Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence

At Su Li's summons, Marshal Orstein quickly arrived with a stack of maps and battle plans.

He was already surprised to be meeting outside the conference room, and seeing Phyllis there made him even more curious.

As far as he knew, this female courtier rarely appeared or participated in territorial affairs due to her humble origins.

But Su Li was the lord, and if Su Li wished, he would report to him not just in the dining room, but even in the garden or by the fishing pond.

So he decisively gave a military salute and said, "Lord, I have completed all the operation plans for the Dragon's Maw. Please review them."

Su Li eagerly took the battle plan from his hands. This was another instance where the territory was ahead of the daily intelligence system!

This meant that even without the assistance of the daily intelligence system, Su Li had the means to counter the Green Dragon.

Today's intelligence only made Su Li more confident in this battle plan.

And frankly speaking, the daily intelligence system had provided little assistance to Su Li in this war against the Green Dragon's minions. The intelligence system was more focused on strategic matters, such as how to rapidly strengthen oneself while fighting the Green Dragon.

The strategic planning and tactical choices for fighting the Green Dragon were all made by Su Li and the knights themselves.

This plan, codenamed [Dragon's Maw], was proposed by Orstein as soon as the intelligence appeared. The intelligence system only confirmed the high probability of success for this battle plan.

After Su Li opened the map, Orstein explained in detail, "Lord, please see, to avoid being caught by our cavalry regiment, the Green Dragon has planned dozens of advancing routes. This wolf pack tactic is very effective. Our cavalry regiment's combat and mobility capabilities have a daily limit. Even if we split our forces and defeat them one by one, we can only destroy about four or five monster routes at most."

"This means that a large number of monster reconnaissance units have bypassed our snipers and infiltrated our territory. Based on their reconnaissance, they have probably almost finished surveying the territory's situation."

"We must use a swift and fierce offensive to disrupt the monsters' deployment, giving the Green Dragon the feeling that the front line is collapsing and that armies are being defeated everywhere."

Su Li nodded slightly, understanding Orstein's strategic intention, which was to give the Green Dragon the illusion that the front line had completely collapsed. The so-called 'defeat is like a landslide' – with defeats everywhere, anyone would think the situation was糜烂 and would have to retreat to a defensive line to gather the routed troops and stabilize the situation.

This defensive line could be a natural chasm or a specific legion.

Orstein stepped forward, pointing to a green area on the map between the Blackwater River and the Brienne River, and said with an excited tone, "This is the main force of the monster reconnaissance legion. Basically, all monster reconnaissance intelligence and the gathering of roving troops are here, totaling two legions. Perhaps they are careless, or perhaps they want to set an ambush to lure us, but without a doubt, according to the reconnaissance intelligence, they are somewhat reckless and too far away from the main force and escort troops."

"So we named this operation Dragon's Maw. We want to extract a tooth from the tiger's mouth under the Green Dragon's nose, launching a swift assault with the most elite cavalry regiment and crushing one of its sharpest claws."

Su Li nodded and said firmly, "I support your action. Even if the Green Dragon has an ambush, we will have enough time to retreat safely before their ambush arrives. The loss of the monster legion's failed night attack was very heavy. A large number of elite centaurs died in battle, resulting in the loss of most of their mobile forces. The remaining treants may be thick-skinned and strong in close combat, but their support speed must be relatively slow. Our tiger's mouth extraction will definitely be a great success."

Extracting a tooth from the tiger's mouth, even when the opponent is prepared, crushes their legion and their morale.

Orstein was greatly encouraged by Su Li's support. He put away the battle plan and said, "We will mobilize all elite cavalry legions and strike the monsters swiftly on the vast plains east of Bjorn Bay."

"The Sun Crown Knights and the Crimson Night Knights have already approved this plan, and they will send all their main forces to join us."

Coordinating so many knight orders and armies to launch an attack was not an easy task and would take at least a day for mobilization and preparation.

So after discussing the Dragon's Maw operation, Su Li turned to Orstein Knight and said solemnly, "The Dragon's Maw operation has been decided, and the rest can be handled by lower-ranking officers. I have another important battle here that I need to discuss with you."

Orstein was stunned for a moment after putting away the battle plan. What battle was he, the territory's marshal, unaware of but needed to participate in?

But he quickly realized and, clutching the rolled-up battle plan in his hand, stood up straight and asked, "Lord, are the Skaven assassins coming?"

Su Li nodded. This assassination was aimed at the lord's female courtier.

In principle, Orstein was the commander of the territory's army, not Su Li's private soldier, and did not need to be involved in this matter. This should be handled by Hilde and the high-ranking attendants.

