When Art led Ron to the palace of Earl Balwyn, the former Vice-Chancellor of the Exchequer, was in a battle with Earl Bernard, the former Vice-Chancellor, and the current Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The main point of contention was the question of how the court should divide the fiefdoms of the knights who were supposed to be rewarded for their meritorious service at the end of their service.

Last summer, the court was limited by financial resources, in order to recruit a group of elite troops to deal with the pressure of war in the east, at the suggestion of the Marquis, the court issued an order to canonize the trainee knights to the entire Earl Kingdom, and soon after, dozens of people participated in the selection of the trainee knights, and finally twenty-four candidates were canonized as trainee knights. The rest of the twenty-one men all went to battle the Swabian army with their own troops.

Of the twenty-one people, six had their souls forever stationed in the Eastern Frontier, and eight were Besançon who was dragged back from a carriage; Only four of the remaining seven lucky ones who returned with all beards and tails were successful in battle, and the other three were frightened by the fierce fighting on the Northern Front shortly after the war began, and no matter how strict the commander ordered, these three refused to charge and fight, and were imprisoned by the angry battlefield commander on the charge of refusing to fulfill their lives in the face of retreating, these guys not only could not be canonized as knights, but also faced severe sanctions by military law.

For the trainee knights who died in battle, the court retained their status as lifelong trainee knights for the sake of appeasing the resentment of the deceased's family, and the deceased family's land was not subject to all taxes except war taxes for ten years, but the status of trainee knights could not be inherited, and their heroic deaths could only bring ten years of tax-free privileges to their families.

Probationary knights who are seriously injured and cannot be healed are treated differently. According to the documents sent back to the court from the Eastern Battlefield, five of the eight seriously injured were made meritorious deeds, and these five seriously injured probationary knights would be cut off by the palace to have their swallowtail flags cut off, but because they were no longer suitable to fight as knights for the court, these five people could only enjoy the title and privileged honor of knights for life, and the court would not give them fiefdoms. The other three unlucky guys who had just entered the battlefield and were seriously injured before they could kill the enemy could only enjoy the same treatment as the war dead - a lifelong apprenticeship knight and ten years of tax exemption.

The disposition of those who died in battle, disobeyed orders, and seriously wounded was largely unanimously agreed upon by all the people in the court, and the crux of the dispute was between the three who remained behind and the four who had made meritorious contributions, as they were all people who were eligible for knighthoods and fiefdoms.

These twenty-four apprentice knights were recruited and canonized in the name of the Marquis of Burgundy, Ivrea Otto, and their fiefdoms had to be placed by the Marquis himself.

The title is simple, nothing more than a paper stamped letter.

But the fiefdom problem is difficult, the direct territories of the Marquis of Yvreaa are the richest and most fertile lands in the country, and these fiefs have long been divided by the marquis's most confidant relatives or court magnates, even if it is not a very rich fief like the county town of Tignats, it is also handed over to the marquis's former chief of guard, Viscount Pierre, and it is impossible for other counts, viscounts and powerful ministers in the court who have fiefs to hand over their fiefs to the court to this group of probationary knights, after all, these probationary knights are vassals of the marquis, The landed nobles could neither collect taxes from these people, nor could they require them to lead their own armies into battle.

The Marquis of Ivrea continued to mediate, and in the end he had to offer tax relief, trade privileges, and court official positions in exchange for fiefs from the nobles.

Since the war mainly took place in the eastern province of Winterthur, there were more knights killed in the fief of Count Balwyn, and there were some vacant territories that no one inherited, in order to share the worries of the Marquis of Ivrea and consolidate his position in the heart of the marquis, he voluntarily took out two knightly titles and handed them over to the court for disposal, of course, the Marquis of Ivrea still gave Balwyn the official position of a court herald and the privilege of operating linen in Winterthur Province.

The Chancellor, the Earl of Bernard, saw that Balwyn was in the limelight in front of the Marquis, and he also took out his Winston estate in the south of Tignats County and handed it over to the court as a knightly fief......

In the end, the Marquis of Ivrea received five knightly fiefs from the nobles (castles and lords were built in the fiefdoms).

But in the face of four midshipmen who had made great achievements on the front line and three midshipmen who had backers in the rear, how to divide the five pieces of land evolved into another debate.

