Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 391 The Implementation of Rule over Blue Mirror Territory

While Durmst was fully engaged in constructing the Stromgarde Watch Gate, the war between the Blacksin Territory and the Blue Mirror Territory continued.

Marshal Erstein led more than 2000 provincial legions in an attack on the southern Green Shore Plain. This area is actually quite fertile, a vast plain surrounding Blue Mirror Lake, where three kingdom knight territories and more than twenty villages are located.

This can be considered the fertile heartland and foundation of Blue Mirror Lake's dominance. Its population alone exceeds 4000. Therefore, Black Forest Territory is determined to seize this fertile land and will absolutely not allow Blue Mirror Territory to continue recruiting soldiers in this core territory.

It is worth mentioning that the owners of these three kingdom knightly territories were all among Su Li's captives. They rose from ordinary knights and squires to kingdom knights with their own fiefs thanks to their outstanding military achievements in Baron Grant's early campaigns. They each possessed their own small manor, a small number of armed squires, the right to levy taxes on their subjects, and the obligation to provide military service to their superior lord (Baron Grant) during wartime.

They were the de facto rulers of the region and the backbone of the baron's army.

These three are Sir Edgar Hawke, the Shield; Sir Leonard Bran, the Breaker; and Lady Isabella Wheeler, the Shadow of the Reeds.

[The Unyielding Shield] Ser Edgar Hawke was not of noble birth; he was a tenacious halberdier under Baron Grant. His turning point came during the Battle of Frostfang Mountain, a battle against a massive Beastman attack. When the lines collapsed and the commander fell, Edgar stepped forward, taking up the sword and shield of a fallen knight, shouting the Baron's name, and rallying the remnants to defend an abandoned mill. Utilizing the terrain, they fought a bloody battle for hours, holding off a Beastman horde several times their size, buying crucial time for the main force to regroup. Edgar himself suffered multiple serious wounds, his shield shattered, yet he miraculously survived.

In recognition of his extraordinary courage, leadership, and absolute loyalty to his lord, Baron Grant personally knighted him and granted him a fertile land on the southeast shore of Blue Mirror Lake, rich in high-quality timber (used to make shields), bestowing upon him the title "Strong Shield." Fragments of his shield are hung in the Baron's Hall as a memorial.

After becoming a noble knight of the kingdom, this lord was known for his steadiness, pragmatism, and resilience. He meticulously managed his lands, cultivating wasteland, encouraging agriculture, and fairly resolving disputes among his subjects. His manor, though not lavish, was sturdy and practical. Militarily, he excelled in defensive warfare and positional command; the halberdiers and swordsmen provided by his lands were renowned for their discipline and solid lines. His subjects regarded him as a reliable protector, and his capture plunged the eastern territories into panic.

In the Battle of Stromgarde, he led his troops to defend the city gates to the death. Facing the overwhelming force of the Black Forest Territory, he fought bravely and was eventually captured due to serious injuries.

Because of his high prestige in the territory, Su Li treated him with the courtesy due to a nobleman. Su Li treated everyone equally in this regard; he did not massacre any nobleman within the Blue Mirror Territory. This was because the war between the two sides was conducted honorably, and even the defeated party deserved respect.

However, Sir Edgar is no longer the lord of this territory. He sold it to Su Li and earnestly persuaded the local people to accept the rule of the Hessen Territory. This helped Erstein successfully occupy this borderland and gain the loyalty of more than 400 local people.

Sir Edgar's submissive attitude and willingness to help the Lord of Hessian take over the territory was not due to any disloyalty to Baron Grant, nor was it because Su Li possessed any special charm that made him welcome the king's army with food and drink.

It was entirely because he couldn't afford the ransom of 1500 gold crowns. So he had no choice but to sell his castle, manor, and farmland to Su Li.

This is not a political game; it's a completely fair exchange. From the perspective of this world, it's a perfectly reasonable situation.

