Chapter 335: Negotiations

"Your Excellency, you are wrong. Pen Fun Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 info" Shi Fatzi, who rushed to Maple Grove Villa overnight from Rock Castle, said with a serious face.

Lorist has not met with His Highness since he promised Chrisia five days ago to support His Second Highness 100,000 Kingford and return all the standard equipment of the White Lion Legion to His Second Highness. Because His Royal Highness and his party hurriedly ran to the Seven Towns of Fengle Yuan to recruit soldiers, it allowed Lorist to spend a few days of rare and comfortable leisure in Maple Grove Villa. But when the news reached Rock Castle, Shi Fatzi couldn't sit still.

Lorlist, who was teasing his second son, raised his head in surprise: "What did I do wrong?"

Shi Fatzi kept his mouth shut.

Lorist knowingly handed over the son in his arms to Irina: "Let's go, let's go to the study on the second floor and talk again." ”

Coming to the study on the second floor, Lorist opened a bottle of fruit wine, poured two glasses, and handed one to Shi Fatzi.

Taking the fruit wine handed over by Lorlist, Fat Shi drank it all in one gulp, let out a sigh, and said while untying his cloak and handing it to Schward, "Another glass." ”

Then he sat on the couch, looked at Lorist and said, "Locke, don't you know what's wrong?"

Lorist raised his eyebrows as he poured him a drink: "I really don't know ......"

"You shouldn't have returned all the standard equipment of the White Lion Legion to His Second Highness. Shi Fatzi said.

"Oh, this, Chief Speer has urged me to dispose of these armors earlier, it is not as heavy as the current standard equipment of the family armament, and it is not suitable to take it out and sell it, and it takes up space in the warehouse. That's why I want to return it to His Second Highness, so that our family forces don't have to send troops to help him restore the country. ”

"Alas, Locke, why don't you understand what I'm saying? I didn't say that you were wrong to return the standard equipment of the White Lion Legion to His Second Highness, you were wrong about the way you returned it. Not to mention anything else, these more than 72,000 sets of standard equipment are backward and useless for our family's armed forces, but they can be sold to the Central Four Duchy or the Grand Duke of Fisabrun, how can they be worth four or five million gold merits. Your words are equivalent to throwing away this huge amount of money. And you said that the Second Highness accepted this gift from you, did he have any indication? Nothing, and he went to Fengle Yuan to recruit soldiers with peace of mind, purely a white-eyed wolf!"

Shi Fatzi's impression of the Second Highness has never been very good, he thinks that the Second Highness is just a good person, but what he can do is a villain. Back then, he led the northbound convoy and was almost forced to a dead end by His Royal Highness, if it wasn't for Lorlist's arrival, the consequences would probably be unimaginable. Moreover, His Royal Highness also took advantage of the desperate situation of the northbound convoy at that time to poach a lot, and lured twenty-six old students of Dawn Academy and Silver Knight from the convoy to join him, but most of them were killed and injured before they arrived in a year, making Shi Fatzi and Telman, who were born in Dawn Academy, very sad and hated what His Royal Highness did.

Lorist smiled bitterly and patted his forehead: "I'm sorry, Schreid, I did something wrong. I just want to get them away sooner rather than later, lest they stay in our family territory and get in the way. The next two years are the most critical moment in the Northlands, the territory exchange of the Kenmath family and the Shahin family, and the strategy of the Duchy of Madras are imminent, and I really don't have the heart to deal with them with the Second Highness, so I just want to throw them a big bone and send them out of the Northland as soon as possible......"

"Locke, it's your mistake to mistake the Second Highness for a dog, if you throw a big bone at the dog, the dog will wag its tail at you. But His Royal Highness is a wolf, and the big bone you threw at him did not make him appreciate you, but made him covet our family territory even more, and he would treat our family territory as a big piece of fat, and would not just think about gnawing bones. "Shi Fatzi doesn't care about the status of the second highness as the superior lord, he is worried that the second highness will use Lorlist's promise to cause a big storm in the family territory.

