Transmigrated with a Demon-Refining Pot: Hehehe, Refine in an instant

Baron Edmund. He is forty years old, from a collateral branch of the viscount family, and has been looking for an opportunity to climb the ranks.

After becoming a pioneering lord, he further improved the development of his territory.

According to his vision, with one or two more generations of effort, his family could become a viscount family.

But his dream was shattered after Ron rose to power.

Unlike that reckless brute from Black Bear Territory, he remained calm after learning that Ron was a formal knight.

Edmund knew he would have little chance of making a name for himself in this pioneering land.

Since then, he has been slowly transferring assets.

If Ron really intends to annex the surrounding territories, he might still have the resources to make a comeback.

However, he didn't have much capital, because if he transferred too much wealth, Ron might not let him off the hook.

Edmund came down from the city wall and went into his study.

The candlelight flickered on the table, casting his face in half-light and half-shadow. He spread out parchment, picked up a pen, and began to write a letter, his handwriting a bit more hasty than usual.

"Baron Ron, Lord Edmund of Aries, is willing to offer his entire territory in exchange for leaving..."

He stopped writing halfway through, stared at the letter for a long time, then crumpled it into a ball and threw it into the fireplace. The flames licked the paper, quickly swallowing the words.

He spread out a new sheet and wrote again.

This time, his handwriting was steady.

"Baron Ron, I voluntarily relinquish Aries Territory. The elves, gold coins, provisions, weapons, castle, farmland, and serfs are all yours. I only ask that you release me and my knight."

As collateral, I will leave behind my eldest son, Ed, and my high-ranking knight squire, Herman.

"Once I arrive safely in Oak City, I will pay a ransom. If I break my promise, you may dispose of them as you see fit."

He put down his pen and summoned his most trusted knight.

"Hermann, how many years have you been with me?"

Hermann knelt on one knee: "Twelve years, my lord."

"Twelve years." Edmund gave a bitter laugh. "How have I treated you?"

"The kindness you have shown me is as heavy as a mountain."

"Then I'll have you do one last thing." Edmund stood up and walked to the window.

"Stay by Ed's side for me. I'll come and pay the ransom once I'm settled."

Hermann lowered his head: "Your subordinate obeys."

As Ron's army halted before the White Ram territory castle, the city gates slowly opened.

Edmund emerged alone, without a banner, dressed in dark noble attire, and without a sword at his waist. He approached Ron and gave a slight bow.

"Baron Ron, and Edmund, Baron of the Aries, have come to surrender the city."

Ron, mounted on his horse, looked down at him.

"Oh! How do you plan to submit?"

Edmund straightened up, took the letter from his pocket, and presented it with both hands.

Ron took it and unfolded it. When he saw the line "Leaving his eldest son Ed and high-ranking knight squire Herman as guarantors," his eyebrows twitched slightly.

I thought to myself, "What a wonderful person!"

Ron could let them go; it would be easier for him to take over Aries territory after they left.

Now it's just a matter of how much more they can squeeze out of him.

"You want to leave and continue being the lord?" Ron saw through his thoughts at a glance.

"Yes," Edmund said without hiding anything.

"With Lord Ron here, this new territory is destined to be yours. I can give you all the wealth of this land, and I will also pay a ransom when I arrive in Oak City."

I just want to wait until the internal strife in the principality is over, then use my connections to get another development order so I can go somewhere else to work.

Now all I ask is that you let me leave here alive.

Faced with Edmund's words, Ron remained silent for a moment, then folded the letter and put it into his bracelet.

"How old is your eldest son?"

"Fifteen years old."

"How much more money can you offer?"

Edmund took a deep breath: "Three thousand golden dragons! That's all I have in the duchy. I'll have to borrow money from my family to pull strings later."

Ron stared at him for a few seconds, then a slight smile appeared on his lips: "Fine. I agree to your terms."

"Leave the sprites, gold coins, and provisions behind until I have inspected them. Do not take a single item from the castle. Each of your knights may only take one sword and one set of clothing."

