Near the southern section of the Kru Linggula Mountains, there was less than a single corps of garrisons in the huge camp.

After attending his father's funeral, Viscount Geerbwick of the Ninth Legion led the entire legion to advance towards the city of Byan, and the Tenth Legion was transferred to the southern region of the Dallas Mountains because it needed to pursue the remnants of the Orc Tenth Banner Regiment.

The only remaining corps garrison in the camp was just recruits, who were specially designed to replenish the battle losses of other regiments, and who were required to complete their final regular tactical training here, having previously been trained at Harrensburg's boot camp for a month.

Under the complete system of the Empire, there is a set of matters for dealing with the outbreak of war, a military service system in peacetime, and a complete system of training recruits, all of which were established by the Empire to ensure victory in future foreign wars.

However, in order to recruit an army, it is necessary not only to have people, but also to have a strong economic base, in other words, to have money!

The war between the Crowe Leader and the Orcs, if you count the previous Great Retreat, has been going on for more than three months, and the Treasurer, Baron Aemond, had not complained to Pedi once before, but when this war was about to come to an end, Baron Aemond personally came to the front from Fort Caval.

In the largest tent in the camp, Peidi solemnly summoned the family's treasurer.

As soon as Baron Aemond saw Pedi, he threw him a thick stack of ledgers, and said, "Although I told you not to worry about the finances, my lord, you are too much to use...", with an exaggerated look of surprise on his face, "I beg your pardon for my rudeness, but even if the goddess herself were to manage your finances, she would complain." ”

Pedi didn't care about Baron Aemond's rudeness at all, and he even personally ushered the other party to his seat and asked his servant to prepare coffee.

Baron Aemond did not buy Pedy's enthusiasm, and when he saw that Pedy was indifferent to the ledger, he rushed forward to help Pedi open the ledger, pointed to the list and said, "Look, my lord, in a month's time, you have used up the wealth accumulated by Crewe for ten years, and if you continue to squander it like this, you will soon go bankrupt." ”

Pedi also knew the importance of finance, after all, the example of Emperor Laubert was there, he first motioned for his treasurer to sit down, in order to reassure the other party, he first took the account book in his hand, and said: "I have spent the whole day today belonging to this account book, I will read it carefully and listen to your advice." ”

Perhaps it was Pedy's words and movements that reassured Baron Aemond a little, and he stared at Pedy for a few seconds before sitting down steadily.

The expenses recorded in the ledger are detailed, down to the provenance of the soldier's spear and the cost of the wooden pole... However, it was impossible for Pedi to reconcile the accounts himself, he only looked at the larger expenditure items and the total amount of post-war expenditures.

When Pedi saw the tax item, he couldn't help frowning and asked, "Didn't our territory levy a war tax on merchants according to the order of the cabinet?"

Baron Aemond immediately explained: "Before mid-August, although the war has spread to Beenburg and the northern coast of the Territory, the revenues of the entire Kru Territory are still healthy, so I suggest that Count Omar should not follow the example of the Middle Empire in imposing a war tax. ”

"Now, what about your proposal?" asked Pedy.

After hearing this, Baron Aemond looked up at Pedi seriously and said, "If the finances of the Central Empire are healthy, then His Majesty the Wise Emperor will definitely not impose a war tax. ”

Although the Chief Executive's answer to the question was not the answer, this answer already explains the attitude of the other party.

Pei Di nodded, before, he had checked the financial situation of the Kru Territory, the basic tax revenue of the territory was about 100,000 gold coins per year, but the annual expenditure of the local governments accounted for almost half of the basic tax revenue.

As a result, Crewe's finances were almost entirely reliant on trade taxes from the merchants and the family caravans.

In the past fifty years, the Reagan family has saved up to five million gold coins due to the thriving maritime trade, so it is too early for Aemond to speak of bankruptcy, but this is not alarmist, after all, Pedi spent nearly half a million gold coins in military spending in this month.

"The war is going on, and it will continue until the winter, or next year, if you have any good advice, why not say it?" asked Pedi again.

Baron Aemond didn't say anything about cutting expenses, or lowering soldiers' pensions, he went straight to the point: "A few months ago, Duke Nick borrowed 600,000 gold coins from the Central Empire, and the Empire issued a 'free trade agreement' to us, do you know?"

"Know, for its ten years of free trade. Pedi nodded, "But it's not safe to trade in times of war, and there are no extra soldiers in the realm to help caravans deliver goods." ”

"We can go by sea!" Baron Aemond whispered, "Do you know what the Imperial Capital lacks the most now... And these things are piled up in the warehouses of Seka Town, as well as the high-quality table salt refined by the orc tribes of the Western Continent, and the white sugar of the goblins, these things were out of stock in the imperial capital a month ago..."

