Chapter 1361: Chapter 85: Rebuilding the Nation (13)_3

They contentedly feast on the Legion’s leftovers, willingly relegating themselves to the status of second-class citizens. Once, when I challenged the New Reclamation Legion, they were as silent as cicadas in winter. And now, they’ve set their sights on you, this thoroughbred, intending to place their bets on you, aspiring to leap to first-class status…”

Kai Morland glared: “That’s why I am filled with rage towards them! That’s also why I am filled with rage towards the New Reclamation Legion!”

Winters listened to Kai Morland’s words, scrutinizing every subtle gesture of the latter, assessing whether Kai Morland was improvising or revealing his true feelings.

Winters was not in a hurry to make a judgment. He calmly told Kai Morland: “But the New Reclamation Legion is, in fact, no longer in existence.”

“But the army that treats the country as private property has not disappeared! Indeed, because of your victory, the Newly Reclaimed Land is even more firmly in the hands of the army. The root of the problem has never been the New Reclamation Legion.”

Kai Morland’s chest heaved violently: “Once, I thought the source of various misfortunes was the greed and depravity of certain officers. But after I was forced to go to Kingsfort, I realized the real root of the problem is that the Republic of Palatu is half a ‘military-controlled nation’, the Alliance Charter endowed the Palatu Army with too much, far too much power. It allows the Palatu Army to turn the Newly Reclaimed Lands Province into private property, making the Palatu Army a state within a state.”

Winters said: “But the Palatu Army defeated the Herders.”

“Yes, indeed, I am grateful that they defeated the Herders.” Kai Morland became increasingly agitated as he spoke: “But they will never completely resolve the Herder issue because the army is no longer fighting for the Republic, but for itself. A trade embargo? Yet the generals’ caravans can travel unimpeded, making enormous profits.

The war with the Herders is the army’s source of wealth and ladder for promotion! As long as ‘the army fights for itself’ is not ended, the ‘Herder war’ will never end. Even if one day the Herders are exterminated, the army will find a new target to continue their endless war.”

Winters poured another glass of wine for Kai Morland.

“The distorted system where the military commands the state must end. The military must be subordinate to politics, and war should not be the purpose, or Palatu will tread into another abyss.”

Kai Morland breathed heavily, lowering his head to stare at the cup: “I know, you all consider me Grof Magnus’s lackey because I am a staunch parliamentarian, because after the first coup, I was the first to pledge allegiance to the Second Republic.”

He grabbed the glass and again poured the red liquid down his throat: “But, as long as Grof Magnus can end the history of military rule, even if he initiates a despicable coup, I will still support him.”

Kai Morland covered his face: “I just didn’t expect he would betray his sworn promise, that he would sell out the country to the United Provincials, that after expelling one army, he would usher in another…”

Winters silently took out a handkerchief and pushed it to Kai Morland.

“But.” Winters calmly reminded: “I am also a soldier.”

“But you are different from them!” Kai Morland stated emphatically.

“You’ve only met me three times.” Winters asked back: “How can you say I am different from them?”

“The first time I met you, I didn’t know you. Back then, what I learned was from Mikesh and others’ eyes on you—brave, proud, full of vigor.” Kai Morland bit his lip: “The current me has read all your articles in the ‘Communiqué’, checked every decree you issued, found everyone I could who truly interacted with you, learned all I could possibly know about you.”

Kai Morland looked directly at Winters, assertively concluding: “I am convinced you are not like Gaisa Adonis, Skur Meklen, or Magash Colvin! You absolutely don’t want to build a military state, nor do you want to become a usurper of the nation. I am confident you genuinely believe in Marshal Ned Smith’s ideals, I am confident only you are truly fighting for the Republic of Palatu.”

Winters paused for a moment in silence and mercilessly said: “Even I dare not proclaim what I truly want; even I dare not proclaim what I truly am; even I dare not proclaim what I will bring to Palatu. On what basis do you make such assertions?”

“Kai Morland.” Winters placed a hand on the other’s shoulder, somewhat sympathetically: “You’re merely gambling.”

“Yes! I am gambling!” Kai Morland grasped Winters’ hand, still staring directly at him: “I’ve seen all of Palatu, and there is no better horse than you! I lost once, but I will not lose a second time! Let me help you, Winters Montagne!”

Kai Morland didn’t give Winters a chance to speak, quickly speaking to himself: “I know, you overpowered Magash Colvin through voting and added an amendment to the new constitution. But that’s not enough! Far from enough!

Only with sufficient power to protect it, does an amendment become a charter; without sufficient power to protect it, a charter is only waste paper!”

“Don’t you understand yet? Winters Montagne!” Kai Morland firmly grasped Winters’ wrist, squeezing the skin white: “The nation you are building will be more terrifying than the First Republic. In your republic, the military will hold more power than the First Republic. No one can balance it, no one can sway it. By then, the amendments you’ve painstakingly drafted will be mere waste paper!

A tree planted in error won’t yield the desired fruit, isn’t that what you said? Yet the sapling you’re planting now is erroneous. You need my presence! You need me to balance the military’s influence, and no one is better suited for this than me.”

“I beseech you, Winters Montagne, I beseech you to be the one I hope you are!” Kai Morland, eyes filled with tears and body trembling, as if in earnest prayer: “Let me help you!”

Winters was not swayed by Kai Morland’s words. He simply asked calmly: “How do you plan on helping me?”

“Let me.” Kai Morland looked straight into Winters’ eyes: “Participate in the General Assembly of Freemen in the Newly Reclaimed Land.”