Li Ang finally agreed to Marius' conditions.
What he originally wanted was the land north of Wolvun Fortress and south of Shield Wind Fortress.
In the eyes of others, that area is just a lot of wasteland and small villages, and the only densely populated territory is Yimeier Village.
But for Li Ang, that is an important depth zone, the only place he can really get in his current capacity, and it is also the last gap in Noldo Forest's periphery.
After obtaining this deep zone of several hundred miles, not only will Noldo Elvess be able to appear in all of Li Ang's territories, but Li Ang himself will also have the confidence to face any force - including Lionheart Kingdom.
Moreover, Yimeier Village has potatoes and corn grown by Dean, plus the surrounding small villages, with a total population of over 10,000.
In fact, this transaction was quite cost-effective for Emperor Marius. He spent almost no capital, and the only thing used for the transaction was a knighthood that did not belong to him, and it was just an excuse, or in the name of sending troops.
This excuse is Titus.
Speaking of which, Titus is not a member of the Bacchus Empire. He was originally an officer of the Ash Descendants Empire.
Many years ago Titus was sent to Pende by the Ash Descendants Empire Emperor Maniius. He was one of the first Ash Descendants members who made contact with Emperor Marius.
In fact, he had nothing to do with Phoenix Knight Order when he was in the Ash Descendants Empire. He was originally a fleet officer. When he was dispatched to the Pande Continent, he was a fleet escort officer escorting the mission.
At that time, Bacchus Empire was prospering, but Ash Descendants Empire of the Amara Continent was fighting extremely hard against Snake Worship Cult, so Emperor Maniius sent a mission to ask for help from Emperor Marius of the Bacchus Empire.
They are both Baxian, although they are separated by two continents, but they are of the same origin and species, so they naturally have to support each other when facing Snake Worship Cult.
At that time, Emperor Marius also noticed the threat of Snake Worship Cult. Although the mission sent by Maniius was very poor and brought almost nothing except sincerity... Emperor Marius still agreed to the alliance and not only provided a lot of material support to the Ash Descendants Empire, but also sent several more advanced warships.
Amara Continent was once occupied by Snake Worship Cult for many years. Ash Descendants Empire was rebuilt on the ruins. There has been no progress in technological development. Even the missions are still using old ship models from a hundred years ago.
Although Bacchus Empire's new warship is not too strong, it is indeed much more advanced than those of Snake Worship Cult. Ash Descendants Empire can also gain some advantages because of this.
At that time, this matter was criticized by the Senate, saying that Emperor Marius wasted the national treasury to unilaterally fund other countries, which was a waste of national power.
However, Marius said on the spot that "most people who say such things are closely related to Snake Worship Cult" and maintained the covenant with a firm attitude.
At the same time, in order to keep in touch with the Ash Descendants Empire, Emperor Marius left Titus with the Bacchus Empire and gave him the high position of general.
This appointment was originally a courtesy to the envoys from afar, and it was also to facilitate continued cooperation with the Ash Descendants Empire. No one objected to giving Titus the title of general. After all, he was just an empty general, with salary but no power.
This generous appointment gave Titus the idea of serving Bacchus Empire for a long time.
--Even if he is an empty-headed general, he is still a general after all!
Besides, during the time when Titus came to the Pande Continent as an escort officer, he saw what Bacchus Empire was like before he was harmed by Snake Worship Cult on a large scale.
Prosperous, wealthy, clean, and full of vitality, even the women who stumbled in the alleys Siyuan City are more beautiful...
Life here is much better than Ash Descendants Empire, which is full of ruins.
But as an outsider and an empty-headed general, Baxian actually didn't like him very much. Although everyone was polite to his identity, no one would really treat him as one of their own.
So Titus has been thinking of ways since then.
Soon after, Bacchus Empire and Lionheart Kingdom started a war.
During the war, Titus got his chance - at least in name he was a general, so of course he should participate in the war.
Titus spent all his savings, even sold the ship that originally belonged to him, raised a motley crew, and made contributions in the war against the Lionheart Kingdom.
That battle was not a great victory. The motley crew he had just recruited almost suffered all casualties, and the losses were much greater than those of the Lionheart Kingdom.
But the strategic result was very good - he defended Sava Fortress for the Bacchus Empire.
In this battle, Titus took no prisoners.
