A fierce quarrel was breaking out in the palace chamber of Wallonburg. The two deputy prime ministers and their right-hand men were arguing fiercely. The root cause of the dispute was how to reward Balian. At this time, the top management of the principality was triggered.
The victim of their conflict was lying on the bench in the Minister of Public Security's reception room and fell asleep out of boredom.
The ruling nobles of the Principality of Brick are mainly divided into two factions, and the struggle has become clear, mainly because the current Prime Minister of the Principality of Brick, Count Rolf, is preparing to step down.
He is sixty-five years old this year and has been the Prime Minister for eight years. So many military, civil, and financial matters in the entire principality have to bear on him. This old man is exhausted. He has repeatedly asked the Duke to step down, but Luo
After all, Count Rolf is the Duke's knight teacher and has been with the Duke for many years. It was difficult for the Duke to trust others with such a heavy burden. However, starting from the second half of last year, Count Rolf began to cough up blood frequently.
The Duke couldn't help but consider the candidate for the new palace minister.
Now, below Count Rolf, there are two Deputy Prime Ministers, Count Windholm, who is also the Minister of Finance, and Count Loire, who is also the Minister of War.
The prime ministers have worked together for many years and are experienced in handling large and small government affairs. Choosing a palace prime minister from the two of them is currently the best solution.
Both of them also aspired to become the most powerful minister under one person and above ten thousand people in the Principality of Brick, so the battle between the two began. Both sides used their abilities to attract the nobles of the principality to join their side.
And promised a lot of benefits. However, due to geographical location, almost all the ministers of finance are nobles from the south, and almost all the military ministers are nobles from the north. The climate in the south is mild, humid, rich in products, and farmland yields are high.
Industry and commerce were developed, and for this reason, the Southern faction, headed by the Minister of Finance, advocated restraining wars, reducing commercial taxes, and advocating the elimination of private tax stations set up by lords in their own territories, in order to encourage the development of commerce and the circulation of goods.
The northern faction, headed by the Minister of Military Affairs, has all its fiefdoms in the north. The climate in the north is cold, agricultural output is low, and economic development is relatively backward. It is also true that the northern lords are mostly military aristocrats and are keen on fighting, expanding territory, and plundering.
At the same time, they resolutely opposed the abolition of the private tax stations set up by the lords. After all, the northern lords themselves did not have much income. If this most important income was taken away, the living standards of the northern lords would be much lower.
Decreased. This also corresponds to the saying "There is no love without reason, and there is no hatred without reason." It is a competitive relationship in nature, and it involves the major interests of one's own side. Why can't the two groups of people fight every day?
The Minister of Public Security carried the body of Sir Logan, the heads of brothers Gray and Ward, and the reward notices sent by the palace to the meeting hall, and told everyone the experience Balian told him.
The ministers repeated it, and the Prime Minister first asked the ministers to express their opinions.
The Minister of Military Affairs looked at the reward announcement and said: "You are alone in danger, but you can also kill the enemy and perform meritorious service. Such young warriors have not appeared in the principality for many years. I suggest you give a good reward, at least to a few wealthy villages.
and the estate."
Having said this, the Minister of Military Affairs paused for a moment, then glanced contemptuously at the Minister of Finance sitting opposite him, and continued: "If we don't encourage the descendants of such brave and fearless knights, should we continue to sell knighthoods as goods?
Can’t even mount a horse?”
Although the great nobles of the Principality of Brick would sell knighthood titles to wealthy businessmen, the Southern faction headed by the Minister of Finance basically sold them as soon as the money was available. There was even a 300-pound horse that could not mount a horse.
It’s a joke that a fat man becomes a knight; but the Minister of Military Affairs and other military aristocrats not only look at money, but also whether the person is qualified. At least he must have been on the battlefield several times. This is exactly what the Minister of Military Affairs said.
Ridiculing the Chancellor of the Exchequer and his gang.
Hearing the words of the Minister of Military Affairs, the palace minister sitting in the first position frowned. He was really distressed by the tit-for-tat attitude of his two potential successors, but there was nothing he could do about it. As long as they did not go too far, the palace minister would also
Just turn a blind eye.
The finance minister who was targeted did not show any emotion after hearing this. He was so well-controlled. He picked up the wine glass in front of him and took a sip. "I have no objection to rewarding the warriors. After all, the credit is
To be honest, our monarch also issued a clear announcement of reward in the name of the palace, how can we let the monarch break his trust?"
