Count Raymond's cell is at the very end of this floor.
Robosky did not lie. The place where Count Raymond lived was indeed a clean single room that had been specially taken care of.
After his men opened the iron gate, Du Wei saw his father sitting behind the desk reading with a relaxed expression.
He gently held the second volume of "General History of the Mainland" in one hand. He looked attentive while reading. It definitely didn't look like he was pretending, but he was really immersed in the book.
Even when Du Wei came in, the former Earl just raised his head, with a slightly relaxed expression on his face, and said hello casually:
"Oh, you're here."
This tone and expression were almost the same as Du Wei's expression when he walked into his study in the Earl's Mansion.
Baron Robosky wisely withdrew, leaving the father and son to figure it out alone.
Count Raymond was still holding the book and had no intention of putting it down. Duwei was looking at the cell with his hands behind his back.
Objectively speaking, this is a very clean room. The floor, walls and ceiling are all made of huge and solid stones. Moreover, it is said that in order to prevent the imprisoned prisoners from escaping (many of the imprisoned generals are martial arts masters)
), looks like a wall made of stones, but in fact there is a layer of steel plates embedded inside.
There is only a palm-sized iron window in the room, which is very high from the ground. A little bit of sunlight can shine in from the outside. The iron railings on the window are full of rust. Due to the lack of sunlight all year round, the room is full of air.
There was a cold musty smell that couldn't be concealed, and some mottled moss grew in the cracks between the rocks on the windowsill.
Apart from that, the room is still very clean, but as a cell, there is only one hard bed in it. Although it is covered with white sheets, it can be imagined that it is definitely not as comfortable as the bed in the Earl's Palace.
A desk is specially designed to take care of the head of the Luo Lin family.
Apart from that, the last remaining object is a dung bucket placed in the corner.
Simple, rough and cold.
This is the prison cell of a famous imperial general who once held great power and led the empire's naval fleet on an expedition to the Southeast Asia.
Du Wei was not in a hurry to speak, and Count Raymond didn't seem to be in a hurry either. He still calmly flipped through the last few pages of the second volume of The World in the World in his hand, and then he took a deep breath and stretched out. Slowly
He stood up, moved his muscles on the spot a few times, turned to look at Du Wei, and said with a calm smile: "I guessed you would come, but I didn't expect you to come so fast. I thought it would take a few days.
.”
Then he pointed to his bed: "Sit down, the only place to sit here is the bed."
After Du Wei sat down, Count Raymond had put down his book and looked at his son quietly for a while. Then he asked slowly: "How is the family?"
"Not bad." Du Wei hesitated for a moment and said: "The transferred Guards took control of the imperial capital's defenses. My family's mansion was surrounded by the Guards and was temporarily inaccessible. However, because of my relationship, they were a lot more polite.
Except for the inconvenience of getting in and out of the house, the rest of the house is pretty good."
Earl Raymond nodded: "Where are your mother and brother?"
Du Wei sighed: "My mother is in a very bad mood and her health is not good. But I asked the priest of the temple to come and see her. She is just worried and ill, so there is no big problem. My brother is still young and has been a little emotional recently.
, but I will protect him."
Earl Raymond pondered for a while, then raised his head, his eyes shining, and looked at Duwei: "So, what should I call you now? Or...just like others, call you 'The Duke'
?”
This tone made Du Wei feel as if a needle had been stabbed in his heart. He tilted his head slightly without meeting Count Raymond's eyes directly: "Do these words make sense?"
Both father and son fell silent.
After a long time, Count Raymond laughed, and he laughed a little at himself: "Yes, you are right. It really doesn't make any sense for me to say that. In fact, I just can't let it go. Although I have lived here for a few years,
God, I also reminded myself that I have to face the reality of failure, but in this life, there are a few people who can really be happy with such a scene..."
After saying that, Earl Raymond stared at Duwei. There seemed to be a trembling gaze in his eyes. He opened his lips again and again, and finally slowly uttered a sentence: "You are very good, very good..."
