Chapter 216: Chapter 178: The King’s Shock
As a confederation of nobles, the Frank Kingdom was somewhat different from the feudal dynasties of Robson’s previous life in this regard.
Louis III, aware he didn’t have many years left, had been consistently building up momentum for Prince Noah.
"Excellent! Excellent!"
"This is perfect! This is perfect!"
After reading the entire letter, Louis III slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his face wreathed in smiles.
Seeing this, the court officials present had their suspicions but dared not be certain.
"Your Majesty... is it about Thermopylae?" Earl Daniel was the first to step forward and ask.
Louis III ordered an attendant to pass the letter in his hand down to them.
"Noah truly did not disappoint my expectations for him!
He annihilated nearly ten thousand enemies!" Louis III said with a laugh.
"A great victory! A great victory indeed! His Highness the Prince is truly one of a kind!
Thermopylae was once personally guarded by the Knight King, and King Louis dispatched Marshal Wim to defend it. Prince Noah’s current achievement, saving the Kingdom from the brink of collapse, is no less than that of Marshal Wim!" Earl Daniel proclaimed his congratulations loudly.
Hearing this, a few of the men standing nearby couldn’t help but twitch their lips.
Marshal Wim had been a legendary figure in his time. He was Marquis George’s great-grandfather; it was under Marshal Wim that Marquis George’s branch of the family truly rose to power, reaching the apex of the Kingdom and leading its northern bloc.
Back then, Marshal Wim did far more than simply defend Thermopylae. The Central Front, the Western Front, the Beastman Plateau—he fought battles everywhere!
In the end, with the approval of the Northern Nobles, he became a Marquis.
’Comparing Prince Noah to Marshal Wim was, frankly, a bit of an insult.’
"Prince Noah has rendered meritorious service to the Kingdom! He is an unshakeable, loyal subject of the Kingdom!
This is more than enough to silence those who slandered His Highness the Prince!"
"Congratulations, Your Majesty..."
But despite their inner complaints, when it came time for praise, no one held back. One by one, they started laying on the flattery, showering him with extravagant praise without reservation.
Louis III was getting on in years, after all. Hearing these words now was even more pleasing to him than being praised himself.
"Alright, alright...
Now, there is one question. My lords, what kind of reward do you think this Baron Robson deserves?" Louis III asked.
This was the most crucial question. People don’t offer help for free, and any discerning person could see Baron Robson’s vital role in this war.
Beneath the battle report was another letter, which contained a detailed description of the battlefield situation and the entire course of events.
Prince Noah would ask, Baron Robson would answer; Prince Noah would be overjoyed, finding the answers perfectly to his liking, and then he would have Baron Robson carry out the plan...
"Your Majesty, Count Sriphine and Count Uman have both recently arrived in the Royal City. Perhaps we could arrange a meeting for Baron Robson with them," Earl Daniel said.
Hearing this, some of the ministers drew in a sharp breath.
Count Sriphine and Count Uman—both were newly appointed Counts who were about to be enfeoffed in the North!
’Was Earl Daniel actually showing Baron Robson that much respect?’
Moreover, according to the old customs of the nobility, when the highest-level leaders came to meet before an enfeoffment, it was certainly not for a simple chat. Many things would essentially be decided in that meeting.
For example, future competition between them, or the preliminary selection of their respective domains.
The truly core territories would be assigned directly and would never be made available.
"Oh?" Hearing Earl Daniel’s reply, even Louis III was a little surprised.
"Your Majesty, I have heard that no matter the issue, it must be handled with fairness and impartiality.
In the Northern Three Provinces, only a Viscountcy was granted to the Edward family this time. Marquis Oscillate saved His Highness the Prince and defended against the Beastmen on the Western Front. These contributions cannot be ignored.
Therefore, I believe we should give Baron Robson more support," Earl Daniel replied.
It suddenly dawned on Louis III.
’This was a way to make these factions fight amongst themselves.’
The Counts being enfeoffed this time included Count Sriphine, a noble who had earned his merits on the Central Front.
He was a prime example painstakingly established by Marshal Grantham’s faction. This Count Sriphine had bypassed nearly all procedures, soaring directly from a minor Viscount to a Count.
Louis III had nothing to say to that; Count Sriphine’s military achievements were brilliant and irrefutable.
The other, Count Uman, belonged to the traditional Northern Lands faction. He had served in the Kingdom’s Inner Court for over twenty years, and his ancestors had been preparing for this for five generations. He had completed all the procedures for a Viscount Clan to be promoted to a Count Clan and was ascending through normal means.
"Most importantly, the enemy has pushed deep on the Eastern Front. When the time comes, we can let them... have a talk..." Louis III’s eyes lit up as he added.
"Your Majesty is right," Earl Daniel said with a smile.
Grantham is a skilled commander, and so is Baron Robson.
’Since the royal family can’t control the Kingdom’s allied army, then I’ll use others to divide it!’
Furthermore, there was another important factor: Robson had someone backing him! Marquis Oscillate!
Previously, although Marquis Oscillate hadn’t helped Marshal Grantham, he hadn’t helped Louis III either.
Marquis Oscillate had always been a fence-sitter between the two, which was a major reason why Grantham could act so unscrupulously. The Marquis’s neutrality was a significant factor!
Marquis Oscillate didn’t oppose Marshal Grantham before because there was no conflict of interest between them.
’If he, Louis III, were to support Baron Robson in becoming another power bloc within the army, or instigate a conflict between him and Count Sriphine, it would be a brilliant scheme!’
Marquis Oscillate had already spread the word that the marriage between Baron Robson and Valentino was basically set in stone.
Neither side had any room to back down. Marquis Oscillate could not possibly abandon the Fengman Clan; they were the bulwark that allowed him to remain on high!
Nor could Marshal Grantham abandon Count Sriphine. Whether Count Sriphine succeeded or not determined if the military merit faction had a path to rise to the level of a Count Clan!
This was crucial. Only by establishing this precedent would the powerful Viscounts, the backbone of the Kingdom, join the military merit faction. Only then could the faction get fresh blood and truly have a voice in the Kingdom!
If the two sides clashed and Marquis Oscillate was forced to intervene, Louis III was confident he could eliminate the great threat of Grantham within his lifetime.
"When is the next Human Race Council scheduled to convene?" Louis III asked, seemingly out of nowhere.
"The day after tomorrow, Your Majesty. As long as we send Prince Noah’s battle report to the Algerian Royal Family, I believe they will change their tune," said Earl Daniel.
"Very good... Recall Marquis Oscillate. And have him return with Noah...
Recall Baron Robson and issue him the patent of a Viscount. Have Earl Wei Man guard Thermopylae.
Oh, and wasn’t Grantham asking for supplies? Give them all to him," Louis III commanded.
After a pause, Louis III’s heart softened after all.
"Issue one final edict, in my personal name. Tell Semon to come back at once."
"Your Majesty is wise," Earl Daniel said with a bow.
The other nobles seemed to only half-understand, not fully grasping what was happening.
Seeing this, Louis III couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. He walked down the steps and clapped Earl Daniel on the shoulder.
"If I had ten more men like you, Daniel, what would there be to fear from the Beastman Empire?"
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