Forty Millenniums of Cultivation, page 1382
"In fact, the noble families led by the four Kurfürst were not in favor of such a radical plan of strategic counterattack, as they had always been in the past five hundred years. They were more inclined to defense in strategic decisions. Sometimes, they even stayed in the fortresses and simply took the hit without doing anything."
Narrowing her eyes, Li Linghai said coldly, "In many cases, it was not a military issue but a political one. The military strategies that were too radical had the risk of losing the entire game, which would seriously jeopardize the interests of the noble families.
"Clearing the border areas and staying back at the forts, however, could ensure the safety of their own territories and interests.
"What about the Sectors that were ravaged at the borderland? They were not the nobles' territory after all, and the nobles could not care less about it. In the meantime, they could diminish the power of the recent risers by the hands of the Covenant Alliance in case new guys came to divide the cake. Why would they make any other choice?
"A hundred years ago, at the borderland of the Imperium, a new armed force named 'Black Wind Fleet' once appeared. It somehow survived the arduous wars and grew stronger and bigger as it fought on.
"People of the Black Wind Fleet were best known for their disobedience, brutality, and decisiveness, and they were likely to become the new dividers of the cake. But in the end, they collapsed. Even their mother world fell to the hands of the Covenant Alliance, which, of course, has been recovered right now.
"The collapse of the Black Wind Fleet was naturally partly because the Covenant Alliance attacked too vehemently, and they made mistakes in commanding. But was it also partly because the four Kurfürst families turned a blind eye to them and even tried to use the Covenant Alliance to eliminate the competitor?
"After all, having been born in the Li family, I have seen too many methods about how the Li family dealt with competitors in the past thousand years.
"However, a thousand years after the Imperium's establishment, the internal contradictions of the country have escalated to such a point that even the four Kurfürst families cannot pretend that they do not see it anymore.
"An external war is always the best approach to transfer the internal contradictions.
"If a large-scale external war is not launched to transfer the resources, population, fury, and ambitions of the various parties in contradiction, a volcano would certainly erupt within the Imperium and turn the whole world upside down!
"That is exactly the real reason why the noble families have changed their norm and launched the largest strategic counterattack in the past five hundred years together with the new warlords at the peripheral worlds, the young officers at the fleets and legions, and the low-level Immortal Cultivators who crave for accomplishments!"
The queen's detailed introduction made Li Yao greatly enlightened. He had a deeper understanding of the political ecology and the balance of forces in the Imperium of True Human Beings right now.
"The idea at the beginning was good."
Observing the look on Li Yao's face, Li Linghai went on calmly, "The Sectors, world fragments, and resource planets that are recovered in the strategic counterattack could be distributed to the smaller nobles, the governors of remote worlds, the bottom-level officers who rose in the recent hundreds of years, and all the other experts who did not earn enough in the first five hundred years. Even the royal family can be given one or two worlds to expand the territory that is directly under the emperor's lead.
"In such a way, the contradictions between each other can be resolved, and a new common understanding of interests can be reached.
"However…
"Is it because the four Kurfürst families are scared that the new interest groups will continue to expand after getting the new territory and eventually threaten their reign, and thereby take action in case they are attacked, or is it simply because they can't change their habits?
"All in all, the four Kurfürst encouraged the young officers and small sects under their commands, as well as the warlords and experts in the remote worlds, to join the strategic counterattack, promising that they would all benefit from it.
"But the Covenant Alliance was certainly not a pushover. In the arduous war, the young bottom-level officers, the small sects, and the new warlords in remote worlds paid the most sacrifices and suffered most losses to recover the lost lands.
"However, now that the Imperium has recovered all the territories lost in the past thousand years and driven the Covenant Alliance back to their barren nest a thousand years ago, and the defense line is stabilized again, the aristocrats and the noble families all begin to regret about how the cake should be divided.
"Hehe. When the dozens of worlds were still heavily guarded by the Covenant Alliance, it was easy for them to make the decision to give the worlds away.
"However, now that the worlds are reembraced by the Imperium and ready to be tasted like cheery and litchi that have been washed, how can the ill-natured noble families bear to deliver them to somebody else's mouth?
"Not only are they willing to watch other people carve up the dozens of worlds ravenously, they even think that they are smart enough to find an 'opportunity' in it.
"It must be noted that in the gory strategic counterattack, the smaller sects, the relatively independent space fleets, and the Sector Masters of the remote worlds all suffered heavy casualties. They are exhausted and running out of supplies, and they are far away from their own camp too, in an environment that they are not familiar with. Many of the war assets have to be supplied by the four Kurfürst families. So, their necks are already grabbed by the big nobles.
"Isn't it the best opportunity to swallow all of them?
"Not only will it be unnecessary to give the dozens of newly-earned worlds to anybody else, but even the territory of the small nobles and new warlords can also be swallowed too, to ensure their reigning status in the Imperium. For the four Kurfürst families, isn't it a stone that kills two birds?
"It is exactly what is on the mind of the swine."
