Realm of Power

When the final result of the Battle of Dani came, it was still dark, the world was silent and gray, and the adjutant Roger Kag knocked on Yarde's door with an ugly face, "What's the matter?" Yarde was sleepy. He opened the door reluctantly and found that the young adjutant's face was extremely ugly, and the corners of his eyebrows twitched uneasily, "What's wrong?" '

"Sir, the Battle of Daniel is over..." Adjutant Roger Kagg said hesitantly as he handed over Yu Wen's battle report.

"It's over? So soon!"

Alder suddenly felt his head was covered. He took the battle report from the adjutant in disbelief. He eagerly opened the battle report of the Battle of Daniel with his hand. His eyes scanned the battle report, and his face turned pale. Breakthrough? Why is it a breakthrough! Aren’t you just waiting for work?”

Alder didn't understand, but this battle report hurt like being stabbed with a knife.

The Gallic Northern Army, which he had spent countless efforts and single-handedly forged, suffered more than three-quarters of the damage in this battle. Not only did the famous general Hassan Rimbaud die in the battle, but the collective of Northern Army generals trained through the Northern War also showed integrity. The deaths were tragic. When the Northern Army successfully broke through, it was equivalent to losing most of its combat effectiveness.

The Western Front was completely lost. At this time, it had only been less than half a month since the Northern Army had made a big splash in the northern part of the Empire. According to the battle report sent, the Northern Army had successfully broken through from the direction of Daniel. The Imperial Military Affairs Department believed that this was a sign of the Empire. It was the first battle that the army fought against the Vecian Falcon and ultimately won the battle. However, as Ard knew the entire battle plan, the meaning of the so-called breakout was the same as failure.

Feeling a little bored, he staggered to the window. All he could see was a black sky. The morning before dawn was extremely quiet. Alder's hands were clasped together, and the battle report was crushed into a ball by him. . Saying to himself "Danny, what the hell happened..."

This battle has been regarded by him as a key battle that can reverse the current situation on the Western Front. Before Algernonkaja took over the Northern Army and set off, he had approached Yarde, the real commander-in-chief of the Northern Army at that time. If it hadn't been for someone Ms. Algernon Julia’s letter of recommendation, she felt that this plan to lure the enemy deeper was quite feasible, and she personally worked with Algernon Katya to make corrections to the Falcon Army’s combat style to confirm that it was foolproof. Only then did Ard hand over the Imperial Northern Army that he had built with his own efforts.

The location of the battle was chosen to be in Danieli, which had a geographical advantage. The Northern Army was commanded by Algernon Katya, who had a dual background in the Imperial Guard and Kyoto. The person who revised the plan was the famous general Yarde who reversed the situation in the North in one fell swoop. The most critical person to cut off the logistics task is Hassen Rimbaud, who has the most experience in combat on the Western Front. No matter how you look at it, it is a rare combination in this world. The three of them are the top three commanders in Gaul. Yarde is good at strategic layout, Hasen Rimbaud knows the tactics of the Falcon Army well, and Algernonkaja's reputation has been damaged, but he is recognized as a leader in battle formation command. The genius of the Gallic military, that is to say, the Vecian Falcon will encounter a joint blockade from the top three generals of the Gallic army in Daniel. Yalder believed that the main plan was correct. Even if he could not achieve a reversal of victory like the Battle of the North, he could at least drag the war into the severe cold of winter.

But the facts are already bloody before his eyes. . . . . . With a solemn look, Alder pushed open the window and let the cold wind outside blow in. After the anxiety inside him eased, he turned around and looked at the adjutant behind him, "Rogkarg, how are the preparations for the new army?"

"Forty thousand people have been recruited, but the supply of weapons is a big problem. Many soldiers cannot obtain armor, and most of the weapons are obsolete weapons!" Adjutant Rogkarg replied with a confused look. He didn't know that Yar Germany suddenly asked what the new army was doing. Since the main force of the Northern Army was transferred westward, the 200,000 troops remaining in northern Gaul were reduced by half, and all the elite troops were used. Most of the troops staying in the north to suppress the Slavs were second-line troops. In order to completely eliminate the potential troubles of the Slavs, Yard submitted a proposal to the Gallic Ministry of Military Affairs to add two to three legions of approximately 100,000 new troops.

