YM778.TV Chapter 554: 554
After a short debate, the nobles quickly came to a consensus.
When they were faced with Kant’s insatiable new request, their answer was that they would not obey the imperial edict.
It was within his expectations and also within reason.
They had submitted to Kant at first because of Kant’s tyrannical power, because they were intimidated by the cannons parked outside the harbor, and because they were frightened by the three navies who had turned the distant harbor upside down last night.
After all, the former was a strategic deterrent, while the latter was a precise strike. It meant that Kant could not only smash the distant port into ruins with stones, but he could also release a pack of mad dogs into the city to bite people.
In the face of such means, in the face of the evil and rampant Aurora people’s counterattack with the momentum of victory, the gentlemen of Distant Harbor could only swallow their anger and choose to obey their hearts for the sake of their wives, children, and ancestral businesses.
For the sake of the family, this was not embarrassing.
Therefore, when they were faced with the list of names Kant handed over, they pinched their noses and gave the most severe punishment to those involved in the riot. Needless to say, the commoners were cut into pieces, and even the nobles involved were executed. The main criminals even used the cruel honor hanging. It could be said that it was extremely severe.
Goethe had never executed a noble on such a large scale in the past two hundred years.
After all, the situation was stronger than him, so he could only pinch his nose and accept it.
However, the nobles ‘concession and goodwill were mercilessly rejected by Kant.
The man from Aurora was still not satisfied and clearly stated that the punishment was too light. All the nobles involved would be stripped of their titles and honors, and they would be sentenced to the same death penalty as the commoners.
The dignitaries in the distant port finally exploded.
Although they were both sentenced to death, Kant’s suggestion was fundamentally different from the nobles ‘proposal.
Although it was a little harsh to hang and behead the nobles in honor, it was still within the rules and legal. Kant had defeated the three great fleets and settled the matter. His reputation and momentum were at the peak of the sun. Using this power to settle the traitors was also one of the ways to play the political game. It was within everyone’s tolerance.
Since they could play around with emperors, generals, and generals, they could also play around with Forbidden Spell Mages. At most, they would complain that His Highness Kant was being too lenient, but that was all.
However, Kant’s suggestion was to strip him of his noble status and punish him as a commoner.
This was a matter of class interests.
Although they were only dealing with the rebel nobles, they were still met with fierce resistance from the other nobles in the distant port. These big shots were sometimes short-sighted, greedy, stupid, or even ignorant. Sometimes, they were even stupid. However, they had a very sensitive sense of smell when it came to such major issues.
If they agreed to Kant’s suggestion, it would be equivalent to admitting that Kant had the right to strip any noble of Far Harbor of their title, honor, and power, and to punish them with any terrible and evil punishment he wanted.
This was trampling on Goethe’s spirit, provoking the sacred noble order, and subverting the existing national system. It was crazy, arrogant, and unreasonable.
In history, any tyrant who tried to do so would be overthrown by the brave people and punished by justice. All decent people with conscience should oppose such terrible evil!
“We don’t agree! We don’t agree!”
The shouts and roars of justice resounded throughout the Hall of Justice. The nobles of Far Harbor raised their arms and shouted at the top of their lungs. Everyone looked fanatical, but only they knew the fear and uneasiness in their hearts. They tried to use their collective strength to cover up the uneasiness in their hearts. That was Kant, who could even defeat the elves.
The governor shouted louder than anyone else. The administrative bureaucrats of the city and even the province were unanimous because they were in this position, representing the interests of the nobles. They had the obligation to speak up because countless eyes were staring at them. The governor was also afraid of the thunderous anger of the Aurora Dragon, but he was more afraid of the entire aristocratic system’s revenge on the traitors. His family, his family, his industry…
Others could give in, cower, and seek refuge with Kant.
But he couldn’t.
He didn’t dare.
The only thing the governor could do was to tie more fence-sitters to the war chariot.
‘If Kant is really crazy enough to order the army to massacre the distant port, then at least let more people die with me! I didn’t become the governor to fight for you!
He knocked hard on the gavel, causing the sound of thunder to ring out. Then, he shouted loudly,”Please pay attention!” We are not opposing His Highness Kant! We are grateful for everything he has done for Goethe and even Distant Harbor!”
