Sword of Dawn

Two strong attendants lifted a large box up, and after opening the box, several tattered swords and some twisted and deformed armor remnants were placed in front of everyone.

Those things seemed to have been soaked in strong acid. The original smooth metal surface was full of potholes, and it had a dirty color. The metal that was most eroded by the elemental force even turned into a texture similar to rotten wood. Rub out large pieces of crumbs.

"Now they are harmless and can be touched directly with hands, but until half a month ago, these steels were still disintegrating themselves," Gawain explained while watching the king and nobles examine the samples , "If the historians in the past 700 years have not slacked home, there must be records in the history books."

"Yes, yes..." Francis II nodded and said.

"In addition, we also found a wild mage's notes by coincidence. His notes mentioned the signs of the outbreak of the sun's red spot and the upsurge of magic power..."

Gao Wen listed all the information he could provide, but obviously, the information from the Wild Mage's notes did not attract much attention.

For most of the people present, those things were not even as convincing as the crumbs falling from the pieces of swords and armor on the table.

"Do you know where that dragon went?" Finally, the Duchess of the North, Victoria Wilde, broke the silence. She seemed more concerned about the whereabouts of the dragon than those monsters, "Or can you guess its purpose? Is it?"

Gao Wen shook his head: "I don't know about that."

Although he is older, it does not mean that he is more knowledgeable than the people present. Gawain Cecil 700 years ago had never dealt with dragons.

Well, at least not in memory.

After seeing those crystals last night, Gawain no longer believed in the memory he had inherited.

"Actually... three months ago, there were rumors about dragons in my territory," the Duchess said word by word, "someone claimed to have seen dragons flying from the cold mountains farther north— But in the end, no other witnesses were found, and the person spreading the rumors proved to be an illusion caused by drinking too much wine: he mistook the snowstorm in the mountains for a dragon."

Gao Wen immediately asked: "Did that person describe the specific appearance of the dragon?"

"No," the Duchess shook her head, "but I can continue to investigate after I go back."

"It is necessary to investigate, not only the dragon, but also the monsters," Francis II said, "to see if similar things appear in other parts of the country, or if there is an abnormal surge of magic power."

Rebecca couldn't help but speak again: "But investigation is not enough, you must also prepare for battle - those monsters will appear suddenly, there will be no warning beforehand, if you don't prepare in advance, there will be no time to defend, wait It must be too late by the time the investigators find them..."

Duke Silas Roland, who was stationed on the eastern border, glanced at Rebecca with some dissatisfaction: "Soldiers all over the country should be prepared to fight, and wait for those who don't know when they will appear—even Isn’t it a monster that might come out?”

Rebecca replied subconsciously: "Of course it would be best..."

"It's impossible. We can't mobilize soldiers all over the country just because of an illusory possibility. The local nobles will rebel, and the royal family's credibility will also be reduced," said Duke Silas with a straight face. And tall, with a typical martial temperament, "What's more, we have to deal with the threat of the Typhon Empire in the east - that country is a jackal, and it is not a day or two to wait for a bite of flesh and blood from Ansu."

The remnants of the old Gondor Empire broke out in four directions after the destruction of their homeland, and finally established a new country in the four directions of the mainland. The Typhon Empire is a country located in the east of the mainland, and it is the most powerful of the four countries. .

The human kingdoms in the north, south, and west all coexist with the original local kingdoms or races, but Typhon is now the only country in the east of the continent, and its strength and behavior can be imagined.

Ansu and Typhon are adjacent, and there is a large area of ​​fertile land and rich mines on the border between the two, which is simply a natural point of conflict.

In the first few hundred years, the human kingdoms from the same family can still remember the brotherhood and maintain peace, but long-term peace is not realistic at all——100 years ago, the civil strife in Ansu, the Typhon Empire took the opportunity to "move" a little on the border With a bit of hand and foot", the relationship between the two countries began to take a turn for the worse, and now, it can be said that there is almost no peace.

There is no big frontal war, but small frictions never stop.

