Volume 10: Our Journey Chapter 316 Disciples (Part 2)
"Without your teachings, I would never be where I am today." Isaac did not rush to read the letter. After calming down, he first expressed his gratitude to Viscount Pope with the utmost piety.
Viscount Pope smiled as if he was indeed Isaac's elder, proudly and gratified: "You are the most outstanding (most sensible) young man I have ever met, Isaac. Gold hidden in the sand will definitely shine. I firmly believed this when I first met you, and you did not disappoint me."
This conservative and traditional gentleman was praising someone so directly for the first time. Isaac smiled shyly at the right moment and said modestly, "No, no, in fact, I am just a piece of rotten wood..."
Viscount Pope said, "No, no, you are indeed a rough diamond..."
Isaac knew very well that without the support of Mr. Ayun's resources, there was no way he could appear in front of the viscount of a big family. Nice words were fine words, but in reality, he and Viscount Pope both knew that there was no pure relationship between the head of the family and the knight, but purely a cooperation of interests... But both parties should keep this matter in their hearts, and on the surface, everyone might as well say more nice words.
The two of them talked back and forth for a long time. Isaac tactfully stated that he would always be Viscount Pope's family knight, and Viscount Pope implicitly stated that he would use the resources of the Pope family to help him stand out in the royal city. After reaching a consensus, Isaac carefully removed the beeswax on the envelope.
King Kronen was a rather powerful monarch , at least on the surface.
This letter, written to a knight from a viscount family in the kingdom, carries a strong personal style of King Kroning - he asked the young knight, who had studied under a sage from a small grassland country, to "hand over" the trade and communication channels with the grassland people to the country.
Of course, the great King Kronen would not take advantage of a small knight. The second half of the letter was an invitation to Isaac to come to the royal capital, to be granted the title of baron and a small piece of baronial territory in the northwest of the kingdom (actually just a poor town).
In other words, King Kroning wanted to exchange a baron's title and a poor town for Isaac's knighthood and the endless wealth he would gain from future trade with the grassland people...
While Isaac was reading the letter, Viscount Pope waited by the side with a smile, observing Isaac's reaction imperceptibly.
It certainly didn't make sense to exchange the barony and a small piece of remote land for the Robins Knighthood, which had been run as a small town and had a predictable, steady source of income.
So the question is, as Isaac Robbins' master, the Viscount of the Pope family, how could he be willing to give up the wealth created by the loyal family knights?
The reason is very simple. There is an exchange of interests between King Kroning and Viscount Pope... Otherwise, why would he, the head of the family, deliver the letter on behalf of his own knight?
Isaac was reading the letter word by word. He looked pious on the surface but calm in his heart.
If it were someone else, and their painstakingly built base was snatched away by such a piece of light paper, they would definitely greet all of King Kroning's immediate relatives in their hearts - King Kroning was so petty that he kicked him deep inland, fearing that he would continue to take away the grassland people's trade channels in the coastal areas!
But Isaac's hard work was not for promotion and wealth in the Kingdom of Kronin... After reading the letter, Isaac showed a look of surprise at the right time, but tried to remain reserved, and asked happily: "Your Excellency, if I remember correctly, Newin Town is the beautiful town next to Bolton County?"
"Yes, the scenery there is quite charming, and many nobles have built summer estates nearby." Viscount Pope was afraid that he would be dissatisfied and make a scene on the spot, so he secretly breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile.
Isaac nodded happily, pretending that he couldn't hold back his excitement, and waved his fist vigorously: "This is really... great!" He stood up suddenly, walked around the room for several steps to ease his mood, tears welled up in his eyes, and said excitedly, "Baron... territory! Your Excellency, to be honest, my father was just a small nobleman without a fiefdom all his life, and I, I am now the same as him, no, I have surpassed him!"
Viscount Pope, who was originally a little confused, looked suddenly enlightened after hearing this.
In order to improve his favorability, Isaac once privately complained about the injustice his parents had done to him, and how they gave him a thousand gold coins and kicked him out of the house when he became an adult.
