Chapter 65: The Kingdom Signs a Peace Treaty

For some reason, he felt a warmth of motherly love here, perhaps because Yanzi had founded this place, and she was so much like his own mother.

“I’ll always remember you, Yanzi…” 

At this moment, the Count wished to stay a while longer and reminisce about the wonderful times spent with Yanzi.

As the Count paced back and forth, carefully observing the Yanzi-Ronnie Casino, a guard from the town gate hurriedly approached him to report.

“My noble lord, there’s news about the kingdom’s war.”

“Are you referring to King Harlaus X’s large-scale troops at the Khergit Khanate’s border near Dark Castle and the village of Xiko?” Draxel asked.

“Yes, you guessed right. We won! We successfully occupied Dark Castle and Xiko Village. Following this, the kingdoms negotiated, and we’ve signed a peace treaty with the Khergit Khanate.”

“Hmm, that’s good news. But for the Khergit Khanate to sign a peace treaty after losing territory and suffering a defeat, they must be severely weakened and unable to recover for some time.”

“Indeed! I’m also delighted by our victory. Long live the Kingdom of Swadia! By the way, my noble lord, I believe the king’s follow-up instructions for you have already been delivered to the lord’s hall. Perhaps you should check them?”

Hearing this, Draxel decided not to linger at the Yanzi-Ronnie Casino any longer. He could cherish his memories in his heart, wherever he was. 

He mounted his horse and hurried back to the lord’s hall.

Inside the lord’s hall, Merchant Marnid had already received the king’s instructions and was waiting for the Count’s return.

He saw the Count approaching at a gallop from a distance, evidently already aware of the war’s outcome.

“My noble lord, the king’s directive has arrived. Please have a look.”

“No need, just report it to me and share your thoughts and suggestions.”

“Alright, here’s the situation. After King Harlaus X’s troops captured Dark Castle and Xiko Village, we suffered significant soldier losses and food depletion. The king initially planned to recuperate and then push further into enemy territory to expand our gains. However, the Khergit Khanate sent envoys to negotiate with us.”

Draxel interrupted, “Was the envoy Valkyrie Tian Yan?”

“Yes, Valkyrie Tian Yan negotiated on behalf of Khergit Khanate’s ruler, Sanjar Khan. They signed a two-month peace treaty with us. During this time, they will release all Swadian prisoners. As for the Khergit soldiers and Noyan lords we’ve captured, they agreed to ransom them back.”

“That sounds advantageous for us. But why would they do this? Both armies just engaged in a major battle. They were the defenders, and typically, the defending side suffers fewer losses. You mentioned our losses were heavy. Wouldn’t their best option be to launch a counterattack?”

“Initially, I thought the same. However, our merchants who trade with the Khergit Khanate have reported that the Khanate is currently facing significant internal strife, possibly with many rebels. Their internal situation is dire.”

Draxel pondered for a moment and said, “That makes sense. They were forced to sign an unequal treaty with us to prioritize dealing with their internal conflicts. It seems Lady Luck is on our kingdom’s side this time. Continue, does King Harlaus X have any new orders for us?”

“Count, the king has no new tasks for us at the moment. He simply wants us to continue defending and developing Uxhall and its three subordinate villages. However, no new lords have been appointed for the newly captured Dark Castle and Xiko Village. You have a vote, and the king is awaiting your response.”

“A vote? You mean to elect an earl to serve as the lord of Dark Castle and Xiko Village?”

Merchant Manid nodded respectfully and replied, “Yes, that’s correct.”

“Then please help me write a report to King Harlaus X, stating that the success of this war is largely due to Count Haringoth’s contributions. I cast my vote for him to be the new lord of Dark Castle and Xiko Village. Also, write a letter to Count Haringoth informing him of my vote. We can’t do good deeds without recognition. We’ll need his help in the future!”

[System Prompt: Exactly, we can’t be the unsung heroes here! I still remember last time when Count Haringoth bailed on us. I bet next time he sees us, he’ll feel obliged to give us something.]

Draxel agreed with the system’s sentiment. After all, Count Harlan was a sincere and honest person. A bit of face-saving and reciprocal courtesy wouldn’t go unnoticed by him.

“Haha, Count, I thought the same as you. I already prepared both the report and the letter you just mentioned.”

Merchant Marnid took out the two documents from his pocket, ready to present them to Draxel for review.

Draxel smiled, shook his head, and waved his hand, saying, “No need, I trust that your words reflect my thoughts perfectly. Go ahead and proceed with the arrangements.”

[Your friendliness with Merchant Manid increased by +5. Current friendliness: 60.]

[System Prompt: You’re getting better at winning people’s hearts. This is great.]

After handling this matter, Draxel planned to relax in the garden behind the lord’s hall, but Xiao Nan came rushing in to report.

“My noble lord, we have returned. I just heard that you went to fight the King of the Land Lions a few days ago. It was a formidable opponent. Are you alright? I heard you needed 3-5 days to recover.”

Hearing this, Draxel’s thoughts drifted back to Ronnie, and his eyes dimmed. 

Not wanting to dwell on it, he replied, “Thank you for your concern, Xiao Nan. I’m fine now. Tell me about the training. How are those Swadian soldiers doing? Any progress?”

Xiao Nan looked ashamed and awkwardly answered, “I’m sorry, Count. I’ve let you down. They haven’t made much progress. Unlike us tavern mercenaries who gain experience even when we’re not fighting, these Swadian soldiers might only improve on the battlefield.”

“I see, that’s alright. It’s not your fault. I just wanted to give it a try by sending you and Xiao Ming. Alright, go rest for now. Remember to assign rotations for guard duty to protect Uxkhal. Even though we’ve signed a peace treaty with the Khergit Khanate, we can’t guarantee others won’t cause trouble.”