I'm not a lord

Chapter 173 Earl Lynn
Lynn received Caleb in the main hall of the River Marsh Castle.

To be fair, the black marketeer Leon was indeed highly efficient, and his results were very impressive.

He successfully delivered Lynn's letter to the Duke of the Valley, who then sent a messenger with a letter of authorization bearing the seal of the White Eagle.

Inside the castle hall, Caleb publicly displayed the charter, his face solemn, his voice booming:
"By order of the Lord of White Eagle Castle and the Duke of the Valley, today I formally grant all the land, towns, forests, manors, and people of the White River Basin to Earl Lynn of the White River."

The Duke of the Valley was very generous; with a wave of his hand, he bestowed the entire White River region upon Lynn.

Furthermore, Lynn was not required to pay even a single silver coin in land tax, nor was he required to bear military service or pay blood tax.

Since the territories allocated to Lynn all belonged to their arch-rival, the Duke of the Marshland, the Duke of the Valley didn't care at all.

Most importantly, Sanhe City is also located in the Baihe River basin.

The Duke of the Valley wasn't just hinting; he was blatantly telling Lynn: Go and take the Three Rivers City that rightfully belongs to you! He was ruthlessly stabbing the Duke of the Swamp in the ass!

This investiture was essentially a political maneuver, rather than an actual cession of territory.

After reading the charter, Callebo ordered two of his attendants to present Lynn with a silver scepter and a sheathed longsword.

Lynn first picked up the scepter.

This thing isn't long, only about forty centimeters. Overall, it looks like a short stick, but it's quite heavy.

Lynn weighed it in his hand. Based on his years of experience as a bandit, he figured it was probably made of pure silver and wasn't particularly valuable. Its main significance was its political importance and the earl's authority.

An earl is considered to have crossed the threshold into the upper class of nobility, and is able to hold a personal scepter.

Scepters were an outward manifestation of feudal authority, aristocratic status, and family wealth. Earls typically used bronze or silver scepters, dukes used gold scepters, and kings would inlay various expensive jewels on their gold scepters.

Of course, there is no particularly fixed style or grade for this thing; some wealthy and powerful counts sometimes use gold scepters.

The scepter used for the coronation of the kings of the North was even carved from the horn of a narwhal, with the head and tail made of pure gold using openwork techniques and inlaid with dozens of gemstones of various colors, making it extremely luxurious.

Lynn put the scepter back on the tray and picked up the longsword.

The sword was drawn from its sheath, its finely forged steel blade reflecting a clear, silvery gleam.

The blade was not sharpened, and judging from the luster of the guard and the counterweight, it was most likely also made of silver.

Like the scepter, this silver sword is also considered a ceremonial object.

As Lynn admired the valuable gifts, Caleb said apologetically:
"The Duke of the Valley has instructed me to apologize to you, as time was too short to engrave your name and coat of arms on the scepter and sword hilt. You will have to find another craftsman to add them."

The Duke also promised that the next time he sent an envoy, he would present you with a silver scepter plated with gold, a solid gold seal, and two pairs of solid gold spurs.

To be fair, the Duke of the Valley was acting quite formally, as if the White River Territory was truly something he had carved out from his own domain and granted to Lynn.

The charter, scepter, and silver sword are not only shipped free of charge but also delivered to your door. The only missing items to complete the set are the seal and the signet ring.

Of course, the Duke of the Valley cannot be entirely blamed.

Lynn was in such a hurry to send Leon to deliver the message that he didn't have time to design a unique coat of arms and surname.

Without the corresponding coat of arms, there was naturally no seal.

Nobles typically did not have their names engraved on their seals, but rather their coats of arms, symbolizing themselves and their families.

In fact, the emblems of this era are very simple, even rudimentary.

Even for nobles like dukes, all they painted was a symbolic animal of their territory, with a few decorations added, and that was it.

For example, the golden stag coat of arms of the Duke of the Marshland, or the white eagle coat of arms of the Duke of the Valley.

The lower-ranking nobles naturally followed suit, mostly using animal or plant patterns as the main motifs.