But how could there be so many principles in this world? In any empire, it was impossible to separate public and private matters clearly. Receiving Su Li's salary, how could Orstein turn a blind eye to the impending assassination?

So Orstein decisively struck his chest with his fist and said solemnly, "I always remember my knight's oath: I swear to serve my lord with my flesh and soul. When the horn sounds, I will fight in the name of the Empire and the Goddess. As long as I have a breath left, the evil will not defile the land I guard. Honor is everything! Chivalry is everything! I swear by my blood and my breath."

"Lord, Phyllis is a member of our territory. I will never allow the claws of evil to harm any member of our territory."

Su Li smiled with satisfaction, "My friend, I knew you would never disappoint me."

"Then let's talk about the tactical arrangements for tonight. Tonight at 23:30, the Skaven Chosen Assassin will infiltrate our bathroom from the water gate, including three Eshin Assassins and one Eshin Sorcerer. We must stop them before they leave the bathroom, otherwise, with the support of the Eshin Sorcerer's sneaky spells, they will disappear without a trace."

Hilde, as the high-ranking attendant manager, was very clear about the defenses of Heissenburg. She said in surprise, "They will infiltrate from the bathroom? There is a burning boiler there, and the pipes pass through the boiler to heat the bathroom. The temperature will be very high. Ordinary people can't stand the high temperature at all."

Su Li said, "It is precisely because the conditions here are extreme and everyone thinks it is impossible that they will choose to infiltrate here."

Besides, how hot can the boiler water for bathing be? At most, it's sixty or seventy degrees.

The low-temperature wax used for Freya is forty or fifty degrees, and that's for flirting.

A Chosen-level assassin can definitely withstand the sixty or seventy-degree hot water and lurk through the distance from the boiler to the bathtub.

Orstein stroked his brown, tough beard and pondered for a moment, "So our best way is to block them as soon as they show up in the bathroom at 23:30, and then, after the battle breaks out, have someone block their retreat."

Hilde said, "This is the best way to block the Skaven assassins in a narrow tunnel, which can give full play to our knights' well-equipped and powerful protection characteristics, while limiting the mobility and dodge space of these assassins."

"What makes these Skaven truly fearful is their unpredictable and elusive ability. Once they are blocked in a narrow corner, their combat power is not worth mentioning."

Orstein said decisively, "Then I will block them head-on. Your half-griffin mount is faster, Lord Hilde, you can block their retreat."

Hilde had no objection. These two tasks were equally important. If the Skaven saw that the mission had failed, they might not fight Orstein desperately, but they would definitely fight Hilde, who was covering the rear, desperately.

After confirming the plan, Su Li said to the two, "You can discuss this matter with Ron and Dietrich. As religious priests, they will definitely be helpful in the battle."

Not to mention anything else, setting up a few religious statues near the battlefield can greatly increase the combat power of these two knights.

After all, there is an Eshin Skaven warlock in the opponent's team, which may cause some strange effects.

Orstein nodded, and then expressed his tough stance, "I will press their heads and make them cooperate fully in this mission. If anyone dares not cooperate, I will make them suffer a little."

This was the idea of a proud and arrogant knight.

This might have a miraculous effect, because among these combat priests and rude knights, the one with the biggest fist is the one who has the last word.

It was much more effective than Su Li's painstaking persuasion.

Phyllis saw two powerful Chosen Ones guarding her, and bright light jumped in her eyes. Her gaze lingered until the two disappeared from Heissenburg before reluctantly withdrawing it.

Su Li was a little surprised to see her excited, and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"Ah?" Phyllis seemed startled, quickly patted her chest, shook her head and said, "Nothing. Lord, do you have anything else to do today? Do you need my help?"

Phyllis was willing to help him deal with government affairs?

Su Li didn't think much about it and said, "There are still many things to deal with. And they are all urgent and trivial matters."

First of all, there was the shepherd of Grey Stone Village. If he didn't stop his desecration of the goddess statue in the abandoned altar, then Heissenland would be shrouded in mist for a while.

Originally, there were no roads between these villages and towns. When the fog was thick, people would probably get lost as soon as they left the village.

Even the towns might not be safe. The towns would be shrouded in thick fog, and some people would disappear into the depths of the mist.

He didn't know what the shepherd had done to the beautiful goddess statue to provoke the Elf Goddess, Lady of the Mist, Radria, so much.

As far as Su Li knew, elves were very open in this regard.

Moreover, since the end of the War of the Longbeards, the elven population had plummeted, and they had even abandoned their former colonies and retreated to the elven islands. The elven queens would gather the men and women in the territory in the Eternal Garden every spring for an unclothed gathering, partying for a month in a row to encourage fertility.