Two of the three midshipmen who stayed behind had patrons in the court, one of them was the second son of the marquise's brother, and the other was the illegitimate son of the court's military minister, these two men had been confirmed to be knights and each of them was given a fertile knight's fief, and the other apprentice knight named Dean opened the door of the Chancellor of the Exchequer Bernard, and his family secretly took out a huge sum of 60,000 finneys to "buy" Winston Manor from Bernard, Therefore, the Count of Bernard, who has always been shrewd and stingy, will generously take out his manor and hand it over to the court to dispose of.

When Chancellor of the Exchequer Bernard mentioned the name of Dean, Earl Balwyn immediately couldn't sit still, this guy first defected to Earl Balwin's door, his family sent a huge amount of property to Earl Balwin, and sought a military position as a military escort officer under Earl Balwin, but later Earl Balwyn found out that this insatiable guy actually bypassed his secret collusion with Besançon's businessmen, swallowed a lot of military funds and made a windfall, Earl Balwyn had intended to punish this unknown fellow severely.

However, Dean immediately switched to Chancellor of the Exchequer Bernard after the incident, and his family seemed to have ties with the magnates in the court, and Earl Balwyn was forced by the pressure of his rival Earl Bernard and some court magnates to give up his in-depth investigation of Dean. But now that Bernard had proposed that Winston Manor be given to Dean for fiefdom, the Earl of Balwyn immediately raised a strong objection.

"Lord Bernard, if Winston Manor were your own fiefdom, I wouldn't have said a word "no" even if you rewarded the most despicable slave, but now that Winston Manor is under the control of the court, as the deputy prime minister of the court, I firmly oppose the enclosure of this manor to this guy named Dean!! The Earl of Balwin stubbornly pushed back the Chancellor's proposal.

Bernard glared at Balwin, the old guy in front of him secretly took away his position as deputy minister, not to mention, and still opposed him everywhere in the court, he immediately retorted: "Lord Vice-Minister, you can't make things difficult for people everywhere just because Dean can't stand your tyranny and leave you, Dean has worked tirelessly to transport military supplies back and forth during the six months he has served in the court, and his family has dedicated tens of thousands of Fenni war taxes to defend the territory of the Marquis. Shouldn't such a loyal and courageous person be treated favorably? Besides, Dean came out of Tignaz, so it was just right to give him Winston Manor as a knight's fief! ”

Earl Balwyn was angry for a while and almost said that the Dean family had given the Chancellor of the Exchequer a huge bribe, but he suddenly remembered that he had also received money from Dean, and his words changed again, "If it is to punish the fiefdom, then the apprentice knight Art is also from Tinets County, and he is a real battle exploit on the battlefield, then Winston Manor should be given to him!" ”

When Bernard heard the name of Atte, he was furious, pointed at the nose of Earl Balwyn and shouted, "That bastard of Art, he once plundered Winston Manor like a robber and killed my vassals!" Such a bastard can also be seen by the vice-prime minister, and now he still wants to occupy Winston Manor, dreaming! ”

Balwyn deliberately used the word Art to stimulate Bernard, he turned his head and said to everyone in the hall: "Bernard, the matter of Winston Manor has long been decided, I think you know better than anyone else whose fault it is!" ”

Seeing that the two important ministers in the palace were about to start arguing about the old past, the Marquis of Ivrea shouted loudly and said, "Now we are talking about the issue of the mining of meritorious apprentice knights, what are you pulling out these bad things for!!"

Seeing that the Marquis was a little angry, the two people in the hall sat back on the chairs on either side with their eyes glared.

"Both Balvin and Bernard have a point. But now there are only three knights left in the court, but there are still five knights who need to be divided, not to mention the quality of the fief, just who has a fief and who doesn't have a fief is a big problem, so let's talk about this issue first and then consider the others~" Seeing that Balwin and Bernard had deviated from the topic, the elderly palace minister hurriedly came out and made a peace with the mud.

The rest of the temple chimed in.

So then, the powerful ministers in the palace began to consider who could obtain the fief and which could only be canonized as knights but not the fiefdom according to many factors such as the military exploits, family background, and utilization value of the remaining five trainee knights......

The court discussion lasted until noon, and this court discussion was mixed with too many family forces and court struggles from the beginning, so that the real battlefield military merits were only a minor factor that could not be asked again.

