Chapter 317 Viscount Eddies

"I didn't expect that Winston Province would become more desolate than the North. It seems that you two have done their best to plunder here." Lorist rode his horse and said to Baron Felim and Baron Shahin who were following behind.

Baron Felim shook his head: "It was not ours. Since you took us back to occupy the royal city that time, we have never attacked Winston Province. Maybe you don't believe it, but in fact, most of the increased territories in our two territories came by themselves. The nobles of Winston Province themselves made a mess and were in a mess. We were lazy to intervene. In order to survive, most of the civilians in Winston Province ran to the north for refuge, and we didn't need us to plunder any manpower."

Baron Shahin nodded and signaled that Baron Felim was telling the truth.

This was on the way to the royal city of Windbri, the Kingdom of Iberia, to attend the knights' competition. Looking around, Lorist remembered a poem from his previous life: White bones are exposed and the wild, and there is no rooster crowing thousands of miles away.

More than a decade ago, before the outbreak of the Imperial Civil War, Winston Province was the fourth largest province in the former Crison Empire with a population of more than 600,000. Its area was only one-seventh of that of the Northland, but commercial development was well-known far and wide in the Empire. It was once the largest livestock trading market in the former Empire. Merchants from the Northland, Eastern Wasteland, Makinohara, Southern and Central Provinces gathered here. They transported various daily necessities and commodity supplies, transported countless cattle and sheep, creating the prosperous city of Windbrey.

I remember a saying at that time that means that being a baron in Winston Province is much richer than being a grand duke in the North. This is the pride of the Winstons and a ridicule of the North. After all, the North is the largest province in the former empire and the most desolate and poorest province.

Fengshui has changed. In just over a decade, Winston Province has become more desolate than the former Northland. This is due to the second prince's desperate efforts to plunder wealth and military supplies and his repeated defeats, as well as the responsibility of Lorist who deliberately consumed the vitality of Winston Province so that it could not pose a threat to the Northland. And now the queen who is in charge of the royal city of Windbrey has no prestige and ability to mediate the conflicts between the nobles in the territory and even the constant war in Winston Province is also one of the reasons.

However, in the past two months, Winston Province has become very calm, and no nobles have any territorial wars broke out. The reason is that Grand Duke Fisabren returned to the royal city of Windbrey with two field rangers. With this former emperor god with obvious reputation here, any arrogant territorial nobleman must consider whether his family's strength can withstand the thunderous attack of Grand Duke Fisabren. All nobles have learned how to play the role of the steadfast.

Anyway, the purpose of Grand Duke Feisabren to come to the royal city this time is very simple, which is to hold a grand knight competition to select an excellent knight for Princess Celivia who is over 25 years old. As long as everyone survives these few months and let Grand Duke Feisabren end this knight competition smoothly, then once he leaves, Winston Province will become a competition for the territory nobles. Besides, everyone has been fighting for so long and is just taking this opportunity to have a rest and prepare for the next attack. Of course, there are also many confident noble knights who believe in their courage and are ready to show their skills at this conference.

A long cavalry team was walking on the broken national highway. Lorist brought a three thousand guard battalion this time, and El, who was promoted to the Golden Knight, returned to the commander of the guard battalion. Pat, who was seriously injured on Shilovas Island, was resuscited in the Guards Army for more than a year and was recruited by Lorist again as deputy commander and captain of the guard battalion. Speaking of which, Pat was lucky because of his injury. During his recovery, he successfully hugged the beauty. After recovering from his injury, he married Martha, a beauty in the White Bird Restaurant. However, Lorist was still in the Haneyabada Islands at that time. After returning, he gave him a generous gift to celebrate his childhood rival and playmate Pat's family and career.

Earl Kenmath brought a thousand guards, while Baron Felim and Baron Shahin each brought five hundred troops. Because of Lorrist's request, the three allies were all cavalry units, which were for safety and to prevent unexpected situations. A day away from them, there was a steel armored cavalry regiment and two chariots and crossbow battalions led by the Tiger Ross. Once a critical situation occurred, the more than 20,000 troops would come to pick them up.

"This is too desolate. We have been walking for three days and there is not even a decent castle along the way. Where have the lords died?" Josk, who had to follow Lorist to attend the Knights' Conference again, said in wonder.

Baron Shahin burst into laughter.

"What are you laughing at? Henneed..." Josk was a little angry. He and Baron Shahin were old opponents. The Grand Duke of the Northland sent the Golden Knight Chevani and Henneed, who was not Baron Shahin, to attack the Norton family territory. Although the two had never fought each other, Henneed met after being captured by Lorist. They had a good relationship and were not usually polite.

