Chapter 391 Uncle Herson and Nephew
The sun has set in the west. Under the afterglow of the setting sun, a gorgeous carriage slowly drove into Lake Center Town from the south, heading all the way along the main street located on the central axis of the city. North, and then pass the stone bridge to the island located on the northern lake.
To be precise, only the construction area on this island in the lake is the real "Lake Town". Three years ago, a large area on the south shore of Lake Weiss was still farmland or woods, but now it has been Replaced by a large number of buildings and streets, the continuous influx of immigrants and new factories are rapidly expanding the area of the town.
Someone in the Government Affairs Council has proposed to give this emerging city a new name, and Huxin Town on the island will continue to be used as the name of a district of the new city, but Paul is hesitant among the many naming plans. The city The new name is pending.
Since this small island on the lake is the location of the castle where the Graimann family has lived for generations, and the office buildings of many departments of the Government Administration and the military are also built around the castle, this island has become a place of Alda, Bay Erding and Emden are the three powerful territorial power centers.
Three powerful territories - Emden is already a strong territory (of course in the northwest bay), and the development of Alda and Bailding in recent years has also shown their growing strength to the people around them.
With the help of the ever-expanding "telegraph" lines, Huxin Town issues the latest instructions to various jurisdictions every day, and receives a steady stream of feedback from each jurisdiction.
It is precisely because of the special status of this island that it has become a place where dignitaries and dignitaries compete to move in. Who doesn’t want to be closer to the center of power? In addition to senior officials from various military and political departments, there are also those who have recently The rising factory owners and businessmen, even if they do not live in Huxin Town, they still want to find a place to stay here.
Of course, the Emden nobles and lords who have sworn allegiance to the Graiman family have also rushed here to purchase real estate.
Driven by these people, the price of land on the island has skyrocketed. Although the indigenous people are a group of civilians, and many of them are even technically serfs under the name of the Graiman family, everyone knows that Graiman Earl Man has always prided himself on being a protector of the civilians, so no one dares to seize or buy it under his nose. The aborigines took this opportunity to make a fortune and happily moved to the new city on the south bank with their money bags.
The carriage continued to drive slowly, turned into a wide alley, and finally stopped in front of a medium-sized mansion.
Two people, an old man and a young man, were already standing in front of the door waiting.
After the door of the carriage opened, the young man stepped forward and respectfully called: "Uncle."
"Orlando." The person in the carriage responded, and then walked out.
This is a slender middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed beard and well-maintained skin. He looks like he is either rich or noble.
Viscount Eugene Herson, the lord of one of the vassal territories of Emden, arrived at Lake Town after more than two days of traveling.
The former vassals of the Kent family have now become vassals of the Gleyman family, at least in name only.
The young man standing at the door to greet him was his nephew, Orlando Helson. Standing next to Orlando was the butler of the Lake Town mansion appointed by Helson.
Eugene Herson's wife died after giving birth to three daughters. The Viscount, who never forgot his deceased wife, never remarried, so he made his younger brother's son the heir to the family.
He had high hopes for this nephew, and soon after swearing allegiance to Paul Graiman on behalf of the family, he sent him to Lake Town to study.
Sending the heirs of the family to the lord for education was also a common way for vassals to show their loyalty in this era.
However, there are no knights in Lake Town to teach Orlando martial arts, and there are no ladies to teach him etiquette. There are only two ways to receive education - Weiss Academy, which imparts cultural knowledge, and Graiman, which imparts military knowledge. Military academy.
Viscount Helson chose Weiss College for his nephew. As a noble child who received excellent education from an early age, Orlando did not need to start from "elementary school". He passed the "middle school" without any effort. Even if he lacks the novel knowledge taught in elementary school, he can easily master the entrance examination through auditing or night classes.
The uncle and nephew entered the mansion, where a sumptuous dinner had been prepared. The two of them enjoyed and talked at the same time.
“Why did you come to Huxin Town this time?”
"I'm here to purchase a batch of agricultural equipment, and take a look at the technologies that the Earl wants to reveal and see which ones can be used by us."
The Viscount shook a glass of red wine slightly, "Orlando, you are also in the lake. You have been living in Xinzhen for a while, how do you feel about this place?”
“Well...” The young man chewed the meat in his mouth, swallowed it hastily and said, “How should I put it? It’s... very... There is something lively, right?”
“Very lively?”
“Yes, Count Grayman seems to have instilled this concept in everyone here: as long as you are willing. If you work hard, you will be rewarded. You may not believe it, but in Lake Town, even the corvee commonly used by the lords has not appeared for a long time. Instead, it is hired - Count Grayman will also call on the people to do it. Live, but he will pay the salary”
"Oh?" Viscount Herson raised his eyebrows, "It's very novel."
