Mount and Blade System: Start from Pioneer Lords

Li Wei had seen the line draft that the painter had made for him, and it could be said to be absolutely exquisite and meticulous.

Adding to that the painter's previous drafts, which were in a realistic style, completely different from those artistic types who pursued abstraction.

But the other party was indeed too realistic.

In the middle was a picture of humans, orcs, and dark elves playing cards, even to the point of delineating the most perfect sphere in the room, making it impossible for people to look away.

"Where's the Lion Hunter Knight?"

"Overlooking Corinne City." Leah pointed crisply to the upper left corner of the painting.

A figure the size of a thumb was holding a cylinder, as if looking at the distant scenery, forming a sharp contrast with the lifelike trio playing cards next to him.

"Very good." Li Wei smiled: "Leah, can you contact that painter? Just say that the Lord of Highcliff Castle is still missing a full-time painter to record his future epic, I think he has a lot of potential and is very suitable for this position."

His smile was typical of a knight's demeanor, which was always considered full of kindness and warmth, and could perfectly embody the eight virtues of a knight.

However, if it were any of the Highcliff Castle leaders, they would know that someone was definitely going to be unlucky.

"Okay, I'll ask him to go to the Highcliff Castle camp to find you another day." Leah covered her mouth and snickered, after all, opportunities for this Lion Hunter Knight to suffer losses were rare.

That's why she planned to bring the painting over in person, wanting to see the other party's reaction.

As for worrying about the painter? With her understanding of Li Wei, the other party would at most get a beating, and if he played it right, he might even be able to gain wealth and glory from it.

After all, painters sound noble, but commoners can't afford them, and nobles generally have their own dedicated painters.

So the other party's life is only on the line of subsistence, and many people would break their heads trying to get close to this Lion Hunter Knight.

Leah knew that many trainee knights had gone to Highcliff Castle, but in the end, they could only run back in disgrace.

Painting was just a small problem, and in reality, none of them took it too seriously, after all, compared to the imminent grand reward, no problem was too big.

"Leah, how's your discussion with Flynna going?" Li Wei asked.

Flynna helped them take down the Southern Territory, surely not entirely to rescue Onaia or something, not to mention others, she herself wouldn't believe it.

"Aunt Flynna wants the management rights of White Harbor."

The lord poured her wine at the right time, Leah took a sip, and then sighed.

Although she hadn't managed the finances of the Southern Territory before, she also knew that as the largest port in the Southern Territory, White Harbor, this castle built on the cliff bay, had a huge treasury just from the daily berthing tax of merchant ships.

Therefore, the successive Dukes of the Southern Territory had always held it in their own hands, only sending trusted people to garrison there, and in order to prevent some situations from happening, they would personally go to govern it every once in a while.

If the Martel family hadn't been operating in Corinne for hundreds of years, they would have moved the castle to White Harbor long ago.

"As expected." Li Wei nodded.

To be honest, the other party's situation was the same as his, if they wanted a fief in the Southern Territory, firstly, the other party's base was in the Southern Territory, and how to rule it would be a problem, and secondly, that king wouldn't sit idly by and watch this happen.

So asking for the management rights of an important port was very clever.

It completely avoided the act of a Grand Duke obtaining territory in another Grand Duke's fief, which violated the Deberian Code.

It could also control this important sea route from the Northern Territory to the Southern Territory.

To be honest, Li Wei also wanted a port in the Southern Territory at first, White Harbor was naturally better, because he had seen a map, and the east of Highcliff Castle was also on the coast, and a port could be built to communicate with the Southern Territory.

But he soon realized that he was wishful thinking, not to mention that he couldn't get White Harbor because of its importance unless he sold his body. Even if he got it, how to defend it would be a problem.

In the end, he could only bury it deep in his heart.

"What does Lady Onaia think about this?" Li Wei looked at the noblewoman next to him, who was once again being serious.

Don't look at Leah, who is about to sit on the Duke's throne, but currently many things are decided by this lady.

"The other party's contribution is very high, even if she wants White Harbor, we can only give it." Onaia looked at the lord, smiling meaningfully: "But if you are willing to fight for it, there is still room for negotiation on this matter, after all, your contribution cannot be ignored."

