Chapter 281 Shock! That Man Is so Horny!

Fallen Leaf Castle, located north of Naplin City, has always been the family fiefdom of Luwen Schneider, Count of Tino.

Although it is called Fallen Leaf Castle, in fact, there are not many fallen leaves on Count Tino's fiefdom.

The castle is surrounded by tall pine trees. Even on this cold winter day, under the cover of falling snow, you can still vaguely see dense dark green.

Long before the independence of the Duchy of Duolun, Count Tino was a vassal of the Duke of Duolun.

Now in his fifties, he not only experienced the previous independence war in the Duchy of Duolun, but also formed deep friendships with many nobles in the Duchy of Duolun through noble marriages.

Moreover, being able to be a count safely in a chaotic place like the Eastern Kingdoms clearly shows the power and means of Count Tino.

so……

Even among the many vassals in the entire Principality of Duolun, Earl Tino is one of the most influential.

The north wind howled, and the air was filled with a chilly feeling.

After a sudden snowfall, Count Tino stood alone on the terrace of the castle. His sight seemed to pass through the vast land and looked to the south of Fallen Leaf Castle.

The sudden discovery of silver mines in Naplin City was just one of the reasons why Count Tino turned his attention to the south.

The silver mine is certainly tempting, but if he wants to do it just for the sake of the silver mine, then it is impossible for Count Tino to gain a foothold here.

After all, as a veteran nobleman who has experienced countless ups and downs in various wars, Count Tino is not a fool.

Of course he knew that Viscount Naplin and Marquis Antolia were both members of the Jimena family, and to some extent had extremely close ties.

Naplin City sends food to Antolia every year, and Antolia’s army often goes to Naplin City for friendly exchanges.

But……

He finally signed a non-aggression agreement with Viscount Cassim whose fiefdom was located south of Naplin City, and started preparations for the invasion of Naplin City in advance.

When spring comes, war breaks out!

This is not just because of the temptation of the silver mine, nor is it just because of his judgment on the current situation of the Antolian army.

The support from that big shot was the fundamental reason that prompted Count Tino to make this decision.

Because behind him, there is the support of Andal King Wilbert I!

Yes, King Wilbert I of the Andals!

As a foreign nobleman, Count Tino certainly didn't know that Wilbert I was troubled by Antolia's rapidly expanding military strength.

The clumsy behavior of the southern nobles at the Imperial Council also frustrated Wilbert I's original plan to control Antoria by restricting population movement.

So in the face of Antoria, whose power continued to expand and gradually appeared to break the balance of forces in the Kingdom of Andal, Wilbert I could only choose other means to suppress it.

no way.

The strength of vassals means the decline of royal power.

Even if Leon is personally called a loyal minister, many things will not change.

so……

Viscount Naplin happened to discover the silver mine, which became the breakthrough that Wilbert I had been waiting for!

Count Tino actually doesn't know much about the above things.

But through the movements from Wilbert I, he could roughly guess that the reason why Wilbert I supported him was because he hoped to make the war that happened in Naplin City become Antolia's war. Bleeding tank.

Wilbert I regarded himself as a pawn on a chessboard!

However, while coming to this conclusion, Count Tino did not feel angry or dissatisfied.

Being a chess piece has the dangers of being a chess piece, but being a chess piece also has the benefits of being a chess piece.

So after repeatedly weighing the pros and cons, Count Tino finally made his own judgment.

The temptation of the silver mine and the support of Wilbert I were enough to give myself, the patriarch of the Schneider family and Count Evergreen Tino of the Duchy of Doron, the possibility of actually controlling the Naplin silver mine!

As long as he can destroy the resistance of the Jimena-Naplin family in Naplin City before Antolia intervenes, then controlling the Naplin Silver Mine will become an unchangeable established fact.

The only key to this battle lies in the reaction speed of the Antolian people!

As a veteran nobleman, Count Tino knew very well that a nobleman who could make a king hope to be weakened through this method was definitely not an easy character to deal with.

He needs to be extremely vigilant against the Antolian army far away in the Andal Kingdom.

Therefore, he roped in Viscount Cassim as his helper.

In other words, make Viscount Qasim a pawn.

And he...

To be honest, even after signing a non-aggression agreement, Count Tino did not intend to directly intervene in the war that was about to break out in Naplin City.

There is great uncertainty as to whether the Antolians can arrive in time.

He would not risk his family's fate just because of a silver mine.

Therefore, Count Tino's war preparations were not to directly go south to attack Naplin City.

It was enough to leave the frontal battlefield to Viscount Cassim, who had a simple mind.

And he will privately support a group of mercenaries wandering around the Duchy of Duolun to attack Naplin City!

Even if you need to take action in person at a critical moment, you won't do it in the name of Count Tino, but disguise yourself as a bandit or a mercenary!

In this way, even if the Antolian army reacts quickly, they will not attack themselves without any reason if they are sufficiently secretive.

after all……

Antoria is a vassal of the Andal Kingdom.

If he attacks himself without substantive evidence, he will undoubtedly be criticized and criticized by countless nobles.

Feeling the cold wind blowing in front of him, Count Tino thought over his plan very carefully in his heart. He felt that it was absolutely foolproof, as if the city of Naplin was waving to him, and he thought between refusing and welcoming. To get yourself into its silver mines...

…

Compared to Count Tino, who was making various calculations, Leon didn't have so many twists and turns in his mind.

As news of a large number of bandits, robbers and even mercenaries began to appear around Naplin City from the east, Leon became acutely aware of Count Tino's thoughts.

And in response…

The day after receiving this news, Antolia Bank spread across the southern part of the Kingdom of Andal officially opened up its own new business path.

This is the first time that the Jimena family has issued an announcement to recruit mercenaries through the Antolia Bank.

