Kingdom's Bloodline, page 606
Gilbert laughed at him.
“During the chaotic era of the Chronicles of Kings, the wives and daughters were only used for connecting families states. They had no status at all.
“It was only after the fall of the Empire that knowledgeable women could display their abilities. This is how a good lady could become a good wife for her future husband and share the workload of the man of the house, instead of being a beauty who can only remain listlessly in portraits.
“From this, it can be seen that the increase of noblewomen’s statuses the is reliant on external conditions and the maturity of their surroundings. It is only when there is no war, when there is sufficient food, when production has been restored, when the country is ruled in a stable fashion, when there is no longer any use for warhorses, when weapons had lost their owners, when there are less physical activities, and more things to be worried about will the inferiority of women’s bodies be reduced, and their knowledge could finally be used.”
Gilbert added in a profound manner. “As long as the world has not arrived at that state yet, even though you feel that it is unjust for your classmate in Dragon Clouds City, it is just useless.”
Yet Thales suddenly became interested, “So, if the external conditions are not mature, for example, if production is not well developed, the economic conditions of the country is far behind times, the ruling is unstable, and wars occur frequently, and if that day is not going to come, and humans are still working using their physical stamina and strength… Does that mean women will need to become a vassal and live like that forever?”
Gilbert lifted the spectacles in his hands. “Unfortunately, this is an obvious, objective fact. We can do nothing.”
Thales stared at him and laughed all of a sudden. “The is-ought problem.”
Gilbert was stunned. “What?”
“You gave me an ‘is’ as a factual answer, Gilbert.” The young duke sighed. “In order to answer my ‘ought’, which I posed as a question. This is not right.”
Gilbert was first stunned before he came to a realization.
“It seems that we can increase the difficulty of our grammar class a little more, especially in regards to logic.” The Foreign Affairs Minister smiled warmly.
Thales smiled cooperatively.
“Before we solve this difficult problem, let us get back to the main topic.” Gilbert made a wise decision, and he did not get entangled with this topic. “Then, aside from history, etiquette, and leadership classes?”
Thales sighed loudly, but he did not manage to whistle.
However, this did not affect the complicated feelings he had when he answered the question. “At last, this is the part that has the most of Northland’s characteristics, the Northlanders’ military class.”
Chapter 516: Coincidence? |
When they spoke of that topic, Gilbert’s eyes exuded seriousness.
“You cannot imagine how Northlanders, especially the noblemen who are above the title of count, understand ‘military affairs’, and how they make arrangements for it.”
When he said this, Thales’ face also turned solemn.
“They split military lessons into two parts—outdoor and indoor lessons.”
Thales’ eyes were fixed in the air.
“The outdoor military classes for nobles includes personal martial arts training, military leadership lessons, and others.
“The ratio of those lessons is extremely great compared to the other lessons, and we practically have them every day.”
Thales counted with his fingers.
“I have to endure being hit, learn how to ride, launch assaults, hunt, patrol military camps, skirmish exercises… Of course, the Constellation Prince will not have any part in the last few components.”
Gilbert narrowed his eyes.
“Endure being hit?”
Thales sighed. He removed that dead face out of his mind.
“Do not bother yourself with these details.”
The duke snapped out of his daze.
“I was a little shocked the first time I sat through an indoor military class for nobles…”
Thales looked at the Foreign Affairs Minister and said sternly, “It’s grammar, mathematics, geometry, astronomy…”
Gilbert stopped writing.
“That is right. You did not hear it wrong.” Thales furrowed his eyebrows.
“They learn how to read and write, calculate, read the weather, calculate distance… the Eckstedtians compressed all of this into indoor military classes.”
Gilbert remained silent for a moment. He began writing soon after that.
“I have heard that the Northlanders have the habit of learning reading and writing during military lessons. But even the Arunde Family at the borders of Constellation… This is the first time I have heard of narration from someone who had been so closely involved… Interesting.”
Thales had the corners of his lips curl up. He shrugged.
“As for the reason, according to a certain dead face, if one does not know how to read and write military orders, does not know how to correctly count heads, does not know about topography, and does not understand weather and astronomy, then why should he even bother to go to war?” Thales sarcastically put up two fingers.
Thales indignantly leaned backward.
Who could have imagined that Nicholas, who seemed like an idiot, would know how long it would take before the sun rose, and when they should launch an ambush just by looking up and reading the stars? That he would be capable of figuring out the slope of the earth and make preparations required for the cavalry to charge by merely a quick and rough look at the land? That he would be capable of understanding the direction of the wind and how they would affect the trajectory of the arrows the moment after he set up a flag?
