writing long novels, a housekeeper who collects rent, some lose their jobs, some change their careers, some protest, and some insist on the past communication methods..."

Paul thought about it.

"Not only that, because of the existence of ravens, a lot of information just came out an hour ago, and the lords will know it an hour later, so the time for farmers to pay rent, the deadline for tax accounting, the rhythm of craftsmen's work, the fluctuation of market prices, The rhythm of everything was mentioned again and again, and everyone's life was turned upside down. They all tried their best in a daze, trying to keep up with the pace of the raven—or, in other words, the king's pace was not enough, and they suffered torture and pain. Unspeakable."

Glover frowned.

Thales took off the last piece of protective gear, and faced the sunset on the western mountain with ease.

"But the king is so superstitious about progress and civilization. He believes that the current setbacks are just labor pains, and the temporary sacrifice will be compensated, and the crow technology will eventually accelerate his output, make communication efficient, and ultimately make the country strong and rich, thus solving everything. question."

Thales gradually lost his mind.

"But he's right," Glover couldn't help but say, "In the emperor's conquest and rule, ravens are indispensable."

Thales just smiled.

D.D looked from one end to the other, full of doubts.

"In the end, under the influence of many factors, the crows were hunted down, the crow houses were destroyed, the crow tamer was hanged, and the king who 'captured the future' was driven out by endless riots tower."

Thales raised his head:

"When he was dying, he asked the gods in the sky with tears: 'Why? What I promised to this world is obviously a technology that changes everything. It is an achievement destined to be passed down forever, and it is the most beautiful civilization and future!'"

Thales ends the story in a low tone:

"The first application of the raven in the world has failed."

"It will be two hundred years after the emperor raised his troops and the empire conquered, and the letter crow became known and accepted by more people."

As the voice fell, the soft chirping of birds returning to their nests could be heard from the distant mountains and forests.

Paul closes his eyes:

"Pity."

Everyone on the training ground was silent for a while, until Wyatt tentatively asked:

"You mean to say that the king was too arrogant and not humble enough?"

Thales nodded, then shook his head again:

"Historical records show that this king of Xitao, known as the 'Crow Lord', 'has a magnificent picture, but he is obsessed with lofty heights, he loves birds and abuses the people, and loses sight of his sight'."

"indeed."

Paul exclaimed:

"If this king proceeds step by step and applies it on a small scale first, instead of rushing for quick success and quick benefits, if he cares about the people, understands the people's sentiments, understands political affairs, and develops slowly, if he waits for the technology to mature before..."

"if."

Thales interrupted Paul, he looked at the sky in a trance:

"if?"

"Yeah, we've always been so confident in making reasons for history, simply making sense of the past."

Paul was puzzled for a moment.

Thales continued to wonder: "However, from the crow master to the great emperor, the two hundred years of the crow's neglect, is this world's attitude and reaction to the crow, is it the inevitable "step by step" of history itself, or the "quick success" of human beings themselves? as a result of?"

The Xinghu guards exchanged glances with each other, expressing their confusion about the issue and the duke.

But Thales was in a trance, talking to himself:

"The Crow Lord's tragedy is deplorable, but is it inevitable? Is it inevitable? Is it because we are standing in the future, and we can't solve it no matter how much we say 'what if'?"

"Are those two hundred years a necessary sacrifice and price, or unnecessary waste and blindness?"

"And us, how do we remain humble and not lose our enthusiasm?"

This made many people react differently, some bowed their heads in deep thought, and some were at a loss.

"Your Highness?"

Wyatt leaned forward worriedly.

"I don't know, Wyah," Thales shook his head, "I really don't know."

"These people on our land, lords, farmers, merchants, craftsmen, they are in the same era, the same history, and the same world as us."

"Why do I think that I have the right to be arrogant, why do I think that I can bring them something, why do I think that in their history and land, there is no wisdom and desire passed down from previous lives, there is no seed of change and improvement, and no buried The buds of the future and hope are only waiting to break out of the ground one day?"

A few seconds later, Thales came to his senses, smiled apologetically at everyone, and signaled the end of the martial arts class, and asked everyone in a complicated mood to pack up and prepare to return to the castle.

Only Huai Ya was silent for a long time.

He took a deep breath, summoned up his courage, and leaned forward. .

"Your Highness," Wyatt lowered his voice, "it's not Star Lake Fort or Raven that bothers you, but something else, right?"

Thales paused and looked at Wyah.

"Viscount Nieman said," the attendant looked worried, "When you are upset, you like to talk—a lot of words, often full of emotions and sighs."

Puttilai Nieman.

The image of that old smoker flashed through Thales' mind, making the corners of his mouth curl up unconsciously.

"You know, you don't have to bear everything alone, you can trust me—or anyone you think you can trust." Wyatt said sincerely.

Thales stared at Wyah for a long, long time.

He couldn't help but think of the first time he met the other party, this rigid young man, who solemnly swore allegiance to himself.

The prince reached into his pocket and gripped the "covenant" tightly again.

"It's dinner time, let's go back."

A few seconds later, Thales put his hand out of his pocket, and smiled warmly at Wyya:

"Whether you're hungry or not, you have to eat."

Wyatt's expression darkened.

Thales patted him on the shoulder, and walked towards the castle on his own.

"But the Crow Lord is also respectable, isn't he?"

Wyatt's voice sounded from behind.

Taylor's pace slowed down.

"With regard to Raven, he failed, but the world finally succeeded—after two hundred years of travail, it succeeded with the Emperor."

Huai Ya's voice was rather urgent:

"Whether it is inevitable or redundant, no matter how the outside world evaluates it, the Crow Lord has made the choice he believes in."

"For him, maybe that's enough."

Thales was silent for a long time.

After that, he took a step and walked into the castle.

That night, Thales finished his meal and came to the study of the Jackal Tower as usual.

But this time, after he greeted Glover and Rolf who were standing guard outside the door and asked them to close the door, Thales' expression changed.

He turned around and looked at the figure standing behind the desk who appeared in the room at some time.

"From the last letter to now, you have kept me waiting too long."

The prince said coldly.

"Too long? Believe me, Thales, for existence like us, whose life is eternal and sleeps in the blink of an eye..."

Behind the desk, his most unusual teacher, the magician of Qi, Ashida Sacon, with a half-smile, twitched her slender fingers, and elegantly and calmly put down a blue invitation card:

"There is no waiting, it can be called 'long'."