Son, you are better than me."
Seeing that Du Wei seemed to be about to speak, Earl Raymond waved his hand: "Listen to me first. I have been locked up here for the past few days, and I was very unwilling at first. But these two days, I have been quiet.
I came down, read quietly, and read this general history of the mainland, and suddenly I understood. We are born in a power field, struggling and fighting, intrigues, and life and death. Some people are prosperous, and some people are ruined. But in the end..."
He casually pointed to the book next to him: "A hundred years from now, everyone will just be written in this book. No matter how beautiful it is, it will be just a sentence in the book."
Du Wei said nothing, savoring his father's words carefully.
The earl looked at his quiet son, his eyes a little eager, then he lowered his eyelids and whispered: "I have been thinking about where my biggest mistake was. After thinking about it for the past two days, I still can't figure it out.
Later I figured it out... My mistake was not that I helped the eldest prince fight for the throne, nor that I was on the wrong team. In politics, no one has a lifetime of glory. Some people win and some lose, this is nothing. I
The biggest mistake was that I didn't see you and my son clearly from the beginning to the end."
"You are outstanding, even far beyond my expectations." Count Raymond had a smile on his lips. This smile was sincere. He looked at his son: "That day in the square, you broke up with the family in public...
...Actually, you and I both understand in our hearts what is going on. Du Wei, it was not until that moment that I truly regretted it! Because I saw you clearly and saw clearly that you are actually responsible for this family in your heart.
You want to preserve your family. That’s why you broke up with the family in public... That kind of approach shocked me. If I say that when you returned to the imperial capital, many of the things I said to you were all false, and I even sent people to
It was my decision to assassinate you on the road, and I hurt your heart afterwards. In fact, I didn't regret it at the time. Because I always thought that it was worth losing a son to preserve the family. But that day, on the square,
, you actually took the initiative..." Earl Raymond sighed and stared into Du Wei's eyes: "Until that moment, I regretted it! Du Wei, your excellence exceeded my expectations. And far beyond! I suddenly
Understand, I didn’t just lose a son, I lost an outstanding heir that I dreamed of! Unfortunately... I was wrong from the beginning, but pushed you further and further away. When I understood, the relationship between us
The cracks are irreparable."
Du Wei said nothing.
"I lost the coup, but I don't resent you. Because of what happened that day, I think about it carefully now, and I feel that Prince Chen has planned everything in advance, but hides it deeply. Such cleverness is really
It's not something that the eldest prince can compare to. That day, he was behind the scenes one after another, from the temple to the magic union, from the security army to the knight's gun, as well as his methods of winning people's hearts, his foresight... these are far better than
The eldest prince gave me my support. I have been reading the General History of the Mainland for the past two days. Looking at each incident in history, I suddenly understood that this is an inevitable law. The strong will be respected, and the weak will naturally become the strong.
Cornerstone. I guess you didn't expect that Prince Chen would win in the end, right?"
Du Wei nodded and admitted: "I really didn't expect it. My original plan was that if the eldest prince's coup was successful, I would take advantage of the chaos to rescue Prince Chen and save his life. I would be worthy of him."
Earl Raymond smiled: "That day, with or without you, we were actually doomed to fail. So, what I have become like now has nothing to do with you."
Du Wei breathed a sigh of relief. He looked at his father who looked calm, and then said slowly: "Father, tell me, what should I do to preserve the family?"
"Huh?" Count Raymond was stunned. He really didn't expect that Du Wei would ask such a question.
"I promised my mother," Du Wei said calmly, "As long as I am here, I will never let the family's glory be destroyed."
Earl Raymond was silent for a while and sighed: "You have done it."
He smiled bitterly and said: "Although you have nothing to do with the Luo Lin family in name now, who of those nobles and ministers really think that in their hearts? Although I have been defeated, everyone will regard you as a member of the Luo Lin family.
