In the same late night, in the same quiet sky, in the official room of the mansion west of Besançon in the far northeast of Midsummer City, a middle-aged man with a fat figure and dressed in a merchant costume leaned over his waist and asked softly to Balwin, the deputy minister of the court of the Count of Burgundy.

This fat, middle-aged man is none other than Burgundy's most famous intelligence peddler, a man who steals information and sells it for a living, known as a spider among the people.

From the contents of the secret letter in the hands of His Majesty the Pope, to the number of eggs laid by the hens in the hen's coop south of Besançon, as long as they can afford to pay the silver coins, they can steal and sell them.

Balwin had his own hawkeye, but there were some things they couldn't do too, so he called this fat man.

Balwin shook his hand and threw a money bag on the table in front of him, and the money bag slid in front of the fat man.

Picking up the money bag, weighing it, he asked, "Earl Balwin, what do you need me to do?" ”

"You should remember that five years ago the Marquis personally executed a guard officer at the court?" This can be regarded as a test of Balwin's spider, which is rarely known to many people five years ago, even if Balwin himself only found out about it after the fact.

The greasy man's eyes rolled to the right for a moment, and then he replied, "You mean the court guard named Williams?"

Balwyn said, "I want to know where he came from!" More importantly, I need to know when he climbed into the marquise's bed! ”

The greasy man put the money bag in his hand back on the wooden table, "Lord Earl, this money is more than enough to inquire about other matters, but I am afraid that what you want to inquire about will put me in danger of losing my head at all times, although my head is ugly, I think there is more to it than this." ”

Balwyn sneered, "Your pig's head is worth a gesture to me." ”

It was obviously not the first time that the fat man had encountered such a buyer, he touched his neck, which had several layers of folds, and said slowly: "Lord Earl, I am a merchant who only works for money, and I will contribute as much as you want; If you spend an extra copper coin today, I'll sell a little more tomorrow. And it's a little more beneficial for you to keep my head on my neck. ”

Balwyn knew that such a bastard was not afraid of threats and power, he stared at the greedy eyes of the fat man, took off a gold ring from his right hand and put it on the money bag, "Give you twenty days to know the final answer." I'll give you a little hint~"

The fat man leaned forward to listen, and slowly, frowned, "Midsummer collar?" ”

"You're suspicious—" The fat man shut up instantly, knowing when he knew when to stop thinking about it.

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

"Are you saying that Earl Balwyn has begun to suspect you?" Art knew that Earl Balwyn had postponed the planned uprising indefinitely, but he didn't know the complicated cause and effect.

Flender rubbed his bloodstained hand against the cover of the Bible on the table, and replied: "I'm not sure if Balwin is beginning to doubt me, but his resolve to get up must have wavered, and perhaps Ivrea has begun to preside over the proceedings again this year, which makes him feel that there is still a glimmer of hope."

"That old Balwin guy is okay with everything else, but he's a little forward-looking. But no matter how decisive he is, he will not be suppressed by Bernard for so many years. If Robert succeeded to the throne and ruled the Count of Burgundy, he would be the first magnate to be eradicated. And I promised him to appoint him prime minister of the court when I had taken over the power of the kingdom, and to give him everything that belonged to Bernard, including the rich province of the Count of Saône. ”

It turned out that Flender used the richest province of Saône, the richest province of Burgundy, as a bargaining chip, and it is no wonder that Balwyn was willing to gamble with his life.

"So you want me to help Earl Balwyn strengthen his resolve?" Art asked.

"It's a well-known fact that you've become Balwin's henchman, and anything you do will be taken as Balwin's instructions."

"More importantly, you are Lottie's husband, the son-in-law of my Hugue family, and I am the uncle of your son George Jr."

Flender had already given Art a cover, and Art didn't plan to hide it, he sat up straight and asked Flender in a straight voice, "What benefits can I get?" I mean the real benefits! ”

Flender had a knowing smile on his face, and it was sincere.

"First, the whole county of Tinets, real seal!"

Art didn't make the slightest move, just continued to stare at Flender expectantly.

"Second, one-fifth of the southern trade privileges of the Count of Burgundy, including the entire eastern trade route!"

There was a slight movement on Art's face.

"Thirdly, the Viscount of the Frontier of the Southeastern Marquis of the Duchy of Burgundy, the commander-in-chief of the Frontier Legion."

"The marquis can only be canonized as a viscount at the highest, and then he can only go through the Duke of Burgundy, but I don't think it is a luxury to be an earl with your ability."

Art squirmed and sat down, "Wait, you just said the Marquis District of the Southeast?" Art questioned loudly.

"Yes, the southeastern marquis of the Duchy of Burgundy."

"There is no such place."

"I'll have it when I inherit the marquis."

Art was taken aback, "You want the Count of Burgundy to end the suzerainty relationship and return to the rule of the Duchy of Burgundy?" ”

Flender looked indifferent, "Otherwise, why would the Duke of Burgundy support me to take the throne?" ”

It seems that in order to regain the marquis's rule, Flender even intends to give up the autonomy that his ancestors exchanged for their blood and lives, which is ruthless enough.

However, this is nothing to lose for Art, except that when the time comes, he will need to add "Duchy of Burgundy xxx" in front of his title.

"I have to say, the conditions you gave were tempting enough. But in addition to the three above, I want the whole valley in my territory. Yate came up with an additional condition.

"That's your barony, and you're going to canonize me again?"