As Ash Descendants, previous battles were against Snake Worship Cult's gangsters. In addition, Titus was originally a fleet officer, so he naturally had no habit of keeping prisoners.
Titus had just arrived at the Pande Continent and had not yet understood the rules among the Pendor nobles. He did not know at that time that the nobles of the Lionheart Kingdom would spend money to redeem themselves...
Therefore, many of the Lionheart Kingdom's noble knights died in his hands, and the nobles who surrendered were all killed by him - Titus's troops suffered too many casualties, and he was basically bankrupt, and he could not suppress the fire in his heart.
As a result, Titus was considered to be "cruel" by most nobles, and became even more unpopular...
But no matter what, Titus has indeed made military exploits for the empire. This is an irrefutable fact.
In addition, it is rare for someone who is Ash Descendants to fight so hard for the Bacchus Empire.
So Titus became a true imperial general, and got Sava Fortress as territory - Sava Fortress's jurisdiction is quite large, and most of the Sava River river basin is fertile farmland, which is an excellent territory within the Bacchus Empire.
This was originally a place that Governor Livius had always been coveted. As a large border county, Sava Fortress could get a lot of independent authority and control the border defenders...
Emperor Marius can make Titus the lord of Sava Fortress, without treating him as an outsider.
So this outsider became the real general in control of the army, and he could be regarded as reluctantly integrated into the Bacchus Empire.
But Titus had killed the surrendering nobles before, which in itself was an endless excuse - from then on, Lionheart Kingdom no longer had to find an excuse to declare war on the Bacchus Empire, either attacking Calundru Castle in the name of 'recovering the homeland', or attacking Sava Fortress in the name of 'revenge'.
In fact, when Emperor Marius asked Titus to serve as the lord of Sava Fortress, he had such an intention - he was taking the initiative to create a name for the Lionheart Kingdom.
Only by allowing Bacchus Empire to always face the enemy can the country be united;
At the same time, when the old guys in the Senate were constantly facing the threat of the Lionheart Kingdom, they would not propose anything such as asking Marius to be dismissed from get out of class - they needed Emperor Marius to block enemies who might attack at any time.
Marius could only implement his reforms if these domestic laggards stopped messing around.
And Titus himself also knows that Lionheart Kingdom has many nobles who have grudges against him. Once defeated, he may not even have a chance to surrender.
Therefore, he must guard Sava Fortress well and must not be captured.
Besides, he was not willing to lose the territory he had gained at the cost of bankruptcy.
Baxian also mostly regards Titus as an outsider, and he doesn't get much help - apart from trying his best to guard Sava Fortress and being loyal to Emperor Marius wholeheartedly, he has no other way out.
In fact, Titus has been doing this all these years. He is a lonely minister in another form.
This is the logic behind the enfeoffment of territories by emperors like Marius. There are many more things to consider than most people imagine.
The same logic applies to the business discussions between Emperor Marius and Li Ang.
A country, or a big force, actually needs enemies, and sometimes it even has to personally give the enemy an excuse to declare war - Marius knew this, and so did Li Ang.
Li Ang took the initiative to give Marius an excuse before. He occupied Calundru Castle and Shield Wind Fortress in the name of "capture", so his territory is "always facing Bacchus Empire's counterattack", so that Lion Territory's king and other lords will not hold him back;
At the same time, Emperor Marius also needs to 'face the attack that Li Ang may launch at any time' so that the country can unite as one.
As enemies and opponents, there can actually be a tacit understanding between them.
The excuse Emperor Marius provided to Li Ang was still the 'cruel' General Titus.
The two reached an agreement at Fort Lela, agreeing to attack Aishikeman together, but they will not act together. Li Ang will lead the army to attack from the land, while Emperor Marius's fleet will attack from the sea - attacking from both ends, and Li Ang will not be regarded as secretly collaborating with the enemy. This is the best choice.
Emperor Marius indeed needs to start a war against Dexia. He needs horses, he also needs to solve the domestic difficulties, and he also needs to find a channel for the domestic maritime merchants who have been affected by the rebels and Snake Worship Cult and have been unable to do business for half a year.
Occupying Aishikeman can indeed restore Bacchus Empire's economy.
"Have a drink with me. I hope we can successfully conquer Aishikeman... But after this, we may never be able to work together peacefully again..."
