Throne of the North

As Ryan said, you need as much food as you have.

For Mihai, the same is true for the demand for weapons. As Ryan guessed, there is more than just a noble lord behind Fragoso.

Because he was worried about the empire intervening in the kingdom's conflicts, Mihai did not dare to go directly to other nobles in Beifeng Province, but he also suggested that Ryan could buy from those nobles and then sell to them.

There are many iron ore deposits in Beifeng Province, which is known to the surrounding areas.

After sending Mihai away, Ryan wanted to collect information about the Kingdom of Andara from within the empire, but he really didn't have many manpower, so he could only give up for the time being.

A few days later, Ryan had already given orders to the blacksmiths in the territory to forge armors, and also arranged for Beard to go to Northwind Province to purchase weapons.

Less than two days after Beard left, a Lord from the Horse Territory from Baron Hatton appeared in the Tundra Territory.

"Dear Lord of the Tundra Territory, my Baron Hatton sends my regards to you."

Rayo Hatton, the uncle of the Baron in the Hatton family, was fortunate enough to become a noble due to the Lordship system. When facing Ryan, he seemed particularly confident and high-profile.

"Baron Hatton wants to invite me as a guest?"

Ryan couldn't help being surprised when he heard Rayo's intention, and then after thinking for a moment, he agreed.

"Go back and tell Baron Hatton that I will visit as promised."

Ryan waved his hand, and the old butler took away Rayo, who wanted to stay for a while to communicate with a fifth-class noble.

"Baron Hatton actually invited me. It seems like there's nothing good going on."

After the old butler came back, Ryan asked him to inform Brand.

The next day, Ryan led an army of thirty people to the Shenma Territory. After the road was roughly clear, his speed became much faster.

Arriving at Shenma Territory, Ryan could feel that the atmosphere in this territory was somewhat tense.

"Ryan, you're finally here."

Hatton greeted Ryan with a smile from afar, as if the two were friends he hadn't seen for many years.

"Mr. Hatton."

Ryan nodded and staggered away from Hatton's hug.

The two of them walked side by side to Hatton's castle banquet hall. There were more beautiful maids here than the last time Ryan arrived. It seemed that Hatton's enjoyment here had not diminished at all.

"You can take whatever you like directly, or you can test the moisture first tonight."

Hatton winked at Ryan and said.

"Mr. Hatton, let's discuss business first."

When Ryan saw Hatton before, he could feel that the other party's eyes stayed on his army for a long time.

Sure enough, after hearing Ryan's words, Hatton also frowned.

"Lian, you don't know, that brat Walter has started to get restless."

"He didn't know where he purchased a large number of slaves to fill his knighthood, and his mother, the woman from the Meyers family, spent a lot of money to help her son purchase a group of young people. Strong slaves form an army."

"If it's just like this, forget it, but that insidious and cunning Roach, the damn ugly crow, actually arranged for his army to be stationed in the knight territory of Walter, and he said it was to support his lord in expanding the territory."

"You also know that winter comes earlier in the Northwind Province, so the autumn harvest is coming soon. The Walter Knights did not cultivate so much food this year to feed the slaves they bought."

"In the past few days, the little brat led by Knight Walter has begun to boldly lead soldiers to steal my food."

After saying this, Hatton looked at Ryan.

"Ryan, my neighbor, we must never allow the Knights of Walter to trample on the honor of the nobles and plunder the sacred wealth of the nobles!"

Ryan nodded and said with a smile:

"Of course, a lord dares to start a war with a noble baron. This is something that will never be tolerated."

"However, Mr. Hatton, my territory is very busy, and this winter may be colder than before. If I rashly start a war with Baron Roach's territory, I will lose a lot of things."

Ryan said with some embarrassment:

"But if Mr. Hatton can support me with some food to survive this winter, then I will help you even if a group of slaves freeze to death in the territory."

That was the deal, and Hatton couldn't help but glance at Ryan.

"Ryan, I remember that you bought a lot of food not long ago, why are you running out of food again?"

"You can't grow much food in the tundra territory, and you know that too, Mr. Hatton, so we can only hoard it."

Ryan said helplessly:

"What's more, you also know that I have to keep so many knights, and they are very good to eat."

"Too."

Hatton nodded and agreed directly. This year, the food grown in the fields in his territory was relatively abundant, and coupled with the batch he purchased before, it was enough to survive this winter.

But he will never allow Knight Walter and Baron Roach behind him to snatch even a grain of wheat from him!

"Then my army will be stationed here."

"No, no, no, Ryan, I hope you can stay too. It's too cold in the Tundra Territory, but it's warm here."

Hatton shook his head. He hoped that Lane could support more troops.

"No one can cross your mountain road to reach the tundra territory, so you don't have to worry too much if you stay here."

Ryan instinctively sensed that things here were not simple.

He asked Hatton. The baron looked a little hesitant, but he still said it.

"Not long ago, Baron Barnes secretly sent people to find me and said that he would form an alliance with me. The Northwind Province... might become chaotic."

Hatton said worriedly. He was a little panicked, so he wanted Ryan's powerful military strength to protect him.

"Barnes?"

Ryan still remembered that this baron, whose military strength in Lingdu County was only lower than that of the two viscounts, had shown favor to him in the North Wind City Council.

After a moment of silence, Ryan probably understood the problem.

The tragic impact of the orcs' march south finally broke out.

Without the obstruction of the fortress and the power of the Black Goatmen, the orcs plundered too much wealth from the Northwind Province, including but not limited to food, clothing, and even livestock.

This also led to the need for every noble in the North Wind Province to purchase food supplies from the south this year. However, because the empire gradually abandoned the North Wind Province, the Chamber of Commerce also reduced the resources to the North Wind Province.

In addition, the most important thing is that the empire no longer pays attention to the North Wind Province and the huge tax revenue of 1.5 million gold coins.

Everyone in Beifeng Province said very well at the beginning, I will pay as much as you pay to get this huge amount of gold coins.

But when it comes time to pay, it is really difficult for every family. Every noble is unwilling to squeeze out the huge amount of gold coins from his own pocket. So, if you can snatch it from other people's pockets, why No?

Finally, the territorial conflicts no longer have the pressure of the Empire. Everyone understands that the Empire has semi-abandoned Beifeng Province. As long as many things that happen here are not too extreme, the Empire will not care.

Where is this tolerance? Will the empire not care if the nobles’ territory is invaded?