As far as the current situation of the Ansu Kingdom is concerned, the south is barren and has been peaceful for a long time. The northern countries have no conflicts with Ansu. The past hundred years have been under the pressure of war, so the military faction, Duke Silas Roland will never agree to turn military power to guard against those illusory monsters. For him, those almost legendary things are far worse than everyday The army of Typhon dangling right under his nose was a menace.

Chapter 0035 Achievement

Everything was as Gao Wen expected.

News from the south would make kings and nobles nervous, and with a warning from a revived ancient, the tension might rise to a little panic level - but that's about it.

Those who have never experienced the magic tide and cannot imagine the magic tide will not react too much to the news that is limited to words, even if Gao Wen brought some swords and armor corroded by the power of the elements. As evidence, it is impossible for them to make a higher level of response.

After all, although there are not many "abnormal natural phenomena" that can cause swords and armor to be corrupted by magic power, they are not without. The information made some bold speculations, and he himself did not dare to pat his chest and say that the end of the world is coming.

There was nothing wrong with Francis II's response. It was impossible for him to put the entire kingdom into a state of war readiness because of these sudden news. Even if he wanted to, the bloated and backward aristocratic enfeoffment system would not allow him to do so.And even if the demonic tide will really come, it is unwise to start national war preparations now - the monsters in the south and the surge of magic power are just signs, not even the vanguard of the demonic tide, the real demonic tide may have to wait It won't be there for months, or even years (if it's going to happen), and until then, it's all smooth sailing.

If the weather is calm and no evidence can be found, the Moen family may be able to do so, but the current Second Dynasty... has no such appeal.

Francis II even ordered the Duke of the East to not move.

A revived founding duke may be full of weight in terms of prestige, but if he wants to use this prestige to interfere with the order of the kingdom today, it would be a bit too much. Gawain is very clear about this point, he knows that he is The right to speak here is actually a scepter of flowers—brilliant and gorgeous but powerless. The foundation of the Cecil family is gone. Borrowed, this is an embarrassing situation for the always pragmatic aristocratic circle.

So Gawain held down Rebecca, who was still about to speak, and looked at the opposite king: "We have sent a message and issued a warning. As for the follow-up specific response, it is up to you."

"We will definitely take your warning seriously," Duchess Victoria Wilde said in a cold voice, "All investigations will be launched immediately after this meeting is over, and you will also get the news as soon as possible."

"Investigation... that's the only way to go," Gao Wen nodded, and changed the topic, "Then this matter will stop here, and now let's talk about the Cecil family's private affairs."

This time, the atmosphere really became tense instantly.

"Relax, don't look like 'the old ancestor jumped out of the coffin and asked to cash in the paper money burned over the years'." Gao Wen smiled and waved his hands when he saw this, and then found that no one could understand his cold joke...

So fucking embarrassing.

"I know what happened 100 years ago, and frankly speaking, I really want to kill that unworthy descendant," Gao Wen twitched, and went straight to the point, "So I have no intention of reversing the case on this matter, I will Just trying to get back something that should be my personal."

Francis II and the several grand dukes looked at each other, and the expressions on everyone's faces were more or less relaxed - Gao Wen took the initiative to talk about the earth-shaking event 100 years ago, which made them feel relieved from the bottom of their hearts .After all, on this sensitive topic, whoever opens the mouth is a psychological pressure that can make the blood pressure soar to two hundred. It is a relief that the living ancestor in front of him can be so sympathetic to the younger generation.

But after breathing a sigh of relief, they raised their hearts again: What would those things that belonged to Gawain Cecil be?

Everything belongs to the lord—this is the rule of the nobility. Everything in the Cecil family in the past, including fiefdoms, vassals, titles, etc., was the personal property of Gawain Cecil. Which one did he refer to?

Everyone tensed their muscles where others were not paying attention, only Francis II glanced at Gawain calmly, and nodded calmly.

"Don't be nervous, most of the things I had during my lifetime have been passed down to my heirs, and the unworthy descendants have ruined those things, and I can't force them back," Gao Wen laughed, "What I mean is Parts that cannot be inherited, such as... my development rights."