Perhaps feeling that it was too unkind to take the Northern Army away from Alder, Algernon Julia approved this request to expand the New Northern Army. Because of the recovery of the north, many northerners returned to their homes, and the population recovered a lot. In addition, the north is vast and rich in products. A large number of refugees from the war on the western front also poured into the north. For a time, There was a rare recovery period in the northern region. The population quickly recovered from 2.35 million before the recovery of the north to 7.34 million. Although it was still far from the 21.34 million population in its heyday, it was enough to make Gaul support this war. of the rear.

"Get ready!" Yard withdrew his gaze from a distance and said firmly in his tone.

"Prepare?, sir, what do you mean?" Adjutant Roger Karg asked in confusion.

"Prepare to lead the army to Kyoto." Yarde took a deep breath of the early morning breath blowing from the window. The defeat of the Northern Army in the battle has caused the Western Front to be completely lost. The Falcon Army will inevitably cut in with a large force. This time, the Vekia Falcon will not It will give the empire a chance to breathe. Previously, I thought that the prairie cavalry that advanced in advance could not pose a substantial threat, but it is different now!"

"The areas that have been swept by the prairie cavalry have lost their resistance in the chaos. The Falcon Army marching north from Danieli can reach Kyoto City almost without any hindrance before the arrival of winter."

"Last year we lost the northwest, and at the beginning of the year we lost four provinces including northwest Rusty. This time, it may be all the areas west of Kyoto, five or ten provinces. In this situation, if you don't want to If the situation becomes the worst, Kyoto should mobilize the four legions that have been staying on the eastern border! "

"Since we are mobilizing the Eastern Army for combat, why do we need to prepare!" Adjutant Roger Kagg said with a confused look on his face.

"Because compared with the Falcon Army approaching the city, Kyoto needs to guard against the Eastern Army more!" A wry smile appeared on Yarde's lips. "Because the Eastern Region has been at war with the Zhongbia Empire for hundreds of years, the four permanent legions are all controlled by the four ruling powers in the Eastern Region. The commander-in-chief had previously faced aggressive pressure from the Central Asian Empire. Under the circumstances, these rulers and the princes under their command may not dare to have dissent towards the empire, but now the situation has changed. The war situation in China and Bia is worse than ours. It is said that the Dongting people have attacked Kyoto two months ago. Li Changting, where is the power to suppress the four major ruling regions in the east now?"

"In the war with Central Asia two years ago, due to the unfavorable logistics supply of one of the four governors of the Eastern Army, the Eastern Offensive of Dalaknita, the empire's eastern offensive, which had been planned for several years, fell short." Yarde's voice stopped and became condensed. Said: "In order to show punishment, His Majesty the Emperor personally ordered that the Dalaknita family be deprived of their consulship. But he did not take it back. His power to command the 7th Army of the Eastern Army was originally intended to make the Dalaknita family serve their crimes and guard the Eastern Front for the empire for generations. But now that the war situation has deteriorated to this extent, will the four ruling regions in the east continue to be peaceful? We have to defend both the Eastern Army and the Falcon Army. The only army Kyoto can rely on is us!"

September 11th. dawn. After finishing the post-war rest in Daniel, the main force of the Falcons moved northward, first occupying the province of Philippe, which had no resistance at all, and then divided into two groups to enter the hinterland provinces of Volstanz and Kobrern in Gaul. , these two provinces have suffered heavy losses from the prairie cavalry. The local defenders were either wiped out or were unwilling to go to the battlefield and took matters into their own hands, facing the massive pressure of the Falcon Army. These troops similar to the local militia began to panic. Some areas chose to surrender, but some areas chose to resist. Sporadic fighting was inevitable, but with the strong advancement of the Falcon Army, the blocking power of small areas Almost ignored, the advancing army surrounded the provincial capital of Wolstanz. Three days later, the provincial capital surrendered, and ten days later, the province of Kobrunl surrendered.