‘”Everyone in the team knows that it’s all because Iceberg forced him to completely remember everything. But he doesn’t understand the meaning behind it at all.”‘ This was from a veteran White Blade Guard in Heroic Spirit Palace, who spoke about past events with newcomers, “So while we patrolled in the wild, you just have to ask the leader which way is east. You must not go into detail as to ask him which one is Bright Star or why does Bright Star point to the east. Yvsia once decided to not show him any respect and asked him. On that day, they fought right in front of Prince Soria…
“‘What? What happened afterward? Afterward, Iceberg came up with a good idea and dissolved the conflict between the two of them. He made them shake hands fifty thousand times.
“‘That day, all White Blade Guards did not do anything. They just stood at the corner in a group in front of the palace’s entrance and watched both of them shake hands again and again with no expression whatsoever on their faces. They took turns counting to the point they almost puked… His Majesty knew. He moved the dining table outside and watched them shake hands while he ate…
‘”The reassuring part was that they got along fine after that, and it was much more harmonious. They would only point at each other’s noses and say something fierce at most. They never fought each other again…
‘”Look. This is the brotherhood sworn under swords. Oh my god, that was god damn touching…
‘”Yes. Time flies. The time for touching stories has come to an end. Let’s talk about official business. Who were the brats who had the guts to fight at their sentry posts?’”
And Nicholas did not even have a solid foundation, he was not even born in an aristocratic family.
“As for geometry and astronomy, even though most of the time they talk about the same things in ancient texts and are mixed with a lot of old-fashioned real-life examples that applied the calculations, as well as ancient legends, and they only talk about the natural geography at Northland. You know, ‘Northland is occupied with fewer people and have colder weather. The desert is hot and plants are sparse. Bad people are all over Constellation. The sea is filled with giant monsters’, that sort of thing…”
Thales’ voice became grave.
“But as long as it relates to practicality and has been used on the battlefield by experienced people, this knowledge that seems easy to understand would become incomparably practical.”
Thales had a solemn expression.
“Their reading and writing lessons emphasize efficiency and directness, while their mathematics emphasizes convenience and swiftness.
“As for geometry and astronomy, they will use it in things such as calculating the charging distance, measuring slope gradients and zone of fire, army statistics, estimation of battle losses, observing shadows and deciding their direction, watching the stars to locate their path, forecasting the weather, and observing topographic features…”
When the duke spoke of that, he cast a glance at Gilbert with complicated feelings.
“And there are even foreign language and music classes in military class.”
Gilbert lifted his head.
“Foreign language? Music?”
Thales nodded.
“Do you know how to say ‘little child’ in the language of the orcs? The Northlanders know. It’s solnoir and solnar. One of them is the language of Desert Orcs, and the other is in the language of Glacier Orcs. Because it is useful when they communicate with the ‘mixed breeds’.”
Gilbert was shocked once again.
“As for music, you know, there are many types of drums and bone flutes in Northland,” Thales said quietly.
“There are crude and bleak music, hot-blooded music, music to encourage their people to charge and fight to their deaths, music to call for retreat, music to celebrate victory, and music for funerals. There are too many to enumerate.
“This is the meaning behind the existence of Northland music.”
The guest room went silent for a moment once again.
“Northland respects soldiers and martial arts. That is something the whole world knows.” This time, it was Gilbert’s turn to sigh.
“But from the looks of it now, there is definitely a reason behind why they often win in the battlefield and are ever victorious.
“Let’s not talk about others for the moment. At the very least, one well-educated Eckstedtian nobleman will be qualified to become a battlefield commander, regardless of whether it is his mind or the quality of his abilities.
“They are not illiterate, much less stupid.”
While Gilbert lamented, his eyes showed the greatest wariness. “They are destined to be our formidable opponents.”
The topic was a little grave.
Thales could only nod with complicated feelings in his chest.
“So, are the history, tradition ceremonies, jurisprudence of Northland, the knowledge of Northland noble leadership, and also their most special military classes the things you learned from Northland?” Gilbert snapped out of his lamentation.
“I cannot say that I learned it. I only know about it.” Thales forcefully smiled. “After all, they did not really treat me like a prince and put their heart and effort into teaching me. At least no one did before the Old Crow came.”
Gilbert nodded slightly. A hint of compassion appeared in his eyes as he looked at Thales.
“Then, we could take a look at what you need for the next two months and also the long days that are yet to come…” The Foreign Affairs Minister went through a lot of pages. He took out a piece of paper fully packed with words again.
“Normally, the education of Constellation noblemen allows them to inherit the inheritance of the Empire. They are derived from the Seven Arts of the Empire. They have a style of their own, and they are very different from Northland’s.”
Gilbert cast a glance at Thales.
“But I will consider what you have learned in Northland, Your Highness. We will make slight adjustments to your lessons.”
The duke could only reveal a smile.
