A Shift in Standing
Jeron and his party traveled south for four days before finally arriving at the outskirts of Hanes County.
The weather had been brutally hot throughout the journey, reaching a sweltering peak just yesterday.
Even with the carriage doors wide open, sweat poured down their faces, and some of their dried rations had already begun to mold in the heat.
It was enough to make Jeron think that the Farrow Territory, despite its harsh winters, was actually a decent place to live during the height of summer.
However, as they drew closer to Hanes County, the air began to shift.
The temperature dropped by a subtle but noticeable margin, likely due to the territory's proximity to the river.
Though the humidity rose, the cool breeze blowing in the mornings and evenings made the air feel livable again.
Jeron's party took a brief rest on a hill overlooking Hanes County.
"A truly magnificent sight," Jeron murmured.
"Indeed it is, my Lord. Even though my trade brings me here quite often, I find myself marveling at it every single time," Birken replied.
A wide, clean river stretched out in a cross shape.
At the port of Hanes, ships constantly docked to unload their cargo before loading up and setting sail once more.
This was the true heart of the kingdom's northern region.
Because the river flowed not only from east to west but also branched from north to south, goods and people gathered here constantly, ensuring there was never a quiet day.
"Sir Birken, do you see the flow of money?"
"I do, my Lord."
"In this era, the movement of wealth begins with transportation. Well-developed transport routes draw in goods, and where goods gather, money flows. My task is to create that very flow."
"...!"
Birken and Celia, who had been quietly listening to Jeron, looked at him in surprise.
Jeron's insight, born of a modern perspective, far exceeded anything they could have imagined.
"M-my Lord, is that why you are building roads in our territory right now?"
"It is the foundational work to create that flow. Once that is done, we must subjugate the monsters and bandits around the territory to establish safe trade routes. Can you guess what the final stage of our territory's evolution will be?"
"I cannot even begin to guess, my Lord."
"Digging a canal."
"A... a canal, you say?"
"I heard the Empire, which rules the center of the continent, dug canals."
"That is a monumental undertaking that requires immense wealth and power."
"Fortunately, we have Lake Baitan in our territory. A waterway runs from there toward the Rebion Viscounty before cutting off. If we connect just a few sections, we will gain a transport route that cuts straight to the heart of the kingdom."
"That is a truly staggering concept, my Lord."
"Our territory holds a great deal of potential. It was simply too poor for anyone to even dream of unlocking it until now."
Jeron was certain of it.
The Farrow family possessed a territory larger than most viscounties, and countless resources lay just beyond the Great Wall.
Furthermore, if they succeeded in developing Lake Baitan and digging a portion of the canal, immense wealth would flow into their hands.
It might sound like an impossible dream right now, but as the territory continued to grow, the day would come when they could finally lay hands on the canal.
"My Lord!"
As Jeron and Birken stood looking down at Hanes County, sketching out blueprints for the future, Sir Leila galloped up to report.
"What is it?" Jeron asked.
"While scouting the perimeter, I spotted a scout. He appeared to be a highly trained, elite ranger. I regret to report that I lost his trail."
"Well, it is likely Viscount Rebion's man."
"Pardon? Is that not a serious matter, then?"
Sir Leila's brow furrowed.
A spy from Viscount Rebion.
She had known from their very first meeting that the man was incredibly greedy.
"What does it matter if he spies a little? Viscount Rebion is merely testing the waters right now. He wants to see how I act, the state of my territory, and the training of my troops. He is waiting so he can invade the moment he secures a proper justification."
"That miserable wretch..."
Sir Leila fumed, but Jeron held up a hand to calm her.
There was no need to waste energy on anger.
"Let it be. Are we not spying on him as well?"
"Well... that is true, but what if he is plotting some scheme?"
"Scheme or not, a territorial war is bound to happen eventually. Keep your mind at ease."
Jeron brushed it off as nothing major.
The nobles of this era placed immense importance on justification.
They rarely started a war without a proper pretext.
If a noble acted rashly, marching their troops across borders or assassinating a neighboring lord while they were away, they would be branded a public enemy by the entire kingdom, and their house would be utterly destroyed.
In a world where everything moved so slowly, a territorial war was hardly going to be resolved overnight.
To wage a territorial war, one had to obtain permission from the royal court, which was a process that took weeks, if not months.
"If everyone is rested, let us move out."
"Yes, my Lord! I shall maintain the strictest guard!"
Sir Leila was fussing more than usual, but Jeron did not stop her.
This display of vigilance was simply her way of showing loyalty.
The main castle of Hanes County soon came into view.
From this point on, the soldiers marched in perfect step. The knights sat tall in their saddles, projecting as much of an imposing presence as possible.
Thud, thud, thud!
They were still about a kilometer away from the castle when a troop of riders kicked up a cloud of dust as they galloped toward them from the distance.
They bore the crest of the House of Hanes.
An entire knight order was riding out to greet them. Frankly, even Jeron had not expected such a grand welcome.
The soldiers and knights of Farrow were equally stunned.
Sir Erok, the commander of the First Knight Order of Hanes, dismounted and offered a formal military salute.
"I greet Baron Farrow."
"Sir Erok, what brings you all the way out here?"
"We received word from the Count to escort you with the utmost respect, my Lord."
