Chapter 91: Chapter 82: Daring to Embezzle Lord Henry’s Dinars Is Courting Death

The great army began its return to Westwood Laine, leaving behind the almost completely razed Xi’an Castle. Aside from the broken walls and the main earthen keep, not a single building remained standing on the land.

Bain had fully unleashed the "Bandit potential" of the horsemen and Grassland Warriors, looting and burning everything, committed to not leaving a single needle or thread for Baron Sura.

The captured villagers and serfs pushed wheelbarrows and carts, laden with what was once their own property, their hearts filled with endless desolation.

’I’ve never seen a noble fight a war like this! Why is he making us move? Can’t you just occupy the territory?’

Henry’s army, flush with the prestige of a great victory and laden with bountiful spoils, began its journey home.

Along the way, the minor nobles who had been watching from the sidelines were filled with fear and unease.

As the army marched on, nearby Knights personally led their own retinues, bringing horses and grain in the hope of expressing their respect.

Henry’s army was not only vast but also well-equipped. An army like that was not something Knights who only held two or three villages and four or five manors could ever hope to resist.

’That foolish Baron Sura, he actually tried to drag us to our deaths with him?’

"Respected Baron Henry, your Bravery on the border is legendary. As soon as I heard that His Majesty the great Emperor had promoted you to Baron and enfeoffed you with three new knightly fiefs, I immediately prepared a congratulatory gift for you."

"A gift? Thank you for your kindness. You are also welcome to visit Westwood Laine. We have a Forest Hunting Ground, horse pastures, and my newly built urban district.

Although there are fewer than a hundred households of Free People, the tavern should be lively enough for you."

Henry, mounted on his horse, looked down at the subservient Knights before him and didn’t reprimand them too harshly.

He could understand their previous hostility. As long as they corrected their attitude after he demonstrated his power, then everything was negotiable.

Three Barons from near Odoche were also waiting along the army’s route. They brought gifts and wore humble smiles.

"Powerful, young, and respected Baron Henry, it is a great pleasure to meet you."

Baron Edmund was tall, with black hair and black eyes. He had a neat beard and was always dressed in a thick, green, grassland-style cotton robe embroidered with the image of a bow.

His mother was not a native of the grasslands. Because his father disliked his appearance, he was sent to Luotai at a young age to study etiquette.

He had thought the greatest achievement of his life would be to become an Attendant to some nobleman. But as luck would have it, a distant relative’s entire family line was wiped out, and he came over to pick up a barony.

"Baron Edmund Kenway, I am also very happy to see you. However, during the New Year’s festival, I invited you to Westwood Laine Castle for a banquet and a council of nobles. Why didn’t you come?"

Edmund’s expression stiffened. Henry then turned to another noble—a man as tall and burly as someone from the Northern Lands—and asked, "And what about you, Baron Calvin Ironshield? I’ve heard your name in Autongard."

Baron Calvin’s skin was dark and weathered from long years on the grasslands, exposed to the wind and sun. His hair was short and coarse, and he was always clad in heavy iron armor, his shield engraved with his family’s crest.

Calvin’s castle was built of hard rock, making it one of the strongest fortresses in the grasslands, capable of withstanding most external attacks. This had cultivated Calvin’s fearless personality.

But Henry was different. When he raided, he would empty out your entire fief!

You might be able to defend your castle, but can you defend all your villages and manors?

"Baron Boras Yisuwu, and you?"

Boras Yisuwu had exceptionally unique, long, silver-white hair. His face was gentle, and he wore a sky-blue robe dotted with a pattern of stars.

Boras was a noble shrouded in mystery. He had a deep understanding of astrology and prophecy, and could often foresee and avoid potential dangers.

Henry had met Boras before in Autongard and had wanted to have a discussion with this man who was so clearly different from the other grassland nobles.

Unfortunately, all three had rejected Henry’s enthusiastic invitation to the New Year’s festival celebration, and they hadn’t even sent back a letter of regret.

This had made Henry very unhappy, so much so that on the day of the New Year’s festival, he hadn’t even been in the mood to play house and exchange pleasantries with his Free People.

Regrettably, the performances and banquet ingredients he had prepared for the New Year’s festival went unused, which was a great disappointment to him.

’Since you won’t come to my festival, I’ll just go beat up a Baron to celebrate the New Year instead.’

Boras bowed his head respectfully and explained, "Baron Henry, the snowstorm on the day of the New Year’s festival was too severe. I couldn’t deliver my gift in time. I hope it is not too late now." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

The other two Barons immediately expressed the same sentiment, their words filled with awe for Henry—or rather, for Henry’s army.

They were afraid that if they didn’t show enough respect, their own fiefs would suffer the same fate as Baron Sura’s.

The three Barons also presented horses and grain, hoping to use this opportunity to ease tensions with Henry.

Edmund was known on the grassland frontier for his Wisdom and strategy. He was adept at seeing which way the wind blew; he was generous to his subordinates but ruthless to his enemies.

