"Damn it! A communication crystal isn't that expensive? Only a wealthy earl like you would say such a thing."
"A viscount like me from a remote and poor village can't even gather enough Tana to build a road!"
Looking at the imaginary girl who greeted him, Viscount Remigio couldn't help but complain.
Charlotte smiled:
"Oh? Really? But it seems to me that you are not that short of money."
After hearing what Charlotte said, Viscount Remigio fell silent.
He looked at Charlotte with complicated eyes and sighed:
"Sir Charlotte, you don't have to be so probing."
"I know what you mean. You are willing to use the communication crystal to talk to me. You just want to ask me why I have already agreed to send troops, but why I remain neutral in Castel's rebellion, right?"
Charlotte nodded:
"Yes, I am curious."
"I think the conditions I offer are quite generous. Even if you deduct the commission for hiring the kingdom's soldiers, you can at least get a reward of 500,000 gold tana from this war..."
"Yet, you have chosen to remain neutral now."
"Although we haven't signed a formal contract, I hope to get an answer based on the long-term friendship between the Castel family and the Remigio family."
After hearing what Charlotte said, Viscount Remigio also sighed:
"Yes, at least five hundred thousand quintana income."
“As long as you change your flag and join the war, even the extraordinary people won’t have too many conscripts, but you can get so much money. Even the most outstanding mercenary group in Miriah can’t make that much money.”
"but… "
"But... I can't do it!"
At this point, Viscount Remigio looked very sad.
That heartbroken expression was like a cooked duck flying away.
"Hmm? You can't do it?"
Charlotte frowned slightly.
Viscount Remigio sighed:
"yes… "
"Sir Charlotte, you may not know that I have even prepared the family flag, but I received a ban from the military before I set off..."
"His Majesty the King has ordered that the disorder of noble officers in the Kingdom's army changing the flag for private use must be strictly investigated. Violators will not only be removed from their positions as commanders, but in serious cases they may even be convicted!"
"You should also know that my territory, Viscount Remigio, is even poorer than the poorest place in the Principality of Bolder. Most of my income as the commander of the kingdom actually goes to subsidize the territory..."
"My Remigio family must not lose the position of legion commander."
"Under such circumstances, even if I wanted to earn your extra money of 500,000 quintana, I would be powerless..."
After hearing what Viscount Remigio said, Charlotte frowned even more deeply:
"Your Majesty's order? Why did His Majesty suddenly issue such a ban? As far as I know, isn't it an open secret that noble commanders change flags and use the kingdom's troops for personal purposes?"
There's something really strange about Charlotte.
It is said that although the Crescent Kingdom won the Star-Moon War that year, it was also a tragic victory.
The Crescent Royal Family simply did not have enough funds to maintain a large-scale regular army and had to rely to a certain extent on the nobles.
In fact, the identities of many kingdom armies today are vague. They often have both the identity of regular troops and a certain background of aristocratic private armies.
Under such circumstances, the Crescent Royal Family has always turned a blind eye to the noble commanders changing flags and using the kingdom's troops under their charge for private purposes.
After all, part of the maintenance costs of the regular army were paid by the nobles.
Charlotte, who had made up for her shortcomings in the political and military intelligence of the Crescent Moon Kingdom, also knew about these things.
This was also the reason why she had the confidence to hire regular troops from Viscount Remigio.
Viscount Remigio smiled bitterly and said:
"Yes, in the past, His Majesty the King has always turned a blind eye, but now it seems that such good days are about to pass."
"It is well known that His Majesty the King wants to strengthen his authority, and military power is of utmost importance. This ban should be a signal that His Majesty the King is preparing to reform the army."
"Sir Charlotte, His Majesty the King has issued an order that the future deployment of regular troops must be subject to the official military order. Commanders are not allowed to mobilize without orders."
After hearing what Viscount Remigio said, Charlotte felt helpless.
After all, the kingdom's regular army is loyal to the royal family, and the bulk of expenses such as equipment, extraordinary consumables, and military pay are still provided by the royal family.
As for the part of maintenance fees borne by the nobles, it is mainly for military food supplies. This part of maintenance fees is only a small part compared to the regular army, whose extraordinary expenses account for the majority.
If the Crescent Royal Family is determined to reorganize the army, then there is really nothing we can do.
"So, if you want to mobilize troops in the future, you must get the military's consent?"
Charlotte asked.
"Yes, from now on I won't be so free."
Viscount Remigio sighed.
Then he smiled bitterly and said:
"However, it's not all bad. At least... all future expenses will be provided by the royal family, and we commanders won't have to worry about military rations like before."
"As for the rest... Every policy has its own countermeasures. Let's talk about it after this storm is over!"
"But now, I really can't provide any help to Castel."
After hearing what Viscount Remigio said, Charlotte sighed slightly:
"I understand. Since it is the decision of His Majesty the King, there is nothing we can do about it."
"Sir Charlotte, although I cannot provide direct military assistance to Castel, as the commander of the garrison of the Castel Silver Mine, I can at least guarantee the safety of the Castel mining area."
"I can promise that as long as the Castel family still rules, the mithril mine will not fall into the hands of the rebels. This is the last thing I can do."
Viscount Remigio said.
Charlotte nodded:
"Thank you for your promise, Lord Viscount. Being able to defend the mining area is already a great help. After the rebellion is quelled, I will still pay you a certain amount of quintana to express my gratitude."
Viscount Remigio smiled happily:
"Hehe, then I will accept it without hesitation."
After saying this, his expression became serious again:
"By the way, Lord Charlotte, there is one more thing... Please be careful of the Third Prince."
"Be careful... Third Prince?"
Charlotte's heart skipped a beat.
Viscount Remigio nodded and said in a deep voice:
"Yes, Lord Charlotte, do you know why His Majesty the King reorganized the army at this time?"
Charlotte's eyes moved slightly:
"Could it be... related to the Third Prince?"
Viscount Remigio nodded:
"According to rumors, the reorganization of the kingdom's army was proposed by the newly appointed military chief, Duke Oton, and Duke Oton... is very close to the third prince."
"It is said that in Duke Oton's proposal, he even specifically mentioned the kingdom's troops stationed around Castel's territory, including the mine guards that I am in charge of. Almost all the army commanders that Castel could possibly contact were on the list."
"That's why I dare not send troops out of the mining area at all."