Chapter 1956: Banquet

Kelinxi gave the order right then and there to restrict Qiaozhi.

With the Councilor's power restricted and Qiaozhi's authority undermined, not a single one of his proposals passed on Kelinxi's side.

Disheartened, Qiaozhi focused on managing his own estate at the Fojilisi villa, achieving quite good results.

However, because his policies and ideas gained the support of some people, Qiaozhi's days of leisure at home were still quite pleasant.

Especially after marrying Masha.

Qiaozhi's standard of living could be said to have advanced by leaps and bounds, thanks to the massive assets Masha's late husband left her.

It directly transformed Qiaozhi from a small Plantation Owner into a large Plantation Owner.

Masha treated others with gentleness; even toward the black slaves who had been sold into the villa, she treated them as equally as possible.

But this approach met with Qiaozhi's opposition.

"Masha, you can be nicer to them, but you must also make them fear us."

"You know the reason; this is their fate, and it is also our fate."

Hearing this, Masha neither refuted nor agreed, but instead changed the subject: "Count William has invited us to be guests at his castle."

Qiaozhi let out an "oh" and, slumping on the sofa, said: "He probably wants to talk to me about the villa."

"Then are you going or not?" Masha looked at him and asked calmly.

Qiaozhi turned his head to look at her and smiled: "Not going."

It was common knowledge that Count William's daughter, Qin, had feelings for Qiaozhi.

Although Qiaozhi was already married to Masha, Qin seemed not to care at all and had not given up on pursuing Qiaozhi in the slightest.

Qiaozhi naturally knew all this; he was not interested in Qin at all, and liked her even less.

"I knew you would say that," Masha said as she sat down next to Qiaozhi.

"So I invited Count William's family, as well as Natasha and the others, to be guests at our villa."

Qiaozhi froze for a moment, looking at Masha in astonishment.

Seeing his surprised expression, Masha said: "Since we got married, I haven't hosted a banquet yet. This is a perfect opportunity to invite everyone over and liven things up."

"And also let Qin know just how loving we are toward each other."

Looking at her bright and moving lips as she said these words, Qiaozhi found it a bit hard to believe.

Masha, Masha, why hadn't I realized you were so black-bellied before?

"This, wouldn't that be a bit... not good?"

Masha rolled her eyes: "What's not good about it? Is hosting a banquet not allowed?"

"You are a Councilor of Fojilisi, after all; isn't it perfectly normal to host a banquet and invite the local Count and Duke, as well as those respectable people?"

"You aren't worried about Qin coming, are you? Could it be that you're afraid to see her?"

Qiaozhi paused, then laughed in spite of himself: "Of course not."

"I'm worried that you'll feel uncomfortable when you see her."

Masha snuggled into Qiaozhi's arms and said gently: "I don't consider her a rival in the slightest."

"If there ever was any possibility, it was before the two of us were married."

"Qiaozhi, do you know why I wanted to marry you?"

"It's because of your character. Qin is actually not better than me in any way. If you had met her before me, then I believe I wouldn't have had the slightest chance."

"Unfortunately, luck stood on my side, and the two of us fell in love first."

"Actually, there is another reason I invited her this time: I want to make her give up this idea."

"I know the painful feeling of wanting something you cannot have. Perhaps out of sympathy, I don't want her to continue like this; it's not good for any of us."

Qiaozhi nodded. He looked at his gentle and kind wife and said: "If you wish to do this, then I will not object."

Masha smiled and, from the table,

took a small cookie and stuffed it into Qiaozhi's mouth.

Qiaozhi bit it off and looked at Masha happily.

If things could just go on like this, a happy life would seem quite nice.

But unfortunately, Qiaozhi was a Councilor of Fojilisi, and he had another dream: he hoped the Colonial Area of America could become independent.

He didn't know how long such a happy life could last.

At this time, Egypt.

On the Egyptian battlefield, Nashadier's troops integrated Harris's troops.

Although many in Harris's troops had previously been thieves, swindlers, or some kind of bandits.

But it had to be said that these people had actually been trained quite well under Harris.

Harris was worthy of being a Commander of the Wahala Tribe; his talent for commanding troops was also first-rate.

Moreover, these people held an even greater hatred for the French troops.

After Harris witnessed Nashadier's strength.

Although his troops had already been integrated and reorganized into Nashadier's, he himself was initially unwilling to give Nashadier any help.

Harris believed he was already a traitor to the Wahala Tribe.

Although he had worked for the French, it was because he wanted the Wahala Tribe to be placed under his own jurisdiction and to stop the French from treating them that way.

But now it seemed this idea was incomparably wrong.

He had to pay the price for his actions, and he had even less face to help Nashadier.

Yet Nashadier's attitude toward this matter was not one of disdain at all.

After persisting for several days of tireless persuasion.

Harris gave his guarantee that he could help Nashadier by offering strategies.

But he would absolutely not take command of the army again.

He was willing to become a Strategist.

Nashadier felt very gratified by Harris's choice.

Harris told Nashadier that there was a French squad within their troops.

They were specifically there to supervise his combat operations, and for this operation, they remained behind at their own base camp.

That was also where his most elite unit was located.

It had been left behind specifically to deal with the Dragon Flame Army.

The French are currently guarding that unit, but the control of this unit is in his hands.

As long as he gives the call, this unit can be completely utilized by Nashadier.

Nashadier's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Their greatest difficulty right now is that they lack troops; if they had such a formidable unit to serve as reinforcements,

then their plan to attack the French troops would be much more secure.

But Harris added: "The only problem now is that Frenchman called Smith, and his soldiers."

"Although the control of the army is not in his hands, he has the ability to hinder our attack."

"The French have given him high authority; if he receives news of my defection, he will very likely destroy this unit, as he would absolutely not allow such a unit to exist."

Nashadier immediately realized the gravity of the situation.

If Smith were to go and find nearby French troops at this time, they would absolutely annihilate such a unit to prevent the situation from worsening.

Since it is not a force under their own control, who could trust that they wouldn't defect at any moment? The French troops are also very stretched for manpower right now, and they would absolutely not allow such a thing to happen. The recent transcoding is severe; let us have more motivation to update faster. Please move your little hands to exit reading mode. Thank you.