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

Ron looked at the contents of the letter, his expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.

The announcement didn't say much beforehand, only that the jasmine sprite Ron had exchanged for with his military merits had arrived and that someone could come to Oak City to pick it up.

Then, he subtly expressed his regret that Boris had encountered a small group of orcs on his way back to his territory and unfortunately died.

Ron was praised for his noble chivalry in helping Lady Elise defend her territory.

It's normal for the letter to reach this point.

But then he criticized Ron for not knowing how to unite his neighbors, saying that many lords had complained to Oakwood that Ron was acting recklessly and disturbing the peace of the frontier.

Then he told Ron to look north and to vigorously expand the duchy's territory, and so on.

In short, the message is: stop focusing on the lords causing trouble in the rear; if you have the ability, expand northward.

Your neighbors have all called for help; if this continues, Ron won't get away with it.

Ron read the letter word by word, the last few words carrying a subtle threat.

As Ron read, he felt an itch on the back of his head, as if something was growing there.

He thought to himself, "These unruly people dare to accuse me first."

This is no longer an ordinary neighborhood! We must take decisive action!!!

After pondering for a moment, he said to the messenger:

"I understand what the Marquis means. River Bend will continue its northward expansion in accordance with the Marquis's arrangements."

But...

"However, the Marquis's letter came a little late. I have had some conflicts with the Baron of Green Lake recently, and just last night I conquered one of his towns."

"If Green Lake Territory is willing to use this as a boundary and stop attacking me, I would be very willing to stop the war with them. This would also be in response to the Marquis's call to unite the neighbors."

The messenger didn't dare to answer for a moment, stammering for a long time.

Ron, seeing his troubled expression, said:

"Here's what we'll do: you go back and inform the Marquis. I will obey whatever arrangements the Marquis makes."

The messenger withdrew with a troubled expression.

Ron urgently summoned his men to a meeting in the council chamber.

Lauenhart and his group arrived at the council chamber one after another.

Ron was standing by the window, cursing under his breath.

I think this Marquis Mammon is also gloomy; he's already courting death!

His ancestor was a servant born into a horse-breeding family, a marquis who was beaten down to the point where he couldn't make a living in the duchy. What gives him the right to swagger around here?!

How many great knights are left in the family after they all died?

I'll make sure you eat purple eggs sooner or later!!

After everyone arrived, Ron didn't waste any words:

"Immediately send men to seize Green Lake Territory's port. If they dare to retaliate, wipe them all out."

"yes!"

Without asking why, Laun and the others simply accepted the order and went to arrange for the soldiers.

Half an hour later.

Ron rode off with his troops. Of the hundred soldiers, a small portion had cultivated battle qi, and although almost all of them had been abandoned, they could still be considered entry-level knight squires in terms of combat strength.

This group of soldiers was far superior in strength to all the soldiers in the entire pioneering territory. They were essentially a weakened version of the Knights Order.

The armor was neat and the banners were bright. Laun and Hart stood on either side of the group. Abaddon followed behind, carrying a spiked club.

This is Ron's weapon. He gave it to Abaddon because Abaddon didn't have a suitable weapon, and then had a craftsman make an even heavier one for himself.

The group passed through Linshui Territory, took Allen with them, and then swaggered into Green Lake Territory without any concealment.

On the way, they encountered several serfs from Green Lake Territory. Upon seeing the procession, they were so frightened that they dropped their hoes and ran away.

Ron ignored them.

After walking for more than an hour, the outline of the port came into view.

Docks, warehouses, and a small town. Several merchant ships were moored in the harbor, and Ron looked on with envy; this place was far more prosperous than his own territory.

Most of the trade between the more than twenty territories in the vicinity is handled through this port. After all, traveling overland to Oak City is too far, caravans have to pay taxes in every territory they pass through, and the journey itself is not safe.

Green Lake Territory earns a net income of 5,000 gold dragons annually from this port alone, solidifying his position as the richest man in the region.

