Reborn: Imperial Officer Promotion Guide

After the social party, Hull and his friends got on a carriage heading back to the Kraken area.

"Teacher... tell me the truth, what on earth were you doing at this social party? Wasn't it to promote friendly relations? How did you offend your superior lord?!"

"The main purpose is to confirm what kind of person the superior lord of West Territory is. Now it seems that he should be an insignificant guy."

Qiannuo tilted her head: "What's the point of investigating this?"

Ling also gave him a puzzled look. Heer sighed and said, "Confirm whether the other party is an enemy or a friend, and then prepare in advance."

If they are outstanding nobles who can become allies, try to win them over. If they are enemies who will hinder you, find a way to kill them.

Increasing William's hostility towards him was also to make him reveal his flaws first.

Eliminating the gray area and leaving only the black and white colors of friend and foe, this kind of identification behavior is Hull's way of socializing.

"In a master-servant relationship, there is no need for incompetent superiors. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and remove unqualified superiors as soon as possible."

"So that's why you went to provoke that superior noble?" Only then did Ling understand Hull's real purpose.

"Yes."

The tactic of deliberately making enemies does not work for others.

For example, if Ling were in Hel's position, since she looks like just a little girl and doesn't know magic, her lack of ability would inevitably require a certain degree of compromise and obedience. Relying on social parties to build closer relationships with other lower-level nobles, especially to please her immediate superior lord, would of course be the best choice.

As the weaker party, the best strategy is to avoid making enemies as much as possible.

But this does not apply to Hull.

Although Hull's territory is still very weak at present and his noble status is not high, he is confident that he can rival the four earls of the empire in terms of personal combat power.

Hull decided to provoke Lord William only after fully considering his own advantages.

In fact, before attending the party, Hull also considered whether to make a certain degree of compromise.

If your superior lord is a great imperial noble like Walter, or a superior noble of the same title.

Even if there are conflicts in personality, Hull will use his own strength to win over the other party and establish an alliance.

But Lord William, even though he was among the upper nobles, was only at the bottom, and was not outstanding in wisdom or fighting ability.

It doesn't matter even if it causes hostility from the other party.

"But I think they'll send someone to cause trouble soon."

"That would be exactly what they want. People are most vulnerable when they are attacking."

"Ah...it's a devil..."

"By the way, Qianuo, your performance today was very poor. You didn't behave like an aristocrat at all. Of course, Ling wasn't much better. As expected, commoners' habits cannot be corrected in an hour. It's not enough to just remember the etiquette of the aristocracy. You need some time to adapt."

"Next time Ling is invited to a social evening, Qian Nuo, you will also attend as her secretary. Next time if you or Ling have the same problem again, I will not be lenient."

"Yes Yes!"

Xino had not yet recovered from the luxurious banquet that had just taken place, and just nodded woodenly.

"There are so many things to do now. When we get back, Xino, you go find old man Zamba and find out the reason for the poor harvest. Ask for a solution, and then promote it to other people. We must not allow another poor harvest this year."

"Ah...well...what if he doesn't want to teach me?"

"Tell me anytime. I just want to try out the torture chamber in Hanshi City to see if it works."

Heer smiled brightly, while Xino and Ling both looked surprised.

An expression similar to a sense of mission gradually emerged on Xino's face, and he kept repeating words like "We must help that old man..."

After a long while, Xino clenched his fists and bowed deeply to Heer: "I will definitely learn it! Please rest assured and leave it to me!"

"Well! I'll leave it to you. Ling, I need you to contact Sandval. The slave guild 'Eight Fingers' in the imperial capital is not easy to deal with. Collect the internal intelligence of their leader in advance. As your assistant, I will leave Rag and Goliath to your command."

"Um... if it's just a meeting, do we need to bring two bodyguards at once? I think just Goliath is enough."

"I brought Rag along to test his combat capability, and the mission I gave you is more than just delivering intelligence. I need you to seize the opportunity to destroy the slave guild and capture all their leaders alive."

!! ?

"This..how is this possible!?"

Indeed, as a slave guild that has been entrenched in the dark world of the imperial capital for many years, "Eight Fingers" has accumulated a large amount of wealth and is full of hidden talents.

Many desperate fugitives and serious criminals who have committed serious crimes can find a good job within the "Eight Fingers" as long as they have some skills.

It is said that it has the support of the empire's upper nobles, and it will not be an easy task to destroy such a large slave guild in one go.

Therefore, Hull sent Sandwal as an insider in advance.

"With Goliath here, the combat power is more than enough. To be on the safe side, I can also lend Reinhardt to you..."

A voice came from outside the carriage: "Hey... I haven't had a rest for several days... Please forgive me..."

Hull didn't take it to heart and just continued to look at Ling

"I want you to capture all the Eight Fingers leaders alive."

"Eh? What are you going to do if you catch him alive?"

"I plan to build a slave ranch in the Kraken area. Those scum are valuable labor."

"..."

Ling showed an expression of disbelief, but Hull just looked indifferent.

"If the slaves who have regained their freedom are willing, they can be brought to the Kraken area. I can provide them with shelter. As a lord, I can forge household registration for them and give them the same rights as other people."

"Ah... I feel dizzy..." Ling held her forehead and leaned in Xino's arms.

"Of course, if they ask to return to their hometown, that would be the best time for you to use your usual acting skills. You can persuade them to stay by coaxing, deceiving, or begging them. It would be best if they could bring their family and friends with them. Tell them that I will accept anyone who comes and exempt all taxes for three years."

