Lord of the Oasis - Chapter 397
Chapter 397: The Art of Compromise
The East County took up a large area and was second only to Lionheart City in the Dukedom of Leo.
After all, it was a trading port beside the Resniston River. Although it was not the best riverbed port due to the interruption of river channel, due to the daily maintenance and excavation of the river channel, trade was still flourishing.
Similarly, it was also the one of the few cities in the Dukedom of Leo, so it could be considered prosperous.
It was the same even after it had been closed off.
Kant led the group forward.
The wide dirt road was built smoothly, it was because of the cold weather in the East County. Thus, the road was not bumpy or muddy. Even though there were trade caravan driving on the road, it did not cause too much damage to the road.
At least compared to the bumpy dirt road in the other parts of East County or the North County, the roads near the East County City were built well.
At least they knew how to repair the rugged roads.
But the roads of the South County were still the best.
In the trading port of Lionheart City, there were all paved roads. From the city center to the port, the six-meter-wide paved roads could be considered the best roads in the entire Dukedom of Leo. This was also the reason why the trade in this city was so developed.
Kant did not care about this. It was necessary to repair the roads. It would be bad if they did not repair the roads and not engage in infrastructure construction.
It was true that military needs were the priorities.
However, economic needs also needed to be paid attention to.
Using the good economy to build a strong army to defend against the enemy’s attack, or simply attacking instead of defending were far better than just using roads to slow down enemy’s attack.
At the very least, they had to defend against the enemy outside the country’s borders to prevent the flames of war from burning on their own land.
However, this concept was still too advanced for this world.
Or rather the feudal lords did not care at all.
They did not care about the others. Although the enfeoffment system was stable, it brought some disadvantages. For example, the inability to unify forces in a short period of time was the biggest disadvantage.
They followed the road and entered near the city gates of the East County. There were armed militia armed with long spears guarding there.
However, they didn’t look like armed militia either. They wore iron-scale armors and held long spears that were wrapped in iron at the front end.
They looked more like truly trained elite long lance soldiers with iron-plated helmets on their heads. At the very least, their quality was much better than ordinary militia.
If one wanted to enter the East County City, each person had to pay a small silver coin to enter the city. If it was a trade caravan, each carriage had to pay an additional 10 small silver coins. Children or the elderly didn’t need to pay.
If the economy wanted to develop well, of course, there had to be strict rules.
This was the case with trade cities.
Kant and the others approached, and the elite long lance soldiers became nervous.
Especially when they saw that they were all wearing leather armors or chain armors. Even if they were covered in linen robes, they did not look like good people. If they were just mercenaries, there would be too many of them.
These elite lance soldiers did not dare to let them into the city.
If something bad really happened, it would be a big problem!
Even on both sides of the city gate, crossbowmen appeared and looked at Kant and the others in surprise.
From their point of view, even if they were a mercenary group with a large number of people, it was still fine. But now, they didn’t expect there was such a cavalry group that was strong enough to become a main force on battlefield. It was really shocking.
Even the inner side of the city gate was specially set up with a wooden fence because of the request of the guards of the city gate.
Thick and heavy logs were tied up together.
There were also sharp spear tips and sharp blades nailed on them.
If an ordinary person were to bump into them, they would definitely be pierced through the abdomen and die a horrible death.
This thing was a military tool that was specially used to guard the city. It was in charge of preventing cavalry from attacking the city gate. Of course, the purpose was also to prevent Kant and the others enter the city gate in fear of an accident.
Right in the center of the Eastern County City, within the city lord’s official residence, was Countess Agatha.
The supreme lord of this place.
She was not to be offended.
However, just as this group of elite lance soldiers and the knights guarding the city gates were at their wits’ end and did not know what to do with this group of cavalries, news came from the rear.
It was the news personally brought by the butler from the city lord’s official residence.
“The cavalry is outside?”
The butler was a skinny old man. He walked at high speed and was so tired that he was panting.
However, he did not care about this. Instead, he reached out and grabbed the knight’s shoulder. He asked anxiously, “What is your attitude towards them? Did you do anything excessive?”
“No, we kept a certain distance.” the knight at the city gate shrugged.
After a pause, he looked at the butler’s nervous expression, he muttered, “I just told them to wait outside. I didn’t dare to let them enter the city directly. You know, they look like elite troops. If something happens after they enter the city, no one will be able to bear the consequences.”
“Oh, not bad, not bad, very good.” the old butler immediately heaved a sigh of relief. “It’s good that they are fine.”
“Old butler, why are you so serious?”
The knight at the city gate was also puzzled. “Who is the backer of the mercenary group outside?” He curiously said, “Could it be that they are from another noble family? They actually show up here. This is the first time after the lockdown.”
However, the butler’s reprimand. “If there’s nothing else, don’t ask!”
He waved his hand.
Behind him, there were guards wearing the same fine chain armor walking up.
