Marriage Alliance

The autumn harvest is the most important season of the year. From nobles to serfs, everyone is on high alert.

The aftereffects of the locust plague did not dissipate after a year. Small-scale insect infestations still broke out in various places, but they were quickly eradicated by local nobles and lords who organized forces to deal with them.

Laite County was fortunate; last year, in order to quickly eradicate the locusts, most of the noble lords hired Beldens to do it.

The bear, having received payment, was quite reliable. Not only did it eradicate the locusts, but it also cleared away the insect eggs in the ground.

There were no larvae hatching; just a few grasshoppers from elsewhere, which only added to everyone's meals. Grain production remained at normal levels, almost unaffected by the locust plague.

The lords who wanted to save money were dumbfounded. They had saved on the expenses for locust control last year, but the price was a reduced grain production this year.

Whether they made a profit or a loss, only they themselves know.

This has been a bumper year for the Mountain Territory. Most of the land cleared last year has been planted with grain.

The yield from the swamps, in particular, greatly surprised Hudson. While the rice yield was slightly higher than the rye, a yield of 300 pounds per acre was still a pleasant surprise. (One pound is approximately 0.45 kilograms, which can be considered one jin.)

For extensive farming, this yield is already quite good. With intensive farming, the yield would increase significantly.

However, there was no need for it. Lord Hudson did not lack land; what he lacked was the labor force to cultivate it.

The mines needed manpower, land reclamation needed manpower, and castle construction still required manpower. Even with the total population of the territory approaching 90,000, Hudson still felt it wasn't enough.

The main problem was that Beastfolk slaves made up too large a proportion of the population, and their labor efficiency was far lower than that of humans. This issue of racial innate factors cannot be easily reversed through later efforts.

With the autumn grain harvest stored, the grain pressure in the Mountain Territory has been greatly alleviated. In addition, some customers who used grain to offset payments for goods are finally free of charge this year.

After reviewing the accounts, Hudson was surprised to find that he had gone from being a debtor to a creditor.

Of course, this includes the Young Bear's income from last year. But that doesn't matter, the money in the partner bear's pocket is Hudson's money.

The Earth Bear isn't Giant Dragon; it doesn't have the habit of sleeping with gold coins. As long as the accounts are clear and Beldens sees the money in the project's accounts, that's fine.

The thought of the impending war instantly dampened Hudson's good mood. No matter how wealthy they were, they couldn't withstand the devastation of war.

For nobles, the risk of war was not only life and death, but more deadly was the risk of falling back into poverty.

The risk of dying in battle is a matter of probability, but the financial deficit caused by war is something that everyone must face.

Nominally, the kingdom will bear most of the war expenses, but this money doesn't just fall from the sky. Besides support from other countries, it mainly needs to find its own solutions.

Merchants and free citizens were definitely the main targets of taxation, but these two groups made up a very small percentage of the population and were not wealthy enough.

The cost was mostly borne by the noble lords.

Fortunately, the kingdom doesn't solely collect cash; various strategic materials can be used as payment. Basically, it provides whatever is available based on the actual situation.

For a long time, the Southeast Province has played the role of a major grain producer. This time, it is estimated that this will change slightly, and the military industry of the Mountain Territory will mostly be incorporated into the mobilization system.

During wartime, weapons are never enough. Not only do disposable weapons need to be constantly replenished, but damaged weapons and armor also need to be replaced.

The specifics of coordination were the responsibility of the Governor's Mansion. Typically, coordination would begin within the provinces, followed by nationwide coordination and allocation.

Given the current level of productivity, the Orc Empire deserves the greatest credit for the Alpha Kingdom's military preparedness system reaching this stage.

Without the pressure of life and death, mobilizing a million-strong army to fight would have been virtually impossible in feudal times.

If the Beastfolk weren't so ferocious, they wouldn't have been able to motivate the nobles to empty their coffers and cooperate in the mobilization.

Perhaps it's just bad luck, but the southern provinces that suffered from severe drought last year are now experiencing another round of heavy rainfall.

The newly harvested autumn grains had not yet been fully stored when the long rainy season began.

The rain caused many grains to mold or sprout new roots, causing great distress to the noble lords.

The Mountain Territory was no exception; Hudson frowned as he looked at the grain that had not yet dried.

Everywhere that could be spread with grain was covered with it. Even his lord's mansion was filled with grain as far as the eye could see, leaving only a narrow path.

