In early March of the Radiant Calendar year 9766, an order document from the royal capital arrived on Velin's desk.
That afternoon, more than a hundred knights left Qixing Territory and headed to the domains of various nobles throughout Cadro Province to proclaim the kingdom's orders, muster troops, and gather at the western border.
In less than half a month, the atmosphere throughout Cadro Province changed completely. Everyone was preparing military supplies, arming troops, and heading to Luoyun Slope south of Qixing Territory to assemble.
At the same time, reports on the strength and numbers of the troops led by each noble were sent to Qixing Territory. After Belder compiled them, they were delivered to Velin's desk.
In the study, Velin leaned back in his chair and looked over the figures in his hand, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.
Without him even realizing it, the overall strength of the Cadro Province nobles had more than doubled.
Back when he had first arrived, Cadro Province had only sixty-three noble houses: seven viscounts, ten barons worth mentioning, and a host of other barons so weak they had been struggling on the brink of losing their titles.
In just forty-seven years, Cadro Province now had one count, fifteen viscounts, seventy-seven barons, and more than a hundred Pioneer Knights.
Excluding the Pioneer Knights, regulations required each viscount to provide fifteen hundred troops and each baron to provide two hundred.
Judging from the list, the one contributing the most troops was his cousin Cowell, with more than thirty-three hundred men.
The noble contributing the fewest troops was a baron named Ibel Hainas, who had still sent more than three hundred men. Although half of them were ordinary people, she had at least made her stance clear.
This meant that, not counting the