"My lord, what you said … seems to make some sense …"
Steward Eamon chose his words carefully.
However, the hesitation in his eyes made Colin understand that it was unrealistic for these people who didn't understand the basic principles of genetics to understand the complicated relationships among the descendants of the Auldmann Family.
"Eamon, if you have the time, you can plant some peas and see if two short-stemmed peas can produce taller ones. Then, you'll understand why I'm so sure that Valla isn't Count Auldmann's illegitimate child."
"Yes, my lord." Eamon respectfully noted this down. He was truly prepared to study it in the future.
"As for the things I just said, whether you believe it or not, bury them in your hearts for now and don't spread it out. The development of the Northern Frontier should prove my conjecture. "
"Yes."
Colin raised his cup again and drank with his three retainers before saying, "Alright, now you can tell me about the fief's situation."
"Yes, my lord." Eamon cleared his throat and then began to report to Colin about the development of the Viscounts' fief.
In the four months since Colin left, the fief's finances had recovered slightly from the disaster caused by the trolls' invasion. However, due to the recent food crisis, the situation was still not optimistic.
Fortunately, Colin had brought back a large amount of food from Silverymoon City this time, so the situation would probably change soon.
Icestone City's "lowering taxes to attract trade" was very successful. More and more merchants were now using Icestone City as a transit point for border trade.
With Colin's current influence in Silverymoon City, there would be even more half-elf merchants coming to Icestone City in the future. Therefore, the "number one trading city on the border" that Quincy spoke of seemed to be taking shape.
Of course, this kind of distant water couldn't put out a nearby fire. Currently, the Angele family's finances could only be supported by the loans from the Tulip Merchant Guild.
However, after taking control of the rich half-elf kingdom, as long as Colin didn't immediately start a war of aggression, then Queen Aisha would be able to support him.
This was the benefit of keeping a rich woman!
That's right, Colin felt that he was the one supporting Queen Aisha, not the other way around.
After all, Queen Aisha's throne was won by Colin, so there was nothing wrong with it.
After talking about the economy, it was time to talk about the military.
The 3000 infantrymen trained by Baron Raymond are already capable of fighting, but the 1000 cavalrymen trained by Knight Charles are still lacking.
Of course, it wouldn't be a problem for them to deal with the slave rebellion, but if they had to go to the battlefield to deal with the regular army, it would be difficult.
However, the 6,000 Black Cavalry that Colin brought back this time could completely change the military strength of the Angele family.
In addition to the half-elven Silvermoon Guard that could be deployed at any time, Colin had now become a military force that could not be ignored in the north of the empire.
Especially in the current chaotic situation, Colin's weight was even more important.
"Eamon, send someone to Winter City and help me ask the Duke Of St. Hilde to marry Miss Vera."
"Master, it would be more appropriate for you to personally go to Winter City for this kind of thing." Eamon hesitated for a moment before persuading him.
"But I can't leave. Now that the Northern Frontier is full of rebellions, it is more appropriate for me to stay in Icestone City. Besides, I have already personally asked the Duke once at Lion's Roar Castle, but the Duke didn't agree. Now that I am bringing up the old matter again, even if I am not present, it is not too rude. "
Eamon thought for a moment and felt that what Colin said was reasonable, so he didn't insist. "Alright, Master, I will arrange it."
Colin nodded in satisfaction.
He wouldn't go to Winter City personally at this time. Other than having to stay in Icestone City, he was also worried that he would be schemed against by the scheming Duke.
In the current situation at the Northern Frontier, as long as Colin sat on the fishing platform, both the House of Saint Hilde and the St. Theon Family would have to rope him in.
Therefore, Colin felt that if the Duke Of St. Hilde was smart, he would definitely not reject his marriage proposal.
"Also, send someone to pay attention to the movements of Marquis Dawson and Earl Oman and report to me at any time." Colin felt that the most important cards in the St. Theon Family's hands were probably these two.
He just didn't know if other families would join in.
"Yes, Master." Eamon nodded and then reminded, "Master, I am afraid that we will have to pay attention to the Trolls' movements."
"Trolls?" Colin finally realized that he had almost overlooked the Northern Frontier's mortal enemy.
Although the Trolls' main army had just been wiped out by the Black Cavalry, with the Empire's foundation, it wasn't impossible for them to put together another army of a hundred thousand in the near future.
With this kind of strength, in the Northern Frontier where civil strife was about to erupt, they would have a lot of weight.
Moreover, Colin had already realized that the relationship between the St. Theon Family and the Trolls was not simple.
During the first Northern Frontier rebellion, the Trolls had been the St. Theon Family's greatest support.
This time, Colin remembered that the St. Theon Family's most important chess piece in Silverymoon City was Sith Savoy, who had been introduced to him by Prince Okamoto.
Thinking of this, the situation that the Duke Of St. Hilde was about to face was much more severe than Colin had imagined.
"Mm, send someone to keep an eye on the Trolls. Inform me if there is any news."
"Yes, Master."
"Charles, help me train another three thousand cavalrymen. If the instructor doesn't have enough men, you can find Knight Roger."
"Yes, Lord Viscounts."
"When the Knight of Rego returns to Icestone City, have him recruit another five thousand infantrymen and train them."
Colin now felt a sense of urgency. If he wanted to protect himself in the upcoming Northern Frontier rebellion, or even take advantage of the situation, he had to quickly expand his army.
Steward Eamon frowned and advised, "Master, if you do this, the financial pressure on our family will be too great."
"You don't have to worry about this!" Colin waved his hand and said heroically, "I have already reached an agreement with Queen Aisha. The half-elven kingdom will support the construction of our army, and in return, I will help the half-elves defend against foreign enemies."
"That's great!"
Eamon and the other two obviously didn't understand the relationship between Colin and Queen Aisha. Now that they heard that this agreement was so beneficial to the Angele family, they were instantly filled with disbelief and joy.
This agreement was basically saying that the half-elven kingdom would pay to support the Angele family's army!
Colin smiled reservedly and then changed the topic, "Regarding the rebellion in Icestone City this time, do you think that someone is behind it?"
Eamon immediately said, "Master, I suspect that the Tulip Merchant Guild is behind it. Although there is no direct evidence, they were the first to start hoarding food, causing the price of food to skyrocket and thus causing the famine. "
"Then immediately arrest the person in charge of their merchant guild in the city!"
"Master, if we do this, won't it agitate Count Auldmann? After all, the chairman of the Tulip Merchant Guild is his lover, Penny. "
"You don't have to use the reason of inciting a rebellion to arrest people," Colin suddenly thought of the method the old king of Silverymoon City used to deal with the Hyacinth Chamber of Commerce.
"Then what reason should we use?"
"Just say that we suspect that they are evading taxes."
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