Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence

The Empire is a warlike and brave nation, where everyone from nobles to commoners are willing to earn personal honor and pride through combat.

Anyone who invades the Empire's territory will face the wrath of mighty knights, outstanding warriors, and the glorious protectors of a nation feared and respected throughout the Old World continent.

These armies march to war in the name of various gods, for the glory of their lords, sweeping away evil on the battlefield.

However, within the Empire, there are also some less-than-righteous professions, and the members of the Church of Handrich and the brotherhood are clearly among them.

This church is somewhat similar to the Church of Ranald, which is why Su Li mistakenly identified them as members of the Church of Ranald.

After the Rogue, Luo Ou, finished speaking, Su Li looked at him curiously and asked, "Some less formal means? What can you do for me?"

Luo Ou immediately replied, "Within the Empire, members of our Handrich sect's brotherhood are also known as thugs, enforcers, or 'heavyweights.' This is because our people can do various things for anyone, such as putting pressure on citizens and politicians, protecting valuable goods, and cracking skulls when necessary. As the sect's business has expanded into almost every type of commerce and throughout the Empire, we find ourselves traveling long distances, dealing with all types of people on behalf of the sect, and usually profiting from it."

"If you don't mind our methods being less formal, we can help you contact mountain people, recruit vagrants, reorganize wasteland nomads, and even forest bandits."

This is undoubtedly the black glove of the Empire's nobles.

Under the rule of the Empire, the cities are whitewashed with decaying walls, and in this land, the existence of peasants seems to be only to serve their masters, and the existence of the masters seems to be only to pursue the chivalrous ideals of knights: to rule and protect. Under the strict protection of fortress ramparts, the Imperial knights dedicate their lives to mastering feudalism, hunting, tournaments, etc., while their subjects toil to support their lords and fill their treasuries.

So, it is clear that the nobles of the Empire need some more flexible people to help them realize their rule.

And among the Empire's lower classes, few are literate. On the first day of each month, they must gather to listen to their lord's servants read out the creed that the lower classes must follow, and remind them that serving their lord is a glorious undertaking, as well as the responsibilities they must bear to bask in this great cause.

In fact, the Empire's peasants barely eke out a living, toiling in the fields day after day, struggling in abject poverty. Most of these peasants barely live to middle age, let alone hope for their master's appreciation of their dedication. However, without the fruits of these peasants' labor and the taxation of their meager incomes, the knights would be unable to maintain their accustomed lifestyle.

The Imperial knights themselves are also accustomed to transcribing their oaths in extremely ornate fonts, and treating them with piety. Knights recite these oaths before statues or relics of the goddess—depending on the knight's status, the statue or relic may be a simple painting adorned with candlelight, or a gilded triptych. If they violate any point in their oath, it is considered the most serious crime for these noble but narrow-minded warriors.

These brotherhoods are clearly a less-than-righteous profession that facilitates communication between knights and commoners, thieves, and wasteland nomads, but it is not considered a criminal profession.

At present, their greatest use is undoubtedly to help Su Li reorganize the bandits around his territory.

As long as Su Li is willing to pay a sum of money and a piece of land, some of these wasteland nomads and forest bandits will definitely be willing to lay down their weapons and join the territory.

The weaker ones among them can replenish the population of the territory, reclaim farmland, and increase the scale of agriculture.

The stronger ones can even be directly integrated into the army, serving as soldiers or even junior officers in the provincial legions. Because among these bandits, there are also some wandering ranger knights who have lost their honor and violated their oaths.

Reorganizing them into the territory is equivalent to giving them a chance to turn over a new leaf.

So, Su Li said to the Rogue, Luo Ou, "I can accept your presence in the territory and pay you enough rewards for each group of vagrants and bandits you recruit. But can you guarantee that you will not instigate the common people to resist the rule?"

"Of course!" Luo Ou immediately said, "We have always been materialistic. We serve whoever can provide sufficient funds. We have investigated the situation in Black Forest, and there is no doubt that you are the greatest owner of wealth in Black Forest."

"Moreover, compared to the territory's large army and incredibly powerful knights, a commoner rebellion is completely futile."

This is very evident within the Empire. The tyrannical rule of the Imperial knights is overwhelmingly dominant. In the eyes of the Imperial knight masters, the uprisings and desperate battles of the commoners are completely futile struggles.

While Su Li was pondering, Luo Ou continued, "Moreover, I have seen that the commoners in your territory are far richer than the ordinary level of the Empire. Even the food of the slaves is beyond the reach of most serfs in the Empire. Only if their brains were kicked by a stupid donkey would they want to launch an uprising and overthrow your rule."

