Strategic deception requires careful design and precise execution, both of which are indispensable. However, above these two, strict confidentiality is the most important thing. Feiqi planned everything and hid everything in his mind. He laughed, cried, angry, and had no choice but to vent all his feelings and then returned to Yongli Continent.
The Knights of Hell have begun an autumn offensive. They have regained control of the castles of the three little lords and the surrounding areas without casualties. Thanks to Kazmuk's hard work, the members of the Knights of Hell have worn defensive amulets. They are almost invincible when facing the enemy's swords and crossbows, which has become the guarantee of their attack. Feiqi once said before that armor and protection are the ultimate offensive weapons, especially in this era of cold weapons.
With the advantages of weapons and tactics, victory is simple, but things after victory are not that simple. After returning to the palace, Fitch first asked Shani to accompany him to the garden, and convened a meeting for imperial prefecture to handle important government affairs. His silence and seriousness made Shani feel something was wrong, and his body language seemed to be closed and he could not see his emotions. So Shani also participated in the meeting for imperial prefecture as a abnormal request.
Feichi's eyes twitched slightly, nodded in agreement, and said nothing.
"You would have said: You wouldn't like that dull and boring political atmosphere."
"It may not be boring," Feiqi defended, "I don't have to say it."
The emperor and His Majesty the Empress appeared together again to make the imperial meeting much more enthusiastic. During the period when Feiqi was away, Shani helped deal with many government affairs, but most of them were other matters that were not related to military or finance. Ensure the autumn harvest, stabilize prices, and establish a good hall. The ministers can also complete these things themselves. They handed over the problem to Shani, more to make her feel involved. The real trouble needs Feiqi to come back to truly solve it.
"Your Majesty, the progress of the Hell Knights is very smooth. The strategic teleportation array ensures that their supplies are always sufficient, so this autumn offensive will be completed earlier than expected." The Chancellor of the Finance Minister Good handed over a detailed report to Fitch. "But no expected benefits were obtained from the aristocratic territory that had surrendered or been defeated..."
Feiqi had a cold face. This was the case since he came back from the Second World. No one had ever seen him laughed again. "Mathers, let me explain what happened? You were responsible for the previous intelligence collection."
"Your Majesty, Lord Goode, according to the latest information, many lords are transferring assets to the church and then choosing to resist or surrender. Although the church clearly does not go to war with us, they are willing to shelter the devout believers." Mathers said: "It is estimated that besides property, Lord Goode did not notice that the lords had few sons. These few sons are now in the Holy Trinity Castle, undergoing training as trainee paladins or pastors."
"Oh, it turns out that this can be done. I have to admit that these old nobles are more intelligent than me in some respects." Feige said: "Let the double-faced men who are doing this, write letters to their children in the church, come and redeem them. As long as they are all here and pay them according to the amount calculated by Mathers at the time, they can be released."
"Will this become a kidnapping?"
Feige looked at Eddie and nodded. "Yes, this is kidnapping. In my knowledge, there are only two ways to avoid chaos after the transfer of power. One is to completely eliminate one party and leave no trouble at all. I have the ability to do this, but I did not. Instead, I gave them the opportunity to surrender, and they should be grateful. The second is to make an agreement, and then both parties strictly abide by it and get a chance to live with their own credit. What does the letter of persuasion to them say? Do you still remember Eddie?"
The letter of surrender was drafted by Eddie, staff officer Tron, and modified by Feiqi. How could she not remember? Feiqi said with a serious expression: "All personnel reported and handed over one-third of the value of the movable property. They could get compensation for the arable land of the castle covering the same area, as well as residences, production tools... It's very simple now, either I kidnapped them, or I don't think they surrender, which one is better?"
Those who did not surrender, Feich issued the order to behead all the people. So Eddie had to admit: "Kidnapping is better."
"Thank you for your understanding." Feiqi's statement was a bit sarcastic, which attracted Shani's attention.
"What if their son didn't come back?" Mathers didn't plan to let this issue go.
"Give them a year," Fitch said, "and then deal with the war criminals."
