Devil's choice

When we look back on history afterwards, we often find that under the torrent of history, even the wise leaders are inevitably dizzy. - "The Chronicle of the Empire Chapter 35, Chapter 7 - A Review and Reflection on the Roland Era" It was a summer afternoon, and the scorching sun hanging in the sky was still mercilessly radiating heat. In order to welcome the upcoming triumphal ceremony, countless guards in bright red armor have surrounded the front of Pier 1 of the port on the dock. And just a hundred steps outside the dock, the soldiers of the anxious Imperial Capital Public Security Center have used all their strength to breastfeed. Many of their clothes were torn, their shiny epaulettes were torn off, their caps were caught, and even countless boots were trampled off. To the helplessness of a thousand soldiers of the security center who were ordered to maintain order outside the port, they were facing more than 50,000 enthusiastic citizens of the imperial capital. The enthusiastic onlookers prepared flowers, cheers and applause - of course, there are many girls who are even ready to offer their hot kisses and even chastity. Under such an emotional turmoil, a thousand soldiers of the public security office felt like a broken ship in the ocean, which could be overturned at any time. At this moment, they envy those guards standing in the dock cordon, because they can leisurely arrange the square team, show off the brightest armor and weapons they have just sent, and don't have to worry about being scratched by a fanatical citizen the next second. For this grand triumph, under the order of His Majesty Augustine VI, the great emperor of the empire, the section of the Lancang Grand Canal to the imperial capital was doubled! The empire paid 10,000 river transport workers for half a year's work, and the empire's finance also paid nearly three million gold coins for this. The purpose of paying these prices is only to let the Dandong, the flagship of the empire's "Xth Expeditionary Fleet", smoothly pass the canal to the port outside the east gate of the imperial capital, and receive the cheers of the people, so as to show the powerful force of the empire. No one will care whether it is worth paying such a price to show off in a situation. Because the last Chancellor of the Exchequer of the empire, who was the first to raise strong objections, had been rushed back to his hometown by the angry emperor. The only choice for the succeeding Chancellor of the Exchequer is how to rack his brains to squeeze out the money from the various expenditures of the imperial finance as much as possible to satisfy the "great happy old man". Of course, the name "good old man" can only be deeply buried in the heart of the Minister of Finance, very deep, very deep... When the afternoon sun shines on the wide river of the canal, and the first sail shadow in the distance began to show the outline, the crowd began to cheer uncontrollably. As the 200-step-long giant warship on the river slowly approached the port, the majestic outline of the warship shocked all the citizens of the imperial capital who came to watch. The flagship "Dandong" of the Empire's Sixth Expeditionary Fleet is the pride of the Imperial Navy and the largest warship in the history of the Imperial Navy. In order to welcome this grand welcome ceremony, the warship has been thoroughly painted and renovated, and the hull has been painted indaunting black. In the waves of cheers, the Dandong was like a giant black monster slowly approaching the port, and a huge thorn flower flag on the mast fluttered in the wind. When the anchor was dropped, tens of thousands of citizens in the port were already boiling. Countless hats were thrown into the sky, countless people stepped off their shoes, and countless people squeezed their legs. And the poor soldiers of the security office can only reduce the warning line to the best of their ability, and then shrink it... The Imperial Expeditionary Fleet, commanding Count Raymond, was now standing on the bow deck, looking at the cheering crowds in the port with no expression. The 39-year-old first-class general of the Empire, the Count of the Empire, is wearing his most grand costume at this moment, covering his whole body with light armor, and a bright red cloak behind him is hunting in the wind. There are also two medals on his chest - which he got when he participated in the first two expeditionary fleet. And there is no doubt that this triumph will win him the third Order of the Empire. The count's eyes were a little lax, and his focus did not stop at the cheering crowd in the port. If you look closely, you can find that the count's eyebrows seemed to be faintly wrinkled and seemed to be a little impatient. Damn, this armor is too heavy and stupid! The count did not think that as a soldier in the naval fleet, he would need to wear such heavy armor to fight at sea. That's what the army only uses. As for wearing these medals, it is even more stupid in the count's heart. It's like the upstanders are showing off their wealth - the real aristocrats disdain to do so. He feels that this kind of behavior is very shi. Moreover, the crowd cheering below was so noisy that their cheering sounded like a huge wave in the tsunami, eroding the Count's little patience. I subconsciously glanced at the deck under my feet. In order to cope with today's welcome ceremony, the Dandong was painted as early as three days ago, and there was no blood on the deck. The deck worn out in the expedition war has already been laid, and the impact angle of the bow has been replaced with a new one... Damn it, those guys who like to flatter the emperor actually turned the collision angle of the bow into a