Warhammer Divine Throne-Chapter 677 - 300: Northern Turmoil (2nd Update!)

PS: Here's the second update for today! Seeking your votes!

"Recently, there has been some unrest in the North, a famine has swept many Duchies." Merchant Yak from Connet said: "Therefore, some roads are not as safe as they used to be."

Surya nodded, her cherry lips softly parted: "I am aware of this matter."

For such a long time, with waves of rebellions and escaped serfs, the nobility could not be uninformed. In fact, many nobles in the Kingdom have already received this intelligence.

Because of this, after Bohemond, Laine, and Mogiana discussed it, he immediately made an arbitration: The royal family will provide ten thousand Gold Crowns, and the rest will be raised by Casvan's wife. The price for all captured knights will be negotiated by an envoy sent by the King of Brittania and the Empire.

Faced with this outcome, although everyone still had some opinions, this was first an opinion of compromise, and everyone could reluctantly accept it. Secondly, prolonged negotiations were beneficial to no one if they continued like this.

Many noble's territories were experiencing instability and revolts. This year's poor harvest affected everyone greatly, and the nobility knew they could not let things continue to worsen.

This major political tide finally came to an end, Richard preserved his throne amid the chaos, yet the further diminishing influence over the Kingdom was an indisputable fact.

"So, Mr. Yak, you mean the northern trade routes are blocked due to the unrest?" Surya asked.

"No, the situation is quite strange, some merchant ships can pass through, while others cannot arrive. According to the merchants who succeeded in passing, a hurricane has arisen on the sea, and many merchant ships have been destroyed by it." Yak took over the conversation.

"The problem now is this, madam," Hadrian also said: "Frequent unrest in the North, even if it's coincidence, temporarily makes the northern security worse rather than better. Lady Surya, we need to establish new trade routes."

The few merchants hinted slightly, and the future Countess immediately understood.

With the increasing risks of the northern sea routes, both merchants and nobles have their profits affected, and they urgently need to open new trade routes, of which the largest is with the Empire.

Therefore, the merchants came seeking Laine, planning to request Laine to find a way to establish a new reliable trade route, as Laine is the biggest beneficiary of this golden trade route.

Additionally, the second biggest beneficiary of this trade route is Surya's father, Francois. The female knight, considering her own family's interests, would also find ways to help these merchants.

Laine's reputation in Brittania is naturally very high. His relationship with the Empire is also quite secure, and Emperor Karl Franz has met with Laine several times. Both sides need each other for trade.

After running everything through her mind, Surya's thoughts became clearer. The female knight gracefully said: "If the northern trade routes are impassable, the currently reliable ones are only through Axe Bite Pass and the Path of the Grey Lady, correct?"

"Precisely." Oliver replied immediately: "The problem lies here, the Path of the Grey Lady is not safe, and Axe Bite Pass… the taxes are too high, often two to three out of every ten are taken, we can hardly bear such high taxes."

Surya nodded, the Count's fiancée continued her contemplation, the majority of Monfort Duchy's income relied on the tariffs from Axe Bite Pass. Even if Duke Fulcard is held with a sword to his throat, he would not agree to reduce taxes. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"The Path of the Grey Lady is also difficult, compared to Axe Bite Pass, it's the road that remains difficult, the issue is it's unsafe." Boldro's grand merchant Ismail said: "The Path of the Grey Lady is also heavily taxed by Duke of Paragon, although less than Axe Bite Pass, this route is too dangerous, many Green Skin Tribes and Dark Creatures on the mountain path… merchants find it very hard to pass through alive."

"I know about this, deep within the Path of the Grey Lady, there's a Vampire Castle called Eternal Dragon Rock, which harbors a large number of Dark Creatures." Surya mused.

The female knight inwardly admired her fiancé's foresight, smiling she said: "Actually, Laine has already negotiated with Mr. Casvan in the Imperial Army Camp regarding the tax issue, Mr. Casvan agreed, if holding Laine's trade charter, caravans can enjoy a substantial tax reduction."

"Oh! That's wonderful!" Several merchants seated at the end of the conference room couldn't help but cheer.

This event transpired when Laine met the captured Casvan at the Imperial Army camp. Laine seized the moment as Casvan's military spirit was dampened after his defeat, suggesting his proposal.

Laine required merchant caravans from his domain to enjoy tax reductions when traversing the Path of the Grey Lady.

Casvan, too, began to contemplate Laine's suggestion quietly.

This tax reduction condition was not unacceptable to Casvan. Duke of Paragon had long coveted Laine's ability to trade with the Wood Elves.

If he didn't comply with Laine's request, he wouldn't receive a penny, if he agreed, while the tax reduction was indeed a loss, at the very least, he and his family could gain a share of the profits from this golden trade route.

