"This is the latest information we have."

Thomas put the things in his hand on the table. Around the table, all the core personnel of the new palace gathered. Princess Irina sat in the middle.

"The current situation is that Paro divides the army into three parts. The first part is still surrounding Wolfkou Castle."

"Hasn't it been captured there yet?" Someone made an incredible voice. Now that Casillos' royal city of Fros has fallen for so long, the Wolf Castle, which is the frontline, has not been captured by the Paro people.

"It is said that it was because the Paros did too much in Fros, which caused almost all the courtiers of Casillos to be buried in the sea of ​​fire. The guard of Wolfkou Castle seemed to be Dor, who was like me, a stubborn old guy. He did not believe in the Paros' capture of Fros. Although the Paros gave him the seized court items, Dor determined that all the fakes were just tricks to deceive him in surrender. He publicly claimed that this stupid trick was okay to deceive young people, and would not work for experienced veterans like him."

When he said this, Thomas smiled. "So sometimes stubborn people have the benefits of stubbornness. So the Paro people had to leave a large army to continue the siege. The Langkou Castle was strong in defense, elite defenders and sufficient supplies, so the Paro people could only slowly consume their food by relying on the siege."

"What about the second part?" asked the princess.

"The second part is centered on the city of Fros, and the main forces of the Paro people are concentrated. At present, they are trying to control the entire plain near the city of Fros. The organized resistance army of Casilos has been basically eliminated, but there are still many lords loyal to His Royal Highness the Princess who are still engaged in guerrilla warfare with the Paro people. The Paro people have not yet completely conquered here. As for the third part, it is the border area between Casilos and Saint-Gen. The Paro army is scattered in various castles and has no momentum of attack at all, but has stepped up the consolidation of the city defense and acts like being beaten. It seems that their plan is very obvious, that is, to use the border fortress to build a fort defense line to prevent our army from attacking. And in the rear, it is urgent to suppress the entire territory of Casilos and annex Casilos in one fell swoop. As for Saint-Gen, they did not consider it at all after the destruction of the Greyhound."

After saying that, Thomaston paused.

"I have to admit that the Paro people's strategies are very clever. They are simple, effective, realistic, without extra ambitions, everything is within control. Even I can't think of a more clever strategy."

Everyone looked at the map on the table. This map clearly lists the strong defense lines built by the Paro army. These are not temporary sieges, but solid castles.

Historically, Casillos was sandwiched between San Geen and Paro, facing an unfavorable situation of fighting on both sides. In order to reverse this situation, Casillos built a series of castles on the border with San Geen on the east side to prevent San Geen from invading. On the west side, they had no danger to defend and could only gather large troops just in case.

However, as the relationship with Saint Gene became increasingly close, the role of the fortress defense line became weaker and weaker. By the time the royal tribes of the two countries became the same family, the defense line had completely lost its original meaning and was basically abandoned. All the military castles were rewarded to the local nobles, and the garrison was cut clean (so when the Paro people invaded, the Greyhound followed Princess Irina's footsteps and easily occupied all the castles).

On the western front, Casillos captured and occupied the Wolfkou Castle, which originally belonged to Paro, and since then it stuck the throat of the Paro's attack. From then on, Casillos removed the threat from the two fronts at the same time, and the defense situation of the entire country became extremely favorable. Unfortunately, the favorable strategic situation paralyzed the vigilance of Casillos's monarch and ministers, so he was finally caught off guard by the Paro people, leading to the current unfortunate result.

"General Thomas, I am just a girl and don't know how to fight military affairs." Princess Irina said. "Please tell me what to do to retake Casillos."

"There is no good way, and I can only attack these castles one by one. However, according to my judgment, your princess must make plans for three to five years of war. By then, I am worried that the Paro people have gained a foothold and have completely controlled the situation."

"Mr. Thomas. I remember you conquered Sedin not long ago without bloodshed." Foreign Minister Randwin said with a smile on his face. But the light flashed in his eyes revealed deep jealousy. "Why are you now getting tied up again? You only need to use your genius and wisdom to conquer these castles. You know, now you have almost all the troops of Saint Gene. Even the Prophet and the Holy Grail Knights have been invited by you."

Thomas seemed to have not noticed the other meaning in the other party's words and smiled slightly. "Mr. Randwin, I am not a god. The Paros will not be fooled for the second time. Although our army has a certain advantage in number, it is still difficult to capture the castle. Haven't you seen that Wolfkou Castle has not yet been lost?"

