Chapter 83: Chapter 74: Why Is Everyone Running to Westwood Laine to Beg?
Early the next morning, before the sky had fully brightened, the column continued its journey.
Along the way, Henry passed one of his farmsteads after another, where serfs were at work, dressed in clothes just warm enough to keep from freezing to death.
The sky was a dreary gray, with a few snowflakes drifting down occasionally. Across the vast land, the serfs wore tattered hats and a thin layer of linen on their hands. Their figures looked exceptionally frail in the biting wind.
The serfs held hoes and shovels, turning over the earth one strike at a time. Although the ground was frozen solid, they continued to labor under the supervision of foot soldiers.
Beads of sweat seeped from their foreheads, a stark contrast to the falling snowflakes.
All around them were plots of land that had already been tilled, awaiting sowing.
The serfs carefully scattered seeds upon the soil, then gently tamped it down with their feet to ensure the seeds made firm contact with the earth, so they would sprout successfully when spring arrived.
Despite the harsh winter climate, the serfs were still full of hope for the future.
Those serfs who had survived the battlefield and returned to Westwood Laine had now taken out loans to live in their own houses and rent their own plots of land. They were no longer serfs.
This gave them motivation. ’It’s only two years! If we endure this, we’ll become tenant farmers!’
"Claude, when we get back, send more firewood to the serfs on each farmstead. Don’t let them freeze to death."
’These people are my private property, my future subjects and source of soldiers. I can’t let them freeze to death.’ In the Caladia Empire, only those merchant nobles who had lost their martial virtue would exploit serfs by sucking them dry, as if they were workers in a Workshop.
"Yes, my lord. I’ll see to it."
The column pressed on, and Henry finally arrived at his loyal Westwood Laine. When the local Free People and artisans saw Henry’s return, they flocked to the sides of the dirt roads and streets, enthusiastically welcoming their lord.
While on the road, Henry had sent several steppe horsemen ahead to Westwood Laine Keep to announce his promotion in rank and the acquisition of a new fief throughout his domain.
Because Henry’s taxes were not high and, more importantly, his military was strong, his subjects were quite supportive of him as their lord.
Those down-on-their-luck nobles, forced to work to make a living, couldn’t bring themselves to completely let go of everything and become wealthy self-employed farmers like the exiled nobles could.
No matter how poor these down-on-their-luck nobles were, they were still wealthy compared to commoners and could even afford to maintain a Personal Guard and servants.
They also rushed out to cheer for Henry, trying to get him to notice them. Unfortunately for them, Henry just assumed they were Free People who had immigrated from other places.
The Militia Teams that had been dispatched to help with transport left directly, as Henry would not be paying them any extra wages.
Tommy, who had been waiting outside the barracks to greet him, ran up to Henry and congratulated him on his promotion. He also reported that the population and land statistics for the three new villages had been compiled and were ready for inspection and review at any time.
"Tommy, first, go over the supplies with Claude, register them, and put them in the warehouse. When you’re done, find me in the study."
"Yes, my lord."
Henry rode his horse past the barracks, crossed the drawbridge, and entered his castle.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. Now, returning to his long-unseen castle, Henry also felt a certain warmth.
The castle gates slowly opened, welcoming their long-absent master. With no threats in the surrounding fief, this castle complex was the safest place to be.
Sunlight streamed through the thick, hardwood windows that had been opened for ventilation, spilling onto the stone floor. This felt like "home."
The maids who had stayed behind had diligently and meticulously cleaned every room and corner of the castle during Henry’s absence.
As Henry walked through the great hall, he decided to hire two more maids to ensure the castle’s daily operations ran more smoothly. ’This place is just too big, with so many floors!’
As for the outer areas of the castle complex—the barracks, the stables, and the archery range—that was the soldiers’ world. The maids had no need to venture into those places for maintenance or cleaning.
Henry plopped down into the large, high-backed chair in his study and let out a long sigh.
Candles and the fireplace in the study were blazing, but the room wasn’t very warm. The maids must have just lit them after seeing him return.
After adding two logs to the burning fireplace, Ailia sat down by the brazier to light it, which would raise the study’s temperature quickly.
"My lord, I’ve already asked Orianna to prepare your dinner for tonight."
Winter days are always short, so dinner was eaten earlier, and people went to bed sooner. Only wealthy families in the cities had nighttime entertainment.
As for ordinary families, well, at night there was nothing to do besides making babies or working on your arm strength.
Henry tilted his head to look at Ailia. Ailia pursed her lips and said, "My lord, I’ll go prepare hot water and heat the bathroom right away."
Soon, under Ailia’s attentive care, Henry enjoyed a comfortable, hot bath.
Steam filled the air. The warm water, guided by Ailia’s fingertips, washed away the fatigue and stench of sweat from Henry’s winter journey, making him feel completely relaxed.
Ailia’s movements were gentle and practiced; she knew just how to make Henry feel most at ease.
After his bath, Henry changed into clean clothes. Free of the smell of sweat, he had regained the proper dignity of a nobleman.
’Thank goodness there’s no Black Death here causing people to not bathe. What a relief.’
Feeling refreshed, Henry returned to his study and saw Claude and Tommy already waiting for him.
"What’s wrong? What’s with that expression? Did something happen?"
Claude glanced at Tommy, who was playing dumb, and spoke up. "My lord, just now while we were handling the supplies, a few down-on-their-luck nobles approached us. They wish to see you."
"See me? Did you ask them their purpose?"
Claude swallowed hard before answering, "My lord, they know you’ve become a Baron, and they all want to become your Feudal Knights..."
The study fell silent. Henry had a strange expression on his face; he couldn’t imagine how these down-on-their-luck nobles had the gall to make such a request.
"Wait, where did these down-on-their-luck nobles come from? Didn’t I take them all to Autongard? Did they run back?"
Hearing Henry’s question, Tommy explained, "Some of them are ones who ran back, and some are new arrivals. According to them, a terrible political struggle has broken out in the western regions, and many minor nobles have suffered for it."
Henry was speechless. ’The western coast is so far away, what’s with these people? My territory is just some broken-down borderland, so why is everyone running here?’
’When they got here, didn’t they see how run-down the town next to the castle is? That it’s all new construction?’
’This can’t go on. I can allow wealthy people to enter my fief and become subjects, but it’s better to have fewer of these types who are always scheming to climb the ladder.’
’Especially these down-on-their-luck nobles with no military achievements and no money or grain. Calling them nobles is just being polite. To be blunt, they’re just beggars dressed up in fancy clothes.’
’Stinking beggars, running all the way from the western regions to the grasslands just to beg? You’ve got to be kidding me!’
