Chapter 369.
Chapter 369 – Partition
Ever since the news of the Graiman family being restored to power as a peyote noble spread, the calm waters of Alda began to stir underneath, the officials and generals were shrouded in excitement, and in addition to the great desire to jump up the social ladder, it was also accompanied by suspicion, anxiety and even uneasiness of all sorts of negative emotions.
What title will I be awarded? Viscount? Baron? A knighthood would be fine!
What if the Lord doesn’t notice my behavior? There’s no merit in it, but there’s something to be said for it.
Will there be a situation where someone else doesn’t work as hard as I do, but has a better title or territory than me? Should I express my dissatisfaction at that time?
Of course, the question that everyone thought of most coincidentally was:
It’s been so many days, why is there still no movement from Count Greiman?
The result of all these emotions is that gossip is flying all over the place.
Finally, the spring breeze finally blew: Count Gleiman was going to convene the crowd and announce the reward for the meritorious ministers.
Arda was abuzz!
On the day of the reward, the hall of the lord’s palace was full of people, all the high ranking people of the town of Lakeland were present, even the admirals from the port of Flanders, except for Tirpitz, who was still in command of the King’s fleet in the south.
On the army side, Baron Andrew, the commander of the 4th battalion, did not arrive, on the one hand, he led his own army stationed in Emden, on the other hand, he was a bannerman of the Garnard family, already a peyote noble with a territory.
“Gentlemen!”
Paul shouted as he sat in the lord’s seat.
“I’m sure I’ve kept you all waiting for the past few days! Now, at last, you will get what you deserve!”
All replied in unison, “All at the discretion of the Lord Count!”
Everyone was serious, and everyone’s gaze was “clear”.
The real moment of decision had arrived, and the more the time came, the more one had to act as if he had no desires.
Paul ordered a map to be hung up, the same one he had looked at with Bryce that night.
“Bryce Alder!”
The Lord Earl named the first man; he was going to start sealing the awards.
This made some people wonder, the first of the civil officers was Wakely Ford, the first of the military officers was Owen Schroeder, how come the first name to be named was Bryce who only had the position of battalion commander?
But think of Bryce compared to the old Ford’s advantage is the body of war, compared to Schroeder’s advantage is to serve the Greiman family seniority, the two advantages together, was the first to be rewarded is not too much.
Bryce held his head high, striding to the bottom of the steps of the lord’s seat, kneeling down on one knee with a solemn expression.
Paul said loudly, “I crown you Baron of Byram Castle!”
“Wow!”
The hall was abuzz, Byram Castle used to be the residence of a count, the land was fertile, this was too rich.
Bryce looked up at the lord and said, “Thank you, Lord Earl! The Alder family will always finally you and your rightful heir.”
“Hmm!” Paul nodded majestically.
Just when the crowd thought Bryce was about to retire, they realized he was on his knees and hesitant to get up.
Some people became indignant in their hearts, isn’t this guy satisfied yet? Really, don’t get in the way of Lord Earl’s reward for us.
Paul asked with a puzzled look on his face, “Bryce, is there anything else you want to do?”
He heard Bryce reply loudly, “Lord Greymane! I have a favor to ask, and I ask you to grant it.”
Shit! I knew this guy wanted to reap more benefits! This was what many people thought in their hearts.
Already a Baron of Byram Castle and still not satisfied? It’s true that you can’t judge a person by his appearance, the guy who usually looks thick-browed, simple and honest …… “Lord Earl, I am willing to accept the name of Baron of Byram Castle with immense honor, but the land of Byram Castle please continue to be placed under the jurisdiction of the Council of State!”
See see see! Knew this guy …… What? Did I hear that right?
The people in the hall froze all of a sudden, staring at Bryce in disbelief.
With the exception of Old Ford and Schroeder, who had more experience in life, while everyone was looking at Bryce in amazement, they caught a hint of an imperceptible smile flickering across the Earl’s Lord’s face.
The Lord was the first to reward Bryce, perhaps there was another reason? The two men looked at each other in unison.
Paul asked in a loud voice, ”Bryce, why? Becoming a party lord is something that many people dream of!”
Bryce stood up and replied with his head held high, “Lord Earl, first of all, it’s my own ability and energy that is limited, Your Excellency your army is a standing army, as a general I naturally have to fulfill my duties in the army often, and I can’t go and govern the territory myself. If I were to leave my responsibilities as a battalion commander and run off to my own territory, wouldn’t that be disloyal to you? And since I have no one reliable to govern on my behalf, why not entrust them with a ready-made team at the Council of State? As in the case of Earl Garnard’s Bairdine, under the administration of the Council of State, Bairdine has flourished for all to see. And then there is ……”
Paul asked, “And then what?”
Bryce’s voice turned a little smaller, “I dare to swear to the Lord of Light that I am absolutely loyal to you, my lord, but …… but …… I don’t dare to guarantee that my descendants are also loyal to your descendants, in case of a bannermen’s rebellion like the one in Baildin Rebellion incident, the reputation of the Alder family would not be ruined, that would be too terrible. Therefore, I solemnly request that you, my lord, grant me only the name of lord!”
Cold sweat broke out on many people’s foreheads as Bryce spoke in a single sentence.
Big brother alas! You’ve spoken to the point of whether or not you’re loyal, but what can we do?
Paul squinted his eyes and stroked the beard and moustache hidden on his chin, seemingly thinking.
After a long time, he slowly said, “Alright, Bryce, I agree to your request!”
What? The Earl agreed? Uh…… well, there’s no reason for the Earl not to agree.
“Alas!” Paul sighed, “Your family has been loyal to the Gleiman family for three generations, even if you don’t accept the administrative power of the land, the economic rights and interests must be accepted. Let’s do it this way, the publicly owned arable land within the region of Byram Castle that was originally vested in the Council of State, all of it will be rewarded to you!”
“This …… Lord Earl ……” Bryce seemed to want to say something else.
Paul frowned, some “angry” said: “What? If you don’t accept it, I’m not happy!”
“Well, thank you for the reward, my lord!”
Bryce once again got down on one knee to thank him, and Paul then smiled happily.
“Wakely Ford!”
Paul called the name of the Chief Administrator of the Council of State.
Old Ford stepped forward and dropped to one knee, and Paul hastened to ask him to stand.
“Though you have a baronetcy inherited from a relative, you are merely a robe-wearing nobleman, and I have now promoted you to the rank of Viscount.
Although you do not have any war merit, but you are in charge of the Council of State, and you are busy with all the affairs, and you have a lot of merits, so I also grant you a fief – Red Rock Town!”
“Thank you, Lord Earl!”
Old Ford thanked him, then raised his head and said, “Only, I also request to keep my fiefdom under the jurisdiction of the Council of State!”
What? There’s another one?
The people in the hall screamed once again in their hearts!
Old Ford then rambled on, but the core meaning was similar to Bryce’s.
The crowd began to grumble… You’re all high and mighty, but where do you think you’re putting us?
This territory is starting to become a hot potato!
Think so basically are the army generals, the government system officials are a calm look at the scene, they began to realize that they can only be mixed with a robe as a nobleman, the old Ford was awarded the fiefdom of the heart of the small hope, but the chief of the Lord’s excuse and put out the flame of this hope.
(End of chapter)