Section 1 Caiyi

"Is that over?" Leo turned around at the foot of the mountain and looked at the misty fog halfway up the mountain, and asked his companions stupidly.

As far as Ash Rufate's eyes were concerned, Leo seemed to have just swallowed a large glass of wine, but he did not taste the mellowness of the wine at all.

In fact, it is indeed similar. In Leo's conception, this mission was not an easy job. After giving gifts dedicated to the God of Nature, there must be a gorgeous eloquence. They must convince the indecisive prophets - of course, if the prophets firmly oppose intervention, no one can do anything about it.

For this, he racked his brains to conceive the key points of the negotiations and carefully discussed them with Ashu Rufat until it could not be modified in the end.

But the result is surprising. It is like when all the soldiers of an army walked onto the battlefield with the will of death, they found that the enemy had already escaped.

"No matter what, we succeeded." Ashu Rufate comforted his companions. Victory that is too easy can sometimes make people lose their sense of accomplishment. For example, Leo is like this at the moment.

"Yes, we succeeded no matter what." Leo immediately recovered from his frustration and became cheerful. "What's even better is that Thomas gave us two months. Of course, it doesn't matter if we dragged back for three months."

"Two months? That's right...what does this mean?" Ashu Rufate didn't recall the words of his companions for a while.

"This means we have at least one month to dominate!" Leo replied, browsing. "We came here by boat. When we encountered a good wind, we saved at least three days of journey than expected. We originally expected to delay at least ten days in the Holy Mountain, but now we have to do it in one day. So now we don't have to rush back. We can now circle around. In the north, Baron Arthur's territory, and he has three very beautiful daughters..."

"Leo, remember Lord Thomas's advice. We have another task."

"Hey! That's a very simple task and won't delay our time." Leo thought for a while and took out a rough sheepskin map from his backpack.

"Ashu Rufate, I have an offer, what do you think we are separated?"

"What's the meaning?"

"It means... let's act separately. There are three lords here, I'll go two, you go one." Leo motioned toward the map. Ashurufate immediately saw that the two lords that Leo had booked for him were not as far away as the other one.

"Is there something wrong with this...?" Asu Ruffat stared at his companion's face, and Leo showed an awkward smile of being caught cheating.

"Okay, Ashu Rufate, we are good friends, please do me a little favor."

"I don't think this is very busy."

"This is a rare opportunity. Baron Arthur is my best father-in-law candidate. If there is a month, maybe I will be able to get his recognition. I swear that if he really promises to marry a daughter to me, I will definitely invite you to my wedding and promise not to receive gifts!" Leo's face showed a pitiful expression.

Ash Rufate sighed helplessly.

"What should you do with other lovers? Also, what should our guards do? They are divided into two strands?"

"Those are just lovers! Not candidates for wives." Leo immediately replied. "Although everyone thinks that the Knight's marriage is very free, it is actually a good match. And it is really hard to find a wife who can give a generous dowry. Ashurufate, if you help me, when the war is over, I will do my best to help you find a good spouse. I swear in the reputation of the Knight!"

"Okay OK, I understand. Where are our subordinates?"

"Of course, they all followed me. I need them to serve as a guard of honor so that my future father-in-law can impress me."

"Okay, I'll be a lonely messenger." Ashurufate looked at the map. "Oh, this knight's territory is very close to the Danden Mountains, and that's my fief."

"It's just a nominal fief," Leo said. "No one lives there. But don't worry, Ashurufate, as long as the war is over, I'm sure Princess Irina will prepare you a rich territory. You can have a high income every year. At that time, there are groups of beauties willing to pay for it. Alas, I really hope that I can get promoted when the war is over, even if it's a baron."

The two began to move towards the town at the foot of the mountain. Because the big thing was settled, they could enjoy the scenery of the wilderness with peace of mind. It was already autumn, and the farmlands in the distance were shining with the golden light of ripe rice ears, and the small shrubs that appeared on the roadside were all covered with fruits.

"By the way, Leo, I'll ask something. Why don't these three knights know about Princess Irina's summoning? Even if they don't get the exact news, they can judge the situation from the actions of their neighbors. The other knights were called away."