When the western front of Gaul gradually collapsed, Angelio, who returned to the capital of Gaul, received an unexpected appointment. He was appointed as the provincial governor of the Plato area of ​​​​the demarcation province east of the capital of Gaul. What caught Angelio off guard was that the area above Pola is known as the gateway to the east of Kyoto. It is the connection point between the Kyoto area and the eastern region. It has always been an area directly under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kyoto. It has not been managed by a separate governor for a hundred years. At this time of crisis, Algernon Julia suddenly made such a decision. Unusual appointment, the meaning is definitely not simple

On the one hand, Angelio sent someone to secretly convey this situation to the Falcon Empire, and on the other hand. He went to take office with two hundred Gallic Guards,

A late autumn storm hit here when he arrived, with violent winds beating on the hotel window sill. From time to time, there was the sound of branches being broken. Angelio put his hands behind his back and looked at the street outside the window in silence. Big raindrops hit the window. Although there were raindrops and stars outside the window, they were rare. The lights of the city are like the stars in the sky, It seems that the war on the Western Front has not spread here. On the crowded streets, merchants are shouting on the streets, pedestrians are walking leisurely like shadows, and lively girls wearing various clothes are walking on the streets in the rain, as if they are flying up and down. The flowers are as pleasing to the eye as butterflies,

Hanley, the capital of the province above, is the center of commodity circulation in the eastern part of the Kyoto region.

From east to west, the scale of this city can be described as magnificent. The city wall is 20 miles long and wide. Even in the suburbs of the most prosperous Kyoto area, it is definitely considered a first-class big city. There are a large number of people in Gaul Kyoto. Materials and iron ore flow from here. It has been a trade center for hundreds of years and already has the flavor of a commercial city. Especially after Algernon Julia returned from the west, she reformed and abolished the traditional trade tax. The actual transaction volume shall prevail. Implement a one-twentieth tax rate,

This commercial tax reform was called a genius idea by the Gallic Ministry of the Interior. In fact, Angelio, who had actually been to the west, knew that this was just a copy of the Falcon Empire that his "study" mistress had copied. , but it cannot be denied that the introduction of this new business policy is like a shot in the arm for the dying Gallic business in a very short period of time, especially for businesses like Plato’s above that have formed their own The cultural atmosphere greatly alleviated the negative impact caused by war and turmoil.

Angelio could see from the hotel room that a large banquet was being held in the villa opposite. The nobles were still living a drunken life here, and were not affected by the defeat of the war at all. The civilians were busy with their own small lives, and occasionally The silver bell-like laughter coming from the street, in a blink of an eye, you can see a pure and lively face,

"Sir," the accompanying captain of the imperial guard walked in respectfully and said, "The new governor's palace is ready."

"Really? Which family's property it is!" Angelio turned around calmly. In fact, the banquet opposite was for him to wash away his dust. I don't know who revealed the news. The nobles here already knew that he had taken office. The news had been prepared in advance. Not only had the Governor's Mansion been prepared, but even the servants were ready, if they were willing. Even women can get ready! In this city that has not had a governor for a hundred years, the nobles are also worried that the new governor will be a difficult figure.

"It is the property of the Bilis family!" The captain of the imperial guard said calmly and answered naturally. This place is so close to the Kyoto area, so naturally it has a very close connection with Kyoto. It is on the tables of many local families. A description of the situation of the new Governor Angelio has been laid out. He was born in the northwest region, and he is aloof, mean, and unreasonable. He has experience fighting on the Western Front, and he seems to have been injured for it.

in these words. The local nobles have already pictured the image of a bitter and terrifying logistics officer in their minds. The local nobles are also considering that if Kyoto places such an obviously untouchable figure at the eastern gateway, it may not only be in name only. It's as simple as strengthening management. The rejection of the reception banquet on the first day is clear evidence of this, and what follows is an economic storm sweeping through the Platt area.

