Pirate Kingship-Chapter 712 - 475: Me, the Double Dealer, Send Money! (Part 2)

The result was undoubtedly unsuccessful.

Richard secretly tried it himself and also failed.

The two brothers couldn't help but, like Byron at the beginning, unanimously suspect whether the "Sword of Selection" could only be pulled out by an undisputed ruler of the entire realm, rather than the person who drew the sword having the qualifications to become king.

Perhaps only with sufficiently pure, concentrated power could that "Sword in the Stone" be pulled out.

This is one of the main reasons why they must kill all the Lancasters.

The Lancasters still retained their "right to claim the throne," representing legitimacy!

Because the social hierarchy in the Old Continent nations is severely solidified, society is stagnant, and the noble families, organizations, and powers in each country can often exist for hundreds or even thousands of years.

No country has ever been founded by overthrowing everything through a peasant revolt.

As a result, the "Mandate of Heaven," representing legitimate rule, has been preserved for a long time, with a strong atmosphere of "orthodoxy from time immemorial." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The so-called "claim right" is actually legitimacy; the one with greater influence and more in line with the law is the "strong claim," while the one with lesser influence and not quite in line with the law is the "weak claim."

Simultaneously, since the Silver Era, there has never been a strong centralized empire in the entire Old Continent that could suppress the Church. Royal families have long been accustomed to "feudal lord-style royal iron," or "limited royal power."

Therefore, even "royal power," symbolizing the highest secular authority, must be recognized by a large number of long-existing nobles and various organizations.

Only by having the nobles and gentry, who exist as the ruling class, submit to you can you firmly sit on the throne.

If a vassal's claim right is too weak and lacks strength, the crown is sure to be precarious.

The York Family, now facing wave after wave of challengers, is the most typical negative example.

Whether it is the Kingmaker Warwick or the Mad Hunt Byron Lancaster, they are challengers to their claim to the throne's legitimacy.

However, the former's confidence comes from strength, while the latter's confidence lies in the "strong claim right."

Of course, things are not so absolute.

Since the law is ingrained in people's hearts, if someone's strength is strong enough to kill all the original ruling class, it doesn't matter whether you have a "strong claim right" or a "weak claim right", and you don't need anyone to acknowledge you.

Just like the founding emperors of the Eastern world who "trampled on the bones of nobles on Heavenly Street."

Who cares about the claim right from time immemorial? The handle of the knife in my hand is the claim right!

The emperor's turn has come to my house this year; the only standard for the "Five Virtues replacing one another" is to be full of "Martial Virtue" to call oneself king.

Obtaining the Imperial Jade Seal is to be endowed with the Mandate of Heaven. Even if it's held for just one day, history is obliged to write down an "ascension."

Since the York Family cannot kill off other powers, its "weak claim right" in legal terms will always be suppressed by Lancaster's "strong claim right."

An emasculated throne by the "Magna Carta," half divided by the Kingmaker Warwick, now the Lancasters come out to compete; the day of drawing the Sword in the Stone seems distant. Who wouldn't be furious?

Although the Devil Duke Richard is also lusting after the royal power, at least for now, his interests align with Edward IV.

Suppressing his hatred for the Mad Hunt, he stepped forward to offer advice:

"Your Majesty, the war to subdue the rebellion of the Earl's Party has begun. We are overwhelmed domestically and it is difficult to muster strength to deal with that Lancaster.

Although intelligence personnel have not figured out why the Son of the Devil appeared in Pirate City.

But the primary goal now is to kill him. We cannot allow this Lancaster the opportunity to threaten our overseas interests, nor can we allow him to gradually grow stronger."

Edward IV was decisive enough, immediately adopting Richard's suggestion and coldly shouted:

"Navy Department!"

A great noble clad in a navy uniform stepped forward, saluting to receive orders.

"Your Majesty."

"Effective immediately, promote the Governor of the Colonies, Count of Torrentfort Byron Tudor to Vice Admiral, to take full command of the Seventh Fleet.

Grant him the authority to mobilize all resources and manpower within the colonies."

He paused here.

The emperor knows, as even a fool knows, that soldiers can't march on empty stomachs.

Having just ordered the colonies to increase taxes to supplement military funds, he now faces two options:

Option one: Allow the enigmatic Mad Hunt to wreak havoc in the colonies, sever trade routes, even breach cities, and cut off the Royalist Party's financial resources.

Option two: Suspend the extraction from the colonies, maintain the stability of this rear fully under his (Great Loyalist Byron's) control. As long as he gets through the crisis, everything will still be his.

No matter how muddle-headed Edward IV might be, he can tell the difference between a meal today and a meal forever.

Originally intending to let the colonists suffer a bit, it seems now he has to bear the burden himself first.

No more than taking a little longer to defeat the Earl's Party, suffering greater losses, and hurting his personal treasury more, but he believes that in the end victory will still belong to him.

Thinking of this, Edward IV, although in profound pain, still ordered:

"Reduce colonial tax collection by thirty percent according to last year's standards, and halve the amount submitted to the central government.

The remaining half is at Governor Tudor's full disposal.

I want to prove to the people that we, the White Rose, are stronger than the Red Rose!

The White Rose has arrived, and good days are here!

This order is effective immediately and remains valid until the moment Byron Lancaster meets his end."

In other words, when the time comes to be at ease, he will immediately retract it, and with interest recoup everything lost.

On the opposing battleground of the Earl's Party, the Kingmaker Warwick received the news only slightly later than Edward IV.

But his reaction was completely opposite to Edward IV's.

"The Mad Hunt? Lancaster? Absolutely wonderful!"

He almost jumped for joy while clutching the letter.

The Earl's Party's interest in the colonies is relatively minor; the Mad Hunt can't impact him for now.

Moreover, the threat has dropped significantly after a major part of the wings were cut, lacking the strength to counterattack domestically.

Even stepping back, the primary target would be the White Rose York Family, which could considerably relieve the pressure of the Earl's Party fighting two forces.

Pacing back and forth, a bright light flashed in his eyes:

"Someone, send a gesture of goodwill to the Mad Hunt in the name of the Warwick Family.

Allocate him a rebel fund and give him the preserved Extraordinary Warship: The Fearless, to help him seize the Bantaan Archipelago and take down that troublesome Sea Hunter."

Just like how a warship name like The Golden Deer can be freely transferred.

Many ancient warship names are blessed by the Silver Code and the people's expectations, possessing special powers.

For example, the Hightins Navy's Indefatigable, Fearless...have been rebuilt countless times, yet always bearing the same name (Chapter 37).

And each reconstruction grows stronger.

As long as you hold the old ship's plaque and conduct the corresponding ceremony, you can bestow the power contained in the name to a new ship.

"One miracle warship might not mean much to me, but for the currently destitute Lancaster, it is immensely precious.

If I bear some suffering myself now, someday it might allow me to prosper through this potential stock."

A seasoned politician like him never puts all eggs in one basket; investing in Byron is just another backup plan.

Once Byron gains his support, there is a one percent possibility that Byron might ascend the throne, from which the title of the Kingmaker could carve out a significant piece of flesh from the "new king."

Therefore, Byron doesn't even need to say a single word of "I'm a traitor, fund me!"

Edward IV immediately fully supports Sea Hunter Byron Tudor, and Warwick supports Mad Hunt Byron Lancaster, sparing money from their own budget to fund "them" in warfare.

Truly two... great benefactors! Byron was moved to tears!