The great nobles and the advisors looked at each other, and then these well-educated gentlemen and ladies immediately thought of the ancient and sacred pioneering decree.

It is a glorious commemoration of the second pioneering, a proof of human beings' courageous survival in a desperate situation, and an oath made by mortals in front of nature. Even today, it is still a part of the basic codes of the four kingdoms - a There will no longer be a chance to take effect, but no one dares to speak out about the abolition of the decree.

The original version of the pioneering decree was even individually engraved on a platinum plate and enshrined in the halls of every human kingdom.

But everyone keeps it as a souvenir!It is used to pretend to be a force for future generations!It means that he inherits orthodoxy!

Why is this suddenly going to take effect again? !

But amidst the astonishment, there was a trace of sincere relaxation hidden in the expressions on everyone's faces, and this slight change in expression did not escape Gao Wen's eyes.

So he also relaxed, and began to discuss the permanent development rights with the people present.

Gao Wen believed that this matter would not be too difficult.

Compared with a living ancestor who returned to the world and asked to cash in the paper money that was burned in the past, and by the way, asked for his vast land that was so vast that it was almost a country within a country 700 years ago, a mere permanent development right is nothing at all-the latter Although it sounds bluffing, it will not affect the vital interests of anyone on the scene, and every nobleman (including the king himself) will be quite talkative if it does not affect his own interests.

And this is also the result of Gao Wen's deliberate promotion.

He was high-profile along the way, spreading all kinds of news, and even took out the flags from 700 years ago when he entered the capital, and he looked aggressive when he came. Induce everyone's thinking - let them think that this living ancestor is aiming to reverse the case for the Cecil family and recover all the family fiefdoms, so everyone will make a response plan under this premise, and do a good job of how to deal with it. Prepare to keep your existing interests by fighting with lip and tongue.

However, Gao Wen's goal is only permanent development rights.

This gap is basically equivalent to going out to buy a watch, the original price is 86, and the discount is 25 after the sale-it feels like a huge bargain.

I can't even help but suspect that the watch is fake.

But even if the 25 yuan watch is fake, the ancestor is also real. If he really just wants a permanent development right... then what's the point?

Good, good, give it, hurry up and take your old man's right to open up wasteland, and don't come back. jpg.

If Gao Wen hadn't made any preparations before, and had proposed permanent development rights from the beginning, maybe things would not have gone so smoothly. The greedy nature of the nobles would have made them want to skimp even on such things, but with so many It is much easier to talk about the right to develop.

The kings and dukes at the scene agreed without much discussion that the right to pioneering itself should be recognized—if you don’t recognize it, you have to admit it, because Ansu was not the only country that signed the right to open up at the time. In fact, the four major human kingdoms and All the nations bordering on the four major kingdoms have also recognized this decree and promised that the decree will take effect forever, and these "co-witnesses" include elves from the Silver Empire in the extreme south of the mainland...

Those elves who talk about their gods and gods, and are especially alive.

Those guys with an average lifespan of 3000 years or more, and who are extremely rigorous and honest are notoriously stubborn. It was precisely because of this that the elves were one of the witnesses when the permanent development decree was signed: This decree is more solemn and more credible, and even a copy of Elvish language was specially written and handed over to the Silver Empire for safekeeping.

Although everyone knows that the first generation of pioneer knights can't live forever, it is probably human's eccentricity to write such a decree with the "permanent" label, and let a long-lived race be a witness ...

Anyway, the representative of the elves at that time brought the copy back to the country while muttering "Human beings are really weird", and then the elf queen happily stamped the copy - 700 years have passed in a blink of an eye, and it was still The elf queen of a hairy girl who just ascended the throne is now... still the elf queen...

She clearly remembers the stamp she stamped back then, don't you admit it and give it a try?

Anyway, Gao Wen mentioned that if Ansu didn't recognize the right to pioneer, he would take his family across half of the continent to go to the Silver Empire. Anyway, there are still undeveloped places around the elf forest, and there are many elves in the group Acquaintances, I will definitely get along well with the Cecil family...