statue of His Majesty the emperor himself, and it is said that the statue was hand-made by a famous carving master of the empire a few days ago. It's out of control. For this reason, the Imperial Navy also paid an additional 10,000 gold coins. The power is powerful enough. But don't those fools know that when there is a battle at sea, after the warship collided, the first thing that was destroyed was the impact angle of the bow? In his opinion, the 10,000 gold coins were spent unjustly. The work of the sculptor is even more practical than finding a sharp stake. In fact, deeper, Lord Count Raymond even thought from the bottom of his heart that organizing this so-called X Imperial Expeditionary Fleet was really a ridiculously wrong decision. Since a few decades ago, the empire began to "expay" the South China Sea region again and again. It is undeniable that there are countless islands in the Southern Ocean, as if scattered pearls are scattered over the vast sea, where there are strange woods, barbaric and stupid indigenous tribes that still stay in the clan stage, including gold, gems, spices and seafood. However, the count does not think that the act of "taking more than a dozen huge warships to bully those small indigenous canoes" is a "expedition". It was completely a plunder, a m******e, a robber, an invasion, a n***d robbery! The count won't think there is anything wrong with this. The weak have always been bullied by the strong, and the weak need to submit to the strong. However, he believes that the mistake of the empire's policy towards the Southern Ocean is that this so-called expedition is carried out too often, and the effect seems to be getting weaker and weaker. In the early two or three expeditions, the powerful imperial navy was invincible in the South Sea. When the whole ship of gold, gems and spices were shipped back, it caused a sensation in the whole empire. But after all, no matter how rich the granary is, it can't stand such frequent harvesting. Too much plunder made the indigenous tribes in the sea slightly closer to the Southern Ocean extinct one after another. After that, the expeditionary force had to go further and further. The extension of the route was a huge test for the supply of the fleet. After all, Nanyang not only has those bully indigenous people, but also those golden gems, but also sultry weather, rapidly changing climate, terrible huge waves, and countless reefs, whirlpools, storms... The transitional harvest made this fertile field, which could have become an imperial granary, rapidly desolated. After that, the expedition gained less than once. But ironically, the triumphal ceremony is more and more grand every time... The Count Raymond himself led the three expeditions in recent years, which made the count gain a great reputation in the Southern Ocean. The Imperial Navy General, the Count, has a series of nicknames in Nanyang: Robber! Butcher! The executioner! His hands are stained with indigenous blood. He is a notorious invader in the hearts of the indigenous clans and tribes. He is a demon who burns their homes and enslaves them. Of course, the Count doesn't care about this, but the only thing that makes him feel a little uneasy is that the excessive war of aggression has stimulated the development of these indigenous people in the South Sea in some ways, especially in terms of force. Even before he came back this time, he had heard that in the southernmost distant sea, some island natives had formed a so-called alliance to fight against the endless plunder of the empire. Fortunately, he doesn't need to think about those annoying things anymore. Because he knew very well that this was his last expedition. Next, he will stay in the imperial capital. If everything goes well, he will get a prominent position in the Imperial Command, and then stay for ten or eight years. After the current military minister retires, he will become the new minister of military affairs with the influence of his family. If he is a little more lucky, it may be okay. In the last few years of my political career, I was addicted to being a prime minister. As for the expedition, f**k it. That's a headache for the next expeditionary fleet commander. Even if those indigenous people have evolved enough to make magic cannons, it's not a matter of their own worry. In the cheers of the heat wave, the Count walked down the flagship deck in full view of the public, and his feet finally stepped on the land of the imperial capital! He waved to the cheering crowd... It's just that this action is more like driving away flies. First of all, a civil servant dressed in the court went on board to read the award order of His Majesty the emperor, and announced that the Count would enter the palace tomorrow morning to meet His Majesty the Emperor and accept the award. If you get what you want, the political future is bright. But then a servant in gray squeezed up and whispered another news in the ear of the count, which made Count Raymond's mood sink to the bottom! The news came from home. After going out for more than three years, the sea was vast and it was inconvenient to deliver the news. Raymond doesn't know what's going on at home now. The most important thing is your wife. When he went on an expedition three years ago, his wife was about to give birth, and now he doesn't even know whether to have a son or a daughter! The news at home is: it's my son. However, the son seems to be an i***t. The news was almost so much that the count was knocked down from the peak of joy. It's just a little bit short! However, almost every emperor who came to meet him saw that the triumphant commander-in-chief of the expeditionary army was gloomy to the critical point of collapse.