As a foreigner with no real family background in the Count of Burgundy, a pawn involved in the personal struggle between the vice-chancellor of the court and the chancellor of the exchequer, the apprentice knight Arte, who had made a distinguished military exploit in Thalburg, was not treated fairly as his military exploits.

"Lord Marquis, I think Sir Art should be given a knight's fief anyway, your territory is still facing the invasion of enemy countries, and in the face of hungry wolves around you, you need a brave and brave warrior like him to protect you, and neglecting a meritorious warrior will make other warriors who fight for you chill. Although Art is a Lombard, but he has a hatred for destroying the Lombards, I have seen the army under his command, although the number is not large, but all are elite soldiers, if the court needs to be recruited again in the future, he will be a sharp arrow. And he and his father were the religious guards of Bishop Orlov, and such a warrior who is loyal to God and to you does not deserve such injustice. Balwyn made a final attempt for Art.

The Marquis of Ivrea also felt a little disadvantaged to this warrior who had made great achievements on the southeastern frontier, but as the master of the Earl Country, he needed to consider the balance of all parties, "I also know that this is a little unfair to him, but Balwin, the Count of Burgundy now needs more and more powerful family support, I can only look at the present." Rest assured, I will not only canonize him as an official knight, but I will also reward him with enough money to compensate him. ”

The Marquis of Ivrea turned to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Bernard and said, "Bernard, take out 50,000 pfennigs from the palace treasury and give them to Art. Wood. Wells, 20,000 Fennigh to David. How about Patrick (another merit apprentice) as compensation for not having a fiefdom? ”

Bernard shook his head again and again, and said: "Lord Marquis, the palace treasury is almost exhausted in order to cope with this war, and the war is still going on, the commercial and agricultural taxes of the Earl Kingdom have been repeatedly reduced due to the impact of the war, and those free cities have refused to pay us additional taxes, and the palace treasury must leave enough gold coins to maintain the operation of the Earl Kingdom." ”

Seeing the Marquis's embarrassed expression, the Chancellor of the Exchequer continued: "The 20,000 pfennigh given to David can barely be squeezed out, but the 50,000 pfennig given to Art is too much, I'm afraid it will be a little difficult. Besides, I've heard that this looting fellow had robbed Swabian of a lot of money and goods, and he might not have been able to look at the money that the court had compensated. ”

Bernard remembered something again, and stood up with a smile and said to the Marquis: "Lord Marquis, I have thought of a solution."

"Well, tell me about it?" The Marquis of Ivrea leaned forward and listened attentively.

"According to a letter from the tax collector of Tignets, this fellow named Yat had offered to set up a tax card at a bridgehead on the southern border of Tignets to collect taxes from inbound merchants, and since he liked to set up a card there to collect taxes, he simply gave him the sheath and the surrounding land as a fief, so that he could also get a fief of the fief and the court could save a lot of gold, so that he could save a lot of gold, and the best of both worlds."

As soon as Bernard's words fell, Balwyn objected, "Lord Bernard, Yat set up a card at the border to collect taxes because Tinets County couldn't afford to supply the border patrol at that time. There is not even a village manor in the surrounding 100 miles, and now that the north-south trade is blocked, how can you let him feed the army with only the money from the commercial tax? ”

"Lord Vice-Chancellor, you said that this is not okay, then it is not okay, for a little apprentice knight who has made some military exploits, he will make things difficult for the Marquis, is that Yat your illegitimate son?" Bernard's words were clearly to sow discord with the Marquis of Bauerwin and the Marquis of Ivrea, and they were abusive.

Balwin immediately jumped up and pointed at Bernard's nose and scolded: "Bernard, you dare to talk nonsense again, be careful that I am not polite to you!" ”

Bernard was not a good man either, and despite the dissuasion of the palace minister next to him, he scolded Balwyn in court.

"Enough!! Shut up both of you! "The Marquis of Ivrea is finally angry.

"Seal the tax card of the bridgehead in the south and the land within five miles of the surrounding area to this Yat as a fief, and collect no tax for ten years, and then give him another ten thousand pfennigs, and that's all." The Marquis of Ivrea made the final decision.

"Now, let's talk about how to deal with the war after the cold winter......

............