They were all holding swords and shields with iron helmets on their heads. They were clearly the most elite guards in the lord’s mansion. There were 300 of them and they quickly took over the area near the city gate. They even gathered many strong archers on the city wall and put up a strict defense.
All of this was done quietly. Even on the city wall, they were all bending down and stayed alert.
It was as if they did not want the outside world to know.
The butler walked out as well.
He casually gave a few orders to the knights and had the spearmen disperse, chasing away the trade caravan that was lining up to enter the city.
Then, he quickly walked towards Kant and the others with a humble and respectful smile on his face. “Lord Kant, I heard that you came from afar. It really makes Countess Agatha of East County happy.”
“Oh, is that so? Aunt Agatha is very considerate.” Kant smiled.
Sweeping his gaze over the city wall, he said in a meaningful tone, “Could it be that the East County City has encountered some trouble recently? The city walls are all so serious now, and there are so many troops deployed.”
The butler hurriedly wiped the sweat off his face. “It’s just a small matter. be on guard against that depraved Gibran.”
“I see.” Kant nodded and chuckled. “Indeed, we should be on guard.”
“Yes, yes.” the old butler nodded repeatedly. “Who would have thought that Viscount Gibran, the famous general of the bloody war, was actually defected to the abyssal demon and even turned into a demon himself? He had completely fallen. No one can forgive him.”
“We have to prepare in advance. I heard that he’s at Mountain of Death.” Kant pretended that he did not see the old butler’s anxiety.
Instead, he pointed to the north. “There is also some Crimson Sect. It is said that they were founded by the remnants of the Demon Worship Cult who once stirred up a bloody storm. If you want to go and eliminate them, I think that mountain is the target. Oh right, remember to bring more grand knights over. Ordinary troops might not pose any threat to Gibran.”
“Yes, yes.” the old Butler did not dare to say anything more about this matter.
Others might not know, but he did.
Why did Gibran turn into an evil abyssal demon?
Why did the Crimson Sect, which had once been well hidden, be exposed at the Mountain of Death?
Why did the entire East County territory fall into a strange crisis?
Wasn’t it all because of this Baron Kant!
He quietly infiltrated the East County and led his troops to directly kill the elite cavalry squads of Viscount Gibran who had come to ambush them. He even forced out the true strength of Viscount Gibran.
Of course, Countess Agatha, who was in the East County City, also heaved a sigh of relief.
She had once felt that something was wrong.
She had not expected it to turn out like this.
Kant could be considered to have eradicated the biggest pest within her force.
If things were going into the wrong way, based on the descriptions of the demons in the myths and legends, the entire East County would probably be in a bloodbath. It would be filled with killing and corpses. It was estimated that there would be tens of thousands of people, and it would be considered good if there were only a few thousand people survived.
And now, the old butler had received Countess Agatha’s request.
Kant could not enter the city!
That was right, he could not let Kant and his troops enter the East County City.
He had to stop them no matter what method he used. It was because he felt guilty, but at the same time, he was also afraid of an accident.
Right now, in the East County City, even Countess Agatha did not dare to go out as she pleased. She had asked the guards to protect her well because she was afraid that the people from the Crimson Sect might infiltrate.
In order to prevent any accidents from happening to her, even the wandering mages hired by the East County City had been arranged to come in.
Unfortunately, the East County did not have a war god’s temple.
If there was one, Countess Agatha would ask the priests of the temple to come over and check if there were any heretics from the Crimson Sect.
After a careful search, it was needless to say that there were indeed a few servants in the lord’s mansion who were heretics. After they were caught, they tried to resist crazily but were killed by the guards. It could be considered as getting rid of the pests.
However, they lost control of the vast space outside the lord’s mansion.
All of the noble families.
All kinds of civilians and free citizens.
Including foreign merchants, landlords, and speculators.
Anyone could be a pagan. However, if they were captured rashly, it would lead to chaos in East County City.
Countess Agatha, who had already lost too much of her high-end combat power and could barely protect herself, was like a frightened bird. In order to protect her power, she almost racked her brains.
She wanted to prevent Kant from being assassinated by the Crimson Sect’s heretics and vent his anger on the East County City.
She had also thought of every possible way.
The best way was better to tactfully ask Kant to leave.
The old butler also understood this. He took out a small bag from his bosom. It seemed to be heavy, and he handed it to Kant with both hands. He said very humbly, “Baron Kant, here are ten golden eagles. I hope you can have a good time at the port.”
“Oh.” Kant took the bag.
It was made of high-quality velvet, and it was very heavy. As his arms shook, the sound of metal rubbing could be heard.
Inside the bag was the palm-sized golden eagles, it was major currency of the Dukedom of Leo, or even all of the human countries. This kind of tactful compromise was very worth it to him. He looked at the East County City, he also nodded and said, “The port. That place is not bad. I like it very much, and I’m willing to take a look.”
“That would be great.” the old butler immediately smiled.
