The Lord of the Rings: Lords of Middle-earth.

Chapter 980 Developing Trade Routes (Part Two)
"How's the reorganization of the Knights of Omske going?" Roland asked. Although the troop affiliation on the system hadn't changed, Roland still asked knowingly, since he wasn't in charge of these things and could only pretend not to know.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty, we need time…” Omsk said, glancing at Ravian with a dark expression.

“Yes, Your Majesty…” Ravian replied awkwardly.

"Alright, where are you at? Is there any problem you can't solve?" Roland asked deliberately, his eyes full of amusement. After all, he knew the difficulty involved, especially with Commander Omske's Holy Radiance Knights. Cutting 50 knights out of 150 to merge into other knightly orders was nothing short of a nightmare. The only one that was relatively easy to handle was the Romanian Royal Knights, which was a full-strength order with a minimum of one hundred men! The most hellish of all was the Fourteenth Imperial Knights, a veritable hell within hell! They had all sorts of monsters and demons, even rebels!
"Ahem, it's a difficult decision within that group. After all, it's not a big deal who goes. We've been together for so many years... we have a good understanding of each other in battle!" Omske said with a dark face.

"Simple! Let them draw lots! 15 lots! The squad leader draws! The one who draws the lot can take the squad with them!" Roland suggested.

"Huh?" Omsk was stunned.

"Huh? What?" Roland asked, puzzled.

"Isn't Your Majesty being a bit too hasty?" Omske's jaw nearly dropped to the floor. So casual? Isn't this a bit inappropriate? Couldn't you at least put on a show? This is completely uninspired!
"Is it hasty? Tell them! This is the will of the Dragon God, a sacred ceremony performed under the watchful eye of the Dragon God! If you've been chosen, accept your fate! This is the Dragon God's decision!" Roland spouted nonsense with a straight face.

"Dragon God... does such a ritual really exist?" The honest man, Ravian, looked up in disbelief. Roland's words shattered his worldview. When did the Dragon God's sacred ritual include something like drawing lots?

"Are you stupid too? How's your Bauhinia Knights doing?" Roland asked back, his lips twitching.

“Uh… it’s still in the planning stages. What I mean is, I’m going to merge some people from the Holy Knights and then…” Ravian said, embarrassed.

"You want to take some people from the Holy Light Knights? Are you crazy? Am I crazy? Don't even think about it!" Roland said, his teeth aching. How could he let you rob him of his good job of mixing people in? The Holy Light Knights were meant to be mixed in!
"Huh? Why?" Lavian asked, puzzled. The Holy Light Knights had such good manpower! They could be easily organized into an army! Adding the original members of the Cross Bauhinia Knights, they instantly had 70 combat-ready soldiers!
"What kind of fighting power does that remnant knightly order of the Empire have? When they're together, they're a pile of dung; when they're scattered, they're like stars scattered across the sky! I want to gather the most disorganized bunch and have the Holy Light Knights lead them! Otherwise, you pick all the good ones and leave me with a bunch of mediocre ones? That kind of knightly order might as well be disbanded!" Roland said speechlessly. The fourteen knightly orders of the Empire could only be broken up. The knights originally belonging to the Empire were given to the Cross Bauhinia Knights of Lavian, and the other scattered knights were directly merged with the branch of the Holy Light Knights! The goal was to get both knightly orders into service as soon as possible; otherwise, although Roland nominally had four knightly orders, it was practically the same as having three! After all, what do you expect a group of knights who can't even muster a proper honor to do? Armed parades on the battlefield? Planning to make a mistake and laugh at the enemy?
"You are right, Your Majesty!" Omske quickly stepped forward to take sides. After all, Omske also hoped that the Knights would be formed as soon as possible. His ambition was not to command a lowly hundred-man standard knight order, but also to command a thousand-man war standard knight order! You must know that the snowballing power of a knight order is terrifying!

"As you wish, Your Majesty!" Ravian readily bowed his head. He was the master, so whatever Roland said was law. After all, this knightly order was a gift from Lord Roland, and it would be ungrateful of Ravian to be picky. For him, reviving the Bauhinia Knights was his dream, followed by restoring his kingdom… However, Queen Nyx had privately warned him never to mention restoring his kingdom again. She was now the Queen of the kingdom, the future Empress and Queen Consort! Her second son would eventually be enfeoffed elsewhere! Excessive pursuit would only backfire and annoy Roland!
What Nyx didn't say was that even if Roland disliked Lavian, it was only Lavian, and he wouldn't have any issues with Nyx or his own child. In order not to affect Lavian's future career in the kingdom, and because Nyx knew that this blockhead was honest enough, he had no choice but to personally guide him. However, Lavian was also a worry-free person, and he would just nod and say "yes, yes, yes" to Nyx's every word!
"Get the army moving! I don't want to end up having to ask Grand Duke Oakrian Yaso's retainers for troops! I'm the king! I have my pride! Understand?" Roland said with a dark face. If he ended up having to beg a family's private army for help because the Knights were scattered and he had no fighting strength, he would lose face in the annals of Lagrange!
“Understood! My esteemed Your Majesty!” Omske and Lavian immediately stood at attention, their eyes sharpening. “Go! My dear Marquis Franz!” Roland dismissed the two and then beckoned to Marquis Al-Tegran Franz, who was rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

“Oh! My esteemed Your Majesty! Your wisdom and might are awe-inspiring, and your intelligence makes your enemies submit! Your loyal servant, Al-Tegran Franz, is at your service!” Marquis Al-Tegran Franz said with an elegant bow.

"...Aba aba!" Duke Joelster was shocked by this fawning attitude. It just goes to show how inexperienced the Swift Hand family is. Do they know how long the royal family has faced this kind of situation? Over a thousand years! Over a thousand years, the royal family has been fawned over like this!
"How are the caravan preparations going? How's your connection plan coming along?" Roland had no time for his flattery, although he didn't dislike the atmosphere; after all, who doesn't like to hear a few nice words?
"Of course! My esteemed Your Majesty! Under your mighty name, all other kingdoms submit!" From the words of Marquis Al-Tegran Franz, Roland's wise and mighty image leaps off the page.

"..." Roland.

"..." Duke Joelsteria.

“…” Yun Feng, who had just walked in.

“Speak like a human being…” Roland said painfully, covering his face. Although Marquis Al-Tegran Franz’s words were somewhat exaggerated, Yun Feng’s expression of “Are you sure you really dare to admit it?” was the most hurtful! Although he was speechless, it was enough to break Roland’s heart.

“The Lonely Mountain, the River Valley, and the Kingdom of Akvia have all agreed to our idea!” Marquis Al-Tegran Franz nodded hurriedly.

"They're not stupid enough to agree! This won't do them any harm! Opening up trade routes benefits everyone! If we take the lead and put in the effort, they'll just laugh and follow along, going all in! If we win, we'll make a killing; if we lose, we won't lose much! Wouldn't a fool do this deal?" Duke Joelsteria pursed his lips. The Kingdom of Lagrang was sacrificing its own happiness for the happiness of countless families—that's right!

"That's true, but if they can share the burden, it will definitely make things easier for us. The cake has to be big! Everyone has to be able to sit up and cut a piece!" Roland waved his hand dismissively.

Happy Children's Day! And a belated Dragon Boat Festival! I'm begging for some virtual gifts and tips; I had a high fever yesterday... *sobs*