Even if Edgar sold the territory to Su Li, it wouldn't stop him from escaping back to Blue Mirror Castle to continue serving Baron Grant.

In fact, after completing the transaction and redeeming himself, the knight did not choose to pledge allegiance to Su Li. Instead, he decisively rode back to Blue Mirror Castle and continued to command the army for Baron Grant, fighting loyally.

Baron Grant, for his part, had little doubt that his actions were in support of the Blacksin Territory and continued to trust him implicitly. It can only be said that political struggles in some parts of this world are indeed different from those on Earth; the civil wars within human empires were far from reaching a life-or-death level.

The second Kingdom Knight, Sir Renard Bran the Breaker, hailed from a declining frontier knightly family. He received rigorous knightly training from a young age, possessing exceptional martial skills and a fiery, impulsive nature, yet harboring a pure chivalrous spirit and a thirst for glory. During Baron Grant's campaign against the greenskin orc tribe entrenched in the "Shaded Forest," Renard served as the vanguard knight. In a crucial skirmish, the Baron's main force was divided and surrounded by the cunning orc warchief "Shattertooth" Groom, facing a dire situation. Witnessing this, without waiting for orders, Renard roared under the Baron's banner and led his mere dozen or so knights and riders in a near-suicidal charge. They pierced through the chaotic greenskin lines like sharp blades, heading straight for Groom. In a breathtaking duel, Renard beheaded Groom, and the greenskin army instantly collapsed.

This valiant (even somewhat reckless) but decisive charge saved the battle and secured a crucial victory for the Baron. Baron Grant, impressed by his unparalleled courage and seizing of the opportunity, knighted him as a knight of the Kingdom and granted him a rich land on the southern shore of Blue Mirror Lake, named after its lush alder forest, "Alder Territory." He was also given the title "The Breaker."

Sir Renard loved fighting, tournaments, and hunting. His manor was more like a military camp, echoing with training and the sound of horses' hooves. He was direct with his subjects, but fair in his rewards and punishments, and placed particular emphasis on military training. His estates were renowned for providing excellent shock cavalry (squires and light cavalry) and strong pikemen. He himself was a spearhead on the battlefield, loyal to the Baron, and eager to prove himself on the battlefield.

During the Battle of the Valley, facing the advance of the Blacksemite forces, he led his cavalry in a fierce counter-charge, attempting to repel or break through the Blacksemite army's lines. However, he was surrounded and attacked by the superior Blacksemite cavalry, his horse was shot down, and he was eventually captured by the dwarves after a fierce close-quarters battle.

He was the most stubborn and steadfast Mannana believer, and absolutely could not accept that his noble territory had fallen into the clutches of infidels. So he not only refused to cooperate, but also clamored to encourage other Mannana believers to fight bravely and never yield.

So after several unsuccessful attempts at communication, Su Li sold him directly to slave traders, then banished him, declaring that he was never to return to the territory around Blue Mirror Lake. His Alder Territory was also stripped by Su Li!

This territory caused an uproar throughout Flashspear City, with many churches eyeing it covetously. After all, Su Li's current strength was undeniable, but he certainly didn't yet possess a noble title. Forcibly stripping an imperial noble of their title and confiscating their territory didn't sound very respectable.

Within the empire, this is undoubtedly an act of moral depravity. It is only because the order in the border princely territories has collapsed and various forms of annexation are rampant that such unbridled behavior is possible.

But if Su Li could donate this territory to the church, turning it into a church district, then things would be different. Donating to the church is an act of virtue. Moreover, he wouldn't be annexing the land; he would only receive praise.

This matter caused a great uproar, even overshadowing the Church of Mor's grand undertaking of building the Watchtower in Stromgarde.

Su Li had considered this for a long time. In fact, Sir Leonard's actions gave him a perfect excuse—a fanatic who openly incited rebellion and opposed a legitimate (at least legitimate under Su Li's fists) ruler was entitled to be stripped of everything. The rules of the border princely territory were never laws written on parchment, but power etched into swords and gold coins.

