Chapter 298 298-The Squire's Suggestion
Ivan answered innocently, "That's still better than what's happening now. He holds so much land but can't fully utilize each due to exceeding the limit." Howard tapped the table and said to Ivan, "Do you not understand the purpose behind your father's actions?" Ivan admitted that indeed he did not.
Howard explained, "Your father, having allocated too much land previously, found himself with only the troops from Nok Castle during the last war, which led to his defeat." "Whether he could have won the war with all his troops is not for me to judge. But I can tell you, he certainly feels that his loss was due to having too few directly controlled territories."
"Now, he fears both an attack from me and a revolt from his knightly vassals, who might band together to claim his baronial title. That's why he's clinging to so many knightly titles. He's been scared by the prospect of being declared war upon by his own vassals."
Ivan wore a troubled expression.
"But continuing like this isn't a solution either. Properly managed, these lands could be much more valuable. Isn't it a waste to just hoard them beyond the limit?"
Howard chuckled, "Ah, don't forget, you and I are more like enemies. Don't expect me to give you any advice." Ivan replied, "Just say something, anything."
Howard shook his head and sipped his tea, saying, "Speak? Even if I did, would you dare to listen? Remember, even I acknowledge that I'm quite displeased with your father right now. Do you really dare heed the words of an enemy?" Ivan smiled naively and suggested, "Then why don't you reconcile with my father? Wouldn't that solve everything?"
Standing up and pacing slightly, Howard restrained his urge to burst out in anger and gave Ivan a meaningful smile. "Do you have any experience in diplomacy at all?" Ivan puffed up his chest, asserting righteously, "So what if I don't? Does lack of experience disqualify me from being a diplomatic envoy?"
Howard was speechless.
He wanted to say a lot to Ivan, but upon looking at him, felt it might be pointless.
Bosiden, who had been standing aside and listening, barely contained his laughter.
In his view, Ivan's diplomatic skills were weak, and he couldn't help but wonder how he could have outmaneuvered Ivan if their roles were reversed.
Sighing, Howard said to Ivan, "Your father is merely afraid, but he broke the agreement between us, and I am definitely going to strip him of his baronial title. I'm not one to mince words. You seem like an honest person, so I'll speak frankly. Let your father hold on to some knightly titles; when I take his baronial title, he'll still have a knightly title to fall back on."
After finishing his tea, Ivan stood up, puzzled. "My father has his brother's support, who is a duke! How can you, a mere earl, be so confident?" Howard snorted coldly and left the lord's hall.
Ivan attempted to follow Howard, but Bosiden extended his hand, blocking his path.
"Greetings, I am Howard's Lord Privy Seal. Lord Howard is currently unavailable, so I will take over the subsequent negotiations," Bosiden informed him.
The castle guards also blocked the entrance, subtly lowering their halberds in Ivan's direction.
Deflated, Ivan allowed Bosiden, who gently placed his right hand on Ivan's shoulder, to guide him to a chair with a mix of firmness and persuasion.
Seated, Ivan, seemingly oblivious to his position, launched into another round of diplomatic sparring, this time against the shrewd Bosiden...
Half an hour later, a bewildered Ivan left Fernsouth Castle.
Before departing, he said to Bosiden, "Please inform your lord that I must be going. I'll visit again." Bosiden responded politely, "Of course, you're welcome anytime," while thinking to himself that Ivan's father would likely not permit another visit.
Bosiden had thoroughly confounded Ivan, who now planned to persuade his father to keep holding the excess titles without distributing them.
Bosiden understood that the longer Mibo clung to these over-limit titles, the weaker the overall strength of the Gokasu region would become.
In the short term, it might seem like an increase in military power, but overall tax revenue, trade, and production would suffer.
If Mibo continued to exceed the limit and hold onto these titles in a standoff with Howard, Howard could simply hire mercenaries and defeat Mibo with sheer financial power.
Howard's straightforward advice had fallen on deaf ears, and Ivan remembered only Bosiden's words.
