In the Middle Ages, people drew cards to be promoted to nobility.

In the drawing room, at the banquet to welcome Baron Argonne.

Lothar had a good chat with the baron.

One intends to win over, and the other has decided to join Lothar's army unequivocally, intending to find a way out for himself.

The two hit it off immediately.

Argon put a piece of roast meat into his mouth and said:

Sir, I understand your desire to abolish the tax farming system, but without those Saracen chiefs, I can't even maintain my effective rule over the territory.

He paused slightly and said: Not many knights are willing to learn the language of the pagans, and they are not even willing to go to their own fiefs.

We Franks are not good at ruling, we are better at war.

Without the tax collector, Baron Argonne felt that the money he could collect would be even less.

We must also consider setting up a special tax collection agency and sending out guards for protection.

Only the tax collectors, who have lived here for generations, know every copper and every grain of grain hidden by those unscrupulous people.

Although they can also make a profit, or even take the big prize, it saves their own worries!

It's a win-win.

But that won't gain traction, Baron.

Lothar became serious.

The Kingdom of Jerusalem's rule over the Levant region is more like colonial rule, which is superficial.

Argon was a little surprised and said: Sir, I don't understand why you need the support of these heretics? Do you expect to recruit these cowardly people to fight for you in the war?

He clenched his fists and was confident: Our knights are enough to destroy everything. Let them farm for us as cattle, sheep, and livestock, providing grain and meat. The war should be left to us noble nobles and knights.

Lothar sighed lightly. Although Argon was still loyal, he was not a knight of the order after all and could not obey his orders unconditionally.

Baron Argonne, you should have seen my guards in the city, right? What do you think of them?

Without waiting for Argon's reply, Lothar added: I'm not referring to my axe-wielding bodyguards or square shield infantry.

Argon thought for a moment and said sincerely: They are very elite, sir. They have good equipment and are well-trained. I have seen their training. They are considered a good group of sergeants.

They were what you would call pagans, and of course they have converted.

Lothar looked at Argon's disbelief, and in his heart, he completely gave up the idea of ​​expanding the New Deal into the territory of Transjordan.

I understand, sir!

Argon suddenly showed an excited expression: In order to preach the gospel of Heavenly Father, you have paid such a high price to convert these pagans to the right faith. This is simply a noble act like a saint.

I only understand what you mean now. You are really stupid.

It's just that I have also tried to convert the pagans in the territory. They obeyed on the surface, but they still went their own way in private.

Faced with Argon's misunderstanding, Lothar nodded helplessly: Yes, that's it. But it's not your fault. Many people regard pagans as unteachable, but aren't they also the creation of Heavenly Father? ?”

In Northern Europe, many clans and along the Baltic Sea coast, many people retain dual beliefs. They believe in the Father, practice witchcraft, and offer sacrifices to pagan gods. But no one accuses them of being evil heretics - far away from Europe In this country, we should be more tolerant when it comes to our beliefs.”

You have a point.

Argon looked deeply inspired.

Lothar sighed secretly. The gap between talking to people in this era, except Baldwin IV, was too serious.

This often happens, like a chicken talking to a duck situation.

Even if the subordinates who have been transferred through the system cannot figure out Lothar's intentions, they will at least act according to his ideas and will not be stubborn.

Time flies, and it’s been three days in a blink of an eye.

In the past three days, nobles from all over the country arrived at Ella Port with their families, knights, and guards.

They were all well received by Lothar.

The banquet was held the next day, from morning to night, with unlimited meat, grains, wine and honey, which made them couldn't help but sigh with emotion at the generosity and wealth of the new earl.

This also demonstrates one's own strength.

If you have money, you will naturally have soldiers, even if you don't count the Ax Guards and Winged Cavalry who have already made a name for themselves in the Holy Land.

Not counting the brave and brave remaining veterans, the uniform marching and training of the peasant soldiers recruited under Lothar shocked them greatly.

Accompanied by the grand knight's competition, the entire banquet reached its climax.

Hans's winning streak all the way can be regarded as fulfilling his unfinished dream of winning the knight's competition in Austria.

Lothar sat on the throne and continued to receive the lords and knights who came forward one after another.

Or mediate conflicts between them and arbitrate fairly to avoid conflicts turning into war.

Lothar also prepared gifts in return for them, including: a hardcover Gwent deck of cards, porcelain from the East, silk fabrics, and gold and silver jewelry.

It may seem like a big deal, but in fact, if many items are sold to the system mall, the income will be extremely limited, and they are all items with high added value.

Lothar is in his hands, and it will be difficult to realize it in a short time.

Otto stood in the audience, receiving the less important guests on behalf of Lothar, and the smile on his face froze.

As Lothar's brother, he would receive these people without appearing to be neglectful and could greatly reduce Lothar's pressure. But where had he seen such a battle before?

The largest banquet held by Count Werner, the number of people who came was less than one-third of the banquet.

Even in the entire Kingdom of Jerusalem, the size of this banquet was not too small.

That's how reputation comes.

The reason why Countess Stephanie was known as the Knight in a Skirt was simply because she was generous with her money.

Reputation is a useful thing.

It's useless to say it's useless.

For a prince like Lothar who was interested in expanding the territory, conquering Sinai, and even becoming the granary of Egypt, reputation was naturally crucial.

With his reputation, he could summon a large number of knights from the kingdom who wanted to make great achievements to serve him for free. After the war, he only needed to give them territory that Lothar had no time to control as a reward.

Reputation is also linked to prestige. If reputation is not important, where will the monarchs who went on to participate in the Eastern Expedition come from?

They wasted a lot of money, risked bankruptcy, traveled thousands of miles to conquer this so-called Holy Land, and the territory they conquered could not be brought under their rule. What was their purpose?

Isn't it just the word prestige? If you have prestige, your vassals will be more convinced of you, and your rule will be more stable. No matter how many tricks you use to conquer, no one will dare to rebel.

The bards were walking back and forth on the field, dancing and playing the lute. Many of them were even flirting with some amorous ladies. Perhaps during the banquet, they would sneak into the stables or barns to have some sex. Exchange of body fluids.

And their husbands didn't care about it, and they drank and played cards with their colleagues enthusiastically.

There are also people who are not keen on Gwent, a popular entertainment and social mode nowadays, and gather together to drink, eat, and chat.

In my territory, a strange man came here some time ago. He hides in his hut every day and lives in isolation. He only comes out from time to time to buy some food from the villagers.

Some people have seen him wandering around the cemetery and picking up human bones. I'm not sure whether this is true or not.

That's your territory, man!

It's just that you are too courageous.

But that might really be an evil wizard. Brother, we all should know that there are always a group of people in this world that we cannot afford to offend, such as spellcasters and the Earl.

There was silence.

Not everyone likes or respects the new lord above them, at least not all of them.

There are many people who think that Lothar just got lucky and got help from witches to achieve success.

When it comes to Lothar's reputation as Werewolf Killer and Dragon Slayer, they will smack their lips with disdain and say, If I have a witch to help me, I can do it too.

Just like the legend of King Arthur and the Lady of the Lake, some people think that it was King Arthur's heroism that conquered the Lady of the Lake, while others say that it was the sword given by the Lady of the Lake that made Arthur successful.

Of course, even if they think so in their hearts, they will never say it out loud.