However, he also knew that directly annexing Alder Territory, while no one would dare to openly question his power, would be a disgrace in name. In the core provinces of the empire, where tradition and law were valued more, such an act would be seen as blatant atrocity, severely damaging his reputation and "virtue." In this chaotic border region, although annexation was rampant, such an ugly act would easily make him a target of public criticism and would also create greater obstacles when conquering other territories in the future.

So while the news was making headlines in Flashspear City, he was seriously considering the matter.

Forcibly seizing noble lands was undoubtedly an act of "tyranny" and "greed" recognized by the empire. But donating such lands "selflessly" to the gods was a symbol of piety, generosity, and dedication to local stability (the church usually provided basic order and relief). This could greatly sway public opinion, especially among non-Mananite communities.

This also allows him to extricate himself from the situation and shift the blame. The Alder Territory is currently a hot potato. Once Su Li donates, he will no longer be the direct owner of the territory. The focus of those who covet it will shift from Su Li himself to the church that obtains the right to donate. Su Li, in turn, will extricate himself from the eye of the storm, becoming a generous donor and a maintainer of order.

Choosing which church to donate land to is choosing a powerful ally. Whether it's the Church of Yurik (military support), the Church of Saliya (popular support), or other influential churches (such as Tar and Mor), they can all provide legitimacy and practical assistance for Su Li's rule in Flashspear City and even Blue Mirror Territory. The power of the churches should not be underestimated.

In the end, Su Li simply stopped making a choice and let each church fight for it themselves.

He summoned representatives of the major churches in Flashspear City and then announced that he, Su Li, as the de facto protector of Blue Mirror Territory, feeling the pain caused to faith and the people by the recent turmoil, decided to donate the entire unclaimed territory of Alder Territory to a god and his church dedicated to peace, order and prosperity, in order to demonstrate his piety, pray for protection, and soothe this war-torn land.

He will then ask representatives from each church to articulate their vision for governing Alder Territory and benefiting all people. He will make the final choice based on your commitments and God's will.

The news spread like wildfire. The city of Flashspear instantly erupted in uproar. The Church of Mannan was devastated, its angry curses and feeble protests drowned out by the clamor of other churches.

The priests of the Church of Yurik were eager to mobilize and arm their followers, preparing to demonstrate their strength and determination to protect during the "vision articulation." Meanwhile, the nuns of the Church of Salya worked through the night to draft plans emphasizing medical care, relief, and community rebuilding.

Other invited churches also quickly sprang into action, considering how to win over this new, powerful figure who now wields considerable military power and has suddenly become "generous and devout."

Every day, the city center of Flashspear City is bustling with the banners of different sects and the gathering of people. The storm sparked by Su Li's stripping of Leonard's territory was quickly and skillfully steered by him into a sacred "charity auction." What he gave up was merely the short-term ownership of a piece of land, but what he gained was the legitimacy he desperately needed to conquer Blue Mirror Territory, and the support of powerful church allies.

Of course, by this point, his previous "evil deeds" had been completely transformed into "noble virtues" that enhanced his personal reputation.

After a fierce competition, the Church of Sharya won this territory. In the square of Flashspear City, Sister Matilda of the Church of the Healing Goddess did not give a grand speech, but instead elaborated on her specific plans for establishing a large sanatorium, a free clinic, an orphanage, and distributing relief food in Alder Territory.

She promised that the church would prioritize hiring local citizens to restore production and utilize the church's medical network to import valuable medicines. During Su Li's iron-fisted conquest of Blue Mirror Territory, the Church of Saliya provided exactly the much-needed "comfort" and "reconstruction," which could quickly quell the public resentment caused by the war and the deprivation of noble lands, and eliminate potential unrest.

