Chapter Zero, The Son of the Earl
--- "Chronicles of the Empire, Volume 35, Record 7 --- Reflections on the Era of Roland"
The purpose of incurring these costs is solely to ensure that the flagship "Dandong" of the empire's "Xth Expeditionary Fleet" can smoothly pass through the canal and reach the outer port of the eastern gate of the imperial capital, receiving the cheers of the populace, thereby demonstrating the empire's formidable military power
Amidst the roaring cheers akin to a heatwave, the Earl descended from the flagship deck under the watchful eyes of the crowd, his feet finally touching the soil of the imperial capital. He waved at the cheering crowd, yet this gesture resembled more of a swatting away of flies.
Mighty indeed, but do those fools not realize that when encountering battle at sea, the first part to be destroyed upon the collision of warships is the bow's ram
Robber! Butcher! ... Executioner! ... His hands are stained with the blood of the indigenous people; he is the notorious invader in the hearts of the indigenous clans, the demon who burned their homes and enslaved them
In the early two or three expeditions, the powerful imperial navy was invincible in the South Seas, and when entire ships laden with gold, gems, seafood, and spices were brought back, it caused a sensation throughout the empire
Count Raymond, commander of the Imperial Expeditionary Fleet, stood at the bow of the ship, expressionless as he gazed at the jubilant crowd in the port.
Damn, this armor is too heavy and quite foolish
Having been away on an expedition for more than three years, with the vast ocean stretching before him and communication being difficult, Raymond is unaware of the current situation at home
However, the Earl does not consider the act of "taking a dozen large warships to bully those indigenous small canoes" to be what constitutes an "expedition"
The gaze of the Earl was somewhat unfocused; his line of sight did not linger on the cheering crowd at the port. Upon closer observation, one could discern that the Earl's brow appeared to be slightly furrowed, suggesting a hint of impatience
For this grand triumphant event, under the command of His Majesty Emperor Augustine VI of the Empire, the section of the Lancang Grand Canal leading to the imperial capital has been expanded to twice its original width! The Empire has invested the labor of ten thousand river transport workers for half a year, and the imperial treasury has also expended nearly three million gold coins for this purpose
Just one hundred steps outside the dock, the soldiers of the Imperial Capital Security Bureau, in a state of utter disarray, had exerted every ounce of strength they could muster. Many of them had their uniforms torn, their once-shiny epaulettes ripped off, their proud hats snatched away, and countless boots trampled beyond recognition
The earl would not consider this to be wrong. The weak have always been bullied by the strong, and the weak must maintain a posture of submission towards the strong. However, he believes that the mistake in the empire's policy towards the South Seas lies in the fact that these so-called expeditionary actions have been conducted too frequently, and the results seem to be diminishing.
The enthusiastic onlookers had prepared flowers, cheers, and applause—of course, many young girls were even ready to offer their passionate kisses and even their chastity. In such a tumultuous atmosphere, the one thousand soldiers from the security station felt as if they were a broken ship in a vast ocean, at any moment facing the possibility of being capsized
The most important thing is his own wife. Three years ago, when he was deployed, his wife was already close to giving birth, and now, he does not even know whether it was a son or a daughter that was born!
The Earl, of course, would not care about these matters, but the only thing that made him somewhat uneasy was that excessive aggressive warfare had, in certain respects, distortedly stimulated the development of these indigenous peoples of the South Seas, particularly in terms of military power. Even before his return, he had heard that in the distant waters to the far south, some island nations and indigenous groups had formed a so-called alliance to resist the empire's relentless plundering
In fact, on a deeper level, Lord Count Raymond even believes from the depths of his heart that organizing this so-called Xth Imperial Expedition Fleet is truly a ridiculous and absurd misjudgment.
The imperial navy also paid an additional 10,000 gold coins for this
First, a civil official dressed in court attire boarded the ship to read the Emperor's commendation decree, announcing that the Earl would have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor tomorrow morning and simultaneously receive an honor.
When we retrospectively review history, we often find that, beneath the relentless tide of historical events, even the most astute leaders are not immune to moments of confusion.
That is entirely a plunder, a massacre, a robbery, an invasion, a blatant act of theft
However, nearly every dignitary from the capital who came to greet the triumphant commander of the expeditionary forces noticed that his expression had darkened to the brink of collapse
The former Chancellor of the Exchequer, who had initially voiced strong opposition, has been directly sent back to his hometown to retire by the furious Emperor. The only option for the newly appointed Chancellor is to exhaust all efforts to piece together funds from various expenditures of the Empire's finances, in order to satisfy that "grandiose old man".
The Earl does not believe that as a soldier in a naval fleet, it is necessary to wear such heavy armor in battle at sea. That is something only the army would use. As for wearing these medals, the Earl considers it a foolish act. It is akin to a nouveau riche flaunting their wealth—true nobility would disdain such behavior. He feels that such actions are beneath his dignity. It is akin to a nouveau riche flaunting their wealth—true nobility would disdain such behavior. He feels that such actions are beneath his dignity
This thirty-nine-year-old first-class general of the Empire, a count of the Empire, is currently dressed in his most formal attire, his body covered in light armor, and a bright red cloak billowing behind him, rustling in the wind like a banner. He also bears two medals on his chest—awarded during his previous two expeditions. Undoubtedly, this triumphant return will earn him a third imperial medal.
