I'm the one running the game

"This winter has come a little early." Lu Xingshi looked outside the castle, and all the colors were covered by the white snowflakes.

The temperature also dropped suddenly, just like a big dive.

However, the development work did not stop, but was carried out in full swing.

Lu Xingshi prepared a series of winter supplies such as cotton clothes and charcoal for them, so as long as they did not cheat, they would not have to worry about not being able to survive this winter.

Dying in winter is not a lie.

Even in the original Black Soil Territory, three or five families would be frozen to death every year.

This is already a very small casualty. If it were under the command of those noble lords who were more oppressive, it would not be considered complete if there were not thirty or fifty families who died every year.

"It is indeed about half a month earlier than in previous years. Maybe it was the work of the winter wolf in the Everfrost Mountains?" The housekeeper said worriedly.

"Don't worry about these. You should control the supplies. In this weather, if there is any problem, it is easy to die." Lu Xingshi said.

He naturally wouldn't think so, because the winter wolf didn't have the ability to do that.

If it was in the snowy area of ​​the Everfrost Mountains, the winter wolf would have the ability, but to say that it could affect the weather and seasons would be a bit of a scapegoat.

If it was the God of Winter and Ice and Snow, Lu Xingshi could still trust him, but not the winter wolf.

In the past few days, he had communicated with the winter wolf many times, and the goodwill was probably at the friendly stage.

At least that's how Lu Xingshi saw it, the winter wolf had no hostility towards him, and would still communicate.

Lu Xingshi's way of brushing up his goodwill was also very simple, one was to communicate more, and the other was to send people to send some meat to the snow wolf pack, and they would get familiar with each other.

After all, they were neighbors, and Lu Xingshi had strong strength, so the winter wolf would definitely not make the relationship too stiff.

"Sir, you are so good to the people, I'm afraid they don't know how to be grateful." The housekeeper said, "You should punish them appropriately."

"..." For a moment, Lu Xingshi didn't know what to say.

In Lu Xingshi's eyes, lackeys are truly embodied.

This treatment is still too good, but the security Lu Xingshi provides is actually very ordinary.

But think about it again, everything is afraid of comparison.

Just take Lu Xingshi as an example, he is indeed very ordinary.

But compared with those noble lords, Lu Xingshi is simply a good man for nine generations.

"You don't understand." Lu Xingshi sighed: "They are my property. Don't think I treat them well now, but what if they die or get sick?"

"Let me describe it to you simply. A subject can live to the age of 40, and he has to work for me from the age of five."

"And if I let him live a better life, not only can he work for 35 years, but he can also give me at least five children."

"But if he lives a bad life and dies at the age of 30, not only will he lose 10 years of work, but he may also lose a child."

"Losing a child means 35 years of output, plus 10 years of living less."

"Just one death will make me lose 40 years of output."

"If it's not one person who dies, but a whole family, how much do you think I will lose?" Lu Xingshi explained to the butler.

If I really tell him that in this era, most people just want to have a full meal, sleep well, and raise children, the butler will definitely refute it.

Or if I tell him something like people-oriented, he will definitely say that as a noble, he doesn't need to consider these.

So if I tell him in a different way, he will understand the importance of the people in the territory.

"Such a huge loss!!!" The housekeeper was also shocked. How could he not have thought that letting the people in the territory live ten years less would actually damage the interests of the territory.

He was obviously fooled. What Lu Xingshi said was the best case.

In fact, few people in the territory live to the age of forty.

Heavy labor plus long-term malnutrition, when they are thirty years old, they are almost sixty years old.

Lu Xingshi is changing this situation in the Black Soil Territory.

He can't do much, anyway, just try his best. The main thing is that he is idle anyway, and he doesn't know when the main body will arrive.

See if he can build a force to push the whole world.

"Yes, do you think I haven't calculated the accounts? Treating the people well for no reason? That's because they can give me more benefits."

"Most of the noble lords, they are inherited by their children, unlike me, who used to be a wandering knight."

"So being thrifty is also my ability, otherwise I don't even have the money to maintain my armor." Lu Xingshi said with a smile.

After purchasing weapons and armor, it is not a one-time buyout, but a down payment. Various maintenance and even repairs are required later, so the monthly expenditure is not low.

Especially as a mercenary, the frequency of battles of the wandering knights is not low, so if the weapons and armor are not well maintained, people will die.

Of course, the equipment of the wandering knights is also very ordinary, and it is not as good as the equipment of the soldiers in the Black Soil Territory.

Lu Xingshi also learned how outrageous the armed forces of the Black Soil Territory are. Although there are few soldiers, their equipment is better than that of the Kingdom Guards.

