Chapter 858

Promoted to the Holy Soul Wizard, entered the Supreme Council, and canonized the Duke to obtain the territory.

This process is a step-by-step process. Ren has completed the first two steps. Unless he declares to voluntarily renounce the duke title and territory, he can apply to the Supreme Council at any time within one year to set aside a territory within the empire. .

The duchy cannot be defined arbitrarily, and there are several restrictions.

First of all, the area cannot exceed half a province, and can include several cities, but important cities of the empire like Northriel and Shenzhen-Hong Kong City cannot be selected.

Secondly, the territory must be ownerless and cannot conflict with existing nobles.

Finally, the total population of duchies cannot exceed 10 million when demarcated.

These three conditions determined that the duchy could not choose the most prosperous area of ​​the empire. It was either a border area or a city with a relatively backward economy and population.

In addition to this, there is another legal provision: the dukedom cannot be hereditary.

The holy soul wizard himself died, and the territory was returned to the empire. In the history of the empire, three holy soul wizards died or disappeared, and the duke title and territory were cancelled.

Rennes wants the territory and does not need to be voted by the Supreme Council.

However, the location and size of the territory should be discussed by the holy soul wizards, and then reported to the goddess of magic, and after her approval, a grand canonization ceremony will be held.

Marius handed over the distribution map of the mines on the plateau to Rennes, and left by himself.

Ren looked at the map and thought about it.

The Sain Plateau is not the territory of the empire, and he cannot directly classify it as a territory, but it is also in this situation that it is possible for him to take the entire plateau into his pocket. Otherwise, the area and population of the plateau far exceeded the limit of the duchy.

The entire plateau is equivalent to twenty imperial provinces!

Even in the eyes of the imperial people, the plateau has little value, but such a large territory will definitely be criticized, and the Nesser faction and the Balance faction will also oppose it.

Although it is useless to object, it is not appropriate to provoke them too much now.

So a roundabout strategy is required.

Ryan soon had an idea, inspired by his enemy, the Duke of Redstone.

The duchy of Kelstone is the city of Urg and its surrounding areas. The area meets the requirements. However, this territory is located in the center of the northern prairie, guarding the main traffic routes. It has also become the largest city on the prairie, and its influence radiates the entire prairie.

After decades of operation, Kelstone essentially ruled the northern prairie, controlling an area more than ten times larger than the duchy.

This set can be learned!

Ren's eyes searched on the map, and after thinking for a long time, his finger lightly landed on a position on the map, which was here.

two days later.

After more than half a month, the Supreme Council was convened again, and the projections of the holy soul wizards entered the Supreme Palace, sitting on both sides of the long bronze table.

"Anxi, what's the matter this time?" Duke Gray Eagle asked impatiently.

The Modu faction dominates the Supreme Council. He is still angry and is very dissatisfied with the status quo. He decides to study the Hess magic circle and devote all his energy to it. He no longer cares about the affairs of the Supreme Council and holds such frequent meetings Let his anger come up again.

Kelstone was also resistant to the meeting.

The holy soul wizards of the Nether faction and the balance faction are now wary of every move of the Modu faction.

Anse Wodos said indifferently: "There is nothing important. I just ask you to discuss Rennes' title of duke and delineate the territory."

All eyes turned to Ren.

Two or three of the holy soul wizards sitting opposite the long bronze table suddenly changed their expressions slightly, and Tim Kenan said in a deep voice: "Ren, you already own the Earl of Glamorgan, and there is also a duchy in Congatro , and Gotham in the New World, and now we need a duchy, isn’t it too greedy?”

"No one thinks too much territory." Ren smiled disapprovingly.

These words won the approval of the Duke of Silver Star, his face was full of envy.

But not every holy soul wizard covets the territory. The Duke of Purple Flame, the Prophet Medifer and Master Huo Huai have no interest in the territory.

Anse Wodos said: "The holy soul wizards of the Supreme Council are eligible to be granted the territory. This is the rule set by the goddess, and Renn has not renounced it. Gray Eagle, Renn wants a duchy, you should have no reason to object Bar?"

Tim Kennan was distracted for a moment, but he couldn't argue.

There was a few seconds of silence in the Supreme Palace.

The great sage Congerald seldom spoke, and asked with great interest: "Ren, which place are you going to choose as your territory?"

"Osian Province." Ren replied softly.

The administrative division map of the empire appeared in the minds of the holy soul wizards. The province of Osian was located on the border of the western border, and it was one of the smallest and poorest provinces in the empire.