So ordinary desecration would definitely not stimulate the Lady of the Mist enough to make her react so strongly.

Besides, you are not Little Dragon Girl. You were desecrated by him, so vent and retaliate against him. Why drag the anger to Heissenland?

Su Li could only send a team of swan knights from his direct attendants to the south of Grey Stone Village to solve the problem.

Then there was the epidemic in Avondale Village. Su Li's current territory size was a standard elementary pioneering territory, with only a small town and several villages attached to it. If it was destroyed by the followers of the Plaguefather Nurgle, it would be a heavy loss.

He directly sent a medical knight, a Sister of the Morning Light, and a team of mounted armed attendants to solve the problem.

By the way, he also asked his attendants to deploy the Red Brotherhood. This was the brotherhood currently employed by him, and he asked them to bring back all the relics of the elven mage in the watchtower.

Mercenary groups still had basic ethics. If the employer had already paid them the employment fee, then the things inside were naturally Su Li's. The Brotherhood would not openly ask for a share, and whether anyone would hide anything privately depended on Rogue Luo's methods.

Su Li had been arranging three items, and Phyllis had no sense of participation, so she asked a little bored, "Lord, is there anything I can do to help you?"

Su Li asked curiously, "Why do you want to participate in these things?"

Phyllis said a little bored, "I feel like I should find some hobbies too. Hilde, Ingrid, and even Avril have their own jobs, and I have nothing to do every day. And..."

"And what?"

Phyllis looked at Su Li cautiously and said, "And I think the feeling of being guarded to the death is so special. I have never experienced it before."

Sure enough, women are born to care about being protected, especially when others are willing to protect her with their lives, which touches her heartstrings.

Su Li thought for a while and said, "Then you can also experience guarding something. The Lion's Mane Mushrooms in the territory are about to grow. You can take a walk and help me pass the challenge to Fandal, asking him to use the [Descent of the Sun] divine spell three times on this Lion's Mane Mushroom field within a month. Then a [Lionheart] will appear, which can cultivate a champion knight for our territory."

The Lion's Mane Mushroom field was in the open space between the inner castle and the outer wall, so Phyllis was not running around.

She immediately said with great interest, "Okay! I will also do my best to protect the results of my cultivation."

After Phyllis left, Su Li dealt with the last urgent intelligence item for today.

The trade with the dwarves would have to wait until Rogue Luo persuaded the merchants to send over 20,000 gold crowns before it could begin.

So the last item for today was about the tidiness and order of the territory. He didn't know what kind of genius had come to the territory, that it was worth such a big show.

But a genius cultivated in the Middenheim Royal Griffin Military Academy would not be lower than Laun's level.

So Su Li directly had a servant invite the Minister of the Seal, Raun, over.

This old minister had been looking quite well recently. Although he was still dutiful, it was clear that he lived comfortably. His once slender figure had plumped up, giving him a somewhat prosperous appearance.

He quickly arrived at Su Li's side and respectfully said, "My respected lord, good day to you. May the Radiant Sun Goddess forever bless you with the vigor of the sun. I wonder, what can I do for you?"

Su Li smiled and said, "It's nothing major. I was thinking of taking you on a tour of the town, to inspect the security, sanitation, and general civility of the territory, and see if the town is neat and orderly."

Raun immediately bowed and said, "I would be glad to introduce you to the recent conditions of the town, Lord."

High Steward Hildred was arranging the ambush near the bathhouse, so Tiberos led the Black Forest Guard Knights to escort Su Li out of Black Forest Castle, riding directly into the town south of the castle.

Black Forest Castle was separated from the town by the wide Brienne River. A narrow stone arch bridge connected the north and south, but this stone bridge wasn't used much. Entering the north of the town via this bridge required permission, so except for rest days, it was mostly empty. Fully armed Bloodpine Wild Beast Butcher Company servants, clad in plate armor and wielding long halberds, stood guard on both sides of the bridge.

In addition to guarding Black Forest Castle, they also guarded the northern treasury district. The treasury district was also a fortress, containing all the wealth, props, spoils of war, and dangerous items of Su Li and the entire Black Forest territory, such as statues of evil gods, weapons of Chaos Warriors, props, etc. These things couldn't be disposed of quickly, but were very valuable.

At the same time, there were also some private and bank vaults in the treasury district. Their gold coins, wealth, etc., could be sent to the private vaults in the treasury district after applying through a transport team. After all, this was the most heavily guarded place in the Black Forest territory. Even if the Green Dragon Legion really destroyed the town, the knights, landowners, and merchants could rely on the wealth in the treasury to rebuild the territory and farms.

