On the Seven Towers

"Your Excellency Xiao Chen, this is too much!" Viscount Brahms' hand was shaking as he held the list. Numbers ranging from 1,000 to 50 golden axes were clearly written on the list. For a baron, 1,000 golden axes may be the income of his territory for several years. "The ransom you ask for is too high. Under normal circumstances, the ransom is agreed upon. A baron's ransom will not exceed one hundred." Golden axes! When we were at war with the empire a few years ago, fifty or sixty golden axes could redeem a baron!"

Xiao Chen shrugged and said, "Then you don't have to redeem them. These nobles have their own use in my hands."

Brahms thought again of the parade he saw yesterday. These nobles were shackled and had their vindictiveness sealed away, walking back and forth in the town. The militiamen escorting them around held signs with their names and crimes written on them. There are also dedicated preachers to introduce the identities of these people to illiterate people. The originally aristocratic nobles had to face the ridicule and ridicule of the poor people around them, and some even threw stones and clods of dirt at their heads.

He even saw one of its representatives, Baron Antunes, confessing his sins in the square. His voice was spread throughout the town by the amplifying array, and Brahms believed that even the passing caravans and farmers working outside could hear his trembling voice.

The nobles were completely humiliated by them. Viscount Brahms felt that even if Julio or other nobles returned here one day, it would be difficult to rule these people as before. Because they have lost their due respect for the nobles. Yesterday, he saw many emotions he had never seen before in the eyes of those civilians: contempt, disdain, ridicule...

This should not be the emotion that civilians should have towards nobles, but now it has been planted in their minds by these people in front of them.

Brahms came back to his senses and said: "Your Excellency Xiao Chen, when the God of Nature created all things, he kept everything in order, so the same is true for the politics between lords. The rules are not so easy to break. What we have Compliance is like a pool of water. No matter if you throw stones into it or hit the water, all of these will only create a few waves, and eventually everything will return to its original state. "

"A pool of stagnant water." Chen Hansheng said, "Xiao Chen, it seems that Lord Brahms wants to teach you how to solve a pool of stagnant water."

"I don't think it's difficult. As long as the pool of water is evaporated, all kinds of strange things underneath will be exposed." Xiao Chen said easily.

Xiao Chen's answer left Brahms speechless. He warned: "It is impossible for the Duke to agree to such a price. If you are stubborn, you will get nothing in the end."

"The Duke will also not get what he wants." Xiao Chen stood up from the backrest and approached Brahms, showing his sincerity, "He will even lose a lot of things, such as the support of his vassals. Such as the loyalty of the army and certain opportunities that are coming. "

Obviously, Xiao Chen hit their weakness this time. Viscount Brahms's face was uncertain. He hesitated for a long time, clicked the order and finally said: "There are nearly six thousand gold axes in total. This is not a small sum of money. The Duke does not have that much cash."

"That's not a problem." Xiao Chen laughed. It seemed that the other party was finally going to take the bait. All the prices for redeeming slaves were calculated based on the output of the other party's territory. Although the price was definitely high, But it is still within the scope of what the other party can offer, "You can use many things to pay off the debt, such as magic materials, minerals, food, weapons and equipment, and even slaves."

"I have to discuss this with my assistant before I can give you an answer." Viscount Brahms said coldly.

"That's no problem." Xiao Chen knew that this matter was close to home, "but Mayor Chen still has some small problems here."

Chen Hansheng was still a little weak, coughed twice and said, "It's just that the Duke still owes me some compensation."

"Compensation? This is not included in the request given to us by Mr. Xiao Chen." Brahms had an ominous premonition.

"That's not something that happened in Green Garden Town, but when Matos attacked our town of Alano, it caused a lot of damage. When you came in, you must have seen that many roads and walls in the town were damaged, among other things. , the community center alone, which is our current former baronial mansion, needs to be renovated, and the big hole at the front door has not been filled yet," Chen Hansheng said slowly.

Brahms almost couldn't control his emotions: "But this has nothing to do with the Duke, it is the result of Matos's unauthorized actions."

"Don't forget, Matos is a vassal of the Duke of Green Forest City. Now that he is dead and his brother is with the Duke, who can we look for if we don't look for the Duke?" Chen Hansheng paused and said, "However, we also have a The backup plan is that if you can't pay the compensation, then we can only let those prisoners work to pay back the money. They cannot be redeemed until they offset all the debts. "

"If I don't redeem them, will you use them as slaves?"

"Of course not. They will work together with our people, but the hardest and most dangerous jobs will fall on them. They are inherently stronger than ordinary people, and good steel must be used on the blade."

"How much?" Brahms didn't want to listen to these two people's nonsense anymore and asked directly.

Chen Hansheng held out a finger and said, "I only want a thousand golden axes, which will be mainly used to repair facilities. You can also use stones and wood to offset the debt."

"I will give you a reply after discussion."

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After Viscount Brahms left, Kalanda, who had listened to the whole process, said: "It seems that you have no intention of resolving the conflict with Green Forest City, and it seems that you are ready to make the feud last forever?"

"It seems that you have seen it through." Chen Hansheng glanced at Xiao Chen and said: "You come and explain it to Kalanda."

Xiao Chen nodded and said: "Green Forest City has no meaning of reconciliation for us. Because Green Forest City is located in a very special location, with a suitable area, rich resources, and is a marginal city, it is of great significance to us. So this will not be our last battle. Before we completely determine the ownership of this area around us, we will definitely continue to have conflicts with them, and even wars."

"That's why we have to try our best to squeeze their money and materials and take out every penny we can steal from their pockets. This is also to weaken their logistical strength, so that we can gain greater advantages in the future." Chen Hansheng added.

Xiao Chen smiled and said: "The best thing is that even if Viscount Brahms knows this, he has to follow our pace. He is determined to be the transport captain!"