"They are knights of the direct royal family... Ashurufat, it seems that you really don't know anything. Let me explain it. For example, I am the direct knight of Count Thomas. In addition to paying certain taxes for Count Thomas every year - of course, Count Thomas has not done this for many years, so I am relatively well-being on hand - and must also accept the conscript of Count Thomas at any time to provide him with an army of knights and fifty militias. Count Thomas is my vassal, and I am his vassal. Unless I have a different territory, I must bear this obligation. My territory is included in the territory of Count Thomas instead of calculated separately. Therefore, if His Royal Highness needs my service, she can only summon Count Thomas. And I will naturally appear in the army commanded by Count Thomas."

"Then these knights are different?"

"They are knights directly under the royal family. The other nobles are only legally equal. No one can order them to provide obligations except the princess. They can take the initiative to help, but that is on their own premise. Of course, most knights are very enthusiastic and willing to help another noble. For example, when we were preparing to deal with the Greyhound, there were more than a dozen knights who came to help at the request of Count Thomas, either come over by themselves or send a militia team. In fact, a large part of the knights in the country are directly under the royal family, so there is nothing to be surprised about when such remote lords did not receive the order."

"And different territories bear different obligations. For example, the knight you are visiting." For some reason, Ashurufat felt that Leo emphasized the three words "you want to go". "There is a small town in his territory, which is a rare trading center in this area, so this territory could have been the territory of a baron. The lord's obligations were higher than ordinary knights. In addition to the higher annual tax amount, he had to provide the princess with at least one knight, a militia of 300 and a 50 horse-riding entourage. Militias can be replaced by good horses, and horse-riding entourages can be replaced by mercenaries."

After saying this, Leo suddenly sighed. "If I fail to become a baron in the end of the war, at least I hope to obtain such a rich territory. At that time, no matter who I propose to, her parents will never refuse."

"You seem to have just said that you plan to marry Baron Arthur's daughter."

"Have I said it? Even if I said it, I have the possibility of being rejected. People always have to make more plans just in case."

Ashu Rufate suddenly felt that he had nothing to say.

"By the way, I remember you said that widows can enjoy the benefits of their husband's fief for life. Do they need to bear the obligation?"

"Of course, the only difference is that there is one less knight in the obligation. If the widow is dead and the child is underage, then on the one hand, the territory is taken back, and on the other hand, the child will go to the aristocratic college for free. Oh, in fact, it is an era of great opportunity. As long as we fight bravely and make remarkable military achievements, we will definitely receive rewards. As the deputy generals of Thomas, we must have much greater opportunities than others. Do you know, Ashu Rufate, since the princess ordered the convening of the army, many knights and apprentices from other countries have gathered in our country and volunteered to join the army, wanting to serve Saint Gene."

"Why?"

"Because St. Gene has many unowned fiefs here, let alone Casillos. You should know that as the earl, Lord Thomas should have had six or seventy vassals of the knights. But now there are only two people, William Daly and I. So you understand." Their mounts trotted all the way and ran into this peaceful little town.

...

"Unfortunate!" Ashu Rufate stood alone in the middle of the road, looking at his lame war horse. "I would have known that I would have brought one more horse over."

"Master, this is what you rejected yourself. Leo had already suggested this." In his mind, Carrie reminded.

Shut up! He pushed Carrie back fiercely in his mind. Carrie let out a grievance whimpering.

In his original plan, it was just a simple journey of about ten days, so Ashu Rufate was too lazy to bring one more horse - because he didn't have much to bring except for carrying luggage. But he never expected the horse to be lame.

Having said that, this kind of thing is normal and nothing strange. But Ashu Rufate once used to the undead horse and had long forgotten the little thing like the horse being injured. There is no need to worry about these things in the army, so he ignored this risk.

He led the horse for a short distance. This was a good-bred war horse, fast speed and strong endurance, able to walk day and night, and it can be said to be the best mount for a knight. But after his lameness, the poor animal now limped, which was slower than he did.

"Master, I suggest you kill it and then resurrect it with magic." Carrie suggested.

Ashu Rufate looked back at the animal. The war horse's eyes were full of spirituality, which was completely different from the dead indifference in the eyes of the undead horse. If he had killed the horse, he would really feel a little reluctant.

"Go ahead, maybe there will be a veterinarian in that small town to treat horses." Ash Rufate sighed.

"Master, you didn't bring much travel fee..." Carrie whispered. "I'm afraid there is no way to ask a doctor for treatment..."

"I know! Anyway, there will be a way to go to the city! If it really doesn't work, we can sell this war horse and replace it with a cheaper mount, such as a farm horse."

"Master, a lame horse cannot be sold at a good price..."

"Shut up, I know!" Ashu Rufate roared in his mind, making Carrie no longer dare to say anything.
Chapter completed!