Continuation. I used to be just a count, but you are now a duke. Although you were given the surname Rudolf, who would take it seriously? You know that although my coup failed that day, I was not desperate after I was captured, because at least
, but you successfully preserved it, and whatever you left behind, no matter what, it was a seed left behind by the Luo Lin family."
"What should I do?" Du Wei asked in a deep voice, staring closely at his father.
He came today because he really wanted to ask for advice.
Although the coup in the imperial capital was over at this moment, Du Wei was favored by Prince Chen and was given the title of Duke at a young age. The regent almost regarded him as his first confidant. Moreover, on the day of the coup, he, by some strange combination of circumstances, drove away the powerful green man.
Powder Gandolf, now even in the circle of magicians, he is considered one of the top in the mainland. Such a person can almost be said to be the most popular person in the imperial capital.
But Du Wei himself also understands his own problem. Although he has been born in two generations and is conceited and smart, he is not born with an understanding of politics.
Although he was born into an aristocratic family all his life, he had tried to avoid getting involved in such things since he was a child. His political experience was definitely not something that could be compensated by his talent and intelligence.
In the field of politics, Du Wei is very clear about his position, and he is still a complete rookie! Although he has been a man for two generations, he has never experienced the real test of politics. No matter how outstanding he is in other aspects, he cannot even think of becoming a qualified
politician.
In the imperial capital, despite the recent turmoil, Du Wei already felt a faint sense of crisis.
Ever since Prince Chen gave him the map of the Roland Empire in public that day, and made bold words to let him carve out territories at will, at that moment, Du Wei could clearly feel the envious and even jealous and hostile looks from his colleagues around him!
Although there are many strange companions around Du Wei, including Hussein in martial arts, Gargamel the mouse in magic, and Medusa. However, there has never been a real think tank who can serve as his adviser because of the past.
He felt that it was not necessary at all, his own brain was enough. Having the experience of two lives, Du Wei even unconsciously developed a sense of superiority towards the people in this world.
However, the person who shattered his superiority mentality was none other than Prince Chen!
After Prince Chen was strategizing and backing up every move, forcing the eldest prince to death, this prince who was secretive and always smiled and spoke kindly made Du Wei feel deeply afraid!
As a joke, sometimes, Du Wei even had a ridiculous thought: Who is the time traveler? This Prince Chen is even more like a time traveler than himself!
Later, Du Wei figured it out. This has nothing to do with time travel or not. Political things cannot be tempered without the experience of being in it and without that kind of environment.
I have lived a life of peace and freedom trying to avoid the whirlpool since I was a child. Prince Chen has been involved in the fierce struggle for imperial power in the palace since he was a child. The distance is really difficult to calculate.
After thinking about it, maybe only this father who has lost his power can give me some answers.
It can be said that this strange pair of father and son have never really communicated with each other like they do today. Du Wei is dedicated to seeking advice, but the earl, who has lost his position, is also devoted to his son at this moment: after all, he has fallen.
Taiwan, all the hopes of the Luo Lin family are pinned on this son!
"If you really want to preserve the family's hope..." Count Raymond smiled bitterly: "Then the most important thing you should do now is to keep your distance from me! Keep your distance from the original Luo Lin family!"
The earl tapped his fingers lightly on the table. He said slowly: "As soon as I fall, Prince Chen will definitely carry out a purge! This is inevitable. No matter how much he values you, he can't do it for your face.
And let the Luo Lin family go! So, in the short term, the Luo Lin family has become a quagmire, and whoever gets involved will be unlucky. And you are my only hope now. To preserve the hope of the family, you must first preserve yourself! So
, within a period of time. If you want to stay away from the whirlpool of the Luo Lin family, the best way is to act aloof to the outside world, showing that you have truly broken up with the Luo Lin family and have nothing to do with it!"
After a pause, Earl Raymond smiled and said: "Do you know why Prince Chen still locks us guys here instead of killing them?"
Du Wei nodded: "I know."