You can use mercenary bandits to cause trouble, but I, Antolia, can't?

What's more, who says banks can only engage in finance and economics?

In this era that is different from Blue Star, as the pioneer of the banking industry, the business scope of the banking industry is completely defined by Leon.

Since the mercenary group has always been one of the most important target customer groups for Antolia Bank to reach the sinking market, therefore... take this opportunity to open up a whole business of mercenary recruitment, reward distribution and bounty storage. Line is naturally extremely reasonable.

Leon calls this industrial linkage.

after all……

With the birth of the Antolia Bank, more and more mercenaries choose to deposit their rewards in the Antolia Bank.

In this case, Antolia Bank directly distributes the mercenary recruitment information and transfers the bounty directly to the mercenary's private account, which can undoubtedly streamline the business process to a great extent and reduce manpower and operating costs.

If we can take this opportunity to build Antolia Bank into an institution with both financial business and mercenary business, that would be even better!

There is no way, after all, there are many poor people in this era.

It is difficult for Antolia Bank to develop across various noble territories simply by relying on simple financial services and dubious noble customers.

It would be better to subtly label Antolia Bank as a "Mercenary Guild" in order to expand its business scope and increase its branch distribution.

Who said that only mages can have associations?

There must be mercenaries too!

It was with this view in mind that the notice to recruit mercenaries was first issued in Shenmulin, which immediately aroused heated discussion among the mercenaries.

Yes, there is indeed a gold mine in Sunken Wood Forest.

Gold prospectors from all over the Andal Kingdom gathered around the Sunken Wood Forest to realize their dream of getting rich overnight.

But……

The tree guards in the Sunken Wood Forest are extremely fierce after all.

You know, risk and return are directly proportional.

Along with the high yields of gold diggers, there has always been a high mortality rate.

But now, the notice posted by Antolia Bank has obviously made many mercenaries think.

Of course, solicitation is solicitation.

Antolia has always had its own mercenaries.

so……

The notice posted by Antolia Bank is just something on the surface.

It was just to separate the Jimena family itself from what might happen in the Duchy of Duolun.

after all……

Although the mercenaries were recruited by the Jimena family, they were all independent individuals after all.

If something happens in the Principality of Duolun, it has nothing to do with the Antorians, let alone the Jimena family.

Or to be more specific, this is just a way to confuse Earl Tino and other eastern nobles into misunderstandings about the level of support and arrival time for the Antolians.

In fact.

The Antolian mercenaries led by Stan are already on their way to Naplin City!

It has to be said that as the boss of the Antolian mercenaries, Stan is naturally quite satisfied with being able to take on such a big job.

Mercenaries are born for war.

As Antolia's army gradually becomes more formalized and larger in scale, the Antolian mercenaries that originally made Antolia famous have become less and less important.

so……

This battle is the beginning of making the Antolian mercenaries great again!

Regarding this, Stein, who had already received orders from Leon, was particularly convinced.

Because Stain will not return to Antolia until this is over!

Mercenaries are only mercenaries when they are released.

Leon knew very well that with the expansion of the number of Antolia's regular army, the main army and the garrison armies in various places were also established one after another.

If we continue to confine the mercenaries in the territory, it will not have any effect, and it will not be conducive to the development of Antoria mercenaries.

On the contrary, if the mercenaries are released, they may be able to get amazing harvests.

As the most chaotic area in the northern continent, the eastern countries are undoubtedly the best choice!

It must be said that Leon's decision was ultimately influenced by both conservatives and radicals.

However, as a lord, he really wanted to see what they could achieve if the mercenaries of Antolia were allowed to grow wildly in the chaotic land of the Eastern Kingdoms under the leadership of Stan. Result!

It is precisely for this reason that after a certain amount of recruitment of soldiers - mainly the absorption of some Walrasian generals living in the abandoned land, the transformed Antolian mercenaries began to move towards the eastern countries. march.

They didn't even use the banner of Antoria or the Jimena family.

As long as you don't say it yourself, this is completely a mercenary group that evolved from the conflicts in the eastern countries.

From this moment on, he, Stan, is one of the mercenary captains wandering in the eastern countries!

The winter wind and snow have gradually subsided, but the biting wind is still mixed with an icy chill.

This is already the tenth day since Stan set out from Antolia.

They had just passed through Gongyang City, which guarded the border between the Kingdom of Andal and the Duchy of Duolun, and entered the territory of the Duchy of Duolun.

This made Stan feel a long-lost feeling.

It's like...

The Dukedom of Duolun in front of him was waiting for his ravage.

"Who is the first target?"

Riding on the war horse, Stan used his rough palm to stroke the weapon hanging on his waist.

As spring approaches, the situation around Naplin City becomes increasingly clear.

More and more robbers and independent mercenaries began to appear around Naplin City.

Even the levies under Viscount Cassim began to gradually gather towards the border area.

The only problem is...

Which people are just here to enjoy the autumn breeze, and which people are hired by Count Tino.

Stein's answer to this question is simple.

As long as all the bandits and mercenaries in Naplin City and surrounding areas are killed, the mercenaries supported by Count Tino will naturally be among them!

"In the mountain forest east of Gongyang City, there is a group of bandits who are running between the Kingdom of Andal and the Principality of Duolun. However... they should not have much to do with the situation in Naplin City this time."

The deputy on the side said so.

"No relationship is better!"

"Hit both those who are relevant and those who are not, so that our identities will not arouse suspicion!"

Stann said with great devotion: "Remember, from this moment on, although we still obey the orders of the Marquis, we are no longer Antolians on the surface, but wandering in the Principality of Duolun. mercenaries!"

You know, the long knife in his hand is already thirsty! (End of chapter)