The nobles raised their fists and shouted,”Not bad! Not bad!”
” We are also willing to restore the city from chaos under the guidance of His Highness Kant, so that every hardworking and kind citizen can live a good life again…”
“Yes!”
The governor looked at the people present and shouted,” I believe that His Highness Kant has no ill intentions. He’s only here to punish those shameless traitors! We can understand this feeling!”
“Indeed!” The people below cheered.
“However, the national conditions of Aurora and Goethe are different. Nobles are the backbone and guardians of this country! The rules of glory must be respected, protected, and defended!” The Governor waved his arms and shouted,” Ask! A country that doesn’t respect the nobles, how terrifying would that be!”
“You’re right!”
“So! We must work together to resolve this small misunderstanding with His Highness Kant! We must let him know that we respect him and revere his power and character, but he must also have some respect for the noble and glorious collective! We must let him hear the voice of the Goethe people!”
The cheers seemed to have died down a little.
The governor struck while the iron was hot and shouted,”Sign it!” Sign! Sign! United protest! We can’t resist the might of the Sword of Defiance, and we don’t want to!
However, we can use our silent protests and firm stance to show His Highness Kant our will and determination! Everyone had to sign their names! Everyone had to participate in this protest! Because this is to defend the honor and dignity of all of us!”
How can I let you watch me charge into the enemy line!
He pointed at the gentlemen present. This time, their stance did not include being neutral! He couldn’t just watch! There were only two paths left! The honor of his ancestors, the pride of his family, and the spirit of Goethe!
If he did not defend it, he would be betraying it! That is betraying us!”
The noise seemed to have weakened a little.
” Yes!” The governor ignored him and slapped the table.” We will stand by our position and sentence all those involved to death in a fair and lenient manner! This is our final decision. All those who agree must sign their names and clearly show their positions!”
” If His Highness Kant insists on his own way, we will protest in a peaceful and silent manner! We will not attend tomorrow’s execution! When necessary, we must let the world hear our voices!”
He looked around at the dark crowd and shouted,”Now, let me hear the voice of the distant port!” Tell us, are you defenders or traitors?”
Since ancient times, the moral high ground had always been the most comfortable position.
Even though they felt uneasy and anxious, they could only raise their hands and shout with all their might because there were people around them.
“Defenders! Defenders! Defenders!”
The governor nodded in satisfaction. He hammered the gavel and suppressed the excited cheers. He narrowed his eyes, and his usually gentle and loving gaze became malicious.” Now, clerk, please draft the final declaration for me. Roll-out officer, please prepare the paper. We need to sign collectively…”
The auditorium was silent.
The governor deliberated over his words and opened his mouth to say,”All of Far Harbor…”
At this moment, the door was pushed open.
The door of the auditorium creaked, breaking the silence.
In the next moment, a scream of horror rang out from one of the seats. In an instant, it was like a group curse that swept across the entire territory. Screams rang out endlessly. The elderly nobles clutched their chests, and the people were like frightened quails that were running around or trying to escape. Most of the people did not know what had happened. They only knew that the door had rung, the door had rung! Someone had come in!
Who was that?
He couldn’t see it!
But someone was screaming!
Kant was here!
His minions were here!
He wants to kill all of us!
Crying, begging, and wailing, the noblest defense line of the brave men in the distant port collapsed in an instant. The mob crowded like headless flies. Some collapsed on the ground and kept praying to the gods. Some screamed and begged for mercy, trying to offer loyalty to the new master. The noble big shots pushed and squeezed in the narrow auditorium, falling into madness due to instinctive fear and inexplicable herd sentiment.
This was often a sign of a large-scale stampede and collapse.
Fortunately, this was a world of swords and magic.
“Law enforcer!”
The City Hall’s judicial officers immediately activated their magic power, and the group spiritual spells that appeased the hearts turned into a gentle net of light that shook down, dispelling fear and calming the hearts. One spell after another.
In order to keep the manic, superficial, irritable, and impulsive creatures like humans calm, the arcane path explorers had developed countless spell groups.
