Warhammer: In the Name of Nirvana

[Then first, let us confirm one thing in advance, father. 】

[Do you want Horus to be a French or a German? 】

When Morgan and her genetic father arrived at the center of the garden maze, they found a set of simple stone tables and chairs that had been waiting for them for a long time: the fruit plate placed on the stone table looked still Fresh, precious dew is even flowing on those expensive fruits.

Morgan stood on one side of the stone table, her back in close contact with the furry and spiky tree walls. After the Emperor sat down, she sat opposite the Gene Father. He naturally picked up a piece of fruit and slowly opened the hard shell.

+What do you mean? +

The Lord of Humanity crossed his hands on the stone table and frowned slightly. But he still seemed very patient: As for the two unfamiliar historical concepts mentioned in Morgan's words, the emperor was not that surprised. After all, even among the rumors from the outside world, the Lord of Avalon had always been in conflict with the person [who likes reading]. Characteristics are closely related.

[Literally, father. 】

Morgan smiled, peeled off a piece of the shell that was hard enough to withstand bullets, and first smelled the pulp inside to make sure it was fragrant. Then he rubbed it with his fingertips, transforming into a spiritual blue flame, which burned the peeled off shell, causing the cold air to begin to emit a warm incense smell.

[France and Germany, the same land, the same race, the same origin, the same founder, have come out of two completely opposite systems and institutions: the Capetian family and the Salian dynasty, the fox and the red beard, the Bourbon and The Habsburgs, the nobles of Versailles, and the electors of Frankfurt. 】

[You should know these allusions, father. After all, this is the ancient history of Holy Terra. Looking at the current galaxy, no one should be more familiar with these past Terra stories than you: after all, they are your personal experiences. , I really doubt that the most famous French or Germans, such as the Sun King, Napoleon, Red Beard or Maximilian, may have your blood flowing in their bodies, or they may simply be one of you. identity? 】

As she spoke, the Lord of Avalon put the almost transparent pulp into her mouth, smashing the flesh and core together to make her cheeks look bulging. At the same time, she did not forget to raise her eyebrows and The right to speak was given to the Lord of Mankind sitting on the other side.

+That was a long time ago. +

The emperor was silent for a moment, and then slowly responded to his daughter. The Lord of Mankind also picked up an oval-shaped fruit, and just shook his palm, and the solid shell dissipated like ice cubes under the scorching sun.

+ The history of 30,000 years is far longer than Q imagined. Just its weight and triviality are enough to drive any precision instrument crazy: even I cannot understand everything. Remember, I also need records, I also need pens, and I also need collections arranged in volumes to help me recall these things. +

+ In this regard, my old friend Malcador is more successful than me: he is obsessed with collecting historical artifacts and books that were already precious before he was born. In his private collection, there are even items from A collection from tens of thousands of years ago, it was an era of romantic fantasy when mankind was just born, and it was also one of the most beautiful eras that mankind has experienced so far. +

[A treasure from tens of thousands of years ago...]

Morgan sighed subconsciously. While she was absentmindedly peeling off the remaining half of the hard shell of the fruit in her hand, she could hardly conceal the exclamation and greed in her words: In the heart of the Lord of Avalon, that fruit has been sleeping for too long. The young hamster was attracted by the smell of treasure in the air and screamed in desire.

And all of this was not out of sight of the Lord of Mankind: when the corners of the emperor's mouth slightly raised, his voice had changed from a simple question to an affirmative sentence.

+ Do you want it? +

【……】

[The person holding the seal will be unhappy. 】

+ It doesn't matter, we can just take one of them, it doesn't hurt. +

+ What’s more, I’ve already done a lot of things to make him unhappy: this little thing doesn’t really matter. +

【……】

Morgan narrowed her eyes: some not-so-good past began to attack her brain again.

The Emperor was still smiling.

+ If you want, make what you just said more clear: we are not compiling a riddle dictionary, we are discussing the planning of the empire’s administrative system for the next few decades. This is an extremely serious matter. I hope you Be able to come up with a plan that is solid, tenacious and long-standing. +

[Sturdy and long-lasting? 】

[Can you be more clear, father? 】

+ Before the end of the Great Crusade and before I finish my business, your plan will not be torn to pieces by your brothers with their willfulness and bad temper: Is this clear enough, my daughter? +

【……enough. 】

Morgan coughed lightly.