At this moment, they envied those guards standing within the dock's warning line, as they could leisurely arrange their formations, flaunting their newly issued, most brilliant armor and weapons, while not having to worry about being assaulted by an enthusiastic citizen at any moment.
Certainly, the term "the old man who seeks great achievements for personal glory" can only be deeply buried in the innermost recesses of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's heart, very deep, very deep
When the ship's anchor was dropped, tens of thousands of citizens at the port were already in a frenzy, countless hats were thrown into the sky, countless people kicked off their shoes, and countless individuals injured their legs... Meanwhile, the poor soldiers of the security post could only reduce the perimeter of the cordon within their limited capacity, again and again
However, shortly after, a servant in gray clothing squeezed forward and whispered another piece of news into the ear of the Count, which caused Count Raymond's mood to plummet to the lowest point
The Dandong ship, in preparation for today's welcoming ceremony, had been freshly painted three days prior, and there were no traces of blood left on the deck. The deck, which had been worn down during the expedition, had already been completely re-laid, and the ship's ram had also been replaced with a new one. Goodness, those sycophants who enjoy flattering His Majesty have actually turned the ship's ram into a statue of His Majesty himself, and it is said that this statue was personally crafted by a renowned sculptor of the Empire just a few days ago.
However, the son born seems to be an idiot
It is a summer afternoon, and the blazing sun hanging in the sky continues to radiate heat mercilessly. In preparation for the upcoming triumphant ceremony, countless guards clad in bright red armor have surrounded Pier No. 1 of the port, leaving no room for water to pass through.
What left the one thousand soldiers of the security office, assigned to maintain order on the outskirts of the port, feeling helpless was that they were confronted by over fifty thousand enthusiastic citizens of the imperial city.
The transitional harvesting led to the rapid desolation of this fertile land, which could have become the empire's granary. Subsequently, each expedition yielded less and less. ... However, ironically, the triumphal ceremonies became increasingly grandiose ...
The news from home is: It is a son
After all, the South Seas are not merely inhabited by those easily bullied natives, nor are they solely characterized by gold and gems; they also feature the sweltering heat, rapidly changing weather, terrifying giant waves, as well as countless hidden reefs, whirlpools, and storms
However, no matter how affluent the granary may be, it cannot withstand such frequent harvesting. Excessive plundering has led to the extinction of indigenous tribes in the coastal areas of the South Seas, forcing subsequent expeditionary forces to extend their routes further and further. The lengthening of these routes poses a significant challenge for the fleet's supply.
The message is from home
Count Raymond himself led three expeditions in recent years, earning him a resounding reputation in the South Seas. This admiral of the imperial navy, the Count, has a series of nicknames in the South Seas:
Even if those indigenous people have evolved to the point of being able to create magic cannons, it is no longer a matter of concern for oneself
This message nearly knocked the Earl down from the peak of his joy
As desired, the political future is bright.
... ...
Just a little bit more
I glanced subconsciously at the deck beneath my feet
As the afternoon sunlight shines upon the broad surface of the canal and the first silhouette of a sail appears in the distance, the crowd can no longer contain their cheers.
In his view, spending this 10,000 gold coins was truly a waste. The works of that master sculptor were even less effective than simply finding a sharp wooden stake.
As for the expedition and the * atlas *, to hell with it. That will be a headache for the next commander of the expeditionary fleet.
Fortunately, those troubling matters no longer require his consideration. He is well aware that this will be his final expedition. Moving forward, he will remain in the imperial capital, and if all goes smoothly, he will secure a prominent position in the Imperial General Headquarters, then spend the next ten to eight years there. Once the current Minister of Military Affairs retires, leveraging his family's influence, he will become the new Minister of Military Affairs. If luck is on his side, perhaps in the final years of his political career, he might even indulge in the experience of being a chancellor.
Undeniably, the South Seas are home to countless islands, resembling scattered pearls dispersed across the vast ocean. There, one can find exotic forests, indigenous tribes that remain in a primitive clan stage, as well as gold, gemstones, spices, and marine products
Since several decades ago, the empire has begun a series of "expeditions" in the South China Sea region
The flagship "Dandong" of the Empire's Sixth Expedition Fleet, a pride of the Imperial Navy, is the largest warship in the history of the Imperial Navy. In preparation for this grand welcoming ceremony, the warship has undergone thorough repainting and refurbishment, with its hull painted a fearsome black. Amidst waves of cheers, the "Dandong" approaches the port like a giant black monster, with a massive thorny flag fluttering in the wind atop its mast. In preparation for this grand welcoming ceremony, the warship has undergone thorough repainting and refurbishment, with its hull painted a fearsome black. Amidst waves of cheers, the "Dandong" approaches the port like a giant black monster, with a massive thorny flag fluttering in the wind atop its mast.
As the massive battleship, measuring a full 200 paces in length, slowly approached the port, its grand and imposing silhouette astonished all the citizens of the imperial city who had come to watch.
No one will care whether the cost paid for a display of superficial grandeur is worth it
Moreover, the crowd cheering below was exceedingly loud, their cheers crashing like massive waves in a tsunami, eroding the already dwindling patience of the Count.