Finally, the big shots of Distant Harbor broke free from the sudden and inexplicable atmosphere of fear. They crawled out from under their chairs and got up from the ground, their faces still filled with fear.
However, although magic was magical, it could not change reality.
The source of fear still existed.
However, the return of reason at least emboldened them to look at the door.
They saw an old man standing there.
His hair was white, but his skin was so yellow that it was eye-catching. His completely different facial features also clearly indicated his identity as a mutant. He was undoubtedly a descendant of the Aurora Empire, and many people recognized him.
Baron Han Zezheng, a shipping merchant from a distant port, also ran two furniture stores with the style of Aurora, selling exotic, mysterious, and elegant oriental utensils.
It was a false alarm, and then he was embarrassed.
Everyone’s eyes became unfriendly. Everyone tacitly agreed not to talk about their previous loss of composure, but the shame and anger in their hearts had to be vented. They had to regain their lost face.
The governor frowned. He was also scared to death just now, afraid that the ones who pushed the door open were the elven marines and council mages. He did not even think about whether he should persist or beg for mercy.
” Mr. Han, Mr. Baron, I remember you were in the meeting. Where did you go just now?” The nominal supreme ruler of the Blue Wave Province emphasized.
At this point, his expression suddenly changed as if he had thought of something.
Old Man Han stood at the entrance and took a deep breath.
Before that, he hesitated for a while in front of the City Hall.
Even when he reached the entrance of the auditorium, he was still suffering for a while.
Because he knew what he was doing.
The family property passed down from his ancestors, his wife and children, the family line, and the thoughts of generations had all been pushed onto the gambling table by him.
His Highness Kant did not agree to his request during their previous visit. This powerful lord did not accept their loyalty and allegiance.
Thinking about it, he was too anxious.
He was a peerless genius who had suppressed the elves and looked down on the world. What was Old Han’s family? They were ostracized and nibbled by their peers, and their shipping business was declining day by day. Two shops that were still considered profitable, thirty to fifty men in the clan, five to seven small boats in the Chamber of Commerce, and a total of two to three hundred sailors were nothing.
With just this bit of wealth, he wanted to hug onto his thigh and pull the banner of Wang Ming so that he would not have to worry about wealth in the future…How could there be such a good thing?
The book said it well, wealth and honor had to be sought from danger.
Although His Highness had rejected his request, he had pointed out a way for him.
Even now, that voice still lingered in his mind.
Han Zezheng was still sweating profusely when he recalled the conversation that had happened earlier.
When His Highness asked him that question, his voice was as gentle as the spring breeze, but it made him feel fear.
” Mr. Han, from now on, you have to be honest with me when I ask you questions. If you promise me, we can continue to talk, but if you promise me, you have to keep your promise.”
” Then the first question-why did you come to me?”
We will raise the name of our race and sacrifice ourselves for Your Highness’s cause. We will establish the empire of Aurora in the foreign land so that the people of the east can live and work in peace here.
These words appeared in his mind without hesitation.
However, under the gaze of that person, he spoke the truth.
“Protect the family business, find a backer, open up a business, seek a future for our descendants, obtain wealth for the family, let our ancestors rest in peace, let the Han family spread its branches and leaves. It would be even better if we could return to our homeland in glory…”
Then, he heard His Highness’s happy laughter.
” Very good, a good start, Mr. Han. I won’t talk about loyalty with you, and I don’t trust you at all, because I know why you’re here. But I’m also glad that you’re telling the truth. This means that you respect me, and I respect you.”
“I like your honesty. The simpler the relationship, the better, just like now.”
“I like this method…Because I know that loyalty and trust are extremely rare qualities. I won’t ask for these qualities from everyone. Compared to this, I prefer cooperation and a win-win situation.”
” That is, common interests, opinions, and actions maintained by force.”
“Tell me what you need, I’ll bid.”
He looked at the young man behind the desk. He looked about the same age as his son, maybe even younger, but he already wielded unimaginable power, enough to decide the life and death of many people.
He could never forget that smile.
“I have everything here. If you want it, feel free to exchange it.”
Therefore, Han Zezheng returned to the Hall of Justice.
