Chapter 235: 124 Covenant, New Crew Member [Requesting Votes and Subscriptions] Chapter 235: 124 Covenant, New Crew Member [Requesting Votes and Subscriptions] Yang Ming, who was serving a sentence, was strolling around the resplendent Imperial Palace with his hands behind his back.
Everywhere he passed, there stood at attention and saluted officers and soldiers of the Royal Guard Army, as well as maids in the palace who couldn’t help but sneak glances.
In front of the Emperor’s bedchamber, the number of Mechanical Guards had doubled.
What the Old Emperor didn’t know was that these Mechanical Guards had very outdated systems;
it was only after Yang Ming had Lyu infiltrate and control these Mechanical Guards, applying some patches, that they successfully avoided being exploited by other factions.
–He worried himself to death for the highest person in the land.
“Viscount, please come in.”
A maid pushed open the bedchamber door with some effort. From a distance, Yang Ming could see the Old Emperor reclining on the throne with a somewhat sullen expression.
This Intelligent Machine seemed to have accumulated a lot of negative emotions again.
Images of Princess Dana being thrown onto the bed by the Old Emperor flashed in Yang Ming’s mind.
That thing really broke the ethical bottom line of normal humans.
“Your Majesty,” Yang Ming saluted the Old Emperor.
“They actually sentenced you,” the Old Emperor said coldly, “just because you ordered to fire, crushed the New Federation’s fleet, and they sentenced you!”
Yang Ming thought, This damn thing happened half a month ago!
“Your Majesty,” Yang Ming said softly, “This matter actually complied with military procedures.”
“Don’t you resent them?” The Old Emperor’s gaze was somewhat sharp.
Yang Ming smiled calmly, “The worst outcome I considered at the moment I ordered the fire was actually being executed by firing squad. Disobeying orders on the battlefield and initiating an attack that passively dragged my fleet into war are crimes that deserved being executed several times over.”
“Is that so?” The Old Emperor slightly frowned, seeming not to have received the result he wanted.
Yang Ming changed his tone, “If it weren’t for my background as having been dispatched from the Royal Guard Army and your deterrence, it definitely wouldn’t have been as simple as six months of confinement.”
The Old Emperor’s breathing instantly became smoother.
He stood barefoot, and his loose robe swayed slightly.
It was the familiar chat mode again. The Old Emperor walked and talked with Yang Ming about topics ranging from literature to philosophy, from the stars to human nature. Only after half an hour did he get to the main point.
“I will pardon you,” the Old Emperor said gently, “Your courage and loyalty to the royal family reassure me. With your assistance to Edwan, regaining control over the military is just around the corner.”
Yang Ming immediately said,
“Your Majesty, I am currently loyal to you. Edwan is only a prince after all, and he respects and obeys you.
“Also, please reconsider the pardon. Otherwise, I will bear even greater pressure in the military; those generals might be eager to assassinate me in secret.
“They have already overstepped their bounds.”
“Indeed,” the Old Emperor narrowed his eyes, “The Minister of Defense was poisoned, and the First Fleet nearly went out of control, bypassing the royal family and directly contacting the Sherman Imperial Military. They have long ceased to regard the royal family.”
Yang Ming sighed, “These are the ailments accumulated over the past few decades, and it’s very difficult to restore things.”
“Viscount Yang Ming, I actually have high hopes for you,” the Old Emperor said warmly, “The future belongs to you and Edwan. I will use the royal family’s resources to cultivate you. I’ve heard that you now have considerable prestige among the young faction in the military.”
“It’s because I ordered to fire when everyone was feeling very stifled at the time.”
“Your Majesty, you can actually trust this army. The vast majority of soldiers and junior officers have the ideological awareness to do their duty for the country.
“When the New Federation’s fleet attacked civilians, I could feel that the atmosphere within the entire Star Patrol Ship became oppressive, and everyone was itching to fight the New Federation’s Invincible Fleet.
“In fact, before giving the order to fire, I had the officers and soldiers on the Emig Star Patrol Ship take a vote. Ninety percent chose to fight, five percent made no choice, and only five percent were officers afraid of taking responsibility.”
The Old Emperor nodded slowly, then suddenly asked, “Then, how did the soldiers react when the New Federation attacked the Imperial Palace?”
Yang Ming said softly, and the Old Emperor frowned deeply.
A hint of sharpness flashed in Yang Ming’s eyes as he spoke unhurriedly,
“Perhaps to Your Majesty, imperial power is supreme, but in the eyes of the people, Luofeng imperial power is just a puppet of the Sherman Empire; they do not fear imperial authority but the generals who have control over the fleets.
“In an imperial system, power is exerted from the top down. However, when the people perceive that the royal family lacks the ability to lead them, such power will have nowhere to be distributed.
“The same goes for the military; the royal family can only control these tens of thousands of Guard Army…”
The Old Emperor suddenly roared in a low voice, his eyes seeming to emit flames: “It is imperial power that shaped this nation!”
“Your Majesty,” Yang Ming slightly frowned, “It is the people who shaped this nation.”
“Without the Moon Clan’s expansion, where would Luofeng have come from?”
“Before the founding Emperor of the Luofeng Empire–the former Imperial Duke of the Sherman Empire–led a private fleet to occupy these Administrative Stars, there were other regimes here.”
Yang Ming spoke unhurriedly,
“Before demanding loyalty from the subjects, shouldn’t the royal family reflect on what protection it can bring to this nation?
“Your Majesty, the biggest problem in this country right now is the royal family.
“If the royal family were strong enough to lead the three armies, the people would naturally salute you; while now, if your convoy leaves the Imperial Palace, the people bow their heads only due to the pressure from the Guard Army.