Viscount Tielebao: Heretics

Viscount Tielebao had been feeling rather irritable lately.

The Tiele Lineage had the iron thorn as its crest and a history of only a few decades. Among the nobles, it was a newcomer that had only just entered the circle.

But thanks to a lifetime spent riding into battle alongside the Conquest King and the many merits he had earned, the current Viscount Tielebao's father, once a mere stablehand, had risen to the legendary rank of general. The Conquest King had generously ennobled him, granting him Tielebao Castle and a stretch of coastal land, along with the lofty rank of Viscount.

The old stablehand had been moved to tears with gratitude. He swore that his entire family and all their descendants would be forever loyal to the Conquest King, and would shed their last drop of blood for him.

But after the new Viscount Tielebao took over, he discovered one glaring flaw in his territory.

It was poor! Far too poor!

Although its coastal location meant his fief was a little larger than an ordinary viscount's, most of it was barren saline land that couldn't be farmed, making it difficult to produce a harvest.

And the fishermen in the few fishing villages?

They were far too mobile. Aside from forcibly collecting a tax when they sold their fish, he couldn't even gather enough for the regular poll tax. After all, all their worldly possessions were on their boats. If pushed too hard, they could simply sail away. Other than staring helplessly, Viscount Tielebao truly had no good solution.

Of course, even so, he had no intention of giving up his territory or its privileges.

He and his two half-brothers had fought tooth and nail over this family inheritance. Now they were practically enemies, glaring daggers at each other whenever they