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He didn't object. Others were surprised when they heard what the finance minister said.
"However, a reward is a reward, and how to award it is another matter. Valombre Province, the province directly under it, has already granted too many knights, and there is no decent fiefdom. Besides, after killing two bandits, we
We need to reward the village and the manor. What should we reward the knight who kills the enemy? I suggest that the title of knight be given, and the annual financial reward should be based on the income of a 500-acre manor. Of course, this is just my idea.
If any adult is willing to give a piece of his fiefdom to reward our warriors, then I will definitely support it."
Sure enough, the words before "but" are all nonsense. The Chancellor of Finance's rebuttal was very skillful. He grasped two key points. One is land. The fief directly under the Duke did grant many knights, although there are still many knights.
In a middle-class and upper-class village, the manor has not been enfeoffed, but who doesn't want to leave it to people on his side? Secondly, it is an issue of fairness. If you kill two deserters who became bandits and get such a high reward, then from now on
What if others have made greater contributions?
I have to admit that the Finance Minister did see the key point of the problem, that is, there were not so many good fiefdoms to reward Balian. Even the Duke himself would probably be excited for himself after seeing Gray and Ward commit suicide.
I was annoyed by the bounty notice issued by the government, so I gave it a reward. I was reluctant to give up the land. If I didn’t give a reward, it would be a breach of promise. However, although the Chancellor of Finance proposed to replace the fiefdom with a bounty, although it is a method, this method treats everyone as a feeble-minded person.
Comparing your own hereditary fiefdom with the unstable bounty, those who are willing to choose the latter may have something wrong with their brains.
As expected, not long after the Finance Minister finished speaking, people on the Military Minister's side began to refute the Finance Minister's methods as violating the spirit of chivalry, disrespecting promises, etc. The Finance Minister's side counterattacked, saying that the Military Minister's side was not worthy of being in charge of national affairs.
, giving random rewards, etc.
The two groups were noisy, and the Prime Minister couldn't stand listening anymore. He hit the table hard several times, and the two groups ended the quarrel without being satisfied.
"I'm asking you to come up with ideas to solve the problem, not to quarrel! If anyone has a good idea, just say it. If you don't have a good idea, just shut up or get out!" Seeing that the Prime Minister was angry, the people on both sides immediately became honest.
, after all, the Prime Minister, Count Rolf, is a highly respected figure in the entire principality. If you make him angry, you will only cause trouble for yourself.
Everyone was making a lot of noise just now, but now everyone is asked to come up with ideas, and everyone is speechless. The palace minister looked at everyone present with disappointment, and when he glanced at the chief bachelor, he saw him smiling.
The map in your own hand.
The Lord Palace Minister asked: "Scholar Blin, do you have any advice?"
Chief Bachelor Bryn put down the map in his hand and said, "Master Prime Minister, I think I have found a solution."
After hearing what he said, everyone turned their attention to him, and the palace minister motioned for him to continue.
"When I was the palace secretary, I heard the old Duke say that as a monarch, when allocating land to vassals, there are standards. Those who have made great achievements will be granted rich and prosperous places, and those who have made moderate achievements will be granted the title of land.
Lands with abundant products will be barren for those who have done low-level merit, and those who have done little merit will open up wasteland. Although our Balian warriors are very brave, they are still very young after all, and they only killed two bandits.
Even if a group of enemy troops were not completely wiped out, I feel that this kind of achievement can only be regarded as a small achievement." Academician Brin said calmly.
"What do you mean, you want him to open up wasteland?" asked the tax minister sitting next to him.
"Yes, give him a piece of wasteland and let him open it up." Bachelor Brin said affirmatively.
"Which piece of land should we give?" the Minister of Public Security asked doubtfully.
Bachelor Breen called two guards in and asked them to hold up the map. He pointed at a forest in the northern part of the principality, "That's it - the Stag Forest! As you all know, most of the Stag Forest is located between the Karl River and
The area on the north and south banks of the river is about 600,000 acres."
"You don't want to reward him with the entire stag forest on the south bank of the river, do you? Even if it is forest land, 600,000 acres of forest land is a great wealth!" The Minister of Taxation interrupted Bachelor Brin's words.
"No, of course not, my dear Minister of Taxation." As he said this, he drew a small circle on the map with his quill.
"Look here, everyone. There is a lake with an area of about 50,000 acres. People in the county directly call it Linjian Lake. This forest lake divides the Stag Forest on the south bank into two parts: east and west.
