Chapter 59: Chapter 1: Recruiting New Soldiers
The negotiations went so smoothly that Su Li could hardly believe it, so he asked, "You won’t be moving around anymore?"
Hartskline nodded and said, "The Black Mountains are the end of our family’s journey. We chose the Border Prince’s Territory because we wanted to find a suitable home to settle in at the end of our journey. The Pioneer Lords here have a great demand for caravans, and there are many projects suitable for our engineering team. Perhaps we can get along well."
Hartskline grinned happily, as half-elves always do. They are accustomed to calling humans "big ones" and find great comfort in close relationships.
Seeing the happy grin on the half-elf’s face, Su Li couldn’t help but smile as well. The deities of this world were very unique when creating beings. They gave elves long ears and elegance, dwarves big beards and stubbornness, and half-elves a wide smile and optimism.
As a result, they are always able to get along well with humans; they are the favorite servants of human nobles and have a natural merchant’s temperament.
Within the Border Prince’s Territory, conflicts and disputes are unending, with lords waging wars all around. Yet, all lords maintain a tacit principle: never attack caravans, lest they cut off the trade routes and the Pioneer Lords get trapped in their remote territories. If the half-elves display their caravan flags, they receive even more special care because their commercial reputation is decent. Many lords prefer dealing with them rather than sly human merchants.
After the relations eased, Su Li gained more intelligence about the Balantangborne Clan. The family had a total of 56 half-elves, 23 of whom were adult men and women capable of taking up bows as Manor Guards.
Their combat prowess is certainly not on par with Knights; the half-elves’ talents are primarily in commerce, and their combat ability is only equivalent to Armed Attendants.
According to the agreement with Hartskline, the half-elves are to provide 12 half-elf archers to train and patrol within Su Li’s forces.
If the territory is invaded or Su Li summons his vassals for a conquest war against other forces, the half-elves must provide at least one elite-level soldier and two squads of soldiers to fight alongside Su Li. Of course, they can send more personnel to seek glory in the military. If they establish merit, Su Li might consider expanding their territory size.
These terms are not hard to accept for the Balantangborne Clan because their ogre partners include three Ogre Bull Warriors, monstrous infantry far taller and stronger than ordinary ogres, with heavy iron armor and massive muscles and fat capable of crashing into enemy lines and swinging giant clubs savagely. Dealing with such gigantic monsters would require at least one Elite Knight.
Negotiations regarding vassal military obligations went very smoothly, but the economic negotiations even made the optimistic and cheerful half-elves unable to smile!
Hartskline grinned, but not in joy—it was more of a twitch: "Oh, honorable Lord, I suspect that Hyacinth Under Her Majesty’s abandoned us, and all the Divine Grace went to you. How could you fixate on the condition of 800 Gold Crowns, plundering every single Golden Crown from our family?"
The Golden Crown, the official name for Gold Coins, is the Empire’s formally issued currency. Half-elves, goblins, and some devotees of the God of Commerce believe there is a faint Divine Power in it, so they recognize only this official currency, not the coins secretly minted by lords through their gold mines.
Therefore, every Golden Crown is a cherished treasure for half-elves. Su Li set the price directly at 800 Golden Crowns, purchasing 8 kilometers of land, giving Hartskline no room for bargaining.
Unfortunately, this price was the Balantangborne Clan’s acceptable bottom line, leaving every half-elf grinning but not being able to laugh.
They were drained of their Gold Coins in one go and forced to become vassals of Hesse Territory, making it feel as if the Balantangborne Clan sold themselves yet still helped the Lord count the money!
They lost money and people, having to help Master Suli open up territory, excavate projects, and fight wars, all for just an 8-kilometer "territory"! That area truly is just a community, one that’s completely wild.
Every half-elf had a solemn look. Isn’t the Hyacinth Under Her Majesty supposed to cherish the half-elves most? Maybe it’s actually this Young Master Suli?
He’s such a shrewd businessman!
For Hyacinth, the deity revered by the half-elves, Su Li feels more favored than towards the Dawn Goddess.
This deity is linked to half-elves’ belief as the goddess of childbirth, fertility, and love, also rumored to be their Ancestor God, leading them to greener pastures and more offspring through divine revelations regularly.
Such gods that spoon-feed wealth to followers are much more charming in Su Li’s eyes than the Dawn Goddess encouraging survival through personal strength.
Upon hearing the half-elves say they were favored by Hyacinth Under Her Majesty, Su Li was delighted, smiling while passing down the teachings of the Dawn Goddess: "Don’t worry, even if you’re penniless now, a bright future awaits. Hesse Territory is expanding and developing, with abundant projects and opportunities waiting for you. Just let your ogre crews work, just organize your caravans, and won’t the wealth come your way?"
Hartskline was successfully tempted by Su Li’s grand visions. Though half-elves may not always be scrupulous, their industry is widely acknowledged.
If there are many opportunities, they will soon be motivated, eagerly throwing themselves into work, relishing the joy of earning Golden Crowns.
Hartskline then led her family to settle downstream of the Brionne River, choosing the territory near the river approximately two hundred Empire miles from where it converges.
She intended to build a beautiful garden here, watching the barges pass on the canal every day, setting up watchtowers and water gates to act as the core area’s guard for Hesse Territory.
Although it’s downstream of the Brionne River, for merchants, barges, and River Giants coming from the direction of Marle Castle, it’s considered upstream entry into Hesse Territory.
Hartskline and her Manor Guards, along with the River Guard, will protect this place and provide vigilance for Hesse Territory.
Her eldest son, Harriet, joined Hesse Territory’s Armed Attendant force with 12 half-elf archers, standing shoulder to shoulder with humans to guard this home.
Her nephew, Harillah, having a knack for business, led two teams of ogre construction crews into Hesse Territory’s