I was a lord farming, how did I become an emperor?

Chapter 310 Thunder and Frost Will Speak for Me

……

……

early morning.

Eagle Castle.

"I do not watch!"

Seeing the letter presented to her by Beoka with both hands, Luris angrily pointed outside and shouted loudly.
"Even if all the knights of the Falcon family die in battle, I will not surrender to Rhodes!"

"Burn it! Burn the letter!"

"Lourdes commanded loudly."

With the enemy at the gates, a letter arrives at this critical moment.

"This……"

Beoka hesitated to speak, because he felt it wasn't the right choice for Eagle Town.

Beaukar understood his lord's anger.

We just sent a large shipment of goods to Baron Rhodes to mend relations. Although there is no formal alliance, peace can usually be maintained for one or two years for nobles.

But now, in just a few months, Baron Rhodes has led his army to sweep across Eagle Ridge.

The key issue is that the Falcon family is like a sandcastle on a beach encountering a giant wave; they are utterly powerless to fight back.

The Falcon family, which has been passed down for hundreds of years, is on the verge of being dismantled, and all Ruris can do is feel angry.

"Are you sure?"

Beoka mustered his courage and suggested, "I think you should take a look; it might be of some value to the Falcon family."

"Burn it!" Ruris shouted again.

"Alright, I will obey your command."

Beoka took the letter and walked to the fireplace, then turned back to look at Ruris, who was sitting at the table with her head down.

Seeing that his lord had not changed his orders, Beauka sighed softly and bent down to put the letter into the fireplace.

"and many more!"

Ruris shouted and reached out to stop Beoka.

Then she let out a long sigh and reluctantly gave the order.

"Open it and see what Baron Rhodes wants."

"Your Excellency, please tell me earlier next time. I almost threw him in."

Beoka wiped the sweat from his brow, tore open the wax seal on the envelope, and unfolded the letter.

“Baron Rhodes said…”

Beoka's eyes suddenly widened, and his hands froze.

Ruris frowned and stepped forward, asking, "What did he say?"

Beoka didn't speak, her fingers trembling slightly as she turned the letter over.

Ruris leaned closer and immediately saw the first line of text; her pupils dilated.

"Lourdes, do you want to be the head of the Falcon family?"

……

……

While Ruth was still immersed in the astonishing words, a sudden, urgent bell rang out from outside.

"It's an enemy attack alarm!"

Ignoring the words on the letter, Ruth rushed out of the council chamber!
As Ruris rushed into the courtyard, she saw the high-ranking knight Salon coming towards her!
"What's going on?!" Ruris shouted at Salon.

"Look, look at the main tower of the castle!"

Salen pointed to the sky behind Luris, his voice trembling, "Baron Rhodes really does have dragons, the rumors are true!"

Salen was shocked, but he couldn't help but feel secretly delighted.

As it turns out, my initial choice was correct.

At this moment, Ruris stood still without speaking, her gaze fixed on the two enormous creatures hovering in the air and the two indistinct figures sitting on them.

The soldiers of Eagle Fortress also stared intently at the two dragons in the sky, their hands gripping their swords trembling slightly.
—If dragons are really as the bards sing about, would I still use the sword in my hand?

However, the soldiers soon breathed a sigh of relief.

Since the two dragons did not make any attacking moves, they circled the castle a few times and then left.

Only the castle's alarm bells still echoed.

The two dragons flapped their wings and landed in the Black Pine Ridge army camp under the watchful eyes of the soldiers of Eagle Town.

"We're back like this?"

Vivian jumped off Frost and asked curiously, "Why didn't you say something, like try to persuade me to surrender?"

"unnecessary."

Rhodes smiled and stroked Thunder's head.
"My thunder and frost will speak for me."

Rhodes waved his hand slightly.

"Let's go, come with me to get some breakfast."

"Ok."

Vivian responded and followed Rhodes into the tent.

Just as Rhodes finished his breakfast, a guard came in to report.

"My lord, the gates of Eagle Town have opened, and Baron Ruris has come out with two people."

Only two people were brought?

Rod smiled and nodded, then picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth.

“I knew Thunder and Frost would speak up for me.”

……

……

Ruris walked straight toward the army camp at Blackpine Ridge, ignoring the guards around her.

It was as if this was not an enemy camp.

“This woman seems to have some guts,” Gunle remarked, sitting on the rock.

Rhodes watched as Luris approached and waved for the guards to let her through.

Baron Rhodes.

Ruris nodded to Rhodes and said, "Thank you for giving me a chance to talk."

Rod responded with a smile, but didn't say anything more.

Rhodes was giving the soldiers of Eagletown a chance.

