Chapter 713: twenty eight hours

  Chapter 713 Twenty-eight hours
   "So we fail."
  Jenard, who was holding Jenny, suddenly made a sound, which made many people look sideways.
   "In the year of blood, our Starlight Legion came to the rescue of Blade Leader," Gennard raised his head and looked up at the sky, full of emotion, "but he was beaten to pieces, and his helmet and armor were thrown away all the way."
  Morgan touched the handle of his knife and frowned.
"Duke John doesn't understand why every time the nine-pointed star flag is raised, the morale of the enemy on the opposite side is boosted, they are furious, and they are brave and fearless, comparable to the northerners-now I understand, those of us who think we are going to liberate the Blades, Those who go to 'resist the enemy' are the real foreign forces."
  As soon as this remark came out, everyone in the Xinghu Guard fell silent.
  Thales sat in the carriage, silent, with an ugly expression.
  Under the strange gazes of the surrounding people, they walked on the unfamiliar streets of Emerald City, their spirits languishing and the atmosphere depressed.
  But Thales soon realized that the Ruhsan Street incident had a far-reaching impact, and the challenges he had to face during his administration were far more than that.
   "It's really not a coincidence."
   A few hours later, Glover and Miranda came back from the outside and brought Thales the first-hand, most direct truth that was not concealed by any official power:
   "It is inevitable."
It turned out that the two groups of people who clashed were not punks, on the contrary, they were all ordinary people. On one side were the coachmen from the Chariot and Horse Guild, most of whom were locals from the South Bank. On the one hand, there are mainly immigrants from other places. Many of them are porters and laborers in the docks and warehouses, and even sweepers and excrement pickers. They sell pure labor to make a living.
The two groups of people are of different classes and come from different sources, but because of their business activities, they have intersected and created rifts. There have also been frictions in the past, but under the strict laws of the Emerald City, both sides are extremely restrained, and at most they will stumbling each other. Never dared to cross the bottom line, let alone fight in the busiest market, until...
"In the past when they had conflicts, their respective leaders sat down to negotiate," Miranda said in a deep voice, "but it is said that the leader of the group pulling the cart has recently disappeared. As for the other group of porters, they are all Temporary livelihood, come and go, come and go, there is no leader, only to give face to a manure digger, and only he can speak among those people."
   Glover nodded, with a heavy voice:
   "That guy's name is Roger, nicknamed 'Dung Egg'..."
   "One of the leaders of the Blood Bottle Gang," Thales frowned, "The one who died in the internal strife?"
   Glover nodded slightly.
   "As for today's incident, we have no concrete evidence to prove whether the two sides really expanded the conflict because of an accident, or whether there are unknown forces behind it to instigate it, but..." Miranda added.
"There's no difference," Glover shook his head. "I know this group of people. After the blood bottle gang's accident, both sides have no leaders and people to talk to, let alone coordinators, so sooner or later they will fight It's just that I didn't expect it to be so big..."
  Thales fell silent.
  He suddenly understood:
  The internal strife of the Vial Gang witnessed by Glover and Rolf, which brought down the boss Catherine, meant more than seizing power or revenge.
   "So whether it's a coincidence or deliberate, this incident was caused by me after all—ever since the blood bottle gang was in chaos, it was doomed."
   Glover and Miranda looked at each other, hesitating to speak.
  Thales took a deep breath and smiled at them so that they don't have to worry.
In the following time, His Royal Highness went back and forth non-stop between the study, meeting hall, reception room and several major official offices in the Kongming Palace, inspecting condolences, meeting with officials, soothing people's hearts, and giving orders, and every time He managed to sit down, thinking that when he could rest for a while, there would always be a lot of documents and letters on the desk, which required him to read them non-stop, write and reply, sign and write, and write and reply, so that he could eat quietly. There is not enough time for lunch.
