Warlord: King of All Clans

Leo thought for a moment and said, "Let's talk about it next spring."

Just a few days ago, Rigolav sent a letter suggesting that Leo, as the ruler of Isenpol, should enfeoff knights.

After the destruction of Gladstone's Legion, the racial war, and the destruction of Adonis' Legion, a large number of Isenbol's corner flag knights were killed.

Some of their knighthoods were inherited, while others remained undealt with.

In the Orlantis Empire, knights were not hereditary nobles. Their fiefs were rewards from the nobles and were used to maintain the knights' arms, but they could not be inherited.

This is even more true in the North. The Earl has the right to reclaim the fiefdom of any knight, especially those knights who are unable to fulfill their knightly obligations. It is only natural to take back the fiefdom.

According to tradition, only the Pioneer Knights Territory and the Square Banner Knights Territory can barely guarantee inheritance.

For example, in the River Bend Territory, in order to encourage development, if the normal process is followed, it is a foregone conclusion that Leo will inherit Uriyan's territory.

But after another generation, it would most likely be divided into multiple corner flag territories, and then based on the principle that a knight can only own one knight's territory, it would be distributed to his descendants and knights loyal to him.

If his descendants cannot inherit the position of Square Flag Knight, they will most likely only be able to defend the ancestral land of the River Bay Peninsula. The other territories will sooner or later become independent and become new Corner Flag families.

This is the current situation of the defeated Gladstone family and Adonis family. Their heirs can only barely keep their ancestral lands. The excess lands have been taken back and divided up, or granted to other proletarian knights to maintain the armored base of Isenbol.

As for those corner flags that were close to them, their fiefdoms would be taken back regardless of the knights' life or death because of the crime of "rebellion".

At present, there are at least fifteen knight territories in the suburbs and north of Isenbol that are still vacant.

Therefore, Rigolav suggested that Leo take the opportunity to divide the extraordinary knights in his hands and expand the territory of River Bay.

After several battles, the number of Isenpol's knights and armored soldiers declined significantly.

If a foreign enemy invades, a local legion is temporarily formed, but without sufficient equipment and armor, it will be difficult to fight against legions from other places.

On the contrary, Hewan has more and more armor. No matter whether it is the Rose Knight or the Wind Knight, they are enough to deter the villains when they are taken out.

He distributed the extraordinary knights under his command and occupied these ownerless corner flag territories, and the other square flag families could not object.

It is impossible not to confer titles on extraordinary knights, but to forcibly confer titles on a group of nameless and unproletarian knights without any military merit to become lords of corner flags.

But there is a problem. In the North, enfeoffment of the Knights of the Corner Banner is a power only available to the Earl.

Rigolav's words were almost the same as suggesting that he claim the title of count.

This is why Leo is still considering it. Once he privately seals the corner flag, it would be equivalent to openly declaring himself an earl, which would intensify the conflict with the two cities in the north, and a war would come sooner or later.

War is a means to gain political status and economic benefits. It can be said to be the ultimate means, but it is by no means the only means.

If the benefits that Hewan could gain from development were far greater than the benefits from war, then Leo would try to avoid war.

Wouldn't it be great to wait until muskets, artillery, and super-weapons are collectively upgraded, and then crush all living beings?

But others don't see it that way. All the people in the North only think about fighting and getting promoted, even women.

Everyone in Hewan who knew the inside story was excited, even Olivia was no exception.

Madam Knight, how can you be as noble as a Countess?

She was like this, and with a group of knights who were eager to achieve success, she felt even more anxious.

Originally, Leo became the ruler of Isenpor City, but was unwilling to govern personally to consolidate his position, which had already caused many people's misunderstanding. Now there is vacant land but it is not distributed, which makes people even more anxious.

Olivia didn't understand politics and didn't want to say much. She just hugged Leo and reminded him, "Dad said that when it comes to politics, it's better to listen to our godfather. He is much better at it than us."

"I know."

Just as he was perfunctorily dealing with the matter, the little maid, Elodie, rushed in and quickly kowtowed, "Master Leo, someone outside wants to see you."

"Who?"

"He said he was a messenger from Count Fruilov's palace."

Leo quickly straightened his clothes and said, "Finally you're here. I'll go greet you in person."

When I walked out of the big house, the messenger from Count Frelov's mansion was already waiting on the wooden steps outside the door.

When Leo took a look, he saw that it was the contemporary Count Frelov, the lord of the entire Earldom of Frelov - Hermann Frelov.

Leo was startled and saluted, "My Lord Earl!"

Hermann Fruilov is a middle-aged man in his thirties. Unlike the dandy third son Tariq and the gentle old Victor, he is a typical northern knight.

During the defense of Frovald, he had always been the right-hand man of the Grand Duke of the North, and had met Leo many times.

He is the eldest son of the late Earl, a mid-level extraordinary knight, the current Lord of Frovald, and the new master of the Earldom of Fruilov.

Leo had been waiting for him to send someone to communicate with him, but he never expected that the other party would travel five hundred miles alone and come to the river bend in person.

You have to know that between Isenpol and Frovald there is Ilanrado, which is the territory of his younger brother Victor.

Although Victor of Ilanrado did not openly declare himself count and be hostile to his brother like Tariq did, he would probably be very interested if there was a chance to make Hermann "disappear".

Hermann knew very well how much the Duke of the North valued Leo, so he did not regard himself as a feudal lord at all. Instead, he smiled and said, "It's too formal. Just call me Hermann."

"Yes, Lord Earl."

After welcoming Hermann into the reception room and serving him tea, Leo asked with a smile, "If the Count has any orders, he can just send a messenger to deliver them. Why did you come here in person?"

"I've wanted to come to Isenpol for a long time, but I never had the chance." Herman said with a wry smile, "Although I am the eldest son of the Fruilov family, I was sent to Olenik when I was young and became a knight of the wind under the Grand Duke of the North. I didn't return to my hometown until I was in my twenties.

"I have hardly ever been to the cities in my territory. This is my first time here in Isenbol."

Leo said enthusiastically, "Then stay a few more days, and I'll show you around Isenbor."

Herman was also a straightforward person. He shook his head and said, "I appreciate your kindness, but now is not the right time. I have received your letter, but my third brother Tariq has been intercepted by old Vector and is staying in Ilanrado."

After being captured, Tariq was sent to Frovald by Leo, along with Flynn Adonis.

But Ilanrado in the middle is the only way, so it is not surprising that Tariq was intercepted by Victor who occupied Ilanrado.

Killing this guy would only cause trouble, but as long as he leaves Isenbol, the trouble will no longer be his.

Leo thought for a moment and said comfortingly, "This is a good thing for you."

"Your brother can be a square flag army. With him in Ilanrado, your pressure is relieved a lot."

Herman recalled his third brother's character and couldn't help but smile, but then he restrained himself, "Although he is my third brother, it seems that what you said is not wrong."

He stared at Leo, "Compared to my two brothers, you give me more pressure."

Leo sat up straight quietly. "Why do you say that? My loyalty is clear as day and moon, and heaven and earth can bear witness to it. I have absolutely no intention of rebelling! You see, as soon as Sir Tariq rebelled, I immediately took him to the Earl's Palace. The Lord's Palace of Isembol is still empty now."

Herman said solemnly, "I believe in your loyalty, but I don't know who you are loyal to, so I came here this time to form an alliance with you."