The biggest problem facing the Kraken region right now is not poverty but its sparse population, which only numbers about 500 people.

Not only that, more than half of the people in the area are elderly, women and children, and there is a serious shortage of young and strong labor force.

Not only does farming require labor, but renovating the castle also requires labor, and so does taming the swamps and poison ivy that are rampant in the territory.

Even if slaves were used as labor, there was still a huge gap.

Hull planned to exempt the newly recruited people from taxes and then let them reclaim the swamps and poison ivy areas in the wild.

"Okay, I'm tired these past few days. I didn't sleep a wink last night. I need to get some sleep. If there's any trouble on the road, just look for Reinhardt."

Reinhardt's voice was heard again from outside the door curtain of the carriage.

"Oh, that's interesting... You can't handle it after just staying up all night? I haven't slept for almost 72 hours!?"

Hull ignored the noisy sounds around him, leaned against the carriage, and fell asleep in a few seconds.

The next morning, Hull woke up from bed.

He was really exhausted these days. As soon as he got off the carriage yesterday, he went back to his room and slept until the bright sunshine woke him up.

After washing up, Hull went to the restaurant to have breakfast.

When I arrived at the library, I found Xino was there too.

Judging from the dark circles under her eyes, she must have stayed in the library after changing her clothes last night.

"My Lord, good morning!" Xino bowed to Heer while holding the book in her hand.

"Xino, what are you doing here?"

Xino picked up the agricultural book in her hand and showed it to Hull.

It was a book about fertilizer application.

"Grandpa Zamba said that the soil in the Kraken area has been affected by the swamps and poison ivy. We need to mix human and animal feces with burned straw to make fertilizer and spread it on the ground to enhance the fertility of the fields. Apart from that, I wonder if we can find other better ways to improve the soil in the fields."

I see. Looks like I should have gained something from staying up all night, right?

"Very good, you continue. I only need the final result. If you need my help along the way, feel free to come to me. Don't rely on yourself for everything. You need to learn to draw on the wisdom of others. You can figure out how to do it yourself."

"Yes!" Xino bowed deeply to Heer, and then continued to look at the book in his hand.

"Oh, by the way, Xino, since you are in charge of increasing the wheat output in the territory, I would like to assign the beer brewing task to you as well."

The Southdale Chamber of Commerce is currently working on the construction of a branch office and a beer brewery.

Wheat is not actually sold at a high price except for people who produce and sell it themselves. But if you make it into beer, the profit will increase significantly.

It just so happens that the Kraken region has a sparse population, so in addition to wheat, each family’s farmland can also grow some hops.

The profit from this is higher than just growing wheat, so Hull needs Xino to discuss it with each family in advance.

"But...but I don't know how to make wine at all?"

"You can discuss the specific matters with Nandar, and follow their instructions on how to brew the wine. You just need to unite the people to provide the raw materials needed for brewing the wine."

As he spoke, Hull took a few books on winemaking from the bookshelf and handed them to Xino.

"You can take a look at these first. I will soon be going to the Central Command to accept a new position. Send me the first batch of beer you brew within three months."

Hull himself does not drink alcohol, and does not drink any alcoholic beverages.

In addition to expanding income, establishing a brewery to produce beer is mainly to prosper the black market.

Only places with alcohol can attract marginalized customers to patronize the black market.

Heer knew that this was not an easy task. He only gave Xino one goal, and how to do it depended entirely on the girl's own decision.

This is also to test the girl's ability.

Hull will not stay in the territory for too long. As his position and status are promoted, he will definitely acquire more and more territories, so he will also need more talents to manage the territory for him.

What is particularly needed is talent who can take the initiative to get things done without Hull's command.

At this time, Hull thought of Lieutenant Bass and Private First Class Etan who were still in the North. They were both excellent talents.

Xino is a person that both Heer and Ling have high hopes for. Despite the few times they have met, Heer still can't see many good points of Xino.

This is also a good opportunity to give her a test.

"If you can produce the first batch of qualified beer within three months, I will increase your salary to three silver deer, which is the same salary as a second lieutenant. Keep up the good work."

Qiannuo nodded heavily: "I am willing to do it, but... alcohol is the most harmful thing. My mother left us because of my father's alcoholism. Later, my father died of liver problems... I am the only one left..."

Indeed, Hull did not like alcohol, and he did not intend to let all of his subjects become alcoholics.

But the problem is not the wine at all...

"Xino, this is a formal order from me as your lord and your superior. No matter what your past is, it does not matter. My orders are absolute in the Kraken region."

"Yes..."

"And..." Heer seemed to think of a sentence he had heard someone mention in his previous life. He looked at Xino and murmured, "Wine can make sorrow more sorrowful and happiness more happiness... I hope that what you brew is fine wine that represents a good harvest, rather than a chronic drug that relieves sorrow."

After saying that, Hull took the document and walked out of the library.

Soon, a week passed, and construction work and farmland development in the Kraken area were proceeding intensively every day.

At such a critical moment, Hull could not continue to stay in the territory.

Hull had to go to the imperial capital to accept the new transfer order.

That's why he arranged everything in advance.

He has to go to a new area to take up a position.

On the other hand, Ling had already brought Goliath and Rag to secretly contact Sandval in the imperial capital.

According to the information sent by Sandval, tonight is the time for the monthly "Eight Fingers" branch directors to gather at the headquarters.

Ling decided to launch a surprise attack that night and destroy the empire's largest slave guild in one fell swoop.