Chapter 84: Chapter 26: Knight’s Training in the Wilds
The losing Belos was filled with regret and asked, "My friend, my respected Lord, I trusted you so much, believing you always to be wise, with eyes as sharp as a hawk’s. How could you mix up something so simple? These three sets of armor, how can they compare with my craftsmanship?"
Su Li couldn’t help but make a snide remark, well, I’m really thankful for your trust, huh.
But from his perspective, these three sets of armor were already very perfect, at least at a fine-grade level.
Such a fine-grade dwarven heavy armor, when the market is good, can even sell for a high price of 40 gold coins, even if sold to Marle Castle, the price wouldn’t be lower than 30 gold coins.
Su Li confidently replied, "Isn’t this normal? I’ve never seen the fine armor you’ve crafted."
Upon hearing this, Belos was even more annoyed, and couldn’t help but curse: "Ah, damn it. I’m really a stupid donkey! I shouldn’t have been lazy back then. No, it’s all Lauren’s fault, that mean bastard, he wouldn’t let me forge armor, always making me forge some non-technical farm tools."
Su Li patted him satisfactorily on the shoulder, the Lord liked this kind of subordinate who could brainwash themselves, and then he kindly encouraged him, "So you have to work harder to forge armor and runes in the future. If you can make three sets of fine heavy armor in one cycle, if there are any giants about, I’ll reward you with their corpses."
"Three sets in a week?" Belos thought about it, with enough iron ingots, given his strength and skill, he could easily forge one set of fine armor in a week working only during the day. If he worked overtime at night, two sets a week would also be relatively easy.
But to make three sets in a cycle, he would have to give it his all and go several days without sleep or rest.
But considering more Giant Brew, he gritted his teeth and said, "My dearest friend, I will go all out. As long as I don’t drop dead, I’ll be forging territory armor day and night."
Watching the determined dwarf walk away, Su Li felt a bit guilty, because he seemed to see a shadow of his past self in this dwarf. It turned out that the overworked oxen and horses were all choked on this kind of big pie.
But he quickly adjusted his mindset, he was far better than those unscrupulous bosses who only draw big pies and don’t deliver. He motivated his subordinates with real gold and silver!
Su Li turned and said to Hilude, "Have the attendants put these armors into the armory and distribute them to the knights tomorrow."
Currently, the territory still equips the knights and attendants with weapons and armor because the territorial knights now all serve directly under him, controlled by the High-level Attendant Chief Hilude.
Their status is somewhat similar to that of the Forbidden Army directly under the Emperor of the Empire, so their equipment issues must be resolved.
Once Su Li enfeoffs a knight, allocating a piece of territory or a countryside, bestowing a Kingdom Knight,
Then he will no longer concern himself with the armor of that knight and the armed attendants under him. By then, the armor and weapons forged by dwarves in the territory can still be sold to them.
Even their territorial laws can differ slightly from those of the Hesse Territory, like the matter of droit du seigneur.
Whether Su Li abolishes the droit du seigneur doesn’t affect his territory continuing to maintain this right.
As for whether to abolish the droit du seigneur, Su Li is still contemplating.
He always takes the easy route, never considering going against the whole world. There’s no need for him to do things that draw public ire.
He plans to use this issue to brush up on virtues, that is, issuing a decree every one or two years to exempt one year’s droit du seigneur. Just like how the Eastern Emperor occasionally exempts a year’s tax for the whole world, immediately winning cheers and gratitude from the people.
This can both improve public support and favorability, and increase marriage rates, birth rates, and newborn survival rates.
No one knows whether the droit du seigneur will be waived next year, so marriages are rushed, those who can marry this year absolutely won’t delay until next year. Those who can get pregnant this year will work overtime to conceive.
At the same time, this can greatly increase the favor of the Dawn Church, as one of the major duties of the Dawn Goddess is overseeing fertility and children. By then, men and women will certainly pray beneath the Goddess Monastery and shrines.
Finally, virtues have genuinely extraordinary effects in this divine-spirit-filled world. Higher virtues easily lead to receiving more divine grace and gaining stronger military support.
Thinking about this, he felt he needed to put in more effort, his life goal was to expand his lineage.
By then, more sons and daughters could cultivate more knights and develop more fiefs.
So Su Li got up from the grass, brushed off the grass clippings on his hands, and said to Hilude, "Hilude, we should conduct knight training."
Practicing swordsmanship, Hilude’s heroic face suddenly turned red, and she bashfully lowered her head, her voice slightly trembling, "Lord, why... suddenly conduct knight training? Right... here?"
Su Li’s eyes widened instantly, did the girls really have such wild thoughts on their minds usually?
In the fragrant fields? Are you tempting me to make a mistake in the flower field?
Indeed, the boys are quite innocent, huh!
Especially those young boys, who are still fantasizing about holding hands with the Goddess. Little do they know, in private, the Goddess has already unlocked various positions with her lover.
