A battle-hardened army made even more elite, valuable Half-Orc heads, the glory of bravery...
It was truly tempting!
Henry set down his wineglass, bade Earl John farewell, and returned to rest with Bain and Ailiya.
"Master, why did we leave when we were eating so well?" Bain asked in confusion as he wiped his mouth.
Henry had given a gift of eighty Denar, enough to buy over two thousand pounds of Wheat. Yet Bain had only eaten one golden lamb shank and drunk three cups of apple juice. He had not even gotten his money's worth!
Henry gave Bain a speechless look and found Ailiya, dressed in formal attire, much more pleasing to the eye.
She already had a good figure and looks. Since becoming head maid, she no longer needed to handle the miscellaneous heavy work. Now that she was wearing a gown, she was far better than Bain, who was stuffing himself senseless.
"Bain, leave early tomorrow morning with five Grassland Warriors. Go back and tell Claude to prepare provisions for the army's campaign. We may be going to war again."
Bain nodded and left after learning that there was nothing else to do.
As Ailiya made Henry's bed, she asked, "Master, what are we staying here for? We did not bring any of your other clothes this time. Should we buy a few?"
"Yes. Also, buy some sleepwear and underclothes. What I'm wearing now is warm, but it chafes my skin. It's uncomfortable."
He absolutely had to take good care of his little brother!
Henry changed his clothes, threw himself onto the bed, and slept soundly without dreams.
Early the next morning, Henry woke to find lemon cake made by Ailiya and breakfast delivered by the Earl's steward.
After washing his face and brushing his teeth, Henry said helplessly to Ailiya, "Ailiya, lemon cake is delicious, but I'll get tired of it if I eat it too often. I'd rather have it once in a while than every day... This is not criticism."
"Understood, Master. I'll try learning other desserts."
After Henry finished breakfast, Ailiya left with the Grassland Warrior temporarily assigned to protect her to buy Henry some close-fitting clothes.
Having Light Cavalry really was different. He could bring more men with him at any time without delaying the journey.
"Knight Henry, the Earl wishes to speak with you in his study."
Naturally, Henry would not refuse. Audoh belonged to the Earl, and for some time to come, Henry's territory would need to purchase supplies, people, and other things from here.
"Henry, you were far too generous. You actually gave my son eighty Denar as a wedding gift. Haha, some Knights only gave fifty Denar and were heartbroken over it."
Henry sat in a nearby armchair and smiled. "We are friends, so naturally I had to give a proper gift. But my own life has not been easy either. The prices of serfs and Herding Serfs are rising, and food prices have also been fluctuating.
Those damned desert merchants and coastal merchants think they can use money to threaten the nobility."
John strongly agreed. Those great merchants were becoming more and more outrageous.
"Exactly. I think so too. Recently, the Great King launched a Grand Inquisition. The nobles and merchants colluding with one another in the Western Coast Region have all been purged. The Great King is truly wise. The deaths of those fools will free up more land."
The Empire's current order was that nobles could engage in trade and make money, but they had to preserve their authority and could not abandon military power.
Great merchants could not maintain armed guards exceeding two thousand men. The number of armor and protective gear they possessed was strictly regulated, and their taxes were high as well.
Did no one resist? Of course they did. Nobles across the Empire loved great merchants who resisted, because then they could rightfully devour vast fortunes.
"Earl, what are we here to discuss? A new partnership?"
"Exactly. There have been new traces of Half-Orcs."
"I know. I have already sent men back to prepare provisions. I will lead my army to Autongard and take part in this feast."
John shook his head. "It is not only Autongard. Half-Orc traces have also been discovered in Tiar of the Northern Snowfield, Danustica at the Inner Sea hub, and Housen Fullerger in the Southern Desert."
After hearing John's words, Henry was initially nervous, but he soon became excited.
"Are the Half-Orcs planning to counterattack?"
"Perhaps. The Eleventh Legion acquired a great deal of Parchment. According to the intelligence they deciphered, the Half-Orcs seem to want to reclaim their land."
Henry nodded. This was good. Humans and Half-Orcs had been locked in conflict for centuries. It seemed this would not end until one side had been thoroughly crippled.
"Then, cooperation?"
"Of course. My second son will follow you. I have only one request: protect him. His troops will also obey your command.
"I will supply food for your army... wartime Legion provisions. I will also provide twenty warhorses, thirty sets of Cotton Armor, ten sets of lamellar armor, ten sets of Chainmail, two hundred Iron-tipped Spears, twenty Imperial Longswords, and twenty Grassland Sabers."
At this point, John rubbed his eyes and sighed. "I am his father. This is all I can do for him. He has never been on a battlefield. I am afraid."
Henry thought quickly before agreeing.
There would be a huge number of troops mobilized this time. John's offer to provide food alone was better than anything else. That was already an enormous reward.
As for the military equipment, only the twenty warhorses truly appealed to Henry.
"You dote on your younger son."
"Of course. My eldest son can inherit my Earldom, but my second son cannot. I can only help him as much as possible without provoking the Great King's anger."
Henry did not haggle. This was a mutually beneficial arrangement.
He only needed to protect one "little baby" to obtain a large amount of logistics supplies and a "cannon fodder" army. Raising the price would be somewhat insulting.
After the deal was concluded, the two discussed other matters, such as the changes in Henry's fief.
Henry's expansion had been entirely open. He had no intention of hiding it. Anyone with half a brain knew Henry had taken over three ungoverned Knight Territories.
"There are not many who do what you have done. It does conform to Imperial law, but not to common sense. We shall see what the Great King decides."
"That is precisely why I intend to stay here for a few more days and await news from the Capital."
Thus, Henry remained in Audoh for another three days before finally receiving the news he had been waiting for.
The wedding banquet for the Earl's eldest son had merely been a coincidence. What Henry truly cared about was the news from the Capital.
"Knight, you have obtained the legal right to govern Hernlai Village, Tishilai Village, and Tainlai Village. In addition, West Lyme's settlement classification has been changed to a castle.
"You have received the Great King's Royal Certification. It has been officially recorded and entered into your Noble Family Genealogy."
The Imperial Office employee was full of respect, clearly astonished by the outcome of this matter!
Before you continue