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Chapter 63 - 63 62 Compromise under Game Theory_1

63: Chapter 62: Compromise under Game Theory_1 63: Chapter 62: Compromise under Game Theory_1 Dardiel City, the Allied Command.

Over post-war benefits distribution, two Counts are currently arguing heatedly, showing no trace of their usual gentlemanly demeanor.

One has little control when caught within the circle of interest.

As the leading figure among Southeastern Province Nobles, Earl Piers must not only fight for the interests of the Dalton Family but also for the province’s nobles – at least he ought to make an effort.

The lands of Leyton and Wharton have long been viewed by local magnates as their personal possessions, naturally unhappy with outsider forces sharing the cake.

It’s easy to invite troubles, but hard to get rid of them.

The situation in the Southeastern Province is already complex enough.

If it were small and medium nobles coming in, there would be no problem, but now, all who want a slice of the pie are powerful forces in the kingdom.

Once these guys get a foothold in the two counties, the Dalton Family’s hegemonic position is bound to be challenged.

If they don’t take advantage of the current benefits distribution to unite with their underlings and block these strong dragons outside, it will be difficult to expel them later on.

While the Dalton Family is powerful, there are still a dozen or so major forces that can stand shoulder to shoulder with them across the Alpha Kingdom.

Perhaps among these major forces, the Dalton Family does not have the largest area of territory, but the richness of their territory is one of the top.

Others have been coveting the fertile soil of the Southeastern Province for more than a day or two.

From the King’s perspective, letting these major forces check and balance each other to maintain political balance within the country is the most advantageous.

The original political structure of the Southeastern Province was broken.

If there was no intervention from external forces, the majority of Leyton and Wharton’s territories would sooner or later fall into the hands of the Dalton Family.

Even if Earl Piers is generous enough to indicate that he is willing to distribute the majority of the spoils of war to the small and medium nobles, the annexation of territories is never an overnight matter.

Viewed over time, many small and medium nobles, upon receiving their lands, would lose them within the next few decades for various reasons.

Only after surviving the initial period of weakness and enduring several generations of accumulation of power can they truly stabilize.

On the other hand, major nobles are different.

The meat they eat can be digested directly.

While it may not seem like they eat much each time, it adds up to a big number over time.

Even if they exercise restraint and do not deliberately seek territorial annexation, under the effect of the survival of the fittest, the area controlled by the nobles would continue to grow.

Given that domestic major forces wish to have their share in the Southeastern Province, it would be a natural choice to go with the flow for balance.

As the executor, Count Flado at this moment represents not only the King, but also the major forces in the Kingdom who want to have a say.

Rubbing his forehead, Earl Piers said righteously, “The honor of the nobility must not be violated; fairness is the foundation of the Kingdom; we must prioritize the interests of the heroes who quelled this rebellion!”

Out of necessity, rather than dividing the territory amongst these strong invaders, Earl Piers would rather leave it to his own men.

Even though the nobles of the Southeastern Province are not very compliant, they are far more adorable than these greedy predators when compared.

Choose the lesser of two evils.

No matter how ambitious his underlings are, they are limited by their lack of power.

The territories are just temporarily in their hands and will eventually return to the Dalton Family.

These powerful invaders are different; they are all top predators.

Once they swallow, they seldom spit it out.

If allowed in, more competitors will emerge for the spoils.

“Of course we must protect the interests of our heroes, but we also have to consider the goodwill demonstrated by all sides.

Your Excellency Governor, the Alpha Kingdom is a whole.

We must not limit our vision to the Southeastern Province, we need to consider the issue on a grander scale.”

Count Flado hinted directly.

Unfortunately, Earl Piers was not interested in this olive branch, even repelling it.

Originally, all the major powers in the Alpha Kingdom played their own games, with little overstepping.

With the accession of Caesar III, the situation changed.

The king intentionally indulged the major powers in reaching out.

At first, they could resist the temptation, comply with the game rules, and only play in their own territory.

Yet, soon, some could not control their greed and took the first step.

Once someone tasted the meat, countless others quickly followed.

The anticipated large-scale mergers and growth did not happen.

Instead, because they reached out to each other, their interests became entwined and counterproductive.

Resorting to political tactics, some major noble families, who were cunning as foxes, were taken advantage of by Caesar III to knock them down one by one, leaving no trace of their former arrogance.

A new political balance was established, and the fading royal power miraculously resurrected in the hands of Caesar III.

If not for the severe losses suffered by the royal family in the last continental war, resulting in loss of large amounts of territory, Caesar III would likely have become a hegemonic monarch.

Facing such a boss, Earl Piers knew he couldn’t play, so he always behaved himself.

Even with great temptations, he maintained his restraint.

Regrettably, while he restrained himself, his peers did not.

After all, with the wealth of the Southeastern Province, as a happy landowner, there was no need to grab some worthless bad land.

However, other major nobles, especially those in the north, whose land was barren and frequently harassed by Orcs, causing significant disruption in production, couldn’t do the same.

To resist the Orc invasions, they were exhausting their soldiers and mired in war, and the state finances were in severe deficits, supported only by the kingdom’s subsidies.

Over the past few years, although there were no major wars in the Northern Border, there were certainly ongoing minor ones.

If one wanted to accumulate military merits, it was undoubtedly a prime choice.

However, it was easy to gain military merits in the Northern Border, but the fief was hard to defend!

After toiling for a full year, the Orcs would come at harvest time.

All the major nobles had sons gold-plating in the Northern Border, many of whom were ennobled due to military merits, but everyone was avoiding the fiefs in the Northern Border, just waiting for other places to develop.

Realizing that he could not avoid it, Earl Piers gritted his teeth and said, “The Southeastern Province is part of the kingdom.

While global considerations are indeed necessary, we cannot ignore the demands of the local nobles.

Considering the kingdom has too many military heroes lacking fiefs, we can relinquish part of our territories, but out of necessity to placate everyone, the rank for this distribution should be limited to that of a Baron.

As the Governor of the Southeastern Province, I am willing to set an example, promoting the spirit of nobility and humility, and forfeiting this war’s rewards.”

Hearing the words “setting an example”, Flado cursed him for being shameless.

Those who didn’t know would think of his great military merits.

In reality, as the Governor of the Southeastern Province, quelling local rebellions is part and parcel of his job.

By not pursuing the responsibility for the downfall of the previous two jurisdictions, they were already saving face.

It was really a joke to talk about giving up on military merits at this point.

It seemed as if Earl Piers was giving up the rewards, but in fact, the Dalton family would lose nothing.

Their children who were gold-plating abroad had not announced to give up this opportunity to receive fiefs.

The local Dalton family didn’t lose, but the other major nobles who wanted to get involved in the Southeastern Province were forced into an awkward position.

For the small and medium nobles, a Baron’s territory was indeed a great temptation.

However, for the major nobles, it was purely a chicken rib.

Indeed, they could get a foothold, but the potential was limited.

No matter how well it developed, the limit was there.

Unless the family increased investment and unscrupulously pursued mergers, they risked damaging their reputation and provoking resistance from everyone.

Originally wanted to argue, but seeing the decisive expression on Earl Piers, they knew this was the Dalton family’s bottom line.

Not wanting to offend him, Count Flado nodded his head.

“Your Excellency Governor, I will report your proposal to the Capital accurately, and the final result will await His Majesty the King’s judgment!”

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