King
Chapter 73 - 73 72 Open Strategy_1

73: Chapter 72, Open Strategy_1 73: Chapter 72, Open Strategy_1 A similar scene happened in many noble families in the Northern Border.

However, they were not as extravagant as Duke Cavadia, arranging things even for their illegitimate children.

Being dependent on five major clans for their livelihood, everyone’s resources were far from abundant.

Most of the family resources were allocated to the main family descendants or their collateral relatives.

Unless the clan was sparse in numbers, it was difficult for unrecognized illegitimate children to get a share of the pie.

At the end of the day, it was a case of too many monks and too little porridge.

There wasn’t much land left for them in the first place, the native clans needed a share, and the knights who came from afar to fight also needed to have a portion.

These were lessons learned through bloodshed.

If the major nobles above dared to eat alone, the small nobles below dared to slack off.

Their family base was not in the Northern Border.

For these people, war was merely a stairway to promotion.

If they blocked someone’s way forward, they shouldn’t blame others for dragging their feet on the battlefield.

After paying a bitter price, the nobles in the Northern Border have learned their lesson.

They have implemented a fair and just system in the allocation of war merits.

Once the system of sharing the spoils of war was established, the situation on the Northern Border Defense stabilized, forming the current political landscape.

Although everyone originally wanted to move south, there was no urgent rush.

However, in recent years, the Orc Empire had thrown a wrench in the works.

The old emperor, known for his mild temper, had passed away, and the new king who took the throne was a strong advocate of war.

Although there was no immediate invasion, there were many small probing actions.

The old nobles, sensing danger, immediately realized the need to diversify their holdings.

Seeing the reshuffling happening in the Southeastern Province, everyone immediately saw an opportunity.

The nobles of the Northern Border banded together and forcefully took resources from the Dalton Family.

Regarding the risks involved, it wasn’t their own boasting.

The Northern aristocracy, engaged in frequent battle with orcs, had far greater fighting power than the Southern Aristocracy.

Moving south with a force of seasoned soldiers, they were quite confident about establishing a foothold there.

…

In the Governor’s Mansion of Bera City, a group of officials of the Southeastern Province was cautiously waiting inside the conference hall.

The Dalton family had been robbed of resources, and to their followers, this was a disgrace as well.

Although most attendees were not family servants of Earl Piers, they, being part of the Southeastern Province Nobles, also held no good impression of the Northern nobles who moved south.

Everything was provoked by interests.

The resources originally in their hands were to be shared among themselves.

Even though they had disputes, they generally negotiated outcomes.

Even though Earl Piers had gone overboard previously, it was a freak incident.

He compensated the victims afterward, pacified the provincial nobles with profits, and generally paid attention to his image.

However, it was different with the outsiders who had come to snatch their food from the tiger’s mouth.

They had snatched the tastiest meat in the pot, how could that not engender rage?

If you looked closely at the map, you would find that the territories of the Northern aristocracy were interconnected.

They had control over major transport hubs and cities within Wharton and Layton Counties.

If they could live in harmony, then so be it.

Still, if they turned against each other, the native nobles might end up being controlled by outsiders.

Seeing Earl Piers walk in with a gloomy face, the atmosphere in the hall grew heavier, and for a moment, only the sound of breaths could be heard.

“Please have a seat, everyone!”

“You should understand the purpose of inviting you here today.

Initially, I thought they just wanted a share of the pie.

Although it was somewhat hard to accept, it was worth making some sacrifices for the sake of the kingdom.

However, some people are never satisfied.

Always wanting to take and occupy more.

Fortunately, His Majesty the King is wise and refused their unreasonable demands.

Regretfully, these guys are still not content.

Unable to gain the support of His Majesty the King, they attempt to seize by force what they have in their hands.

Do you think we should agree to this?”

After listening to Earl Piers’ impassioned speech, the audience realized that things were changing.

Recalling the Governor’s Mansion hastily determining land rights before, everyone quickly understood the situation.

