Chapter 147: Floods in the Spring of Next Year
Early morning of November 1444, 11 in the Imperial Calendar.

The black pine forest outside Cold Spring Castle was filled with mist.

In the square in front of Cold Spring Castle, hundreds of soldiers were practicing spear thrusts.

They held the tail of the spear with their right hand, the front of the spear with their left hand, and the spear shaft rested on the elbow of their raised left hand.

This is the technique used by mountain people when using super-long spears. Since the spears are too heavy, this is the only method they can use if they want to stab them normally.

In a study in the tower of Cold Spring Castle, Meliati, who had just returned from Jeanne d'Arc, was standing at the window, silently observing the soldiers' stabbing and formation.

"The teacher was burned to death by Constance in Feiliu Castle." Catherine's voice sounded from behind.

Meliati put her hands behind her back and continued to look at the soldiers and assassins who were training in the square: "I know."

"I was there that day. You were his proudest student. We all thought you would come, but you didn't."

"Sorry, I have to go do something else."

"Hahahahaha, you have other things to do."

Perhaps the sarcasm in Catherine's words was too obvious. Meliati turned around and looked at Catherine leaning on the chair: "Is there something wrong?"

"When you heard the news of your teacher's death, didn't you shed a single tear?"

Melia stared at Catherine with her red eyes: "I feel sad, but I don't cry, because that's useless."

"What did you do?"

"Collect evidence to deal with the church, and solve the problem of spouse. The knights need me to provide them with a child to whom they will be loyal."

"Is this what's important to you? Is it important enough to sit back and watch your teacher burn to death?"

"I am also very sad about the teacher's death, but I can't stop him even if I'm there. Crying won't solve any problems. We have to move forward."

"What progress have you made? I finally found an ally for you in Rapid City Hall, but you refused." The anger in Catherine's eyes would not dissipate.

"I didn't refuse, they refused me."

"Didn't you insist on being the leader of the alliance? And you even made a lot of harsh demands."

"If they can't accept it, then they are not on the same page as us.

Qianhe Valley needs a leader, an absolute role model, to lead the absolute elites. The common people need such a leader, such a king.

If we let these wavering citizens join us, we will only get betrayal. I would rather win over the lower-class workers in the city."

Catherine asked sarcastically in a playful tone: "Who decides whether they are common people or elites?"

"A leader is born a leader. It is up to the common people to decide whether they are elites. If they cannot become elites, they are destined to remain in a position of being ruled."

"So you are the leader, right?"

Meliati replied as a matter of course: "There are not many such absolute leaders in the world, only... maybe I am the only one."

"Is it because you and Aunt Solia are both witches? Is it because you were born with the blood of the Three Kings?"

"No." Meliati sat there indifferently, "It's because I am destined to be the king, and only I can bear it."

"Do you know how arrogant what you said is?"

"Do you know how powerful our enemies are?" Meliati stared at Catherine's eyes with her scarlet pupils, "Do you think that repairing Beixi Boulevard and attracting more citizens will solve all the problems?
What we are facing is not the nobles of the Thousand River Valley, but an entire church, an entire empire, and extraordinary people supported by more than 80 million people.

We need to seize all our strength to fight them. It is impossible to do so without bloodshed..."

Seeing that Meliati was repeating the same old tune, Catherine interrupted her directly: "Yes, with one word from you, all the people of Qianhe Valley will bleed for you..." "No!" In response, Meliati also interrupted Catherine's words, "All the people of Qianhe Valley are bleeding for themselves. If they didn't bleed when they should, then now they must make up for it double."

"But can the people of Qianhe Valley withstand such bloodshed? Let a skinny person challenge a strong man, don't you think that this skinny person should at least be fed?"

"You are getting stronger by eating, but aren't they also getting stronger by eating? They have bigger appetites than us and eat more. If we make peace with them, the Thousand River Valley will never be free again!"

"You are simply a lunatic! A stubborn lunatic!" Catherine slammed the table heavily, "I never said to make peace with the church. Our situation is that we haven't accumulated enough strength yet, so we need an alliance.

You force everyone to obey you, which will drive away your potential allies and supporters. We need unity!"

"It's a false unity, a faltering alliance, and wavering supporters, which is nothing but a waste of time and energy.

The power in our hands is too small. We cannot waste even a little bit and cannot make any mistakes. The people of Qianhe Valley need a fast and effective power to integrate all resources.

One person, one center, one voice, and if there is any other noise, either don't let him become one of us, or let him change his voice."

“This voice should be everyone’s voice.”

"There is no such thing as everyone's voice. Everyone has different demands, and some people will inevitably be left behind."

There was a coldness on Meliati's face that Horn had never seen before, or rather, this was her original appearance.

No matter which quirky Meliati or the arrogant and unbridled Meliati, they are not her usual appearance.

"Abandon? Abandoned like those refugees? If you decide their fate, what's the difference between you and the Empire?!"

"No, it's not me who decides, it's them who decide. I give them a free and fair environment. If they don't compete and struggle, they will be eliminated and no one will be their nanny!"

"That's ridiculous. Have you never thought about what would happen if you made a mistake?"

"Of course I could make a mistake, but given the situation in the Thousand River Valley, it's better to go down the wrong path than to stay where you are!"

"You say you can't tolerate mistakes, but you tolerate your own mistakes. Don't you think that's contradictory?"

The two good friends who had grown up together, their chests heaving violently, glared at each other like fighting bulls.

But as they watched, the anger on their faces gradually disappeared and turned into helplessness.

They have experienced this kind of scene countless times.

Catherine chuckled twice in self-deprecation, while Meliati sat down again and began to read the "Life of Alexander the Great".

"The people of Qianhegu have no way out." Catherine smiled bitterly and sat back in her chair: "I'm really afraid that you will fall into the abyss with Qianhegu."

"It is better to die with a smile than to live with tears." Without raising her head, Meliati recited her family's proverb while reading a book.

"When are you going to launch?"

"Next spring, a flood under the banner of Hema Stone will overwhelm the Empire and the Church, just as they allowed the flood to overwhelm us."

“Okay, Meliati…” After a half-second pause, Catherine looked into Meliati’s eyes solemnly, “If one day, you become the Empire, I will still resist you like I do today.”

"If that day ever comes, I hope you do it."

Catherine thought for a moment and said seriously, "I have one last thing to do."

"You say it."

"Tell me..." Catherine raised her crystal eyes, her eyes sparkling, "Who is that magical creature that you recognized? What's his name? Where is he from? How did you meet? Why did you want to fall in love with him? I thought you would only... Oh, no, you are a witch, where did your offspring come from!"

"…I'm beginning to regret telling you this."

(End of this chapter)