However, Su Li had already been to the treasury district many times. The buildings inside were tall, the defenses were strict, and it was empty, so there was no need to inspect it. He planned to go to the more prosperous area in the south of the town to take a look.

In the past, when he left Black Forest Castle, he went directly to Bjorn's Shallows. After Black Forest Town was built, he really hadn't spent much time wandering around.

But land development isn't just about agricultural development. Handicrafts and commerce are equally important. The stationing of knightly orders, companies, and merchant guilds is of unparalleled importance to the territory's strength.

After Su Li rode Deathclaw out of the castle, he first arrived at Carnival Square in front of the castle.

The square was bustling with people. At least hundreds of people were scurrying around in the square. When they saw a large number of Black Forest Guard Knights, these people immediately cheered and surrounded them.

Soon someone saw Su Li riding Deathclaw in the middle of the Black Forest Guard Knights, which made the cheers even louder.

"It's Lord!"

"He's the shining star of Black Forest Territory!"

"Long live Lord! Your radiance illuminates the entire territory."

Su Li smiled and waved to everyone. Obviously, his prestige in the territory was unparalleled.

In a powerful empire, victory is the most effective way to increase prestige.

As long as the monarch can lead the forces to keep winning, even tyrannical rule can gain unparalleled prestige within the forces.

Moreover, Su Li is definitely one of the lords with extremely high imperial virtues.

Regardless of how serfs fare under his rule, farmers, commoners, free people, craftsmen, merchants, and landlords definitely live very comfortably. Su Li gives them tax rebates as high as 30%, meaning they only need to pay sixteen percent tax.

With the territory's three harvests a year, the many opportunities and chances, and the slaves and spoils of war brought back by the territory's continuous victories, the territory's people can maintain 40% of their income. Compared with farmers in other territories, they look much more human.

They don't resemble the old farmer who looks like a skeleton from that imperial joke.

Su Li then asked Raun, "Why are there so many people here?"

Raun immediately explained, "The Monastery of the Church of Healing and Mercy is located in the southeast direction of Carnival Square. They provide services to many people in the territory, so there is a constant flow of people here throughout the year."

Su Li observed and found that many of them were wearing leather armor and carrying greatswords, and said, "They don't look like commoners to me."

Raun smiled and said, "That might be because the Rosini Eagle is having some activity."

"Rosini Eagle?"

Raun explained, "It's a tavern, quite far from here, located southeast of the Great Monastery of the Healing Church. It's where the territory's mercenaries like to hang out. The tavern's customers include mercenaries, adventurers, and ranger knights. The striptease performances are very famous. The performer is said to be a half-elf with dark elf blood. The champion of the tavern's monthly arm-wrestling competition and the champion of each cycle of the Lion Ring Arena can have her for a whole day."

"What do you mean they can have her for a whole day?" Su Li asked with great interest.

Raun certainly understood the lord's interest. In fact, what man wouldn't be interested in this kind of topic?

He smiled and replied, "Exactly what it sounds like. For the next day, she is the champion's prize. Usually, the champions will carry her onto their horses and take her back to the inn like a prisoner. Of course, some are generous and will take her to Garden Hill. It's the highest hill in the south of the territory. Mol's Garden is located on it, overlooking all areas except the north of the town. The vegetation there is exceptionally lush, making it a good place for couples to be intimate."

A good place to be intimate?

Good heavens, isn't that making a mistake in the flower field? And it's outdoors.

These champions are really wild.

However, Su Li didn't like being on the same path as others, so he didn't pay much attention to this stripper.

"I remember that the headquarters of the Wester High Merchant Guild is located in the southeast of the territory, right?"

Raun immediately nodded and said, "Yes, Lord, your memory is excellent. The Wester High Merchant Guild's headquarters is located across Warhammer Road. At the same time, Ector Commercial Street is there."

Warhammer Road is an important garrison for Black Forest Territory soldiers. The town guard's garrison is located here, and the housing mainly consists of military camps. There are soldiers everywhere here.

At the same time, branch offices of some knightly orders, a branch of the Radiant Sun Goddess Monastery, and a military prison are also built here.

This Warhammer Road is a southeast-trending street that protects the security of the outer city of Black Forest Town.

Therefore, Ector Commercial Street was specially built to the south of it. This is a street dedicated to selling various adventure products, ancient items, witchcraft props, and spoils of war.

It can be said that the territory's diverse population mainly operates in this direction.

Su Li wanted to see the territory's order and sanitation, and this was the most suitable place to go directly, so Su Li said, "Then let's go inspect this place."