"Is that so? I did send a letter to the Count, but I did not expect such a warm reception."
"Please, do not say that. Are you not the rising star of the kingdom, Baron Farrow?"
"A rising star, you say."
Jeron realized once again how powerful political connections could be.
The moment Duke Langton began acting as Jeron's sponsor, Count Hanes had immediately shifted to show him extreme favor.
What if Jeron did not have Duke Langton backing him?
Naturally, an entire knight order would never have ridden out to greet him. Showing such favor to a mere baron was unthinkable.
This was a feudal society, and nobles never showed kindness without a calculated reason.
"Then let us proceed."
The Hanes knights split into two columns, flanking Jeron's troops to escort them.
While bandits and outlaws would have to be insane to operate right in front of the Count's castle, this gesture was purely ceremonial.
The same treatment awaited them at the city gates.
A crowd of merchants and commoners had gathered to enter, but Sir Erok rode ahead, shouting to clear a path.
"Make way! Clear the path for Baron Farrow!"
Jeron's carriage was modest, but it bore the crest of a landed noble.
Even if the family had been in decline, the weight carried by a landed noble in the kingdom was significant.
Landless nobles were never treated as true nobility.
The commoners knelt to show respect, and the guards at the gate offered military salutes.
"Hail! We greet the Baron!"
Jeron's carriage passed through the gates without stopping.
For the guards to pay this much attention, there must have been a direct order from the Count himself.
By this point, Jeron was starting to feel a bit pressured.
He had a few favors to ask of the Count, but with this level of red-carpet treatment, it might actually make it harder to bring them up.
As they passed the harbor, Jeron turned to Celia and gave an order.
"Go secure a fast ship and load the supplies. I will assign fifty guards to accompany you. Report back once everything is ready."
"Yes, my Lord!"
Celia gave him a subtle wink before slipping away.
Birken scowled as he watched her go.
Jeron looked out the window.
On the bustling streets, crowds of people prostrated themselves.
Even though he was a lord from another territory, this was standard protocol. Showing deference to nobility was a law strictly enforced by the kingdom.
Still, the fact that even the local knights showed genuine respect was somewhat surprising.
When they arrived at the estate, an even more overwhelming sight awaited them. Count Hanes himself was standing outside to greet them.
Is the backing of a Duke really this powerful?
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Jeron quickly stepped down from the carriage and hurried forward.
"I greet Count Hanes."
"Hahaha! You've arrived! You must be exhausted after such a long journey."
"Not at all, my Lord. But for you to come out and greet me personally... I am truly humbled."
"Think nothing of it! I simply wished to grow closer to a young man with such a bright future ahead of him. Do not feel burdened."
"Ah, yes. Thank you, my Lord."
It had been a long time since Jeron last saw Count Hanes in person.
The only other time was when Jeron was a child, having attended a ball hosted by the Count's family.
As the years had passed, the Count's hair had turned a frosty white.
His thin frame and somewhat pale complexion suggested that his health was not in the best state.
Yet, he wore a warm, genial smile, looking for all the world like an old friend reuniting with another. It was a performance so convincing that even Jeron, who had survived all manner of trials, was nearly fooled.
You don't become the ruler of the north by winning a game of dice.
Jeron sharpened his focus.
In this world, everyone wore a pleasant face while keeping a dagger hidden behind their back.
Since the Count was offering a business smile, Jeron returned one of his own.
The overwhelming hospitality continued inside.
It wasn't a bad thing, but Jeron worried that the Count might try to use this lavish hospitality to gloss over the actual business negotiations.
The castle was incomparably larger than the one in the Farrow Territory.
The Count was putting on a masterclass in what it meant to be wealthy in this era.
Massive chandeliers, the ultimate symbol of luxury, hung in the grand hall and stretched all the way down the corridors.
Keeping these intricate clusters of crystal free of dust was a testament in itself to the sheer amount of labor the Count could afford.
The floors were laid with polished marble, accented by touches of gold leaf.
Famous paintings and suits of golden armor lined the walls of the hallways.
Finally, they arrived before a pair of heavy doors.
The scent of cedarwood was thick in the air, suggesting the doors had been recently replaced.
As the doors swung open smoothly, they revealed the Count's study, which was easily the size of a large modern apartment.
From the various ornaments and relics to the thick carpets covering the floor and the rich scent of wood, it was a shameless display of wealth.
Jeron was guided to a comfortable sofa.
On the table, a pot of tea was already waiting, releasing a delicate aroma.
Given the fragrance, it was likely an expensive luxury imported from the Empire.
"Hahaha, I must say, I was quite surprised when I received the letter from the Duke," the Count began.
"Pardon? The Duke sent you a letter?"
"Indeed. He wrote to me personally, telling me to take good care of you. You should have told me sooner that you were under the Duke's patronage."
"I see. So that is what happened."
Jeron finally understood the situation.
At this point, the Duke was practically putting pressure on him.
Sending a letter to the Count was the Duke's way of demanding that Jeron deliver this season's wine as quickly as possible.
For a war hero, Duke Langton could be surprisingly impatient.
I'll have to send a few bottles of wine to the Duke.
He could leave the arrangements to Celia.
For now, the important thing was to make the most of this situation.