He sighed: "Both the Luo Lin family and the Solomon family have their own territories and their own private armies. Prince Chen is such a smart person. Of course he knows that if he kills you rashly now, first of all, the family will
The territory will be in chaos! The Luo Lin Plain is almost the private property of the Luo Lin family. Everyone there is proud to be a Luo Lin family. If we take action rashly and the territory is in chaos, it will lead to internal strife in the empire and even a civil war...
...How could a person like Prince Chen not see through this truth?"
"That's right." Earl Raymond looked at his son with satisfaction: "You can see clearly. So, the reason why I'm not dead now is because Prince Chen wants to free up his hands first, play this game well, and wait for him to move a few
The family's territory has been taken back, and the private army has been completely disbanded. Only then will we be cleared of our crimes. Anyway, we leaders are locked up here, and we can't escape. We are always in his hands. One day earlier
What difference does it make whether he kills or kills a day later? Therefore, he is not in a hurry and can still win a good reputation for generosity."
Du Wei frowned: "Do you think he will kill you?"
"It's hard to say." Earl Raymond smiled bitterly: "It's not up to me..." At this point, his expression suddenly changed and he looked at Du Wei solemnly: "You must promise me two things!"
"Say it." Du Wei sighed, he had already guessed what his father's request was.
Sure enough, Earl Raymond looked serious: "First, if one day in the future, Prince Chen orders my execution, you must not try to dissuade him, let alone try to make him change his mind! Du Wei, you must understand that an emperor is an emperor.
, he may look at you differently, but the bottom line in the emperor's heart is absolutely not allowed to be challenged by anyone! Once you challenge his bottom line, no matter how good he is to you, he will never be merciful to you! So
.I just said that at present, protecting yourself is the best way to leave hope for the Luo Lin family. So, if he wants to kill me, you must not do anything from it. The best way
Just say nothing and don’t ask any questions!”
Du Wei said nothing: "What about the second one?"
"Second..." There was a trace of loneliness in Count Raymond's eyes: "After I die, take good care of your mother and brother. If you have a trace of affection, in the future, after you get married and have children, you can choose one at random.
My child, changing his surname to Luo Lin is my biggest request to you."
Du Wei was silent.
The fall of Earl Raymond not only brought misfortune to him, but also Duwei's younger brother Gabri was implicated. The crime of coup d'état is not a general one. Although the order has not been issued yet, Earl Raymond's lineage has been implicated.
I’m sure I’ll never want to embark on an official career in the future.
A sentence of never being knighted is enough to prevent this lineage from ever turning around in the future.
In other words, Gabri will never think about becoming a nobleman in the rest of his life, and the same is true for Gabri's descendants.
After this coup, the final winner was undoubtedly Prince Chen himself. Or to put it further, in fact, such a coup had a certain degree of stabilization for the imperial power.
Although the Roland Empire owns the entire continent and has a vast territory, it has sealed countless wealthy nobles over the millennium since its founding, and land annexation on the continent has been serious. Moreover, every hereditary noble has a territorial private army and the right to tax, forming a
One country after another has been established. This is obviously a cancer growing on the empire.
In this coup, many aristocratic families who supported the eldest prince were almost wiped out. Their titles were reduced, their territories were taken back, the private army was disbanded... and so on.
After some statistics, the center of the empire has gained a lot. The territory directly under the central government has increased a lot. After the private armies are dismantled, some of them can be converted into ready-made local garrison forces (of course, transfers to change regions are inevitable)
.)
A large area of land was recovered, a large number of local private armies were reduced, and the wealth accumulated by many wealthy families was recovered, which immediately eased the originally tight imperial finances.
Prince Chen indeed has the potential to become a wise king. His various actions in handling the finishing work after the coup were all very wise. He was not in a hurry or slow. Little by little, he cut off a little bit today and a little bit tomorrow. In less than ten days
, he has almost reduced the power of several wealthy families in his hands. It is obvious that he did not prepare these things just today. They were probably premeditated. From his non-stop mobilization of local garrison troops, among several regions
They moved back and forth from time to time, monitoring the disturbances in the territory of the nobles participating in the coup, and cleaning up at a lightning speed.