The first order issued by the newly appointed Governor-General was to divide the Plata area into ten regions according to its geographical location. From the innermost city area to the outer village area, the city's densely built rooftops are also divided by densely interlaced streets. Then the second order is to set up a large trading house outside the city. This move made The nobles in this city don't understand.

As a city with a strong commercial atmosphere, Hanlei not only had a large trading house for a long time. And there was more than one, there were three. Why should we set up one more? But soon, the nobles in the city felt a headache.

The new governor's third order was to ban all other unofficial trading houses and declare any trade that was not handled by official trading houses to be illegal. Once discovered, all the people and goods were confiscated, and a list of heavily taxed items was added to the goods.

The definition of valued items is weapons and war horses. Armor, iron ore raw materials, grain, cotton and other general daily necessities,

For the Paratopia area, this decree is simply a disaster. The war on the Western Front made many Paratopia nobles make a fortune by smuggling the above-mentioned items. Now they are suddenly being investigated for heavy taxes, leaving many nobles in the hands of The hoarding of such materials has cut off most of the profit margins. The nobles in the area of ​​​​Bola went to the governor to argue, but were turned away by the guards. In front of the ferocious emperor's guards, the nobles chose another way. They wanted to expose the incompetence and greed of the new governor. The nobles first ordered their related industries to close for ten days to cause a depression in the market. Then the nobles who suffered losses went to Kyoto to brazenly rob the new governor.

The news coming from Kyoto is that all those who went to accuse were arrested by the Imperial Guards. Even the Minister of Finance, who had always had a good relationship with the nobles, was like a leaf blowing in the autumn wind. He had been sick for seven years this time. He didn’t show up for eight days. There was no other way. The empire’s finances and taxes had bottomed out. The most important thing was that the Minister of Finance received a letter from the palace. Warning, if the Minister of Finance wants to push himself, His Majesty the Emperor does not mind using the Minister of Finance's family property to offset the money. Anyway, there have long been rumors from the outside world that the assets of the Minister of Finance of the Empire are as high as more than 10 million gold coins, which is almost half the empire's tax revenue. Income, with this money, the empire can equip an army of 200,000 at once.

Asking for money from the east when the finances are exhausted is a method that Algernon Julia came up with. The Kyoto area, as the main economic body, was destroyed by the prairie cavalry. It is difficult to recover in a short time. , and the collapsing war situation on the Western Front urgently requires a large amount of money,

The supplies imported from the eastern region to Kyoto have made many eastern nobles rich. The strength of the eastern region has surpassed that of the Kyoto region and cannot continue like this. All the funds from the national treasury are flowing into the pockets of the eastern nobles, but Kyoto is squeezing them out. Each fellow boarder fights the enemy,

The purpose of appointing Angelio as the governor of the Parashangtu region was to control this imbalance and at least get a share of this huge profit. When Angelio received this secret order, he immediately reported it to the fat man. In this matter, the fat man would naturally not object to Algernon Julia's self-righteous economic policy of fishing in the lake.

The severe impact of the heavy tax bill on the economy of eastern Gaul is very obvious. The biggest impact in the area of ​​​​Pala is the supply of these strategic items. Because the tax is too heavy, plus tolls from the provinces along the way, many caravans traveling to and from the east Business activities had to be stopped,

Therefore, the impact is also huge. Gaul Kyoto, which has been forging continuously for three months, discovered for the first time that the price of iron ore raw materials on the market has risen rapidly, even reaching very outrageous prices, and then resisted There is a shortage of cotton in the cooling weather.

At the end of September, the Falcon Army broke through the Meianige province in the area connecting the hinterland of Gaul and the Kyoto region, and forced the troops into the Kyoto region. At the same time, Gaul Kyoto issued combat orders to the four consuls in the eastern region.