In the Name of Empress-Chapter 347 - 237: The Skies of Xidai
Has Ives Port surrendered?
Upon hearing this bad news, Marco was stunned for a full five seconds before coming back to his senses.
After a moment’s pause, his expression grew more gloomy, and his voice carried a somber tone.
"Are you saying that Ives Port, with thirty thousand elite troops stationed, equipped with over a hundred large-caliber cannons and three permanent fortresses, and deploying mines to prevent a naval landing, has surrendered?"
The head of intelligence felt a chill down his spine, and his throat was parched with distress.
If given a choice, he would have turned around and fled right then.
He saw Marco’s pupils constrict.
From his knowledge of President Marco, this was a sign that he intended to kill someone.
Despite his inner panic, the head of intelligence, Allen, hardened his resolve, responding with a sighing murmur as if from someone at their deathbed: "Yes."
Marco fell silent once again.
Surprisingly, he did not fly into a rage, nor did he order anyone to be killed; instead, he gazed at the sunless sky outside the window as if pondering something.
After an indeterminable amount of time, he slowly spoke in a solitary voice, "Allen, I need detailed intelligence. What is Surt doing, what is the Port Authority doing, tell me everything."
The head of intelligence wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his body trembling even more.
When Marco receives bad news and immediately acts out, it often means the situation isn’t too severe. If he remains especially calm, it only means he’s thinking about whom to kill. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
Despite his inner fear, Director Allen maintained a high level of professionalism, clearly sorting out the intelligence of Alina’s landing and the fall of Ives Port, reporting it truthfully.
His report contained not a hint of subjectivity; it was purely a factual account.
This is why, though many ministers close to Marco have been sent to the guillotine, he remains unshaken.
Speak less, do more; Marco doesn’t like subordinates who have too many ideas.
After listening to Allen’s report, Marco pondered for a long time, then slowly said, "Go arrange for the execution of the former ambassador to Sussex, Dilas."
The head of intelligence, Allen, stood still, momentarily at a loss for words.
As he was dumbfounded, Marco frowned and glared at him discontentedly, "Don’t ask so many questions, hurry up and get it done!"
"Your Excellency, Dilas... was executed three days ago."
Three days ago was the exact day they learned of Alina’s miraculous "resurrection." The ever decisive Marco certainly wouldn’t allow a derelict to live long; the former ambassador Dilas was thus sent to the guillotine.
Marco’s lips twitched imperceptibly.
He didn’t even notice the documents at his hand being crumpled into a ball of creased waste paper.
"It’s not just Dilas who’s negligent; what about the counselor responsible for inspections, what was her name? Send her to the guillotine too!"
Allen lowered his head, sighing internally.
It was clear that President Marco’s mind was somewhat troubled.
He even forgot that Counselor Lina had also been sent to the guillotine.
Too many things had happened recently: there were rebels in the capital, Southern turncoats returning; if he were president, he wouldn’t sleep well either.
But...
If a more moderate policy had been adopted, none of these things would have happened.
Allen couldn’t help but want to remind Marco of a few things, but seeing the madness burning in Marco’s eyes, he instantly chose to keep quiet.
He had a vague illusion that the once omnipotent Marco had lost his composure.
On the eve of plotting a coup against Carlo, Marco remained calm and composed, not only encouraging co-conspirators to stay calm but also going straight to sleep that night.
Where had the cool and composed Marco, who swore to sweep the old world into the dustbin, gone?
The path they insisted on was correct, so why were the results sliding in the wrong direction?
As Allen prepared to leave, Marco’s somewhat hoarse voice drifted over.
"Allen, our choice is correct, and our reform will surely triumph; this is just a setback before victory. Rest well, I need you."
"I... yes." Allen stood up straight, saluted Marco, and turned to leave.
Walking out of the West Palace, crossing the stone bridge to the opposite side, Allen’s mood remained somewhat low.
He and Marco had been old friends for many years; he knew Marco too well.
Marco wasn’t truly confident; it was more like he was hypnotizing himself into self-belief.
Was their choice really correct?
Allen thought of Mr. Carlo’s proposals.
No reform can succeed overnight; one must respect the facts and proceed step by step.
Carlo believed that although the monarchy had ended, the power of the old nobility and feudal lords still existed. The most pressing issue was not to settle accounts with the old forces but to bring them into the framework of the new world.
In the world Carlo envisioned, with the continuous expansion of Jin Yuan Kingdom, the entrenched forces of the old nobility would gradually be diluted.
As their power and influence are continuously diluted, they would either voluntarily join the new class, or become completely marginalized, becoming elders mired in the glory of the past.
Carlo’s proposals were very moderate, and also somewhat compromised by necessity.
He felt that too much blood had already been shed in this grand reform, and the country must be left with some legacy.
Though the old nobility were arrogant and stubborn, they held land, wealth, knowledge, and power.
If they fully supported the Last Emperor, the reform could never succeed.
The old nobility had also contributed to toppling the Emperor and stripping away the Imperial Authority.
Some did not contribute, but even their neutrality was a form of goodwill.
The Emperor was just sent to the guillotine, and now you’re expected to turn the blade on once fellow comrades? Carlo felt this was unacceptable.
Carlo’s political views were somewhat moderate but respected the reality of Jin Yuan Kingdom.
