Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence

Hearing this round, stout halfling speak, Su Li couldn't help but want to laugh.

Sometimes, you really can't use the perspective of your previous life to view this world.

Take foolishness, for example. In this world, it's not a shameful flaw, nor is it a glorious virtue.

It's just a characteristic of people, like stubbornness, irritability, anger, greed, etc. It's not necessarily a bad thing. Mainly, if the bottom line of the whole world is low enough and the overall atmosphere is dark enough, then the requirements for virtue will be extremely low, and the standards for bad traits will be relatively high.

After all, compared to brutal, bloodthirsty, chaotic, and evil characteristics, foolishness and greed are just insignificant little quirks.

This camaraderie club generally lives up to the elite assessment given by Kroup, so Su Li said with great interest, "Tell me about your troop situation. How many special unit types do you have?"

Speaking of this, Kroup immediately became extremely proud. He straightened his chest, raised his chin, and increased his volume: "Our family brought 157 members. Except for the elderly and children, everyone is a qualified warrior."

"Please allow me to introduce our halfling army system in detail."

"Every halfling militiaman from the fields and villages is an excellent archer and a tenacious warrior. They have good minds (more accurately, they're sneaky) and can move freely in the woods."

If he started with the militia and continued like this, it would probably take one or two hours to finish the introduction.

Su Li directly waved his hand to interrupt him, and said, "Get to the point. How many soldiers do you have, and how many special unit types?"

"We have 96 soldiers, including 60 halfling militiamen, four battle ram chariots, six swan riders, three harvesters, two treant partners, three artillery pieces, and six platter wagons."

"And let me say, the platter wagon is the core of our halfling combat. It's an ace unit that every army welcomes."

Listening to his boasting, Su Li became more and more puzzled, and asked, "What exactly are these unit types? How do you have artillery? Aren't dwarves the only ones who use gunpowder? And how did the platter wagon get onto the battlefield?"

"You see, I told you that you needed me to introduce our special unit types in detail," Kroup said, looking as if he had foreseen this.

"This artillery isn't the dwarves' artillery. It's actually a type of halfling hot pot. Hot pot was originally just an adventurous innovation by us halflings, but now it has become one of our eating habits. The hot pot contains a pot of boiling liquid, and halflings can use launchers to splash it onto enemies, scalding or even melting them."

"Then what about the platter wagon?"

"The platter wagon carries three days' worth of rations for our halflings, pulled by a giant wild ox (by halfling standards). It belongs to an ancient breed of wild ox and is essentially a crude wild animal, but it's obviously quite delicious."

"What about the harvesters?"

"They're the various agricultural tools used by us halflings. Usually, they are used to harvest wheat, but in battle, they are used to harvest heads, pulled by two battle rams."

Good heavens, their so-called special unit types are just the various tools they usually use!

No wonder halflings have never been considered qualified warriors, whether in the halfling territory or the Empire. Even the idea of a halfling warrior is itself the punchline of several human jokes.

Seeing the smile on Su Li's face, the strong halfling was obviously irritated and emphasized, "Don't look down on our halfling combat power. Usually peaceful and tranquil halflings can become very brave and aggressive to defend their homes."

"Historically, our High Elder Hasmi sent a large halfling force as scouts and allies to help the Empire fight. The Imperial commanders repeatedly mentioned their bravery and wit."

"And our powerful battle ram chariots are very strong. These battle rams are strong and aggressive, with thick long hair and powerful butting skulls and dangerous long horns, which provide excellent protection and attack power. The impact chariot, pulled by two battle rams and carrying three halflings, can charge swiftly in almost impossible terrain."

Hmm?

After hearing his introduction of this unit type, Su Li finally became serious and corrected his attitude toward their combat power.

The Empire's army also needs chariots, and it is clear that these battle ram chariots make up for the lack of chariots for human knights.

Imagine if, when the two armies are at war, a large number of battle ram chariots appear on the side of a cliff and rugged mountains full of gravel, in a place that is considered absolutely impossible for cavalry to appear, what a huge impact it would have on the enemy.

"We also have powerful swan riders. These large birds are ideal mounts for quickly transporting troops on the battlefield. They are also very aggressive and can kill enemies with their powerful wings. The swans often fly across the sky in a 'V' formation, and the riders can shoot down a rain of arrows from above."

"Finally, we have intimate treant partners. We halflings have close ties with nature, the forest, and the juicy wild rabbits that live in it. Some halflings have successfully befriended treants, and the treants will fight side by side with the halflings—their halfling friends can even sit on their shoulders."

"Aren't so many powerful unit types worthy of attention?"

In fact, he also wanted to introduce many halfling unit types, such as their crazy chef unit, these people eat too many spicy dumplings, usually mixed in the ordinary chef team, once the war starts, they jump out and swing their heavy cooking utensils.