If Lynn wanted to design his own unique emblem, he would most likely draw a polar bear, with some white wave patterns symbolizing the White River, or wheat ears symbolizing an agricultural harvest.

The "white" in Baihe (White River) mainly comes from the white ice surface of the river when it freezes in winter and the white bears that appear on the riverbanks.

As for the signet ring, it is usually engraved with the name and surname of the nobleman.

Lynn only revealed his first name to the public, but not his surname, so the Duke of the Valley would not rashly make a signet ring for him.

However, according to the custom of the North, since he established a new Earldom of White River and became the first Earl of White River, he would usually take 'White River' as his surname. Even if he had a surname in the past, he would change it.

Just like the Cold Wind family of dead Roman, and the Shallows family of Lynn's lover, Jacoba.

Their ancestors were born into humble circumstances and were ordinary free people whose surnames were derived from their occupations. After acquiring land and being promoted to nobles, they naturally changed their surnames to highlight their noble status.

Lynn didn't care much about these things.

Surnames and coats of arms are merely aristocratic calling cards.

The packaging of the business card is not very important; what matters is the lord's genuine strength.

Even without the Duke of the Valley's approval, Lynn remains the de facto ruler of White River Territory!
After ordering his servants to accept the letter of appointment, the scepter, and the silver sword, Lynn chatted with the messenger Calybo in the hall.

Compared to these superficial things, he was actually more interested in Callebo himself.

Please don't misunderstand, Lynn wasn't lusting after his body, but rather his inner qualities.

【Kalebo★★】

This person has a two-star stat panel, with attributes heavily biased towards internal affairs. Both [Command] and [Strength] are at the E- level, while Intelligence and Internal Affairs reach the D- level.

Judging from his appearance, this person was indeed rather thin and short, wearing a pure black priest's robe with a hood. He spoke clearly and logically about politics and diplomacy, a typical image of a court official.

At first glance, this Caleb doesn't seem to have much of a special feature.

If we only consider domestic affairs talents in two-star countries, Lynn's White River Territory has quite a few now.

Among the stewards and stewards of each territory, there are many two-star or even three-star talents in internal affairs.

What makes Caleb special is his "theorist" nature.

This is a diplomacy-related trait that increases the probability of him succeeding in his diplomatic mission.

Human characteristics are not innate.

After years of accumulation, some people have a chance to awaken their professional characteristics in the relevant field.

Kalebo's inherent attributes are not outstanding, and he only received a two-star rating in middle age, so his special ability was most likely awakened later in life.

This is sufficient proof that he has accumulated rich experience in the diplomatic field and is definitely a qualified diplomatic talent.

What Lynn needs most right now is a diplomatic talent like Kalebo.

Inside the hall, Lynn hosted an exquisite banquet, and the two enjoyed drinks and various snacks, chatting happily.

As an envoy, Calybo had traveled to many territories in the North and was familiar with the local customs and the gossip about the lords.

Lynn was very familiar with the Valley Duchy, having spent several years there.

After a few glasses of aged mead, the two chatted about everything from aristocratic anecdotes to the current political landscape of the North.

Kalebo loved to drink, and his alcohol tolerance was quite high; these days, a person who couldn't drink couldn't be a diplomat.

After two rounds of drinking, his old, dried-up face only turned slightly red, but his voice suddenly became much louder:

“Lothair will certainly not be able to wear that crown. At the same time that you, Earl, take over Three Rivers, the Duke of the Valley will gather his army and march eastward to cooperate with the King in burying that traitor beneath Amber Harbor!”

Callebo addressed the Duke of the Marsh by his first name with utter disrespect.

The situation in the main northern region is now very clear.

Over the past few decades, three successive dukes of the Marshland have elevated the territory's overall strength to the top of the three duchies through centralized power and the training of court knights.

The Marsh Duchy is a traditional grain-producing region with relatively flat terrain and a denser population compared to the other two duchies.