She had almost never heard such straightforward words from the emperor's mouth.

As a result, the Lord of Avalon had to start to enter the state: she released the fruit that had been almost ravaged by her from the cage of the five fingers, then picked up a hard shell and a soft pulp, and placed them Positioned somewhere between her and the Emperor.

[As I just said, father, France and Germany: two ways of ruling will inevitably lead to two results. 】

Then Morgan held up the husk.

[If it is the French way, it is for the ruler to hold on to his power, do everything possible to strengthen his authority and status, and finally completely train the nobles who were originally in the same class with him to become his subjects: for example, the Sun King Louis During the Fourteenth Century, the various great nobles who originally held great power could only live in the Palace of Versailles, becoming the king's foil and proud of the Sun King's favor. 】

[Such a system is undoubtedly firm and can mobilize all our strength as much as possible, but its shortcomings are also very obvious: just like no one likes to eat this hard and nutritious nut shell Likewise, the Primarchs are not nobles among mortals, and they will not allow the power in their hands to be taken away at will. 】

[If Warmaster Horus dares to say that I am the country, then he will wait to be defeated by his brothers: even Mortarion and Jaghatai Khan will not argue with Horus on this issue. Ruth stayed consistent. 】

The Emperor was silent for a moment.

+ What about the German style: like your slice of fruit? +

[To be more precise, it was the Holy Roman Empire: due to various reasons, the rulers could not concentrate their power and had to make concessions to political entities large and small, especially the electors: until the day it died. For a moment, the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire were unable to be as exclusive and monopolistic as a real emperor. 】

[This is certainly a disaster for rulers and those who pursue high efficiency, but for those Primarchs who are about to be ruled by the Warmaster: who wouldn’t like such a piece of soft pulp? ? 】

While smiling, Morgan threw the remaining pulp into her mouth, feeling the warm juice between her lips and teeth, and asked her genetic father the last question.

[Then here comes the question, father: What are your expectations for Horus, the war commander? Do you want him to become the monarch of France or the emperor of Holy Rome? 】

[In other words, do you want to give this Warmaster position full real power and put it above all the original bodies and legions?

[Or, you just need to set up the position of war commander. As for the limits of power of this position, you don't really care that much? 】

【Have great power and can be pointed at by thousands of people? 】

[Yourou compromises but attracts all the attention? 】

+...+

The Lord of Mankind did not immediately answer his daughter's question. His bronze face fell into sincere thinking for the first time in a long time. This thinking lasted for a long time: maybe a few seconds, maybe a few minutes, until The fruit he held in his palm was reduced to ashes in a burst of invisible flames.

+ Does this issue occupy a very important position in your plan? +

【Yes. 】

Morgan nodded.

[I must understand, do you really think that it is a good idea to put Horus above the many Primarchs, or do you just want to create a position like Warmaster, and Horus is the only one in your heart? Candidate. 】

[To be honest, no matter which of these two options I choose, I am quite confused. 】

[Why do you fall in love with Warmaster? This position is not suitable for the current empire at all: When I first heard this term, confusion like this had already taken root in my heart. 】

+...+

As always, the Lord of Mankind did not answer his daughter on such a relatively personal question. He just stretched out his hand, grabbed the hard and useless fruit shell, threw it into his mouth, chewed it slowly, and then Pushing another piece of pulp closer to Morgan.

Morgan looked at the emperor's choice and showed a helpless smile. She held her face with one hand, and her voice couldn't help but become lazy and casual.

[It seems that you like Horus more than I thought. You would rather let the efficiency of the Great Crusade be affected, but also want to ensure his reputation and status like the sun now? 】

+ He is the most suitable one. +

The emperor's tone was calm.

+ Since I return to Holy Terra earlier than expected, it means that Horus becomes Warmaster and takes longer to control the progress of the Great Crusade: Therefore, from a long-term perspective, a stable system More important than an efficient system. +

+Originally, I planned to let Horus serve as Warmaster for at least a generation, so that he would naturally have stronger power, but now that time is about to double, so it is not a bad idea to compromise and be more prudent: anyway By the time I left, the Great Crusade must have moved away from the period of progress that most required efficiency. +

+Also, although I believe that Horus will not abuse his power, and he will not let the Primarchs feel that they are oppressed and enslaved, but be prepared: tell me now, what can you do? To eliminate the resistance among the Primarchs towards the position of Warmaster and the new system? +

[The method is very simple, father. 】

Morgan smiled easily.

