Knight: Becoming King of the World

Chapter 148: Chapter 127: A Mess, a Total Mess, and a Mess Is Good

Most Lizardmen were strong, and according to the Royal Knights, this time they had even brought terrifying mounts never seen before.

’Henry was getting excited!’

’What was so fun about fighting Imperials? One swing of the axe and they split in two. He hoped these powerful Lizardmen could give him a proper fight.’

On the castle’s training grounds, six squads of soldiers, newly promoted to Senior Infantry, stood in neat formation, filled with pride.

These soldiers had proven their valor and loyalty in numerous battles, and Henry had thus granted them higher military ranks, better rations, and increased pay.

Henry stood on the high platform of the military camp, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers.

"Soldiers! You have proven your courage and skill. Now, you will become Senior Infantry. You must be worthy of your rank! Worthy of your armor and weapons!"

The soldiers responded in unison. Henry nodded; these men would become the main force on the front lines.

"Bain, I’m leaving three squads of Senior Infantry under your command. Guard Ximira Castle."

"Yes, my lord. You can rest assured with Ximira Castle in my hands."

After speaking, Bain turned and walked toward the soldiers to begin assigning patrol duties.

Claude stood beside Henry, his eyes also on the busy soldiers. He turned to Henry and said, "My lord, when do we set off for Westwood Laine?"

Henry pondered for a moment, then replied, "Tomorrow morning. It will be afternoon by the time the convoy is fully loaded today. There’s no need to travel through the night."

’The emperor wasn’t in a hurry for him to join the war in Hobia, so why should a minor Baron like him rush?’

Claude nodded. "My lord, what other preparations do we need to make for our return?"

Henry smiled. "First, I want the surrounding nobles to know that the Bro Clan is a force they cannot ignore.

They must understand that cooperating with us will only benefit them. I want all their grain, furs, and other products to be traded at Westwood Laine. That’s how we’ll build a prosperous economic foundation."

After Claude left, Henry sighed. The main reason he was returning this time was actually to train a new batch of recruits.

Henry had tried several times and found that he couldn’t use the ’Overlord Training’ feature in the military camp at Ximira Castle, which puzzled him.

’I have to figure out the reason for this as soon as possible. If this problem isn’t solved, having to return to Westwood Laine every time I want to train troops will be far too troublesome.’

Overlord Training could quickly produce a batch of loyal, combat-ready soldiers. If he couldn’t use it in other regions, it would significantly impact his military operations.

’It all came down to this: no matter how strong he was, he couldn’t be the one charging at the front every single time, could he? He’d just be a glorified grunt at that point.’

「Early the next morning.」

Henry and his army were ready. With a grand wave of his hand, Henry signaled for the army to depart.

At his gesture, the soldiers marched out of the castle in an orderly fashion. The convoy of carriages followed close behind, their wheels rumbling on the road.

Every carriage was piled high with grain, the foundational reserves Henry was transporting to the warehouses of Westwood Laine.

Westwood Laine was located on the frontier, and Henry had no intention of missing out on his title of Pioneer Nobility. Simply riding around to claim land was useless; he needed to migrate people there and build settlements for it to become a truly legitimate territory.

And that process required a massive reserve of grain.

The various supplies and spoils of war stored at Ximira Castle were enough for Henry to fight a dozen well-funded campaigns. Besides, Henry’s supplies and wealth only grew the more he fought. Plundering from others was sufficient.

Henry sat on his horse, his gaze sweeping over the massive procession, his heart swelling with pride. ’The first-person perspective is just so much more satisfying.’

On this journey home, he would show the surrounding minor nobles, as well as the three Barons like Edmund, that the power of the Bro Clan was not to be underestimated.

’Henry is invincible. They should all put away their petty schemes and just fall in line behind me from now on.’

As the procession advanced, the scenery along the route constantly changed. They passed through forests with leaves drifting down, crossed clear streams, and traversed vast fields.

Just as Henry expected, the minor nobles along the way sent envoys one after another, bearing all sorts of gifts.

Some brought heavy sacks of Dinars, some presented strong warhorses, and others offered sharp weapons and some serfs.

These gifts not only increased Henry’s wealth but also made his retinue even larger. Henry did not refuse them; he knew this was the minor nobles’ way of expressing their loyalty.

"O powerful and benevolent Lord of Westwood Laine and Ximira Castle, Baron Henry Bro, you have vanquished the arrogant Count John! Your deeds will be sung for all time."

Henry accepted these gifts magnanimously and expressed his gratitude to the nobles.

As the number of warhorses, gifts, and serfs increased, the procession’s pace slowed.

