Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 539 The Empire's Shocking Top-Tier Winning Offers and Fierce Clashes
As Su Li tapped the table noncommittally, Duke Bohemond took a deep breath. He knew he couldn't waste any more time on pretense. He had to reveal his hand and complete the core mission of his trip—to draw a line that the Empire could tolerate regarding this crisis in the North.

He gathered his thoughts, his gaze becoming serious and sharp once more as he looked directly at Su Li, and spoke in a steady voice:

"Count Su Li, the council is not unaware of your feelings. Precisely because of this understanding, and in order to make up for the previous unpleasantness and to commend your achievements in stabilizing the northern border, the council has not only bestowed upon you the honor of a count, but also attached a substantial recognition."

He raised his voice slightly to ensure that all the core members of the Black Forest Territory present could hear him clearly:
"First, the council formally recognizes your legitimate rule over the entire former swamp territory, including the Green Moss Swamp, Blackwater Whirlpool, Dragonbone Shoal, and the Pale Caves on the edge of the Twilight Mountains, as well as all areas you have already effectively controlled. These territories will be formally incorporated into your earldom, and all resources, population, and taxes thereon will be entirely at your disposal."

This was a significant concession, meaning that the Empire legally relinquished any possibility of entanglement with the Hessian Territory in these regions.

"Secondly," Duke Bohemond continued, "regarding the toll checkpoints you have established along the eastern and southern routes of Maleburg... after careful deliberation, the Council has decided to tacitly approve them. Maleburg is a crucial hub for the Empire in its border princely territories, and its prosperity and stability are vital to the Empire's interests. However, the Council also recognizes that maintaining border security and eliminating the remnants of chaos requires enormous expenditures. Therefore, for the next... five years, the Council will not raise formal objections to the transit tariffs you levy, tacitly allowing you to use them to subsidize military expenses and territorial development."

Five years of tacit approval of the right to levy taxes! This is undoubtedly a huge bait, which is equivalent to the empire's tacit recognition of Hessian territory's control over part of Maleburg's economic lifeline, which will bring Hessian territory continuous and enormous wealth.

But this was just the appetizer. Duke Bohemond paused slightly, a perfectly timed hint of regret for past "mistakes" appearing on his face.

"At the same time, after deep reflection, the Council of Electors believes that there was indeed serious negligence and unfairness in the previous assessment of the nobility qualifications of the Hessian Territory, and that it failed to recognize your outstanding contributions to the stability of the North. In order to make up for this mistake and ensure that such an incident does not happen again, the Council has decided to make two key compensations and arrangements."

He raised the first finger, his gaze carrying a frankness that suggested he was introducing "one of their own":

"First, the Parliament cordially invites you, Earl Su Li, to join the Border Prince's Territory Noble Qualification Review Committee as an honorary member with voting rights. This means that in the future, all promotion and assessment documents of new nobles in the Border Prince's Territory will be sent to the Black Forest Territory for your review and approval when they are submitted to the Parliament for final decision."

At this point, he leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and conveyed a tacit understanding:

"Of course, as you know, any system requires... costs to operate. According to the committee's unwritten rules, for every successful promotion, three percent of the 'review fee' will be your compensation for fulfilling your oversight duties."

"Please understand, this is not because the Council is stingy. You should know that even the nine legitimate electoral families usually only have a share of seven to eight percent in similar matters. And members of the electoral college, such as the Church of the Sun and the Church of Yurik, usually have a share of four to five percent. This three percent represents the Council's high recognition of your status and is a manifestation of considering you as a member of the core circle of the Empire."

These words practically laid bare the most sordid bribery rules of the imperial bureaucracy, and reassured Su Li with the air of "you've already joined the top tier of the spoils-sharing circle." Ten thousand gold coins to pass the Kingdom Knight exam, one hundred thousand for a Baron, five hundred thousand for an Earl… This three percent may seem small, but considering the number of "nobles" that might emerge in the future, it would be an extremely stable and considerable long-term income. More importantly, it was a symbol of power.

Then, the Duke of Bohemond raised a second finger, his tone becoming more solemn, even showing a hint of favoritism towards "his own people":

"The second compensation concerns our province of Sorland. As is well known, in the recent Greenskin invasion led by Geba, Sorland was one of the provinces that resisted most fiercely and suffered the most heavy losses, with towns ravaged and people impoverished. Therefore, the Electoral Council has decided to allocate an additional five percent of the annual tax revenue of the city of Maleburg to the province of Sorland as 'special aid' for post-war reconstruction and military maintenance over the next ten years."