Even so, the grain still couldn't escape the fate of mold. Left with no other choice, the serfs were ordered to dry the wet grain by roasting it.

It's better to store it for one more day than for it to mold and spoil immediately. Anyway, there are many people Mountain Territory, and the food is consumed quickly.

If it's truly impossible to store it all, then let the people, slaves, and livestock eat to their hearts' content.

Suppressing the pain in his heart, Hudson went into the laboratory and then walked out again.

Needless to say, it was another day of failure.

While the Life Essence wasn't successfully developed, the quality of the Bear feed pellets improved significantly.

No sugar, honey, or animal milk were added, but that didn't affect Beldens' subsequent processing. The feed pellets were simply placed into animal milk with added sugar and honey and drunk directly.

It has both the taste and the effects. According to Beldens, one feed pellet is enough for a day's normal training.

It's a good thing that Lord Bear likes to eat, because it means that Hudson's experiment has a financial backer.

With only one buyer, making a profit was out of the question, but breaking even was barely achieved.

It's pitiful for all the animals that became test subjects; the better the quality of the feed pellets, the faster they died.

Even if Hudson reduced the concentration, these ordinary creatures still had no resistance to the extraordinary energy.

The sole success resulted in the creation of a "Mighty Bull." As the only bull to survive and leave the laboratory, it possessed strength several times greater than that of an ordinary bull, making it incredibly efficient at plowing the fields.

Perhaps it was due to genetics, or perhaps some detail was overlooked, but success only came once.

Originally intending to use warhorses for the experiment, Hudson decided to abandon the idea after considering the cost.

There's nothing to be disappointed about. Magical Alchemy is like scientific research; it's a process of continuous trial and error.

Failure is normal; success is the exception.

"Father, why did you come in such a hurry? Has something serious happened?"

Looking at Baron Redman had suddenly appeared, Hudson asked in confusion.

Noble gentlemen don't have the habit of traveling in the rain. Unless it's something important, they usually don't go out during the rainy season.

Nothing major seems to have happened recently, but if I had to name one: a bunch of unlucky nobles, all vying for favors, were forcibly included in the first expeditionary force by Governor Pierce.

These things had little to do with the Coslo Family. The younger generation was training in the Mountain Territory at the time and didn't have the opportunity to join in the fun.

The older generation of nobles were already mature enough not to abandon their territorial affairs and travel hundreds of miles to Beda City to watch the spectacle just for a few songstresses.

"Your two elder brothers' marriages have been arranged. The main reason for this visit is to discuss your marriage."

There was no need to rush, but the war was drawing ever closer, and no one knew how long it would last.

You now have a large and powerful family business, and once you lead troops into battle, maintaining stability in the rear will be a major problem.

To stabilize morale, you must get married as soon as possible, and try to get your wife pregnant before you go to war.

Baron Redman spoke slowly.

Parents' hearts are always full of love and worry.

Even nobles, once their children are involved, are not much different from ordinary parents.

Within just two or three months, the marriages of his two elder brothers were quickly finalized and arranged for Hudson to marry. Clearly, Baron Redman had been quite busy.

This period has also been a peak time for noble marriages. No one knows what will happen next, and each new ally increases the chances of survival.

Even if one is killed in action, it would be good to leave behind a descendant to inherit the family business.

Compared to his two older brothers, Hudson clearly had more say in matters of personal life and marriage.

The fact that Baron Redman personally came to seek his opinion speaks volumes. If it were his two elder brothers, it would probably have been merely a notification.

Above the High Heavens

While enjoying the convenience brought by the power of their family, the children of noble families inevitably have to bear corresponding obligations.

There was no rush to refuse; the Mountain Territory did indeed need a mistress, and even more so, an heir.

"Father, starting preparations now seems too rushed. Or has the family already chosen someone, or have both sides already reached an agreement?"

Hudson asked rationally.

Given his current status and position, finding a wife of equal social standing wouldn't be difficult; the key lies in politics.

At this point, Hudson's marriage is no longer just a personal matter, but a shared issue for the entire Coslo Family.

"Indeed, the family has already begun looking for a suitable candidate regarding the mistress of the Mountain Territory."

You're not that old; there was no need for such a rush. It's just that the situation is changing too fast. The Coslo Family had just returned to the ranks of middle-class nobles when this war broke out.

The Mountain Territory is certainly strong, especially with the many allies you've won over. But that's not enough to weather this war safely.