Chapter 2163: Honor the Majesty, Settle the Rebellions! |
Narrowing his eyes, Li Yao analyzed the situation of the Imperium with the lessons that he learned in the Star Glory Federation. He mumbled, "It is true that greed often means stupidity. Those swine are truly not giving them any choice!"
"Exactly. The big nobles and their families led by the four Kurfürst families have really underestimated other people's strength. They are now pushing everybody to their opposite side."
Li Linghai looked at Li Yao with both compliments and surprise. "Under normal circumstances, their decision may not be bad, because any small sect, fleet drifting in space, or master of a remote world at the periphery of the Imperium will be no match for the four Kurfürst families at all.
"The Imperium is simply too vast and boundless. Any two random Sectors may be hundreds of lightyears away from each other. It is barely possible for the experts, warlords, and bottom-level young officers to be united to oppose the big nobles at the center of the cosmos.
"However, the war in the past ten years changed everything.
"The elites of countless worlds jumped to the frontline of the fierce fight between the Imperium and the Covenant Alliance from every corner of the universe. They fought together through life and death, sometimes pushing forward unstoppably together and sometimes trying their best to save each other's life. Many young officers and the newly-rising experts became good friends.
"Also, in the strategic counterattack of such an enormous scale, the army of any world cannot fight on its own. It was often the case that a couple or even a dozen fleets had to take part in a battle together, which inevitably required a 'coalition command center'.
"As the saying goes, when the general is at war, he does not take orders from the king. In an ever-changing battlefield, the independent judgments and decisions from the commander in the frontline are required in many situations. The coalition command center expanded after each other. For the first time ever, the army of the Imperium had its own brain, veins, and nerval network, awakening its strength!
"More importantly, scared of casualties, the big nobles intentionally let the young bottom-level officers, the newly-rising experts, and the warlords from the remote worlds to lead the vanguard and bite the hard bones. While the strength of the latter was greatly consumed, the most determined, dangerous, and dreadful of them were also screened out during the cruel eliminations.
"It is always the truth of training that the best is left after a filtering.
"In the arduous war, countless middle- and low-level Immortal Cultivators, unfortunately, passed away as cannon fodder gone in the wind, but some people also grew rapidly and became heroes of the new time with the military credits, experience, and prestige they earned through the battles. They also realized their situation and were filled with wrath and ambitions!
"When such an army that has just finished a decade of cruel battles, full of patriotism and war experience, and has an effective command system is about to be dismembered by the major families again, retrograding from the glorious sabers that fought for the country and the civilization into the house servants and lackeys of the nobles, who will even have to fight against their comrades whom they fought side by side with yesterday for the interests of the big nobles, what attitude do you think the army will hold? What will the young officers who are as vigorous as blooming flowers and who are proud of the civilization of mankind?
"Hehe. Perhaps since the moment the Imperium waged a war on the Covenant Alliance, a transformation that is destined to shatter the stars has already begun!
"In the Imperium today, the wild tides in the ocean have been gathered. From the capital to the border, from the Gloomy World Sector to the Floating River Sector, from the engine cabins of the flagships of the big nobles to the assault teams of the crystal suit legions of the small warlords, a ubiquitous alliance is taking shape at a visible speed, and it will soon let out the roars that will shock the three thousand Sectors!"
The queen of the Imperium smashed her fist hard with the same look on her face that Li Yao had seen on Xiao Xuance, Lu Zui, Zhou Zhengdao, and Extraterrestrial Devil Mo Xuan.
It was a strength that had absolutely nothing to do with levels.
Even if Li Yao's heart did constrict violently, it was not because of Li Linghai's strength that was beyond the Divinity Transformation Stage but because of a certain strength that was even more dreadful than the Divinity Transformation Stage.
He had long known that an unparalleled expert like Li Linghai couldn't have been fighting for such a mundane purpose like "power".
But he did not expect that Li Linghai's ambitions were as huge either.
It was exactly like what she said herself; she was trying to "save the Imperium"!
It was also exactly as what her brother Li Lingfeng said from the perspective of the four Kurfürst families—she was going to "destroy the Imperium"!
Li Yao took a deep breath. He must not show any weakness right now.
Looking Li Linghai in the eyes, he said solemnly, "May I know the content of the 'roar' in advance?"
The queen of the Imperium stared at Li Yao thoughtfully, as if she were completely shattering the armor on his eyeballs and peeking at the deepest part of his soul.
After observing for ten seconds, the queen smiled.
"A real Immortal Cultivator is never scared of admitting their belief."
Li Linghai said gently, "Besides, no lies can deceive a Divinity Transformation Stage expert like you for long. If we can really cooperate, I want it to be done when we are completely honest with each other and after we learn each other's ideas and goals. Otherwise, I would rather we go separate ways right now.
"After all, if two Divinity Transformation Stage experts in the same organization have to be wary of each other, it will be a great internal burden, won't it?
"That is why I'm willing to be honest with you since the beginning. Now that I have told you so many things, why would I keep the most important slogan to myself?
"Our roar is very simple. 'Honor the Majesty and settle the rebellions in the Shenwu reform'!"
Li Yao: "Well…"
He understood the first part of the sentence clearly, but what exactly was "Shenwu"?