He gave Su Li a meaningful look and slowly said:

"Now, it's clear to everyone within the Empire that the Grand Prince's Territory of Sorland and your Hessian Territory are, both strategically and... on a higher level, emotionally connected, an unbreakable alliance, almost one entity. This aid is nominally for Sorland, but in reality, Her Highness Princess Phyllis has clearly stated that a large portion of it will also be used to support the further development of Hessian Territory. This is an extraordinary compensation and gesture of goodwill from the Parliament, or rather, from those truly in power at the heart of the Empire, to you personally."

At this point, Duke Bohemond finally revealed the true reason behind the Empire's politeness, which could even be described as "condescension."

He no longer concealed his identity as a core member of the Suland faction, and his tone carried the confidence and sharpness of a battle-hardened army: "Count Su Li, please understand the Empire's difficulties, or rather, understand the... fears in the hearts of those Electors. They are not merely afraid of the rising military might of your Black Forest Territory; what they do not want to see is a complete breakdown in relations with the entire Suland Province, or even armed conflict!"

His voice carried an undeniable force: "Our Sorland may be economically devastated by years of war, but it is precisely through the crucible of blood and fire that our army has become one of the Empire's sharpest weapons! I just finished commanding the war against the Greenskins, and I was able to lead the Holy Great Expedition to Mount Oka and achieve another great victory! This is proof!"

“The Electors are well aware that if we, the Surland, and your Hessian Territory are pushed to the opposite side, it will no longer be a border skirmish, but a civil war that could tear the empire apart and shake the very foundation of the nation! This is a price that no one, including His Majesty the Emperor, can afford.”

Duke Bohemond concluded, his gaze fixed intently on Su Li:

"Therefore, what the council has proposed this time is not a simple order or constraint, but a plan to bind you and the Hessian Territory more deeply to the imperial war machine. We grant you legal rights, wealth, and power, and share the core interests of the empire, hoping that you can achieve your goals in a more... 'imperial' way, rather than with the force that could trigger widespread turmoil. This is both the empire's bottom line and our... most sincere advice and expectation to you as allies."

At this point, the Empire's entire bargaining chip and bottom line were crystal clear: it would exchange titles, territorial recognition, five years' worth of taxation rights, the right to share spoils through noble review, and the revenue from Maleburg flowing to Sorland (effectively compensation to the Hessian Territory) for Suli's decision to abandon a direct military conquest of Maleburg and bring its power under the Empire's predictable and influenceable control. This was a blatant political transaction, underpinned by the Empire's deep-seated fear of the military power of the Sorland-Hessian alliance.

As the Duke of Bohemond finished speaking, the entire banquet hall of the Bauhinia Palace fell into a deathly silence, as if even the flames burning in the fireplace had frozen.

If the granting of the title of "Earl" was like a stone thrown into a lake, then the picture the Duke is now painting is like an entire gold mine being smashed into the heart of the lake, creating not ripples, but towering waves!

Wealth! Unimaginable wealth!

Every core member of the Hessian Territory was rapidly calculating the implications of "three percent" and "five percent of Maleburg's tax revenue."

The border princely territories have never lacked outlaws, mercenary leaders, and nouveau riche merchants craving titles and land. According to the unspoken rules revealed by the Duke, a knighthood in the kingdom costs ten thousand gold crowns, a baron one hundred thousand, an earl five hundred thousand… Even if only a handful of people successfully “promote” each year, the total amount reviewed and taken by the Hessian territory would be astronomical! This is not just about money; it's about power—the power to decide who becomes a “noble”!

Five percent of Maleburg's tax revenue... that city is the trade heart of the border princely territories, its annual tax revenue so enormous that most provinces envy it. Five percent may not sound like much, but every year, tens of thousands of golden crowns will flow into Sorland (and inevitably benefit Hessian territory)! This is tantamount to the Empire directly grafting a portion of Maleburg's "blood-generating" function onto Hessian territory!
Status! A revolutionary status!

Joining the Noble Assessment Committee as an "honorary member"? This is far more than just a nominal position. It means that the Hessian Territory, a power considered a border upstart just a few years ago, has now stepped into the empire's most central, sordid, and powerful game of spoils distribution. It's now on equal footing with the Electoral Families and the top churches, sharing in the pie that shapes the border power structure!
This was a blatant bribery by the Electoral Council, and an unprecedented endorsement. It meant that the imperial central government had finally acknowledged that maintaining stability in the border princely territories was no longer possible without the Blacksin Territory; it had to be brought into its own system and bound to it by shared interests.