Although our family has been in power for quite some time, we have been far removed from the political center for many years, and we have fallen behind in many aspects.

You now need the support of your wife's family to stay informed about the kingdom's high-ranking officials and integrate into the center of power as soon as possible.

Time is too short, and you don't have many options left.

There are five noble families that align with your family's interests and are willing to form a marriage alliance with you. Choose one of them.

We need to complete the communication as soon as possible; otherwise, someone else will get there first, which would be troublesome.

Baron Redman said seriously.

Taking the parchment and looking at the information recorded on it, Hudson was surprised to find that three of the five noble families were located outside the province.

Upon closer examination, this seems to be the case. There are not many middle-class nobles to begin with, and even fewer with women of marriageable age.

Given the current situation, younger candidates naturally have to be excluded.

If you limit your target to within the province, your options will be too limited.

Generally speaking, the marriage circle of a minor nobleman is limited to the surrounding area within a few hundred miles.

A large and prosperous family like the Coslo Family could easily turn all their neighbors into relatives.

Once one reaches the ranks of middle nobility, the options for marriage alliances shrink significantly, making it inevitable to expand the scope of marriage partners.

The circle of choices for the great nobles is narrower. In addition to marriage alliances within the kingdom, many great families have relatives by marriage abroad.

Judging from the candidate information on the parchment, in addition to the middle-ranking nobles, there were also collateral branches of the great nobles.

Clearly, Hudson's performance has caught the eye of the bigwigs, making him valuable to win over.

Fortunately, they were all from collateral branches. If a powerful noble family were willing to offer their eldest daughter for marriage, the Coslo Family probably wouldn't hesitate at all and would have agreed immediately.

"Then let's go with the Hollisir Family!"

Hudson said casually.

There was no other reason than familiarity. Of the five noble ladies mentioned above, Hudson had only ever met Melissa from the Hollisir Family.

The other four may be stunningly beautiful or outrageously ugly.

It involved a lifelong issue, and Hudson dared not gamble on it.

It's better to make it in advance, so that nothing else changes after we go to the Royal Capital.

As the elite of the younger generation, it wasn't just the local power brokers who were interested in Hudson; the nobles of the Royal Capital were equally willing to add another promising in-law to their list.

In peacetime, marrying into the Royal Capital or powerful families would also be a good option.

But this is a time of war, and in war, all so-called power is meaningless. Only the strength in one's hands is real.

If a major upheaval occurs and chaos ensues, fiefdom nobles with their own armies will provide far greater assistance than nobles who are dependent on the Royal Authority.

"The Hollisir Family is also a good choice."

Although it has declined now, its ancestors were one of the kingdom's great nobles, and its heritage was among the best of all the middle-ranking nobles.

Even now, they remain the second largest family in the Southeast Province, and their strength is far beyond what our Coslo Family can match.

Viscount Oran is a capable ruler, Hollisir Family has been doing well in recent years, showing signs of returning to the ranks of the great nobles.

However, there's one thing you must consider carefully: once you marry into the Hollisir Family, you'll inevitably incur the Dalton Family's suspicion, and may even face suppression.

Baron Redman offered a cautious reminder.

"Father, this is something we can't avoid, so there's no need to worry too much."

The Mountain Territory was able to have smooth sailing before was because the Dalton Family needed us to keep the Northern Nobles in check.

The situation has changed. The Northern Nobles have suffered heavy losses, are now firmly under my control, and the threat from the Mountain Territory has become apparent.

There was no deliberate targeting of the Mountain Territory because the situation in the Northern Frontier was tense, and war was imminent. The kingdom could not afford internal strife.

Given the bigger picture, the Dalton Family probably won't do anything openly. I reckon Governor Pierce is likely planning to use this war to weaken us.

We are not the only ones facing this pressure; several powerful middle-class families in the province are also under the special attention of the Dalton Family.

The powerful nobles' restriction of the middle nobles within their spheres of influence is purely driven by self-interest. No matter who they marry into, this fundamental nature remains unchanged.

Hudson said nonchalantly.

Having too much debt is never a burden. From the moment they rejected Count Pierce's advances, it was destined that they were not on the same path.

Compromise won't work. Unless the Mountain Territory's strength stops growing, conflict between the two sides is inevitable sooner or later.

The tense situation only delays the time when the conflict will occur; it does not mean that the conflict has disappeared.