The palace hall to the east through two large courtyards is the official office of the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the Court of the Count of Burgundy, the official office is a three-story white brick and red tile building, the size of fifteen rooms, the porch and staircase are carved with various patterns, there is a sculpture in the courtyard in front of the official office, which looks very exquisite and luxurious.

During the time of the Marquis of Ivrea, there were more than 20 large and small officials, and it was the cash cow and gold bag of the entire court of the Count of Burgundy, and the iron vault and the palace treasury were located in the basement of the official office, which is why it was always guarded by the heavy armor of the court chamberlain.

However, at this time, the Chancellor's office was empty, and there were no more than ten people in the whole office, including two guards armed with spears and armor, and Flender and Balwin had not yet transferred a large amount of money to the iron vault or they did not have any extra money to store here.

Since there was no money and the defense was very lax, the two soldiers only made a slight symbolic interrogation and then let Yat enter the official office.

Art grabbed a middle-aged man who looked like a clerk coming down the stairs, "Your Excellency, may I ask where Baron Galvin's office is?" ”

The middle-aged man glanced up and down at Art, saw the dress he held on his chest, and knew that Art must be a new nobleman, so he replied politely: "My lord, you mean the Viscount Galvin, the adviser minister, right?"

"Viscount Galvin?" Art whispered a question.

"Yes, Lord Galvin. I am his son-in-law, could you please tell me which office he is in? Art continued.

The middle-aged man politely raised his hand and pointed upstairs, "In the innermost room upstairs, that's Lord Galvin's office. ”

Art thanked him and took a few steps up to the second floor, walking straight to the innermost door.

Through the door, Arte could barely hear the words "fruits, terms, privilege trades," and it took a while for the voice to cease, and then Galvin sent someone out.

The man was not young, a little fat, and was dressed in a beautifully cut raw silk satin, dressed as a wealthy businessman, apparently a businessman who was interested in taking refuge in Flender.

"Art, you're finally here, come inside." Galvin saw Art and ushered him into his office.

At this time, Galvin was no longer dressed in the court just now, and he changed back into a light and warm cotton robe.

Galvin sat Art down in the chair at the long table, turned to take the bottle from the high table by the fireplace, and poured Art a full glass of wine.

Art got up and took it, "Father-in-law"

Galvin pushed Art back into his chair, motioning for no further ado, then returned to the wooden table and sat down, whispering, "I know everything."

"Did you show any unusual movement in the palace today? Or is it dissatisfied? Galvin leaned forward and stared nervously at Art.

Art shook his head.

"That's good!" Galvin leaned back in his chair and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Father-in-law, what's going on? I have already made a lot of military achievements on the battlefield of the Western Front, and I have led the army to experience life and death in the east, and the soldiers under my command have suffered countless casualties, why do you use a false title of viscount to perfunctory me? Yat's tone was a little excited, no one would accept such a perfunctory, and it would be good if Art could hold his breath and not rebel in court.

Galvin looked out the window, and there was no sound of pedestrians in the porch, he laughed, and said to Art, "The roots are luxuriant, and the trees are windy." Your reputation in the East is too great, your military prowess is too great, and a cold wind blows in the court. ”

Art didn't understand the words of his old father-in-law, Wen Zou Zou, and looked at Galvin in confusion.

Galvin patiently explained, "After the military exploits recovered by the four fortress towns in the east reached Besançon, there were different voices in the palace about the reward for your military merits. ”

Art listened.

"The Count of Burgundy will soon announce the abolition of the title of the Free Count and return to the Duchy of Burgundy, and become the Marquis of Franche-Comté of the Duchy, according to the regulations of the Duchy, the newly built Marquis Region can have two court counts, four border vassal counts and one leading count, all of which are actual counts. In addition, in recent years, the Duchy has also reinstated the title of a few forest counts, who are the lords who manage the hunting grounds, forests and other unsettled barren lands on behalf of the Duchy, and their status is lower than the first three counts, but they enjoy a high degree of privilege within the territory. ”

"I am Flender's uncle, and I am also a direct member of the Hugue family, and as early as the day after the army captured Besançon, I and five people, including the Earl of Balwyn's and his retainer Charis, were promoted to Viscount of the Court and Viscount of the Army."

"After the kingdom returns to the sect, I will definitely continue to be promoted to the rank of Earl of the Imperial Palace. And your military exploits in the East are dazzling enough, and more importantly, your wife is Flender's cousin, so he wants to earn you the false title of Earl of the Forest, and then make Tignets County and appoint you as the actual military lieutenant to lead the army."

Art's eyes were almost wide, and he couldn't believe his ears.