Common people at the bottom of society could not earn such a huge sum of money in their lifetime, but for a young man of noble birth, such a small amount of money could only support a few years of expenses at most. He was still trying to be "thrifty" and reduce his material enjoyment to the level of middle-class families. The annual rent of a house in a slightly better location in Valentine City started at 20 gold coins. He only hired a maid (including chores and cleaning), a butler (accounting, responsible for cooking and shopping), and a coachman (doing all the heavy work). He only ordered two sets of decent dresses to rotate back and forth, and only participated in the minimum social activities every month. He did not join any clubs, did not raise horses or hunting dogs, and did not buy manor villas. He would not be short of 200 or 300 gold coins a year...
Well, of course, if any noble lived in such a tight situation, it would be the same as being "socially erased"... If Isaac had not made up his mind to leave home with the money and continue to stay in his hometown, the Kingdom of Osmond, who knows how miserable he would be now.
"Of course you have surpassed your father, my little boy." Viscount Pope was completely relieved and smiled kindly, "Your father is just a country nobleman from Osmond, and you are the Baron of Kroning." After a pause, Viscount Pope said meaningfully, "You are a knight of the Pope family."
Smart people don't need to be too direct when speaking. When Isaac heard the last sentence that Viscount Pope deliberately added, he bowed to Viscount Pope again to express his gratitude.
What this means is that as a baron, he will not be a country noble and will not really live in the town of Newin. Viscount Pope will keep him in the royal city!
Viscount Pope accepted Isaac's thanks with a smile, and then said, "Next month, bring your people and go to the capital with my caravan."
Isaac understood in his heart that this seemed to be the benefit that Viscount Pope had exchanged from King Kroning - after gaining enough experience in Valentine City, he was about to return to the political center of the kingdom!
On the surface, Isaac showed a surprised and relieved expression, congratulating Viscount Pope on being able to live with his family, and looking forward to meeting the Viscount's family...
Next, Viscount Pope briefly asked if living in the capital would cause inconvenience for Isaac to contact his teacher. Isaac quickly and respectfully said that it would not be the case. The Centaur Express Team would pass by the capital every month or so, which was very convenient...
Well, the meaning of this conversation between the two people is: Viscount Pope believes that Isaac is worth investing in even if he does not control the trade channels with the grassland people, and he will continue to support Isaac to gain a foothold in the political environment of Kroning.
Isaac's response was: That's right, my teacher is a wise man from the grasslands, and I have someone behind me! If you and your family need it, I can definitely get you a large group of grassland mercenaries!
The grassland people had helped Countess Philip eliminate the opposition forces in Bolton County, and they were even able to wipe out the expeditionary forces of the Far East Empire. No one would doubt the fighting power of the grassland people. These two guys, who were dressed in the guise of sympathy between the head of the family and the knight, were very satisfied with this exchange of interests...
After completing the transaction, Viscount Pope returned to the city with satisfaction to pack his luggage. He also had a lot of belongings to take back with him.
About twenty days later, when Viscount Pope and his family knight Isaac Robbins were heading to the royal capital, their huge convoy was loaded with the wealth accumulated by the two over the years - they handed over the city/knighthood they managed to the people sent by the Council of Nobles, but that did not mean they had to hand over their own property!
Isaac even packed up all the technical personnel he had trained over the years and took away all of them - those who raised pigs, those who grew crops, and those who worked on engineering projects, not leaving any one behind!
Not to mention the Robbins Troupe. All the actors, including those working backstage, were left alive...his trade with the grassland people was intercepted, but the troupe can still continue its performance!
As for how the uninformed local audiences would be confused after having travelled to the Knights' House to watch the play and then being faced with an empty theatre, that was not Isaac's concern... let the new lord have the headache!
A week later, Xiao Yun received a letter from Isaac. Seeing the confident and excited words in the letter from the fourth disciple who received the letter the latest, he couldn't help but smile...
"We have finally penetrated the enemy's core!"
Xiao Yun put the letter away and happily went to find Mr. Sean to share the good news.
"King Kroning took action personally? This guy hasn't changed." Mr. Sean shook his head in disdain when he heard this. How could he have thought that King Kroning was a wise ruler worthy of assistance? He really wanted to go back forty years and give himself a beating for his stupidity...