   In this way, there are always new unexpected events—such as the tragedy on Luhsan Street just now—that suddenly pop up and forcefully insert into his itinerary that doesn’t have much space:
  The exhausted Thales couldn't help but gritted his teeth and thought:
   As the city lord and duke, was Zhan En also so busy before?
  However, misfortunes never come singly. Only a few hours before the prince returned to the palace, several officials rushed to report:
  The price of the Emerald City is different, and the market has changed.
The thing was first discovered by a tax collector when he was collecting vendor fees. The objects of his charges were merchants, whether they were wandering merchants who came from surrounding towns or further afield to bring their goods to be sold at the festival, or local merchants. Large shops and small vendors who stock up on goods and intend to make a small profit from tourists have started a vicious competition among each other to cut prices:
  It is also selling fabrics. If you drop two coppers, I will lower three coppers. If you sell two pieces together at a discount, I will put three pieces...
  At first this happened only sporadically, limited to the circle of four or five competitors in the same market, but after the tragedy on Ruhsan Street, similar situations occurred in several urban markets.
  Thales, who had been busy for most of the day, had to endure fatigue, and listened to the report from the marketing officer, his expression became more solemn:
Soon, no matter merchants or workshops, or even many large business groups, everyone followed suit and began to sell goods in batches, from grain, meat and vegetables to spices and powders, from local specialties to ocean-going seafood, almost all goods on the Emerald City. Merchandise, textiles, handicrafts, luxuries, necessities, prices are all falling...
  It wasn’t until several market surveillance officials found out that something was wrong and pursued and questioned all the way, only then did they find something wrong:
   I don’t know when, rumors began to spread in the city, saying that the change in Luhsan Street was just a precursor, and with the Duke of Xinghu not even drinking alcohol, the political turmoil in Emerald City may soon spread to the market...
  As a result, many merchants are scrambling to sell goods to clear their inventory. For this reason, they do not hesitate to cut prices, preferring to sell at a loss in exchange for cash. There was even a merchant ship full of luxury goods coming to Emerald City by sea. The owner of the ship was very anxious after hearing about the changes in Emerald City. In case of unsalable loss after port call.
   "I heard that at the wharf, some merchants even throw unsalable goods on the street for free, let people pick them up, and even throw them directly into the water." Miranda, who came back after inquiring outside, looked livid.
   "These are panic selling. They are worried about political turmoil and pessimistic about the future market, so they can first ensure that they have sufficient cash in their hands."
   A few quarters of an hour later, the chief financial officer, Melahovich, who arrived after receiving the news, was calculating the accounts in the chamber, frowning:
"But Your Highness, if this continues, Emerald City's reputation and reputation on the commercial road will get worse and worse, and the market will only get worse. The Emerald City is so prosperous, and the income it depends on for its livelihood - transaction tax, property tax, I am afraid that the tariffs will have to be cut in half.

   "If Emerald City's revenue declines, there is no guarantee that next quarter's revenue will exceed, or at least be equal to this quarter..." the tax officer gritted his teeth, "Damn it, we are still counting on it to pay off our debts!"
  Thales' head felt like a bucket.
"Everyone, this is just the lightest consequence," another experienced marketing officer was sweating profusely, "Listen to me, after a few more days like this, the news spreads that the businessmen are not profitable and will lose their money." Emerald City has the motivation to do business, and when the goods in the city are almost sold out, and there is no more flow of goods, the market will start to slump, and then there will be a shortage of supplies..."
   "Then what should we do?" Huai Ya asked with a headache.
   "Allocate funds, take action first to stabilize prices and maintain market stability," Manager Melahovich gritted his teeth, "The problem of money can only be solved with money."
   "What about our debts..."
   "Don't think about repaying the debt, let's talk about it in front of you!"
   "If it really doesn't work, just borrow it again, and use the new one to pay off the old debt..."
   "The debt will get bigger and bigger..."
   "First ensure that the annual income is stable. As long as the Emerald City's rule is stable, there will always be a way to solve the debt..."