Do things one by one, in a clear order, and the results are very good.
In less than half a month, the tense atmosphere after the coup in the entire imperial capital was gone. The imperial capital was once again prosperous and lively, and Prince Chen, who had won many hearts after the coup, immediately gathered a group of people loyal to the royal family around him.
A wealthy family.
At this moment, Prince Chen, who had finished the preliminary work, finally turned his attention to the coup leaders who were imprisoned in the inner hall of the Supervision Office...
Almost all of the Solomon family's property has been confiscated. On the Luolin Plain, the four local garrison infantry regiments in the provinces of Cote and Lille have shown a force of attack from all sides, supervising the private armies in the Luolin family's territory.
The layoff was completed. The Luo Lin family cooperated very well and did not reveal their stubborn resistance. This had a lot to do with Count Raymond's wisdom. The old count understood that the situation was over. Instead of perishing together, it was better to leave a trace of the Luo Lin family's vitality, so that there would be hope for a comeback in the future.
.
Finally, the place on the Luolin Plain has been occupied by officials appointed by the empire's central government, and groups of local garrison troops have replaced the original Luo Lin family's private army.
However, the extra-judicial mercy was probably due to Du Wei's reputation. The Luo Lin family still retained the Luo Lin Castle in their hometown and the surrounding land of more than ten miles.
Prince Chen has been very proud of himself recently, but he still looks calm and unfazed by favors and humiliations. He has no sense of pride or complacency at all. However, this young prince's extraordinary energy and wisdom have already made many old officials of the empire look at him differently.
When Augustine VI was in office, this old man who was very happy with his achievements had already brought chaos to the empire's finances, and several ministers of finance were finally dismissed and went home. The decline of the empire was seen by smart people. And this man
After the regent took office, he swept away the staleness and acted decisively. He also planned everything in advance, which immediately added a bit of vitality to the sluggish imperial government.
It is said that the minister of finance, who had been doing things with a gloomy face every day, came home at night after the regent took charge of the government for the first time. This rigorous old man actually made an exception and drank a pot of wine, and even had a drunken party in the yard.
Call: "There is hope for the empire! There is hope for the empire!"
It is conceivable that Prince Chen is very popular at this moment.
Finally, on this day, the regent and the finance minister looked at the list of reports, the details of the land taken back by the empire, the aristocratic private army that had been laid off, how much revenue they could add to the central finance every year in the future, etc.
After reading the information, the regent smiled slightly, sighed and said: "The overall situation has been decided."
The finance minister was so excited that he almost cried.
He has been in this position for ten years. The most uncomfortable thing every year is not being able to make ends meet. He is tearing down one wall to make up for the other. Looking at the long list of income in front of him, he thinks that he no longer has to worry about financial revenue in the future. Without those military personnel, he has been in this position for ten years.
Boss Fang and people from other departments came to press for payment. I couldn't help but feel that the depression in my heart was gone.
And then, at an internal meeting of a small group of regents, Du Wei finally responded to Prince Chen's decision about his territory.
Prince Chen generously threw the map to Du Wei that day. Such a thing was no small matter. Facing the envious or hostile looks from around him, Du Wei was no longer the kid who was new to politics. He smiled at that time.
Laughing, I just wanted to go back and think about it.
During these days, Du Wei went to the Supervisory Office prison three or five times. Each time, he talked with his father for a long time, and also gave Baron Robosky a sum of money to entertain the 250-year-old general.
Finally, on this day, Du Wei held the map in both hands in front of many of Prince Chen's cronies: "Your Highness, I have thought about it."
"Oh?" Prince Chen said with a smile on his face: "Well, I think you must be spoiled for choice. Tell me, which Feng Shui treasure land have you chosen?"
There were envious looks all around.
Du Wei slowly unfolded the map, and everyone around him couldn't help but reach for his head to look at it. Most people agreed: this young Duke will most likely choose the southeast!
