This is a majestic building built halfway up the peak. After several generations of unremitting efforts, the peak has long been bulldozed, and the scale of Tulip Castle has reached a length and width of at least five miles.
Not only does it have complete defense facilities, but it also has many beautiful gardens.
At this time, in the meeting hall of Tulip Castle, the Earl was sitting on a high platform, and an iron throne perfectly set off his superior aura.
"Aldin, which of the second son's civil magistrates has not arrived yet?"
At this time, there were seven men standing respectfully below the earl. These people were the civil officials who were competing against the younger sons in political performance.
But Earl Augustus clearly remembered that he had ennobled the second sons of eight vassals last month.
"Back to your lord, Earl! It's the second son of the Berwick family, named Narant Berwick!" Aldin was already happy. Anthony was specially assigned by him to deal with Narant this time.
Anthony must have been late on purpose.
…
"Wow! Miss, that second son is too brave! The Earl is waiting here, and his civil affairs officer is late!" At the same time, on the side of the Earl's iron seat, at a corner blocked by a pillar,
Two women are listening.
One of them is Ms. Stella, the Tulip Flower.
Today, Miss Stella is wearing a white silk dress, with golden hair hanging around her shoulders, and her blue eyes are as calm as water. At this time, her image is quite lazy and attractive, which is absolutely unimaginable by other young people.
state.
If her father hadn't forced her to do so, Stella wouldn't have wanted to participate in such a boring audit.
However, the personal maid Lina was very interested in this matter and immediately started chirping after hearing it.
…
"Beric's second son? Then let's get started!" Earl Augustus nodded when he heard the answer and said nothing more.
Andrew Berwick was the most fierce fighting vassal among his vassals. For his sake, Augustus was prepared to inquire afterward.
"Yes! Your Majesty the Earl!" Aldin smiled without leaving any trace, and then spoke to the seven civil affairs officials below: "You should start reporting on the development of the second sons last month!"
"Your Majesty, I am Sir Billy Lane's civil affairs officer. Last month, the Greenwood Territory collected 20,000 kilograms of tax wheat from the serfs. After receiving the tax, Sir, he used the grain as payment to hire people in the territory.
The civilians and serfs vigorously reclaimed wasteland. After more than ten days of reclamation, the cultivated land in Greenwood Territory has increased by thousands of acres..."
"Your Majesty, I am Sir Den Kirby's Civil Affairs Officer. Last month, Gaogang received a tax of nineteen thousand kilograms of wheat. Your Majesty, Sir, used the grain to purchase cattle and sheep. Now there are ten cows in the territory.
Thirty sheep…”
As the civil affairs officials reported what the second sons had done this month one by one, the Earl sitting above kept nodding.
Although the people who were canonized this time were all the second sons of vassals, these second sons have more or less begun to work hard to develop their territories.
For example, the most dazzling thing this time is the Green Wood Collar who was the first to report. He was willing to use taxes as rewards to distribute to the people, instead of using his power to bully the serfs to work. This shows that this second son knows how to sympathize with the people and understands the importance of the people.
The fundamental reason why the territory wants to develop.
…
"Miss, who do you think has developed the best among the second sons?" Lina listened attentively to the reports of the civil affairs officials, and immediately spoke to her young lady. "Miss, I think the second son from Greenwood Town is the most powerful.
In just over a month, more than a thousand acres of arable land have been cultivated, and there will definitely be a bumper harvest in his territory in the fall!"
"Lina, you seem to be very concerned about the situation of these second sons?" Compared to the excitement of the personal maid, Stella lacked interest. She didn't even listen carefully to the reports of several civil affairs officials.
To be honest, not to mention the second sons of the vassals, even some of the eldest sons and heirs of the vassals were not favored by Stella.
This is not because she is arrogant, but because she has seen the eldest sons of vassals at parties a few years ago. Most of the heirs are high-minded and talkative. Many of them are in their twenties, but their fighting spirit is just that of a bronze knight.
This only shows that the descendants of these vassals spent more time on eating, drinking and enjoying themselves, and did not work hard on cultivation.
Although Stella is a woman, she has already reached the level of Silver Junior Knight through hard training.
"Oh, no! Miss, Lina is just...just..." Lina, the personal maid, turned red when Stella asked.
The reason why she is so excited is because she knows that the earl is actually choosing a husband for her young lady... As a personal maid, she has to follow the young lady for her whole life, so she actually has a lot to do with her...
…
"Do you have anything else you want to report?" After all the civil affairs officials had finished reporting and submitted written records, the earl asked in a deep voice.
At present, the second sons have only arrived in the territory for a month, and there is definitely not much to report.
"My Lord Earl, Sir Deen asked me to deliver some small gifts to Miss Stella!"
Upon hearing the inquiry, the civil officials knew that the meeting was about to end and immediately took out the gifts prepared by the second sons.
For the second sons, winning the political performance test is not the only way to win.
And the other real avenue is to win the favor of the tulip flower. As long as Miss Stella falls in love with him, then why does a person with a baronetcy still need to worry?
By then, I'm afraid even the title of Viscount will be within reach.
Therefore, on the reporting day of the first month, they had prepared gifts to please Miss Stella.
"Well, that's right! Tell the second sons that I will pass it on to Stella!" The Earl nodded with great satisfaction. These second sons are not stupid enough and know his true intentions.
After saying that, he arranged for the valet to put away the gifts, and the earl prepared to dismiss the meeting.
"Lord Earl! There is a man outside who calls himself the butler of Stormland Castle and wants to see him."
However, at this moment, a guard suddenly ran outside the door and reported loudly.
"Lord of Stormlord? Isn't Baron Doc dead?" The earl was confused. The last time he was crowned Lord of Stormlord was last year. Since the death of four lords, the earl has completely given up on that doomed land.
"Sir, the castle steward said that his lord's name is Nalant Berwick!" The guard didn't know the situation, so he could only answer truthfully.
"Narant Beric? It was assigned to the Storm Territory?" The Earl couldn't believe his ears.
The civil affairs officials below were also stunned.
In order to prevent unfairness in this competition, the distribution of the territories of the second sons was only revealed after they set off. Except for Aldin, the person in charge, no one else could know.
"Aldin, what's going on?" When the earl heard that it was the Berwick family again, he immediately frowned and looked at Aldin.
"My Lord Earl, I remember now that Narant seems to have been assigned to the Storm Territory. This is because one of my servants recorded the wrong address! But by the time I knew it, Narant had already set off.
Got it!"
"For this reason, I have punished the erring servant and sentenced him to death by hanging!"
Aldin quickly pretended to be frightened and answered with an explanation.
"After such a mistake happened, why didn't you report it to me?" The earl glared at his biological brother.
"Your Majesty, Earl, I originally wanted to report to you, but it happened to be the day to collect taxes for the first half of the year, so I forgot about it! Aldin knows his mistake, please forgive me, Earl!" Aldin knelt on the ground.
.
"Humph!" Lord Count frowned and snorted coldly.
However, Aldin is a dignified viscount and his biological brother after all. It is impossible for him to do anything to him in front of so many people. Finally, Augustus suppressed the anger in his heart and ordered to the guard: "Let the castle steward come in."