join the Church of MissRaven and become a Sequence 9: Reader p atreon.com/KeyofStars for more chapters
Ten days after the end of the War of the Gods, the heads of state of Southern Balam, Feynapotter, Intis, Feysac, Lenburg, Masin, and Segar gathered in Backlund, the capital of the Loen Kingdom, to discuss war reparations and the future international order.
On the first day of the talks, the city, which still bore obvious traces of war and resembled a primeval forest in many places, seemed to become very lively. People were generally excited. After fighting for so long, they were finally going to start peace talks!
King's Avenue in front of the Sodela Palace, the venue for the talks, was already crowded with onlookers. They wanted to see how the most powerful people in the world would guide the world back to peace.
The Prime Minister of Intis and the Emperor of Feysac, the heads of the two defeated nations, arrived first with their large teams of advisors.
Seeing the Intis and Feysac flags hanging on the carriages, the people began to curse and throw stones from the roadside at the carriages!
Many of the carriage windows were smashed, but the stones completely avoided the carriages carrying important figures. Only the carriages carrying ordinary civil servants had their windows broken.
Then, the kings and grand dukes of Lenburg, Masin, and Segar arrived one after another with their teams. They also had their own demands, especially Lenburg, which suffered huge losses in this war and was eager to obtain some compensation in the peace talks.
Among these three countries, only the King of Lenburg had a prince waiting at the gate when he arrived in front of Sodela Palace.
This was because Lenburg was an ally of Loen, while Masin was a neutral country.
Segar, whose territory was not adjacent to Loen and was even far away from it, had not yet established diplomatic relations with Loen.
Next, when the current King of Feynapotter, Ferdinand II, and his team arrived, everyone didn't know how to face them.
It was clear that at the beginning, the Feynapotter Kingdom had attacked Lenburg and later occupied most of the Diocese of Desi in Loen.
However, as soon as the War of the Gods ended, this country declared war on Intis and Feysac respectively!
Only then did everyone realize that although the Feynapotter Kingdom had occupied most of a diocese of the Loen Kingdom, they had never declared war on Loen!
Thus, this country transformed itself into a victorious nation to participate in the conference.
Finally, Grand Duke Hobert of the Duchy of Southern Balam and his diplomatic team arrived.
At first, the people cheered because the Duchy of Southern Balam had chosen to help its suzerain state and ally when the Loen Kingdom was at its most difficult.
Even when Backlund was surrounded by the enemy, it still helped to resist the Intis army attacking Backlund.
More importantly, in the final stages of the war, the Southern Balam army severely defeated the enemy! It was said that it greatly weakened the two enemies, Intis and Feysac!
This was a true ally, a true victor.
However, the cheers of the crowd quickly turned into surprise, because the vehicle carrying Hobert and his wife was not pulled by horses, but its speed was faster than a horse-drawn carriage!
That kind of car was a bit like a steam locomotive, but it was not as bulky as a steam locomotive at all. Its appearance not only had the beauty of industry, but also very beautiful lines.
When Grand Duke Hobert and his wife Audrey got up from the back row and waved to everyone, everyone came back to their senses and continued to cheer for them.
Behind them, the entire Southern Balam delegation was riding in this new type of vehicle.
This scene was quickly sketched down by several major newspaper reporters, or photographed with box cameras. This would be today's headline in the extra edition: The Duke and Duchess of Southern Balam attend the peace conference in a new type of transportation.
Then, the reporters swarmed after the motorcade, because the second headline picture of the extra edition soon appeared: King George III of the Loen Kingdom personally greeted them in front of the palace gate.
The king and the grand duke shook hands warmly and expressed their wishes for peace.
Just as Hobert was about to enter the gate, he suddenly took off his top hat and said to everyone: "We will bring peace and tranquility!"
Amidst the cheers of the crowd, he entered the palace gate and arrived at the pre-arranged negotiating venue.
The doors closed, and the huge venue was crowded with people. There were more than 500 officials, diplomats, and translators.
At nine o'clock in the morning, the peace talks officially began. As the owner of Sodela Palace, George III spoke first, elaborating on the harm caused to the entire Northern Continent by the war launched by the Feysac Empire since last year.
The more the Emperor of Feysac listened, the paler his face became, because he could hear George III's hatred for Feysac.
After the king finished his speech, Aguesid, the Prime Minister of the Loen Kingdom, continued to speak, clarifying that the main issues of this peace talk were to demand war reparations, for Feysac and Intis to hand over all their colonies, and for the victorious nations to rebuild a new international order, and so on.
Feysac and Intis had nothing to say about this. After all, they had been defeated. If they could end this war with colonies and reparations, it was an acceptable condition.