The founding ancestor of our own family was run on at home and couldn't live, so he dragged his family to the territory of a foreign race to live in a tree. If this matter spreads, do you want to lose face?

Therefore, everyone in the room agreed that such things as development rights should be retained, but where to develop specifically... This is a matter of discussion.

"There is no wasteland in the kingdom where people can live, and every inch of land has its owner," the king's former prime minister, Aiden Alfred, stood up. This calm man is the right-hand man of Francis II. Knowing the current situation of the entire kingdom, "Besides the kingdom, there are very few wastelands in the border areas with other countries, and there are also dead places with no life -- such as the buffer zone of the wasteland of Gondor. Your Excellency, where do you plan to open up?" ?”

Gao Wen waved his hand: "Bring me the map."

When the map was presented, Gao Wen glanced at it and couldn't help frowning slightly.

Even though this world has convenient magic, auxiliary abilities such as eagle eye, forest perception, and measurement can help people draw maps, but the map in front of them is still rough, and there are even problems with the scale.

Compared with the "satellite perspective" in my mind, it is like graffiti.

Perhaps it is because magic is so convenient that it affects the development of many things?

As Gao Wen thought about it, he compared it with the accurate map in his mind, and then he pointed to an area on the rough map: "I'll start here."

It is a mountain range adjacent to the border between the Gondor wasteland and Typhon.

Dark Mountains.

Chapter 0036 Banquet

Dark Mountains.

After seeing what Gao Wen pointed out, everyone couldn't help but be taken aback.

The first person who couldn't help breaking the silence was Baldwin Franklin, Grand Duke of the Western Territory. His eyes widened: "Are you... sure?"

"Why not?" Gawain smiled, "Could it be that this place still has an owner?"

"That's not true..." Francis II shook his head, "The entire Dark Mountains area and the places further south are unowned, which indeed meet the requirements of the Exploitation Act, but that place is not only very close to the Typhon Empire, but also to the south. It is directly connected to the wasteland of Gondor, really..."

The Dark Mountains are part of the southern border of Ansu. Its eastern section extends all the way to the territory of the Typhon Empire, while the western section extends for hundreds of kilometers along the Ansu border, and then bends southward at a small angle, blending into the In the corrupted lands of the Gondor Wastes.Theoretically, even the banded plains on the southern side of the Dark Mountains were Anzu's territory, but in reality the kingdom could only control the northern side of the mountains—and the control was quite limited.

The most important reason for this is the existence of the wasteland of Gondor.

That land is still shrouded in chaotic elemental power and mana to this day. The constantly surging corrupt power makes the land almost barren and full of toxins that are deadly to humans.

Although its range is no longer sprawling, the toxic dust storms that sometimes blow with the wind and the occasional wandering monsters are a deadly threat on the edge of the wasteland.

Historically, after the situation in the Kingdom of Ansu stabilized, they tried several recoil-style developments in the southern border—they even had a plan to retake the homeland of Gondor, but in the end all efforts failed.The purification of the wasteland is extremely difficult and full of repetitions. The income is completely out of proportion to the effort. The pioneering strongholds established in the early days are often destroyed by toxic dust storms and monsters when they fail to produce any output. Therefore, in the end, the Ansu royal family withdrew Killed all pioneering teams, and stopped on the northern side of the Dark Mountains.

Then, due to the increasing prosperity in the northern part of the kingdom and the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Violet Kingdom, the center of gravity of the kingdom was further shifted to the north. Coupled with the "Civil War of the Brumaire" 100 years ago, the Cecil family in the south collapsed overnight, and the people in the south fell apart. The situation further deteriorated and regressed. Today, the entire Dark Mountain Range and most of the surrounding areas are no different from wasteland.

The smell of the wasteland blowing across the mountains has even corrupted the plains to the north of the mountains.

But Gao Wen just smiled slightly at this: "I have faced worse situations than that back then. When it comes to political struggles and intrigues, I may not be as good as you younger generations, but when it comes to fighting against the dangerous nature, you are definitely not as good as you!" Get on me."

Regardless of whether it is true or not, let’s talk about it first. jpg.

