Don't Mess with That Dragon-Chapter 725 - 101: Retreat (Second Update, Seeking Subscription)
His Majesty King Rufus's experiences stirred deep reflections in his heart. After traveling, upon returning home, during a conversation with a noble friend, he narrated those experiences with a sense of wonder.
That friend was once a noble himself,
but following the downfall of the Frandi Duchy, his title was completely revoked, and he is now a citizen of the Blue Dragon Kingdom.
Listening to the noble's account, his friend was also utterly amazed.
Subsequently,
this news spread like a rumor, especially within the noble community, where it circulated even more widely.
Some didn't believe the tale,
and went to the Blue Dragon Kingdom Main City to investigate personally. Indeed, they discovered the estate where King Rufus was held under mild captivity and even saw the former king themselves.
Additionally, 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺
besides King Rufus, there were also the kings of the Golden Eagle Duchy and Olan Duchy, those three old comrades were idly gathered playing a new card game called "Fight the Landlord."
This numerical card game, whose origins are unclear, became incredibly popular throughout the Blue Dragon Kingdom in a short time.
Of course, whether one plays the game or not isn't what matters.
What truly catches attention is that the three defeated and captured former kings have not faced any persecution at all, leisurely residing in confinement within the Blue Dragon Kingdom Main City.
The news was true.
This certainly shocked many people, especially those from the old world's ruling noble classes.
One must know that in wars between nations, especially when one defeats a hostile opposing country, to avoid future complications, it's customary to eradicate remnants thoroughly.
The defeated royal family and even the upper echelon of nobility undergo brutal cleansing, leaving no trace of their lineage.
No matter how magnanimous the victor may be, at most they'd grant the opponent a dignified end, then imprison all the royal family in a heavily guarded courtyard, forbidding any contact with the outside.
The Blue Dragon Kingdom's treatment of defeated kings went beyond noble expectations.
The more one learned, the more the surrounding nations' nobility became intrigued.
Within the Blue Dragon Kingdom, while the nobility class was eliminated, their private wealth was safeguarded, without receiving special discriminatory treatment due to their origin.
Some former nobles from the original Three Kingdoms thrived within the Blue Dragon Kingdom, investing with the wealth retained by their families, becoming quite successful. It's even rumored they applied to the Blue Dragon Kingdom Government to establish an organization, making a considerable impression, facing only occasional opposition from media outlets.
Moreover, within the Blue Dragon Kingdom, large-scale economic development coupled with domestic peace and stability,
under repeated official cleanups, crime rates have dropped to an unimaginable level. One wouldn't encounter thieves or monster attacks on the roads.
Such prosperity and peace prompted contemplation among many in the noble class, making them entertain thoughts of alternatives while secretly preparing an escape route for their families.
Indeed,
the group of misfits within the Blue Dragon Kingdom was indeed abominable, deserving punishment to appease public anger.
But the problem is,
looking around, the neighboring countries either face the same threat from the Blue Dragon Kingdom's military or suffer from internal chaos, rife with rebels and bandits, wholly unsuitable for safe refuge.
The only suitable place is the largest enemy, the Blue Dragon Kingdom.
A person,
is inherently self-serving.
Especially, those who rise to a certain position, standing high in these feudal old realms, mastering national power, noble families excel in the art of scheming and benefit themselves most.
Even though the Blue Dragon Kingdom is their arch-enemy,
even though these noble classes solemnly swear loyalty to their nation's survival,
behind the scenes, many noble families secretly maneuver through merchants and trade caravans, covertly transferring family assets, preparing a retreat within the Blue Dragon Kingdom.
Should the Blue Dragon Kingdom one day wage another war and annihilate their home nations, abolishing noble privileges, at least there would be an alternative.
Of course, no one admits to these actions.
Nonetheless,
if they could maintain their noble titles and cherished privileges, none would willingly become powerless wealthy individuals in the Blue Dragon Kingdom.
Thus, while many noble families discreetly set up fallback plans in the Blue Dragon Kingdom, few harbored thoughts of defecting openly.
These families, having enjoyed power and standing at the pinnacle, traditionally assisted their kings diligently, extracting taxes from the populace, building armies, amassing heavy borders troops to counter the Blue Dragon Kingdom's threat.
The ideal outcome is to repel the Blue Dragon Kingdom's Dragon's Nest army,
maintaining their high ruling positions.
Under nobles' efforts, public tax extortion helped the kings forge the strongest defenses.
Yet,
over recent years, frequent natural disasters have led to poor harvests.
Consequently, the national elite didn't offer relief but furiously oppressed and exploited the masses further, imposing war taxes against the Blue Dragon Kingdom's southern threat, intensifying their plunder and suppression, causing widespread public discontent.
Many bankrupt free citizens and overburdened peasants became refugees.
Merchants and artisans faced bankruptcy amid harsh conditions.
In this cycle of calamity,
a new refugee wave emerged, rising instability domestically, forcing penniless people southward in search of livelihood within the Blue Dragon Kingdom.
This,
almost mirrored the situation at the Border Great Wall involving the Three Great Dukedoms not long ago.
Meanwhile, some short-sighted and foolish noble families seized the chance to ruthlessly accumulate wealth, causing further decline in the civilian economy.
Nonetheless,
even top ruling nobles knew they were merely drinking poison to slay thirst, but found no alternative.
In comparison to their wealth and status,
a bunch of lowly people's lives,
who would care?
Time,
as the Blue Dragon Kingdom embraced newly conquered territories and organized internal affairs,
the surrounding kings grappled with anxiety under the Blue Dragon Kingdom's formidable presence, while nobles discreetly prepared retreats, supported tax collection and defense buildup.
In general, the Blue Dragon Kingdom and neighboring countries maintained peace.
But everyone knows,
this peace,
is merely temporary.