"That might kill many people." Mathers opened his hands and said, "It's a pity that I'm not for them, especially when their own families don't respect life. We don't need to be rare for them. Just killing them all in a year is just a vent of anger. It will not bring any benefits to the empire, and it will also affect His Majesty's reputation among the people."
Eddie and Good looked at Mathers secretly, and there was a rare look of appreciation in their eyes.
"No, you understand the wrong direction." Feiqi said: "A thing that should have ended now must cause trouble and increase the burden. This is a loss. So if you don't come to redeem people a year later, killing them will be a stop loss. As for what the people think of me?"
Feiqi looked at Shani, then turned his face and said with a gloomy expression: "It is obvious that what the people think that I will be guided by the church, and the church is still protecting two-faced people. Will my reputation be better? I hope the church can have the final ethics and conscience, and don't point fingers at me. Otherwise, I don't mind letting the church ascension into the kingdom of God."
Everyone looked at Feiqi with surprise. After all, such blatant friction and conflict with the church had a great impact on them. Feiqi pulled out the pit sword and stroked the sword with his fingers. When he "accidentally" touched the sword blade, a small wound and a drop of blood appeared. He inserted the pit sword on the Iron Throne with his backhand, just at the position under his feet. The pit sword was not at the handle, and the exposed hilt became a "pedal" for sitting foot.
"The church has been occupied by ambitious people, and the goddess's faith has become their means to fight for power and profit. Good guys, now anyone who gives money can become an intern priest and an intern paladin? Why, are they a priest and a paladin of gold coins?" Feige said: "In the empire, my orders must be executed. If you don't know, you can ask, you can't learn, but if you try to be fooled by me, then I will have their hearts or eyes! Eddie, how many working groups are there now, and how much scope can they control?"
Eddie was startled and just stepped out of the list and replied: "After the students of the Magic School joined the team, the number of new working groups was the same as all working groups last year, so the area that could be controlled doubled and fully cover the territory captured by this autumn offensive."
"It's just the same number. If there are so few graduates from the Magic School, it will affect my plan progress too much." Feiqi held his chin and everyone thought he would come up with a solution, but he said: "It's okay, it's OK. The working group needs to strengthen training. The task in the next stage is very heavy, so the number cannot be increased quickly."
"The next phase of the task?" Eddie said: "The working group will complete the allocation and population registration of newly acquired land in winter, mobilize materials, and then start spring sowing. According to the past..."
"The so-called 'past' is just one or two years of experience, Eddie." Feige said: "With the increase in work experience, work efficiency should be higher. Will the land controlled last year be reduced in the next year? Don't turn the working group into a new lord, rotate and second it to increase efficiency. Also, next year will not be the autumn offensive, but the spring, and you are ready."
"In winter? There will be no free working groups next spring, and no one will manage the newly built places."
"Don't worry, just think from a different perspective." Feiqi said: "The place I captured this time used to be the Feinberg battlefield all year round, and it was already very crowded. With the two blood-colored meteors, each village will have a lot of free land, and people are missing. They are still those working groups, but more people should be prepared. I will transport all the people I got from the winter offensive to you. Well, from your eyes, I know you understand. Yes, this is also a kidnapping."
"Your Majesty, I don't mean that." Eddie said quickly.
"As long as it is the truth, what can't be said?" Feiqi shook his head, but he didn't laugh, so no one present could relax. "I will lead the team in the winter offensive, and the journey will be long. In addition, the Knights of Hell have to guard the area that has just been recaptured, so I only bring the elites to. Goode, you must prepare food and winter supplies in advance, and don't spend money reluctantly. The new batch of gold will arrive soon, and I hope to see you have complete control of the market."
Goode was stunned. He looked around and everyone was confused on his face, so he could only ask: "Your Majesty, is it the Royal Magic Workshop that has a new deposit?"
"No, the productivity of the Magic Workshop is now full. I promised Thunder White not to train new slave workers for the time being. What I will give you is the income I get from other channels, so you don't have to worry." Feiqi looked at Shanny and said, "These are rewards for fighting evil, and you can use it with confidence."