Baron Shahin pointed to Lorist's back: "This is your master's idea. If you ask Baron Felim, you will understand. Locke asked our two families to attack and plunder the province of Winston to make the people live in trouble, especially the national highway leading to the royal city of Windbrey, which was swept back and forth several times. You said that those lords had gone, they had been hung by us long ago. So for the lords of other countries, it symbolized a land close to the national highway, and it meant a dead end and death in the Kingdom of Iberia."

Josk stopped talking, Lorist's move was obviously an alternative way of clearing the country, which increased the difficulties and troubles of the Iberian Kingdom to send troops to the north. Although the nobles in the royal city of Windbrey were not good, the Fisabren family stood behind the Iberian Kingdom. It was necessary for Lorist to be so careful a few years ago.

Baron Shahin comforted, "Don't worry, Joe, we will arrive in Walker tomorrow, which is Viscount Eddies' territory, and his castle is also there. Last time we sent troops to the royal city, Viscount Eddies was very sensible, and paid a large amount of ransom and food to prevent his territory from being hurt. Because he had a good reputation, we let him go. In the past two years, he heard that his territory has developed well, and it is a rare good lord in Winston Province, but he has not had a good relationship with the queen, so he gathered some territorial nobles to protect themselves, which is considered a bit of strength.

After arriving in Walker Town tomorrow, we can have a great drink. It’s all because of Locke. He is not allowed to drink alcohol during the march. Not to mention you, I can’t stand it anymore. I’ve been so light these three days, biting dried meat and chewing bread every day, stay alert... We are going to participate in the Knights Competition, why do we have to act like fighting like this!"

Baron Shahin complained that Josk was not happy: "What are you saying, Henneed, Lord, it's for your own good. This time, our four northern families went to participate in this knight competition. Adults had to be so careful to avoid any omissions. Otherwise, Lord, I will take El and I. I have arranged so many people to protect you, and you still don't appreciate it..."

Baron Shahin was angry: "You, I was kind enough to comfort you just now, but now you blame me in turn. You started the topic first..."

When I arrived in Walker at noon the next day, the messenger who went to the royal city of Windbrey also rushed back and brought a noble messenger sent by Grand Duke Fisabren to greet him, Earl of Richard.

Earl Richard enthusiastically expressed to Lorist and others the welcome of Grand Duke Fisabren to the four nobles in the north to join the knights' competition, and on behalf of Grand Duke Fisabren, a proposal that shocked Lorist: In view of the insufficient military force, Grand Duke Fisabren was willing to entrust the south gate of the royal city of Windbrey to the four nobles in the north to guard the four nobles in the north, and they sent troops to defend the southern gate of the royal city during the conference.

Lorist finally felt relieved at this time. The proposal of Grand Duke Fesabrun was obviously to make the four nobles in the north put down their guard. This shows that Grand Duke Fesabrun was really to hold this knight competition well, and did not have any conspiracy. Being able to hand over the southern gate of the royal city also means that he is open and has a way out for the four nobles in the north.

On behalf of the four nobles in the north, Earl Kenmay expressed his gratitude to the news brought by Earl Richard, and praised the grand Duke of Fisabren for his open manners and his admiration for the Fisabren family. The two stood outside Walker town and talked nonsense for most of the day. There was no way, this was the diplomatic etiquette of the nobles. Even if they were impatient, they had to smile and show their demeanor and politeness.

The negotiations ended with the Earl of Kenmays accepting the proposal of Grand Duke Fisabren. He and Earl of Richard were very close, just like two brothers who had met again after a long time.

The landlord Viscount Eddis, who had been waiting aside for most of the day, walked up at the right time, first welcomed the arrival of Lorist and others, then greeted Count Richard, and then invited everyone to his castle to attend the welcome banquet he held for the nobles who went to the royal city to attend the Knights' Competition.

Walker Town is very prosperous, with an estimated number of residents of 20,000 to 30,000. What surprised Lorist was that the streets here were lined with lanterns and decorations, with signs and banners for attracting customers hanging everywhere.

Perhaps seeing Lorist's doubts, Viscount Eddies, who was with him, said that since the Second Prince established the Iberian Kingdom to establish the capital of Windbrey, one was the severance of the trade route of the imperial civil war, and the other was that the Second Prince despised the stench of the cattle, sheep and livestock market. The livestock market in Windbrey was originally ordered to be closed by the Second Prince. In those years when the war was everywhere, no one did any livestock business, which was helpless.

