Submission
These words, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirred up huge waves in the hearts of the surrendered officials!
They had expected torture, enslavement, or even death to await them, but to their utter surprise, this infamous Sauron Great Chieftain not only refrained from humiliation and rebuke, but also uttered such reasonable and even comforting words! This completely overturned their preconceived notions of barbarian chieftains as cruel and ignorant.
For a moment, everyone lowered their heads, their hearts filled with complex emotions: the relief of surviving a disaster, the uncertainty about the future, and the speculation and unease about the deeper meaning behind Harald's actions.
This Great Chieftain seemed far more profound and terrifying than they had imagined.
Harald looked down at the group of surrendered officials with their own differing thoughts, and knew that the initial deterrence and appeasement had taken effect.
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze sweeping over the surrendered officials below, whose expressions were complex, and his tone became more sincere:
"Gentlemen, to be honest, the southward march of my Sauron Tribe was not our own choice, but a move forced upon us! For generations, my Sauron Tribe has lived between the White Mountains and Black Waters of the Northern Territory. Although our life was hard, we were law-abiding citizens."
"However, the Former King Heinrich X of the Broomflower tribe was more tyrannical than a tiger towards our people, imposing heavy taxes and oppressing us, leaving our people living in misery! My father, unable to bear the humiliation, was forced to rise up in rebellion for the survival of the tribe; it was truly a last resort!"
He spread his hands, making a helpless and somewhat aggrieved gesture. "My Sauron Tribe has only a few hundred thousand people and tens of thousands of archers, while the Broomflower tribe has tens of millions of people and a million armored soldiers! If we hadn't been forced into a desperate situation, how would our small tribe dare to fight against such a futile and hopeless endeavor?"
His tone suddenly shifted, becoming impassioned and filled with the confidence that "Heaven's mandate is with us": "However, Heaven's will is clear! The gods have taken pity on me, Sauron, as a righteous army! Those Heinrich father and son, they have acted perversely, showing no compassion for the people or their soldiers, and have been waging war recklessly. They have long lost the favor of Heaven and the people!"
"Therefore, wherever my Sauron Iron Cavalry goes, the Broomflower army suffers repeated defeats. This is not because my Sauron are exceptionally brave, but because it is the will of Heaven! My tribe originally intended to negotiate peace and cease hostilities, but your two King have no sincerity and insist on war, which has led to renewed warfare and widespread suffering... Alas!"
His distorted account, glorifying the invasion as "forced resistance" and attributing the victory to "divine mandate," coupled with his powerful aura as the victor, subtly shook the hearts of some surrendered officials, giving them a reason to justify their "surrender."
Just then, the former clerk under Earl Eichberg, who was kneeling in front of the crowd, seemed to keenly grasp the signal in Harald's words that he needed "examples" and "proof".
He suddenly crawled forward two steps to his knees, banging his head on the ground with a loud thud. Then, he raised his tear-streaked face, his voice choked with emotion, filled with immense regret and realization, and cried out:
"Great Chieftain, please be wise! Great Chieftain, please be wise! This sinful subject... This sinful subject was previously in the Southern Kingdom, blinded by the Heinrich regime, only knowing its extravagance and oppression of the people, but not knowing that you, Great Chieftain, are the true enlightened ruler who cares for the people and has the world in your heart!"
"Hearing the Great Chieftain's words today is like seeing the sun after the clouds have parted, and I now realize the mistakes I made in the past! This sinful subject humbly begs the Great Chieftain to give this sinful subject a chance to repent, reform, and serve the wise ruler to atone for my past sins!"
This expressive and perfectly timed performance was exactly what Harald wanted.
A "gratified" smile appeared on his face, and he quickly raised his hand to help her up, his tone becoming even gentler. "Please rise! Your ability to distinguish right from wrong and abandon darkness for light is truly the act of a wise man! May I ask what position you held in the Broomflower before? And what your esteemed name is?"
The clerk quickly replied, "Your Great Chieftain, my Albrecht. I was originally a lowly clerk under Earl Eichberg, in charge of documents and finances in a remote territory. I was insignificant."
"Albrecht... what a fine name!" Harald clapped his hands and laughed, then raised his voice and shouted to the outside of the hall, "Guards! Bring me the ruby-inlaid scimitar, a hundred gold coins, and three fine Northern Territory horses from my treasury. Also, select two beautiful and musically accomplished Broomflower maidens and bestow them upon Mr. Albrecht!"
At the order, Sauron guards immediately presented the reward Harald had mentioned.
Upon seeing the tangible wealth and beautiful women, Albrecht's eyes flashed with an irrepressible greed and delight. He knelt down again with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly. "Thank you for your generous reward, Great Chieftain! This sinful subject... no, your subordinate Albrecht, is willing to serve the Great Chieftain with utmost loyalty, even unto death!"
Harald rose himself, stepped forward, and helped Albrecht to his feet. Holding his hand, he said earnestly, "Albrecht, I, Sauron, rose from humble beginnings and excelled on horseback. While I may have some talent in military campaigns, I am truly inadequate in matters of domestic affairs such as educating the people, developing agriculture and sericulture, and managing markets."
"You have long been engaged in this field and are highly experienced, which is exactly the kind of talent my tribe desperately needs! I hope you can give full play to your strengths and help me govern the newly annexed people and bring prosperity to the Northern Territory!"
Albrecht felt the strength of Harald's hand and the "reliance" in his words, and trembled with excitement. He quickly pledged his loyalty. "Rest assured, Great Chieftain! I will do my utmost to use all my knowledge to pacify the people and develop production, and I will never fail to live up to the Great Chieftain's kindness!"
With Albrecht as an example and leader, the other surrendered officials who were still watching and hesitating saw that those who succeeded in their speculations immediately received generous rewards and promises of "importance," and their hearts were instantly tipped in their favor.
The will to survive, the desire for wealth and power, and the self-comforting belief that "discretion is the better part of valor" quickly overwhelmed any remaining loyalty to the emperor and a sense of shame.
Thump! Thump!
In an instant, everyone in the hall knelt down.
The remaining surrendered officials rushed to kowtow, expressing their "repentance" and "loyalty":
"Your Great Chieftain, you are wise! This wicked minister has also been deceived by the false dynasty!"
"Your subordinate is willing to serve the Great Chieftain and govern the region!"
"The Broomflower's fate has run its course; the Great Chieftain is the true master!"
Harald looked at the group of former officials at his feet, all pledging their loyalty, and sneered inwardly, but maintained a kind smile on his face.
He knew that the first step in recruiting them had been successful.
These "surrendered officials," familiar with the Broomflower system, will become his tools for consolidating the occupied territories and making up for the shortcomings in Sauron's internal affairs.
As for loyalty? He believed that, bound by absolute force and appropriate interests, these "smart people" would make the "wisest" choice.