Free Web NovelChapter 1122: Chapter 1059: Resist or Perish—Your Choice
Bradak continuously blinked, beads of sweat seeping from his forehead and the back of his neck.
In the eyes of the people from the Five City Alliance, as long as the Holy Alliance or Falan launched an attack, everything would improve.
But now the bloody reality is in front of us, neither the Holy Alliance nor Falan will initiate an attack.
In other words, an attack is not the order of the day.
Based on this, all the plans of the Five City Alliance have become a pipe dream.
This isn’t a matter of intelligence; it’s a distinction brought by status and ranking.
Even a City Hall or City Council of a free city appears lofty to commoners.
But to the high ranks of the Holy Alliance or Falan, or even the upper echelons of Leia, their decisions and perceptions appear quite naive.
For instance, the uprising of the Five City Alliance was timed precisely.
They picked the moment when both the Holy Alliance and Falan were unable to spare a hand to support them.
Horn even wondered if this uprising of the Five City Alliance was deliberately incited by Duke Omes.
First, defeating them could increase the kingdom’s finances significantly, restoring what little prestige it had left.
Second, it could serve as a warning to reduce similar incidents within Leia’s borders.
And thirdly, it could shift the current domestic noble crisis of Leia from boiling over.
Due to the expenditures and ransoms from previous wars, many nobles faced bankruptcy.
Yet for the dignity of nobility, they refused to sell off their possessions, but the land’s productivity was insufficient to repay debts.
Some even continued borrowing to maintain appearances.
While relying on their accumulated wealth, Omes barely managed to keep the kingdom from collapsing.
Of course, the nobles of the Thorn Garden prospered, swallowing up bankrupt nobles’ estates through marriages, declarations, and buyouts.
This further led to the proliferation of Robber Knights and many nobles becoming mercenaries.
More nobles were forced to depend on local great nobles or band together for warmth. freёwebnovel.com
If it continues this way, the kingdom might face widespread rebellion.
For the Holy Alliance or Falan, both have ways to manage debt.
The Holy Alliance employs work relief and develops Black Snake Bay, while Falan opens new territories and remains unfazed.
Both have strong control over domestic affairs, and bankruptcy isn’t seen as a big deal.
But in Leia, they clearly lack this administrative ability and such advanced financial instruments.
Even if they had them, given Leia Kingdom’s poor credit, it’s difficult to even implement them.
In the past, the king would lead the way, shifting the conflict externally.
An additional war could resolve all issues.
But now facts prove that Leia cannot defeat anyone.
As for the Norn people to the north, they’re even poorer. Would you attack them just to aid them?
And the richer Great Monarchs in the south are separated by the Holy Alliance and a whole Dragon Sleep Mountain Range, well beyond reach.
With no way to shift the conflict externally, they can only shift it internally.
If they can’t defeat Falan or the Holy Alliance, they can certainly defeat you.
This has led to a surge of Robber Knights along the roads of Leia Kingdom, plundering merchants, artisans, and travelers.
Some Leia towns have chosen to expel their bishops, and the activities of Robber Knights play a significant role.
Even without the Holy Sect, there would be other theories supporting them.
But now with the Holy Sect, they will naturally choose it, as the Holy Alliance, Leia’s own arm, supports them.
"This, this..."
Beads of sweat slid down Bradak’s face, leaving streaks behind the white powder.
If what the Holy Alliance says is true, then the Five City Alliance, being the first to stand out, will be harshly punished by the Regent.
Imagining that desperate future, he almost fainted.
Looking at Bradak’s desperate appearance, the always succinct Horn offered some comfort, "But at least you made the most correct choice; you came to us for help.
If it were Falan, they would only be loyal to profit.
The Holy Alliance may also care for profit, but at least we share the same faith as the Holy Sect, so we can extend more help to you."
As for these cities that rashly rose in rebellion, it’s impossible for Horn to just watch them die.
After all, they are brethren in faith and the first to rebel.