Fortunately, there are few people, otherwise the Black Soil Territory will definitely not be able to support them.

"Your Excellency is worthy of being the one who can make the Lanton family from a viscount to an earl!" The butler couldn't help but stand in awe, thinking that those nobles who only know how to plunder the people and make money are too different from Lu Xingshi.

It is not easy to change a viscount into an earl without military merit.

"By the way, sir, the king has sent a letter to invite you to participate in this year's winter hunting activities." The butler said, handing a handwritten letter from the kingdom to Lu Xingshi.

Lu Xingshi briefly read it. The words in it were very official, but he also understood the meaning, that is, to come to the winter tour to get closer to each other.

He actually remembered that the kingdom's winter hunting was not specially invited to him, but it was held every year.

In previous years, the invitees were the kingdom's great knights, grand dukes, and marquises, the lowest level.

The lower titles were not eligible to participate.

The original Lanton family was just a small viscount, and there was no sense of existence, so they only heard about it and never participated at all.

As for the time, it was one month later, which was an advance notice. I hope Lu Xingshi will not be late.

He actually didn't want to participate, because there was no meaning. It was equivalent to a high-level salon in the kingdom, where the nobles came and went hypocritically.

But it's hard to refuse. You know, he is a 'loyal minister' of the kingdom. The king has sent you a handwritten invitation. If you don't go, your image will collapse.

The main reason is that during this period of time, Lu Xingshi has exchanged a lot of resources with the king by digging out the bones of foreign races from the Everfrozen Mountains. If you say you don't go now, it will be troublesome to think about getting some later.

"I know, I'll write back to thank you." Lu Xingshi said casually.

Since he is going to go, and it's the first time, he must express his attitude. He wants to be Sima Yi, so he has to do a good job on the surface.

"Sir, I don't think it's time to consider replying now, but if you want to go, you must bring people with you. You can't go to the capital alone like last time."

"There weren't so many nobles last time. If it's still so shabby this time, you and the Landon family will lose face because of this." The butler's statement is very simple, that is, Lu Xingshi's pomp is not big enough.

It's okay that he was poor before, but now he's rich and an earl. If he still goes alone and comes back alone, he will become a laughing stock among the nobles of the kingdom.

Nobles are indeed such strange creatures.

"For our poor and remote place, there is no need to do these things." Lu Xingshi said slowly.

Laughing stock? Thinking back to when Lu Xingshi was the emperor of Yan, he didn't look like an emperor at all. As long as he had strong strength, who would dare to say these to him.

A month later, he was already a great knight and a great wizard. With his strength, it was a piece of cake for him to kill through the palace, not to mention the whole capital.

It was unknown whether those little things could withstand Lu Xingshi's shield.

"But..." Hearing Lu Xingshi's refusal, the butler was also anxious. How could this be impossible? After all, he was now an earl.

"No buts, let's just leave it like this." Lu Xingshi wanted to show off, but with all his equipment, the show was definitely not enough to lift him.

As for taking it off?

You must be joking. For a little face, you don't even need strength. Don't be too absurd.

If you have face but no strength, it's just an empty shell.

But Lu Xingshi has strength. Even if he squats on the roadside and looks at thighs in a wretched way, he has to be praised for his true nature and not a wretched man.

Under Lu Xingshi's tough attitude, the butler finally couldn't beat Lu Xingshi.

After all, Lu Xingshi is the Earl of Langton, and the butler is just a butler, who has no right to make decisions for Lu Xingshi.

In terms of self-knowledge, the butler is still very good. At least he didn't think he could order Lu Xingshi because of Lu Xingshi's decentralization.

If you really can't distinguish between the big and small kings, then Lu Xingshi will let him go.

"Okay, if you don't have anything to do, go and get busy. I still have things to do." Lu Xingshi sent the butler away.

The butler can only leave temporarily. The matter of winter hunting can only be persuaded later, and the butler does not intend to persuade once, but slowly.

He could see that Lu Xingshi didn't care about these things, but this represented the face of Lu Xingshi, the Earl of Lanton, and he had to wear what he should wear.

It was just a little troublesome. If Lu Xingshi didn't take off his heavy armor and huge shield, the Earl's pomp and circumstance really couldn't pull him away.

Lu Xingshi didn't take these things to heart. Although he had a territory and power, he was still a loner.

His concern for power was more limited to how to serve himself, rather than really wanting to develop the power.

It was just that after the power was developed, it would be more helpful to him, otherwise he would be too lazy to run around.

Sharpening the knife does not delay the chopping of wood. You have to invest first before you can reap the rewards. Don't always think about getting something for nothing.