Su Li's "virtuous" donation, through Salia's loving hands, was directly transformed into tangible benefits for the people.

Of all the competitors, the Church of Salya was the most neutral and least aggressive. Donating the land to the goddess of mercy and healing was morally sound. Even the most critical imperial jurists or neighboring lords who harbored doubts about Suli would find it difficult to accuse such a donation of self-interest or blasphemy. This greatly solidified Suli's new image as a "reconstructor of order" and "guardian of the people's well-being," completely washing away the negative impact of stripping Leonard of his title.

Even the Church of Mannan could not openly attack Salia, who was known for her compassion. While the Church of Yurik was disappointed, it was also difficult to express strong dissatisfaction with Salia's acquisition of territory—the followers of the God of War could criticize Su Li for being domineering, but they could not criticize Sister Salia and her followers for wrongly treating wounded soldiers and taking in orphans. This effectively divided the potential opposition.

Furthermore, Su Li's army was engaged in continuous combat. The medical capabilities of the Church of Saliya meant that his wounded soldiers could receive treatment far exceeding the standards of ordinary troops, reducing casualties and maintaining morale. These large medical points also served as reliable rear support points for Su Li's army.

When Sister Matilda received the land deed from Su Li, she also subtly implied: "The light of Salya's benevolence will shine equally on all the wounded who need healing, regardless of who they fought for."

This was tantamount to tacitly approving that the Suli army could enjoy the church's medical resources.

While the church helped Su Li consolidate his rule over the Black Forest Territory, the presence of another knight also greatly contributed to the rule of the Black Forest Territory.

This noblewoman is none other than Isabella Wheeler, the last royal knight captured by Su Li.

Isabella was the only daughter of the late Sir Aldric Wheeler, the "Knight of the Grey Willows." Her father died heroically defending the western shore of Blue Mirror Lake against the remnants of the Red Dragon Drake. Isabella learned martial arts from a young age, determined to carry on her father's legacy. When Baron Grant quelled the "Muddy Rebellion" in the west (a rebellion caused by displaced people and traitors exploiting the complex swampy terrain), Isabella volunteered. Leveraging her deep understanding of the waterways and swampy terrain, she led her squads on numerous successful reconnaissance and harassment missions. In a crucial battle, she uncovered the rebel leader's ambush plan at Weeping Creek and risked traversing a poisonous shortcut to warn the Baron's main force. Subsequently, she personally led an elite force, using the cover of night and dense fog, to launch a surprise attack from an unexpected waterway, storming their lair and capturing their leader.

Isabella's wisdom, courage, and unique ability to fight on terrain played a crucial role in suppressing the rebellion. Baron Grant, defying the objections of others (as female knights were rare), allowed her to inherit the title of Kingdom Knight, inheriting her father's title "Grey Willow," and officially granted her a territory (located in the northwest of Blue Mirror Lake, on the edge of a wetland with a dense network of waterways and willow trees), giving her the title "Reed Shadow."

Lady Isabella was calm, resourceful, and a master strategist. Unlike traditional Mannan knights who favored direct assaults, she excelled at utilizing terrain, intelligence, and small-scale maneuver tactics. Her territory was relatively barren but strategically located, guarding the western pass. She fortified her defenses with concealed fortifications utilizing willow groves, streams, and marshes, and assembled a scout and guerrilla infantry unit familiar with the terrain. She showed great care for her people, especially those families who had lost loved ones in border conflicts. Her men admired her wisdom and resilience.

During the Battle of Stromgarde, the woman witnessed the destruction of the Vampire Sea Dragon and her faith collapsed. She ceased to put up fierce resistance and surrendered with her troops.

She didn't even have enough wealth to pay her own ransom; she was a knight of the Queen's Kingdom, and the ransom was much higher, up to 2000 gold crowns.

If she cannot pay a sufficient ransom, there are plenty of men willing to take advantage of this noblewoman and knight.