Two-thirds of the territory of this province is part of the Sain Plateau, and there are only five cities in total, all crowded in the eastern region. This area only accounts for one-third of the whole province. It is located at the foot of the plateau, and the terrain is relatively flat. The largest "Qingtan City" is the capital of the province, with a permanent population of just over 600,000. It is the capital with the worst development in the empire .

The combined population of the entire Osian province is only about five million.

Nothing else is worth mentioning.

The only impressive thing in the province is "Tianchi Lake". It is the largest inland lake in the world, with an area of ​​tens of thousands of square miles and a high altitude. Several of the largest rivers in the empire flow through Tianchi Lake, so it is called Tianchi Lake. For the Imperial Water Tower.

Ren's choice was beyond the expectations of the holy soul wizards.

The Duke of Silver Star was surprised: "Ren, why did you choose Osian Province? This place is located inland, far away from the coast, and has almost no development potential."

"Yeah..." The Storm Queen also nodded.

"Isn't the original intention of our conferment of the duchy to support the backward areas and allow all the people of the empire to develop in a balanced manner?" Ren said righteously: "As a consul, I shoulder the responsibility of governing the empire, so I naturally have to set an example. "

"It is precisely because of the many shortcomings of Osian Province that I choose it as my territory."

"What do you guys think?"

Ren's last question was rhetorical, and his eyes swept over the holy soul wizards, which immediately made several people who originally questioned Ren's choice feel a little embarrassed.

"Is it because of the Sain Plateau?" Kelstone suddenly said.

He was completely unmoved by Ren's words, and his face was calm, as if he had already seen through Ren's intentions.

The holy soul wizards immediately remembered that the origin of the Ultramarines under Rennes was no longer a secret. They came from the barbarians of Macragge on the Thane Plateau.

Since the Ultramarines became famous, many people have secretly sent people to Astarte to spy on the situation of the Macragge tribe, but they found that Astarte is heavily guarded and guarded by Ultramarines at all times, even if the legendary infiltrated Astarte Tate couldn't get out alive either.

Observing from a distance outside the city, they couldn't find any useful clues.

Ren squinted at Kelstone, and said contemptuously: "Don't use your small eyes to speculate on my big picture. Who doesn't know the barrenness of the Sain Plateau, and it must not compare to the northern prairie. What can I plot on the plateau? ?”

This sarcasm made Kelstone's face darken.

However, he mentioned that the Sain Plateau reminded the holy soul wizards that Rennes must have some plans, but he just didn't know it for the time being.

Judging from past experience, Rennes has never been aimless, and must have concealed some key information.

Gu "If you don't explain your motive clearly, I'm opposed to making Osian Province your duchy." Kelstone said in a deep voice.

Ren sneered.

"As early as a few years ago, I heard that the Duke of Redstone is the owner of the northern prairie." He suddenly changed the subject, "Those who don't know think that the entire prairie is the territory of the Duke of Redstone. Many cities and tribes have to pay taxes to you."

"I couldn't control it before, but now I'm the consul."

Ren said in a natural tone: "There is a loophole in the empire's tax system. I have the responsibility to check for the gap and make up for it. I am going to let the tax department go to the grassland to investigate the situation."

"you……"

Kelstone stood up abruptly, glaring at Ren.

The northern prairie provided him with a steady stream of benefits. The prosperity and prosperity of Pallas Floating City depended on the blood transfusion of the entire prairie.

If Ren cut off this source, it would be a fatal blow to Urga City and Pallas Floating City.

"The northern prairies are not all imperial territory," Kelstone argued.

"Nor is the Sain Plateau." Ren responded immediately.

The territory of the empire is very large. Except for the coastline in the east, there is no clear border between the west and the north. The boundary between the Sain Plateau and the northern prairie and the empire is very vague, which can only be regarded as the sphere of influence.

Kelstone took advantage of this loophole, ruling the northern steppes and implementing his own tax system.

Now Ryan is ready to do the same.

Kelstone was silent for a few seconds, and finally sat down without saying a word. His posture was subdued, and the battle with Rennes was defeated again.

But the dispute between Rennes and Kelstone also convinced the holy soul wizards that he chose the Osian province as his territory to plot the Sain Plateau.

Everyone was very curious, what did Ryan like in the plateau?

resource? population?

Tim Kenan stared at Ryan. He was really afraid of being calculated by Ryan, and asked directly: "Ren, you'd better explain your motive clearly, and don't use those empty words to perfuse us."

"I am going to unify the Sain Plateau and merge it into the empire's territory." Ren replied frankly.

