Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 512: The twelve great generals (3)

'Rise up' she said and the minister quickly rise up.

Then one of the ministers said

'Since that is settled what do we do about Seren proposition?'

'We will discuss that' the princess said and they began discussing bout the matter until evening.

In the evening, they make a decision. 

When the decision was announced, and the criers were dispatched to every part of the empire, the news began a more intense conflict between the Arrandian Court and Edenian court.

>>>>>>>>>>>> 

ARRANDY

Silas was pacing around the garden, his face is clearly showing some form of wornness but his mouth shows a slight curve of smile.

Like always the Lady of Arrandy, Adriana rather likes to talk to him in the garden more than the meeting room.

There was something about the flower she used to say.

Silas once thought it was because the smells but she shakes her head. She just looks at the garden and chuckles, like she was looking at a distance memory.

The Lady has many quirks and her mind is inquisitive and as scheming as him. She inherits all the tactical brilliance of her brother yet none of her brother prowess.

If her brother could be called a great leader in a thousand years, then his sister could be called a rare administrator in a thousand years.

The Vermont is blessed to have the two of them. The only reason her brilliance is not acknowledged is because of her minimal interference in the Imperial Court.

But Silas could see it. How could he not? 

Other minister may not realize but he did. 

The Imperial Sister managed to keep an alliance with Aetherland even though the Emperor has a falling out with the King Adrian of Aetherland.

Not only that, she managed to keep the alliance even after her brother manage to conquer the other region and was raging with the ambition to unite all under Heaven.

She also manages to persuade the Emperor to stay his hand on an expedition to the North of Arrandy and winning the praise of Aetherland Court.

Even though the relationship between the King and the Emperor at that time was not good, when the Emperor sees that his sister truly love Prince William and the King sees that his son truly love the sister of the Emperor, they managed to see past their difference and the relations between the King and the Emperor could be said, to have been better than before and they began again sending invitations to each other.

People might think the Emperor gone soft but that is only partly true. 

The moment when the Emperor express his opinion to annex Aetherland and claim all under heaven, Adriana propose a plan that could not only benefit the Empire but also decrease the animosity of the people towards the countless campaign the empire has done.

By not annexing and conquering Aetherland, not only the Empire could rest their army, they also manage to calm the northern frontier. 

The economic reforms could also be enacted if there is peace and Adriana also cites the reason that the Empire must not overextend their armies.

How many great kingdoms fall by expanding their region without thinking of the consequences?

The Imperial Sister quickly grab on this point and knows that the Empire land is vast but not all those region conquered by the empire have their hearts towards the empire.

Capturing the heart of the people must be the priority. The Imperial Sisters said that the desire to reach hearts is wise.

'Stopping the long war and letting the people rest, strengthen the internal defense, promote trade and bringing prosperity, wise Emperor must do this.'

She also said

"Benevolence and righteousness let this be the motto now that the war has stopped. Let the Empire dawn a new era of peace, and the people will praise the Emperor as a wise emperor.'

But what make Silas knows that she would be a great ruler was when the Emperor ask her.

'If you were to sit in this Dragon Throne, how would you rule?' He asked and the Emperor eyes look intently at his sister.

Adriana did not flinch instead she answer.

'A benevolent government will win the hearts of the people. By being benevolent and exercising righteousness, even if I do not have as many soldiers as Your Grace, I will still manage to defeat Your Grace.'

The Emperor laughed and said

'And how will you achieve this?'

She then said

'Let us take the example of Great Renasia. There is no kingdom that could compare to our prosperous empire but even if Renasia is smaller than us, that does not mean they will lose to us. Look at their governance. Their ruler practice benevolence, their officials practice righteousness. 

Even they are smaller than us, they attained royal dignity. 

They being sparing the use of punishments and fines, and making the taxes and levies light, so causing that the fields shall be ploughed deep, and the weeding of them be carefully attended to, and that the strong-bodied, during their days of leisure, shall cultivate their filial piety, fraternal respectfulness, sincerity, and truthfulness, serving thereby, at home, their fathers and elder brothers, and, abroad, their elders and superiors,-- they then have a people who can be employed, with sticks which they have prepared, to oppose the strong mail and sharp weapons of our troops. 

Their morale is high; their loyalty is undying. In war, Your Grace is undefeated. But in governance, Your Royal Sister must say, you come a bit short of the Empress of the Sun.'

The Emperor looks at his sister and smile. His sister did not say anything but the Emperor knew that his sister want to say more so he said.

'Continue' he said 

She then continued

'In accordance with that should we then rob the people of their time, so that they cannot plough and weed their fields, in order to support their parents? Then their parents would suffer from cold and hunger. Brothers, wives, and children are separated and scattered abroad. These will drive the citizens of the Empire into pit-falls, or drown them' 

'So, reminded by that, I plead to the emperor to not raise taxes without reason, wage war only when threatened, protect the people and govern the people with laws that will not burden them. The Empire is also the Empire of the people.'

The Emperor smiles grow wider. 

Not only his sister shows remarkable ruling abilities, but also uses his question to plead for the citizens and this make the Emperor heart full with warmth.

'What about my enemies in other region of the kingdoms?' The Emperor asked.

'The benevolent has no enemy. I beg Your Grace not to doubt what I say. If these virtues of benevolence and righteousness are practiced, who would dare attack the Empire; else they receive the scorn of the people in the world? Who would attack a ruler who is wise and bring prosperity to the people? For such a wise emperor, if Your Grace does not mobilize the empire army, the empire citizens itself will rise up in Your Grace defense.'

'You still did not answer my question.' The Emperor said and then Adriana replies.

'Here is my answer. He who has no pleasure in killing men can defeat Your Grace.'

'Who will give it to himthis world?' The Emperor asked as his smiles grow wider.

'All the people of this continent will unanimously give it to him. Does Your Grace understand the way of the growing grain? During the seventh and eighth months, when drought prevails, the plants become dry. Then the clouds collect densely in the heavens, they send down torrents of rain, and the grain erects itself, as if by a shoot. When it does so, who can keep it back? Now among the shepherds of men throughout this continent, there is not one who does not find pleasure in killing men. If there were one who did not find pleasure in killing men, all the people would look towards him with outstretched necks. Such being indeed the case, the people would flock to him, as water flows downwards with a rush, which no one can repress.'

'HAHAHA' the Emperor laughed and he said

'Your pleading and proposition will be considered. You are dismissed' he said and Adriana exited the throne room.