When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 773 - 728 Moliat’s Decision

Inspecting openly is not truly for assessment, but to bring things back on track at the lowest cost.

The principle is, like the owner whipping a lazy ox with a whip.

If Moliat genuinely wanted an assessment, she should learn from Horn's recent proposal in the Advisory Council, the "Four No's and Two Direct's" principle.

Moliat took hundreds of knights to inspect fortresses and castles, primarily to prepare for deploying troops to the Shattered Stone Plain.

Indeed, after the embargo on wool from the Shattered Stone Plain, Moliat finally decided to attack it.

What led Moliat to make this judgment was not the advocacy of those Southern Mangde County wool industry owners in the Advisory Council.

She wouldn't care too much about those minor interests of the lower-level people.

What truly drove her decision was instead the diplomatic or internal political actions of Ginijis.

Entering March, Duke Lu'el surrendered completely, leaving Duke Nedbach as the sole resistance in the civil war.

Yet Duke Lu'el was not treated harshly; instead, Ginijis went out to greet him, untied the ropes personally, and offered him the main seat.

Almost simultaneously, he sent an open letter to Moliat, roughly stating that surrendering with courtesy would not cost her the duchess position.

This was a rather interesting political signal.

It wasn't meant for Moliat, but for those residual noble forces within the Thousand River Valley. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

In front of Lannes, Moliat directly summoned the intelligence chief Phil: "Read those few pieces of information from start to finish."

"...After entering Lu'el Castle, soldiers plundered wealth from nobles, disbursed military pay, began auctioning titles, which sparked discussion within the Imperial Council..."

"...To thank these soldiers for their efforts, King Jiji ordered 4,000 wounded soldiers to retire and return to their hometown River Island, escorted by 7,000 soldiers..."

"...The Oslar Clan sent birthday gifts to Charles VIII and dispatched their eldest son Eduard to study at New Bridge University..."

The first piece of information indicated that the Leia Royal Family's finances were extremely unhealthy; otherwise, they wouldn't publicly auction titles.

The second piece of information seemed like disbanding soldiers but, according to Moliat, it probably meant deploying troops to the Windmill Land border in advance.

However, truly starting a war with Falan, Moliat believed Ginijis lacked the courage; it seemed he was just seeking money.

The reason lies in the third piece of intelligence. The Oslar clan, as the largest vassal, shareholder, and rebel against Leia, had already colluded with the Falan Royal Family.

If Ginijis directly started a war in Windmill Land, with the Thousand River Valley as an example, domestic vassals would surely rebel once he starts the war.

Therefore, Ginijis, with even a little sense, must stabilize internally before countering externally.

So Moliat can be sure that once the civil war ends, within a year or half of one, King Jiji will attack the Thousand River Valley.

On one hand, to prove ability, on the other, to deter the major vassal, the Oslar clan.

In Moliat's view, there exists a perfect timing gap here, enough for her to attack the Shattered Stone Plain.

Ginijis's dramatic pardon of Duke Lu'el exposed his unfinished centralization; this performative clemency hinted at ongoing internal consolidation.

Pretending internal reconciliation with vassals (like pardoning Duke Lu'el) and feigning external amicability with Falan (tolerating Oslar's actions).

Therefore, after the civil war, Ginijis will need a substantial amount of time to stabilize the regime and recover finances.

Thus, he will certainly attack the Thousand River Valley but cannot launch a military attack against it in the short term.

Until next summer or even winter, Moliat will have ample time to attack the Shattered Stone Plain.

Moreover, from her several inspections at the border and the Advisory Council's agitation, she already has a public opinion base for attacking the Shattered Stone Plain.

She doesn't even need to truly invade Silver Bay City, the capital of Shattered Stone Plain—just fostering a puppet regime in the economic hub Sandbank Gathering.

Simply having two regimes compete would buy enough time and strategic buffer space for the Thousand River Valley.

For this purpose, she is already inviting various nobles from the Shattered Stone Plain and claiming their territories.

Then, marrying them quickly with her knights or relatives, carrying out war of succession.

However, this approach has met with opposition from Horn in the Advisory Council.

Moliat closed her eyes, still recalling the day's arguments and mutual accusations with Horn.

"The forces in the Thousand River Valley are inherently fractured, so they should unite rather than act recklessly."

"No, no, no, I've never opposed your strategy towards the Shattered Stone Plain, but your goal is wrong."

"Our goal is to prevent the Shattered Stone Plain from interfering with our war, not to attack it for strategic buffering."

"The scale is too large, forces mobilized too vast; once trapped in the war quagmire, like the transparent intelligence from the Shepherdd, we won't even have tolerance."

"War is not gambling! It's not a one-shot deal! Beyond war, you must consider its political implications!"

"War will only unite the Shepherds with the nobles; our true action should be to mobilize the Shepherds to destroy their rule!"

"The Shepherds are also a powerful force, just not guided. How can they be as insignificant as ants?"

"What they couldn't achieve in the past, how does it directly relate to the present?"

Although Moliat still cannot understand Horn's inner thoughts, she can affirm one thing: Horn speaks the truth.

The truth, as he perceives it.

She hesitated so far, largely due to Horn's opposition.

"Your Highness, perhaps what His Highness the Great Shepherd said does have some rationale," guessed Lannes at Moliat's thoughts, "The Shattered Stone Plain is indeed a great enemy, but certainly not to the extent of the Leia Army."

"Lannes, you still need to learn a lesson." Moliat opened her eyes, yet spoke with undeniable certainty, "Horn is of common origin, yet believes that the people are not geniuses, at least they are talents.

But for five hundred years, only one peasant, Horn, overturned the Church's rule.

He thinks those Shepherds can stall us, thinks the farmers behind the Hundred Households District can continuously support our war.

But the truth is not so; if mortals truly had such great capabilities, why would Horn himself need to infect the people with Divine Favor?

We are short of strength, facing a grievously sick giant, a metaphor Horn often uses.

Rather than waiting for the giant to turn, it's better to take the opportunity to cut his left arm first; otherwise, if he swings backhand, we may not withstand it."

Moliat's past all-out attack, resulting in Shattered Stone Plain's counter, was already a bloody-handed example.

North Mangde County is her biggest foundation, yet time and again exposed its core to Shattered Stone Plain's spears.

If this goes on, once the Leia invasion war breaks out, likely the Autocratic Duke would sit defensively in the north, the Great Shepherd would be the main force resisting.

Even if risks must be borne, Moliat has to resolve this threat first.

Politically or militarily, she has to take this risk.

The Thousand River Valley is inherently the weaker side; without aggression, how to win?

Phil glanced at Lannes, who was promptly tactful enough to excuse himself.

Phil handed over a roll of parchment: "Your Highness the Despot, that claimant has reached near Feldheim."

Moliat halted her movement of rubbing the iron fist: "Good, find an opportunity for a meeting tomorrow."

"However, he's just a small cloth merchant without noble status, our nobles marrying directly seems inappropriate."

"Then grant him the title of Baron of Moragenge Town first!"