After the host made a programmatic speech, the substantive negotiations began.
Aguesid, who had a small mustache, made four demands to the defeated countries: First, war reparations should be between 36 billion and 38 billion pounds.
Second, cede all colonies in the Southern Continent.
Third, the Feysac Empire should hand over control of the northern coast of Midseashire.
Fourth, the Intis Republic should withdraw from the Central Highlands.
Although these demands sounded excessive, everyone knew that this was to leave enough room for bargaining.
Immediately afterwards, Hobert made two demands to the defeated countries: First, in more than a dozen industries such as electricity, wine, and tobacco, no tariffs or any form of tax should be levied on the victorious countries. The construction of relevant factories and the establishment of companies do not need to be approved by the defeated countries, and can be built and opened in the territory of the defeated countries.
Second, the defeated countries must hand over 10,000 intact heavy artillery and field guns, as well as 30,000 intact heavy machine guns, 2,000 airships, 20 battleships, 30 heavy cruisers, 80 cruisers, 80 submarines, and 10,000 brand-new machine tools of various types.
Hearing the demands of these two people, the King of Feynapotter and the King of Lenburg secretly hid their demands.
They exclaimed in their hearts that these two people were too ruthless. One wanted to turn the two defeated countries into second-rate countries, and the other wanted to completely control the economy of the defeated countries and carry out an "arms disarmament" and "industrial disarmament".
In comparison, the demands prepared by the two victorious kings of Feynapotter and Lenburg were too embarrassing to mention.
The Emperor of Feysac and the Prime Minister of Intis did not expect the demands of the victorious countries to be so excessive, and refused to sign such an agreement.
The Emperor of the Feysac Empire even claimed: "We would rather fight another world war than accept such harsh conditions!"
Hobert smiled and said: "Fight again? What do you have to fight with?"
In this war, the Duchy of Southern Balam did not suffer much loss.
But the entire Northern Continent was devastated. Only one-third of the Intis army returned, and more than half of the Feysac army was killed. The key was that the Beyonder units of the Duchy of Southern Balam hunted down too many of their Beyonders.
At this time, the Church of the God of Combat had collapsed. The religious negotiations, which were being conducted at the same time as the Backlund peace talks, were being held in York, the former capital of the Evernight Goddess's Divine Kingdom, on the southern foothills of the Amantha Mountains.
It is certain that the original Church of the God of Combat will be annexed by the Church of the Evernight Goddess.
The religious forms of various countries will also undergo major changes. The Church of Steam and Machinery is likely to be driven back to Intis, and the Eternal Blazing Sun Church should also lose its missionary rights in the colonies of the Intis Republic.
Under such prospects, Hobert has the confidence to make harsh demands.
Just as the Emperor of Feysac was about to get up and leave to express his anger, Bivis, the Prime Minister of Intis, began to talk to the Loen representatives about war reparations.
This surprised everyone present. In other words, Intis basically agreed to the conditions put forward by the victorious countries, but disagreed on the specific amount of compensation, the industry interests to be ceded, the number of weapons to be handed over, and so on.
Thus, the first day of negotiations was spent in haggling. On the way back, Audrey, sitting in the back of the new electric car, suddenly told Hobert: "They don't intend to agree to the conditions you and Prime Minister Aguesid put forward."
Hobert smiled and said: "It's really convenient to have a Spectator present in the negotiations."
Then, he took a deep breath: "I also think he agreed too quickly."
Hobert pondered for a moment and asked Audrey: "Can you interpret his true thoughts?"
"No." Audrey said: "This Prime Minister is prepared. He should have Sealed Artifacts on him that prevent his intentions from being observed."
"But I can probably interpret that he is planning a conspiracy, and it is a conspiracy against our Duchy of Southern Balam."
"Because I clearly saw the hostility he showed towards us."
It was certain that there was hostility. After all, so many people died in the Southern Balam army's guerrilla warfare and the final siege.
There were also more than 300,000 Intis prisoners of war who were sent to the Southern Continent via teleportation arrays and were assigned to various counties to do hard labor.
Hobert pondered for a long time, until dinner, before he thought of some clues.
So he immediately went to the military camp in the western suburbs of Backlund and had a secret talk with Medici.
As it stands, no matter what conspiracies and tricks we face, strength is the best solution to the problem!
… …
Just as Audrey had perceived, that night, Intis Prime Minister Bivis and Feysac Emperor found Aguesid together.
They had a secret talk that only the three of them were present. No one knows what they talked about.
Aguesid briefly described this secret talk in his memoirs written in his later years: "… … Bivis is indeed one of the most outstanding diplomats of the 14th century. He keenly sensed the irreconcilable contradictions between Loen and Southern Balam."