[As long as the position of Warmaster does not require you to monopolize an entire sky and disperse the stars in your mind, then there is room for change on this issue. 】

Morgan put the piece of pulp into her mouth and chewed it slowly. After swallowing it completely, she gave her answer clearly.

[Let me tell you, since you can make Horus the Warmaster, you can also make me the Warmaster's auxiliary officer, and in the future, you will also make another brother: I speculate that that person is most likely Rogal Dorn. Or Fulgrim, if he came to become the Praetorian Guard of Terra. 】

[Then why don’t you give every Primarch an official position? 】

+...+

【……】

+...+

The air felt a little quiet for a moment.

The irresistible face of the Lord of Humanity was like a sculpture, frozen in the cold breath. His brain seemed to be running rapidly, but his lips could only tremble and spit out an instinctive question.

+What did you say, Morgan? +

[I said: Why don’t you appoint Horus as Warmaster? To appoint every Primarch? 】

Morgan spread his hands and raised his fingers one by one, counting the complex system that supported this simple conclusion.

[First of all, you have to know that the Primarchs are destined to be full of resistance to the position of Warmaster. Even if Horus takes over in the future, many people will have complaints about it: it is not because they hate Horus, Rather, it is because they hate the office of Warmaster itself, and your beloved Horus is only implicated in it. 】

[No way, who told you to set up a position like Warmaster? Horus will definitely strive for this position that is closest to you and symbolizes your recognition. 】

+...+

[Before this, only you can be above us, we accept your command, because you are our creator, you are more excellent in all aspects than us, so even those who are not harmonious with you The Primarchs will willingly fight for your orders. 】

[But Horus firstly does not have the special status of a founder, secondly he does not crush us in all aspects, and thirdly, he was originally just one of us, and he was forcibly promoted to our class. It will only cause most of the original bodies to develop a rebellious mentality. 】

[You should know how...childlike innocence your beloved creations are, right? 】

+...+

[But if, when you leave the front lines of the Great Crusade, you assign different responsibilities to each Primarch, making them both blood brothers and councilors sitting around the same round table: of course, they Most of them don't care about this kind of power at all. 】

[In this case, if the Warmaster is given to Horus, it will not stand out so much. 】

[He is just the speaker of this parliament, your agent, and the one with a higher position among the brothers. He is not completely above us. He is still one of us, but relative to For ordinary primarchs, they have noble status and excellent abilities: but Horus is such a person to begin with, and no one will hold a grudge against this change. 】

[Besides, from a more secular perspective, since you have cleared out the Primarchs from the original authority [War Council], you will naturally find a corresponding position for us on the front line of the Great Crusade: Finally At least on the surface, this isn't a downgrade. It was a normal job transfer. 】

+...+

The Emperor narrowed his slit pupils.

+Does this have any practical significance? +

【of course not. 】

Morgan laughed.

[Because you don’t need to give each Primarch actual power at all, they won’t use it anyway, you just need to give each Primarch a title that looks good: broad, gorgeous, empty, listen The title "Rise" or "Warmaster" will not widen the class gap: the appointment itself is just a face-saving project. 】

+...Fake appearance? +

[The Primarchs need to show off: you can call it decoration. 】

[They need this face to feel that Horus, the Warmaster, is still of the same class as them. They need this face to accept the fact that they are gradually moving away from the center of power in the empire. They need this face to make sure that they are still of the same class. In your heart, it has enough status. 】

+Sounds good, but will this behavior really not tear the empire apart? +

[You swept the Primarchs out of the highest authority. Isn't this purge itself a kind of tearing? 】

[What's more, I think you should know very well that the Holy Roman Empire, a loose country, once approached true unity: in the Thirty Years' War, in the large-scale civil war that swept the empire, when the emperor's army When every prince who disobeyed orders was wiped out: before the entry of foreign forces, the Habsburg emperor was once the real HRE emperor. 】

[You don’t lack such power, nor do you lack such opportunity, do you? 】

+...you+

+...+

+Go on. +