Shani knew that Feiqi must have fought in hell again, but she didn't know which devil he killed. Although killing the devil is not a bad thing, every devil lord is not simple. The relationship behind them will always be associated with a certain hell level master and will eventually be related to the King of Hell. She was worried that if Feiqi continues to kill like this, he will eventually provoke too strong enemies...
As if seeing Shani's concern, Feige said to Goode: "Remember, although there is income this time, it will not become the norm. The Empire is mine, but the Empire cannot be a money-losing deal for me, right? I let the Empire exist, so that the Empire can provide me with resources and build the magic tower I need! I have basically determined the construction plan for the magic tower, and construction will start next fall at the latest. At that time, I need manpower and resources, and you must be prepared."
When Goode heard the magic tower, he felt heartbroken, and his chest was blocked. He beat his chest, his voice trembling slightly, and he asked, "Your Majesty, is the cost of a magic tower still the same as before?"
"No, it's much cheaper than before, about 40% off."
Good was about to breathe a sigh of relief, but Feich's next sentence choked him again. "The first phase of the project, nine magic towers."
With hell healing and infinite zero runes, Goode's dizziness was quickly cured, and Feiqi also announced the meeting to end. Although he reminded Goode to be careful of his body, not to panic, and not to think that the ten magic towers were falling, Goode could not get rid of this shadow for a while, after all, it was a heavy burden.
Feich's meeting added a "burden" to everyone. Eddie's working group was about to prepare to welcome more residents, Goode was going to raise supplies, and Mathers was going to catch more double-faced people. However, Shanny felt that the burden was Feich. When the meeting ended, he walked out without saying a word, and did not even call Shanny to go with her. She felt something was wrong and hurriedly chased after him and grabbed Feich's arm from behind.
"What's wrong with you? Are you deliberately avoiding me?"
"If I want to avoid you, I will teleport away directly and let you catch up?" Feiqi smiled slightly, but Shani felt that the smile was a bit fake. "I want to go to the dungeon, the things there are not suitable for you to see, but my teleportation will make you more worried. I am a little embarrassed, but I am very happy that you have caught up."
"I want to see!" Shani said, "I also want to know if you have done psychological tests to answer questions."
"Shani..." Feiqi curled his smile, but the unnaturally twitching corners of his mouth was noticed by Shani. It was "evidence" that he was deliberately concealing his emotions. "I am stronger, and that answer is useless. I have tried it, and I can get any results I want. I can control my thoughts and what happened in me, including answering questions. I should have changed, but I am certain that it is not a devil, nor an ordinary person... nor a god. I am not sure what such a change means. I am only sure that he is beneficial to my plan to save the Yongli continent."
Shani frowned, all the snake hair swaying slightly like aquatic plants, which was a sign of hesitation and confusion. She didn't know what to do, so she could only hold Feiqi's hand tightly, at least follow him all the way to where he was about to go:
"I will be with you, even if it is something that is not suitable for me, I will be with you."
Feiqi nodded, and without saying a word, he pulled Shani over and the two of them teleported directly.
Every time she quickly teleported like this, it was not very comfortable for Shani. Her snake hair provided a whole-region view and powerful observation, so the sudden change of the scene and the subsequent spatial dizziness were even worse. Feiqi often used hell treatment to make her recover quickly, or a drink of Harvest Horn was also good. But this time Feiqi held her with her right hand, and didn't know what she did, Shani got rid of the discomfort in an instant.
"This is a dungeon under the palace. Are there people locked inside?"
"I don't know. I have ordered the family to be released as promised. Who have you caught behind you?" Feiqi replied, signaling the guard to open the door. "It's better that there is no one, because I don't want the matter today to be leaked."
"what are you up to?"
"I'll ask Sam to find me a death row prisoner, or someone who wants to sell his life. I'll try a spell."
Shani immediately grabbed Feichi's arm with both hands. She tried very hard, but Feichi didn't feel any pain. His skin was as hard as a cold stone.
"This spell cannot be tested on dead people, and it does not make sense to test on other living creatures." Feiqi said to Shani: "It is cruel and not suitable for you to see. Are you still going to come?"
Chapter completed!