   "His Royal Highness, I don't know if His Majesty has come to order, and whether there is any instruction on how to deal with it?"
   "Can Eternal Star City support our finances?"
   "It's really not possible, is it okay to exempt part of the tax that has to be handed over to the kingdom..."
   There was a back and forth quarrel in the chamber, and Thales, who was overwhelmed by countless problems, became more and more unbearable. He became angry in a rare way and asked Mallos to throw all these officials out.
"From finance to taxation, from market to law and order, I can see that they are not doing their best, and they are procrastinating and perfunctory." Paul closed the door of the meeting room with a serious expression, "even waiting to see our jokes .

   "After all, the original duke stepped down yesterday, and the way was not very pretty," Miranda sighed, "It's understandable."
   "They are ineffective, so can we make an example of them and punish them?" Morgan snorted coldly.
   "They didn't openly disobey orders, and they didn't speak rudely," D.D shook his head. "At most, they were perfunctory and sloppy, which is far from being a crime."
   "Of course not to ordinary people," Morgan made a fierce gesture, "but to these officials...huh."
   "Be careful, everyone," Wyatt was holding a notebook, "When encountering setbacks and disasters, it is often the easiest to blame others, especially those who are under us and have no power to resist."
  He gave everyone a warning look:
  
There is a saying in "The Strategies of the Virtuous Monarch": It is often the origin of tyranny."
   "Ah, wouldn't it be a reference book for the royal guard's entry test?" D.D dug his ears.
   "Um, no, this is my own extracurricular reading."
   "Are you still tm extracurricular readings?"
   Thales, who was sitting on the main seat, rubbed his forehead, lamenting how little energy he had left, and rarely smiled when he heard their conversation.
  But before Huaiya finished speaking, he was interrupted again.
   This time, the person who came was the commander of the Emerald Legion, a Seychelles knight and captain.
  The Xinghu guards immediately tensed up and stood ready.
   But fortunately, the Seychelles knight who entered the hall just glanced at everyone contemptuously, then unloaded his weapon and handed it to Old Genard in accordance with the rules, then saluted in a dignified manner, and reported to the Duke of Thales:
The Emerald Legion found that travelers, guests, and businessmen participating in the Emerald Celebration were packing bags one after another at this moment, scrambling to pack up their belongings and prepare to leave the city. It is crowded with people and blocked.
  Thales let out a long sigh.
   Another bad news.
Everyone has eyes, and this kind of behavior spreads from ten to ten, and the crowds rushing to leave the city quickly spread rumors in the city, saying that Duke Jann's imprisonment and the tragedy on Luhsan Street were just a precursor, and soon Kongming Palace will issue more measures to strictly investigate the whole story of the young duke's murder case and the old duke's murder case. At that time, the entire Emerald City will be in a state of turmoil, and the anger of Prince Thales is bound to burn.
  Thales frowned the more he listened.
Under such circumstances, more and more people are scrambling to leave the city. Boat owners and car owners who own boats and carriages have become popular. Price hikes and other things happened frequently, which made Emerald City face more and more pressure on law and order, and the Police Department and the Emerald Legion complained endlessly.
  Not good, Thales thought, if this continues, the depression and decline of the Emerald City—in his hands—will only get faster and faster, and it is inevitable.
  Damn it!
   "Not only foreign travelers and guests, I heard that many local people, even many nobles are packing up and planning to leave the Emerald City for a while to avoid disaster." Kongmuto added in a low voice.
   "Disaster? What disaster? Disaster?" Thales said helplessly.
   "People are worried, lest the Emerald City will be unstable in the coming days," the Seychelles knight stared at him, "especially after the coup."
   Yeah, like I'm not worried.
   "But that wasn't a coup, it was just..." Thales explained palely.
   "I know, it's just a temporary personnel change in the administrative leadership of Emerald City, right?" Seychelles said coldly.
  Thales sighed.