Casvan knew after being captured, his family would have to pay a staggering ransom. The knight families within his domain too, he needed money, and circumstances were stronger than men. Under Laine's coercion and inducement, Casvan could only use the Ring Seal to stamp on the contract, then swear to the Lake Fairy, the Goddess immediately ratified the contract, granting Casvan absolutely no chance to renege.

"Tax relief is a good thing, but we still need to find a way to address the security issues of the Path of the Grey Lady." Surya did not show much excitement, the female knight calmly said, "This requires military action, gentlemen, we need to launch a campaign to resolve the issue of Eternal Dragon Rock once and for all."

After speaking, a bright light flickered in Surya's sea-blue eyes, and the female knight's tone was calm as she said, "To deploy the army, we have to pass through the Duchy of Paragon, which can only be considered after Casvan has been ransomed. Moreover, opening up this trade route..."

Surya slightly slowed her tone, the female knight sat upright and exuded great authority that came from being the daughter of a great noble.

The authority of the female knight was akin to the tightly stretched silk fabric across her chest, bringing a strong sense of oppression to all the Imperial Merchants present.

"Yes, of course, we will help Lord Laine and his army address the threat of Eternal Dragon Rock. Those who can will contribute money and effort. Lord Laine opening the trade route is something we should repay." Oliver was the first to speak, being the staunchest supporter of Laine among the Imperial Merchants, he stood up first.

Oliver took the lead, and Hadrian responded first, "No problem, it's necessary."

The remaining few merchants saw this and also nodded.

The army and force are held by the nobles, and merchants are not essential to them. If a merchant cannot demonstrate their own value to the nobles, it's only a matter of time before they are replaced or even killed, as there are plenty of merchants to fill their previous positions.

No matter how powerful a merchant is, they cannot compete with the nobles, especially with figures like Laine, a Holy Grail Knight, who only makes merchants want to cooperate with him, while Laine does not need to solicit anyone.

Only in Marinburg do merchants hold some status, but when Griffin Duke Ivan arrives with the Griffin Knights, they still have no choice but to yield.

"Very well." Surya made the merchants lower their heads and concede with every move, ensuring an unfair duel where the female knight emerged victorious.

After the meeting, the female knight stood up and performed a perfect gesture to everyone, to which the merchants responded politely.

"Miss, you're amazing, those merchants are completely subdued by you." Surya's maid Sylvia said excitedly in the corridor, "It's all thanks to your wisdom, Miss."

"Actually, it's not." Surya shook her head, her golden hair swaying, her tall and perfect golden figure gliding through the corridor, "The merchants don't fear me, but fear Laine, as well as my surname."

"Miss..." Sylvia said softly.

"It's okay... Sylvia, do you know why I agreed so readily to get engaged to Laine?" Surya led her maid to a window of the castle.

In the distance, the Oracle Mountain Range and Charon Forest were veiled in cold wind and mist.

"Lord Laine respects you very much, it's not knightly respect for the beauty of women, but... a true respect of equality, within the Kingdom, knightly virtue is to respect women, but in reality, that's mostly a form of etiquette, many knights don't truly respect women, they do so because virtue dictates knightly decorum requires it." Sylvia said quietly, "But Lord Laine is different, he is willing to let you do things freely, support you behind the scenes, in fact, many affairs in the domain are entrusted for you, Miss, to handle."

"Exactly, I like it this way."

The female knight showed a captivating smile, illuminating the entire corridor.

......

Surya happened to use the excuse of helping Laine with internal affairs to stay on Laine's side. Surya held high prestige within Laine's territory, even though they were not yet married, Surya already assumed the role of the mistress, and almost all the subjects, courtiers of Laine, and knights had acknowledged Surya's position as his lady. The female knight earned everyone's respect and admiration through her capability and formidable strength.

A quiet evening, the master bedroom on the third floor of the castle.

Little maid Amelia, Dark Elf Ollica, maid Sylvia, and Marchioness Surya all sat in the master bedroom, Amelia and Ollica wore maid outfits, brewing tea for the Count and his future wife, while Sylvia sat by the fireplace warming herself.

"Is the famine in the north that severe?" On the soft white leather sofa, Laine held a long list, sighing, "In the past few months, we've taken in nearly ten thousand runaway peasants, according to many sources, taking advantage of the knights and nobles being in the capital for meetings, many villages have erupted in riots where peasants kill the village elders and stewards left by the knights, seizing food and money."

"The climate in the northern Kingdom is unfavorable this year, resulting in poor crop yield." Surya lightly shook her head, "Runaway peasants are not surprising, riots... they should soon be suppressed. Laine, what are you concerned about?"

"I'm concerned about..." Laine thought for a while and then shook his head, "Forget it, many things need to really happen before conclusions can be drawn. What's happening in the north is the business of the northern dukes and the King. We have neither the reason nor justification to intervene."

"Hmm."