"Thank you, my lord." Edmund lowered his head, his voice hoarse.

Then Edmund stood at the castle gate and watched his knights remove their armor, hand over their warhorses, and walk out carrying only a bundle on their backs.

His eldest son, Ed, stood beside him, his lips pressed tightly together, his eyes red-rimmed, filled with worry about the future.

He and another knight will stay here as hostages. If his father is unreliable, Ron, who has been deceived, might sell him to the Nightingale Pavilion to become a gigolo.

The wealth of Aries Ridge is far greater than that of Black Bear Ridge.

After receiving the wealth, Ron did not go back on his word and let Edmund leave with his men.

This also saves us the trouble of sending someone to guard it.

After only a rough estimate of the spoils from Aries Territory, Ron left only three squadrons in Aries Territory and led the rest of his men to Rock Territory.

Lady Martha of Stone Ridge was restless in the castle.

Her husband has been dead for five years, and her son is only twelve years old. She can't support this family, nor can she withstand a war.

Of these baronies, Stonehenge is the weakest.

Since the Baron's death, the Stone Territory has been oppressed by its neighbors, forced to retreat again and again, and has given up countless benefits.

If it weren't for a few loyal knights, they probably wouldn't have been able to defend the castle.

After receiving news from the front lines, Mrs. Martha closed her eyes, and when a maid brought her tea, she didn't drink it.

"Madam, the army of River Bend has already captured Black Bear Territory, and it seems they can't hold out in White Sheep Territory either..." The butler stood at the door, his voice trembling.

Taking over Stonehenge was easier than expected; before Ron's men even arrived, Stonehenge surrendered.

When Ron met Lady Martha of the Great Stone Territory, he thought that she was still quite charming!

She makes you want to be her buddy at first glance.

Unfortunately, she brought a son with her.

Ron doesn't touch women with sons.

He was afraid he wouldn't be able to handle it.

Lady Martha dismounted, walked to Ron, and knelt on one knee.

"Martha of Rock Ridge greets Lord Ron. I am willing to submit to River Bend, but I beg you to spare the life of my son and the people of the land."

Since Ron wasn't going to accept it, he didn't make things difficult for the orphan and widow.

Their treatment was similar to that of the Blackrock Territory; they retained some of their wealth and were allowed to continue living in the castle.

However, unlike Blackrock, there is no need for an heir to follow Ron.

Ron only took half of the soldiers from the Stone Territory, including the few knights.

Mrs. Martha accepted all of Ron's arrangements; as long as her son wasn't harmed, she could give up everything else.

"Thank you, sir." Mrs. Martha lowered her head, her voice choked with emotion.

After taking down three territories in one fell swoop, Ron rested in the Stone Territory.

Let me also organize what I've gained:

Needless to say, the territories of the three leaders were basically all annexed.

In total, there were over 60,000 serfs, and nearly 80,000 acres of farmland in the White Sheep Territory alone. All of it was taken into Ron's hands.

There's also a coal mine in Giant Stone Territory, which has been somewhat abandoned in recent years without knights stationed there. It can be reopened sometime.

The total amount of gold coins was 20,000, of which Aries Territory contributed more than 10,000. The Stone Territory and Black Bear Territory were both dirt poor, as they used all the money from their territories to support knights.

The biggest gains were in the area of ​​the Spirit Bug.

These three territories have been developed over the past ten years or so, accumulating considerable wealth, among which:

Black Bear Territory: 7 Magic Potion Sprites, 12 Agricultural Sprites, and 1 Beetroot Sprite (Farmer).

Aries Leader: 9 Magic Potion Bugs, 14 Agricultural Bugs, and 2 Agricultural-type Sprites: Garlic Sprite and Rye Sprite.

Giant Stone Territory: 6 Magic Potion Bugs, 9 Agricultural Bugs, 1 Tangerine Sprite (Farmer)