But at that moment, the knights of the territory, the son of the vice-commander of the Crimson Night Knights, Sir Stern, paid the ransom for Lady Isabella!

Knight Stern is now a champion-level knight. He was one of the first knights to follow Su Li, and back at the entrance to Thorn Valley, he successfully broke through from a regular knight to an elite knight using the effect of the Fire Rabbit. Keep in mind that at that time, Su Li only had five elite knights under his command, and the group hadn't even left the territory of Purplethorn Fortress.

Then Stern Knight followed Su Li in battle, from the initial Battle of Brienne Valley to the fierce battle against the Chosen of Khorne, defending the border outposts against monster sieges, and fighting against the powerful Green Dragon Legion. It can be said that he followed Su Li through thick and thin, creating the territory together.

Then, in the subsequent construction, he was extremely supportive of Su Li's various policies. Whether it was providing financial loans to the territory for development, or purchasing jadeite and light-scaled fish to develop the manor and expand the territory, he firmly stood by Su Li's side and helped the territory develop.

So as early as last year, Su Li repaid him by promoting him to captain of the Black Forest Guard Knights.

Sir Stern was very pleased with this. As a young man, he valued honor more, and the status of the Black Forest Guard Knights was no less than that of the Kingdom Knights, for which he felt very proud.

However, his father, Sir Connor, was extremely dissatisfied, as Connor himself was the vice-commander of a secular knightly order. He had initially sent Stern to accompany Su Li to the border princely territory with the aim of establishing family glory and creating a noble domain belonging to their Gonzalez family. Stern's path had become identical to his father's!
Left with no other choice, Knight Connor participated in the Empire's Holy Expedition, hoping to bring glory to his family and gain prestige for them to become nobles.

In this situation, Sir Stern, assessing the circumstances, decided to arrange a marriage alliance with the Wheeler family. After he redeemed Lady Isabella, the two families quickly announced their union.

Although Sir Stern was not yet a nobleman, no one felt there was a difference in their status. On the contrary, within the Blacksin Territory, most people felt that Lady Isabella was marrying above her station.

Because those selected for the Hessian Guard Knights were all of noble birth, and Stern was among the best. Once the lord decided to grant him land, Stern would immediately become a knight of the kingdom.

However, not all Kingdom Knights are the same. For Kingdom Knights like the Willer family, this is basically their limit. It's difficult for them to achieve much more; controlling a few villages is already their limit.

For the Gonzalez family, the family of Connor and Sir Stern, all of this was their starting point! Their family followed Su Li in his conquests and amassed a great deal of wealth. After acquiring territory, they were able to develop rapidly, perhaps soon building a small town with several attached villages.

More importantly, their kingdom's knightly lordship could grow stronger along with the entire Black Forest territory through military merit! When Su Li was a baron, they could only be kingdom knights.

But when Su Li becomes a count, this kingdom's knightly territory can then aspire to become a baron. And when Su Li becomes a duke, this territory will inevitably be elevated to a baron!
When Su Li becomes the Elector, the future of this territory will be limitless. Baron, Earl, or even Duke are all possibilities! It mainly depends on their family's subsequent political and military performance, and of course, their overall strength. If a family has two Chosen Ones, or multiple Champion Knights, and has consumed a large amount of Blessed Wisteria Tree pods, a Duke's title is entirely within their reach.

It could be said that the Wyler family benefited from the baronial system. Their small kingdom knightly lordship occupied only a tiny corner of the overall territory.

In other words, the Gonzalez family needed a noble political marriage to enhance their position and influence within their territory, which is why the young female knight Isabella got such a great opportunity.

Of course, Isabella's strength and appearance were also advantages. She had already become an elite knight at a young age, and her appearance was quite pretty, which is why she caught the eye of Sir Stern. Choosing to marry her would not only enhance his family's influence but also help the territory consolidate its rule over Blue Mirror Territory.

(End of this chapter)