As soon as she said this, someone couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat, and said righteously: "I think it is completely reasonable to use White Harbor to thank Duke Flynna for her help, after all, the other party also suffered heavy losses in this battle!"

"Lady Onaia, let's discuss the matter of my being ennobled."

Looking at the knight who could only suffer in silence, Onaia couldn't help but smile happily, like a child who had succeeded in a prank.

Leah didn't understand the secret between the two at all, but asked curiously: "Mother, have you already told Li Wei about ennobling him?"

"That's right, but it seems someone is not very satisfied." Onaia nodded.

"It's not that I'm not satisfied, Leah, let me be frank with you." Li Wei said softly: "I can't stay in the Southern Territory forever, you knew when I was ennobled, when everything here is over, I will return to Highcliff Castle."

"Therefore, neither fiefs nor positions are suitable for me."

Leah finally understood what the other party was dissatisfied with, she remembered the time she had spent in Highcliff Castle.

Everything there conformed to her stereotypes, it was completely a remote and poor place, but it also had things that the Southern Territory didn't have.

Although Highcliff Castle was still in its initial stage, it was full of vigorous vitality, while the Southern Territory was like a pool of stagnant water.

When this knight was ennobled, she didn't understand why the other party would leave the magnificent castle and run to the wilderness full of half-orcs, but now she understands a lot.

Because she understood, even if she wanted to keep Li Wei by her side, she couldn't say anything to refuse, she just sighed: "Li Wei, I can understand your thoughts, I will consider this matter carefully, the title of nobility will remain the same, as for the territory, I will compensate you in other ways."

Li Wei nodded, not saying anything more.

Leah was the one who was with him from the beginning, unlike Onaia, the noblewoman who only knew how to covet his body, this girl could understand his thoughts.

"Li Wei, you can also think about it carefully when you go back, you can return to the Southern Territory at any time and obtain a rich marquisate." Onaia interjected at the right time.

The look in her eyes, which contained amorous feelings, had already explained everything, Li Wei could only pretend not to see it.

The three chatted for a few more words, seeing that the sky was getting late, Li Wei bid farewell and left.

The lord turned his head and glanced before going out, Onaia was sitting upright on the back of the chair, looking at him with a smile. Leah put her hands on her waist, her beautiful eyes also watching him, and when he turned his head to look, she showed a bright smile.

It wasn't until the door was gently closed by the maid that Li Wei shook his head and followed the maid through the corridor.

These two mothers and daughters obviously had a good impression of him.

That's right, strictly speaking, he had saved these two mothers and daughters several times, saving the beauty is old-fashioned, but it is definitely the most practical method.

If it doesn't work, you have to consider whether your appearance is too ordinary.

But obviously, whether it is appearance or ability, he considers himself to be top-notch.

……

At night, jackal guard wearing iron armor and scimitars are conscientiously guarding the entrance of Highcliff Castle camp.

Even at night, these jackal can see very far, and their keen sense of smell makes them the best night guards, so they know that their boss is back from a long distance and quickly opened the road card.

"Brother-in-law, you're back?"

Mill was reading a book in the room, glanced up and asked casually.

Li Wei lay directly on the bed, lazily "hmm" a sound, kicked his shoes into the corner.

"How about it?"

"It's nothing, just chatting about how to reward."

Logically speaking, he is not qualified to participate in this kind of thing, but Onaia is in the idea of buying bones with thousands of gold and coveting his body, coupled with Leah's encouragement, so she will take the initiative to ask his opinion.

"When I return to Highcliff Castle, I can also ennoble you as a knight." Li Wei turned over, wrapped the quilt around his body, and became a large caterpillar.

"Hey, brother-in-law, is my qualification still too shallow."

Hearing this sudden good news, Mill touched the back of his head, not reading the book, just giggling there.

Becoming a formal knight has been his dream since he was a child, which can be seen from the fact that he has created an extremely coquettish plate armor for himself.

But the sudden realization of this dream made him feel unreal.

The trainee knights who came to Highcliff Castle at the beginning all had the idea of becoming formal knights, but in the end they all ran away in disgrace, so Mill knew that becoming a formal knight was not as easy as imagined.