Bosiden's manipulation had led Ivan to a conclusion that would ultimately weaken Mibo's position, playing into Howard's hands without Ivan realizing it.
Half an hour later, after a stroll around the castle, Howard returned to the lord's hall.
Noticing Bosiden but not Ivan, he inquired about Ivan's whereabouts.
Bosiden informed him that Ivan had already left the castle.
Howard responded with a simple "Oh," then asked, "Did Ivan say anything useful in the end?"
Bosiden honestly replied, "No, my lord." Howard then dismissed Ivan from his thoughts.
Ivan was the type of person who commanded respect on the battlefield; assigning him to diplomatic duties was a mere waste of time for both parties.
In fact, Ivan's visit was due to his own insistence.
Mibo had initially no intention of sending a diplomatic envoy to Howard.
As an experienced administrator, Mibo understood that he and Howard had reached a point where neither saw eye to eye with the other.
Mibo knew that unless he willingly relinquished his title, there was nothing left to discuss with Howard.
Ivan's persistent nagging to meet with Howard had irked Mibo, who eventually allowed him to go, partly to get rid of the annoyance.
At the same time, Mibo hoped that Ivan would gain some experience in diplomacy and shed some of his naivety.
Upon Ivan's return to Gokasu Castle, Mibo was taken aback by his report.
"What? Howard said I should keep holding onto my titles?" he asked, astonished.
Ivan clarified, "No, Howard himself didn't say that, but his Lord Privy Seal suggested it."
Mibo, gazing at the fireplace and warming his hands, remarked, "They can say whatever they want, but I have no intention of redistributing my titles again. I suffered a severe setback last time; I can't make the same mistake again..."
Ivan chose a seat, unaffected by the cold, unlike Mibo.
Raising an eyebrow, Mibo inquired, "So, during your visit, did Howard say anything to you?"
Ivan replied, "Not much really. He just seemed unhappy about you breaking the agreement and taking the barony of Gokasu."
Mibo felt a sinking feeling in his heart, realizing once again that there was no turning point in this matter.
Anna and her knight squire were engrossed in their sword practice, both working up a sweat.
Her knight squire turned to Anna and asked, "My lady, when can we attain higher titles?"
Anna was taken aback by this unexpected question, momentarily pausing her one-handed swordplay.
She replied, "When Howard bestows upon me a higher title, that's when I shall have one."
Her knight squire persisted, "My lady, you can also request it from Lord Howard yourself. He holds the titles of both an Earl and controls two baronies and two villages directly. You could ask him for a baron's title. Then, you'd become Baron Nok or Baron Fernsouth."
Anna regained her composure and said, "I shall not engage in treacherous schemes."
The knight squire reassured her, "I'm not suggesting you become a traitor. Since you have such a good rapport with Lord Howard and have facilitated the treaties between the Katerina and Valuva families, you've already achieved great deeds."
Anna hesitated and said, "I'll think about it. I'll speak to him when the time is right."
The knight squire tempted Anna further, "You'd better act quickly. I've heard that Lord Howard has no interest in the title of Duke Jiakai. If you don't make your request, someone else might beat you to it."
Anna furrowed her brow and continued her practice.
At Fernsouth Castle, Howard remembered a promise he had made to the village chief of Yami Village and instructed Bosiden to arrange for Boshni to take up the task of horse breeding.
Bosiden, puzzled, remarked, "Horse breeding? That's not an easy job." Howard inquired, "Do you have any better suggestions?" Bosiden had none and proceeded to carry out the instructions.
Later, when Margaret heard about this, she sought out Boshni.
In a small room, Boshni sat across from Margaret, her large eyes innocently gazing at her.
Margaret asked Boshni, "Howard has given you a task to breed horses. Won't that be too tiring for you? Would you like me to talk to Lord Howard and see if he can assign you a different job?"
Boshni refused, explaining that she had always wanted to do something for Lord Howard but lacked the means.
Now that an opportunity had presented itself, she was not willing to let it go.
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