A slight increase in centralization of power can immediately unleash astonishing war potential. Although the Duke of the Valley's territory is richest and filled with minerals, that power does not belong to the Duke himself.

Conversely, local nobles who amassed fortunes through mining even dared to contradict the Duke.

As for the Grassland Duchy, which has the least presence, its natural conditions are too poor.

Due to scarce rainfall, more than half of the territory is desert.

In addition, the population was sparse and the land was barren, so they could only develop animal husbandry to provide warhorses and draft horses for the nobles in various parts of the North, barely making ends meet.

Now, the question is whether the Duke of the Swamp can conquer Amber Harbor and claim the crown of the North.

If he succeeds, the other two duchies will likely suffer the same fate and will inevitably be annexed by him.

Having served in the court of the Duke of the Valley for nearly twenty years, Kalebo was branded with the white eagle emblem both physically and mentally, making it virtually impossible for him to leave.

When the Duke of the Marsh wins everything, Caleb will most likely end up with nothing.

So when he learned that Lynn had already started a war with Three Rivers, he couldn't hide his joy.

But he later discovered that the intensity of the war was somewhat low.

Lynn only imposed a trade blockade on Three Rivers City and plundered farms in the western suburbs, without directly attacking the city itself.

There was indeed a fight, but it wasn't a complete fight; it was more like a partial fight.

What Caleb hoped for was a full-blown war between Lynn and Three Rivers, ideally drawing back the Duke of the Marshland's army and slowing their advance on Amber Harbor.

For this reason, he did not hesitate to reveal some secrets to Lynn.

For example, the Duke of the Valley has allied with the King and is preparing to deal with the Duke of the Swamp.

Lynn simply picked up the wine jug, poured himself a glass of wine, and slowly replied, "I will attack Sanhe City sooner or later; I'm just waiting for the right opportunity."

I believe it will take the Duke of the Marsh at least two to three months to breach Amber Harbor. If, before then, the Duke of the Vale launches a rear attack, I will certainly launch a full-scale assault on Three Rivers without hesitation!

Anyone can make empty promises.

Lynn was a master of this art.

You said I should first capture the city of Sanhe, then the Duke of the Valley would send troops.

Why didn't the Duke of the Valley send out troops first, tying up the Duke of the Swamp's army in the Crown Territory, and then I would send out troops?
Moreover, Lynn had long understood that the Duke of the Valley was just a figurehead. Not only was he poor, but he also couldn't command the powerful earls under his command and could only rely on the treacherous terrain of White Eagle Castle to survive.

This time, the Duke of the Valley only gave Lynn a token of respect by bestowing a title of Earl, without giving him any real benefits. What face did he have to motivate Lynn to launch a strong attack on Three Rivers?
However, to avoid making any absolute statements, Lynn raised his glass to Kalebo as soon as he finished speaking, and smiled slightly:

"Let's drink! Today is the day I'm officially promoted to Earl. Anyone who dares to give me a hard time is going against me!"

Caleb, naturally, was also quick to respond, raising his glass in return:

"This toast is a toast to the Earl's eternal victory!"

The two then stopped talking about the situation and started discussing topics that all men understand.

For example, which territory has the most charming girls, and which city has the most graceful prostitutes?
Despite being a priest and dressed in a black, ascetic outfit, Caleb may not be a saint.

However, he held secular official positions in the court for many years, and his long political career made him well-versed in the ways of wine and women in aristocratic social circles. He had also indulged in quite a few different kinds of entertainment in private.

He was unmarried and childless, had no family expenses, and spent all his earnings on living for the moment.

As they became more familiar with each other, Lynn began to subtly probe into Caleb's past.

“My Lord, I am just an ordinary court official, and my past experiences are nothing special.”

Kalebo seemed drunk at this moment, and even his tongue was swollen.

However, under Lynn's repeated questioning, he still briefly talked about his life journey.

Caleb did not attend university in the South or Amber Harbor; he simply graduated from the monastery school in the Duchy of the Vale.

Generally speaking, graduating from a monastery can be compared to obtaining a high school diploma in modern times.

