When eating at home, there was no need to drink much. Although Balian and Eomer drank some with their father, Ser Orre, the amount was not large. The next morning, Balian got up early, and not long after having breakfast with his parents,
The three village elders arrived. Sir Orui explained the situation to the three village elders and asked them to fully cooperate with Balian. Then Balian and Éomer followed the three village elders and left.
Balian easily attracted a large number of people by offering land rewards, food, housing, and dinars. However, after knowing that he was going to open up wasteland in the remote north, the people who came to apply were not satisfied.
Much more. After a whole morning, in the first two villages, only five second sons of yeoman farmers who had no inheritance rights were recruited. Balian and Eomer were very distressed. At noon, they came to the tavern in the market, which was also Frondo.
Have a couple of drinks in the only pub in the fort.
The person who is now in charge of managing the tavern is no one else, but one of Balian's childhood playmates, Mark, the second son of Sir Orry's butler. Mark also met Balian last year when he followed his father to the city of Vallonbrae to purchase items.
At this time, when he saw Balian coming, he happily came over to greet him. Since there were very few people in the tavern at noon, Mark simply became the bartender himself, bringing food and wine to Balian and the others, and sat down to drink with Balian.
While chatting.
After hearing the purpose of Balian's trip, Mark pondered for a while and said: "Master Balian, in addition to farmers and soldiers, do you still need someone who can keep accounts and settle accounts?"
When Balian heard this, he immediately became energetic and asked: "Of course I am missing. I need someone who can read, write, and calculate to help me manage my territory?"
Having said this, Balian smiled knowingly and said: "What, Mark, you want to follow me? My fiefdom is very desolate."
Mark sighed, "Hey, I'm not afraid of desolation, I'm just afraid of living a miserable life every day."
"You are the son of the lord's family. Who dares to bully you here?" Eomer asked curiously.
"Is he your brother?" Balian asked him.
Mark nodded, "Since he got married, he has often targeted me. He is afraid that my father will hand over the only tavern in Fort Fronto to me, and he always tries to find ways to find trouble with me. I am the second son who has no inheritance rights, and the most my father can give me is
It's just a few acres of land and a few thatched houses, I don't know what he thinks."
Balian patted him on the shoulder and said: "Because you are smarter and more capable than him, that's why he is jealous of you. I was bullied by my brother when I was a child. You know this, isn't it just because I am smarter than him."
Hearing Balian talk about childhood events, the two of them looked at each other and smiled.
Balian became serious at this time and said to him: "Mark, of course I am happy that you are willing to come with me, but if you come with me, you will no longer be a childhood friend, but as my butler."
, and you must be loyal to me unconditionally, can you do this?"
Mark also replied seriously: "Master Balian, I am willing to be loyal to you, be your servant, and help you manage the affairs of the territory, just like my father did for your father."
"Okay, Mark, you are now the butler of Lord Nolandenburg. Let the three of us have a drink together!" Mark's joining made Balian very happy.
"Our manpower at Fort Nolandenburg is getting more and more complete. We basically have craftsmen, soldiers, and stewards." Eomer also said happily.
After hearing this, Balian and Mark smiled, and then said to Mark: "My Lord Butler, now I want to give you the first task. Help me think about how to recruit more people. It's best to
We can also recruit some people with skills like you."
Mark thought for a while and said: "Master Balian, the yeoman farmers are very calculating. Unless they encounter war, otherwise they will not abandon their homes and property and follow a strange lord to such a distant place. At most, they will lose the right to inherit."
The second son was kicked out of the house, and sooner or later they would have to be kicked out anyway."
Balian nodded and motioned for him to continue. Mark continued: "The best way is to ask your father to give you some serfs. Their status as slaves prevents them from defecting easily. And just like what you are doing now, you can still
You can encourage them to work well for you by restoring their freedom. However, the serfs in the territory now basically belong to families. If you want serfs, you can only take the family members away. Of course, this is not the case.
Well, with their family here, they can be more stable."
"Okay, I think it won't be a big problem to take away a few serf families. At the worst, I will just pay my father." Balian said after listening.