  Why didn't he become a political officer?
   "Okay, the people panicked and rushed to leave the city, how do we solve this matter..."
   Seychelles nodded:
   "We can restrict the movement of people, such as setting up cards at the entrances and exits, preventing them from leaving the city..."
   "No!" Thales and Mallos stopped him with one voice.
  The prince and the watchman looked at each other.
   "But it really can't go on like this, panic will spread." Mallos said calmly.
  Thales nodded:
   "We have to do something to stabilize people's hearts and dispel their doubts."
  Prince sighed, getting more and more headache:
   "Huiya, take my warrant to the city hall and urge them to post a notice and release the news: Starting tomorrow, the Emerald Festival will continue, and everything will continue as usual. What is the next link?"
"No night banquet," Wyah opened his notebook, "the main activities will be at night, and the Emerald City will light up corridors all over the city, and the citizens will parade all night to commemorate the months when Heyman and Regina lived in chaos. meet next time."
   "Damn it, it's all in chaos, and we met under the moon," Thales, who was full of troubles, cursed indecently, "I'm so romantic."
   No one dared to answer.
"Also, call the important vassals who are currently in the Emerald City, as well as the leaders of the guilds and business groups. Their influence is all over the south bank. I have to hold a fifth meeting with them to stabilize the market. It is best to get a promise ...Seychelles Knight, are you still here?"
  Thales looked up in doubt.
  In the eyes of everyone, the Seychelles knight nodded slightly, his eyes like a sword:
   "I heard, Your Highness, you plan to disband the Emerald Legion?"
  Thales was taken aback.
   "Where did the news come from? How is it possible..."
   "Then why did the Financial Secretary embezzle our expenses, and even promised overtime rewards during the celebration?" Seychelles Knight raised his voice.
  The guards in the chamber tensed up.
  Thales hesitated when he heard the words.
   "I assure you, Seychelles Knight, I don't know about this matter," Thales took a deep breath, "but I think..."
   "It seems that the news is true," Seychelles interrupted him, and snorted coldly, "After Duke Jaen loses power, Your Highness, you will embezzle the money from Emerald City to support Eternal Star City."
  Thales frowned.
Oops.
   "And those of us who hold swords, write, and do business...is the price?" The Seychelles knight stepped forward slowly.
   Mallos stepped forward, understating:
   "Captain Seychelles, what are you going to do?"
  The Xinghu guards around looked unhappy, and they put their hands on their weapons and stood in formation.
   Seychelles glanced at Mallos and narrowed his eyes.
"Knight of Seychelles, I swear to you, I have no such intention," Thales tried his best to speak sincerely, trying to calm down the tense atmosphere, "After all, the long-term stability of the Emerald City and even the South Bank Territory depends on the protection of the Emerald Legion. "
   Seychelles was silent for a while.
"In this case, Your Highness, please show your sincerity and pay us last month's salary to ensure that my sergeants will not listen to rumors and think that they are about to lose their jobs," Seychelles said coldly, "and my men are in the emerald I will work harder during the celebration, and it will be even better if I can advance this month's salary as an incentive."
   "Hey! What are you talking about—" Nexi said angrily, but was held down by Paul.
"Brothers in my regiment, although they all shed their blood, they all deserve a better life," Seychelles ignored him, but turned around, walked to the gate, and snatched it from Genard's hand. own weapons, "Otherwise, Your Highness, you can find other people to maintain law and order."
  After speaking, he walked out of the meeting room without any politeness or nostalgia, leaving behind the door which was slammed shut.
"Thor, please bring my letter again, and go to the financial secretary in the outer palace in person," Thales rubbed his brows painfully, "In addition to the previous question, tell them that no matter what, they will make up for it. The Western Wall, the cost of the Emerald Legion cannot be reduced."
   Mallos nodded slightly.
