After I died, my personal maid rebelled.

"So your name is Jim?"

Luna circled around Jim, who had come to pay his respects, looking him over curiously, and then reached out and tugged at his beard.

She couldn't see anything special about this person, but she felt inexplicably annoyed. This person had been a die-hard before, but Jacob had surrendered not long after he arrived.

Why did your attitude change so quickly? Do you look down on our family and want to make things difficult for my brother?

Or is it that you're just seeking fame and fortune, and won't let go until you've achieved it?

"Young Miss, manners, please be mindful of your manners."

Jacob was completely bewildered by this turn of events. Seeing that the young lady was about to use Jim's beard to fluff the cotton, he quickly stepped forward and stood between the two of them.

"It's alright, sir, Miss is just teasing me."

Jim didn't care at all. With the young lady's bravery, if she really wanted to bully him, she would have torn her beard off with skin and flesh long ago.

However, the way the young lady establishes her authority is truly unique.

"Jacob said you're a capable and sensible person," Luna warned, her hands behind her back. "I don't know if my brother will give you an important position, but I hope you'll stay this obedient in the future."

"Go down, and remember, keep an eye on your men."

Jim remained calm and said indifferently, "Yes, I will take my leave."

Once Jim's figure was no longer visible, Luna frowned and said to Jacob, "Sir, what should we do with this mess?"

It is said that conquering the world is easy, but governing it is difficult. Whether the agricultural areas in the east can restore stability in the future is a major problem. In addition, there are four other issues facing them now.

First, there was the issue of dealing with the army, mainly referring to the marquis's private army, the peasant army, and the various local guards.

Secondly, there is the issue of the nobility. Currently, they only occupy the city of Xiye, and the territories of Counts Terdo and Christa have not yet been submitted to them. The nobles there still live like local tyrants.

Thirdly, there is the issue of land policy. The fields are now full of crops, some of which are already ownerless, and some will soon be ownerless. When and how the land should be divided, and how the already grown crops should be accounted for, all need to be carefully considered.

Fourthly, there is the issue of management. Neither of them intends to let Jim stay in the East anymore. In addition, with the deaths of several earls at Luna's hands, the East is currently in a state of being unmanaged.

Rural areas are doing alright; at least in this turmoil, positions such as village chiefs have not been affected. But what about cities? We can't let cities lose their order.

Jacob was somewhat relieved; the young lady had realized her responsibilities. If they simply left now, governing the east would become much more difficult in the future.

He bowed and told Luna about his plan, which he had been brewing for many days.

"Regarding the army, Miss should immediately write to the Duke and request that he send Earl Rondo to the east to take over a portion of the army and rebuild it in Kuogu City. In addition, it would be best to transfer another army from Kuogu City, dispersing it into regiments, battalions, and companies to guard various places in the east."

If there's one thing Jacob admires most about Oswald, it's that under those circumstances, he decisively seized the most crucial military power and implemented reforms.

As long as the army is in hand, the northern territory will not descend into chaos.

Oswald: Otherwise, why do you think my house is so clean? Everything of value has been fed to the army.

"What Miss Luna should do now is lead the army to quickly end the noble war and exterminate all the nobles in this land!"

Jacob's eyes flashed with murderous intent. Luna turned around, looking at him with considerable surprise. What... these civil officials are all a bit violent?

"Young Miss, now that the knife has been raised, how can it be lowered so easily?"

"But this impact..." Luna hesitated. At most, she was her brother's top general, and she didn't have the courage to make such a significant decision.

Jacob watched her quietly. He knew that the young lady was indeed a bit reckless, but as long as she believed it was the right thing to do, she would forge ahead without fear of hardship.

Those who accomplish great things need this kind of courage.

"Young lady, having served the Duke, should know what a monumental act it is that he distributes land equally and rents it to the people for free. From the very first day this policy was implemented, it was destined that we and the nobles would have to engage in a life-or-death struggle!"

"For the lands of the Northern Territory to flourish, they must be nourished with the blood of nobles. Love for the people lies not in the heart, but in the actions; governance lies not in promoting good, but in punishing evil!"

These words stirred Luna's blood.

Yes, those vile nobles are the greatest evil... Luna gritted her teeth in anger just thinking about that glass display case.

Jacob is right; punishing evil is the greatest good for the people.

She had also read The Prince, so she naturally understood the relative importance of commoners versus nobles.

If nobles commit wrongdoings and the ducal mansion turns a blind eye, or even tries to smooth things over and speaks on their behalf, where is the duke's authority? Where is the people's trust?

She couldn't hesitate; her hand holding the knife couldn't tremble!

"Issue my order: all personal guards assemble, mount your horses immediately! Kill! Rout them completely!"

……

The winds have been stronger in the north these past few days, but they've also brought some of the heat from the south.

Since there is wind, there must be scenery.