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In this part, there are almost 550,000 acres in the west, and only a little over 50,000 acres of woodland and more than 20,000 acres of grassland in the east. And the year before last, an outpost was built on the grassland next to the forestland in the east of the lake.
Soldiers who suppressed bandits were stationed for a rest.
Everyone also knows that there are many robbers and bandits hiding in the Stag Forest." At this point, Bachelor Brin stopped for a moment, picked up the wine glass in front of him, took a sip of the red wine in the glass, and moistened his throat.
He continued: "I think it is very appropriate to reward Balian with this land, and also seal the outpost to him as his lord's residence. At the same time, give him a position directly under the county deputy sheriff, so that he can
Suppressing bandits. Balian can kill even the most difficult bandits. It should be no problem to destroy a few bandits hiding in the woods. Of course, this is just my immature suggestion. How to choose is still up to the Prime Minister and all of you.
.”
A piece of 50,000 acres of forest land plus 20,000 acres of grassland. Although the area is a bit excessive for a knight's territory. You must know that the hereditary fiefdoms of most knights in the Brick Principality are only about 5,000 acres. However, it is desolate after all.
, if you want to develop it, even three generations may not be able to complete it. It is just right to give out a reward. No matter whether it is the Minister of Military Affairs or the Minister of Finance, there is nothing wrong with this proposal of the Chief Bachelor. After hearing this, the Prime Minister
Hou nodded again and again, and asked happily: "My lords, I think Bachelor Brin's proposal is very good, what do you think?"
"Agree, support Bachelor Brin's proposal!"
"Yes, this is a perfect solution."
…
In this way, when Balian was lying there sleeping, he had been assigned by the palace adults to be a lord in the northern woods, and also to be a peace officer responsible for suppressing bandits.
It was too late that day, and the Prime Minister could only report to the Duke the next day. The Minister of Public Security returned to his office without revealing the news, and asked Balian to go back first and come back the next day.
Balian also knew that such a big matter as enfeoffing land involved many aspects, and the adults would probably have to discuss it, so he didn't think much about it. After bidding farewell to the Minister of Public Security, he went to the city defense camp to find his uncle Sir Rudy. That night he came to Lu
Sir Dee is at home in Vallonbrae. His aunt and her young cousin went back to visit relatives. Sir Rudy is at home this week. The uncle and nephew have not seen each other for a long time. They talked a lot and drank a lot.
liquor.
When he woke up the next day, it was almost noon. Balian still wanted to sleep for a while, but his uncle picked him up and told him to wash his face quickly and go to the palace to wait for the news of the reward. He also gave him one of his fur cloaks.
After all, he was going to be made a knight, so wearing an ordinary cotton robe was too outrageous.
When the newly dressed Balian came to the Office of the Minister of Public Security again, the Minister of Public Security was already waiting for him. It turned out that the Minister of the Palace had gone to report to the Duke early this morning. The Duke had seen Sir Logan's body and Gray and War.
After listening to their reward proposal, he agreed without thinking. After all, it was just a forest land that was only visited by bandits but had no output. The Duke readily approved it.
The Minister of Peace saw Balian coming in, and happily asked him to sit down, and asked the servant to bring him a glass of ale.
"Ballion, oh, no, I should call you Sir Balian. Your knighthood and fiefdom have been approved by the Duke this morning." The Minister of Security looked at Balian with a smile and said.
After Balian heard this, he was naturally very happy. He did not expect to receive the reward so quickly. It was like a dream. Now he and his father were on an equal footing. They were both palace knights with hereditary fiefdoms.
"Thank you to the great God of Fire, thank you to the wise monarch, and thank you to my beloved lord. If it weren't for your kind words for me, I'm afraid my reward would not have come so quickly." I am happy to be happy, and I still have to say thank you.
The Minister of Public Security nodded helpfully, "You know, the Minister of Military Affairs and I really put a lot of effort into obtaining a fiefdom for you this time. Without our strong arguments, I'm afraid we would have just given the money as proposed by the Minister of Finance.
It’s just a title and some rewards for you.”
"My lord, Balian Tucker will always remember the kindness you and the Count of Loire have shown me." With that said, Balian stood up and bowed to the Minister of Public Security to express his gratitude.
The words of the Minister of Public Security are to lead Balian to hate the southern forces headed by the Minister of Finance. However, Balian is just a low-level lord now and cannot get involved in such big things as the struggle between the palace dignitaries. Balian can only pretend.