Seeing that Balian accepted his opinion, Mark continued with a sense of accomplishment:
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"As for people with skills, I can recommend a few people, but you need to talk to them in person."
Balian smiled and said: "As long as there is a capable person, I will definitely invite him personally."
Mark also smiled, "Among these people, the first is a pair of hunter brothers and his accomplices, five of them in total. They came from other places the year before last. In addition to hunting, they usually do some fur business. They rented at my house.
In the house, they not only have very good archery skills, but also know how to track. I heard from people in the tavern that an adult wild boar that they shot and wounded ran back to its lair six or seven miles away, and the five of them tracked it all the way.
Bloodstains came to the lair and killed the wild boar family."
"Such an expert is what I need. Not only can I hunt on a daily basis, but I can also serve as a spy during wars." Balian said.
Maybe he was thirsty after talking too much. Mark took a sip of ale and continued: "Also, there is a mercenary. He is the squadron leader of a mercenary team. This summer, due to injuries, he and his
Together with my nephew, they were placed in our place to recuperate. After they recovered from their injuries, the master saw that they were good at martial arts, so he hired them to train the infantry in the castle. Although the money was not much, he was comfortable eating and drinking. The two of them
He has rich combat experience and understands battle formations and formation changes."
Balian slammed the table and said happily: "Mark, you are really my lucky angel! After drinking this drink, we will go visit them."
The three of them had another drink, and then Mark asked his mother to come over and take care of the tavern, and then the three of them went to visit the five hunters together.
When they arrived at Mark's house, they saw Mark's father, the old housekeeper, also there. The tall man who was the leader of the five hunters was quarreling with the old housekeeper over taxes.
The old housekeeper said seriously to the five hunters: "Our master allowed you to hunt in Fort Fronto, but you did not pay the full amount of taxes as required. I have no choice but to order you to leave within three days."
The leader of the hunter showed a look of regret at this time. He smiled and discussed: "Master Butler, we can pay up to thirty dinars in back taxes. How about we stay until spring? It's freezing now.
It's so ungrateful of you to drive us away."
"Hmph! Either pay the fifty dinars in taxes or pack up and get out. There is no need to discuss this matter!" The old housekeeper looked very angry.
"Old housekeeper, let's see, I've paid these people's taxes for them, so don't make things difficult for them." Balian spoke at this time.
When the old housekeeper saw Balian coming, he quickly came over and saluted: "Master Balian, why are you here? Didn't you go to the village to recruit people?"
"Didn't I meet your little son Mark? I'm just going to come and sit at home." Balian said as he took out a money bag, counted out fifty dinars and gave it to the old butler.
The old housekeeper said in fear: "Master Balian, how can I ask for your money? If this master and his wife find out, they will definitely not forgive me."
Balian put the money into his hand and said, "Just take it and register it according to the tax. It'll be fine."
When the old steward heard this, he put the silver coins into his pocket, and then said to Balian with a smile: "Master Balian, you are so kind. You must be a lord who treats his subjects well." The old steward left.
.
After the old butler left, the leader of the hunter walked up to Balian, bowed and saluted, and said, "Sir, thank you for your help. Hunter Balin and my brothers will always remember your kindness."
Balian quickly asked him to stand up, "You're welcome. Helping people in danger and rescuing people is what a knight should do."
"There are too few knights like you who truly practice the spirit of chivalry." Hunter Balin said.
Balian's face heated up slightly. He was just doing a small favor, and he was so grateful. However, it was cold now, and everyone's face was red from the cold, so they couldn't tell. Balian asked: "Bahrain,
Why did you come to Fort Fronto to hunt? Why didn't you stay in your hometown?"
Balin sighed after hearing Balian's question, "Hey, Sir, our hometown has been reduced to scorched earth because of the private war between two barons. Except for the five of us, other relatives either died in the war or have no news."
, In the past few years, we have relied on our hunting skills to move from place to place, and we want to find a place to settle down, but there is no such a kind lord."
Balian nodded and asked: "After leaving Frondo Castle, where are you going? Do you have any plans?"
Balin shook his head, "No, I haven't thought about it yet. Let's take it step by step."
"I am the lord of Norandenburg and the direct county.
