Throne of the North

Three days later, at the Governor's Mansion in Beifeng City, the nobles from the entire Beifong Province finally gathered together.

It's this amount, which seems a bit pitiful.

In the past, the nobles of Beifeng Province were still very lively, but after the invasion of the orcs, everything changed.

The dead are certainly sad, but the living are still chatting and laughing.

Ryan sat in the Lingdu County area and watched the earls and viscounts talking and laughing among themselves. The one sitting in the middle even had memories in his mind.

To be precise, it was the two intertwined vine-like badges on the opponent's scepter.

Count Laxu of the Empire, Master of the Flying Snakes and the Forest.

This is an imperial earl with a powerful family who occupies the warm forests in the south. It is said that just the cultivated farmland is enough for millions of people to squander at will.

For Northwind Province, this is simply an unimaginable paradise.

After being polite to the three earls around him for a long time, the earl who arrived on behalf of the empire finally coughed twice and stood up.

The huge council hall suddenly became extremely quiet. Everyone looked at Count Laxu and watched him take out the snow-white silk from the scepter in his hand, with many words written on it.

"Since everyone is here, let's get together early and disperse early. It's really cold in Beifeng Province."

No one refuted Earl Laxu's disgusting tone. If they had a choice, they would also stay in the warm south.

But the other party's words still made people feel a little uncomfortable.

"Starting from this year, the empire will cancel all preferential treatment for the North Wind Province."

Laxu said succinctly. In fact, there were many words on the silk, most of which described the empire's expectations and support for Beifong Province in recent years, but this person summed it up directly.

"Every year, the support of one million gold coins will be cancelled. At the same time, Beifeng Province will pay an annual tax of 1.5 million gold coins to the empire."

"One and a half million?!!!"

As soon as Count Laxu finished speaking, a noble stood up angrily. He was from Hanshan County and was one of the few nobles who was lucky enough to survive. He was shocked when he heard this.

"Where can Beifeng Province get 1.5 million gold coins?"

Laxu snorted coldly and ignored the baron. He looked at Viscount Landa, one of the seven county guards in the North Wind Province. He was sure that when this person stood up, he must have received the signal from the viscount.

One and a half million gold coins, distributed to each noble, is a huge sum. Hanshan County is the place most ravaged by orcs, so it is difficult to get it, but they are very smart to get it. Everyone in Beifong Province.

Indeed, people soon started to speak out one after another, saying that Beifeng Province was in a difficult situation, and even half a million, let alone 1.5 million, could not be spent.

Laxu is not used to these people either.

"I'm just telling you that from now on, the taxes from Beifeng Province must be paid every year."

"As for how you take it out, that's not a question for the empire to think about."

"And this time the orcs went south. In the entire empire, only your Beifeng Province did not stop them. In the entire south, many people are now speculating whether the empire is getting old."

"The reputation of the empire has been offended. You have made a big mistake this time and you still dare to bargain?"

What Laxu said is true. Perhaps the empire has half-abandoned the North Wind Province, so the North Wind Province did not resist the orc invasion and did not impose too serious punishment. Even Earl Winter is still from the North Wind Province. Governor.

But these things cannot be talked about. Every noble understands that face is very important to them.

"alright."

Finally, Earl Winter stood up and said:

"Beifeng Province will definitely live up to the empire's trust."

"This is the best."

Earl Laxu nodded and said, coming to tell these nobles the news that they already knew was just a task for him and there was no benefit.

On the contrary, what happens next will affect the Earl's interests.

"Now that you know this, sit down and let's discuss the second thing."

"In the south, the empire and many great nobles had an exchange on the Holy Mountain of the Holy See, intending to implement the Lordship system in various territories on the continent."

"This matter has not been completely settled yet. The empire also wants to know what the nobles in various provinces think."

"As for the Lordship system..."

After a brief introduction, Count Laxu became quiet, and the entire conference hall became even more eerily quiet.

After a while, there was a sound.

"It would be great to be able to open up the northern border."

A baron said with a smile that he had several children. Although he was not worried about inheritance, he was still very melancholy before.

"It is an honor for those mud-legged people to be able to open up territory for the empire. If you ask me, just give them the title of pioneer knight. There is no need to become a noble."

"After all, we have conquered the territory. It's hard to say that. Otherwise, what would have happened to our ancestors?"

"Yes, my lord, it sounds pretty good too."

Naturally, the nobles smiled like old foxes, and some even called each other and boasted about each other's family crests.

But some are happy and some are sad.

A noble stood up. He was sitting on the edge without his family crest. He was a little nervous and a little angry at the moment.

"Lord Earl Laxu, I wonder what the empire's plans are for us pioneering nobles and pioneering knights?"

Earl Laxu also said calmly:

"The pioneering nobles before this year will officially observe the territory. If they are qualified, they will become baron nobles by the empire. If the territory is not qualified, they will become lords."

"For pioneer knights, as long as there is a territory, they will become lords."

"The empire promised back then that as long as our territory is large enough, it will make us nobles!"

A pioneer knight stood up. Under his loose clothes, many people could see that he was still wearing leather armor, and they couldn't help but look at him unkindly.

This is a meeting of nobles. What does it mean to dress like this? Bringing them down?

"Knight Chulin, are you questioning the empire's decision?"

Earl Winter snorted coldly and looked at the pioneer knight, and the powerful knight pressure forced him to sit down.

"The empire did say that back then, but a lord is also a member of the nobility. As long as you become a lord, no one will deny that you are not a nobility. Otherwise, it will cause condemnation from the entire human race."

"So, strictly speaking, the Empire has not broken its promise."

"As for whether you can become a baron, that also depends on the size of the territory. It cannot be said that you will definitely become a baron after obtaining the development order. There is no such thing."

"In the past, many of you would have become wandering knights and lost your territory, not to mention becoming lords and nobles."

"The empire has directly given all of you noble seats this time."

"Can a Lord and a Baron be the same?"

After hearing what Goraksu said, some people in the crowd couldn't help but speak.

Some of them who were more cautious continued to ask.

"If we become a lord, but the lord needs to be attached to the fifth-class title, what kind of noble lord do we belong to?"

"Well..."

Laxu's eyes narrowed slightly, and his tone was a bit high-spirited.

"Logically speaking, if you get the development order from a noble, you should become the lord of that noble. However, Beifeng Province is too far away. In order to help each other and develop the vast northern land, the empire's suggestion Yes, you’d better choose the fifth-level nobles near your territory.”

"And the empire can decide that this year's first batch of lords have the right to actively choose fifth-class nobles."

Obviously the empire also knows that there are basically conflicts between the expansion of territory and the neighboring nobles. In order to alleviate such conflicts, the lord can be prevented from relying on the fifth-class nobles closest to him.