A year later, the Lord's Mansion of Blackstone City. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

In one of the rooms of the Lord's Mansion was a black piano, and a young musician sat by the piano playing a soothing tune.

Meng Fan, the lord of Black Rock City, sat in the room, his eyes closed, his hands on his abdomen and leaning on the back of the chair to enjoy the piano music played by the musician, and behind Meng Fan stood a man in black robes.

When the last note fell, Meng Fan opened his eyes. "Lord Claude. The young musician stood up and saluted Meng Fan, "Schubert, you played it very well, and you have been able to interpret this piano piece perfectly." Meng Fan looked at the young musician standing by the piano and said with a smile.

This young musician named Schubert was met by Meng Fan in Coldwater City, and Meng Fan noticed Schubert's musical talent and called Schubert to Blackstone City.

"Lord Claude, if it weren't for you, such beautiful music would not have been possible on the Qinglan Continent, Lord Claude, it was you who created these wonderful and magical piano music. Schubert bowed respectfully to the chair.

"Sir Claude, you haven't chosen a name for this piece yet. The dark mage Mar Sahar, who was standing behind Meng Fan, spoke, "Name." Meng Fan touched his chin, "This song is called... Dream Wedding." Meng Fan looked up and said.

"Dream wedding, such a romantic and poetic name, Lord Claude, this piano piece will become another classic in the history of music, Lord Claude, you are the greatest and most talented composer on the Qinglan continent..."

When Schubert left, the dark mage Mar Saha walked up to Meng Fan, "Lord Claude, with this 'dream wedding', you have composed a total of six tunes this year. Marzahar spoke.

"Well, 'To Alice', 'Nocturne', 'Moonlight', 'Swan Lake', 'Autumn Whispers', 'Dream Wedding', there are six songs. Meng Fan recited the six piano pieces he composed this year.

"Master Claude, I admire your musical talent immensely, these six pieces you composed surpass all the musical works of the Qinglan Continent, under your light, those musicians on the Qinglan Continent have been reduced to pathetic wine bags and rice bags..."

"Mar Saha, are these piano pieces so good?" Meng Fan looked up with a smile and said, "Of course, Lord Claude, these six piano pieces you composed will always be remembered by the people of the Qinglan Continent. Marzah saluted respectfully.

Due to the lack of two fingers in his right hand, Meng Fan could not play the piano fluently, but Meng Fan, who was a piano major at the Conservatory of Music, memorized more than ten piano scores, Meng Fan wrote down the scores he memorized, and then handed them over to the musician Schubert hired by himself to play.

Schubert not only perfectly interpreted the piano music composed by Meng Fan, but also spread the works composed by Meng Fan to the entire Gilgidian Kingdom, and now people in many parts of the Qinglan Continent know that there is such a great composer in Black Rock City-Claude Kuru.

"Lord Claude, Your Excellency the City Guard, Your Excellency the Tax Collector has come. One of the attendants walked into the room and reported, "Oh, let them in." Meng Fan said, and the dark mage Mar Sahar stood behind Meng Fan again.

Soon, the tax collector Tiberius, Meng Fan's eldest brother Tiberius, and Gruya walked into the room together.

"Lord Claude, the 10,000 tons of iron ore traded with the dwarves have all been sold, and a total of 120,000 gold coins have been sold, which is 20,000 more gold coins than expected. Tiberius entered the room and reported to Meng Fan about the sale of iron ore.

"Oh, yes, that's good. Meng Fan took the teacup from the servant's hand and nodded, "Tiberius, how many gold coins are the taxes of the three territories of Black Rock City, Cold Water City, and Giant Wood City this year?" Meng Fan took a sip of tea and asked.

"Lord Claude, the taxes of the three cities of Black Rock City, Cold Water City, and Giant Wood City have a total of 200,000 gold coins, and we need to hand over 200,000 gold coins to the royal family, and the Holy See of Light also needs to pay 10%, so there are still 140,000 gold coins left. Tiberius replied.

Since the iron ore exchanged from the dwarves was secretly traded, neither the royal family nor the Holy See knew about Meng Fan's additional income, and the 120,000 gold coins obtained from the sale of iron ore Meng Fan did not need to pay taxes to the royal family and the Holy See of Light.

"Well, then my income this year is 260,000 gold coins. Meng Fan put down the teacup and said, "Yes, Lord Claude. Tiberius nodded.

"Lord Claude, your annual income as the lord of Blackstone City is already amazing enough, and Marquis Philip, the lord of Tieliu City, with a population of 500,000, can also get more than 300,000 gold coins every year..."

Tieliu City, like Ziyang City, is a big city in the Gilgia Kingdom, and the three cities controlled by Meng Fan, Black Rock City, Cold Water City, and Giant Wood City, have a combined population of only 200,000.

"Gruya, how is the new army you are starting to form now?" Meng Fan looked at Gruya and asked, since the dark mage Mar Sahar came, Grua no longer served as Meng Fan's bodyguard, Meng Fan's safety was taken care of by the dark mage Mar Saha, and Mar Saha's strength and loyalty reassured Meng Fan.

As the lord of Black Rock City, Meng Fan originally had a territorial army of more than 10,000 people in his hands, but Meng Fan was ready to build another new army of the same number.

The territory army of more than 10,000 people was commanded by Meng Fan's eldest brother, Bogula, and Gruya was appointed by Meng Fan as the commander of the new army.

"The new army of 10,000 men has been fully recruited. Grua replied, "But, Lord Claude, I need you to allocate a sum of money for the purchase of weapons and armor for these ten thousand soldiers, and I have already discussed the details with Lord Tiberius. ”

"Oh, Tiberius, how much will it cost to buy weapons and armor for these 10,000 soldiers. Meng Fan turned his head to look at his tax collector, Tiberius.

"Lord Claude, I have consulted with Lord Grua and I believe that it will cost about eighty thousand gold coins to arm this new army of 10,000 men. Tiberius spoke.

"Eighty thousand gold coins, so much money!" Meng Fan frowned, "It takes ten gold coins to feed a soldier every year, and twenty thousand soldiers are two hundred thousand a year, plus the weapon purchase fee of these 80,000 gold coins, then it is not enough for me to take out all my income this year." Meng Fan looked at Tiberius in front of him and said.

"Yes, Lord Claude, you have received two hundred and sixty thousand gold coins this year, and you are still short of twenty thousand gold coins. Tiberius nodded, "However, Lord Claude, this weapon purchase fee is not needed every year, and next year, Lord Claude, you will only need to pay 20,000 soldiers." ”

"Alas, it's a real expense to maintain an extra army. Meng Fan patted his seat and sighed, "Lord Claude, the army is a sword used to protect your status and wealth, and on the road ahead, only this sword can truly seize power and glory for you." The dark mage Mar Saha, who was standing behind Meng Fan, spoke.

He looked up and glanced at Mar Sahar behind him, "Tiberius, I have approved the cost of purchasing weapons for these 80,000 gold coins, and if you don't have enough money, take some from the lord's mansion." Meng Fan said in a firm tone. "Yes, Lord Claude. Tiberius bowed.