Knight: Becoming King of the World

Chapter 113: Chapter 95: Proxy War? First Prince, You Wouldn’t Want...

Aspiration filled the modest stone-and-wood house.

In just a few short days, every corner of Westwood Laine began to feel the change.

Artisans huddled together during their breaks, discussing how to use these new opportunities to expand their businesses.

Merchants in the marketplace carefully calculated their plans, scheming how to bring rare goods from afar to the local market to meet the growing demand.

At the Imperial Office, people from all over lined up every day, waiting to have letters written.

They hoped to send word to their friends and relatives as quickly as possible, inviting them to come to this land full of hope and build a future together.

The Imperial Office’s couriers bustled between the castle and the outside world, delivering letters full of anticipation far and wide.

Thanks to the implementation of the new policies, the Free People gained more job opportunities and higher incomes.

They no longer had to worry about unemployment and loss of income, and the smiles on their faces grew brighter.

On the construction sites, they helped one another, completing one arduous task after another. At the end of each day, they would return to their homes with a sense of satisfaction and pride.

That’s how it is with people. As long as everyone is making money and has enough to eat, things will be much more harmonious. The opposite is also true.

This was true not only in the castle but in the villages as well.

On the outskirts of a village belonging to Westwood Laine, there was a stretch of fertile farmland. This was the land of a tenant farmer named Emil.

When sunlight streamed through the cracks of his wooden window, Emil awoke in his farmhouse.

Emil put on his linen shirt, which had been mended many times but remained durable, and a pair of loose trousers.

He walked to the kitchen, where his wife had already started a fire. She was boiling fresh milk as she prepared the family’s breakfast.

"Good morning, my wife," Emil said with a smile, taking the bowl of steaming milk porridge she handed him.

"Good morning, my strong husband."

His wife replied, her face beaming with a happy smile, "Have you heard? The lord’s new policies have a lot of benefits for tenant farmers like us."

Emil nodded. "Yes, I heard yesterday. Debt payments can be deferred, they’ll provide farm tools, and we might even get more land. It’s truly wonderful news."

After breakfast, Emil stepped out of his house and took a deep breath of the morning air, savoring the fragrance of the soil and crops.

He crossed his yard, where a few chickens were pecking for food and a dairy cow was lazily chewing its cud.

He had spent all his savings to buy it. The cow not only provided his family with milk, but he could also sell the surplus to the ranches.

He arrived at his fields and watched the wheat swaying gently in the breeze.

Emil began his daily labor. He expertly guided the plow, tilling row after row of soil. A satisfied smile graced his lips, for he knew that his efforts would bring a bountiful harvest.

In the afternoon, Emil rested under a large tree at the edge of his field. He took out the lunch his wife had prepared: a few apples and some slices of cheese. He bit into an apple, feeling the satisfying quench of its juice and savoring the sweetness of his life.

"Emil, have you heard? The lord is going to build an even bigger market in the castle," his neighbor, a self-employed farmer, said as he walked over and sat down beside him, sharing the news.

"Of course. That means a bigger market for our produce. We’ll be able to sell it for a good price."

Tom smiled in agreement. "Exactly. I’m planning to grow more vegetables and fruits to sell at the market."

A larger market meant a larger population, and a larger population meant a greater need for food.

As for lowballing prices? Selling for pennies? Did they think Lord Henry’s sword wasn’t sharp?

As the sun set, Emil finished his day’s work and returned home, tired but content.

Sitting on his doorstep and gazing at the brilliant sunset in the sky, his heart filled with gratitude.

"Thank you, Lord Henry. Thank you for this land."

So, what was this "most merciful" Lord Henry of the people’s praise doing? He was slamming his fist on the table!

’These nobles are nothing but a bunch of scheming bastards, plotting their dirty tricks in the shadows day after day! Are they even worthy of their ancestors?!’

Henry sat at his desk, brows furrowed, tightly gripping a letter from Fass.

The intelligence from Daimon and Yiduo corroborated Fass’s letter, revealing a truth he could no longer ignore. The situation he faced was far more complex than a simple power struggle; it was a shadow war for the royal succession.

As a former student of the Emperor, Henry’s status held special significance on the political chessboard of the Royal Capital. Even if Henry himself had no such intention, others would choose his side for him.

As the heir to the throne, if the First Prince could expand the empire’s territory and build a record of achievements after inheriting the title of King, he could also be granted the title of Emperor.

And who would be needed to accomplish this? Naturally, it would require capable subjects with a record of achievements, like Henry, to solidify the foundation of his rule.

In the eyes of certain people in the Royal Capital, Henry was not just a supporter of the First Prince, but a future cornerstone of his reign.

This was what frustrated Henry; his background at the Royal Capital Knight Academy naturally placed him in the First Prince’s camp.

It was absurd, but that was the Empire for you.

If that were all, it might not have been a major issue. However, the ambition and actions of the Second Prince had intensified the struggle.

By opening his purse strings generously in the western coastal region, the Second Prince had already gathered a group of allies, forming a faction that could not be ignored.

He was trying to use various schemes to take down his older brother... And now, he was using Count John as a pawn in an attempt to weaken the First Prince’s faction, with Henry’s Westwood Laine as his first target.

A surge of anger rose in Henry’s chest. He hated being manipulated like a pawn, and he especially hated working for someone else’s benefit without his knowledge.

He stood up, his mind rapidly calculating his next move.

"My lord, it is late. You should rest," a maidservant reminded him softly from outside the door.

Henry turned around. "Go and notify the military barracks. Have them bring Claude, Tommy, and Bain here. And be quick about it!"

Although the maidservant was concerned about Henry’s lack of sleep, she knew his decisions were not to be questioned and hurried off to relay the order.

Before long, the three men arrived at the study one after another. Their faces showed signs of sleepiness, but more than that, confusion.

’What happened?’

Henry showed them the intelligence from Daimon and Yiduo, as well as the letter from Fass, and they analyzed the current situation together.

"It’s obvious the Second Prince is challenging the First Prince’s authority, and our Westwood Laine has unfortunately become his target," Henry said in a low voice.

The three men all agreed. This was a well-orchestrated conspiracy.

Henry spoke slowly, "We cannot afford to be passive and defensive; we must take the initiative. First, I will write a letter to the First Prince, explain the situation, and request his support.

Second, we need to strengthen our connections with the neighboring lords. We can’t let them continue to watch from the sidelines.

Finally, as soon as the new army completes its training, I will have them integrated into our battle ranks."

After receiving their orders, the three men immediately split up to take action. ’Sleep? We’ll get this done first, then we can sleep. The lord isn’t sleeping, so how could we dare to? How could we possibly fall asleep?’

Henry, meanwhile, sat back down at his desk and began to draft the letter to the First Prince.

This letter would determine whether Henry could profit from this conflict, and it could also affect the political situation of the entire Empire.

’You want to use me as a pawn? Fine. But I won’t be a pawn for free!’

In the letter, Henry described the Second Prince’s actions and his own predicament in detail, expressed his "loyalty and goodwill" toward the First Prince, and requested his guidance and support.

’Your Highness, the revered First Prince, I must report to you the unstable situation on the southeastern border of the grasslands. The Second Prince’s actions have threatened the stability of the Empire and the security of my fief. I request your wisdom and strength to guide me through this difficult time. The Lord of Westwood Laine, Star of the Battle of Zhiluo, Star of the Battle of Tianyin, Baron Henry Bro.’

Henry read over his brief letter and snorted coldly.

’First Prince, you wouldn’t want me to run into the arms of the Second Prince, now would you?’