Chapter 347: conversation
Between the blue sea and the blue sky, a white sailboat is galloping downwind. Its speed is astonishingly fast, constantly surpassing one merchant ship after another, just like the difference between a professional athlete and an ordinary fitness person on the track and field.
On the bow of the white sailboat, the panda stands like a statue, staring into the distance.
There is only a white line where the sea and the sky are connected, and there is no problem in sight.
"This period of time is almost the prime time for the archipelago route." First mate Fangte came to him and said with a smile, "There will be fewer storms, and the sea breeze and ocean currents are all in the direction of the archipelago. As long as the captain can control the ship skillfully, most of them can reach the archipelago area smoothly.
"Only if you don't meet pirates," said a sailor.
"The prime time for the archipelago route is also the prime time for pirates." The first officer sighed, "This is impossible, and everyone is not stupid."
"Fortunately, we don't have to worry about pirates." He added, "Clippers like us are not that big, and few pirates will attack us. Even if they want to make trouble, most of them can't catch up with us."
"What if you get caught up?" Panda asked.
"Then we can only fight," the first mate replied. "We can't pin our hopes on pirates who only rob money and do not kill people, let alone a fast ship like the 'Harp Mermaid', which is exactly what pirates like. No What pirates would let go of such a ship, even if there is no cargo on board, the ship itself is their target."
"Fortunately, such a thing has never happened." The sailor who spoke earlier said with a smile.
"It's best not to happen in the future." The first officer said, "I still want to work steadily until I am fifty years old, and then retire, buy a small manor, and retire in peace."
"This plan is not easy to implement. The captain and the Harp Mermaid are reliable, but the Federation is not so reliable." An older sailor came over and sighed, "I heard people say that the Norma line of defense is about to fail. Stay... at that time, the entire federation may be completely swallowed by Thrace."
"That doesn't prevent me from buying a manor to retire." The first mate said nonchalantly, "Is there a difference between being a Morai or being a Thracian, for those of us who seek a living at sea?"
"Haha, you're right."
"Yeah, even if they were replaced by Thrace, they would still do business, and we would also save for retirement."
The sailors laughed lightly, but there was always a worry in their eyes that was difficult to brush away.
Panda noticed their hidden concerns and shook his head secretly.
Perhaps the changes in the country did not affect the maritime business of the Harp Mermaid, but in the hearts of these men at sea, there was always a simple patriotic feeling in their hearts. Seeing that the country is in danger, but there is nothing they can do, they can only convince themselves that "it has nothing to do with me", and of course they will not feel good in their hearts.
If they were selfish and indifferent, they probably wouldn't be so sad.
Panda stood at the bow for a while, then returned to the cabin, lay on the bed, and learned about the current Norma line of defense through the chat channel.
The situation on the Norma line of defense has been getting worse and worse, and most of the copper coin line has been broken through. If it wasn’t for the Duke of Norma who sent Yunero and others to harass the Thracian army, it greatly hindered the Thracian’s defense. Logistics, I am afraid that now the entire Norma defense line has fallen into the hands of the Thracians.
The nobles in the Norma area have evacuated seventy-eighty-eight important assets, and the rest are some that cannot be transported away, such as land and houses. Most of them also left, leaving only the steward to guard the castle and manor, and by the way negotiate the terms of compromise with the Thracians.
The migration of civilians is still in progress, but so far, no civilians are willing to go to Tara Khan Land - after all, it is too far, and I don't know how many risks there will be along the way. And as residents of prosperous areas, if it is not a last resort, they do not want to live in poor and backward areas.
How big is the gap between Norma and Tara Khan? In terms of the earth, Norma is roughly equivalent to a second-tier city with an airplane and subway, a 24-hour convenience store at the gate of the community, express delivery of meals to the door, and a mobile phone to complete various payments when going out; Tara Khan is equivalent to just completing road traffic, not to mention trains, not even highways, and poor and backward areas that rely on long-distance buses to go out.
Unless there is really no choice, the Norma people are absolutely reluctant to go to Tara Khan to live.
In this situation, Anthony and others can't do anything about it. People go to high places and water flows to low places. Who would give up a good life and go to a poor rural area to live in poverty and happiness? If there are such people, they will all wonder, is this guy a little stupid?
According to their estimates, it would probably take until the Thracian army launched compulsory expropriation in the Norma area and had serious conflicts with the residents of Norma before anyone had nowhere to go to Tara Khan.
But Panda didn't know that at this time, a discussion was going on in the Earl's Palace in Tarakhan City.
"I think it's better to prevent their 'landslide' plan as much as possible."
"This plan is actually good for us."
"I know, it's just... a lot of people will die."
"Death isn't a problem, right? A war always kills people."
"You can die a little less, it's better than dying more..."
"Long pain is worse than short pain. Through this incident, the commoners who have illusions and are unwilling to resist will be able to recognize the reality. From the perspective of the general trend, it is actually beneficial to Mo Lai."
"I understand the truth, but I still feel... unbearable."
"The plan was not proposed by us, and we did not contribute to it. What can't you bear?"
"We can obviously stop..."
"We can't stop! What right do we have to stop others? No!"
"Maybe you're right..."
"You think too much, but these thoughts are actually meaningless at all, just a waste of your energy. It is enough for us to do our own things well. As for what happens to others, we have no control or ability to control it. ."
"...Maybe I can manage it."
"If you want to control me, I would rather find a way to control the northern border and control the forest barbarians... Since Jian Shisan and the others went to the forest, the barbarians are slowly being unified by them. Wait until the group of scattered barbarians are unified into a whole. , they must have their own demands...for example, revenge or something. This is what I am most worried about now. As for Thrace and Morai... As long as Morai can hold Thrace for a while longer, Whether I can attract immigrants or not, I don't really care."
"That's not what you told everyone."
"I can't say 'I'm very worried about Jian Shisan and the others pushing the barbarians to progress, and then they will fight with Tarakhan'... Since the tiger guy made trouble last time, many people have some opinions on us, can we not stimulate Everyone, it’s better not to stimulate everyone as much as possible.”
"Muffled and made a fortune?"
"Of course it's a fall roar, but it may not be possible!" Earl Tarahan took a sip of the tea cup and took a sip of the medicinal tea that was so bitter that it made fingers tingle without any sugar or spices, his face was heavy, "This is It is our cause, and others have no obligation and will not come to understand our thoughts, only us to think more, prepare more, and plan more.”
His chief aide, the scholar from the royal capital, sighed softly, looking at the map of Tara Khan on the wall, silent.
After a long time, the scholar whispered: "I used to think that running a country is an easy task, as long as the work is delegated."
"I used to think so too," said the earl. "If I could turn back time, I would rather be a street liar than this earl."
He took another sip of tea: "But... time can't be turned back, we pretended to be forced, and we had to finish it with tears in our eyes. It's beautiful, right?"
"Well, that's right."