Chapter 399: Chapter 252: Tripartite Division
"Yes, my lord. I’ve finished writing the letter, but I still don’t understand your intentions."
"Do you really think you can get the Kingdom to confirm your position as Duke with just a single letter?" Ottis asked curiously.
Fang Zhen chuckled.
He said, "Given the current situation, as long as I accurately describe the Kingdom’s true state of affairs, someone will see the bigger picture and grant me the position of Duke. It’s a guaranteed outcome, and a necessary course of action."
Hearing Fang Zhen’s words, everyone looked bewildered.
Mansa looked skeptical as well.
Although Fang Zhen had constantly proven himself, his ambitions were on another level. In the eyes of Mansa and his other subordinates, what he proposed seemed incredible—impossible, even.
So, even though Mansa and the others knew Fang Zhen was capable of working miracles, they still found his plans difficult to accept. ’How could he possibly accomplish something so monumental with such ease?’
"My lord, could you explain your thoughts and reasoning? I wish to learn from you," Viscount Keton said at that moment.
Fang Zhen glanced at Keton.
Keton was a very ambitious man. His ambition wasn’t merely a desire for power and status; it was also a deep-seated thirst for knowledge.
Clearly, the Viscount truly wanted to learn something from Fang Zhen.
Fang Zhen studied Keton for a moment before turning to his top subordinates. "Do you know what the most stable type of structure is?" he asked.
They all shook their heads.
But Matthew, as if something had just clicked, blurted out, "A triangle. Just like the emblem of the Tade Church."
Fang Zhen glanced at Matthew.
Matthew had, after all, studied theology, mathematics, and geometry. In this regard, his knowledge surpassed everyone else’s.
Fang Zhen nodded. "The most stable structure is indeed a triangle. And right now, my goal is to forge a political and military triangle within the Zambein Kingdom."
Fang Zhen paused for a moment, then spoke into their confused silence. "We’re all clear on the current situation. Duke Sith is in a standoff with the Kingdom Army, and both sides are at a stalemate. At the same time, we have, at least on the surface, united the Balenzuo and Tarrenno Duchies. That makes us the third power."
"The King may have a mental illness, but from your descriptions, he still possesses basic judgment. He knows how to weigh risks and rewards."
"Currently, my sphere of influence borders Duke Sith’s territory, but it’s relatively far from the Kingdom’s main territories. While we share a small border, the roads are treacherous, and the bordering region is remote and narrow."
"If I fail to consolidate these two duchies, the entire region of Balenzuo and Tarrenno will descend into chaos. Duke Sith would then easily conquer it. Do you think the King wants that to happen?"
After hearing Fang Zhen’s explanation, Keton’s eyes suddenly lit up as if in understanding.
"Oh, I understand, my lord."
"You’re saying that if the forces of the Tarrenno and Balenzuo Duchies aren’t unified, they can’t effectively check Duke Sith."
"As it stands, Duke Sith could either march straight for the Royal Capital or turn back to conquer these two duchies. And since the King’s Army doesn’t directly border this region, if Duke Sith were allowed to absorb and integrate the former territories of Tarrenno and Balenzuo, his power would increase dramatically."
"At that point, the King’s Army would find itself at a disadvantage, and the Royal Capital itself would be in danger of falling."
"Therefore, from a purely strategic standpoint, the King needs a single ruler for the Tarrenno and Balenzuo Duchies—someone who can help the King’s Army pin down Duke Sith."
"And right now, it seems only you have the credentials—and the right bloodline—to assume the position and responsibilities of this new ruler, this new Duke."
"So, as long as the King is lucid, it’s highly likely he will acknowledge your position."
Fang Zhen nodded slightly.
As expected of a well-read nobleman, Viscount Keton possessed considerable political acumen. He understood the situation with just a hint.
Viscount Keton was one of the few nobles of his time who could see the bigger picture.
And what Keton had just described was indeed the true state of affairs in the Kingdom.
Fang Zhen had never pinned his hopes on winning the King’s favor, nor did he believe the King would honor some old promise to let a descendant of the Augustus Clan inherit the title of Duke.
Words like that were like promises made in business—you listened, and then you forgot them. Only a fool would take them seriously.
’They’ve run the Kingdom for so many years; why would they just hand over a territory and grant you a dukedom?’
The reason Fang Zhen believed the King would almost certainly acknowledge his position as Duke was based on the most reliable method of all: mutual interest and leverage.
That was why the letter Fang Zhen had Ottis draft did more than just explain his identity. Its primary purpose was to lay out the strategic reality. While expressing his respect for the King, he subtly hinted that he could help the King’s Army tie down Duke Sith, ensuring the already defensive Kingdom Army wouldn’t be saddled with an even greater burden.
Fang Zhen wasn’t the least bit worried about the King’s reaction.
It was actually a very simple matter. Although he didn’t yet possess official legitimacy, he already had de facto control over the two duchies and their armies.