"What kind of qualification is shallow or not, isn't it up to me?" Li Wei glanced at this kid: "Besides, you have picked up a lot of heads behind my ass, and you have enough credit to really talk about it."

Although the ennoblement of a knight is just a waste of his time to engage in the ceremony of ennobling a knight, he doesn't want to make this title a prostitute that everyone can get on.

Once this kind of thing starts, it is almost impossible to stop it later.

So even Mill, he also brought him around to get enough military merit before preparing to ennoble him.

As for the title, Li Wei hasn't thought about it yet.

Because this kind of large-scale ennoblement of territory is completely a disadvantage to central centralization.

From the fact that the Deberian king was powerless in this North-South War, some clues can be seen, so he does not want to use this method.

He hasn't figured out exactly how to do it yet.

But the ennoblement of the title is still early, and there is no rush now.

"By the way, where's Zart?" Li Wei found that he didn't see an orc barbarian when he returned to the camp.

Although it is already late at night, in the previous life it was close to eleven o'clock, but thanks to his previous life as a night owl who often stayed up late, Highcliff Castle also learned from it, and almost everyone slept very late.

At this time, these barbarians should be bragging or wrestling.

"They are guarding the city gate, according to the shift system, today Sir Montvert just finished, it's our turn." Mill put down the book and yawned.

There are so many books about ordnance manufacturing in Corinne that he has been fascinated by it these days, and he feels that there are a lot of strange ideas in his mind, waiting to return to Highcliff Castle to start implementing them.

"Hey, this job is good." The lord immediately became interested.

Guarding the city gate is a good opportunity to make money, not to mention anything else, the city entry tax is a non-negligible amount of money.

Most of the troops stationed in Corinne have been assigned tasks, and Highcliff Castle is no exception.

Usually patrolling the streets to maintain law and order, or guarding the city gates and walls.

Because he didn't trust Zart's silly brain, Li Wei decided to personally supervise it early tomorrow morning.

Those barefooted farmers don't need to collect the city entry tax, but merchants can't escape his discerning eyes.

Whether it is in the previous life or now, these merchants are completely unscrupulous, and they can earn a lot of money by collecting taxes from each other to death.

Now that he has caught the opportunity, he must have a good discussion with the other party about whether the city entry tax is collected by head or weight.

……

At the first rays of dawn, the south wind howled.

The black armor of the orc warriors formed black lines, patrolling on the walls of the main gate of Corinne, and the flags of Highcliff Castle were flying in the wind.

At the huge city gate, a dozen burly barbarians were setting up roadblocks.

Whether it is entering or leaving, they must verify their identity, but the people who come in are screened more strictly.

The barefooted farmers whose carts were pulling cabbage looked at the guards at the city gate and changed into burly orc warriors with ferocious faces, and they were uneasy, fearing that the other party would collect more city entry tax than the previous human soldiers.

But after being identified by the other party and directly let in, they were full of disbelief, and then happily thanked the nobleman who was lying on the chair with his legs crossed.

The city entry tax saved is enough for him to give his youngest daughter and change the pair of linen shoes that have been showing her toes into warm sheepskin shoes.

The merchants on the other side were frowning one by one, and in the cold laughter of the orc warriors, they could only helplessly hand over the city entry tax calculated according to the approximate value of the goods, and finally cursed fiercely in their hearts for a pig who had maggots growing in his heart.

Fortunately, even if these city entry taxes are paid, the value of their goods can still be doubled several times, earning a lot of money.

It's just that merchants regard money as their lives, and those Klinks are no different from cutting meat from them, they would rather throw a copper coin into the latrine than give it to others.

To be honest, listening to the crisp collision of the Klinks thrown into the wooden box, the lord couldn't help but laugh.

If someone asks him what happiness is, then he will definitely say that it is the feeling of helplessness when the other party has to pay and the feeling of fulfillment when the small treasury bulges up little by little.

Highcliff Castle has always been in deficit, and now it is considered to be starting to have positive income.

Just when it was close to lunchtime, the sound of hooves came from the distant street, it was a cavalry team with the purple flower flag.

The leader is an acquaintance - Earl Ando.