Lord Highlander

Surdak circled his territory on the sand table with a red flag.

The land area that a baron can own is about three times that of a knight. In addition to occupying the entire pustule mountain, a section of the southern foothills of the Pagros Mountains is also completely included in his territory.

In addition, a large circle of barren land around the pustule mountain can also be regarded as the territory of Suldak.

It is said that there are still some people in the territory that Suldak belongs to, but only looking at the current conditions of the territory, the sky is full of volcanic ash, there are no rivers and lakes in the territory, and even the underground rivers are filled with magma, which is not suitable for human beings at all. Survive.

Marquis Bernard Christie couldn't understand that he gave up the best manor on the outskirts of Hailansa just for a sulfur mine that wasn't easy to mine.

Such an idea is probably only available to people who live in the barren land all year round!

He felt that Suldak must have a feeling of extreme attachment and love for the land in his heart to make such a choice.

Marquis Bernard Christie turned his head and said to the assistant behind him: "Gallup, you go down to the Knights and send them a copy of the information about the area occupied by the Barony of Suldak."

Seeing that the Marquis Bernard Christie stamped his seal on a map clearly marking the territory, the assistant immediately stepped forward to take the map, and promised, "Yes, Mr. Marquis. "

Standing by the sand table, Marquis Bernard pointed to the southernmost point of the Pagros Mountains with a thin stick, and said to Suldak: "To be honest, I have been expecting someone to help me guard the gate in the northwest of Hailansa. Here It is located in the depths of the barren land, and it is also the southernmost tip of the Pagros Mountains. Although it seems to be peaceful in the past few years, there have been incidents of monsters attacking the village in the past."

He looked up at Suldak and saw that his face was calm. He was obviously not worried about the monsters in the deep mountains of Pagros, and said: "Although the conditions over there are a little more difficult, it is not without benefits. Would you like to You are the only noble in this area, and I hope you can take on the defense responsibility of that area."

Suldak didn't expect Marquis Bernard Christie to say this.

He always believed that the security and defense of Hailansa City were the responsibility of the guard battalion and the city defense department. He did not expect that the local nobles would also be responsible for the defense of the region.

It was only when I turned around that I realized that since I am the only noble in this area, I have the power to govern here.

This kind of power is obviously not comparable to that of the security officer of the guard battalion. Speaking of which, I can be regarded as a small lord in this area. Although I am only a third-class baron, there are no other nobles in this area!

Marquis Bernard Christie was worried that Suldak would not agree, so he said to him: "Of course, I will allocate a certain amount of money from the Hailansa city defense budget to help you build up the defense there."

Seeing that Suldak didn't immediately agree, Marquis Bernard couldn't help asking Suldak: "Baron Suldak, are you willing to accept this appointment from the city hall?"

This is regarded as the official appointment of Surdak as the local defense chief.

Suldak thought that he was the sheriff of the guard battalion stationed in the barren land, and it would be okay to accept the appointment from the city hall. He was accepting the appointment of two departments, but he was doing the same thing.

Suldak stood up straight, puffed out his chest and said solemnly: "As the sheriff of the barren land at the Pagros Pass of the Hailansa Guard Camp, it is my duty to guard the barren land outside the Pagros Pass. Lord Marquis."

"Very good, Baron Suldak." Marquis Bernard nodded, finally showing a gentle smile on his face.

He walked back to the desk, casually took out a piece of parchment from the table, wrote a line of words on it with a quill brush, stamped it with a seal, and stamped the parchment. The paper was handed to Surdak and said:

"Defending the city of Hailansa is the responsibility of every noble in our Hailansa. The city hall will give some support to the nobles who have made certain contributions. Baron Suldak, you now have the right to recruit followers and private troops, but The number of private troops cannot exceed one squadron."

After speaking, he handed the parchment in his hand to Suldak. The handwriting on the parchment was very scribbled. Apart from the number five hundred, Suldak couldn't understand what else was written on it.

Marquis Bernard Christie said to the assistant next to him: "Gallup, wait a moment before you take Baron Suldak to the Quartermaster Office to receive defense funds."