Strategy! A shrewd and profound strategy!
After the initial shock and ecstasy, some of the more thoughtful officials of the Hessian Territory, such as the provincial governor Oliver, Marshal Orstein, and even Hilde, had a flash of understanding and solemnity in their eyes.

What a brilliant move by the Electors' Council!

They no longer attempted to suppress the northern lion with weak administrative orders or distant military threats, but instead chose the most realistic and effective method:
First, there's the issue of entangled interests. By sharing the illicit profits of the empire's core circle with Su Li, he transforms from a "disruptor of order" into a "beneficiary of order." Once he tastes the sweetness of gaining immense wealth and power without shedding blood, the urgency to wage war will naturally decrease.

At the same time, by shifting the blame and sharing responsibility, having Su Li participate in the noble review process effectively transferred some of the responsibility for maintaining border "stability" (or rather, controlling border nobles) to him. If any powerful local forces emerge in the border princely territories in the future, Su Li himself will become part of the imperial review system, possessing the legitimate right and channels to intervene and exert control, eliminating the need for pure military conquest. This also appeases his strongest ally, clearly directing significant benefits towards the Suland Province, compensating Suland for its losses and completely blocking Su Li's biggest escape route from turning against the empire—he would never harm the core interests of his most steadfast ally (and beloved). This move further binds Suland and the Black Forest Territory, cleverly utilizing this relationship to restrain Su Li.

Finally, and most importantly, it was about buying time! All these promises—five years of taxation rights, ten years of tax aid—had a time limit. The Parliament used these ten to five years of enormous benefits to buy the Empire, Maleburg, and the counts of the West with precious breathing room and time to prepare. Their gamble was that during this period, the Hessian Territory would become complacent in digesting its existing gains and easily acquired wealth, and its expansionist ambitions would be gradually eroded.

Or perhaps the empire can find a better way to maintain balance.

This was an open conspiracy. The council recognized that while Blacksene Territory was militarily powerful, its foundation was still weak, and it desperately needed legal recognition, a stable source of revenue, and a ticket to the inner circle of the empire. What they offered was exactly what Su Li needed most at the moment, or rather, what he found hardest to refuse.

A tremendous temptation coexists with a clear red line. Acceptance would grant the Hessian Territory unprecedented development opportunities over the next decade, allowing it to gradually infiltrate every corner of the border princely territories in a relatively "mild" manner. Rejection, on the other hand, would mean immediately turning against the entire imperial system, potentially rendering all previous efforts futile.

All eyes were once again focused on Su Li. He remained silent, the tapping of his fingers exceptionally clear in the quiet hall. But this time, everyone could sense that the tapping was no longer merely a sound of questioning and pressure, but also carried a sense of weighing and calculation.

Before him lay a "shackle" meticulously crafted by the Electors' Council, but this shackle was made of pure gold and inlaid with gems of power and wealth.

Will he wear it?
Su Li slowly raised her head, her gaze sweeping over the faces below filled with anticipation, fervor, and contemplation, finally settling on Duke Bohemond's seemingly calm but actually tense face, and also passing over the deep gazes of Grand Master Adelbert and Dean Hector.

A complex and enigmatic smile slowly curved his lips as he finally spoke, his voice steady: "The council's 'sincerity' is truly... impressive."

After Su Li finished her evaluation, Duke Bohemond's tone suddenly changed, becoming extremely serious, even carrying an undeniable firmness:

"but--"

This turning point made everyone's hearts tighten.

"All rewards and recognition are based on one most important premise, one bottom line that cannot be crossed!" Duke Bohemond's gaze was fixed on Su Li like a hawk's, and he spoke each word clearly, his voice echoing in the silent hall:
"That is—the army of the Black Forest Territory will absolutely not be allowed to approach the walls of Maleburg! Nor will it be allowed to carry out any form of military siege or direct attack on Maleburg!"

He leaned forward slightly, and an invisible pressure spread out:
"Malayburg is not merely the jewel of the border princely territories; it is a symbol of the Empire's authority here, a crucial node connecting the Empire's heartland with the border provinces. Its very existence is a signal of order. The Electors' Council, and even His Majesty the Emperor, will never stand idly by while any force directly threatens or even attempts to seize Malaiburg by force! This is the Empire's bottom line, and there is absolutely no possibility of compromise!"