He asked: "So, what do you think of the academy?"
Orlando thought for a while and answered Said: "Unlike other places that focus on literature, art, and etiquette, here we pay more attention to practicality, and mathematics is the top priority. Many of the teaching contents were compiled by Master Graiman himself. I did learn a lot of novelties here, but Efficient theory, I heard that the count is working on a profound textbook called "Advanced Mathematics", I don't know when it will be released. Ah... there is also alchemy - we call it 'chemistry' here - a subject in the academy. It's strange. Alchemy has always been passed down from master to apprentice on a small scale. This is the first time that we have been taught on a large scale like this at Weiss College."
"Well, you have to study hard," Helson said. The Viscount squinted his eyes and nodded repeatedly. It seemed that his new master wanted practical technical talents. "I have always wanted to ask you a question." Orlando looked at his uncle.
"What's the matter?"
"I know you sent me here to study so that the family can gain a firm foothold in the new system..."
"Well..." The Viscount did not deny his nephew statement.
“Then why don’t you let me take the exam for the political officer directly? Those mud-legged people who just know a few words can pass the exam, so I have no problem. Although as the heir to the viscount, I can’t compete with these people. There is a bit of a loss in competition, but I am confident that I can quickly occupy an important position with my own abilities.”
If it is another territory and a nobleman like Orlando wants to hold any official position, a letter of recommendation from his family is enough. . But it's different in Arda, you have to take a test.
"Orlando..." the Viscount explained: "From my observation, the Count recruited these good and bad people into his government system out of helplessness. You know, in this day and age, there are few people who can read an entire article. How many can there be? In the academy, do you think Mr. Grayman pays attention to you students?"
"He takes care of you personally every time you take an exam."
"That's it. The current examination of the Government Affairs Council is just a temporary measure. Those who enter will encounter the ceiling of promotion sooner or later. And the students of Weiss College are the count's future dependence. If you do not have this level of status, even if you enter No matter how good the Government Administration is, it will be inferior."
"I understand," Orlando nodded, "Actually..."
"Actually what?"
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"I'm thinking about transferring to that military academy."
Speaking of this, the young man's eyes showed longing. He had seen the Arda army training from a distance, the neat formations, and the uniformity. The movements and the goose step of burning buns are really touching.
"Alas..." The Viscount smiled and shook his head. He was also young and knew that this young man was full of ideas about riding horses and fighting.
“If there is a war, the army is naturally the easiest place to make achievements. But the earl is not a warlike person. The suppression of pirates, the Bailding rebellion, and the war of tyrants are all done under unavoidable circumstances. Do you want to slowly gain seniority in the army? Besides, it is not a good thing for us to have a warlike lord, such as Maltz Kent. Moreover, our status as surrendered people is also somewhat embarrassing, so don't touch it casually. Touch the Earl's sword hilt."
"Uh...Okay!" The young man nodded dejectedly, "Actually, I'm just saying that, you know, for me, entering Grayman College? Or is it more difficult? ”
"What does this mean?" Viscount Helson was very surprised that his nephew was so good that he could say such a thing.
“The enrollment of Graiman Military Academy seems to be... no, it must be biased towards civilian children. Although there is no hard and fast rule, according to our private observation, it seems that there are no more than four children from upper-class families who can enter the academy. One percent, and this 'upper class' includes not only the real nobles like us, but also the wealthy landowning families in the countryside." "Oh? There is such a thing?" Viscount Helson asked very much. Surprised.
"Yes, many of the children from the upper class in our college are quite unfair. They often have conflicts with the college next door, and there are many private fights...Uncle?"
Orlando saw the boy opposite. The uncle was lost in thought.
Hearing his nephew's call, the Viscount came back to his senses, "Orlando, you haven't participated before, have you?"
"I..." the young man hesitated for a while and said hesitantly: "Only a few times. ”
If in other places, civilians fight with powerful nobles who have territories in their families, the outcome is generally not good, but Orlando is facing a student of his lord-Paul is also the head of the Graiman Military Academy and the maintenance department. Principal of Sri Lanka College.
"Listen, don't come forward if something like this happens in the future, stay away."
The viscount warned his nephew very seriously.
"Uh...yes!" Orlando was a little surprised when he noticed the expression on his uncle's face.
Eugene Helson stared at him, "Although I don't know what the count's intention is, we should not ask questions if we shouldn't. You are the heir of our family, and I don't want you to make any mistakes. "
"I took note of it, uncle."
Orlando nodded heavily.
(End of this chapter)