Galvin nodded to show certainty, "Recently, Flender and Count Balwin have had a gap, and after Besanson's attack, Balwin has taken himself as a native noble family in the north of the Earl of Burgundy, and he has some strange thoughts. Flender also deliberately cultivated the nouveau riche to suppress the entrenched old-fashioned ministers. ”

Art lowered his voice, "So someone is against it?" ”

Galvin nodded, "Balwin definitely disagreed, he refused on the pretext that the war between the east and the west was not over and many heroes were not rewarded, he only agreed to canonize you as a Viscount of the Frontier according to the pre-ordination document, at most the entire Baronial Valley and the southern wasteland of Tignats to you, or give you a piece of the county territory of Thornkodor as a fief after taking the western border." ”

"The attitude of the Balwyn faction is tough, and Flender still has to rely on the Balwyn faction, so the matter can only be put on hold for the time being, so he will simply promote your title for the time being, and the matter of fiefdom will be given to you after he obtains the canonization of the Duchy of Burgundy and the Kingdom of France. However, Flender had privately approached me and hinted that he would still try to get a young earl in the South. If you know this, don't spread it around, so as not to provoke trouble. ”

Galvin didn't wait for Art to come back to his senses, and lowered his voice, "Count Balwyn seems to already know something about you, you have to be careful, Count Balwin's place you still have to move around, that old guy doesn't have a big heart." ”

"Your movements at the border are too great, and the profits you have obtained are very large, I am afraid that Balwin's eyes have long been fixed on your purse, and it is rumored that he also covets your southern trade route."

Art was a little annoyed, "There was already his share in that trade route, what?" He still wants to monopolize? ”

Galvin hurriedly pressed his hand and whispered, "After Flender entered the court, he has asked me to temporarily become the deputy minister of finance with the title of viscount, and I will not make a move on your business for the time being with Balwin." Now that Flender has not yet taken deep roots in the Northland, he must not stand on the opposite side of Balwin."

After Galvin finished speaking, Art's mind was churning for a long time, and the office room was quiet for a while.

"Father-in-law, I'll pay you a visit at Earl Balwin's side at once. Cousin Flender of the court, you still have to think hard, and since you are now the deputy minister of finance, then I have to help you stabilize your position, and you can stabilize the finances of the kingdom and my European business house can go further. ”

Galvin, who was promoted to viscount as a baron, was unconvinced by many of the old local schools, and he was worried about how to gain a foothold in the court, and it was certainly good that Art could help him gain a foothold.

Art got up and walked to Galvin's side, leaning over and whispering, "I led my troops to sack the Swabian border in the east and captured 1,720,000 pfennighs, and I reported to the court that I had captured 920,000 pfennighs. The battle for the East cost me 760,000 pfennigs, and I have to leave at least 500,000 for the rest of the situation, and Balwyn has to give at least 50,000 pfennighs as a gift. ”

"Of the remaining 400,000 pfennigs, 100,000 will be allocated to Felix, and I will give you the remaining 300,000 pfennies. With this money at your disposal, you can at least be tough, and you can hint at it to Cousin Flender, but don't make a noise. ”

Galvin, the deputy minister of finance, is currently lacking everything, but the most important thing is food and military salaries, which is really not much, but at least it can solve the immediate problem of supporting the army.

"I will hint to Flender, with this generous gift, I think Flender will also put more thought into the matter of your promotion to the earl, and your efforts will not suffer." Galvin nodded affirmatively, he was originally worried about Art's determination to monopolize the battle of the East, since Art himself brought it up, of course, it would be better, and he could have an explanation from Flender.

"Father-in-law, now that the war has reached a stalemate, the next thing is to see whose money, food, and materials can last one more day, and one more day will be the final winner."

Galvin sighed, "That bastard of Bernard has moved all the tax surpluses of the entire country for more than ten years to the city of Thorne, and now we will definitely not be able to support it with the strength of the two provinces of Jonah and Lusesinn, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer has gone to the southern countries to lobby, hoping to borrow enough money and food materials by virtue of Flender's relationship with the southern countries." ”

"Haven't you ever thought of borrowing money from the Holy Order's treasury? The Assemblies are Christendom's largest financiers, and if they were able to borrow money, not only to alleviate the financial crisis, but also to receive unexpected support, the Assembly would never allow its borrowers to be wiped out. ”

Galvin touched the ring on his hand, "You and Flender have thought of each other, Flender has long appointed Bishop Orloff to lobby the Holy Order, hoping to borrow five million fennigh with twenty years of taxes. ”

"Five million? Is the Holy Order Treasury willing to borrow? "Art knows that the situation in the Count of Burgundy is uncertain right now, and the Holy Order may not be willing to lend a hand, especially if this amount is not small.

"Originally, the Holy Order was unwilling, but in recent months we have not only captured Besançon but also driven out the Swaben in the east, and the Holy Order has seen our strength, and in the past two days has sent another delegation to negotiate with us, and they have offered a lot of fruits and conditions, and Flender is negotiating with the other side."

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Chapter 374: False Earl