Gilbert also smiled and explained, “Normally, the knowledge that a qualified Constellation noble is required to know is divided into three types.”
‘Three types.’
Thales nodded in his heart. ‘Hmm, it’s still alright. It’s not much.’
“First are the basics. It is divided into grammar, history, etiquette, ancient and foreign languages. Which means that there are four subjects…”
Thales frowned slightly.
‘There are already four subjects in the first type?
‘That’s quite a lot, but grammar, history, etiquette…’
“It is quite similar to Northland’s…” Thales muttered.
Then, Gilbert grinned and continued, “And since grammar is the first subject, it is further divided into three subjects.”
Thales was stunned in an instant.
‘What?’
“Wait, wait, wait, wait…” The young duke quickly interrupted his teacher. “Are you serious?”
‘Three different types, and the first type already consists of four subjects, and the first subject already has three other subjects…
‘So, if three times four times three…
‘Wait a minute.
‘Isn’t this the benevolent and kind university counselor who appears in my dreams and always keeps a smile on his face while he says, “Don’t worry, I’ll only talk about two main points today. Yes… First, there will be one minor point under the main point, and we will talk about the first part of this minor point?”‘
Thales pulled a long face.
Was he attending a class or a systematics class?!
However, Gilbert remained as calm as ever.
“Manners, Your Highness. Please allow me to finish.”
Thales was tactfully rebuked. His expression turned stiff.
Gilbert remained smiling so much that his eyes were not visible. He continued saying, “So, there’re three subjects under grammar class: syntax, logic, and rhetoric.”
While Thales was still frustrated, his ears twitched.
“Hold on a moment. Syntax, logic, rhetoric… sounds a little familiar.”
The prince did not make a sarcastic quip about the total number of subjects which basically totaled to a “three times four times three”. Instead, it triggered another memory.
Gilbert returned him a questioning look.
Thales scratched his chin as he pondered and said, “Although it is merely a few months, the Old Crow rescheduled our-I mean-rescheduled my curriculum and integrated it with Northland’s current state.”
Gilbert hinted him to continue.
Thales said tentatively, “Grammar is the subject that is taken with the least seriousness by Northlanders, but Old Crow went against it. He deliberately removed it from the indoor military class. He also emphasized that there are three things that must be learned in grammar class.”
Gilbert suddenly smiled.
“Let me guess. Was he referring to syntax, logic, and rhetoric?”
Thales nodded.
“That’s right. But he did not go into great detail, because the Northlanders do not like it. Normally, Old Crow would give us a poem or a short passage and have us study its syntax, then clearly tell him what the author’s thoughts are, and summarize its logical structure. Then, we were to refine its rhetoric and rewrite it.”
Gilbert seemed to be reminded of something. He nodded with nostalgia and said, “Dragon Kiss Academy has a long history, and Dragon-Kissed Land is seldom affected by the flames of war. For centuries, it has become a gathering place of talents for the Western Peninsular.
“Their cultures are deeply affected by the Empire. They also retain many of the Empire’s civilization. They are even greater than us to a certain degree.”
He nodded in praise and satisfaction. “I have to thank Mister Hicks, he saved us a lot of trouble.
“Perhaps you did not notice, Your Highness. But six years ago, what I taught you here was the compositions of the grammar class, regardless of whether it was understanding the grammatical structure of the Ancient Empire’s national language, their ancient poems, or the logic and rhetoric of sonnets.”
Thales came to a sudden realization.
“Since you put it that way, I will try to make some adjustments in the grammar lesson accordingly. Mister Hicks has handled the situation very suitably.”
Gilbert picked up his spectacles once again, lowered his head, and put a mark on the first row of the schedule on the paper.
“We will take six afternoons each week for the three subjects of your grammar lesson, then.”
Thales’ expression changed.
‘Hold on. Six days?’
The prince’s face turned bitter.
“Since time is of an essence, can we not just include it in history and etiquette lessons? You must understand that grammar is something that cannot be mastered in a short period…”
But Gilbert insisted on it. “No, Your Highness, the importance of grammar lessons far exceeds what you can imagine.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister continued working hard on writing on the sheet that had his curriculum timetable.
“Listening and speaking are not difficult, but what is difficult is that other than listening and speaking, not everyone can think, understand, and express their thoughts.”
Gilbert looked up. “The worst thing about it is that everyone thinks that they already know how to do these things.”
The Cunning Fox narrowed his eyes.
“Hence, Mister Hicks has mentioned something before, ‘Most of the conflicts in this world happen because some people failed in their grammar lesson.’
“That is the reason why we must also need to learn to read and write other than learning how to listen and speak. This is not as easy as learning how to read the alphabet.”
Thales was struck dumb.
‘Alright.’
Gilbert lowered his head to sort out Thales’ timetable.