Even for a great treasure, Horn wouldn’t easily let the Five City Alliance perish.
"Can you help me?"
"Of course, we can supply you with many resources, including retired veterans, officers, clockwork rifles, and quartermasters skilled in administration and logistics.
They will help you build an army from scratch..."
"You mean, we have to fight ourselves?"
"Surprise!" Jia Li rolled her eyes, "Do you think we’ll fight for you? Frankly, if we fought for you, everything would just end up belonging to us anyway."
"There’s no such thing as a free lunch." Jeanne added from behind.
Facing the double assault from the two Saintesses, Bradak found himself speechless.
"Expecting a savior is futile, we can help you, but you have to struggle yourselves." Horn pointed to the others present, "The problems we initially faced were much bigger than yours, and didn’t we still get through it bit by bit?"
"Can Dawn Island and the Thousand River Valley really be compared?"
"Why not?"
Bradak initially felt ridiculous and angry, but after Horn and the Saintesses said this, he was stunned. freewebnøvel.com
Yes, why not?
If one doesn’t stand independently, help from others would certainly mean being controlled by them.
But for now, being accustomed to dependency, the city didn’t think of this.
But after one more thought, Bradak still felt something was wrong: "Relying solely on us, and the newly assembled army, how can we possibly defeat Leia?"
In the history of Leia, city uprisings have occurred more than once.
The bad ending is being massacred, the good ending is siding with the Church.
Longbow Castle once failed in rebellion and turned to the Church, now they’re expected to rebel again.
"The way the Holy Alliance revolted initially has set a precedent, bonds, Salvation Army, clockwork rifles..."
"You even have Noble Knights to help restrain the enemy."
Jia Li sneered, "Don’t you have them too?"
"Will the nobles stand on our side?"
"Don’t you have the money? Moreover, who says the nobles can’t be swayed?" Jia Li pulled a list from her bosom but didn’t hand it to Bradak, merely looking at him playfully.
For the Five City Alliance, the nobles of Dawn Island, especially the middle and lower-tier nobles, are indeed targets to sway.
Confronted with internal and external pressure, many low-ranking nobles and even Count-level nobles in Windmill Land chose to convert.
After all, no matter how their battle reports show victory, the battle lines are always compromised and dishonorable.
Since the old way doesn’t work anymore, might as well integrate into the new era.
Some radical nobles even outright sell off properties, investing fully in industry and commerce.
The nobles of Windmill Land, the Falan, and the Holy Alliance can all wisely plunge into industry and commerce.
So why can’t the Falan Nobility?
"These reformist nobles within Leia also stand opposite the Church.
In this regard, you’re companions, and they are using their extraordinary might and influence to oppose the Church."
This was one of the Salvation Army’s killer moves against the Church and nobles back then.
The kingdom is not the same as the royal family, and nobles vary in size.
The joy and sorrow among nobles don’t align either, the bankrupt nobles only find the prosperous and annexing nobles noisy and hateful.
Qianqian immediately interjected, "Clear accounts between kin, we don’t expect much return from you, but we at least require the right to know.
How much you have, how much you need, the extent of the fight, who are the enemies and allies...
These are issues worth discussing, and we will send loyal emissaries to guide you on how to revolt.
If you can stabilize your position, it won’t just be my Holy Alliance offering you support."
"The citizens’ money combined with the Noble Knights might not recreate the victory of the Thousand River Valley War." Horn stood up, supporting himself on the table, "But with the Holy Father’s Association’s clockwork rifles and officers, and the Holy Sect’s concentrated resolve, maybe it can truly recreate the Thousand River Valley War.
By then, when you’ve stabilized, the Holy Alliance will fully embrace you as a member state with national sovereignty.
The value is for you to fight for yourself, if you truly get defeated.
Your future fate would likely involve being suppressed and completely absorbed into the Holy Alliance in seven or eight years.
The favorable terms you once had would no longer exist.
Resistance or extinction, your choice."