  People in the chamber looked at each other, D.D complained when he heard the words:
   "Your Highness, don't be afraid of him. Besides, those officials in the Financial Secretary can't even calculate the accounts, and they still have a headache on how to raise funds to stabilize prices..."
   "The root cause is not the price." Thales shook his head wearily, only feeling that everything that happened so far was against him. "It's useless to spend money to calm down."
"Whether we believe it or not, from finance to taxation, to the market, to the public security issue just now," Mallos nodded, "If there is another change in the Emerald Legion, such as no longer obeying orders, or when dealing with public security issues, Just close your eyes..."
  Everyone was stunned.
"Now I understand these officials and understand why they are perfunctory and inefficient," Thales sighed helplessly, and had to write a letter again, "If you feel that your future is uncertain and your job is not guaranteed, who the still wants to work? "
   Seeing His Highness's appearance, Huai Ya was very worried, but he had nothing to do, he could only slap his thigh hard:
   "Damn it, why did everything go wrong today?"
   "Because we are big and attract the wind?" D.D shrugged.
   "Because they did it on purpose." Paul said with deep eyes.
   "Because here," Miranda said suddenly, "we are all Exeters."
  Everyone was stunned for a moment, and Thales' pen tip also paused slightly.
   "Genard," Thales asked softly, remembering something, "How did you win?"
  Jenard, who was at the entrance of the conference hall, was reprimanding Willow. He was startled when he heard the words, and leaned forward:
   "Prince Thales?"
   "You said today that the Starlight Legion just arrived at the Blades and was defeated," Thales put down the pen and paper, "Then how did John turn defeat into victory?"
   Genard hesitated.
"run."
  Everyone looked sideways.
  Jenard took a deep breath:
"We retreated, Your Highness, and fled all the way, leading the rebels to chase us: we withdrew from the Blades to the Central, and then to the South Bank. After a few months, we have developed the ability to run and hide. While the fire is cooking the soup, I can pick up the pot and run all the way in the next moment, haha, I can also cook the soup while running..."
   "The enemy, the enemy is spreading like wildfire. The momentum is getting bigger and bigger, the number is increasing day by day, and the ambition is gradually expanding. The leader even wants to establish a country in Suodala City and become king."
  Jenard gradually lost his mind:
   "When these rebels leave their hometowns, they are no longer 'insurgents' that everyone sympathizes with, but 'invaders' that everyone hates, and when they are truly 'foreign forces', it is time for us to fight back."
  Thales' eyes moved.
  Jenard lowered his head, the nostalgia in his eyes turned into loneliness:
   "So, I won."
  The chamber fell silent.
   Nexi was confused, but Miranda's eyes lit up:
   "Yes, Lady Sonia mentioned to me that she deserves to be the Star God of War."
"Oh, no," Genard came back to his senses and corrected, "John didn't propose this strategy in the first place, but a senior aristocratic staff officer under him, from the south bank, called Karabyan. "
  Thales was startled when he heard this.
   "But this method," Huai Ya couldn't help but said, "abandon the land and lure the enemy to go deep... along the way, many people will die."
   "Yeah, quite a few people."
  At that moment, the high-spiritedness in Genard's words disappeared without a trace:
   "Not a lot."
  Thales pursed his lips, with unclear emotions in his eyes.
   An hour later, under the puzzled eyes of the Star Lake guards, Thales stood in the corridor, watching the heavily guarded guards make way for him and open a door for him.
  Thales took a deep breath.
  He waved to his subordinates and stepped into this unusual room solemnly.
  The door behind him slammed shut.
  In the room, a man sat on a luxurious sofa with his back turned to him, pouring wine on his own.
   "Twenty-eight hours."
  Thales was stunned when he heard this:
"what?"
  The man smiled softly.
   "I mean, you didn't come to me until now..."
   I saw the guardian duke of the south bank, who was deeply in the whirlpool, Jann Cavendill raised a glass of famous wine and looked back leisurely.
   "Yes, you lasted four hours longer than I expected."
  (end of this chapter)