Rhodes's past life knowledge told him that the best outcome would be to subdue the enemy without fighting.

After all, these people represent a wealth of resources.

"Let's go to the tent to talk."

Rhodes waved his hand and led Luris into the tent.

The makeshift camp, hastily erected, contained no tables or chairs, only a campfire for warmth, with an iron pot hanging above it boiling tea, and stones covered with animal hides placed on either side of the fire.

“You should be able to tell, Baron Ruth, that I don’t intend to stay here for long.”

After Rhodes sat down, he casually fiddled with the fire and asked, "So what do you want to ask? And you need to say it quickly."

Ruris wasn't reserved and sat down opposite Rod.
"Then, Baron Rhodes, what's the price?"

Ruris looked at Baron Rhodes, "What was the price I paid to become the head of the Falcon family?"

The army of Black Pine Ridge swept through Eagle Ridge with overwhelming force; Ruris had already received information about the army's strength.

Exceptionally sharp swords and spears, and incredibly tough armor.

Ruris had initially thought she could rely on the city walls to withstand the overwhelming army, but now she saw this dragon flapping its wings and with a ferocious and terrifying face.

The city walls can stop charging soldiers, but they can't stop a flying dragon.

But since Rhodes offered such "beautiful conditions," the price to be paid must be considerable.

“You are very smart, Ruris.”

Rod looked at Ruris approvingly.
“It’s very simple. From now on, the Falcon family will pledge allegiance to me, but I will only recognize you.”

"You can still manage various affairs in Falcon Ridge, such as farming, mining, and taxation."

"However, the Falcon family will not have a regular army. Eagle Ridge will only retain local militia guards, with a maximum of three militiamen for every hundred people."

"All mineral resources must belong to me. Of course, I will keep a portion of the iron ore for the daily expenses of the territory."

"At the same time, I will send a group of people to form a review committee to assist you in managing the militia, handling government affairs, and enforcing the law."

“Every year I will reserve 20% of the tax revenue from the territory for you, 10% as income for the Falcon family, and the other 10% for maintaining the army and the deliberation group.”

……

Rhodes stated his conditions word by word.

With each word she spoke, Ruris's face grew darker.

After Rhodes finished speaking, Ruris couldn't help but stand up. "Baron Rhodes, is the Falcon family still considered noble?"

“It can be no.” Rhodes looked calmly at Luris.
"If the Falcon family is unwilling, then there is no need for them to exist."

“There will always be other families willing.”

Luo De's tone was calm, yet it sounded incredibly resolute.

Because Rhodes would no longer allow lords to exist in the lands he conquered.

The feudal system was a very backward system, even a constitutional monarchy was better.

The feudal system of aristocracy resulted in very low efficiency and stability.

Each lord independently owned land, armies, and taxes, which greatly diminished the power held by the ruler.

Especially in the event of war, the actions of lords in different regions may not be coordinated, and it will be difficult to coordinate the people's livelihood, taxation, and troop mobilization.

Moreover, lords often waged small-scale wars and engaged in intrigue, which consumed a great deal of manpower and resources, and it was difficult for the ruler to intervene.

Rhodes didn't like anyone taking away the power he held.

But Rhodes cannot change all of this at once, as this would be unacceptable to many, especially the noble lords.

They might unite to rebel against Rhodes.

Rhodes was not afraid of the enemy, but he could not kill them all at once.

In other words, nobles with extensive knowledge and abilities were also a scarce resource.

Therefore, Rhodes chose a compromise, preserving a portion of the wealth and power of the noble families to make it more acceptable to them.

This gives the enemy a glimmer of hope.

This also serves as a goal for Rhodes's subordinates.

However, other lords will inevitably disappear completely in the future, and the council will slowly swallow them up.

"you……"

Ruris froze, unable to speak for a moment.

The tent fell silent.

Ruth felt a little short of breath, so she took a deep breath and sat down again.
"Then, what about my brother Zain?"

"If he stays put and hands over the soldiers he took away to me, I will let him live a peaceful life."

Rhodes casually remarked, "But if he wants to reclaim the lord's position, then I won't hold back against the enemy."

"Actually, I'm just somewhat interested in you,"

Rhodes looked at Ruris, "The Falcon family means nothing to me."

"me?"

Ruris paused slightly, then reached up to touch her cheek.

"What do you want, Baron Rhodes? Even if I submit, I will not become someone else's lover..."

"You think too much."

Rod frowned slightly. "I acknowledge your management skills."

"Although you haven't achieved anything, Eagle Ridge has remained relatively peaceful during the time your brother was away."

"If you can continue to manage it, it will save me a lot of trouble."

