Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence Chapter 739 - 412: Duke Calvin’s Stroke of Genius
Previously on Lord of Winter: Beginning with Daily Intelligence...
The Governor’s Mansion within the capital of the Southeast Province was currently repurposed as the command center for the burgeoning New Empire.
The air inside the grand hall was thick with the heavy scent of religious incense, and the Holy Emblem of the Golden Feather Flower Church Court dominated the wall, casting a conspicuous glow upon the various gilded tableware arrayed on the table.
With a sudden burst, the hall door was flung open.
Fifth Prince Lampard, who had now proclaimed himself the founding Emperor of the Holy Eastern Empire.
—He strode into the hall with hurried steps, an uncontainable joy palpable in his gait, more a surge of elation than mere haste.
"Duke! Duke Calvin!" His voice, tinged with excitement, reverberated beneath the gilded dome. "A miracle... this is truly a revelation from our Father God!"
Duke Calvin’s teacup, poised at his lips, trembled slightly. In the next instant, Lampard grasped his arm.
It was an impulsive gesture, fueled by an overwhelming need to share his elation.
The spilled tea on his sleeve caused the old Duke a moment of disorientation, yet he managed to maintain the composed smile honed by years of noble bearing.
Lampard's voice held a note of impatience, "You are undeniably the bedrock of this Empire... Without your influence, today's triumphant state would be unthinkable! Duke, this is a magnificent tide, a sign that destiny itself stands with us!"
The old Duke's smile wavered, for he remained utterly bewildered by the Fifth Prince's fervent pronouncements.
Recently, his composure had been shattered by the pervasive chaos.
The Southeast Province, once devoted to the Dragon Ancestor, now found itself under the forceful imposition of the Golden Feather Flower Church Court's doctrines. The provincial nobility were being marginalized, and his family's enterprises were suffering incremental losses.
But what recourse did he possess?
The influential figures in the Imperial Capital had been eliminated by the Second Prince, while those who had aligned with the Fourth Prince were likely interred in unmarked graves.
His only hope now rested on his third son rapidly ascending the ranks within the Church Court, aspiring to one day attain the position of Pope, thereby securing a future for the Calvin Clan.
With this thought, he painstakingly stabilized his smile, "Your Majesty, pray, compose yourself... May I inquire, what precisely has transpired?"
Lampard erupted into near-hysterical laughter, thrusting a battle report into the Duke's hands. "Louis Calvin has led the Northern Territory army southward, launching an assault upon Gray Rock Province!"
Duke Calvin’s fingers quivered; the teacup nearly slipped from his grasp.
Lampard continued, his excitement escalating as he paced the hall, "Raymond’s stronghold has been breached! Hahaha! That old fox remains ensnared in the Imperial Capital, posturing in ignorance while his own domain burns!"
A nearby bishop adjusted his Holy Emblem, his tone grave yet imbued with significant undertones, "Without the Duke’s implicit agreement, would he dare to encroach upon the territory of the Empire's Grand Marshal?
This is not merely a declaration of war against Raymond, but also the Calvin Clan's most solemn pledge to the burgeoning Eastern Empire."
The Duke remained seated, unnervingly still like a masterfully crafted statue, though a cold sweat now drenched his back.
To all appearances, this was his decree.
Yet, he was acutely aware that the missive dispatched to Louis had likely not even been unsealed.
His wayward son’s southward march was not motivated by a desire to rescue him, nor by any intention to swear fealty to the Eastern Empire.
Louis had scented opportunity, detected the scent of blood, and acted with predatory instinct.
In Louis's estimations, both Raymond’s domain and the very foundation of the Calvin Clan were naught but potential spoils.
Following his previous failed endeavor to integrate the Red Tide into the clan’s established network via trade routes, Louis had seemingly been excised from the Calvin lineage.
The caravans ceased their passage through the Calvin Commerce Association, and the trade routes previously belonging to the Calvin Family were severed by his hand, now exclusively serving the Northern Territory.
He no longer heeded familial directives nor sought their protection, as if he had irrevocably discarded the name "Calvin."
Currently, he bore a stark resemblance to an heir of the Edmund Family.
He acted like a savage beast, nurtured on the unforgiving icefields of the Northern Territory, his gaze fixed upon the conquest of vaster territories.
However, if at this critical juncture he were to disavow the action, informing Lampard, "I have no control over my son either."
The Calvin Clan’s standing within the Eastern Empire would crumble instantaneously.
He would be branded as incompetent, a deceiver, utterly destitute of value to the New Empire.
Duke Calvin slowly rose, leaning on a ceremonial scepter, and approached the grand battle map of the Southeast, his finger decisively indicating Gray Rock Province.
His voice, remarkably steady, betrayed no hint of prior uncertainty: "Indeed, Your Majesty, this carries my command. With Raymond’s primary forces absent, if we do not seize this moment, when shall we ever?
Lampard's eyes blazed with renewed fervor, "I knew it! The Duke possesses truly extraordinary foresight!"
Recognizing that the fostered misunderstanding had yielded immediate, tangible benefits, the astute old strategist understood the necessity of maintaining this advantageous facade.
"Your Majesty is far too gracious. " Duke Calvin's voice remained calm and unhurried, showing no hint of emotion. "While that lad Louis can be willful, he possesses the Calvin family's blood. Ultimately, he understands where his loyalties lie. " His tone carried no trace of remorse. "This was merely... a calculated move on my part. " As he spoke, Duke Calvin was already swiftly devising his subsequent strategy. "Given that my son is shedding blood on the battlefield, the rear provisions must remain robust. Your Majesty, I implore you to immediately release the consignment of steel and Magic Crystals that the Church Court confiscated at Vero Port. It is imperative that I transport these to the Northern Territory to bolster the war effort. " Lampard and the bishop exchanged a significant look. Despite their aversion to being dictated by the Calvin Clan, the narrative that "the Northern Territory Wolf King acts under the Duke's orders" left them with no alternative but to assent. Upon their agreement, a sense of victory became palpable to the Duke. However, this did not bring him any sense of ease. Later, he retired to his private study, shutting the heavy door behind him. Illuminated by the wavering candlelight, his gaze fell upon the half-composed letter on his desk. It was intended to negotiate terms and sow discord in the Northern Territory. He had not anticipated, however, that Louis would accomplish such a significant feat on his own accord.