Chapter 343: Chapter 242: Meeting in the Imperial Capital (Part 2)

No one wants to confront the Inspectorate head-on, especially when the Emperor has made no statement.

Collins coughed lightly, but did not stand up. He had completed his task and saw no need to stand out too much.

The rebuked General Yoda spoke again. This time, his tone was much calmer, his eyes less ostentatious: “The Imperial Army is willing to cooperate with the Reconstruction Directorate’s dispatch.”

Upon hearing this, some nobles’ expressions changed slightly, not expecting him to change his stance so quickly.

“I suggest forming a ’Reconstruction Safety Line’ with some Imperial Capital legions, in coordination with the remaining Northern Territory garrison. Establish ’Temporary Safety Zones’ outside Frost Halberd, Snow Peak, and Red Tide to handle the residual threats from the Insect Nest and ecological mutations.

However, the military must retain the ’Command Authority of the Defense Zone’ and ’Priority of Frontline Intelligence’. Security is the premise of reconstruction.”

This was a signal of concession, as well as a point of power that the military wanted to secure.

Several representatives from the military system nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, representatives from the Northern Territory and the Edmund Family finally spoke up.

An old noble clad in a gray-silver cloak slowly stood up, bowed his head, and spoke in a deep voice: “We agree with the establishment of the Directorate and are willing to cooperate with the Imperial Capital’s dispatch.

But we request to retain our fief inheritance rights, the right to manage serfs, and our civil traditions. Although the Northern Territory is ravaged by war, its culture cannot be entirely lost.

If even these are stripped away, the Northern Territory will no longer be the Empire’s shield but a distant and indifferent colony.”

His words were not intense; rather, there was a sense of desolation in his tone.

Many nobles present remained noncommittal.

After this disaster, the old nobility of the Northern Territory no longer had the right to speak, yet they could not be completely ignored.

As everyone’s speech concluded, the Imperial Hall fell into silence once again.

No one spoke further, for they all knew that the true adjudicator sat within that impenetrable shadow.

The Emperor remained motionless, but Lintze slowly stepped out from the shadows once more.

His expression remained cold as he walked down to the imperial stairs and unfurled a scroll edged with gilded patterns.

“His Majesty has heard all of your proposals,”

he spoke softly, his tone steady, like cold water slowly pouring into a heated chamber.

“The Empire will establish the ’Northern Territory Post-Disaster Reconstruction Directorate’ directly under the Iron-Blooded Emperor Ernst August, led by Duke Edmund, with local Northern nobility joining in the reconstruction efforts. It will be overseen by representatives from the Empire’s Inspectorate, Finance, and Military departments.”

This announcement caused a thousand waves.

The nobles exchanged glances, secretly surprised: This was binding the Imperial Capital and the Northern nobles within a single framework.

Rather than completely sidelining them, it gave the locals a very high standing.

Some vaguely sensed this was to safeguard Edmund.

But Lintze did not pause; he gently picked up the scroll in his hand, and with a shift in tone, he continued:

“To encourage unity throughout the Empire, His Majesty decrees: All major vassal families and titled nobles must send their core family members, with knights led by direct successors, to the Northern Territory to participate in post-disaster restoration and expansion plans.”

This statement caused the room to suddenly tense, with many nobles’ faces changing subtly.

But Lintze merely continued to read: “Participants will be under the dual supervision of the Empire’s Inspectorate and the Reconstruction Directorate. Those who achieve merits will be granted new fiefs, noble titles, and the right to expand their families. They will be permitted to settle in the Northern Territory, pass on their lineages, build forts, and establish orders.”

This, on the surface, appeared to be the Emperor showing grace, offering opportunities to the nobles.

But those truly cunning in the room felt a chill in their hearts.

Wasn’t this just an enhanced version of the ’Northern Empire Expansion Order’ from the past two years?

On the surface, it was about rewarding land, but in reality, it was about “inviting” the young scions of the nobles to the distant Northern Territory, removing them from their homeland, sending them into a controlled area, both to weaken them and to control them.

Some instinctively looked towards the imperial throne, attempting to discern any hint of attitude from that unmoving figure.

Yet above the high tier, those eyes remained hidden in shadow, yielding no insights.

Everyone could only swallow their concerns.

Lintze paused once more, perhaps to let this decree linger in everyone’s minds a moment longer, before slowly opening his mouth and delivering the final decision:

“Furthermore, His Majesty has decided that the Sixth Prince of the Royal Family, Astha August, will first go to the Northern Territory, to establish a domain as a model for reconstruction.”

At this moment, every noble in the Imperial Hall visibly held their breath for a beat.

On the surface, it seemed that the Royal Family was setting an example by personally heading to the cold Northern Territory to inspire the populace and set a precedent for the nobles.

But those truly understanding Imperial Capital politics instantly recognized the deeper meaning.

The Emperor first sent his own prince over; following that, any family deploying members to the Northern Territory wasn’t helping but responding to a call.

Not going? Would you dare to make your family appear more cowardly than the prince?

Sending them? Fine, but your heirs, successors, and core knights will all be incorporated into the Northern system, constrained by the Reconstruction Directorate, and cut off from the family’s local power circle.

The representatives of various families exchanged subtle glances, silently clenching their fists beneath the table.

He knew that the Emperor was using the guise of “reconstruction” to openly initiate a noble reshuffling.

The foundations of the old nobility and old vassals were to be uprooted, replanted into the frozen soil under imperial control.

Having read the decree aloud, Lintze slowly retracted the scroll and bowed:

“Your Majesty, this concludes the draft of the post-disaster reconstruction decrees.”

The Emperor still said nothing.

He merely raised a single knuckle, imperceptibly tapping the armrest of the throne.

“Thump.”

The massive chair vibrated, its low sound like a prolonged and inexorable ancient judgment, landing upon each person’s heart.

…

Elinor slowly walked out of the Imperial Hall, the afternoon sunlight of the Imperial Capital pouring down, as if escaping from an ice cellar, the light causing people to squint slightly.

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