King-Chapter 1073 - 154, Duke of Snow Moon

After a series of haggling, the Middle East Front plan was finally approved. Unsurprisingly, Hudson’s territory became the core of the defense line.

Geographic location was secondary, the key was that with Hudson’s fame, the Orc Army wouldn’t dare penetrate deeply without removing this "nail."

The battle of the Expedition Army Corps deep into the Orc Prairie had fundamentally changed the pattern of warfare, making everyone realize: war can be fought like this!

Even without any logistical support, the Expedition Army Corps had achieved significant military exploits; if there were a bridgehead like the Near East to rely on, the force would only be greater.

In this context, it’s very clear what the kingdom began construction on first—a port!

You must get involved if the conditions exist, and even if they don’t, you must create the conditions and get involved. The greatest characteristic of the Extraordinary World is that human effort can transform nature.

Theoretically speaking, deserts can become oases, wildernesses can become fertile land, and mountain ranges can be flattened; it’s only a matter of how much effort is invested.

Without a doubt, that’s just theoretically. Reversing nature’s laws is far from as simple as it appears on the surface.

A desert becoming an oasis requires a complete change in the local climate, or it will revert to a desert before long.

Turning wilderness into fertile land, not only must the climate follow suit, but knowledge of land cultivation is also necessary, or the soil’s fertility will be depleted, and it will become barren once more.

Relatively speaking, the construction of artificial ports has the smallest backlash. As long as no major disasters occur, there will be no significant problems for a hundred and eighty years.

However, the construction of the port still has to wait until after an on-the-ground survey to determine the specific location.

Everything is difficult at the start, but once the first port is completed, subsequent work can rely on the port for gradual expansion. novelbuddy-cσ๓

The plan is perfect, but its execution is extremely tricky. The biggest issue is still people.

The Near East defensive plan has indeed settled many nobles’ minds but that doesn’t mean everyone is willing to go and clear the land.

Construction of the defensive line takes time, what ensures the safety of everyone’s territories before it’s completed?

The kingdom’s so-called safety only means that in the short term, the Orcs won’t invade in large numbers.

The occasional mistake by a squad of Orc Cavalry is still inevitable. The enemy won’t just watch idly as the Alpha Kingdom takes root in the Near East region.

Of course, with nothing currently in the Near East, it’s certainly safe; if the Orcs were to come looting, it would be an issue for next year, after autumn.

If the kingdom’s development is slow, the looting might even be pushed back two or three years, or even three to five years.

With the combined efforts of all the big shots, the newly emerged nobility clearly cannot compete. They were soon dazed by the various favorable conditions promised by the kingdom and accepted their enfeoffment in a daze.

Seeing this, Hudson realized how ruthless these nobles were, scamming people without even sparing their own kin.

The concern isn’t the scarcity, but the uneven distribution; not poverty, but unrest.

First, Marshal Hudson accepted the fief in the Near East, followed by a host of noble children, and the smaller and mid-tier nobility, due to information asymmetry, naturally went with the flow.

One by one, they were enraptured by the preferential policies promised by the kingdom, taking this enfeoffment as an opportunity and fantasizing that they were the new Chosen Ones set to soar in the Near East.

A few clear-headed nobles perceived the risks, but unfortunately, an arm can’t twist a thigh, and refusing noble rewards would be tantamount to giving up their lands.

People are always hopeful; despite high risks, success is still a possibility, with so many nobles going together, they surely can’t all perish.

If one got lucky and survived, the rewards would be substantial. After all, the kingdom was truly generous this time, the size of the territories granted was exceptionally large.

Knight’s territories were awarded lands equivalent to those of a Baron’s Territory, Baron’s Territories as Viscount’s Territories, and Viscount’s Territories as that of a Count’s Territory.

Moving higher up, we have the newly minted Duke of Snow Moon—Marshal Hudson, whose land size was unrivaled in the country, becoming second only to The Royal Family in terms of land ownership.

The absence of an actual Earl’s enfeoffment was mainly because several powerfully established Intermediate Aristocracy had already moved to the Northern Border years ago.

The remaining Intermediate Aristocracy, limited by their own strength, lacked the credentials to engage in the grand game even if they wished to gamble.

Unlike the central inland areas, the Major Nobles of the border regions carry heavier obligations than the benefits they accrue.

Talking about tax revenue is nonsense; according to the conditions promised by the kingdom, the Near East region will be tax-exempt for thirty years.

Everyone needs to fight side by side on the battlefield, don’t expect to squeeze profit from your juniors; otherwise, one might get shot with a cold arrow.

Apart from having a higher political voice, the economic benefits are almost nil. However, the obligations undertaken do not diminish at all.

If the Orcs come attacking, the Governor has to lead his followers into the battlefield, to fight the enemy with real swords and spears.

The bare minimum requirement is to hold until the kingdom’s reinforcements arrive; otherwise, it’s about remaining loyal to the country!

Without sufficient power at hand, one couldn’t even command the nobility within the province, let alone fulfill obligations.

Major Noble Children indeed have the credentials to compete for the position of Governor, but unfortunately, their backing Clans don’t support them!

It’s not that they don’t want to support it; it’s just that after Hudson took away a large portion, when the remaining areas are divided into provinces, each province contains the children of more than one Major Noble.

Positioning through influence is an option, but it requires a significant investment; one cannot expect to muddle through without potentially harming others and oneself.

At the royal meeting, it was clearly established the minimum to serve as a Governor of a province in the Near East region: retain a Standing Army of eight thousand men and have two Eighth-order Strongmen and eight Seventh-order Strongmen at one’s disposal.

This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