"Yes, we have always been wary of Southern Balam, especially with 80,000 elite Southern Balam troops still in the western suburbs of Backlund. It is difficult for me to pretend to be a close ally with Southern Balam… …"
"Bivis reminded me with his excellent eloquence that it is very important to preserve the strength of Intis and Feysac… …"
… …
On the second day of the meeting, the form of the meeting suddenly changed.
The demands previously made by Prime Minister Aguesid of Loen and Hobert were not taken as the first topic of the peace talks. Intis demanded that South Balam release Intis prisoners, which became the first topic.
Bivis, a man in his forties and not very tall, said in a very inflammatory tone: "We all know the tragedy that happened in Asong, where hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians died in the flames of war."
"Although we are a defeated country, in a civilized world, we also have the right to demand basic human rights for prisoners of war."
"I implore everyone to help me persuade Grand Duke Hobert to release the prisoners as soon as possible, because every day that passes, countless prisoners will lose their lives!"
This caused the delegations of various countries to discuss among themselves and look at Hobert, but they did not dare to really persuade this Grand Duke.
Hobert smiled and said: "We will release the Intis prisoners because they eat too much and will eat the Duchy of South Balam poor."
Some people politely smiled knowingly at this joke, while others laughed from the bottom of their hearts.
But they immediately realized that showing a smile at this time was a bit inappropriate, so they immediately put away their smiles.
Bivis looked at Hobert coldly. His previous speech was actually a trap, trying to get Hobert to explain the "Asong Massacre" and guide Hobert to counterattack with the Intis soldiers' abuse of Loen people.
Who knew that Hobert would make such a bland joke.
Then Hobert said: "Ladies and gentlemen, have you noticed a problem?
"We currently do not have an organization dedicated to resolving international disputes and mediating wars, which is unacceptable for a civilized world."
"My side proposes to establish an 'International League' first, and then conduct peace talks."
He beckoned to Benson: "This is the draft charter for the establishment of the 'International League'. Take a look."
Benson led people to distribute materials to the delegations of various countries.
This change once again made everyone realize that the pattern of the negotiating parties had changed, because until this time, Aguesid, who had been relatively tough on the defeated countries yesterday, had not yet expressed his position.
Hobert's proposal to establish an "International League" disrupted Bivis's plan.
After reading the draft provided by the Duchy of South Balam, Bivis couldn't help but frown, because this draft did not directly target Intis and Feysac, but it made people feel that it was targeting them everywhere.
The Feysac Emperor had not yet fully realized the seriousness of this problem. He asked Hobert: "Why doesn't the list of countries that can be called 'Rotating Presidents' include Feysac?"
Hobert asked with a smile: "Do you think a defeated country can have such power?"
A huge change occurred in the negotiations on this day. Aguesid first did not express his position on the Feysac issue, and then greatly relaxed the conditions for reparations, saying that he only needed to compensate for the losses in the Backlund region and the Tucker Plain, as well as the subsidies and pensions for soldiers, which amounted to about 3 billion pounds.
The industrial city on the southern coast of Midseashire, which suffered the most damage, was not included in the scope of compensation! This was obviously unreasonable.
But considering that the "Earl's Light" had made a lot of investment in that area during the war, it did not seem difficult to understand.
This was actually secretly targeting the Duchy of South Balam.
As Hobert expected, considering the balance of interests and power, and the concerns about the Duchy of South Balam's internal affairs model without nobles, Loen had a tendency to lean towards Intis and Feysac.
He could even imagine how Bivis persuaded Aguesid: Do you want South Balam to unify the entire Southern Continent?
It was also last night that Hobert realized that the emergence of the Duchy of South Balam had brought about huge changes to this world.
If there were no Duchy of South Balam, Intis and Feysac, although both were defeated countries, their military and economic strength had not been greatly weakened.
On the contrary, the Loen Kingdom was crippled, so it did not dare to make excessive demands. Therefore, Loen did not receive much reparations after the war.
It was precisely because the Duchy of South Balam existed that Intis and Feysac were also crippled, that Loen had the confidence to make harsh demands on the defeated countries.
However, the second butterfly effect triggered by the Duchy of South Balam gradually appeared. After the end of the war in the Northern Continent, the ruling classes of this world began to target the Duchy of South Balam, which had a new political model.
So Hobert used the strategy of establishing an "International League" to disrupt Bivis's intentions.
For a time, the peace talks entered a stage of wrangling.
Hobert just accompanied them in the wrangling.
Until eight o'clock in the morning on the sixth day of the peace talks, everyone was about to continue discussing the establishment of the "International League".