In recent years, the second prince has not been desperate and the situation has stabilized. Even though the nobles in the territory of Winston Province have been tragic, the caravans from the four central principalities still see each other from time to time. It is unlikely that they will reopen the livestock market in the royal city of Windbrey. Because the tax officials sent by the queen who asked for money will be exploited by a large amount of money. Viscount Eddish was very keen to realize that this was an opportunity, so he opened a livestock trading market in his territory, Walker, which made his territory prosperous.

Viscount Eddis said with a wry smile that although the current livestock trading market is not large and the transaction volume is not high, the most scarce materials in the market are all kinds of fur and animal tendons, which are expensive military supplies, so there are so many shops on this street that process and sell these goods.

Because Viscount Eddies's vision made Walker town prosperous and develop, but it also attracted greedy eyes. For this reason, he had several territorial wars with several lords, and had no choice but to protect himself with several lords who also made profits from Walker town. The same is true for the bad relationship with the queen, because the queen sent her tax officials to demand that 70% of all commercial transactions be taken as the commercial tax rate, which was severely rejected by Viscount Eddies.

Lorist said in surprise: "The Queen is simply crazy about asking for money, and such a request can be made..."

"Yes." Viscount Eddies was a little distressed: "Although the territory has developed and developed commercial prosperity and made me rich, I had to invest all the money in the territory's defense in order to protect myself. Basically, the money was just a turn in my hands. I also had to spend a lot of energy to train the territory's garrison, renovate the city wall defense of my own castle and Walker Town. I was so busy that I couldn't even sleep peacefully. I really didn't understand why I had so much effort to develop the territory..."

Lorist can only express sympathy for Viscount Eddies' complaints. If it were peacetime, Viscount Eddies would definitely have achieved something. He had a good business vision and was kind to the people. He was well-known among the nobles in Winston Province. However, he was in a chaotic era now. The better his family territory developed, the more evil wolves he attracted, and forced him to invest all his wealth to form a territory garrison to protect himself.

Walker Town was originally only more than 100 meters away from Viscount Eddies' family castle, but due to the rapid development in recent years, too many civilians have come to settle down, now Walker Town has been connected with the castle, and two more walls have been built in the open space in the middle, and four stone round arrow towers like bunkers are erected. Whether Walker Town or the castle is attacked, the territory garrison can support it at any time.

Viscount Eddies' family castle has a history of nearly a hundred years. According to Viscount, his grandfather was awarded the title of Viscount for military merits and became a territorial noble in Winston Province and took root here. This castle was built by his grandfather, and the spacious hall also hangs portraits of his grandfather and his father.

Viscount Eddies mocked himself that his grandfather and his father were both famous Golden Knights, and his father was very brave in Winston Province. Later, he also died in battle when he participated in the last conquest of the Ford Commercial Alliance in the former Crison Empire. It was more than 30 years ago. At that time, Viscount was only sixteen years old when he inherited the title. However, he was mediocre, and he is only a two-star silver star. He doesn't have to be promoted to the Golden Level in his life.

In the castle hall, Lorist met the portrait of his grandfather's old man with white beard and his father's portrait. At the entrance of the hall, Lorist's Viscounte, with two sons, a daughter, and three nobles welcomed the arrival of Lorist and others.

Lorist and others bowed to the Viscountess and gave him the gifts he carried. Since the demise of the Kingdom of Haneyabada, Lorist had many precious gifts in his hand. Sure enough, the sapphire-set platinum necklace was amazed by the nobles present. Although sapphire and platinum were precious, the nobles were more aware of the goods. What they were amazed was the craftsmanship of the craftsmen who made this jewelry. Because they did not know that in the Kingdom of Haneyabada, slave craftsmen with poor craftsmanship could not survive.

After the Viscountess expressed his gratitude, Viscount Eddis introduced his two sons and his seven-year-old daughter to Lorist. His two sons were twenty-four years old and were already a brave three-star knight in silver, twenty-one years old and one-star knight in silver. Viscount now puts his hope of becoming a golden knight on his two sons.

The three nobles were allies of Viscount Eddies and his neighbors. Baron Claus's territory was a ranch, Baron Weed was a farm, and Viscount Schindler planted grass. They formed an effective complementary relationship with the livestock trading market in Walker Town and became allies with consistent interests.

At the welcome banquet, Viscount Eddis asked Lorist to allow their four nobles to follow the city of Windbrey to attend the Knights' Competition. The main reason is that their relationship with the queen is really bad. Although they hope to bring their children and nephews to see it, they were worried that the trip would be dangerous and could not be decided for a long time. If they could follow Lorist and his party, at least they didn't have to worry about their safety. If there was any situation, they could withdraw their family territory from the south gate controlled by Lorist.

Lorist contempted for a moment and agreed to Viscount Eddies and their request. The banquet continued until evening before it ended.

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Chapter completed!