Calvin was renowned for his ferocity and resilience. He never retreated on the battlefield, always charging at the forefront. His loyalty to his family and domain was second to none, and he was a recognized Warrior of the grasslands.

And as for Boras, with his astrology in one hand and the imperial almanac in the other, he was clearly a man of talent. This was also why Henry had wanted to invite these men to form a council of nobles.

Henry accepted these gifts without any qualms. Their fear and respect were built upon his immense military power.

As long as he maintained this power, he could ensure the future peace and prosperity of Westwood Laine.

"I hope to see you all at the Wolf Hunting Festival when spring arrives."

The three immediately replied that they would be willing to bring their Knights and Attendants to Westwood Laine Castle for the Wolf Hunting Festival.

After seeing the three Barons off, the army continued its march. The villages and towns of other nobles along the route also began to feel the intimidating presence of Henry’s army.

Villagers stood on both sides of the road, watching as the powerful army slowly passed by.

Children curiously sized up the armor-clad soldiers, while the elderly prayed silently in their hearts, hoping the shadow of war would not fall upon their lands.

Within a single day of the army’s return to Westwood Laine Castle, the entire fief knew how many tenant farmers and serfs Lord Henry had brought back, along with countless amounts of grain and livestock.

At the same time, the details of Henry’s retaliatory war against Baron Sura spread far and wide, like dandelion seeds in the spring.

The stories spread to Odoche, Autongard, Akakarat, and other areas in the southeastern grasslands, becoming the talk of the town among the minor and middling nobility, as well as the urban Free People.

In the taverns of Westwood Laine Castle, the Free People and self-employed farmers raised their cups to celebrate the security and glory Henry had brought them.

It was like how a worker from the Royal Capital looks down on a boss from Onira, or how a great merchant from the western coastal cities scorns the minor nobles of the empire’s eastern and northern regions.

The place a person lives also gives them a sense of honor.

Henry stood on the stone walls of the castle, gazing at the boisterous tavern, and felt the satisfying thrill of playing a management simulation game.

"My lord, here is the captive distribution plan I drafted on the road. What are your thoughts?"

Henry took the booklet, glanced through it, and then instructed, "Claude, take this down.

"Westwood Laine only needs to maintain nine manors. Build four subsidiary manors in Hernlei Village, seven in Tixilei Village, and two in Taienlai Village. That should be just enough to distribute the tenant farmers and serfs.

"Don’t concentrate too much agriculture in Westwood Laine; it’s going to be primarily an urban area in the future.

"The rations for the shepherd slaves at the pastures can be increased a bit. If the need arises, we can give them horses and use them as makeshift Light Cavalry."

Claude listened attentively, indicating that he had committed Henry’s instructions to memory.

"Ah, right. When you’re recording the statistics, the carpenters, stonemasons, and plasterers can live in the urban district. Don’t let these skilled people get tied up in the fields."

In the second phase of construction for Westwood Laine Castle, the expansion of the residential district and the castle garrison’s camp were both major projects that would require the help of these skilled individuals.

Claude put away the booklet and reported with a troubled expression, "My lord, there is one more thing."

Henry turned around, looked at Claude’s somewhat contorted face, and said, "Why are you stammering? Spit it out."

"One of the Record Keepers embezzled forty Dinars from the military payroll. The Minister of Internal Affairs discovered it just after we left for the campaign."

After speaking, Claude lowered his head, afraid that Henry would blame him as well, because he and Tommy were the ones who had vetted all the Record Keepers.

Henry was silent for a moment, then asked, "What’s his name?"

The cold voice sent a shiver down Claude’s spine. He answered, "The Record Keeper’s name is Ku Luo."

Henry’s face darkened. Embezzling military funds was an unforgivable crime, especially since his own fief’s laws had made this explicitly clear.

’Taking armor from the Legion is my business. I can ensure that the Legion Commander and the Emperor don’t hold me accountable. But you? Are you even worthy of taking something?’

If he did not punish this act severely, it would seriously undermine the future discipline of his civilian officials and could even lead to more widespread corruption.

"Immediately assemble all the Record Keepers and Free People. I will publicly interrogate this Ku Luo." Henry’s words were indisputable.

The news spread quickly throughout Westwood Laine Castle. People poured out of the taverns and gathered in the square before the castle, waiting for the public trial.

This was going to be a big show, much better than listening to their companions brag in the tavern.

Henry stood on a temporary high platform erected by the soldiers, his cold gaze sweeping over his subjects.

This was not just a trial for Ku Luo, but also a warning to everyone else. ’Before you break the fief’s laws, think about whether you can bear the consequences.’

Ku Luo, who had already been locked in the dungeons for more than ten days, was brought to the square before the castle. His hands were tied behind his back, and his face was filled with terror and despair.

The scene before him told him he was not long for this world. He knew he had broken the laws of the fief. Facing Henry, he felt an unprecedented terror. He didn’t even dare to look at Henry, let alone beg for mercy.