In the afternoon, in the official room of the Earl's mansion, Earl Balwin opened the exquisite brocade box that Art put on the table and took a look, closed the lid and pushed it to Art, and said: "Art, you bring everything back, I did my best to do your thing, but obviously Dean's bastard has a lot of power in the court, I have not been able to win you Winston Manor as a knight's fief, and the Marquis has decided in the court to give you the bridgehead tax card in the south of Tignats County and the large land within five miles of its surroundings as a knight's fief, In order to make up for you, the Marquis also specially asked the palace treasury to give you 10,000 pfennigs. For your sake of you, I tore my face with the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Parliament......"

Art was not in the least surprised or saddened by the "bad news" brought by Earl Balwin, and he spent the morning thinking about how to reasonably refuse the other fiefs given to him by the court, and then take the land in the valley.

Art didn't have the slightest wave in his heart, but the look of despair and loss on his face couldn't be suppressed: "Since the Marquis has decided not to give me a real fief, I won't embarrass you, after all, you have offended the palace dignitaries for me, I can't make any more trouble for you, and I will tell you about your efforts from Lord Orlov." ”

"As for the things on the table, it is not a personal gift from me, this is my compensation for the heroic souls of the warriors who died in Tarburg in your territory, please be sure to accept them for those who died in battle."

Balwin was moved by Art's sincerity, he touched the brocade box on the table again, thought for a while, and said, "Art, why don't you join the palace guard." I can make you the captain of a legion phalanx, and all the soldiers under your command can be brought into the legion, and I still have this power. ”

Art was really worried that Earl Balwyn would include him in the Imperial Guard, and that all his previous efforts would be in vain.

Art showed a hint of surprise, and then immediately recovered his loss, and said in a low voice: "Thank you for the kindness of the palace minister, there are more powerful forces in the palace guard legion, and I am a pariah who only knows how to fight war, although I have the care of you and Lord Orlov, but whether I can survive in the legion where various forces are mixed is a question." ”

"But~" Art stopped talking.

"But what? You name it, and I'll do my best to help, even if it's for the sake of the souls who died in Tarburg. Balwin patted the brocade box on the table.

"Lord Gong Xiang, you know that the piece of mining that the palace gave me can't produce a grain at all, and I really want to train an elite army loyal to the Marquis and your lord, but training soldiers requires money and food supplies......"

"Art, do you have any other ideas? Just say it. ”

"Lord Gongxiang, I would like to ask you to ask Lord Marquis for order to canonize a piece of land for me."

"Which piece of land?"

"The barren valley on the southern border of Tignac, between the Berges and the Rummels."

Balwin searched his mind for a recollection, vaguely remembering that there seemed to be such a valley, and asked, "What do you want for the wasteland in that unowned barren valley?" As far as I know, that place has been deserted for hundreds of years, overgrown with weeds and infested with wild animals, do you expect to grow food there? "Apparently Earl Balwyn has not been to the valley for himself.

"My father and I have been hiding in that barren valley and dense forest all these years to escape the pursuit of the enemy, and my father's bones are buried there, and my father fell from there, so I want to get up from there. I also hope that you will retain my position as Patrol Officer, which you gave me, and I have not yet fulfilled my mission......"

Art confided in Balwin and his desire to seal the wastelands of the Wasteland as a fief and keep the court as a magistrate of the southern frontier.

Balwin thought for a moment about how to operate, and said, "I can make the decision right now on the matter of retaining your position as a border inspector, but if you want to seal another piece of land as a fief, then you will probably have to give up the 10,000 pfennies rewarded by the palace, even if it is a wasteland of barren valleys, it can also grow food......"

"Yes!" Art readily agreed.

............

Three days later, the court of the Count of Burgundy came to a conclusion on the question of the fiefdom of the knightly knights.

Arte Wood Wells was promoted to the rank of Knight of the Court of Burgundy, and the knight's fief was a tax card in the southern part of Tignats, a land that included a mile of circumference, and three thousand acres of terra of land in the barren valley between the Berger and Lamel mountains, and the two knightly fiefs were not taxed for ten years; At the same time, Art's position as the Imperial Patrol Officer for the Southern Frontier became the official position of the Imperial Court, and the five soldiers standing in the patrol were paid by the County of Tiniez on behalf of the Imperial Court as light infantry regiments.