"Oh fine."

Ruris lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought, and said, "Then..."

"and many more."

Ruris suddenly realized something and asked, "Will the Empire approve of what you're doing?"

"What I mean is, even if the empire doesn't have an emperor right now, will it allow you to do this once one of those three succeeds to the throne?"

Ruris had a vague feeling that Rhodes was implementing a new system, even if it was still disguised as a noble system.

"You don't need to worry about that."

Rod stood up with a smile. "Come with me."

Rhodes stepped out of the tent and led Luris straight into the third tent not far away.

As soon as she lifted the curtain and stepped into the tent, Luris was so frightened that she shuddered.

"This, this is a wolf?"

Ruris retreated repeatedly, instinctively wanting to back out, but was stopped by Rhodes.

"Don't be afraid, this is my friend."

Rhodes pointed to the nobleman standing by the fire and said, "He is also Count Aura's close companion."

"Count Aura?"

Looking at the figure before her, Ruris couldn't help but show a look of confusion on her face, and instinctively nodded in greeting.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Excellency Earl Aura. Your name sounds familiar..."

Ruris's gaze shifted downwards to the golden shield emblem on Count Aura's chest, and she couldn't help but cover her mouth, swallowing hard.

"You, you are Aura Rockbreaker, the younger brother of the late His Majesty Agnar?!"

"You are not..."

Ruris couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Even though she saw dragons and giant wolves today, she still couldn't believe that Count Aura was still alive.

"It's a long story, I'll tell you when I have time."

Aura uttered in a hoarse voice, "As the rightful heir to the imperial throne, I want you to understand one thing now: Baron Rhodes is my representative."

"Everything he said and did was permitted by me."

"you……"

Ruris turned to Baron Rhodes, "No wonder you can act so arbitrarily and have such a powerful army."

So you don't need to worry.

Rhodes neither denied nor confirmed, but simply shrugged slightly.

“The legitimacy of those successors is no match for that of Count Aura.”

……

……

You have conquered Eagle Ridge, and the Falcon Clan has submitted.

[Since the Falcon family is currently without a leader, you, as the conqueror, have successfully conquered Eagle Ridge.]

Since the empire is currently without an emperor, and you have gained the support of the successor, Eagle Ridge has become your territory.

You can activate the affix effects in new territories at any time.

The effects of this entry will gradually take effect over time, depending on the behavior of the creature and the triggering of events.

Rhodes rode on Thunder's back, standing on the high walls of Eagle Keep.

As Chris absorbed the Eagle Town army, system notifications flashed by one after another.

The meaning is actually quite simple: because the empire is in chaos, any land that Rhodes conquers belongs to him, and the associated effects can be activated.

The effect of an entry is gradual, rather than sudden and explosive.

Ruris, meanwhile, was watching the figure in the courtyard, clutching her chest, her expression pained.
"My lord, you didn't mention earlier that you would also take half of the treasure in the Falcon family's vault."

"I must take the extraordinary gem; leaving it with you is just a waste."

Rhodes said bluntly, "As for those armors and weapons, they'll just gather dust in the vault. We might as well let them realize their true value."

"Don't worry, my people will help Eagle Ridge develop well. Your efforts now will pay off in the future."

"When will your people arrive?" Ruris pressed.

"Soon, they will become the best young people I have ever trained."

Rhodes earnestly instructed Luris, "You must guide them for me and not make things difficult for them, otherwise I will not show them any mercy."

Rhodes planned to assign four people to be in charge of defense, taxation, and law respectively.

The remaining one was responsible for praising Rhodes' greatness and benevolence, telling Rhodes' legendary stories, and leading the people to thank Rhodes for the good days he had given them.

Rhodes was well aware of the value of public opinion, so he had to prepare in advance.

Of course, this council will expand in the future, but right now Rhodes doesn't have that many knowledgeable people at his disposal.

"Rest assured, my lord, I did not make so many concessions to destroy the Falcon family."

Ruris readily agreed, "I will do my best to help them."

"By the way, my lord."

Suddenly remembering something, Luris looked up at Rhodes on Thunder's back and reported,
“My brother Zain sent a girl back a few days ago. She was carrying an extraordinary item that you might be interested in.”

"Ok?"

Rhodes, somewhat curious, pressed further, "Your brother actually left a supernatural item on a girl? Is she your brother's lover?"

"No, that extraordinary item is what restricts that girl."

Ruris explained, "She is Baron Harlan's eldest daughter, and I think she's a witch or some kind of sorceress."

"where?"

Upon hearing the last few words, Rod gave the order without hesitation.
"Take me to her."

(End of this chapter)