"On the contrary, as far as I know, many wealthy farmers and workshop owners intend to provide you with a loan in order to gain greater say in the territory. I am here this time to negotiate with you on their behalf."

After listening, Su Li couldn't help but laugh and said, "You really are steadfast in your adherence to materialism. You will help whoever can provide you with benefits to fulfill their needs."

"But what you said has successfully attracted my interest. The merchants and landowners of the territory want to give me a loan?"

"Yes," Luo Ou immediately said, "Your army's proportion has obviously exceeded the carrying capacity of the territory's finances. If you want to continue expanding the army and building large-scale facilities in the territory, the finances should be somewhat insufficient. The territory's merchants can give you a valuable loan to help you win this battle against the Green Dragon."

Su Li raised an eyebrow and asked, "How much wealth? What is the loan interest rate?"

"At least 5,000 gold crowns, with a daily interest of only 13 gold crowns."

Su Li smiled and said, "Your interest rate is going to eat people alive."

Thirteen gold crowns of interest a day doesn't seem like much. But in just one year, the interest will exceed their principal!

The Empire has 400 days a year. Just paying them interest would require paying back 5,200 gold crowns.

The annualized interest rate exceeds 100%. This is usury among usury!

Isn't this the same as the Eastern loan sharks? Lending money to the army to fight, and the army and emperor can't default.

A sinister and smug smile appeared on Luo Ou's thin face. He bowed slightly and said reservedly, "Lord, you know, it is most difficult to collect debts from a kingdom knight who wields an army. So, it is only natural that the interest rate is a bit high."

Su Li also smiled brightly. The emperor who wields the power of life and death is invincible in the negotiating arena.

He looked at the other two mercenary leaders and asked, "Do you think I should accept this proposal?"

The two knights shrugged and said, "This is your territory's internal affairs."

"But we believe that winning is the most important thing. With such military spending, more elite mercenary groups can be recruited, which can help you enter the Green Dragon's lair sooner. As long as you get the dragon's nest treasure, what does it matter if you lose a few hundred gold crowns?"

"Haha, a few hundred gold crowns?" Su Li laughed and said, "You have so much confidence in me? That the war with the Green Dragon can be ended within a month or two?"

In fact, if he could end the war quickly at the cost of a few hundred gold crowns, or even a thousand or two, Su Li would not hesitate.

If he had the opportunity to farm, his income in a month or two would easily make up for these interest payments.

Every day the war drags on, the territory loses countless wealth.

Luo Ou decisively snatched the topic and continued, "Of course, the territory's merchants are full of confidence in you. The Green Dragon will definitely not be able to destroy your territory."

But the Green Dragon can destroy a lot of the territory's wealth. Once the farmland of Bjorn Bay is burned by monsters, although the territory will not be destroyed, starvation will be unavoidable.

So, Su Li said decisively, "Then you will represent me to negotiate with the merchants. I want a loan of at least 20,000 gold crowns, and at the same time, reduce the interest rate by half."

Luo Ou narrowed his eyes, staring at Su Li like a fox, and said, "Lord, this is not an easy thing. This negotiation is too unfair to the merchants. The merchants have paid four times the loan, and the interest rate should be increased by 5 to 8 times. That is, there must be at least 100 to 160 gold coins of income per day to offset the risk."

Su Li leaned back leisurely, resting on the wide back of the chair, and said, "Luo Ou, the time has come to show your worth. An interest of 20 gold crowns a day is enough to make the merchants tempted. So, go negotiate. I will give you a reward of 500 gold crowns for every 1,000 gold crowns that the interest decreases per year."

Luo Ou immediately straightened his body, trembling with excitement: "Haha, I knew that serving you was the most correct choice. Please believe us, Knight Su Li, our brotherhood will definitely give you a satisfactory result!"

500 gold crowns!

What a huge amount of wealth.

A caravan takes a huge risk, traveling back and forth between the east, west, north, and south of the Border Princes, and may not be able to earn 500 gold crowns in one trip!

Luo Ou felt that this transaction earned him more than just 500 gold crowns.

Twenty gold crowns a day, and the annual interest is 8,000 gold crowns.

This profit is definitely enough to impress most greedy merchants. He can continue to push the price down. If he can press it down to 4,000 gold crowns, then he can earn a huge fortune of 2,000 gold crowns!