'It turned out to be a check! '

Suldak held the scrawled parchment and thought to himself.

Marquis Bernard Christie said to Suldak: "How to use this part of the funds is up to you. Although there are no strict restrictions, you need to submit a financial statement every quarter to let the finance department know that you will Where is the money spent?"

"Yes, Lord Marquis." Suldak replied immediately.

"Besides, if you encounter any difficult things to solve, you can send someone to send me a letter."

Marquis Bernard reached out and patted Suldak on the shoulder, and said kindly to him.

Next, under the hint of Gallup's assistant, Suldak bid farewell to Marquis Bernard.

Marquis Bernard Christie asked Gallup's assistant to take Suldak to the finance department of the city hall, where he successfully received five hundred gold coins for defense funds. The bag of gold coins was heavy in his hand.

Then Assistant Gallup told Suldak that, as the defense chief of the Badlands and the Pagros Mountains, Suldak has the right to purchase some cheap materials from the Military Quartermaster. Weapons and armor equipment are at least 20% cheaper than those on the outside market.

...

Suldak came out of the city hall.

There are many pedestrians coming and going on the long stone steps in front of the city hall, and the square in front is also very lively. Many citizens are sitting on benches under the shade of trees, and a group of children are running and playing around the fountain pool on the square. .

A familiar figure just passed through the crowd and walked towards Surdak head-on. She lowered her head, wearing a set of tight-fitting crystal lion leather armor, and a pair of high-heeled leather boots. An exquisite saber, that gorgeous red hair fluttering in the wind.

She was strong and strong, and she walked on the long steps with her long legs. Without seeing how hard she was, she jumped over the crowd around her.

With bright red lips and deep blue eyes, Suldak saw Dacie Christie from the crowd at a glance.

Seemingly sensing Suldak's gaze, Dacie Christie suddenly raised her head and looked at Suldak at the top of the steps in surprise, never expecting to meet her here.

She was a little pale, a little tired, and her eyeshadow was a little heavy.

She hesitated for a while before walking up, standing in front of Surdak, raised her proud pointed chin.

"Long time no see, Suldak..." Daxi took the initiative to greet Suldak.

"Oh, long time no see, Daxi!" Suldak smiled at her and asked, "How are you doing?"

I haven't seen each other for half a year, and the two seem to be far apart.

Darcy supported the saber with one hand, looked around the crowd casually, and said casually:

"Okay, how long have you been back from the Maca plane?"

Suldak said: "It's been about three months. After returning from the Maca plane, I got the graduation certificate from the Knight Academy. Afterwards, I accepted the assignment of the guard battalion and went to the barren land to serve as the sheriff over there."

Darcy nodded slightly, indicating that she knew.

In fact, he didn't mention many details. For example, during this period, he accompanied Hathaway and Beatrice to visit High Lansa City, which she knew.

For a moment, the two of them seemed to have nothing to say, and the atmosphere was a little awkward.

Just when Suldak didn't know what to say and was about to say goodbye to Dacie Christie, a noble young man walked out from behind Dacie Christie, stood beside her, looked at Dacie intently and asked road:

"Daxi... who is this?"

Daqy was not very emotional, she didn't even have a perfunctory smile on her face, and replied flatly: "Suldak knight!"

Daxi introduced to Suldak: "This is my fiancé, Baron Armand Bulwer, who works in the Military Supply Department of the City Hall."

The young man showed a standard aristocratic smile on his face, and said to Suldak: "Hello, Knight Suldak, I have heard people talking about you, and they all say that you are a member of the Hailansa Guard Battalion. A very great knight."

"Hello, Baron Bulwer!" Surdak nodded and greeted him.

Baron Bulwer smiled, and he could see that he was also a proud nobleman, trying hard to show his bearing, he said to Suldak:

"You can call me Armand."

His tone was somewhat condescending.

Suldak glanced at Dacie Christie, and it seemed that their tempers were somewhat similar.

After saying hello, Baron Armand Bulwer took Darcy Christie into the city hall.

