The town of Alano, the residence of Baron O'Farrell, now has the main building turned into a school and training center, the annex building turned into the town government and hospital, the utility room turned into a cultural palace, and the back garden turned into a park.
The best way to make people here no longer fear the authority of the nobles is to pull down the things that belong to the nobles and make them within reach. When people narrow the gap between them and the nobles in knowledge and mentality, they will gradually understand why the nobles are not more noble than them, and understand what is equality in personality.
"Although it is limited to the modifier of personality, equality seems a bit flawed. But it is better to do something than not to do it. Although we cannot reach it, our hearts yearn for it. This is how we humans slowly move forward." Xiao Chen accompanied Chen Hansheng to walk slowly in the park. Now the residents here are not used to playing in the Baron's garden. Most of the people playing here are children in school and some young people who are in love.
"You guys just like to show off. I think the reason is very simple. I don't want to climb over other people's heads, and I will never allow anyone to climb over my head, otherwise I will kill him!" Old Chen's body has not fully recovered, but his momentum has returned. He pointed at the wall of the Baron's Mansion and said, "If it weren't for the fact that peace has not come back yet, I would have demolished this wall long ago. Look at the two towers up there. It's so scary when young people are stealing in the park at night!"
"Old Chen, it seems this is your personal experience."
"Get lost!" Chen Hansheng pushed him and they both laughed.
Xiao Chen continued, "The envoy of the Duke of Green Forest City arrived yesterday. It is said that he went to Green Garden Town first, and found that I had already left with the captives, so he rushed all the way here. When he entered the city, he happened to see us parading the captives through the streets. According to Wang Zifeng, the envoy's face was pale, blue, and red, like a neon light."
"He didn't protest?"
Xiao Chen smiled and said, "Protest. How can the envoy's role be demonstrated if he doesn't protest? However, after these two battles, the Duke's strength has been greatly damaged, and he no longer has the confidence to fight us. So all the envoy can do is express his dissatisfaction. Just like they will definitely take back Green Garden Town, but everyone knows that is impossible. It's rare that the group of people in the school are tough. They said on the phone yesterday that they must stick to the bottom line. I thought someone would jump out and say something, paying attention to handling the relationship with the other party, maintaining good neighborliness or something like that." The so-called telephone is a large-scale communication array. This array can only be used in the house and cannot be carried, but it finally allows direct communication between the various bases of the school.
"Xiao Xiao, that's why you don't understand. Some people think that way because the war might affect them and endanger their lives. But now, they don't need to charge into battle, and they won't lose a share of the profits if we win, so they are naturally happy to support. If our action fails, and the Duke of Green Forest City threatens the safety of the school, what will their faces be like?"
"Think about it, it's true!" Xiao Chen recalled those guys who advocated peace talks when the bandits attacked the city, and he immediately felt disgusted. He would rather face difficulties with people like Lao Chen than have tea and meals with those guys.
"Old Chen, you should go with us when we meet the envoy. I think you have almost recovered your spirits. It's time to show those people that you can control the situation."
Chen Hansheng was always straightforward and said, "Okay."
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The envoy from Greenwood City was named Brahms, a viscount. Unlike the fat Viscount Anfulal, he was thinner and younger, a blond man under forty years old.
Xiao Chen, Chen Hansheng, and Kalanda met him in the reception room of the Baron's Mansion. After a brief greeting, Xiao Chen asked directly, "I wonder if Your Excellency the Duke has any feedback on the request I asked Viscount Anfulal to convey?"
Viscount Brahms waved his arms and said, "The demands made by Lord Xiao Chen are indeed excessive. It is impossible for Julio, the youngest son of Baron O'Farrell, to be stripped of his baronial title, nor can he be sent here. This behavior is a provocation to the entire aristocratic system."
Xiao Chen looked at the other party. Viscount Brahms had a firm look in his eyes, decisive actions, and seemed to be a little indignant. He was really a diplomat with outstanding acting skills. However, this was useless in front of Xiao Chen. Under the effect of detecting spirit, he could see a small ball of light representing the other party's spirit, and the ball of light was stable as usual.
He said: "We have never regarded nobles as our enemies. Whoever attacks us first, we will definitely retaliate against him, and the person we retaliate against will pay the price. Arano is the price of the baron, and Green Park Town is the price of the duke."
"This has nothing to do with the current baron," Viscount Brahms argued.
Xiao Chen refused to back down. "All of this started when Baron O'Farrell's family attacked us, so we must have a settlement with them. The territory of Arano Town is already in our hands and this will never change. The Duke cannot give this place as a fiefdom to anyone else. Otherwise, it will be considered an act of war against the Tower of China. As for letting the Baron's son come here, it was just out of sympathy for him. Minors like him should be allowed to be with their families."
"This is ridiculous, the king would not approve of this situation!"
"Then let's wait for the king to express his opinion. Perhaps the king will think that this is very similar to the territories of the barons annexed by the Duke?" Both of them knew that the king would not and could not intervene in territorial disputes in remote areas.
Viscount Brahms knew that this topic would not lead to any results. Neither side would give in on this issue. This was more like a prelude to bargaining. So he did not argue with Xiao Chen any more, but quickly got to the point: "I want to discuss the list of redeemed people and the ransom."
The Viscount handed Xiao Chen a list. Xiao Chen looked through it and found that the people he wanted to redeem included all the nobles and knights' attendants. As for the civilian soldiers, they were undoubtedly abandoned. Xiao Chen understood that for many lords, the capture of civilians was actually a good thing. The loss of males meant that the family could not make ends meet and the land would eventually have to be sold.
Xiao Chen took out a pen from the Traveler's Heart, thought for a moment, wrote a row of numbers on the list, and then handed it back to Viscount Brahms.
"What!!" Viscount Brahms jumped up in shock when he saw the numbers on the list. This time, Xiao Chen realized that his spiritual light ball was really beating there, no, it was shaking violently.