After the negotiation was settled, Emperor Marius kindly invited Li Ang to drink.
Those were the jug and cup brought by Marius himself. The jug was placed on a small stove. It seems that Emperor Marius likes to drink wine that has been boiled and then left to warm.
"Your Majesty, why do you say that?"
Li Ang took the wine glass handed by Emperor Marius and took a sip. The wine was full of sweetness and tasted really good.
"I want to regain lost territory, and these lost territories are all in your hands. I must get them back as soon as possible... As an emperor, there are many responsibilities that must be fulfilled."
Emperor Marius's attitude is very serious.
"There is no need to rush to regain the lost ground... wait... Your Majesty, are you feeling ill?"
Li Ang's attitude also became serious. He noticed that there seemed to be a hint of urgency in Marius' words.
Is there something wrong with him?
Unless he felt that he was dying soon, he wouldn't say this at this time!
"Ha... I won't sign any agreement with you. Anyway, with Phoenix Knight Order stationed at Calundru Castle, you and I don't have to worry about being attacked by the other side. This is more effective than any agreement."
Emperor Marius did not respond to Li Ang's question. He just shook his head and took a big sip of wine.
Li Ang picked up the cup and looked at it. The flask and cup were silver, but the material didn't seem to be silver.
"The agreement is waste paper, and integrity is the foundation. Your Majesty, it is your utensil... Is this a lead wine flask?"
Li Ang opened the lid of the wine jug, and the warm wine inside exuded a rich sweet aroma.
"Lead flasks can make the sour taste of wine sweet. You should try it..."
Emperor Marius nodded and tried to pour a little more for Li Ang.
But Li Ang shook his head and refused.
"I must advise you to drink less wine, and... it's best not to use this flask again."
After hesitating for a while, Li Ang decided to try to persuade the emperor.
"This is my only hobby... Is there anything wrong with this hip flask?"
Emperor Marius seems to be unaware of the consequences of heating wine in lead containers.
Baxian has had lead mining and smelting technology for a long time, so a large number of lead products have poured into Baxian's daily life. The process of lead poisoning is extremely slow, and most people are unaware that this metal, which brings them countless conveniences, also brings them countless pains.
There is a reason why Bacchus Empire's population has not been able to grow...
"Putting food in materials like lead can cause chronic poisoning... It's better to use clay pots to drink alcohol, my friend."
Li Ang also knows that the impact of heavy metal compounds on humans is difficult to explain in this era, so he directly gave a specific suggestion.
"Thank you... friend."
Emperor Marius nodded and seemed to have listened.
Maybe this is the only time the two of them call themselves friends, and from now on they can only be rivals.
The advice from friends was effective. Emperor Marius changed the lead pot to a clay pot when he returned home.
But just one day later he changed back...
The wine of this era was relatively sour, and Marius had long been accustomed to the sweet red wine heated in lead pots. The wine in the clay pots made it difficult for him to swallow.
After so many years, the poison that should have been poisoned has long been taken. Emperor Marius shook his head and smiled bitterly, and then acted willfully again.
However, on that day, he issued a special decree to increase the commercial tax on lead wine pots, pots and pans and other food utensils - and directly increased the tax ten times.
If nothing else, the price of lead food utensils will increase several times, and people who cannot afford it will naturally look for other cheap substitutes.
Three days later, the kingdom's army gathered under the commander's flag, and Bacchus Empire's fleet also began to set off from Siyuan City.
Li Ang led the troops to the vicinity of Turdah Fortress and stationed themselves in the valley thirty miles east of the fortress.
Li Ang has been to this valley before - this is the place where he gambled with Ramon.
And this time, Li Ang also met Ramon here again - he took the initiative to invite Ramon to come and meet.
They were still at the place where they first met, still facing each other on horseback.
"Good brother, how are you? Do you remember what I once told you?"
Seeing Ramon again, Li Ang seemed extremely enthusiastic.
"Lord Li Ang... Now he is actually a marshal. His worth has risen so fast... What are you referring to?"
Ramon obviously suffered from some occupational diseases, and anyone would have to estimate his worth...
"I told you before that I would join hands with you to auction the city lord's position... and even the throne!"
Li Ang smiled and threw a dice at Ramon: "I'm here to cash in on this deal."
That was the dice that Ramon had thrust into his hand.