The holy soul wizards looked at each other.

What are the benefits of unifying the plateau to the empire?

If the imperial army is dispatched just to make the empire map bigger, paying high military expenses and costs, then the gain outweighs the loss.

Ren had already anticipated the thoughts of the Holy Soul Wizard, and continued: "I am not going to send out the Imperial Legion, nor will I ask for financial appropriation. I only send the Extreme Warfare and the Knights of the Holy Gun in my own name to conquer the world step by step. The Sain Plateau may take several years. After success, the Sain Plateau will become part of the empire's territory."

"What good does it do you?" The Duke of Silver Star was a little puzzled.

Ren said calmly: "In the eyes of the people of the empire, expanding the territory is the best achievement. After unifying the plateau, I will try to develop some resources to drive the development of the western part of the empire."

The holy soul wizards suddenly realized.

Although they still had some suspicions that Ren had other plans, it made sense.

Since Renn is responsible for the profit and loss of the unified plateau, and there is no loss to the empire, then it doesn't matter.

Anxi Wodas took the words and said: "The area of ​​Osian Province is relatively small, only about half of other imperial provinces, and the population is only over five million, all of which meet the conditions of a duchy. Therefore, I suggest The entire Osian province is designated as the territory of Rennes, what do you think?"

"Yes." The Duke of Silver Star was the first to agree.

"I agree!"

Several members of the Modus faction, including Master Oroin and the Queen of Storms, naturally had no objection.

The Holy Soul Wizards of the other two factions were still thinking, Tim Kenan reluctantly nodded in agreement, Kelstone didn't say a word, and it was useless for the others to object.

"Then it's decided."

Anse Wodos stood up, turned to the statue of the goddess of magic in the Supreme Palace, and said loudly: "Great lady, the Supreme Council implores Ren Augustus to be made Duke and the province of Osian to be designated as a duchy. , Ma'am please approve."

The Duke of the Empire can only be canonized by the Goddess of Magic.

In the next second, the tall idol trembled slightly, and magical radiance shot out from its eyes.

An ethereal voice sounded in the minds of the holy soul wizards: "Ren Augustus, I declare you canonized as the 'Duke of the Golden Emblem', taking Osian Province as the territory, congratulations."

"Thank you ma'am!"

Ren stood up and saluted the statue solemnly, but he was thinking in his heart that it was too casual for the goddess to confer the title of duke.

The dukes of the Supreme Council, Gray Eagle, Redstone, Silver Star, Purple Flame, Black Robe, and Blue Oak, were all named after their color and something. Although they fit the logo of the Holy Soul Wizards, it sounds It always feels a bit off.

The title of Duke of the Golden Emblem obviously originated from the coat of arms of the Augustus family.

The golden sign of the Warhammer and Crescent Cross!

Renn regretted it a little. If he had known it earlier, he would have communicated with the goddess in advance. He would think of a title and tell him about it, and then canonize it. It sounds better than "Duke of the Golden Emblem".

never mind.

Anyway, the duke title is only temporary, and it will not be used frequently, and it will have to be changed sooner or later.

After announcing the canonized title, the majestic aura of the goddess of magic quickly disappeared, and the statue returned to calm.

"There is another Duke in the empire. Congratulations, Ren." Dean Sabra congratulated softly.

The other holy soul wizards also congratulated a few words.

Ren, on the other hand, seemed very calm. He didn't cry at all when Dean Sabra was canonized, as if it was just an insignificant matter.

Anse Wodoss asked: "Ren, how will your canonization ceremony be held?"

"Teacher, I have just held an inauguration ceremony not long after I became a consul. It is not appropriate to hold a large-scale canonization ceremony." Ren had thought about it a long time ago and replied: "I plan to hold a simple press conference in the Dutch Palace to inform the outside world Just make the announcement."

"That's fine." Anse Wodos nodded.

The projections in the Supreme Palace dissipated one after another.

Not long after the meeting ended, news spread that the consul was conferred the title of "Duke of the Golden Emblem" by the goddess, and cabinet ministers came to Rennes' office to congratulate him one after another. The next day, dozens of newspapers in the empire were invited to the Lotus Palace to attend a press conference and officially announce the news.

No one in the empire was too surprised. People discussed it a few times, and stopped talking about it after envy.

There was only one place where the people responded most enthusiastically, and that was Osian Province. People were all eagerly looking forward to the arrival of their lord, the Imperial Consul.

A few days later, Qingtan City, the capital of Osian Province, finally ushered in the Duke of Jin Hui!