Pedi couldn't help but interrupt the other party's description of the bright prospect: "I have to remind you that the fleet of goblins is fighting against us, as well as the werewolf fleet in the south that calls itself the 'Kingdom of Misha'. ”

"None of this is a problem. Baron Aemond leaned forward slightly.

"Aren't these problems?" said Pedi as he looked at the family's treasurer, like an idiot.

Baron Aemond felt Pedy's gaze and immediately explained, "My lord, not all problems need to be solved by war... Goblins are not stupid, they can see clearly the direction of the battlefield of Crewe, you don't even have to use your combined fleet to make the goblin fleet return to their island, and in less than a month, the goblins will transform their warships into city trading merchant ships, and land in Balan Town with tons and tons of goods, and in two months Balan Town can return to its pre-war prosperity!"

"You mean to make peace with the goblins?" Pedy's eyes lit up, he had never thought of peace talks, and Baron Aemond's words opened his troubled thoughts at once.

"Why not?" Baron Aemond shrugged, "The war in Kru is long over, and we can even talk to orcs. ”

"No! I'll never talk to an orc!" said Pedi solemnly.

Baron Aemond shook his head, "As long as the interests are sufficient, even if the other party is a robber, we can sit down and talk." ”

"Only this matter cannot be discussed. Pedi emphasized.

"Okay then," Baron Aemond waved his hand helplessly, "let's get back to the previous topic... What you just said about the flotilla of the Misha kingdom loitering in the southern seas ... On that note, we can look for the elves' fleet to work with, the young elves are easier to communicate with than the old diehards in their council, and as long as we reach a truce with the goblins and trade resumes, I'm sure the elves won't pass up this rare opportunity. ”

"Are you so sure that the goblins will agree to a truce with us and resume trade?" Pedi frowned, from his own point of view, if someone had just fought to the death on the battlefield with him, he would never turn his head and smile and talk about business in style.

"Business is business, my lord, and it has nothing to do with factions and friend or foe. Baron Aemond smiled confidently, "Goblins are the most business-oriented... As long as you let them see the ample profits, they can even turn around and deal with the orcs,

And as far as I know, the goblins have invested a lot in this invasion war, but for now, they have barely earned a single gold coin, and then think about the vast market on the entire Alan continent now, and think about the strategic materials consumed daily on the main battlefield in the northwest region of the empire, smart goblins will make the right choice,

Of course, if your troops are able to launch a few decent attacks on the Orc Expeditionary Force during the negotiations, or force down the goblin mercenaries in the territory, it may speed up the negotiations. ”

Pedi was gradually persuaded by Baron Aemond, "I agree to your negotiation plan, you can do this matter yourself, but you only have a month... Of course, I didn't mean to embarrass you, after all, we all have limited time. ”

Without waiting for the other party to speak, Pei Di continued: "However, this matter is not so simple, I will inform the commander-in-chief of the United Wing, Viscount Ake, if the goblins agree to talk, then, during the negotiation, all escort arrangements and fleet transfers, you must unconditionally obey Viscount Ake's orders... At the same time, I will force the goblin mercenaries in the territory to surrender, but these mercenaries will be of some use to me, and I will let the army logistics department discuss the specific matters with you in detail. ”

That's all Pedy could think of at once, so he looked at Baron Aemond as if he was waiting for orders, and then added: "I will have my servant deliver it to you in three days, along with the relevant orders and documents authorizing you to preside over this negotiation." ”

"It's the right choice, my lord. Baron Aemond had a smile on his face.

Pei Di also smiled, and at this time, the voice of the captain of the pro-soldier Bang suddenly sounded outside the tent: "My lord, the Don Wright Paladin needs to see you." ”

"My debriefing is over. Aemond stood up, bowed, and quickly left.

Pedi looked at the figure of the treasurer walking away quickly, and only now did he realize the real purpose of the other party's search for him, and in his daze, Don Wright appeared at the door of the tent, this paladin had disappeared since the last time he spoke to Pedi...

At this moment, Don Wright, who was standing at the door of the tent, looked a little embarrassed under the external light and the light inside the tent, his original delicate standard leather armor suit was stained with a thick layer of dust, his pitch-black leather boots were full of mud, and most importantly, his body exuded a very strong smell of blood.

"My lord, the orcs want to talk to you. The first thing Don Wright said when he walked into the tent made Pedy stunned.