Since Gawain himself is so confident, of course other people at the scene will not continue to worry about him—for the king and other nobles, whether Gawain Cecil can gain a firm foothold in the south is not their concern at all. However, what they are most concerned about is when this hot potato will leave the capital.Since Gao Wen took the initiative to choose a place where no one would suffer, so what's the point?

Hurry up and send the ancestors away from the capital!

If it wasn't for some details that had to be agreed upon, Francis II had almost prepared the carriages for the Gawain family at this time...

After finalizing the most important issue of development rights, Gawain took advantage of the situation and asked Francis II to admit several other "insignificant and trivial matters".

First of all, Gawain Cecil's dukedom must continue, but only as his personal honor for the time being, and cannot be inherited by any heirs, unless the Cecil family has indeed opened up in the south when Gawain dies again (correctly). If he has acquired a vast land, or has other achievements, then the title his heirs deserve will be determined based on their land and achievements.

This is actually a nondescript plan, a product of the conflict between Gawain Cecil's duke status and the incident 100 years ago. No one dared to deprive the Founding Duke of his title, but there was no way for a viscount family to directly He became a duke, so he had to make such a compromise.Frankly speaking, this is completely inconsistent with any law since the founding of Ansu - but what logic are you talking to a person who jumped out of the coffin?

The ancestors didn't even tell you about physics, but they even told you the truth! ?

The so-called "temporary non-inheritance" can be seen by a discerning person at a glance. This is just delaying time and giving an explanation to the existing aristocratic system.

In addition, the Anzu royal family will fully recognize the complete autonomy of the Cecil family in the newly established lands-just as the Founding King recognized the autonomy of any pioneering territory.

Coupled with some bits and pieces of agreement, in the end, Gao Wen got the result he wanted.

A country within a country with no distractions.

In fact, these contents have already been decided. When Prince Edmund visited in advance, Gawain had already connected with the king, and now he was just going through the motions in the Oak Hall.

No one at the scene raised objections to these contents - anyway, the Cecil family is going to open up a barren land, and no matter how much territory they open up, it will not affect the vested interests of any family. Since there is no conflict of interest, Then the nominal conflict is easily resolved.

Francis II signed a new development document on the spot, announcing that according to the ancient law, the Cecil family will have the right to develop all the land between the Dark Mountains and any surrounding kingdom fiefdoms, and announced that it will be responsible for this development activity. Provide the necessary support—including a 100-man team of various artisans and mage apprentices, as well as food and cloth for the pioneer's first year.

Among them, the craftsmen and apprentices will work in the pioneer for three years. After three years, they can voluntarily choose to stay, but if someone stays, the Cecil family has to "buy" it from the royal family at the price of [-] gold shields per person. them.

These supports are not much, but Gao Wen is already very satisfied. For the current poor and white Cecil family, this can relieve their urgent needs.

The gold, silver and ore ingots in the treasure house in the mountains cannot be directly turned into food, nor can they be turned into skilled craftsmen. In this age of peace, the word "pioneering" has become a distant history, and no one wants to leave the stable homeland. , ran to a place next to the wasteland of Gondor to open up wasteland, and those one hundred craftsmen and apprentices would be the most precious wealth.

This can also be said to be the goodwill expressed by Francis II to Gawain on behalf of the Ansu royal family-to thank the founding duke for his recognition of his blood.

The deal was done, everyone was happy, and after a deal that was done to the satisfaction of both parties, a party was a must.

The oak hall was re-sealed, and a banquet was held in the banquet hall on the second floor of the castle. Food and wine were served on the table. The king and his most trusted nobles wanted to celebrate the return of a legendary hero here. The nobles with the names didn't know where they were hiding before, but they all appeared all at once, and the banquet hall was very lively.

Those new nobles who are not eligible to enter the oak hall, but are entitled to know the results of the meeting immediately, they have been waiting in the rest rooms of Silver Castle for a whole half a day, until the attendants ran into the banquet hall , Ringing the brass bells preparing for the celebration, they appeared with smiles on their faces.