"I'm not saying that it's wrong for you to return the standard equipment of the White Lion Legion to His Second Highness, nor is it the monetary value of this batch of equipment. It's that you did something wrong for him like this, and the best way should be to give him the standard equipment of the White Lion Legion little by little, and get what we want from him in several batches, instead of not even saying thank you like now!

What I don't understand the most is why did you agree to let them recruit soldiers in our family territory? Don't you think that the Second Highness has the equipment and money, once there are a large number of people in our family territory, then will he start the idea of our family territory? The only thought I have now is to send the Second Highness out of the country as soon as possible, so as not to cause us more trouble. ”

Lorist laughed confidently, picked up the golden cup and took a sip slowly: "Schredd, it is indeed my fault in giving away the standard equipment of the White Lion Legion to His Second Highness, and I should give it to him little by little in exchange for our interests and benefits, as you said." However, in the matter of recruiting soldiers, you are wrong, believe no, Second Highness, they can't recruit many people in Fengle Yuan. Haha......"

"Why?" Shi Fatzi asked rhetorically: "His Royal Highness is the former king of the Kingdom of Antinac, and most of our people in Fengle Yuan are basically refugees from the Kingdom of Antinac, and His Royal Highness has a high prestige in their hearts. In addition, our king has always been able to draw big cakes, and he promises a few empty teeth to ensure that a large number of fellows who have been carried away by blood will be stupid to be cannon fodder for him......"

"Haha......" Lorist laughed: "Schreid, you have been in charge of the administrative affairs of your family territory for too long, have you forgotten our family's conscription system? Our family's preferential treatment of soldiers makes enlisting in the army the most enviable profession, even after the completion of the service, which allows for the entry into the guard battalion and garrison.

If you think about it, the newly formed Cavalry Hunting Legion some time ago has exhausted all the family recruits who are suitable for service, and there are still a lot of vacancies, and the Flying Tiger Legion and the Rock Legion have also picked out a lot of people, so they are selected from the Guards Battalion to fill the vacancies. As for the Guards Battalion, they also selected men from the garrisons of various towns, and as a result, the garrisons of many towns were now understaffed. As for the young men who can't become the garrison, they are the main force of each workshop and bear the burden of supporting their families. Under such circumstances, do you think that the recruitment of soldiers by His Royal Highness is effective in Fengrakuyuan?

Especially when I heard that His Royal Highness was going to use a golden ford to recruit soldiers as a settling-in allowance, and wanted to recruit sixty or seventy thousand people in one go, I almost laughed my big teeth off, and I didn't want to think that in our family territory, there are two or three golden fords for a year to go to the workshop and work hard, and one golden ford wants to make people die, hehe, Schredder, let me tell you, the soldiers in our family territory, Second Highness he can't afford to recruit. It's been four days, and the Second Highness has been running around in Fengle Yuan, and so far they have recruited one hundred and forty-three, haha......"

Shi Fatzi breathed a long sigh of relief, picked up the cup and poured it down: "I really forgot about the family's conscription system, so I can rest assured." As long as His Second Highness can't recruit soldiers, then he can only be in a hurry with so much equipment. But Locke, you also have to be careful, don't let His Royal Highness poach people from our family like the northbound convoy did back then......"

"Rest assured, I've ordered Tagger's Voliber Intelligence Bureau to intervene and monitor their every move. By the way, you came just in time, and then I am going to go to the battlefield in the lower reaches of the Mitobro River, and I will also go to Bodfinger to inspect them, and I will leave the matter of receiving the Second Highness here to you, I feel that I am a little unpleasant to see them......"

There was a commotion downstairs, and Schward walked to the window and looked down: "My lord, Second Highness and Miss Christia are here, and they seem to be very angry." ”

Soon, the door of the study was pushed open, and His Royal Highness was blushing, while Chrisya was flushed and angry: "Locke, what do you want to do? You said that you won't set up obstacles for us to recruit soldiers, why do you do this?"

"What did I do, me? Tell me clearly, what the hell happened?" Lorist was puzzled.