According to his estimation, the war between Black Forest and the Green Dragon will not last for a year, which is also what most people think, so the merchants will take the initiative to loan money to the lord of Black Forest. This is a win-win business.

But even if the war ends in the territory in three months, their Red Brotherhood will be able to obtain 460 gold crowns of wealth.

This is a huge scale of wealth that they can't earn back no matter how many times they rob on the road, or how many forest bandit tribes they risk their lives to loot.

If they can follow the territory's army and win this decisive battle, plus the spoils of war in the future, their Red Brotherhood will immediately not have to worry about food and drink for a year, and can even save a considerable reward to build a camp in Black Forest.

However, when it comes to combat, the members of their Red Brotherhood are obviously not the protagonists.

On the contrary, the two mercenary groups simultaneously brightened their eyes and looked at Su Li with piercing eyes.

The loan income of 20,000 gold crowns will undoubtedly accelerate the progress of the territory's war.

In the wars of the Empire, the composition of a lord's army is diverse. The most elite core is undoubtedly the lord's military commander and powerful knights.

Then there are the considerable scale of direct vassal camps and provincial armies, which are the territory's standing army.

Finally, there are the largest number of fiefdom armies and free militias. These armies have relatively low combat effectiveness, but they are large in scale and have no maintenance costs.

But in order to increase combat effectiveness, the lords will undoubtedly hire a group of knightly orders and mercenary groups to participate in the war.

At the most ⊥ new ⊥ small ⊥ says ⊥ at ⊥ six ⊥ 9 ⊥⊥ book ⊥⊥ bar ⊥⊥ first ⊥ hair!

Some of these powerful mercenary groups or several mercenary groups will join forces to provide a scale of thousands of people, and participate in a war throughout the entire process.

The lowest of these mercenary groups have the combat effectiveness of a provincial legion, and the highest upper limit may even have the level of a knightly order!

Su Li looked at the two knights behind Luo Ou and said, "Which of you two would like to introduce yourself first?"

Before the handsome young man could speak, the bearded Uric follower slammed the table, stood up, and shouted roughly, "Let me go first! We are the Fallen Wolf Mercenary Group. I am the Grand Master, Granlong Rein. There are 100 to 120 Uric White Wolf heavy armored knights who can participate in the battle at any time. They are all powerful Uric followers, and the lowest level is an official knight."

"Unlike the White Wolf Knights who guard the temple, we firmly adhere to the teachings of the Uric Church, fighting in the name of the wolf god, bringing slaughter and death to the enemy, and dedicating glory to the wolf god. We are the true Uric followers, similar to the gods we believe in, eager for battle, and possessing unparalleled war skills."

Su Li's eyes lit up, full of joy, even a little surprised.

The Fallen Wolf Mercenary Group is obviously a stronger heavy cavalry mercenary group! They have unparalleled advantages in outdoor charges.

Just like Granlong said, they are the true followers of Uric. Unlike those knightly orders that guard the temple and are more defensive in nature.

Their mercenary group practices the will of Uric, actively seeking war, eager to use the enemy's blood to irrigate Uric's glory.

Therefore, the Uric followers howl ecstatically for every drop of blood they shed in battle, and rejoice in the brutal arms race. Their faith is a military faith: its fundamental reason for existence is to create powerful warriors to serve the Imperial army, especially in cooperation with knights, so that they can spread the glory of Uric throughout the world through their heroic feats on the battlefield. (This is very Khorne)

However, this cult does not approve of the use of ranged weapons and gunpowder, preferring cold weapons that require close combat. Yurick's followers also despise schemes and any tactics that could be interpreted as cowardice: thus creating a conflict between them and the beliefs of Violet's and Ranald's followers.

As a mercenary group, the Fallen Wolf Mercenary group's addition is undoubtedly an important supplement to the military strength of the Black Forest.

So Su Li decisively said: "The territory welcomes you to join. This war with the Green Dragon will surely allow you to have a satisfying battle. I wonder what your demands are, and what are the conditions for hiring you?"

Gelanlong said straightforwardly: "We have no demands. We just want to participate in the war and gain more wealth and promote the glory of Yurick. But as proof of our strong strength, when you hire us, you need to pay 1500 gold crowns at the beginning. At the same time, provide 400 gold crowns of employment fee per month, and allow us to keep a part of the loot as a reward for our victory."

After paying them 1500 gold crowns, you can hire them at any time in the future. Just pay them wages when you hire them, and you don't have to pay them maintenance fee at ordinary times.

