"My lord, what you said...seems to have some truth..."
Steward Aemon chose his words carefully.
But the hesitation in his eyes still made Colin understand that it is really unrealistic for these people who don't understand the basic principles of genetics to understand the complex relationship among the Uman family's heirs.
"Imon, if you have time, you can plant peas and see if two short-stemmed peas can cross into tall-stemmed peas, and then you will understand why I can be sure that Valla must not be the illegitimate son of Earl Uman reason."
"Yes, sir." Aemon wrote down the matter respectfully, and he really planned to study it in the future.
"As for what I just said, whether you believe it or not, you should temporarily bury it in your heart and don't spread it out. The next development of the situation in the northern border should confirm my inference."
"yes."
Ke Lin toasted again, drank a cup with his three retainers, and then said: "Okay, now you can tell me about the situation of the territory."
"Yes, sir." Aemon cleared his throat, and immediately began to report to Colin on the development of the Viscounty during this period of time.
In the more than four months since Colin left, the territory's finances have recovered slightly from the previous disaster of the troll invasion, but due to the recent food crisis, the situation is still not optimistic.
Fortunately, Ke Lin brought back a large amount of food from Silvermoon City this time, presumably this situation will change soon.
Ice Rock City's "tax reduction and attracting business" measures have been very successful, and more and more businessmen are now using Ice Rock City as a transit point for border trade.
And with Colin's current influence in Silvermoon City, more half-elf merchants will come to Ice Rock City in the future. Therefore, the "first commercial city on the border" that Quincy said seems to have begun to take shape.
Of course, such a distant water cannot save the near fire. At present, the Angelet family's finances can only be supported by loans from the Tulip Chamber of Commerce.
However, after taking control of the wealthy half-elven kingdom, as long as Colin does not immediately engage in militaristic violence, Queen Aisha will fully support him.
This is the benefit of supporting a rich woman!
That's right, Colin felt that he was raising Queen Elsa, not the other way around.
After all, Queen Aisha's throne was won by Colin alone, so there is nothing wrong with saying that.
After talking about the economic aspect, the next step is the military aspect.
The 3,000 infantry trained by Baron Raymond had basically formed combat effectiveness, while the 1,000 cavalry trained by the Shire knights were barely ready.
It's no problem to let them deal with the slave rebellion, but if they want to go to the battlefield to deal with the regular army, I'm afraid it's not enough.
However, the 6,000 black cavalry that Ke Lin brought back this time can completely change the military strength of the Angelet family immediately.
If coupled with the half-elf Silver Moon Guard who can be dispatched to support at any time, Colin has now become a military force that cannot be ignored in the northern part of the empire.
Especially in the current situation where chaos is imminent, Ke Lin's weight is even heavier.
"Aemon, you send someone to Winterfell to help me ask the Duke of St. Hilde to marry Miss Vera."
"My lord, it would be more appropriate for you to go to Winter City yourself for this kind of thing." Aemon hesitated for a moment, but persuaded.
"But I can't go away. Now that rebellions are frequent in the northern border, it is more appropriate for me to sit in Ice Rock City. Besides, I have already personally asked the Duke once in Lion's Roar Castle, but the Duke did not agree. Now the old things Again, I wouldn’t be too rude even if I wasn’t there.”
Aemon thought for a while, and felt that what Colin said made sense, so he stopped pressing: "Okay, master, I will arrange it."
Colin nodded with satisfaction.
He will not go to Cold Winter City himself at this time. Apart from sitting in Ice Rock City, he is also a little worried that he will be tricked by the scheming Duke.
Under the current situation in the northern border, as long as Colin sits firmly on the Diaoyutai, both the St. Hilde family and the St. Theon family need to win him over.
Therefore, Colin felt that if the Duke of St. Hilde was wise, he would not refuse his marriage proposal.
"In addition, send someone to pay attention to the movements of Marquis Dawson and Earl Uman, and report to me at any time." Colin felt that these two cards should be the most important cards in the hands of the San Theon family this time.
I just don't know if there are other families joining in.
"Yes, master." Aemon nodded in response, and then reminded, "Master, I'm afraid we need to pay attention to the troll's movements."
"Troll?" Colin finally realized that he had almost ignored this life-and-death enemy of the northern border.
Although the main army of the trolls had just been wiped out by the Black Cavalry Army, with the background of this empire, it is not impossible to grit their teeth and piece together an army of 100,000 in the near future.
This kind of strength also has a decisive weight in the northern border where civil strife is about to break out.
Moreover, Colin has also realized that the relationship between the San Theon family and the troll is certainly not simple.
During the first rebellion in the Northern Territory, the trolls were the biggest support of the Santheon family.
But this time, Colin remembered that the most important pawn of the San Theon family in Silvermoon City, that is, the Sith Savoy, was introduced to him by Prince Okamoto.
Thinking about it this way, the situation that the Duke of St. Hilde is about to face is much more severe than Colin imagined.
"Well, you also send someone to watch over the troll, and let me know if you have any news."
"Yes, sir."
"Charles, help me train another 3,000 cavalrymen. If there are not enough instructors, you can go to the Logue Knights."
"Yes, Lord Viscount."
"After Knight Rego returns to Ice Rock City, ask him to recruit another 5,000 infantry for training."
Colin now feels a sense of urgency. If he wants to protect himself in the upcoming chaos in the northern border, and even take advantage of the situation, he must expand his army quickly.
Butler Aemon frowned, persuading him, "Master, in this way, our family's financial pressure will be too great."
"You don't have to worry about this!" Colin waved his hand and said proudly, "I have reached an agreement with Queen Aisha, the half-elf kingdom will support our army construction, and in return, I will also help the half-elves against foreign enemies."
"That would be great!"
The three of Aemon obviously didn't understand the relationship between Colin and Queen Aisha, and when they heard this agreement that was so beneficial to the Angelet family, they immediately showed unbelievable surprise.
This agreement simply states that the half-elf Kingdom of Wa will pay for the Angelet family's army!
Ke Lin smiled reservedly, and then changed the subject: "Regarding the rebellion in Ice Rock City, do you think anyone is behind it?"
Aemon immediately said: "Master, I suspect that the Tulip Chamber of Commerce is behind the scenes. Although there is no direct evidence, they are the first to start hoarding food, causing the price of food to skyrocket, thus causing the famine."
"Then immediately control the person in charge of their chamber of commerce in the city!"
"Master, if you do this, will it irritate Earl Uman? After all, the president of the Tulip Chamber of Commerce is his lover Penny."
"You don't need to use the reason of sedition to arrest people." Colin suddenly remembered the method that the old king of Silvermoon City used to deal with the Hyacinth Chamber of Commerce.
"Then what reason do we use?"
"Just say that they are suspected of tax evasion."
(end of this chapter)