Oswald never tired of the scenery of the Ice City. He stood on the city wall, dark clouds overhead, and in the distance, the fiery red sunset was sinking into the mountains and forests that were already tinged with night.

The wind howled, the sky was sharply divided between light and dark, and a light drizzle began to fall.

Mofi's fingers were a little unresponsive, and he struggled to open the umbrella and hold it over Oswald's head.

Oswald was much taller than him, and after only a short while, his arms started to ache.

"Let the taller person hold the umbrella."

A strong, powerful hand took the umbrella. Oswald, with a half-smile, glanced at him at the setting sun in the rain and asked.

"Have all those involved been recorded?"

Mofi wiped the water stains from his face, which he couldn't tell were rain or sweat, and answered tremblingly, not daring to look up, "I've remembered them all."

"I trust you to handle things."

Upon hearing this, Count Morpheus closed his eyes in anguish. From this day forward, he would stand against all the nobles, and if he let even one of them go, his entire family would perish.

"I dare not... refuse to serve the Duke."

"I told you, even if you tear down this ducal mansion, you won't get many tiles." Oswald's violent and arrogant face revealed a sinister smile in the wind and rain.

"You say you'll serve me, but I'm only serving them. Who has it easy?"

In the city, as the last rays of the setting sun disappeared, night quickly descended.

As the banquet began, it was raining, and the residents had gone home to rest early. Several carriages drove along the empty street, and raindrops fell on the stone slabs, blending into the music playing from the mansion.

At the city gate, Elena wrapped her trench coat tighter around herself. She stood at the Duke's feet, calmly watching the squads of knights that had suddenly appeared on the street.

As soon as the carriage was stopped, the coachman was shot in the throat with a crossbow bolt. Several fully armed knights rushed out, dragged the nobleman out, smashed his jaw with a single blow, kicked him into the rain, swiftly grabbed him, bound him, and packed him up and sent him away in a fluid motion.

The whole process was incredibly fast; the nobles didn't even have time to cry out before they were dragged into a dark alley.

Immediately afterwards, the coachman's body was dragged away, the carriage was towed away, blood flowed into the sewers, and the street became empty again within a few seconds.

The music played in the rain, as if nothing had happened.

"Next."

A torch illuminated a terrified face. Red stood under the eaves, waved his hand to cross out a name, and with a snap, a head fell to the ground, only to be picked up by the knight and placed in a wooden box.

The voice was warm and pleasant, and each cold head that fell was seen by the knights as a warm addition to their credit.

They were working with great enthusiasm when a knight, carrying a wooden box, quietly approached Red and whispered, "Commander, should we take this opportunity to...?"

The knight shook the wooden box, and a series of thumping sounds came from inside.

Reid, transforming into a ruthless name-marking machine, lowered his voice and said, "You're that eager to improve, kid?"

"I'm willing to take the gamble!"

"Foolish! Are you trying to interfere with the Duke's plans?! Soldiers must obey orders. Get over there and stand in line, and don't let me hear you say such things again!"

While Red was still reprimanding his men, another knight rushed in to report.

"Captain, a magician has appeared in the city! We let a nobleman and the magician escape!"

The hand holding the pen froze on the spot. Reid shook his head. "It's alright. The Duke has already made arrangements. Go to the city gate now and bring the nobleman's corpse."

At this moment, in a small alley, a nobleman who had dressed up carefully and was planning to attend a banquet was breathing heavily with lingering fear.

What exactly happened in the city? Why did a knight suddenly come to murder me?

"My lord, things have changed. We can't worry about anything else now. I'll cast an invisibility spell for you; we must leave Ice City immediately!"

The mage approached, also somewhat flustered, but fortunately he had extensive experience as an adventurer, otherwise he would have been in serious trouble this time.

"Okay, okay, let's go right away."

Urged on by the nobleman, the magician immediately lit up his staff, and in the blink of an eye, the two disappeared from the spot.

Without delay, the light from the staff had already revealed their location. The mage quickly pulled the nobleman away, taking a detour towards the city gate.

However, a figure that filled them with despair appeared before them at the city gate.

"It's Elene, what do we do?" The nobles reacted quickly. Elene personally guarding the city gate could only mean that this was all part of the Duke's plan!

The magician swallowed hard, realizing they had no way out. "We have to take a gamble and go."

The two tiptoed toward the city gate, holding their breath and not daring to make a sound.

Alene crossed her arms, head bowed, eyes half-closed, seemingly lost in thought. Both of them felt their hearts leap into their throats, pressing themselves against the wall and slowly walking past her.

With a whoosh of wind, Elena suddenly opened her eyes, grabbed at the air with one hand, and snapped the nobleman's neck in the blink of an eye.

The corpse appeared in her hands. The magician waved his staff in terror, only to see that Elene had already opened her trench coat and the long sword at her waist was instantly drawn.

A flash of cold light, and the staff shattered. The mage's body was severed cleanly from neck to hip, dying without a sound.