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I'm currently recruiting people to serve as deputy sheriffs. Come with me to Fort Nolandenburg to take up my post. Are you willing to come with me?" Balian asked sincerely.
This sudden invitation surprised Balin and others. Balin was stunned for a while, and then said to Balian: "Master, I need to discuss it with my brothers."
Balian nodded, "Okay, let's discuss it. If you are willing to follow me, you can come to Frondo Castle to find me."
After saying that, Balian was about to turn around and leave, then turned around and said: "I can't promise you much wealth or land, but as long as you work hard with me, you will not only have a fixed salary every week, but I will also provide you with food, clothing, housing and transportation.
All in all, if you decide to become my subjects, I will reward you with farmland and houses according to your individual merits. In addition, I can only guarantee that I am a benevolent lord to my subjects and will not let anyone in my territory
The people are freezing and starving, while I enjoy fine wine and fine food in the castle.”
After saying that, Balian turned and left, followed closely by Eomer and Mark. Before they could walk out of the door, they heard Balin shout loudly: "Sir Balian, the five of us are willing to follow you!"
Balian turned around, walked to Balin, and said happily: "Okay, my team's camp is next to Fort Fronto. You can pack your things. This is five dinars to pay you."
The first week's salary for five people." As he said that, Balian handed him a money bag with five silver coins in it.
Balin did not take the money bag. He shook his head and said: "Sir Balian, we are not following you as mercenaries, but as subjects. We are loyal to our lord and do not need to pay any salary."
"In other lords, it is like this, but here, every person's labor is valuable." Balian gave him the money bag, then turned and left, leaving Balin and his five
The two friends stood there blankly.
After going out, Mark said to Eomer: "I heard the bard say before that some people are born with leadership temperament. I still didn't believe it. Today I believe it. How could a lord like Master Balion not let him
Who will follow you to death?"
Balian saw the two of them muttering behind him, so he stopped and asked, "What are you going to say?"
Eomer said with a smile: "We are saying that we must serve Ser Balian well, so that we will both have a house and land in the future."
"Go away, you two brats." Balian scolded with a smile.
After the three of them quarreled for a while, Mark took them to the residence of the mercenary Bess. When they came to the small courtyard surrounded by fences, Balian saw a middle-aged man inside teaching a young man to practice swordsmanship.
The young man looked about fourteen or fifteen years old.
The two people who were training saw the three Balian people stopping in front of the courtyard, so they stopped. The middle-aged man asked: "Mark, why did you bring two friends to my place? I won't pay for your drink."
ah."
Mark laughed twice and said: "Brother Bess, this is the second son of Sir Orry, the palace knight, the lord of Norandenburg, Sir Balion Tucker, and his attendants. Master Balian has just been named, and he
He was also appointed as the deputy sheriff of the direct county, responsible for suppressing bandits. He needs an expert like you now, so I brought him here."
After hearing this, Bess looked at Balian meaningfully and said, "So, Sword of Dawn is your teacher? I heard your father talk about it."
Balian nodded, "Yes, Sir Logan, known as the Sword of the Dawn, is my teacher."
"In this way, if the disciple of the Dawn Sword can defeat me, I will follow you. After all, I was defeated by the Dawn Sword's sword." Bess said sadly.
Balian couldn't help but pay attention to people who had fought against his teacher. Although he didn't have rich combat experience, he could still tell that the mercenary named Bess must be quite powerful, but he was afraid that he might not be able to defeat him.
Just when Balian hesitated, Eomer drew his sword, walked forward, looked at Bess and said: "Ser Logan has been defeated by countless people in his life. You were defeated by the Sword of Dawn.
There is no need to feel disgraceful, many people are proud to compete with the Dawn Sword."
"Haha, are you also the disciple of Dawn Divine Sword?" Bess asked.
"Although I am not, I have studied swordsmanship with Sir Balian longer than him. If you want to compete, I am willing to compete with you on behalf of my lord. After all, a lord with a hereditary fief will not compete with anyone casually.
This is a competition between mercenaries. Please understand this." Eomer stepped forward decisively and fought with him on Balion's behalf.