The valley is located between the Northland and the Central Plains. It is the hub connecting the north and south of the kingdom. Although it only covers an area of less than 50,000 square kilometers, it is quite rich.
There are more than fifty lords and millions of civilians living in the entire river valley.
In this productivity environment, it is definitely a densely populated place.
Unlike the poor lords in the north, the nobles in the river valley are all extremely wealthy, and almost every family has built a small city like Temucheng instead of just a lonely castle.
The largest city in the valley is Burai, which is located in the center of the valley. Burai is located in a prime location in the valley. It is not inferior to the prosperity of Jinlongdu.
The permanent population is nearly two million, accounting for almost one-third of the population in the valley.
It is naturally impossible to support such a dense population by agriculture. Burai's industry and commerce are very developed, and merchants traveling from south to north provide Burai with a large number of jobs. Many landless farmers simply live in Burai, relying on
Work for a living.
If the ruling model of the North is still dominated by feudal landlords and military aristocrats, then the river valley has entered the embryonic stage of capitalism.
If the development of Burai is any different from that of Richard's hometown in the 16th and 17th centuries, it is that there are powerful knights in the Golden Dragon Kingdom, and the mountains of feudal nobles are more than ten times stronger.
Even if a certain class has some means of production, it can still only be the money-making tool of these feudal nobles, relying on them to survive.
Since there is no big noble in the river valley similar to the Lanster family in the north, there are no leaders in the entire river valley, and there is no lord family like the one in Piaoxue City in Burai.
Burai City was jointly built by twelve surrounding lords. After years of development, it has grown to its current size. The decision-making body of the entire city is the Twelve-person Parliament. Each of the twelve noble families that founded the city holds one seat.
The Parliament has daily management agencies such as the City Hall, the Public Security Bureau, and the City Guard, which are responsible to the Twelve-member Parliament.
There is only one special force in the city, which is outside this system, and it is the River Valley Guard Corps directly under the kingdom.
In principle, the entire legion has 20,000 soldiers. Its legion commander is directly appointed by the kingdom and is directly responsible to the royal capital and has nothing to do with the valley.
Of course, this kind of thing in principle can only be an ideal state. Although the army commander is directly appointed by the royal capital, the main soldiers come from the river valley, and some supplies and food must be provided by the river valley. It is impossible for the kingdom to transport food thousands of miles away.
The legion commander will always have a relationship with the nobles of the river valley, and there is only one problem with this relationship.
At this time, in the council hall of Burai City, all twelve noble families were present, and thirteen people were sitting around the round table.
In addition to the twelve nobles who founded the city, the extra person is Dane, the commander of the garrison army stationed in the river valley by the kingdom.
And this formation would only appear when the city of Burai made some important decisions, and it would not be seen once in several years. With so many people gathered at this time, it was natural that something big had happened.
"Everyone knows about the Jingbei Army, right?"
At the round table, a wealthy middle-aged man asked first. If it weren't for the fact that only nobles could sit on the round table, this man would look more like a wealthy businessman than a noble.
"The Lanster family's letter asking for help has been sent for a few days. I want to see what everyone's attitude is."
"Hey, doesn't he, Marquis Wade, look down on us aristocratic businessmen? Now he thinks of begging us?"
"Two words, no help!"
A man whose face was covered with makeup and whose ten fingers were covered with various gemstone rings decisively rejected Beidi's request for help.
"What if the Northland cannot withstand it and the ogres rush to the river valley?"
"What are you afraid of? If the ogres want to enter the river valley, they have to break through the North Gate. If not, the kingdom is still there, so it's not our turn to help save the Lanster family's barbarians."
"Do you want to give me food and grass?"
"What should I give? Brothers have to settle accounts clearly. It's okay to ask for food and grass. You can buy it with money."
"Yes, buy it with money and exchange it with things. There is no reason for us in the river valley to give things for free!"
"boom!"
While the nobles were discussing heatedly, a man with a big belly slammed the table, attracting everyone's attention.
"That's enough! Are you just blinded by money?"
Everyone was stunned by his roar, but someone immediately reacted.
"Dane, what do you mean, you said that I'm so greedy that you get less of your usual money?"
This middle-aged man with a big belly turned out to be Dane, the commander of the River Valley Guard Corps.
It is hard to imagine that ten years ago when he came to the river valley to take up his post, he was still a muscular and sturdy officer, but by this time he had developed a big belly.
In the past ten years, Dane's cultivation has not improved much, but he has gained a lot of weight, and his family fortune has increased more than ten times.
"Supporting the Northland is an order from the royal capital. Do you want to disobey it?"
At this moment, Dane felt a trace of regret in his heart. Why did he get on the pirate ship of these people?
I thought they were just greedy, but I didn't expect that these people were stupid, completely obsessed with money, and couldn't see the formality at all.
After Dane finished speaking, these city-building nobles finally calmed down.
"The kingdom's order is for the garrison to support the North, and it has nothing to do with us."
"shit!"
"The garrison's military fields have been there for so many years, but you guys are spitting them out?"
As soon as Dane said this, the nobles on the opposite side stopped talking to each other. His family occupied a lot of the garrison's military fields, all of which were fertile fields near Burai City. How could they retreat?
The garrison was stationed in the river valley. Originally, the kingdom had a large military field around Burai to support the garrison of 20,000 horses.
But I don't know since which year, the military fields of the garrison have been occupied by the surrounding nobles. There is no other industry at all except the garrison.
"Okay, okay, everyone is not here to quarrel today.
The kingdom asked us to support the Northland this time, and sent a high-ranking official from the royal capital to supervise the situation. We still have to find a way to deal with it as soon as possible."
The speaker was an old man wearing brocade clothes. Although his hair was gray, he seemed to be in good spirits.
"Mr. Sade is right, we are not sitting here to quarrel today. It is estimated that in a few days, the big shots from the royal capital will arrive, so let's think about how to deal with it first.
When the time comes, people will come and press the garrison to the north. There are less than 5,000 people in the camp and they will get 20,000 gold nuggets every year. The king will investigate, and none of us can escape."
"It's easy to handle. I'll take care of two full meals every day and a few coppers. There will be as many people as we need. Anyway, let's get through this first.
If the troops are sent out, Lord Dane will find a way to delay it, and this can always be done."
Dane nodded after hearing this. It's always okay to find reasons to delay for a while.
There is not enough food and grass, there are bandits in the river valley, and the defense force is insufficient. There are many reasons for this.
The nobleman in the river valley is wearing another pair of trousers. No matter what reason he comes up with, everyone can cooperate.
A strong dragon cannot overwhelm a local snake. Even if you are a fierce dragon crossing the river from the royal capital, you will still be played around in this river valley.
Thinking of this, Dane felt relieved.
"Do you know who sent the people from the royal capital?"
"The royal capital didn't say anything. They just said that they would bring the command arrow with them and they would know when they arrive."
"It's mysterious. I don't know who the big shot is."
"Okay, everyone will follow the arrangements just now and hire some people in the next two days to make up for the vacancies in the garrison."
"If nothing happens, let's leave."
Everyone dispersed as ordered, leaving only Dane alone until the end.
