Chapter 368: The Backpacker 3
“What price do I need to offer in order for you to be willing to... only accept the honor of a sword-bearing noble while giving up the power of a sword-bearing noble?”
< br>Paul sat on the chair, staring at Bryce, holding the wine glass in his right hand, shaking it gently, and said this calmly.
The response to him was silence. The commander of the first battalion opposite seemed to be frozen, his eyes motionless.
Paul tilted his head and asked strangely: "Bryce?"
"My Lord Earl, I...I don't know what you mean?"
Bryce finally spoke, but his voice was so small that it really didn't match his tall and thick image.
“Literally!”
Paul answered without any hesitation.
The restaurant continued to be silent, Bryce stared closely at the wine glass in Paul's hand and didn't know what he was thinking.
"My Lord Earl!" Bryce finally said: "Is this how you treat your loyal subjects?"
There was a bit of anger in his voice!
Blind! Did you mess it up yourself?
Countless thoughts flashed through Paul's mind in an instant, including regret, worry, and annoyance...
Have I still underestimated the traditional concepts of this era? Even people like Bryce Alder who don't care about personal interests are not immune to this.
What remedial measures should be taken?
Paul stretched out his left hand, "Bryce, listen to me! I..."
"Your Majesty the Earl!" Unexpectedly, the other party made a fist with both hands and hit the table, shaking the whole table. Cups and plates clinked. Wearing full body armor, his whole body erupted with a mighty aura.
Bryce almost yelled, "You actually think that I put my own interests before my loyalty to you. How disrespectful! What's the 'price'? How derogatory is honor?”
Huh? Paul's outstretched hand froze.
What did he say?
"Bryce, I...I don't know what you mean?"
Paul asked quietly.
"Literally!"
The commander of the first battalion answered without hesitation at all.
He continued: "You are the lord of Arda, and you are our lord. Whether or not to grant power depends entirely on your words. Why bother to test my loyalty with 'what price' to offer? In your eyes, I am Are you the kind of person who values interests?"
The tone was very serious, with a sullen look on his face.
Paul was surprised, his face full of disbelief!
Listening to Bryce’s words, this is how things are done? Was the process so smooth?
On the contrary, it seems that I am unreasonable. Then I have put all my efforts into hosting this Hongmen Banquet...ah, why are I hosting this banquet?
Shouldn't the normal process be that the other party makes an offer, you make a counter-offer, the other party continues to make an offer, you continue to make a counter-offer... until both parties reach a compromise?
That’s a noble with a sword! In this era where blood is supreme, the temptation is so great for non-aristocratic people. With their own titles and territories, they can rule the roost behind closed doors and no one can control them.
It’s really... really... I really don’t know what to say if I don’t sell such things that gold can’t buy at a good price.
“Bump!”
The sound of breaking glass broke the tranquility of the restaurant, and Paul smashed the wine glass in his right hand hard.
"Bang!" Bryce stood up suddenly, with a look of grievance and anger on his face, but he closed his eyes as if resigned to his fate.
The sound of the restaurant door opening was heard, and sure enough, someone came in!
Alas... after all, it's still...
Alas? Wait, I already followed the earl's heart and said, it shouldn't be like this.
Thinking of this, he opened his eyes again and looked towards the door.
"Boy, what happened?"
Oh, it's the old butler Mr. Philip.
The butler lowered his head and saw the broken wine glass.
"Wait a moment, I'll get a new one right away."
He turned around and went out, and another servant came in to clean up the debris.
"Really, I've watched too many dramas..."
Bryce looked embarrassed and said something self-deprecating.
He looked at his master and saw an excited look on his face. It turned out that he was too excited when he threw the cup.
The Earl said apologetically: "It's my fault, using a villain's mind to speculate on a noble knight... But what do you mean by drama?"
Bly Si smiled in embarrassment and waved his hands: "Haha, it's okay, as long as the earl doesn't doubt my loyalty." With a snap, Paul snapped his fingers, "We must not let honest people suffer. Come on! Come on! Map! ”
The unfinished dishes were quickly removed, and a huge map was placed on the dining table.
Bryce looked at the map, which was the first version of the map drawn based on the information brought back by previous surveying and mapping teams.