Thinking quickly, he immediately realized that "Shenwu" was the era name of the current emperor.
The Imperium of True Human Beings followed ancient traditions. Other than chronology with the continuous calendar of the Imperium since its foundation, every emperor had a different era name after they acceded to the throne.
Era names were different from posthumous titles. Both officially and unofficially, it was well accepted that the emperor could be referred to by their era name.
Generally speaking, an emperor would only use one era name in their entire life.
After all, the puppet emperors at the center of power struggles often did not have a long "natural longevity". They would often pass away after they were on the throne for no more than a hundred years.
However, some of the emperors would adopt a second era name if any event that involved the entire Imperium took place.
For example, the emperor of the Imperium today, Li Linghai's husband, had the era name of "Tianzheng" when he acceded to the throne. So, he could be respected as "Emperor Tianzheng".
However, twenty years ago, the war machine of the Imperium began to fulminate, and all the fleets were preparing their soldiers for the strategic counterattack on the Covenant Alliance, ready to clear their disgrace.
In order to bolster the troops and the people, the era name was changed into "Shenwu" as a symbol of the rising martial power of the Imperium. Naturally, the previous "Emperor Tianzheng" was renamed into "Emperor Shenwu".
This year was the year 1079 of the Imperium's calendar and year 18 of Shenwu. It was quite obvious what "Shenwu reform" meant.
Looking at Li Linghai's sincere and zealous look, Li Yao couldn't help but ask, "'Honor the Majesty and settle the rebellions'? I know who the 'rebellions' are. They are without a doubt the noble families including the four Kurfürsten. But I wonder, which 'Majesty' are you honoring exactly? Is it 'His Majesty', or 'Her Majesty'?"
Li Linghai looked at him coldly.
Li Yao went on without giving in at all. "Both Li Lingfeng and Wuying Lan said that Emperor Shenwu who seems awesome with feats close to his ancestor's is in fact just your puppet. I am not sure if they were exaggerating, but I'm certain about one thing.
"If Your Grace did find the 'Empyreal Transcendence Sector' and found the enormous heritages of the Supreme Emperor from ten thousand years ago, I'm afraid that you never shared them with your husband, today's Emperor Shenwu, right?"
Li Linghai stared at Li Yao for a long time before she finally closed her eyes that felt like sabers. She said casually, "If you think that I am trying to be a female emperor who dominates the sea of stars, as the stupid pig Li Lingfeng said, you are greatly underestimating me.
"A female emperor? The 'Supreme Emperor' was honored as the highest lord of mankind ten thousand years ago, but so what? Is he anything more than a pile of dry bones today after ten thousand years?
"If I have earned everything through the heritages of the Supreme Emperor, how can I not see through such a simple logic?
"Believe it or not, I am not interested in becoming a female emperor or the highest dictator in any form.
"However, I am very interested in establishing a powerful central government.
"A queen, an emperor, and even the Supreme Emperor will eventually die.
"But a powerful, efficient, and honest central government is likely to lead mankind to sail forward bravely in the dark universe in the next ten thousand years!
"The many problems that the Imperium has today, including those regarding the suffering of the people which you Cultivators find intolerable, boil down to the weakness of the central government. The local hegemonies such as the four Kurfürsten have taken the opportunity to rise, and the internal attritions are worse and worse. The resources have been completely misconfigured.
"To resolve the problems that neither you nor me wish to see, a powerful central government is the prerequisite and the foundation.
"As for the external form of the grand government, I don't really care about it whether it is a brilliant but autocratic emperor or a parliament under the constitutional monarchy. In many cases, I am even more inclined to the latter.
"Therefore, the 'Majesty' that we are honoring is neither His Majesty nor Her Majesty, and it certainly has nothing to do with a female emperor. You can understand it as 'authority'. It is a very powerful central government, a powerful parliament symbolized by an emperor or a queen as the spiritual leader, and a magnificent army under the leadership of the parliament!
"The powerful central government, which regards the emperor as a spiritual leader, will be made of the elites of all classes and all space zones including the middle- and low-level Immortal Cultivators and the leaders of remote worlds, in order to ensure everyone's interests as much as possible. It will be completely different from the 'Council of Elders', which is controlled by the four Kurfürst families and lurking in the capital city right now!"
[ol][li data-annotation-id="4659630c-1bc5-4b08-9132-4800545054df"]Note: Shenwu means "Godly might"[li data-annotation-id="4e53f030-6225-4ee0-9c31-84782a91481e"]Note: Tianzheng means "justice of heavens"[/ol]
Chapter 2164: Five Strategies That Guarantee a Victory! |
Li Yao had long heard that in the court of the capital today, while the emperor was the theoretical highest authority, it was in fact the "Council of Elders" that managed the state affairs. Of the five hundred elders of the Imperium, except for part of the members that served as decorations, most of them were from the major noble families and sects, and more than half of them were connected to the four Kurfürst families one way or another.
From what Li Linghai had said, it seemed that she was determined to uproot the Council of Elders together with the five hundred elders. It was truly bold and insane!