Along the way, he was in a daze, terrified, and hesitant. He listened to the nobles ‘shouts and their unity outside the door, and his uneasiness grew. He knew what Kant was trying to challenge and what Kant wanted to establish. Everything was arranged by His Highness Kant, and everything was within his expectations.
And he took the initiative to be a chess piece.
And all this hesitation and uneasiness vanished the moment the door was pushed open.
Distant Harbor’s huge network of interests, the high and mighty figures, and the unbreakable social class groups were still roaring wildly one second, but they were fleeing in panic the next. When Han Zezheng saw that scene, he seemed to have realized something. He understood the meaning behind the smile on His Highness Kant’s lips when he talked about the nobles.
That was contempt.
Yes, what was there to be afraid of?
Han Zezheng strode in.
He responded to the governor’s question loudly.
“I went to Tidal Manor!” He shouted,” I went to pay my respects to His Highness Kant!”
There was a brief silence, followed by panic and commotion, followed by venting accusations and scolding.
“Traitor!”
“You have disgraced your ancestors!”
“You don’t deserve to be a noble!”
“Shame!”
A storm of curses came out of the noble gentlemen’s mouths.
The storm was raging, and hostility surrounded them.
This was the anger of the entire city. The dignitaries in this hall controlled 90% of the production, transportation, and sales of food and other necessities, daily necessities, and luxury goods in the entire Far Harbor. They also concentrated the power, public opinion, and communication power of the entire region. If a Far Harbor person was despised by everyone in this hall, he would face both physical and spiritual extinction.
Han Zezheng could already foresee the consequences of his actions. He would be in a sorry state amidst a dozen scandals, be stripped of his noble status by the vote of the noble assembly, have his shipping business squeezed out of bankruptcy by malicious competition, have his son expelled from the noble school, have his family members attacked, and even killed by unknown thieves and robbers, and then gradually lose all his properties in the continuous troubles until he became a commoner.
If they lost, this would be the outcome for the Han family.
But…
wealth and honor are sought in danger.
“I’m from Aurora!” ” Why not?” he snapped.” Why can’t I visit my lord? Sirs, put away your vulgar words, because you are not only facing a respectable merchant from a distant port, Baron Goethe, but also a citizen of Aurora who has brought greetings from His Highness Kant!”
He strode to the center of the hall and faced the people who were gradually falling silent. He said loudly,” Forgive me for overhearing your protests and plans. But before you sign your names, please allow me to interrupt. I have brought His Highness Kant’s ultimatum. Please listen!”
” All nobles involved will be stripped of their titles and executed as commoners. This decision must be approved. I will draft a statement, and those who approve must sign their names. His Highness Kant hopes that all the wise people who despise the traitors and support this decision will attend the execution tomorrow and jointly despise the tragic fate of the traitors!”
As soon as he said this, a wave of protests rang out.
“Impossible!”
“We will not yield!”
“A sharp blade will not obliterate justice!”
” We will proudly uphold the truth and honor!”
Under the instigation of the strong-willed, the nobles tried to coerce the fence-sitters again, blocking their path of compromise in advance so that they would not be coerced by Kant’s tyranny.
But Han Zezheng was unmoved.
” The day after the execution, His Highness will hold a meeting. He will invite all the upright and dignified gentlemen of the Far Harbor who despise traitors to discuss an extremely important topic!” A great cause! And invite them to participate and work together, because the glory of Distant Harbor will be forged by the people of Distant Harbor!”
At this point, Han Zezheng’s heart was beating wildly.
Because this was the key to making him decide to take a gamble.
Even if it was just a promise, it made him, a veteran in the business battlefield, tremble. He thought that he had passed the young age where he was inspired by a word from others.
But he was wrong.
The people of Aurora used all their strength and shouted,” His Highness Kant wants to discuss a great cause with his supporters. He wants to take back Far Harbor’s commercial position as the center of trade in the Endless Ocean, the transportation hub, and the bright pearl on the west coast of the continent from the Broken Islands! Let the city of Faraway Harbor-”
“Again! Second! Wei! Big!”
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[PS 1: Upgraded…] The spy post was back! Speak to me!