Annexation

Just when the two thought that Victor had finished allocating the land and giving out the rewards, Victor continued to speak.

"Of course, it's just giving you this land, it's not really a reward, so in the next stage of development..."

The territory will provide you with all kinds of assistance, including manpower and resources, and will prioritize the development of your two families' lands.

Once your two families' lands are fully developed and ready for cultivation, the grains and supplies produced on these lands will be centrally purchased by the territory and used to expand the territory further.

What do you think of this compensation?

Both of them were very excited after hearing this, especially Luda, who had joined Victor's ranks.

He understood all too well that farming was far more stable and comfortable than herding, otherwise he wouldn't have led a large group of his people to start farming.

The lord's guarantee will not only help his tribe develop the land faster and better, but the unified acquisition of output will also bring unimaginable wealth to his tribe.

Luda was good at calculating. He started to calculate in his mind that if all 80 square kilometers of land were developed, it would amount to a certain amount of land.

If all of it is used to grow wheat, even if the minimum yield is 200 kilograms per acre, it can be sold for 1 Silver Coin according to the territory's grain price, which means 4,800 gold per acre, which is a lot of money.

Although the Luda tribe had a considerable number of livestock, including 20,000 sheep, more than 2,000 horses, and several hundred cattle, which together could be worth a fortune, it seemed like it would take four years of farming to catch up.

But Luda understood that it takes two years for a cow to grow to maturity, about the same for a horse, and a year for a sheep, and that's assuming no natural disasters or diseases. Even if we disregard the normal losses each year, if we maintain the current number of livestock...

Over four years, you can only sell 500 horses, 5,000 sheep, and a little over 100 cattle, which together are worth only 4,000 gold coins, which is only equivalent to a year's worth of farming.

Furthermore, Luda knew that there were crops in Two Rivers Territory that were more valuable than wheat, such as sugar beets, which yielded five times more per acre than wheat.

If all these lands were planted with sugar beets, wouldn't they be able to sell at least a thousand dollars a year, enough to support an entire tribe?

Luda was already immersed in his wonderful imagination, his saliva was practically dripping.

Although Gansen was also happy, he couldn't help but feel disgusted and distanced himself from Luda when he saw Luda's infatuated expression.

Victor did not interrupt the two, and continued to look at the ground beneath his feet.

This harvest was truly bountiful; it can be said that this land will be the most solid foundation for the Golden Sunflower Family's future, making it invaluable.

"It seems that after the Civil War ends, the Golden Sunflower Family must keep a low profile and focus on expansion. Just give me ten years."

With this land, it can easily surpass not only Iron Birch Territory, but even the entire Three Counties of the Northern Frontier.

Victor's initial plan for the Civil War was to defeat the loyal nobles and the Duchy's Direct Legion, and then earn enough merit to acquire inland territories to establish a century-old foundation for the Golden Sunflower Family.

As for gold, silver, and treasures, people and resources were relegated to a secondary position.

But now, seeing this patch of black soil before him, Victor decided to change his plans.

With unlimited development rights and this vast and fertile prime land, this is the foundation for the Golden Sunflower Family's century-long legacy. Why bother fighting to the death with the nobles from the mainland?

At most, after the Civil War ends, we can annex a few eastern noble territories and, as a token gesture, elevate the Golden Sunflower Family's inland territories to a level between viscount and Count.

The Two Rivers Territory and the Northlands are the true wealth of the Golden Sunflower Family, but managing such land requires abundant resources and manpower.

Victor plans to use the plunder of people and essential resources after defeating the enemy in the Civil War to aid in the development of his territory.

After Victor finished thinking, he found the interaction between Gansen and Luda somewhat amusing; the estrangement caused by the unequal distribution had disappeared.

"Luda, your people are probably not good at farming yet. Even after learning, it will take them a long time to adapt to farming life."

I just mentioned to Gansen that I plan to recruit some of your people into the supply depot's army.

Luda was somewhat puzzled, since the recruitment of his people, especially the young and strong, into the army would definitely affect the speed of land development.

Victor waved his hand, signaling him not to speak yet. "In addition to drawing a militia and military dependents from the Two Rivers Territory to come here, my next step will be to arrange a group of serfs as the first batch of labor for development."

They will work together to cultivate your two families' lands, and their efficiency will certainly be much higher than yours alone. With them, you can easily fill the labor gap you are missing.

Gansen's troops will train and cultivate the land at the same time, since this place is far from the territory. If there is Barbarians invasion, you two will have to rely on your own strength.

"Gansen has your people under his command, which will facilitate cooperation between both sides; it's a win-win situation."

Upon hearing this, Luda understood the Viscount's good intentions and was naturally very grateful for Victor's suggestion.

"Viscount, I will send my best lads to join Gansen, um, Gansen's ranks."

"Whenever needed, every male member of my tribe is ready to go to the battlefield."

Luda patted his chest and assured Victor.

Victor was Luda's statement, while Gansen was overjoyed that Victor had persuaded Luda so easily.

After all, with Luda's people, the foundation for the Cavalry force was already laid, and there was no need to prepare warhorses, which undoubtedly reduced a lot of work.

At this moment, Luda suddenly knelt down on one knee before Victor and said solemnly, "Your Excellency, I have another request, please grant it!"

Gansen thought Luda was somewhat unsatisfied and was about to go up to pull him up, but Victor held Gansen back.

Victor roughly knew what Luda wanted to say, "Go ahead and say it, Luda. If it's too much of a demand, I won't let you off easily."

"Your Excellency, I have told you before that my people want to break away from the Horseshoe Tribe."

However, you did not agree, after all, Jell and his people had also made many contributions and were a vassal tribe of the Golden Sunflower Family.

But now my people and I have decided to break away from our original Barbarians way of life and cultivate the land and raise livestock like your other people.

Therefore, this time I am not planning to break away from the Horseshoe Tribe, but rather to directly request annexation. I beg Your Excellency to make us your subjects."

Victor remained silent, while Luda was also sweating profusely. After all, what he was doing was somewhat like a power play, but given the current atmosphere, he couldn't control himself.

The Viscount had given him and his people such a large fortune, and he knew all too well how precious such fertile land was to other nobles and ducal subjects.

If his tribe continues to occupy this fertile land as a vassal tribe, it would be like a child holding gold.

Even though Victor would protect him because of his many merits, he was already over forty years old.

He will live for at most another twenty years. By then, his viscount will be under forty years old, in the prime of his life. At that time, the viscount may not only become Count or Marquis, but even Duke is not out of the question.

The Golden Sunflower Family has many vassal nobles. Wouldn't they be jealous of the lands occupied by the Luda people?

Therefore, in order to protect his people and ensure that this land remains in the hands of his descendants, Luda's best option is to directly lead his people to join the Two Rivers Territory.

Victor remained silent for a long time before finally speaking, "Luda, you're overthinking things. Do you think I would go back on my word? Anyone who tries to take what I gave you will be my enemy!"

Victor's tone was chilling, Luda trembled a few times in fear as she listened.

Gansen remained silent after hearing Victor's words; this was not a matter for him to interrupt.

"Never mind, I'll talk to Jell. From now on, you and your people will no longer be my vassals."

Luda looked up and saw Victor with a slight smile on his lips.

He immediately understood what Victor meant, and tears streamed down his face. "Lord Victor, Luda and my people are your most loyal hounds!"