It must be those fellows from the North who had done something again, provoking the Count.

As a last resort, he quickly cut through the mess, directly creating a fait accompli.

They knew it, but the recent enfeoffment had benefited everyone who was present.

Even if their own families did not get a share of the meat, their relatives did.

The meat that they had already tasted naturally could not be spit out.

“We do not agree!”

“We do not agree!”

…

The crowd answered in unison.

Everyone’s indignation was like a beast ready to devour.

Seeing this, His Excellency Earl Piers waved his hand satisfactorily, signaling for silence.

“Since everyone thinks the same, I can rest assured.

They can break rules, so there’s no need for us to be polite.

The map of the two counties is here.

I originally thought I would confirm the boundaries of each family’s fief after all the nobles arrive.

Now it looks like kindness is wasted; they appreciate none of it.

Without any notice they march south with their large private armies, as if we should fear them.

Let’s not wait anymore, everyone will have to work a bit harder recently, go to Layton and Wharton Counties, ensure the boundaries of each family’s fief beforehand.

There’s only one principle, we must follow the laws of the Kingdom, make sure nobody can fault us procedurally or with territory.

Avoid creating exclave enclaves unless absolutely necessary; it is problematic in managing your own fiefs in the future and may cause conflicts.”

Through such blatant hints, everyone instantly understood that the Northern aristocracy was threatening the Dalton Family with their formidable presence.

In fact, Earl Piers was rather helpless.

Unlike the Southern Aristocracy, who were satisfied with farming, income of northern nobility mainly came from smuggling, with revenues from territories, subsidies from the kingdom, slave-trading serving as secondary incomes.

Involving themselves in a high-risk business, exhausting soldiers and wars became inevitable.

While their economic condition might be inferior to Southern Aristocracy, their military power was superior.

Taking a look at the configuration of the nobles marching south, each private army usually ranged from a few hundred to three to five hundred men.

There was even a Duke’s illegitimate son, who brought an army of more than eight hundred.

A single noble’s private army seemed insignificant, but together, all the northern nobles heading south, their numbers were staggering.

According to the information collected by spies, the total number of their troops was no less than 4,000.

Being able to survive on the battlefield against the Orcs, they certainly were not ordinary serf soldiers.

Even though they may not be as elite as the Crimson Knights’ Brigade, they could still be classified among the elite.

The nobles not only were granted fiefs, but did not bring substantial amounts of money for development.

Instead, they brought large armies, arousing suspicion over their intentions.

Once these men settled down, it wouldn’t be easy to uproot them.

If the situation were to change in the future, the tables could turn against their favor.

Not wanting to directly confront the northern faction, yet wanting to get rid of them, the only solution was to incite the less powerful nobles.

As a politician, Earl Piers very well knew that mere words would hardly motivate anyone to risk their lives.

Even if everyone resented these newcomers, that wasn’t a reason for direct conflict.

Under such circumstances, laying traps and setting pitfalls was necessary.

“His Excellency the Count, fairness doesn’t rely on personal feelings.

To reduce unnecessary conflicts and for long-term stability of Layton and Wharton counties,

I believe the specific division of the fiefs should respect the wishes of the Lords as much as possible.

As long as the demands are within the rules, they should be accommodated.

If the demands of all cannot be met, then at least the demands of the majority should be.

This is in accordance with the principle of fairness in the Kingdom.”

Seizing this profitable opportunity, Viscount Doronard, a government officer on the side, quickly echoed.

The majority and minority were self-evident.

The Dalton Family was apprehensive about the powerful northern nobles, and so were the native nobles.

Among the Southeastern Province nobles, aside from the Dalton Family, who could assemble a few thousand elite soldiers, none of the remaining families could muster enough troops to form an elite infantry unit.

They were few and far between.

It can be said that with the northern nobles heading south, they were forcing everyone to race in expanding their armies.

If they did not want to be eliminated in future competition, they had to join the race.