Once joint coordination in the Gray River Region was up and running, similar orders were sent to more distant territories, using it as a model.
Over the first few days, more and more lords agreed to sign.
The fate of Marquis Holt and the other uncooperative lords was plain to see. Few were willing to test the power of the Tear Knights' muskets on their own castles.
Counts and barons who controlled small territories were especially quick to agree. They had few troops with which to resist. Rather than drag their entire families into the grave, they preferred to submit to the Tear Knights and at least keep their positions. The truly great nobles, however, were a different matter.
After a copy of the Wartime Joint Administration Regulations arrived at the Duke of York's Residence, it sat on the long table for a full two hours.
The Duke of York braced both hands on the table, his expression shifting. "We can provide grain."
Several officials from his own territory sat opposite him. The dark circles beneath their eyes made it clear they had barely slept lately.
"We can even give twenty percent more this year. They can use our roads, too." At that, the Duke of York slammed his hand onto the table.
"But why should my army obey the Tear Knights' orders?!"
Similar conversations soon took place in other territories.
Several marquises were willing to supply the Eternal Night Wall as they had in the past, and to help seal off towns while the Red Plague spread.
But they could not accept handing over territories their families had spent centuries building.
Shien had said the wartime takeover was only intended to deal with the Red Plague and Demon Beasts.
Yet once this system was truly operating, no one could