Warhammer Divine Throne

Chapter 1367: Chapter 583: True Midsummer Night’s Secret Technique (For Real)_3

The Temple Knight Commander remained silent.

”If I become the Knight King and rule like Richard did, doing nothing, the Kingdom could probably just survive,” Laine continued. ”But that is meaningless, merely scraping by and compromising on everything. Why should I be king then? On the other hand, wanting to accomplish things and make changes means exerting power, which means challenging existing interests. Perhaps due to my personal prestige, people might not openly oppose me, but they will surely engage in covert sabotage. How can I ensure my reforms and systems continue once my rule ends?”

”This is inherently contradictory; you make enemies by taking action, and avoid them by doing nothing,” Alfred said, deep with experience. ”The Justice Church is like this. His Majesty Archbishop Vicma, two Great Chant Masters, followed by Cardinals, Parish Shepherd Leaders, Regional Archbishops, Parish Shepherds, and then a complex hierarchy of a dozen or so ranks of church positions, fiercely rigid. Any attempt at change threatens someone’s interests. That Combat Priest named Luther Huse came to the Justice Cathedral full of enthusiasm, but because he voiced too many issues, he was nearly expelled from church membership. His Majesty Archbishop Vicma intervened to save him.”

”Indeed,” Laine continued, ”change and accomplishing change depend on whether I gain the recognition of most nobles and vested interests. Who supports me most in this Kingdom?”

”Obviously, it is the Southern Faction led by Duke Francois and Duke Bodric?” Alfred responded casually.

”Wrong! It’s the church and merchants!” Laine laughed heartily and leaned against the side of the bath. ”In contrast, the Knightly Nobility supports Lorne! The unwavering support from the church and merchants is the key to my securing majority victory. Thus, advising me to meddle with the church’s interests, especially the Lady of the Lake Church’s, is either foolish or malicious!”

”A 2:1 victory!” Alfred thought carefully, finding himself speechless before his childhood friend. ”Indeed, while Duke Francois appears to have many ideas, everything is actually led by you. And you are the Divine Chosen Champion of the Lady of the Lake! You are full of glory, deeply loved by the Lady, and trusted by Her Highness Mogiana, so the church naturally supports you resolutely.”

”Therefore, the foundation for changes is set. As long as I attain recognition, and during bureaucratic reforms ensure the nobles gain sufficient benefits while maintaining the traditions of the Knight Kingdom, why would they oppose? How could they oppose?” Laine laughed, ”This is the true basis to ensure reform continues rather than relying on personal prestige to forcibly confront vested interest groups!”

”I understand now,” Alfred sighed. ”You consider me a model? But if you maintain the knight tradition, what about the infantry? Without sufficiently strong infantry support, wars cannot solely rely on knights, but the Kingdom’s resources are limited; how do you build a powerful infantry army when it’s all spent on maintaining knights?”

”That’s why we need to fight at Black Stone Stronghold, and at Musillon,” Laine nodded. ”A stable Kingdom without internal strife, a new Duchy, a new industrial and commercial center; this country, the insurmountable gap between nobles and peasants has been pierced by me, and now I want to widen this gap. I want all knights in the Kingdom to realize that if they don’t try hard, they too can become peasants!”

”Meanwhile, I want all peasants in the Kingdom to realize that with effort, peasants can also become Master Knights! And those purified through wars, those peasant soldiers forged in blood and fire, they will be the source of elite infantry! They will be the origin of breaking the class divide; they are the future, my true, personal base!”

”You’re saying?” Alfred abruptly connected with Laine’s recent actions.

”Indeed, it begins with the Old Guard!”