The land in the southeast is fertile, the climate is pleasant, the weather is smooth, and the population is densely populated. It is the most prosperous area on the continent. In addition, the imperial navy's overseas expeditions have made the maritime trade more and more prosperous, and the wealth is abundant.
With Du Wei's title of duke, it would be no problem to point to a province on the sea in the southeast. On the contrary, he has a province with millions of people, fertile land, and several large ports far away.
If you are engaged in overseas trade, you will make a lot of money in the future. Not to mention that you will be as rich as the enemy, but I am afraid it will not be much different!
But after Du Wei slowly unfolded the map, he stretched out his hand and pointed on the map, with a smile on his face: "I just like this place."
His finger pointed at the corner of the map. Everyone who looked at his finger was stunned!
Prince Chen's original warm smile gradually faded away at this moment. He looked deeply at Du Wei and his voice suddenly became dry: "Have you...really thought it through? Is this your final decision?"
Du Wei met the regent's eyes and said slowly: "I understand, I want to be here."
Everyone around him had incredible expressions. For a moment, everyone probably thought that the young Duke was crazy.
"Don't you regret it?" Prince Chen had already stood up and stared at Du Wei.
"I don't regret it." Du Wei shook his head, then he suddenly smiled and slowly bowed down: "Please grant me permission from the Regent!"
This time, there was no trace of calmness and gentleness on Prince Chen's face. He gritted his teeth and stared at Du Wei. After a long time, he took a long breath, dropped a word, and then didn't even look around.
Many close subordinates turned around and walked out of the palace gate behind them.
"allow!"
On June 10, the summer of the 960th year of the Roland Empire, the coup incident finally came to an end. All the noble families who participated in the coup were wiped out, their titles were seized, their lands were reduced, and the army was reduced. In some cases, even the palaces of the imperial capital were
All were confiscated, and the whole family had no choice but to leave the imperial capital in despair and seek survival on their own.
Then, orders with murderous intent were passed down from the palace!
The families involved in the coup, from Marquis Solomon on down, were killed all the way down.
But the only exception was that when Count Raymond came to the Luo Lin family, he became "removed from all positions and titles and will never be knighted."
With such a gentle word, Count Raymond was exempted from the death penalty. However, the Luo Lin family's Earl's residence in the imperial capital was also taken back, and the Luo Lin family, including Count Raymond, were ordered to leave the imperial capital immediately and return to Luo Lin on the plain.
Lin Castle went to retire.
In addition, an episode is: The empire has not granted a title like Duke in a hundred years, but the newly promoted young Duke Du Wei, under the regent's favor, has given up so many geomantic treasures.
But it happened to point to a place that made people stunned...
Northwest, "Dessa Province" next to the Kilimaro Mountains.
A backward region that is barren, ignorant, and even full of barbarism. In terms of financial revenue, the annual income of such a province is not even more than that of a wealthy medium-sized city in the southeast.
What’s even more unknown is that this scene will never be recorded in any orthodox historical materials:
After Du Wei pointed out the territory that day, Prince Chen returned to his room. The always gentle and kind regent suddenly became furious and smashed everything in the bedroom into pieces. The trusted guards around him
They were all stunned, and they didn't know why the noble regent was so angry.
"He still refuses to be loyal to me! He still refuses!!" Prince Chen kicked over a three-foot-tall coral shelf and shouted angrily: "I gave everything the Luo Lin family gave him! The Luo Lin family
What I didn't give him, I gave it to him! But now! He took the honor I gave him, but he only wanted to exchange for old Raymond's life!! He went towards the family! towards the family! One by one, he only had the family in his heart.
Your loyalty is more important than me! Can't I find someone in this world who is completely loyal to me? Duwei, Duwei! I thought you were a different person who could satisfy me!
But you let me down so much! So disappointed!!!!!!!”
Father, you are right. If I want to save myself, I really shouldn't save your life...
But, I am Du Wei!
If I don't do this... am I still me?
Du Wei walked out of the palace with a smile, a sincere smile.