Xiao Yun ignored Mr. Sean's resentment and said cheerfully, "Viscount Pope is impressed by the military strength of our grassland people. I think we can give him a reassurance. I will send him a greeting when I reply to Isaac. However, he is just a junior of the Pope family and can only use a few family resources. The help he can give to Isaac may not be as great as we expect. Mr. Sean, what do you think?"
Mr. Sean rolled his eyes at him indifferently. "According to my life expectancy, I should have been dead for two or three years now, and my body should have rotted away to the point where only bones are left. Do you want me, a ghost, to write letters back to greet those old friends and scare them to death?"
Before Xiao Yun could find a reason to convince him, Mr. Sean took over the conversation and continued, "Smart people can also make stupid mistakes sometimes. Ah Yun, you thought of using my connections, but why didn't you think of using your third disciple? When old Philip was alive, he pursued what you called 'isolationism' and had a bad relationship with the Council of Nobles, but the Philip family was not completely without friends. Laura Philip, who was alive and managed the Bolton County as a solid block with an iron fist, was not only actively kept in touch with Philip's old friends, but the Council of Nobles also extended an olive branch..."
After a pause, Mr. Sean added uncomfortably: "After all, she is a single countess in her prime."
Xiao Yun said "Oh" - regardless of whether Laura herself has the intention to marry or not, people who want to marry her will definitely line up!
"Let Laura return to the capital to stay for a few days during the social season, and take Isaac to a few social events. Then people who take the initiative to get close to Isaac will come one after another, right?" Xiao Yun said happily, "I didn't think of this idea, Sean, you are really smart!"
Mr. Sean's face looked particularly embarrassed... Taking advantage of his old friend's daughter, Mr. Sean, who was not thick-skinned enough, was definitely not as nonchalant as Xiao Yun.
Xiao Yun knew what Mr. Sean was thinking, and said with a smile, "Don't feel bad, I won't let Laura work in vain. Let me write a letter to suggest that our countess rent a piece of land to the Yale tent of the tiger tribe, so that the tiger tribe can move out from the Endless Mountains. No matter how poor Bolton County is, it is still more fertile than the Endless Mountains. With the tiger tribe as a tenant, even the most stupid nobles will not easily set their sights on Bolton County."
Compared with humans, the orcs' reproductive ability is nothing. If the tiger tribe lives in the territory lent by humans, it is impossible for them to take over the territory by relying on their uterus. Moreover, the tiger tribe also has the "hostages" from Ted's Central Tent in the hands of the grassland people. Xiao Yun is not worried at all that the Yale Tent will dare to make trouble...
Mr. Sean's expression eased, and after thinking for a while, he said, "The technology for 10,000-ton ships is in the hands of the royal family, Grand Duke Pope, and another Grand Duke. The shipyards owned by other families can only build fishing boats of several thousand tons. With Laura's status, the Grand Duke's family members and the royal family members may be tempted. I know a few people who may have access to confidential information. You ask Laura and Isaac to pay more attention..."
Xiao Yun quickly took out a notebook and wrote down the information dictated by Mr. Sean.
The Qiuling New Area now has some industrial technology that is barely accessible, but it is still unrealistic to develop large sea vessels with a displacement of more than tens of thousands of tons by itself. There is a saying on the earth that "a century-old navy" means that only countries with a "century-old" industrial accumulation and a relatively complete industrial chain can build large ships that can be launched and sail (for example, India does not count)...
In order to incubate a relatively complete industrial chain (all parts and components can be independently developed and manufactured), an industrial population of at least one million is needed. It is ridiculous to say that one can build a large steel ship in ancient times by traveling back in time for ten years. It took the Japanese 35 years from the Meiji Restoration to be able to build a 300,000-ton ship!
Xiao Yun was very familiar with the orcs' reproductive capacity and the efficiency of the grassland in devouring the population of the Far East orcs. He knew that even if he was given another 35 years, he would not be able to produce so many industrial population.
Well, since we can’t wait that long at home, and there are ready-made ones somewhere else, of course we will try our best to “borrow” them~!
The seas of this world were once roamed by giant ships with displacements of hundreds of thousands or even millions of tons. The major powers, the human royal family, and even the heritage of various tribes all had realistic or poetic records of this, and the Snow Wolf Tribe also had similar information in its heritage.