How could Su Li miss such a good thing?
Right now, the slaves are all at work, so even outdoors, no one would pass by.
Thus, Su Li and Hilude smoothly unlocked new achievements +1, +2, +3...
Until evening, when they returned to the castle, Hilude’s body was still soft and tender like boneless silk, resting languidly in Su Li’s arms, carried by him back to the room.
As Avril helped her change her war robe, Su Li couldn’t help but recall a line of poetry: ’When the attendant helps the delicate one up, it’s the moment anew of the granted favor.’
Until the latter half of the night, Avril too had collapsed like water on the bed; the two women finally reached a consensus.
Hilude’s heroic, fair cheeks were now flushed red, dazzlingly tender and dripping with allure, eyes full of spring feeling and charm, she looked dreamily at Su Li and asked: "Lord, have you felt that recently your desires have increased?"
Hilude has always been very concerned about Su Li’s feelings; she gently takes care of every aspect of Su Li’s life, willing to do anything for him.
As long as Su Li desires, regardless of whether Hilude is practicing, training, reading maps, studying military strategies, or even praying, she will immediately stop, gently satisfy him, and then continue with her tasks.
Before Su Li possessed the Dragon Blood Stone, the process was not long; even an hour or two did not impede her continued practice.
But since acquiring the Dragon Blood Stone, Su Li not only became stronger physically, his practice progress also accelerated; during knight practice with Hilude, one session could last nearly half a day.
In this regard, knights of the Fire Attribute are naturally gifted; with the Dragon Blood Stone enhancement, during practice battles, Hilude found it difficult to withstand, often crying pitifully in intense moments, softly pleading. In this process, who knows how many treaties she was forced to sign or how many unspeakable words she uttered. After every session, even much later she would cover her flushed face in embarrassment, unwilling to recall.
So Hilude and Avril sincerely and timidly requested: "Lord, please choose another female courtier... whether it’s Sophie, Amorri, or Philis, let one of them help share the burden."
A new choice for female courtier?
It seems this matter can no longer be delayed.
He seriously promised: "I will take this matter into serious consideration over the next period."
"When do you plan to decide?" Avril, soft and boneless, lay on Su Li’s chest, her eyes already drowsy; after a gratifying practice, she only wished to lie in Su Li’s arms until she awoke naturally. Yet she felt guilty about not serving the Lord upon waking, believing herself an unqualified maid, so naturally hoped for it to be resolved soon.
Su Li leisurely stroked her smooth back, saying: "Rest assured, over the next few days you won’t have to worry about this problem. If everything goes as planned, tomorrow we’ll lead the troops into the forest to clear out the remaining Forest Bandits."
Upon hearing this, Avril finally relaxed, lying on Su Li’s chest, with steady breath, she fell into sweet sleep in less than twenty seconds. Her body was still somewhat weak, unable to endure the intense knight practice.
However, upon hearing these words, Hilude’s eyes lit up, her gemstone-like eyes especially beautiful in the night, she snuggled cat-like under Su Li’s right arm, with her right arm draped over Su Li’s abdomen, warming his navel to keep him from catching cold at night.
She couldn’t help but look up at Su Li, asking: "Are we heading into the perilous Blood Pine Forest tomorrow?"
Su Li nodded, saying: "The nearby wandering Forest Robber Gang has mostly been captured by us; the remaining Forest Robber Gang is mostly not heading towards our territory for now. So we must take initiative, head into the forest and sweep them out one by one."
"Taking advantage of their wandering state, we have the advantage of offensive initiative. If we wait for them to gradually return, entering then to clear them out might face their joint ambush."
"Only by sweeping them out can we attack the Green Dragon’s affiliates, weakening the Green Dragon’s power."
Hilude immediately nodded firmly, her eyes bright and determined, saying: "Lord, I will definitely train with maximum effort, striving to become stronger, never allowing any monster to threaten your territory. Before I fall, even the Green Dragon won’t harm you."
Su Li’s mouth slightly curved up, bowed his head to kiss her cherry lips, and smiled, saying: "Do not think like that, you’re my most precious treasure, more important than the territory, than the army, than anything else. Remember, if you truly can’t win, escape first; as long as we’re alive, there’s always a chance to rise again."
"Yes!" Hilude smiled with arched brows, saying: "Lord, even if we ultimately fail to defeat the Green Dragon and you are forced to wander endlessly, I will always stay by your side, feed your horse, cook for you, do your laundry, and warm your bed, serving you when needed."
"Really?" Su Li couldn’t help but kiss down from her cherry lips, affectionately with her fair, slender neck, whispering tenderness.
"Mm~ really~"
"Then I want to engage in one knight practice session now."
"Ah..." Hilude instantly widened her eyes, unable to help but exclaim, again?
Again a night of spring color, desperately entwined, the sound of wind, sound of rain, sound of practice, echoing in the ears.