Graduates are typically skilled at writing long articles, possess strong mathematical abilities, and have a certain foundation in law and theology, enabling them to perform basic legal work or serve as junior clergy in churches.

In addition, graduates of the monastery are eligible to pursue bachelor's and doctoral degrees at universities run by the church.

In the continent of Dievas, church schools generally offer three levels of education: high school, bachelor's degree, and doctorate.

A bachelor's degree means completing the first stage of university education and graduating with the qualifications to serve as a mid-level clergy member.

A doctorate signifies the completion of a full university education in a particular subject, possessing a profound understanding of law or theology. Upon graduation, one has the opportunity to serve as an advisor to a high-ranking noble or a senior clergy member, essentially serving as a reserve candidate for a regional bishop.

It appears that Kalebo's education level is not high; he only has a basic high school diploma.

But in the North, where prenatal education is common, this level of education is truly exceptional.

After all, even Timo, the sixth son who is the principal of the White Bear Territory, only has a diploma from a monastery.

There is a huge difference between attending school and graduating; the former simply means having studied at a monastery.

The latter, however, must first pay a hefty examination fee and then pass the exam before receiving a graduation certificate from the monastery.

Therefore, students who graduate from monasteries generally come from well-off families, at least from minor noble families or middle-class urban backgrounds.

Eighty to ninety percent of the students drop out because they cannot afford the exam fees. Ultimately, without a diploma, they cannot find good jobs and can only work as low-level officials in the city.

It was precisely because of that weighty graduation certificate that Kalebo was able to enter the court of the Duke of the Valley.

He started as an ordinary secretary and clerk, and rose step by step to the level of a diplomatic envoy, spending many years traveling for the Duke of the Valley, and his contributions were numerous.

If he works steadily for a few more years, he will have a great chance of being promoted to the Duke's senior advisor.

He could enjoy a high salary while lying down by giving the Duke advice or reviewing some official documents every day.

This is precisely why Caleb is hostile to the Duke of the Marsh.

He had worked hard for twenty years to accumulate seniority, and was finally about to get a promotion.

Once the Duke of the Swampland conquers White Eagle Castle, his seniority will most likely be reset to zero. Who can tolerate that?
Caleb condensed his twenty years of life experience into a mere fifteen minutes.

After he finished speaking, Lynn took a sip of his drink and joked:

"I quite envy the life of court officials like you. After I unified Baihe Territory, I realized that being a count is busy and tiring, but you don't get much real benefit."

Every day when I open my eyes, I have to manage tens of thousands of people within my territory. Not only that, but I also have to worry about everything outside my territory: wars, diplomacy, trade—everything.

Kalebo also wanted a sip of wine, but when he lowered his head, he found his glass was empty, and couldn't help but complain: "My lord, the life of a court official is much harder than you think."

When sorrow enters the heart, wine transforms into a urge to vent.

After several rounds of drinking, Callebo was already half-drunk and began to pour out his frustrations.

“I was clearly qualified to go to university, and my father was willing to pay for it, but I felt that studying was too hard, so I thought about changing my lifestyle.”

In recent years, I've increasingly regretted it. If I had gone to university back then, I might be a senior priest or even a bishop by now, instead of suffering so much in this court."

In the end, he said with a hint of relief, "But I'm lucky. In the last ten years or so, more and more monastery schools have opened up. Nowadays, graduates can't directly enter the Duke's court. They can only find a job with the city or local nobles first."

Lynn listened patiently to his complaints for a while, then suddenly asked, "Speaking of which, could you introduce me to some graduates of the monastery? I have many excellent job opportunities in my White River Territory that would be perfect for them."

Generally speaking, when a nobleman reaches the rank of earl, clergy will begin to appear in his court.

However, Lynn had only just received his earldom title today, and his territory was in a state of disrepair, so he simply didn't have the connections.

Upon hearing that Lynn needed his help, Kalebo immediately sobered up considerably.

"This is not difficult. When I return to White Eagle Castle, I will definitely select a group of outstanding graduates for the Earl!"

(End of this chapter)