The first version of the map includes the three counties of Arda, Bailding, and Emden. There are still many imperfections and blank areas, but several important towns and the roads between them have been drawn.
Due to the use of advanced measurement methods, the accuracy has gone up by more than one level compared to the old-fashioned maps that people drew based solely on feeling and estimation.
I saw the earl holding a pencil and drawing circles on the map.
Speaking of pencils, this is also Earl's "great invention". It uses graphite and clay mixed in a certain proportion to make a refill, and then wraps it with wood to become a pencil that can write and draw on paper. Pens, compared to traditional quill pens that use ink, the beauty of pencils is that their marks are not permanent but can be wiped away with crumbs.
As soon as the pencil was launched, it was welcomed by all kinds of people, such as teachers and students in schools, and officers in the army. They could finally draw without any scruples when they opened their minds on the map. .
Paul stopped his pencil and said loudly: "I have decided to grant you the title of Baron of Byranburg! In the Assault War, it was you who commanded the army to trap Byranburg and won the title of Baron. This title is well deserved!”
Bayland Castle, isn’t that where the Earl of Kent used to stay?
Use an earl's residence to knight yourself? Bryce gets excited.
"In addition," Paul pointed on the map, "the five villages in the Bailanbao area, as long as the public farmland under the management of the Government Affairs Council is yours."
E The so-called public farmland under the administration of the Government Council in Mden was actually the farmland formerly under the name of the Kent family. After the Assault War, the output of the farmland under the name of the Kent family was collected into the public treasury.
"Really? Lord Earl?" Bryce asked excitedly. He was familiar with the Bylan Fort area. It was a large area of land, and he would be a big landowner in the future!
Paul confirmed: "Of course it is true! But... don't forget what I said before."
Bryce nodded like he was pounding garlic: "Yes! Lord Earl, of course I remember."
Although he has obtained the property rights of the land, he still has to pay the taxes and obey the same laws. Must comply. In a word, regardless of the aristocratic title of Earl of Bylanburg, I have only become a big landowner from a small landowner, and I am still a subject under the rule of the Government Council.
He knelt down on one knee with a grateful face, "Thank you, Lord Earl, for your reward. My descendants and I will remain loyal to you as always."
Paul smiled and helped him up. "Keep working hard! You will get more in the future."
The two sat down at the table again, and Paul said: "I believe you must understand my 'excessive' request."
He was talking about not granting the right to rule to a sword-bearing noble.
Thinking of the school and talents discussed just now, Bryce nodded heavily.
“There must be no independent kingdom in my territory!” Paul clenched his fist and said, “To tell you the truth, I think the current feudal system—that is, the layers of lords—can’t do it. The efficiency of things is really low..."
"Shh!" Bryce made a gesture of silence, "Sir, don't say this in public."
Paul said naa: "Let's talk privately!"
Bryce asked with some worry: "Sir, I thought of a question - I can accept this myself, but it's hard to say for others. What if everyone is dissatisfied?"
< br>Paul chuckled and said somewhat maliciously: "That's the second reason why I invited you over tonight."
Looking at the mysterious smile on the count's face, Bryce felt a twinge in his heart Aversion to cold.
Paul approached Bryce and whispered in his ear, like this...and so on...
The more Bryce listened, the worse his face became.
Before Paul could finish speaking, he shouted, "No! No way! Your Majesty, Earl! Find someone else."
Paul said seriously: "I can't find anyone better than you. The right person! You must do this job!"
Bryce said aggrievedly: "How about you give the title of Baron Byranburg and the farmland there to others, I... I really can’t bear it!”
There was a cry in his voice.
"Shut up!" Paul was a little angry, "How can I go back on my words as a noble lord? You must accept the reward, and you must do the job well!"
After some carrots and sticks from Paul, Bryce finally reluctantly accepted the order.
......
The commander of the first battalion staggered through the corridor dragging his weak legs. He carefully recalled the scene after Paul threw the cup. It seemed that he really Worry too much.
It really shouldn’t be the case. How could the earl be such a mean and unkind person?
Baron Byranburg, and the pieces of cultivated land, Bryce's heart became hot. His social status and family property could be said to have skyrocketed tonight.
But when he thought of the mission assigned to him by the Earl, he felt bitter in his heart again.
(End of this chapter)