Darcy held Armand's arm, her long red hair fluttered slightly with her steps...

After Suldak walked down the steps of the city hall, Dacie Christie turned around with a look of regret, looked at Suldak's blurred back and sighed slightly.

...

Suldak received 500 gold coins from the city hall, and then figured out how to spend the money.

According to Marquis Bernard, he can form a private army. This private army is not responsible for the daily security of the barren land, but a private armed force stationed in the northwest of Hailansa City. Assigned by Lansa City, responsible for guarding the gate to the northwest of Hailansa City.

To establish a private armed force, you first need to recruit people, and then you have to buy horses, weapons and armor, build barracks, and so on.

The matter of recruiting manpower is the best for Suldak. He plans to recruit some experienced veterans from the nineteen natural villages in the barren land. Usually, they don't need to be stationed in the barracks. They can also farm at home. It's just that when there is a battle situation, it is enough to be able to call together quickly, which belongs to the militia mechanism.

Suldak also doesn't need to buy armor and weapons. The rebel knights who attacked Wall Village last time left behind a batch of hard leather armor, knight spears and long swords. He is going to spend a sum of gold coins to buy them directly in his hands These weapons and armors, as long as the accounts are done beautifully, Marquis Bernard should not care where these weapons and armors come from.

In the future, if there is a chance, I will apply to the logistics department for maintenance and repair of weapons and armor in the name of the Badlands Security Corps, which will save a lot of money.

In this way, the money for purchasing weapons and armor can fall into his own pocket steadily, Suldak thought so.

In addition, Suldak also ordered a batch of cheap wheat flour from the Military Supply Department. This is a benefit that only the sheriff of Hailansa City can enjoy. It is 20% lower than the price of wheat flour on the market. These whole wheat flour All are high-quality wheat flour shipped from the southern provinces.

Suldak was delayed in Hailansa City for another two days because of this batch of whole wheat flour.

It was already four days later when I left Seablue City.

Fifteen four-wheeled carriages pulled nearly 10,000 pounds of whole wheat flour and nearly 14,000 pounds of miscellaneous grains, wheat bran, and beans across the moat and into the mountain road of Oak Ridge.

Karl Casement was worried that rebels would rob these grain trucks along the way, so he led a group of knights from the support squadron outside the city to escort these grain trucks to the fifth mountain ridge before waving goodbye to Suldak.

Suldak returned to Wall Village from Hailansa City, and brought back a large amount of supplies as usual, but this time the supplies were obviously much more than before. The main supplies were a large amount of whole wheat flour and miscellaneous grains, which the Green Empire did not lack For food, in the past, everyone would go hungry because the people here were too poor.

Raising nearly a thousand kobold slaves, these kobold slaves consume nearly a thousand pounds of miscellaneous grains every day. These miscellaneous grains are only enough for kobold slaves to eat for half a month. How to fill the stomachs of these kobold slaves is Sur Dak needs to consider seriously. If it weren't for the income from the sulfur mine in Pustule Mountain, he really wouldn't be able to support so many kobold slaves.

When he returned to Wall Village, Suldak saw the old village chief standing under the dead tree at the entrance of the village, staring at a row of slave labor sheds that had been rebuilt not far away.

This time, these kobold slave labor sheds are no longer simple sheds simply surrounded by reed mats, but limestone blocks are used to build row houses like city walls. The entrance to the south of the village is completely blocked, and a female wall is built on the roof of the row houses. Even the river in Wall Village has a long door-like waterway built at the entrance of the village, with fence-like sluices on both sides. .

Since the last time the rebel knights attacked Wall Village, Suldak planned to build a row house similar to a city wall at the entrance of Wall Village, and usually let those kobold slaves live in it. When the rebel knights attacked, this was the first line of defense in Wall Village, at least it could stop those cavalry from driving straight in and rushing directly into the village.

The old village chief has been complaining to Surdak recently that these row houses only need to be strong, and don't need to be built too beautifully...

People in the village haven't lived in this kind of house yet, but these kobold slaves are cheap.