Hart spurred his horse forward: "My lord, the port is just ahead."

Ron nodded. "Let's go."

The procession continued forward. The port guards had already spotted them; horns were blowing from the watchtowers, and people were running around behind the city walls in a chaotic scene.

By the time Ron reached the outside of the port, the city gates were already closed.

Behind the wall stood dozens of soldiers and several knights dressed as mercenaries. The leader was a middle-aged knight who looked tense, his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Austin has been feeling uneasy these days.

He remained holed up in the castle, not venturing out an inch. The castle contained numerous high-priced, alchemically refined crossbow bolts, and he believed no one could breach its defenses.

The port's defenses are also quite strong. He hired a mercenary squad from Oak City, led by a high-ranking knight squire, with two mid-ranking and six or seven low-ranking soldiers under his command. They were all stationed in the port town.

"Who goes there!"

The leading knight shouted.

Ron reined in his horse and looked at him with amusement.

"River Bend, Ron Broccoli."

The knight's face paled even more. He had clearly heard of this name before.

He accepted a thousand gold dragons from Baron Austin to guard the port for a month, specifically to keep an eye on Ron.

"Baron, this is Green Lake Territory, you..."

"Enough talk, kill them!!" Ron interrupted him.

A port town is a town, not a castle that is easy to defend and difficult to attack.

This place is easy to attack but difficult to defend; no one would be foolish enough to risk attacking the city gate.

The town is so big, we can just find a place to climb over it. Besides, Ron has so many knights under his command, it's just a matter of climbing over a wall.

At Ron's command, three high-ranking knights—Laun, Hart, and Allen—each led a squad to attack from three different directions.

All three were dressed in full armor, and with a few leaps of their battle qi, they scaled the wall and landed behind it, where they were surrounded by the guards.

Or, to put it another way, one person surrounded the soldiers. Then the soldiers behind them also took the opportunity to cooperate and climb over the wall.

The port town was captured in less than an hour.

Only one mid-level mercenary escaped from that group; the rest were all captured.

And just like that, the port town changed hands!

Laun took a flag from his horse. It was red with the broccoli family crest embroidered on it—a green broccoli.

After cleaning up the battlefield, Hart and the others collected all the corpses, to be dealt with by Ron later.

He instructed his men to maintain order in the town and then summoned the town's steward.

Ron then spent the next night finally figuring out the situation in this port town.

This port is far more complicated than Ron had imagined.

Most of the profitable businesses in the town, including shops and warehouses, don't belong to Austin. They involve dozens of nobles, including two earls.

Austin's five thousand gold dragons were nothing compared to their earnings.

For example, there is a serf exchange in the town, which is the property of Earl Haitang. Every year, thousands of serfs and slaves are traded here.

There's also a grain trading market, metal...

Ron thought about it and decided to take a step back and not touch the interests of these people for the time being.

As for Baron Austin's properties and goods, Ron took them all.

Green Lake Castle.

Baron Austin was pacing anxiously as he received news that Ron was leading soldiers to the port.

Despite repeated attempts, they chose to remain holed up in the castle and refuse to provide support.

After all, he had been captured by Boris outside the city last time. He was still traumatized.

He rubbed his temples in frustration, and then heard hurried footsteps outside.

"My lord! My lord! Something terrible has happened!"

A knight stumbled in, his face deathly pale.

"The port...the port has fallen! That entire mercenary squad is dead!"

Austin clenched his fist tightly and slammed it onto the table with a dull thud.

"Ron, you've gone too far!!"

"I want to write to Marquis Mammon! I want to write to Earl Begonia! I want to lodge a complaint..."

Austin slammed his hand on the table, causing the teacup to overturn.

After venting for a while, Austin finally calmed down.

"Send men!" he roared.

"Send men to Black Stone Ridge, to Cold Pine Ridge! Tell them—"

He paused, then gritted his teeth: "Tell them Ron has taken over my port! If they don't help, they'll be next!"