"My lord, there are so many gifts, our procession is starting to look like a merchant caravan," Claude said with a laugh, riding his Traveling Horse beside Henry.

"Claude, these gifts are their acknowledgment and respect for us. We cannot refuse them."

Claude nodded, knowing Henry was right. Sometimes, being too polite just makes people think you’re a pushover.

As time passed, the procession finally arrived at Westwood Laine.

Philip ordered the soldiers to sound the horns, welcoming Henry’s return.

The town’s residents also flocked to the streets, cheering for their lord’s clan.

The stronger Henry became, the more secure they felt!

A lord who could provide good public order, the protection of a powerful army, and low taxes—this was practically a dream come true.

Henry, still on his horse, raised his great axe in a salute to the crowd. His voice boomed, echoing throughout the castle, "Today, the taverns of Westwood Laine will offer discounts to all Free People! Let us celebrate this victorious return together!"

The crowd erupted in even more fervent cheers, and many were already planning to head to the taverns for a good time after work.

Henry led his army slowly through the urban district of Westwood Laine, arriving at the garrison camp. The soldiers began to busily unload the grain and other supplies from the carriages, while Henry, still on horseback, scanned the area for his Minister of Internal Affairs, Tommy.

Tommy, dressed in a simple robe, was directing a group of servants and soldiers in preparation for Henry’s arrival.

"Tommy," Henry called out, a warm smile on his face.

Hearing Henry’s voice, Tommy immediately turned around, a smile breaking out on his face as well. He strode quickly toward Henry, and the two shared a tight embrace.

"Welcome back, my lord," Tommy’s voice was filled with respect and warmth.

Henry clapped Tommy on the back before releasing him. Claude had also dismounted, and he and Tommy shared a warm hug.

"Have you put on some weight?"

Tommy gave Claude a displeased look and said, "That’s slander! I’ve clearly lost weight!"

Henry chuckled and asked, "Tommy, is all well in Westwood Laine?"

"All is well, my lord. The castle repairs are ongoing, and the craftsmen are working very hard. The population of the urban district has reached over 1,300 Free People, which is its limit. We can begin preparing to build a wood and stone wall to protect the area.

Once the farms and villages have expanded a bit more, we can carry out another expansion of the urban district."

Henry nodded. He looked around and noticed some new changes to the castle; some structures appeared to have been reinforced and repaired.

"Looks like the castle has been repaired quite well."

"Yes, my lord. I have followed your instructions and strengthened the castle’s defensive facilities."

Henry was very pleased with this. However, it would take at least another eight months to make it as sturdy a fortress as Ximira Castle.

And that was assuming they prayed for a winter without heavy snow, otherwise the construction schedule would be greatly affected.

Henry clapped Tommy on the shoulder, a gesture of trust and encouragement. "Tommy, take a break for a while. Let Claude worry about the administrative affairs from now on."

Claude sighed, while Tommy roared with laughter.

"Claude, you’re in charge of supervising the transport of the grain."

"Yes, my lord." Claude gave a bow and then began directing the soldiers to move the grain into the warehouses.

Ailia and the other domestic staff also passed through the military camp and entered the castle, where they began to sweep and clean.

Henry and Tommy walked into the castle together, heading for the study. As they went, they discussed the castle’s repair plans and the blueprint for the city’s future development. Henry hoped Westwood Laine would become a strong and prosperous city.

After Henry and Tommy entered the study, Tommy immediately pulled a thick stack of envelopes from his robes and handed them to Henry.

"My lord, Bogdan gave me all of these letters," Tommy said as he carefully placed the envelopes on Henry’s desk.

Henry nodded. If he wasn’t mistaken, these were all intelligence reports sent by Daimon and Yiduo.

After reading a few letters, Henry’s brow furrowed slightly. He found the political situation in the Imperial Capital was growing more and more absurd.

The Council of Nobles had actually started vying with the Senate for influence?

’Let them stir the pot. Let them turn the regional Councils of Nobles, the Imperial Capital’s Senate, and the Imperial Royal Family into a chaotic mess. Let the mighty Empire spring leaks from every corner!’

’They say times of national crisis reveal great generals, and periods of turmoil test loyal officials. In a situation like this, what would even count as a high rank?’

"Tommy, have Nasu and Buer contacted you about anything recently?"

Tommy thought for a moment and said, "They did contact me. They said that bandits in the central regions are becoming more numerous, and the Slave Capture Corps are having great success. If you have a need, they can arrange a bulk transaction!"

Henry looked at the map of the Caladian Empire on the wall and laughed heartily. ’Even the central regions are overrun with bandits. This Empire... it’s truly on the decline.’