When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

#733 - Meliati's Decision

The so-called inspection wasn't really for assessment, but just to get things back on track at the lowest cost.

The principle is the same as a master whipping a lazy ox.

If Melia really wanted an assessment, she could learn from the "Four Nos, Two Directs" principle recently proposed by Horn in the Advisory Council.

Melia's biggest goal in inspecting the fortresses and castles with hundreds of cavalrymen was to prepare for the military expedition to Pebble Plains.

Yes, after the Pebble Plains imposed an embargo on wool, Melia finally decided to attack.

What made Melia make this judgment was not the appeal from the wool industry owners in South Munde County at the Advisory Council.

She wouldn't care too much about the small interests of those at the bottom.

What really made her make this decision was Giniges's diplomatic actions, or rather domestic actions.

After entering March, Duke Luel completely surrendered, and Duke Nidebach was the only one left resisting in the civil war.

However, Duke Luel was not treated harshly. Instead, Giniges went out to greet him, personally untied the ropes, and even let him sit in the main seat.

Almost at the same time, he sent Melia an open letter, roughly saying that Melia should surrender with due honor and she would still keep her title as Duchess.

This was a rather interesting political signal.

This was not for Melia to see, but for the remaining noble forces within Thousand River Valley.

In front of Lannes, Melia directly called out the head of intelligence, Phili: "Read those pieces of news from beginning to end."

"...After entering Luel Castle, soldiers and nobles looted wealth, distributed military pay, and began auctioning off noble titles, which caused discussion in the Imperial Council..."

"...To thank these soldiers for their contributions, King Gigi ordered 4,000 wounded soldiers to end their service and return to their hometown of River Isle, and sent 7,000 soldiers to escort them..."

"...The Osla family sent birthday gifts to Charles VIII and sent their eldest son, Edinand, to study at Newbridge University..."

The first piece of news proved that the Leia royal family's finances were extremely unhealthy, otherwise they wouldn't do such a thing as publicly auctioning off noble titles.

The second piece of news seemed to be disbanding soldiers, but according to Melia, it was likely that the soldiers were being deployed to the Windmill Field border in advance.

But when it came to starting a war with France, Melia didn't think Giniges had the guts. It should just be for money.

The reason was hidden in the third piece of intelligence. The Osla family, as Leia's largest vassal, largest shareholder, and largest rebel, had already colluded with the French royal family.

If Giniges directly started a war in Windmill Field, with Thousand River Valley as an example, as soon as he started the war, the large and small vassals in the country would definitely rebel.

So if Giniges had any brains, he would definitely stabilize the internal situation before confronting the external.

So Melia could be sure that once the civil war ended, King Gigi would attack Thousand River Valley in less than a year and a half.

On the one hand, to prove his ability, and on the other hand, to deter the Osla family, the large vassal.

In Melia's view, there was an excellent time difference, enough for her to attack Pebble Plains.

Giniges's dramatic pardon of Duke Luel exposed the fact that he had not yet completed centralization. This performative appeasement suggested that internal integration had still not been completed.

He pretended to reconcile with the vassals internally (such as pardoning Duke Luel), and pretended to be on good terms with France externally (tolerating Osla's actions).

Therefore, Giniges would need a considerable amount of time to stabilize his regime and restore his finances after the civil war.

Therefore, he would definitely attack Thousand River Valley, but it was impossible to launch a military offensive against Thousand River Valley in the short term.

Melia had plenty of time to attack Pebble Plains before next summer or even winter.

And judging from her several inspections on the border and the Advisory Council's propaganda, she already had a public opinion base for attacking Pebble Plains.

She didn't even need to really invade the capital of Pebble Plains, Silver Bay City. She only needed to support a puppet regime in the economic hub of Salt Beach.

As long as the two regimes fought each other, they could buy enough time and strategic buffer space for Thousand River Valley.

For this purpose, she was already inviting various nobles from Pebble Plains and claimants to their territories.

Then let them quickly marry their own knights or relatives, and then start a war of succession.

However, this approach was opposed by Horn in the Advisory Council.

Melia closed her eyes and could still remember the quarrel and mutual accusations between her and Horn that day.

"Thousand River Valley's power is already divided, so it should be united and not move rashly."

"No, no, I never oppose your strategy in the direction of Pebble Plains, but your goal is wrong."

"Our goal is to prevent Pebble Plains from interfering in our war, not to attack Pebble Plains to gain a strategic buffer."

"The scale is too large, the mobilized troops are too large, and once you get caught in a quagmire of war, such as the one-way information transparency brought by the Shepherds, there is no room for error."

"War is not gambling! It's not a one-shot deal! Outside of war, you have to think about its political meaning!"

"War will only make the Shepherds and nobles stand together. Our real action should be to mobilize the Shepherds and fundamentally destroy their rule!"

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"The Shepherds are also a very large force, but they are not guided. How can they be as humble as ants?"

"What direct connection is there between what they couldn't do in the past and what they can do now?"

Although Melia still couldn't understand Horn's heart, she could be sure of one thing, and that was that what Horn said was the truth.

It was the truth as he himself believed it.

She had hesitated until now, largely because of Horn's opposition.

"Your Highness, perhaps Grand Shepherd Horn's words do have some truth," Lannes seemed to have guessed Melia's thoughts. "Pebble Plains is indeed a formidable enemy, but not as much as the Leia army."

"Lannes, you still need to learn," Melia opened her eyes, but it was beyond question, "Horn came from a commoner background, but he thinks that the commoners in the world are not geniuses, at least they are talents.

But in the past five hundred years, only one farmer, Horn, has overthrown the rule of the church.

He thinks that those Shepherds can hold back our steps, and that the farmers behind the Hundred Household District can continuously support our war.

But the fact is not so. If mortals really have such great abilities, why does Horn himself have to infect the common people with divine favor?

We are a short dwarf with insufficient strength, facing a seriously ill giant. This is the example Horn often uses.

Instead of waiting for the giant to turn around, it is better to take the opportunity to cut a knife in his left arm, otherwise if he slaps us back, we may not be able to block it."

The previous example of Melia sending out all her troops and being raided by Pebble Plains had already proved this bloody example.

North Munde County was her largest base, but she repeatedly exposed her heartland to the spears of Pebble Plains.

If this continues, when the Leia invasion war breaks out, it is estimated that the Autocratic Duke will sit and defend in the north, and the Grand Shepherd will be the main force against the enemy.

Even if she had to take some risks, Melia had to solve this hidden danger first.

Whether politically or militarily, she had to take this risk.

Thousand River Valley was already the weaker side. How could she win without being aggressive?

Phili glanced at Lannes, but Lannes immediately knew what to do and took his leave.

Phili handed over a roll of parchment: "Your Excellency Autocratic Duke, that claimant has arrived near Feldheim."

Melia stopped stroking her iron fist: "Okay, find an opportunity tomorrow to arrange a meeting."

"But he is just a small cloth merchant now and has no noble status. It seems inappropriate for our nobles to directly marry him."

"Then first confer him as the Baron of Morageng Town!"