Hobert suddenly had his subordinates display a huge map of the Southern Continent. He smiled and said: "Ladies and gentlemen, before the meeting begins, I want to announce a message to everyone.
"At the same time as the start of today's meeting, the South Balam army has launched offensives in five directions."
"With our current strength, we are confident that we can end the battle within half a month!"
Everyone suddenly exclaimed "Oh" and "Storm above".
These five offensive directions were all colonies of Intis and Feysac, which Hobert had planned to take into his pocket before the war.
Bivis shouted: "South Balam is undermining the peace talks!"
"I just want to tell you a very simple truth!" Hobert also said seriously: "Currently, I have the strength to get everything I want!"
The essence of the Backlund peace talks was to redistribute this world.
However, from the second day of the negotiations, the politicians of various countries began to show their sinister side. In order to balance the interests and power of this world, former allies became enemies.
If Hobert had not "creatively" proposed the idea of an "International League", the Duchy of South Balam would have been completely isolated.
Of course, Hobert would not let the politicians' wishful thinking succeed. While he was wrangling with politicians from various countries in Backlund, he ordered Medici to launch a war against the colonies of the Intis Republic and the Feysac Empire.
The world rules given by the countries of the Northern Continent are basically based on strength!
Then the Duchy of South Balam will speak with strength.
At the meeting, Hobert asked Bivis very impolitely: "What is it like to have two enemy angels in your own capital?"
The dignitaries here, of course, knew what angels meant, and their faces turned very pale.
Hobert asked the Feysac Emperor again: "Should I also send two angels to Saint Millon?"
The Feysac Emperor opened his mouth, but did not dare to say a word.
Bivis said: "Mr. Hobert, are you going to restart the war?"
"It's not that I want to start the war." Hobert spread his hands: "But you, as defeated countries, are trying to escape war reparations and territorial and economic compensation!
"The results of the Battle of Backlund, which the Duchy of South Balam won with all its national strength, can be overturned like this? Did so many soldiers and civilians of Loen die in vain?"
After speaking, Hobert immediately stood up: "Before the end of the war in the Southern Continent, I will no longer continue to participate in the peace talks.
"You can talk first, talk as you please!"
After speaking, Hobert left with the South Balam delegation.
After a brief daze, everyone smiled bitterly one after another. How could they talk without the presence of the Duchy of South Balam?
Even if they came up with a result, would Hobert accept it?
What made them most helpless was that if Hobert did not accept it, then at least the situation in the Southern Continent could not develop according to the agreement they had negotiated.
So Loen Prime Minister Aguesid had to play the role of mediator. He went to see Hobert that afternoon and talked for an afternoon. Hobert finally relented.
Hobert proposed that the "International League" should be established first, and then the next peace talks should be conducted.
Before the peace talks restarted, the war in the Southern Continent would not stop.
Aguesid informed the representatives of other countries and basically agreed to Hobert's proposal, so the South Balam delegation reappeared at the negotiating table.
But Hobert did not appear. Audrey and Benson were responsible for continuing the meeting.
The progress of this negotiation suddenly accelerated, and it took only three days to revise the draft charter for the establishment of the "International League".
On the tenth day of the peace talks, the "International League" was declared established. On the same day, governments of various countries issued statements expressing their support for the establishment of the "International League".
This organization, abbreviated as "League of Nations", was based in Backlund. All the countries that participated in the war jointly formed the "League of Nations Committee", with Loen, South Balam, and Feynapotter taking turns serving as the chairman of the committee.
The chairman has the power to initiate a hearing on a certain international dispute, but does not have the power to adjudicate itself.
After listening to the content of the hearing, the representatives of the member states will vote to decide whether to pass the bill to resolve the dispute. The three rotating chairmen all have the power of veto.
The establishment of the League of Nations was immediately reported by major media, all saying that this was a sign that the world was moving towards greater civilization.
Hobert felt that the magic potion in his body had once again shown obvious signs of digestion.
The establishment of this international institution meant that he had disrupted the original international order, which was of course a kind of "abolition".
So Hobert reappeared at the peace talks. He skipped the alliance of interests formed with Loen and directly discussed the issue of war reparations with the two defeated countries.
Previously, Loen and South Balam planned to jointly discuss a large amount of reparations and various compensations with the defeated countries, and then the victorious countries would divide the reparations to be obtained.
But because Loen and South Balam had certain differences, South Balam simply demanded compensation on its own.
Hobert's demand was that the defeated countries should compensate South Balam at least 3.5 billion pounds, the five colonies currently attacked by the Duchy of South Balam should belong to the Duchy of South Balam, and it should obtain franchise rights in many industries in the defeated countries.
join the Church of MissRaven and become a Sequence 9: Reader p atreon.com/KeyofStars for more chapters