"We have recruited some soldiers, but your people have sent their families to the barracks, what do you mean? Your people also said that since the soldiers we recruited have chosen to serve His Majesty, then there is no need for the Norton family to treat and support their families, and their families will naturally be settled by His Majesty! You say, did you instruct this?" Chrisia was furious.

"Can you tell me what the soldiers you recruited were originally for?" Lorliste's face turned cold.

"Uh......" Chrisia suddenly lost her words.

"This, Brother Locke, these newly recruited soldiers are just full of enthusiasm and are willing to do their duty for our kingdom, this is an act worthy of encouragement and appreciation, we shouldn't be embarrassed for the families of these brave people......" The Second Highness hurriedly came up to play a round.

"Really, do you mean to say that our Norton family has not fulfilled its obligations? Don't forget that your lord just supported you a few days ago, as well as the standard equipment of the White Lion Legion worth five or six million. If it's not an obligation, then what? I don't think there's ever been such a big tribute in the history of Gainthia, so it's no wonder I haven't even heard a word of thanks. Shi Fatzi said in a weird manner beside him.

Second Highness's originally blue face turned red all of a sudden, but he quickly calmed down: "Oh, Knight Schred, I haven't seen you for a long time, and I haven't congratulated you on your promotion to the Golden Knight." ”

Shi Fatzi straightened his chest pinned with the Golden Knight Badge: "There's nothing to be happy about, as long as you insist on cultivating when the time comes, you will always be promoted." Your Majesty, why haven't you replied to our Norton family's support for you for several days, and are you not satisfied with our duty?"

Shi Fatzi's words are a bit damning, generally speaking, the lower lord's support to the superior lord or fulfill their obligations, the upper lord must give a formal reply, the most common is a letter of thanks, express gratitude and remember the dedication and efforts of the lower lord, like some lower lords send troops to attack the city for the upper lord, the upper lord also has to give a reward or promote the title and seal the territory or something.

Lorist's support to His Second Highness is already the largest in the history of the Gelinthia Continent in terms of value, but His Royal Highness has not replied for several days, not even a letter of thanks. So Shi Fatzi's words are simply a slap in the face, what do your second highness want to do? Aren't you satisfied with such a big support?

"Your Majesty, you must at least give our Norton family a letter of thanks, such a legion of tens of thousands of equipment can be heard in the water. We didn't think about it, a thank you letter is enough, doesn't Your Majesty think that our family's contribution is not worth a thank you letter?" Shi Fatzi took another step.

"Hehe, I'm sorry. His Royal Highness took a few deep breaths and smiled kindly, "I am very grateful to the Norton family and my brother Locke for their support and help to me, the fallen king. A thank-you note is not enough to express my gratitude. Originally, I wanted to recruit soldiers as soon as possible to embark on the journey of recovering the country, and wait for a grand celebratory banquet to be held in the imperial capital on the day of triumph, and at that time to commend my brother Locke, and promote him to a knighthood, so that his merits can be duly rewarded. But since you are so anxious, I can give my reply now. ”

The Second Highness nodded to Lorlist: "Brother Locke, don't mind borrowing your desk." ”

Without waiting for Lorlist's answer, he walked to his desk, sat down on his own, took two pieces of vellum paper and began to write, and soon wrote two pieces of paper, took off the ring on his left hand, lit the candle on the table, took the red beeswax, melted it and dripped on the signature on the two vellum papers, and then stamped the ring on it, leaving a deep imprint.

"Now you're satisfied, aren't you? His Royal Highness smiled and handed the two letters to Shi Fatzi, but his tone was slightly sarcastic, and he deliberately bypassed Lorist.

Fat Shi looked at Lorist, who shook his head slightly. So Shi Fatzi took two pieces of paper and read them out loud.

The first piece of paper is a thank you letter, expressing appreciation and gratitude for the contributions and efforts made by Lorist and the Norton family, as well as looking forward to the Norton family's greater efforts for the kingdom. It's no different from a regular official thank-you letter.

After reading it, Shi Fat Man deliberately complained: "Your Majesty, I think you should indicate how much our Norton family has contributed to you, this is a support that can be recorded in the history books of the Gaylinthia continent, and it must not be lightly skipped like this." Forget it, if you don't write it anyway, we'll record it in the family memorabilia......"