He glanced around, his gaze sweeping over the generals of the Blacksene territory, including Hilde and Orstein, his tone heavy:

"Once the forces of the Blacksin Territory cross the Cloudcrown Mountains and truly appear outside the walls of Maleburg, what will arrive will no longer be envoys carrying titles and goodwill, but a massive pacification army composed of several provinces of the Empire! Its scale and power will far surpass any enemy you have faced before. It will be a catastrophe that sweeps across the entire border princely territory and may even drag half the Empire into war! It will be a devastating end for the Blacksin Territory, for the Empire, and for the innocent people on this land."

After Duke Bohemond stated his first bottom line, the entire banquet hall fell silent. He could clearly feel the sharp and unfriendly gazes from the civil and military officials of the Black Forest Territory, especially from the Holy Lily Knight, Hilde, whose undisguised sharpness made even this seasoned duke feel a slight sting on his skin.

But he knew that simply saying "not to besiege Maleburg" was not enough. Given the aggressiveness Su Li had shown and the strength of the Hessen army, they could completely bypass Maleburg and continue to conquer other provinces to the west and south. At that time, Maleburg would become an isolated island, and the empire's rule there would be merely nominal.

He took a deep breath, and under immense pressure, spoke again, his voice even more solemn than before, as if each word weighed a ton:

"Furthermore, there is a second point, which is just as important as the first and is beyond question!"

His gaze locked firmly onto Su Li once more, his tone resolute:
"The military advance of the Hessian Territory must cease while it consolidates its existing territory! The Council will not allow you, or your army, to continue your westward offensive into the province of Desolation, or to forcibly annex the territories of any other legitimate earls within the border princely domain!"

He pointed westward, as if his finger could penetrate the walls and point to that vast and chaotic region:

"The Desolate Lands, and the southern borderlands to its south, the Sorrowful Lands of Mount Oka, and even the Roaring Coast—these provinces, though chaotic, still possess legitimate nobles and a ruling order recognized by the Empire. The Electoral Council cannot stand idly by while an excessively powerful force forcibly breaks the centuries-old power structure of the border princely territories through military means, carrying out indiscriminate annexation and conquest! This is a fundamental challenge to the Empire's feudal legal system, and it is absolutely intolerable!"

The Duke of Bohemond's words became extremely harsh:
"This means that your great achievement of unifying the North has been acknowledged, but your expansion ends here! At least for the foreseeable future, it must stop! What the Hessian Territory needs is time, time to settle down, time to prove to the Empire that you are a nobleman who can protect the land and its people and follow order, not a... endless conqueror."

He almost voiced the deepest fears of the empire's high command—they feared that Su Li would become an uncontrollable war machine, ultimately dragging the entire border princely territory and even further regions into war, completely overturning the empire's order in the area.

"These two bottom lines cannot be crossed in the slightest!" Duke Bohemond concluded, his voice resolute and unwavering. "Once these lines are crossed, all previous promises and recognitions will be null and void, and the Blacksin Territory will face the Empire's full-scale hostility and thunderous strikes. That is a situation that no one wants to see."

He stared intently at Su Li, awaiting the young count's response. Offering the count's title and five years' worth of taxation rights was the carrot, while these two inviolable bottom lines were the heavy stick. The Empire was attempting to use this method to rein in this northern lion, limiting its power to acceptable limits.

The pressure was entirely on Su Li's side. If he accepted, it would mean the rapid expansion of the Black Forest Territory would come to an abrupt halt, requiring a long period of internal affairs consolidation, and he would have to watch helplessly as Maleburg and other provinces continued to exist. If he refused... it would be almost tantamount to an immediate confrontation with the Empire.

All eyes were focused on the person in the main seat. Su Li's fingers continued to tap lightly on the armrest, the rhythm seemingly unchanged by the second, more stringent condition. His expression was as deep as a still pool; no one could tell whether a storm was brewing beneath that calm facade, or whether he was calculating gains and losses.

After a long, suffocating silence, Su Li finally slowly raised his head. His gaze first swept over Duke Bohemond, then over Grand Master Adelbert and Dean Hector, and finally, a subtle, enigmatic smile appeared on his lips.

He didn't immediately answer whether he accepted or not, but instead asked in a calm yet sharp tone:

"So, Your Excellency Duke, according to the Council's wishes... should my Hessian Territory now lay down its weapons and let its horses graze freely, and watch helplessly as certain people in Maleburg, and those 'legitimate counts' to the west, continue to stir up trouble on my border, and even... unite to slowly tighten the noose around my neck?"

His question, like a cold dagger, points directly to the cruelest reality beneath this so-called "peace."

If this problem cannot be resolved, then the border princely territory of the north and the border pearl of Maleiburg, which have just achieved peace, will soon be engulfed in war again!

(End of this chapter)