Why did the once glorious Age of Exploration suddenly come to an end?
Because the giants are gone...
Yes, the giants who now only exist in piles of yellowed old papers are not a pure magical race, but masters of magical mechanical technology.
Xiao Yun obtained the historical records kept by the Alchemist Association through Tim Humphrey, and learned the historical records preserved in the Ivory Tower through Mr. Sean. Combining the fragmentary information in the Snow Wolf Tribe's heritage, he came to the conclusion that the Giants at that time were forced to find a new way to combine mechanical technology with magic because the powerful enemy that the Giants had to face at that time was the Dragon Tribe...
According to public historical records, Bloomfield is not the origin of various races. When the giants were at their peak, this continent belonged to the dragons.
That’s right, the era that Austin’s grandparents experienced (about seven to eight thousand years ago) was the time when the dragons lived freely and alone on the continent of Bloomfield - of course, the words used in the records of various tribes must be "rampant" and "occupy".
The giants defeated the dragons and killed the overlords of this continent until only the dragon's mouth on Dragon Island was left. Only then did other tribes migrate across the sea one after another.
What happened next was the most horrifying memory in the heritage of all major forces and races: the Dragon God forcibly descended into the material world in his true form, turning the Giant Continent into a Giant Wasteland overnight.
The elven heritage contains records of this event by the high elves, whose power at the time was second only to that of the giants. The surviving dragons on the two continents and even on Dragon Island all saw the sky-fire meteor that fell all night and washed the giant continent to blood.
The wrath of the true God turned an entire vibrant giant continent into scorched earth overnight.
But it also led to the fall of the Dragon God...
The plane where the true god fell could not give birth to another true god, and it was difficult for other true gods to enter this material world, so the era of the gods passed just like that...
This matter is not over yet. Because the giants, the leader of the races on earth, disappeared without a trace, various races started a war that lasted for thousands of years in order to fight for territory. This period of history is the "racial war" that all races are concerned about.
During this long racial war that lasted for more than a thousand years, countless events occurred, the biggest of which were:
1: The Centaur Empire was completely destroyed, and the only commendable legacy it left behind was that many races learned the Centaur riding and combat skills.
Second: The high elves became extinct, and the snow elves, dark elves, forest elves, and plains elves split up. The latter even retreated to Bradrick, the origin continent of each race, in the middle of the racial war, and the core leaders never set foot in Bloomfield again in the next few thousand years.
3: The orcs understood the importance of unity. All the orc tribes gradually began to stick together, and established the Orc Empire in the Far East at the same time as the elves were splitting up.
At first glance, it seems that the Orcs have a slight advantage in the racial war, but in fact, this is not the case - in this war, there is actually no real winner!
Why? Because these guys who were only concerned with fighting did not preserve the giants' heritage, and the giants' magic and mechanical technology became extinct!
In the later period of the racial war, the Human Empire, which adopted a defensive strategy (isolationism), realized that after the service life of the giant sea ships expired, all races would have no ships available, so they studied the wreckage of the giant sea ships intensively and managed to retain a few finds - at that time, the Human Empire was the only force that could build large sea ships of tens of thousands of tons.
Later, the Human Empire also evaporated. In the Northern Federation that divided up the Empire's legacy, the largest country, Kronin, seized the old Empire's shipyards and craftsmen, but it was not able to eat them all by itself. Instead, it contributed them and provided large sea ships to the Lamia Chamber of Commerce, which was shared by the Federation.
That's right, the races in this world are going backwards. The giants who became extinct thousands of years ago could still build large ships of hundreds of thousands and millions of tons. Nowadays, only Cronin can make ships with a displacement of more than 30,000 tons (the tonnage of the Titanic is 46,000), and it is still unique among the entire race... Coastal countries like St. Bridges can only produce inland sea ships of a few thousand tons, and Prince Carlisle's vehicle can only weigh six thousand tons at most.
It goes without saying how much importance the Kronen royal family and top nobles, who hold such a unique technology, attach to shipbuilding technology - Viscount Pope, whom Isaac has "followed" for several years, is not qualified to have access to the Pope family's shipyard.