The Second Highness's face showed signs of turning blue again, and Lorist coughed twice, before Shi Fatzi read what was written on the second piece of paper.

The second piece of paper is a decree for the promotion of titles, as the upper lord of the Norton family, the orthodox inheritance of the Andinac royal family, the second highness promoted the Earl of Norton Lorist to the Grand Duke of the Northlands, and placed the entire Northlands under the jurisdiction of the Norton family, if you are not satisfied, you can ask for it yourself, etc.

Hehe, Lorist laughed, His Royal Highness still wanted to make a block for himself, but unfortunately he didn't know that he had already discussed the matter of territory exchange with the three allies, and with this letter of promotion to the title, the Norton family's rule over the entire Northland also seemed to be justified.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, the Norton family is grateful. "I still want to thank you, and Lorist bowed to the second highness.

"Hehe, you deserve it, my brother Locke. By the way, let's discuss recruiting soldiers," said His Highness.

There was a knock on the door, and Schward went out and quickly came in again, with two letters in his hand.

Lorist picked up the letter marked with a blue secret mark on it and read it, and a sneer quickly appeared on his face: "Your Majesty, Chrisya, do you treat my trust like this?"

Lorist raised the letter in his hand: "I allowed you to recruit soldiers in my family domain, but I did not allow you to co-opt my town garrison and guard battalion. They are also part of the Norton family's armed forces. Your Majesty, how do you explain your actions?"

Chrisya said forcefully beside her: "Locke, we didn't win them over, it was they themselves who were willing to contribute to the kingdom under the inspiration of His Majesty, and you can't stop them from being loyal to Your Majesty." ”

Lorist nodded: "In that case, then what were you angry about just now? Why did they go to work for Your Majesty and let me treat their families preferentially? You must know that their houses and fields are all given to their families by our Norton family because they are part of our family armed forces." Now that they have given up their status as soldiers of the Norton family, then these benefits will naturally be withdrawn, and we must not support His Majesty's soldiers, that is an act of rebellion, and we will not do it. And we didn't stop them from swearing allegiance to Your Majesty......"

"This ......" His Royal Highness smiled bitterly, he didn't expect that there were three or four hundred thousand people in the seven towns of the Norton family's Fengle Original, but few of them were willing to serve as soldiers, and it took four days to recruit more than a hundred mercenaries and dozens of idle guys, which was completely different from the scene that flocked to the kingdom of Ridleys. He had no choice but to go to the garrison of the town and the soldiers of the guard battalion at the gate of the workshop, and only recruited a dozen or so to make a fuss, and he felt a headache when he saw the families of the dozen or so newly recruited soldiers being sent to the barracks, and those family members not only cried and made a fuss, chasing and beating those recruits, but also scolded His Royal Highness and others for abducting their children to send them to death......

But except for the territory of the Norton family, where can the Second Highness go to recruit people, as soon as he shows up, he guarantees to attract the enemy's attack, and for the Second Highness, the Northland is full of enemy countries, and he has nowhere to go. But he couldn't recruit troops in the Norton family's territory, and the best thing to do was to let Lorist send troops for him, but Lorist had already given him such a large amount of support that he blocked the road.

Lorist also ignored the blush on the faces of His Royal Highness and Krisya and others, and began to read the second letter. Soon he put down the letter and said to His Royal Highness: "Sorry, Your Majesty, please forgive me for being inconsiderate, I am going to the front line soon." All your affairs in my family domain are taken over by Knight Schreid, please contact him if you need anything, and he will entertain Your Majesty. ”

"What, are the Nortons at war with someone else?" asked His Royal Highness with some surprise.

"No, Your Majesty, it is an ally of our family, the Kenmax family and the Shahin family are attacking the Duchy of Madras, as allies, we naturally have to send our family to fight, this is our obligation. ”

"Are you attacking the Duchy of Madras?" The Second Highness was stunned for a moment, and quickly came back to his senses: "My Brother Locke, don't you mind if I go with me to have a look?"

...... (To be continued.) )