Simon arrived at the Lord's Castle under Baron Arnhem on the third day of his journey.

After Simon's soldiers reported their names and titles, after not long waits, the guards respectfully invited Simon and his group into the wooden fort.

"Is this Baron Arnhem?" Simon thought in surprise after seeing a strange figure.

The man in front of him was very young, but the skin on his face was dehydrated and covered with blush. Obviously, he was an alcoholic who soaked himself in a barrel every day. Simon also noticed that the man was a little hunched and seemed to be bent by a curse innately.

Standing at the gate of the tower, he stared at Simon walking towards him, with a different kind of complex emotions flashing in his eyes.

"I welcome your arrival, Baron Simon from Foldburg," Baron Arnhem's smile was a little bitter. "I am honored by your arrival, but unfortunately, the economic situation of my territory is very tight. I hope you do not misunderstand my enthusiasm because of the simple hospitality."

"Of course not, respected Baron Arnhem, I can understand the predicament you are in."

Simon and the young Baron Arnhem walked into the tower, and a strong smell of ale came to his nose. The dim light inside the house and the empty barrels everywhere made Simon feel a little uncomfortable.

"Let the kitchen kill a chicken and entertain my guests." Baron Arnhem sat on the lord's backrest chair and said to a servant with a pot-covered hood.

Another servant took two wooden glasses and scooped two full beers in the barrels in the corner of the hall and handed them to the two barons, and the young Baron Arnhem opened the conversation.

It turned out that after his father lost the war against Baron Iser that year, he was gradually swallowed up by the pressure coming from everywhere.

The debts he owed to the Jews were not returned on time, but he was already penniless and even maintained the operation of his territory. He had nothing to pay off except the land.

Therefore, amid the scolding of the people in the territory, the unanimous boycott of the vassals, and under the disappointed gaze of the bishop, the old Baron Arnham handed over his own direct territory to repay the debt. Since then, a group of pagans who believe in Judaism have gained a foothold in this land.

In the following days, Baron Arnhem's depression gradually worsened to a state of insanity. His appetite was depressed, his weight dropped rapidly, and his rosy cheeks were replaced by pale and thinness.

He often said inexplicable words, and sometimes he would sleepwalking. He seemed to be surrounded by a ghost that ordinary people could not see. Until one morning, a servant who got up early to fetch water by the river found the body of the old baron entangled in the fishing net.

"So I took over this dilapidated territory, but I knew myself, and my mediocre ability could not change the status quo. Life was short, so one day might as well pass one day." Baron Arnham took a sip of beer a little decadently.

Simon was very moved. He silently and repeatedly reminded himself in his heart that he must be cautious in his actions, especially in this complicated and chaotic world, otherwise he would end up in such a tragic end.

After enjoying a simple lunch, Simon rode his horse in the afternoon sun and roamed around his wooden fort with Baron Arnhem.

His castle is surrounded by some desolate farmlands and dilapidated houses. The farmers he met along the way are pale and thin, and they all seem to be poor people who have lived a hard life.

There is a muddy clearing near the Wood Fort. In the middle is a house surrounded by a crooked pointed fence, which looks like a temporary wood-room built by a woodcutter.

Baron Arnhem said that this was his barracks, and the recruits would gather here to prepare for war.

Simon rubbed his eyes, feeling a little unbelievable. If it weren't for Baron Arnhem's so-called barracks, there were several farmers beside the barracks beating the scarecrow target with wooden sticks under the command of a soldier, he wouldn't have thought that this would be a barracks!

Simon also wanted to see the Jewish settlements, but according to Baron Arnhem, the territory was at the sea, and one day's journey, Simon had to give up.

Night fell quickly, and the windows of the tower's guest rooms were leaking, making Simon a little difficult to fall asleep. The sound insulation effect of this pure wood building is not very good. As long as a servant passes through the room, the "Ghada" footsteps sounded like a close to your ears.

Early the next morning, Simon hurriedly bid farewell to Baron Arnhem and continued to march towards the Deventel Church to the east.

After passing several villages with large abandoned fields, Simon entered a forest.

"Maybe this is the forest claimed by the old Baron Arnhem." Simon was evoked with memories of the past.

Not long after entering the forest, the road ahead was stopped by a strong military outpost.

The tall observation tower of the outpost is mainly composed of thick wooden stakes, which gives people a strong and durable feeling.

Next to the observation tower is a rectangular house made of logs. There are several short spears in the empty wooden barrel at the door, and there are several shields printed with the Baron Isel family badges beside the barrel.

After a simple negotiation, Simon, a nobleman, was not charged a toll. The strong soldier in a filled armored suit moved away from the horse and the road ahead suddenly became clear.

While passing a hunter's hut camp beside the main road in the forest, Simon decided to trim here for lunch.

This small camp houses three hunters and a forest ranger. Simon noticed that there were hound fences next to the houses of these hunters, and one of them had stables.

"Baron Isel, who won the last war, did make a fortune!" Simon thought.

This forest is not big. Before the sun sets, Simon walked out of the forest and replaced it with a lowland plain that is beyond the limit.

Unlike the town of Nijmegan, where the animal husbandry is well-developed, the plain road is lined with carefully cared for and rich small farms. The fields are mixed with some seemingly "desolete" grasslands, Simon knew that it was a pasture specifically used to grow hay.

"This place is much better than the ruined land of Baron Arnhem." Simon couldn't help but praise.

Looking at the busy and orderly production scenes among the fields, Simon couldn't help but think. In addition to the town of Nijmegan, the territory of his friend Baron Iser seemed to be very suitable as an important stop for his own business development.

When the vague curtain walls and bastion outlines appeared in the distance, Simon knew that it was Isselberg.

There are many changes in the current Isel Fort and Simon's last time. There are many vendors and some newly built buildings in the villages under the mound.

The villagers' clothes are not good, but they are not decent. It can be seen that their lives are not bad.

When the news of Baron Simon's visit from Foldberg reached Baron Isel's ears through the guards' mouth, the adult, who was usually pampered, suddenly bounced off the chair and walked through the wooden atrium to the gate to welcome Simon.

The two met like a reunion of friends who had been separated for many years, giving each other a big hug. Baron Isel said that he liked the gifts given to him very much. Simon replied that he also liked the ship given to him by Baron Isel.

The two walked into the tower chatting and laughing.

Because during the last war, most of Baron Isel's cabinet members were sent to the vassal territory for help, organized recruitment of soldiers, and inquire about information, but Simon did not know them. This time, Baron Isel introduced his courtiers to Simon one by one at the dinner party.

His minister in charge of seals was a decent old man, with elegant conversation, clever and eloquent words, and mainly dealing with diplomatic affairs.

His parish bishop was a knowledgeable and obedient faithful servant of God, mainly responsible for improving the relationship between Baron Isel and the church.

His chief financial officer was a middle-aged man with a shrewd face. He was extremely diligent, and even while waiting at the table to serve, he was still whispering work matters with his subordinates. He was mainly responsible for tax affairs within the baron's lord.

His military commander was a mighty and majestic man. His inverted triangle structure and muscular figure made Simon ashamed. He was a brave knight and a general who knew how to command the army and ensure logistics.

His spy leader looked a little mysterious, and there seemed to be an extremely lively heart hidden under his seemingly gloomy face. His eyes scanned the entire banquet hall from time to time, observing everyone's expressions and behaviors, as if digging out some secrets in the dark.

"It's time for me to form my palace cabinet, too." Simon was inspired by the banquet.

When Simon was still a knight, he could clearly say that forming a cabinet was completely unnecessary, because the direct territory was nothing more than a village.
Chapter completed!