"I don't think I've made it clear, Count of Flanders, I'm not just talking about the twenty-thousand-plus acres of territory I already own, I want all the land between Lamel and the Boge Mountains, from the county of Tignets south to Provence or Lombardy!"

Flender carefully recalled the area that Art had described, but he could not really sketch the outline of it: "The places you are talking about seem to be at the junction of Burgundy, Provence, and the borders of the third countries of Lomba?" Even if I give it all to you, will you be able to take it? Besides, I remember it was a wasteland that had been abandoned for hundreds of years. ”

Familiar words.

"That's my own business, you don't have to worry about it." Art replied.

"Okay, I'll grant you all your requests!"

"Okay, now you can give me the task......"

On the second day of the secret talks, Art refused the repeated attempts of the Count of Flender, and took Robert and Ron and several baroness guards on the horses and embarked on the way back from the mountain.

Felix, the "commander-in-chief" of the Sapp army, also returned with Yat because he was concerned about the suppression of bandits, but Baron Galvin stayed, because ten days later, all the vassals of the Longxia Lords and the former members of the Hugg family would gather in Longxia City to discuss important matters.

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

Two days later, five or six bodies were hanging from a branch on a tree beside the road, and a large pool of dark red blood had accumulated on the turf beneath the tree, outside the village in the mountains east of Sapburg.

Art fiddled with a corpse dripping with blood, and instructed Felix: "Felix, after this crackdown on bandits, Sapp should be at peace for a while, during this time, you should hurry up and train the soldiers of the territory, it is best to conduct one or two assembly combat drills for the entire Sapp Barony after the end of spring ploughing, and imagine how you deal with a large number of foreign enemies attacking Sapp Territory."

"Now that my father-in-law has basically pounced on Count Flanders, Sapu Fort is all up to you, you have to focus on defending the west, especially the stone wall in the western canyon can be repaired as soon as possible, so that Sapp can have more protection."

"In addition to army training and territorial defense, you also need to step up the storage of territorial food supplies, Sap is close to the Kodor and Thorne grain producing areas, you have to buy as much food as possible through Sap's caravans, and you must protect the granary. You have followed me through the war in Provence, and you should be able to understand the pain of lack of food in the midst of war. Even if Sapburg can't finish eating, you can still sell it when the price of food skyrockets to make a huge difference. ”

Felix was more fond of horseback riding and slashing, but he wasn't very interested in running his territory, but since Art repeatedly told him to do it, he had to really put his heart into it.

"Brother-in-law, don't worry, you will do my best to remind me of the army and defense affairs, and I will not ignore the matter of food and materials, and I will personally take people to Kodor Province to buy grain in two days, and my father built a new large granary in Sap Fort last month, I will fill it, and I will also order all the manor villages in Sap to step up the reserve of grain."

At the end, Felix lowered his voice, "Brother-in-law, what did you and Cousin Flender say that night, I see that you have always been preoccupied these days. ”

Art stared at Felix and scolded softly: "Don't ask what you shouldn't ask, it's not good for you to know too much!" ”

Felix squeezed his armor and bowed his head silently.

"Okay, just be prepared for the crisis." Art gave a reassuring sigh of relief, then beckoned Ron to take the horse and jump onto it.

"Felix, the sky is falling, and I will help you bear it, in case of crisis, immediately go to Boulder Town to report to emergency." Art straddled the horse and circled, and after saying that, he kicked the horse's belly and led a group of horse guards to run deep into the mountains......

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

In late May, the weather gets hotter and hotter, and the sun is getting hotter and hotter every day.

On the wasteland training ground outside the Barony of the Valley's Beiguan Military Fort, Art was leading a group of guards from the Baron's Guard to practice the training flag and trumpet on the point platform, and one of the guards always couldn't remember the command corresponding to the flag waving action, and the military stick in Ron's hand was about to be discounted.

Ron walked towards Art with his military stick and rubbed his sore arm, and said, "Master, if you don't let him learn orders, let him be an ordinary guard, this guy is strong and strong, and he can't get close to you with three or five enemies under his protection, and it's quite bluffing."

Art lifted the cuffs of the chain mail up to reveal the cotton armor inside, wiped the sweat beads on his forehead, and looked up at the big man who was sweating profusely under Professor Matthew's hand to learn how to wave the military flag, that guy was indeed beyond ordinary burly, taller than Art's whole head, and thick skin, Art guessed that even ordinary swords might not be able to hurt his muscles and bones.

It's just that the head is too runny, and it is estimated that all the food eaten for many years is used to grow taller.

"The guards are not a rushing team, in addition to charging with me on horseback at critical moments, you are more responsible for the responsibility of carrying the flag and heralding orders of the Chinese army, so you don't need such "warriors". ”

"Then I'll return him, Tuba can't bear this guy anyway."

"No, no, give him to Klaus's hoplites, he's more useful in the hoplites than in the guards."

"Yes!" Ron turned and went to dispose of himself.

At this moment, a man dressed in the garment of a caravan guard ran to the bottom of the stage, and Art jumped down the steps and walked to the visitor.

"Your Excellency, you're all set. Fifteen members of the task force plus ten handpicked from the entire Welsh Regiment made a total of twenty-five men. All on standby, ready to act. ”

"Action! I'm waiting for you at home. ”

"Yes!"

The man turned and walked towards the fort, and in a short time a caravan with four wagons left the fort.

Art looked at the back of the departing group, and his heart turned over a thousand waves......