400 gold crowns per month, this price is a bit high. Although this mercenary group is an elite mercenary group of heavy armored cavalry, it is impossible for everyone to be elite knights.

400 gold crowns is enough to maintain an elite knight of 80 people.

But it is normal for mercenary group fee to be higher, after all, Su Li does not have to pay them fee in non-wartime states.

As long as the proportion of elite knights in this mercenary group reaches 30 to 50 people, Su Li will not lose money. After all, he also has a large number of formal knights.

So Su Li only thought for a moment, and then decisively said: "No problem, I will pay you the fee until the end of the war with the Green Dragon."

Then Su Li looked at the last knight. Not only was he outstanding in appearance, but even his demeanor was very good.

Being preempted time and time again, he maintained his self-restraint, sat on the chair, with a faint smile on the corner of his mouth, which made him look less like a rude knight, but more like a noble from a noble family with a good family education.

So Su Li asked him: "You can introduce yourself. It seems you are not in a hurry?"

The young knight smiled calmly and said: "Of course, Master Su Li. Our Blue Heron Mercenary group has close ties with your family. We are here this time to build a base in your territory and develop our mercenary group's business to the Frontier Principality."

Su Li's eyes lit up and said: "Are you the people from the Blue Heron Mercenary group that Knight Commander Connor told me about? Great, I also intend to talk to you in detail."

It's just that as soon as Connor came, the Green Dragon Legion invaded.

After the war, Su Li was too weak to get out of bed and relied on cultivation in bed to recover his strength.

Now is the time to talk in detail with this Blue Heron Mercenary group. This is a well-known mercenary group. They have served the Territory of Tyr Tirth for a century, proving their loyalty and reliability.

As a result, they have gained the trust and support of many imperial nobles, and have built a considerable base in the local area, absorbing a large number of excellent mercenaries, and developing into a large-scale mercenary group, and has a number of subordinate warbands, companies and adventurer teams, providing security services for various lords and caravans.

Su Li asked with concern: "Why would you want to come to the Frontier Principality to develop?"

The other party replied with a smile: "Our regiment commander believes that the Frontier Principality is the broadest blue ocean for mercenaries. This vast and fertile land supports a large number of pioneering lords, and wars are frequent. But at the same time, the vacuum zone between the power centers and the wide forests hide countless plunderers, which pose a great threat to caravans. So we can get more business here."

"Next, please allow me to introduce you to the details of our mercenary group. I am the commander of this sub- warband, Bernhardt Morgan. The name of our sub- warband is the Hatespeaker Mercenary group, named after the powerful Rune War Halberd·Hatespeaker in the hands of the warband leader. This war Halberd is inlaid with a flame rune enchanted by a dwarf rune master. It has two powerful characteristics. One is that it can make the user better at fighting, and the other is that it can allow the user to release fireball spell!"

"Moreover, the elite melee troops of our entire warband are covered with dwarf-made half-body plate armor, holding well-crafted long Halberds, and holding up our original banner - a griffin holding a Halberd, symbolizing the noble and unyielding spirit of our warband."

Melee Halberd soldiers are covered with dwarf-made half-body plate armor?

This is a remarkable elite infantry unit. In the Black Forest, only Su Li's direct armed attendants battalion·Blood Pine Forest Beast Killers can surpass them in equipment.

So Su Li asked with concern as soon as possible: "How many people did your mercenary group bring this time?"

Bernhardt replied calmly: "There are not many people who came to our mercenary group in the first time, only 80 long Halberd regiments and 40 crossbowmen. But after we build the mercenary group sub-base here, we estimate that a 500-person base will be formed here, radiating all surrounding areas."

A 500-person mercenary base?

This is not a small number!

Even if these 500 people exclude clerical staff, internal affairs staff, warehouse management, chefs and financial cashiers, etc., the mercenaries who can participate in the battle are no less than 360 people.

How much wealth can such a huge mercenary team bring to the Black Forest and all nearby territories, towns, farms and chambers of commerce, etc. by providing services?

Just providing these people with prostitutes and drinks is enough for a small territory to make a lot of money.

If you add the family members, mounts, servants, slaves and prisoners of war of these mercenaries, this base may be able to have a scale of 1,000 people, which is larger than most villages.

But this is not the end, Bernhardt continued: "Master Su Li, don't be disappointed. Although there are not many combat personnel from our Blue Heron Mercenary group, we have also brought you some of our partners, a group of dwarf rangers!"

"They are a group of partners we met when we fought against the rat people in the Frontier Principality and are willing to fight the Green Dragon for the reward you pay."