"I have seen that Lord Thomas has made great achievements in diplomacy. It is an amazing achievement to let the Prophet and the Holy Grail Knight join. It would be better to let me give the position of Foreign Minister to Lord Thomas. Since the position of General is so troubled by Lord Thomas, it would be better to choose another skill. Isn't this what each needs?"

"The Prophet's affairs were just a matter of no intention to arrange flowers. However, Lord Landwind seems to have no military achievements worth mentioning."

The two of them looked at each other with a smile, but sparks seemed to be coming from their tit-for-tat gazes.

Irina coughed softly. Then the two stopped looking at each other and returned to their own positions.

"Is there no other way except to conquer these castles one by one?" In the end, Irina broke the awkward silence. Being a queen is really so tired? She asked herself in her heart. Even the first imperial meeting had to encounter these things?

"At present, this can only be done temporarily," Thomas replied. "But I will try to find weaknesses in their defense. In addition, I hope that His Royal Highness can give me some power to make appropriate commitments to negotiate and recruit defenders when the time is right."

"Since there is no choice, then do as Count Thomas means." Irina replied. She deliberately did not look at the jealous gaze in Randwin's eyes. It was the first time she even saw such gaze in a man's eyes. But she knew that she would see many similar eyes in the future.

"Leave the army to Thomas, and he will help you handle everything. Don't believe that there is a second person who can do better than him. If there is really someone, don't believe that he will be as loyal as Thomas." Irina recalled the advice of the old man in black robe. She couldn't help but glance at the screen.

However, in the next round of topics, Thomas did not speak. The following are topics about the war tax increase, investigations on fiefs in various places, and some diplomatic and court affairs.

Finally, the Grand Justice brought up the matter of the Court of Honor. Nearly thirty knights had already promoted the militia captain to the knight before questioning Thomas. They believed that the two knights who were once militia were not worthy of the honor at all.

Thomas finally spoke this time. He pointed out that he would completely obey the judgment result of the Honor Court, but according to historical customs, the Honor Court has always tried after the end of the war. Only when special events with extreme honor occur will the court be formed and the trial will be held in wartime. Therefore, the canonized knights should have the opportunity to prove their courage and strength on the battlefield. When saying these words, Thomas always looked at Landwind intentionally or unintentionally, and the latter's face turned into a pig's liver.

The meeting ended here. Everyone left, and now Irina is the only one left here.

No, it wasn't alone, because the old man in black robe walked out from behind the screen. From the beginning, he had been hiding behind the screen to listen. But to be honest, the old man's low cough from time to time had long leaked his existence. However, all the ministers were trying to pretend that he had heard nothing and knew nothing.

"You made a small mistake, little girl." The old man in black robe poked Irina's ribs with the strong wooden stick. But this poke seemed not as painful as usual. Irina was not sure that she was numb to the pain or that the old man didn't exert that force.

"You shouldn't let Thomas and Landwin be so tit-for-tat. Landwin is a fool, but the prestige of the ministers is a heavy blow to your prestige. Strictly scolding them or giving symbolic punishment is the right way. Especially Thomas, he shouldn't stimulate Landwin like this. He would make the whole situation worse when he stirs others' scars like this."

"Scar?" Irina asked at a loss.

"Landwin's grandfather was tried in the court of honor for fleeing on the battlefield and was stripped of the title of duke. This is why Landwin was so sensitive to this topic!" The old man tugged on Irina's leg with a stick, which made her almost shed tears. "I tell you to read "The Biography of the Noble" carefully!" He roared angrily.

"That book... is too thick..." she explained softly, in return for another whip.

"No reason is not a reason! Just like any failure, someone must be responsible for it! Never underestimate that book. You don't want a nobleman who was unintentionally humiliated by you to hold grudges and prepare for revenge from now on! How many powerful kingdoms have been overturned under betrayal!"

The old man in black robe calmed down. "No one is perfect, so is Thomas..."

...

"He is actually giving me a court of honor! He actually humiliated me in front of the princess like this! If everyone hadn't been in the imperial meeting, no one could carry weapons, I would immediately draw out my sword and ask him for a duel! I would rather die than accept such an insult!"

Landwin roared like an angry wild boar, paced back and forth in his private room. This was the private room he obtained as a "temporary" foreign minister. Although this room was in the palace, the right to use belonged to him. In other words, the right to use belonged to the person named "foreign minister". All those who were qualified to attend the imperial meeting had a room completely belonged to them in the palace.

"Sir, you don't need to be angry at all." Ryan tried his best to keep himself smiling.
Chapter completed!