There are also their loyal sheepdogs, the owners of these sheepdogs usually ride on battle rams and use whistles to command the sheepdogs, who will follow behind the war rams and battle rams. Sheepdogs are very loyal to their owners and often save their lives.

But these were enough to arouse Su Li's attention, so Su Li asked with a serious expression: "How do you plan to join my territory?"

Kroup immediately replied: "Just like Hartscline said, we hope to join the Halfling Autonomous Territory. Each of our families will take out 800 gold crowns to buy a piece of land from your territory to expand the area of our autonomous territory."

This surprised Su Li. He thought that these halfling families would each buy a piece of territory and develop their respective family territories.

Unexpectedly, in terms of politics, the halflings also maintained their usual close characteristics, even if so many families had to live together intimately.

So Su Li asked curiously: "Then how do you govern your territory?"

"Of course, we have already negotiated political matters before deciding to unite. We have decided to adopt a feudal rule by a council jointly composed of landlord representatives, elected preachers, and family elders."

"At the same time, we have elected a powerful halfling hero to serve as our free mayor."

"Halfling hero?" Su Li's eyes lit up, and he looked at the last halfling representative.

"Yes, please allow me to introduce to you, our unusually strong halfling hero Ashfield Blackberry Bush."

As he spoke, the unusually strong halfling sitting in the corner stood up. He had developed muscles, and there was a huge scar on his cheek, which made him look very ferocious, which was very different from the peaceful halflings.

Kroup introduced: "Ashfield has an endless passion for food and lust. Compared to political calculations, he is more interested in the meal time of the next meal."

"As a brave and powerful halfling character, halfling heroes usually carry a picnic basket with them. Yes, any halfling will voluntarily follow a guy with a picnic basket. He will be our most perfect leader."

Ashfield, just like the introduction, is not interested in politics, but has an endless passion for food and lust. He has 7 lovers in his family alone, and 68 children were born!

So he urgently needs a territory and a well-paid job to support his wives and sons and daughters.

He respectfully bowed to Su Li, and then said: "Respected lord, our Blackberry Bush family is willing to serve you. As long as you give us a small piece of land, all the members of our family can work for your territory, serving as your collectors, farm harvest lords, scouts, cooks, servants and other roles. You know, halflings are the best cooks and servants on the continent."

Su Li thought for a while and said to the halflings who were nervously watching him: "Yes, I accept your allegiance. And the price of your land purchase will not change, it is still 800 gold crowns to buy eight kilometers."

The halflings cheered excitedly. The thing they had been looking forward to had finally been implemented. Everyone couldn't help but feel excited, and some even had tears in their eyes. They had been wandering as wanderers for too long, and they urgently needed a territory to stay and multiply.

But before their cheers fell, Su Li continued: "But your military vassal obligations need to be modified. As an autonomous territory covering an area of 32 li, you need to bear greater obligations."

"I need you to provide at least one squadron of halfling soldiers at ordinary times, and no less than one squad of elite soldiers among them. In times of war, you must fully respond to my call and participate in defensive battles."

A squad of elite soldiers?

The halflings all took a deep breath. The halflings' combat power cannot be compared with their big friends. A battle ram chariot is only equivalent to an elite knight.

All of their family's battle ram chariots are only 6 vehicles, even if you add 12 swan riders, they will not reach the combat power of a small team of elites.

And the treants will not leave the territory to participate in foreign wars.

It means that they must also hire more and more powerful ogre warriors to meet the needs of the Hessen lord.

They gathered together and discussed for a long time, and finally Ashfield gritted his teeth and made a reply. They agreed to this condition, provided that Su Li exempted them from one year's taxes in their autonomous territory. In order to allow them to accumulate a certain amount of wealth to hire people to meet the requirements of the territory.

This proposal was strongly opposed by the Lord Chancellor Laun, who believed that once Su Li agreed to this request, the taxes and business taxes escaped by their autonomous territory might exceed the wealth they paid to purchase the land.

But Su Li felt that he was exaggerating a bit. Can an autonomous territory really pay 2,400 gold crowns a year?

After all, there are only four large families in their territory, with a total of 460 people, which is the size of a village. If you switch to humans, it is just a small village of 80 households, and it is even difficult to believe that they can pay 240 gold crowns.

So after a fierce negotiation between the two sides, Su Li agreed to exempt them from half of the taxes in the first year.

That is, when Su Li reduces taxes to brush his virtues, he will refund them 30% more.

Then the Baran Autonomous Territory was completely formed. Four families of halflings joined the territory. In addition to their own development of the territory's hundreds of collectors and farm laborers, they can also provide at least 200 to 300 laborers for the Hessen Territory, engaged in maids, cooks, servants, workers and other positions.

In addition, they will also serve as contractors, commanding 117 ogre workers to provide strong assistance for the construction of the territory and earn a lot of wealth.