anovelconsole Chapter 167 Complete Expansion
Chapter 167 Complete Expansion
Chapter 168 Complete Expansion
"Oh God, oh God, have mercy on your faithful believers..."
Baron Rowan, an old man in his sixties, covered his face and wept.
"Those who invade my territory and carve up my land have no right to ask for mercy!"
Peter's toughness took them by surprise, and now Baron Rowan was completely thrown into disarray. Peter had won; he had a knife in his hand and could kill the whole family at any moment. The old baron's elegance and composure vanished, leaving only a resigned acceptance of reality.
"Please don't do this. I...I'm willing to accept the ransom and war reparations."
"You could have been more dignified."
Peter spread his hands and sighed, "There was no need to force me to speak so bluntly, Baron Rowan."
So, what will you use to pay?
Baron Rowan gritted his teeth: "Lord Peter, I—I can't come up with that much money right now. I'm willing to write an IOU, like Baron Paeson did—"
"no."
Peter interrupted him, his tone resolute, "I do not accept your IOU. But you can use your town of Rowan and the five surrounding villages to offset the ransom and reparations totaling 5 Groshens."
After speaking, Father Nickdams spread out a pre-prepared transfer agreement and placed it on the table.
"What?!"
Baron Rowan looked up abruptly, his face drained of color. "This is impossible! That's my hereditary territory!"
The choice is yours.
Peter said calmly, his eyes devoid of any emotion, "Sign, relinquish all rights to Rowan, and you and your family can leave with your personal belongings. Or," he paused, "you can choose to stay here and contemplate life. Your family, however, will be sentenced to death and hanged in the town center."
Baron Rowan's chest heaved violently. He looked at Peter, then at Count Turnov for help.
Count Turnov had witnessed Peter's cruelty on the battlefield, and he knew that the red-haired Peter really dared to do such a thing, so he remained silent, stunned.
Baron Rowan withdrew his pleading gaze, overwhelmed by despair and fear. His hands trembled as he signed his name on the prepared land transfer agreement and affixed the family seal. He knew that from this moment on, the Rowan family would lose its foundation, becoming landless nobles with a bleak future. Regret gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake.
"Give them enough dignity, give them two hundred Grossing dollars for travel expenses, send them out of the country, and never let them return!"
Peter, not wanting to look at the distraught old baron again, waved for someone to take him away.
Unlike Baron Paissen, this cautious and suspicious raven did indeed harm Trostsky, and if he wasn't dealt with decisively, it would encourage more imitators.
Furthermore, the practice of using land as collateral to pay ransoms was acceptable among the nobility. Peter did not break the rules.
Bringing Rowan Town and its five affiliated villages under his control is tantamount to opening the gateway to Prague in the south. Furthermore, its proximity to the Izera River allows for the development of a wharf; if managed well, it could become a vital waterway, crucial for the future development of the territory.
Therefore, no matter what, he's determined to take over Rowan Town.
Finally, Peter turned his gaze to Count Turnov.
The count, in the prime of his life, tall and imposing, strained to straighten his back, his face bruised, yet the pride of a powerful lord remained. But facing Peter's scrutinizing gaze, Turnov immediately recalled their duel on the battlefield. In just two moves, he had been defeated by Peter, and the memory still throbbed with a dull ache in his back.
"Red-haired Peter".
He said in a low, hoarse voice, parched with thirst, "If you want to kill me, then hurry up! But if you want to humiliate me, forget it!"
Peter remained calm, looking at him without anger. "My lord," he said, "we all know what happened. You planned and orchestrated the invasion of Trotsky. According to custom and given your crimes, I have every right to demand a huge ransom from you. Do you agree?"
"I.....
'
After being captured, Turnov met with Baron Persson and Baron Rowan and learned that Peter had seized their letters. The mark bearing the Black Bear family crest was undeniable, and he could no longer deny it.
"Your personal ransom is 50,000 groshins, the war reparations are 50,000 groshins, and the ransom for Turnov Castle is also 50,000 groshins."
Count Turnov's pupils contracted sharply. 150,000 Groshins! This was almost an impossible number! His castle treasury had been emptied by Peter, and his territory would need time to recover after this battle.
"I—I can't afford it." He finally admitted with difficulty, his pride shattered by reality, his voice lowered, "I guarantee it with the centuries-old honor of the Turnov family, I will repay it slowly—"
Having witnessed Baron Rowan's refusal to write an IOU, he was hesitant to bring it up himself, fearing rejection and the loss of face.
"I'm sorry, Your Excellency."
Peter shook his head. "I don't think an IOU is a reliable guarantee for a neighbor as powerful as you who has been extremely hostile to me in the past."
Just as Count Turnov looked on in despair, preparing to accept an even crueler fate, a person walked in, and a sweet and magnetic voice rang out.
"Your Excellency Peter, please allow me, your humble servant István, to speak."
István bowed deeply to Peter and spoke gracefully in an aria.
"Toth, you despicable liar! You lied to me!"
After being captured, Turnov realized that the "King's Envoy" he had so admired and trusted was actually sent by Peter! Thinking about it, he realized that his every move had been planned by Peter, and he had been played like a clown.
This reminded him of a story his father had told him when he was a child: A fox erected a monument on the cliff edge near a farmer's chicken coop, which read: "How will you know you are also an eagle soaring through the sky if you don't bravely fly down!" From then on, the fox was able to eat the chickens that fell to their deaths at the bottom of the cliff every day.
And this time, it seems that I am that foolish chicken who doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth!
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sweet voice, "No, no, no, Your Excellency, I am indeed a confidant of King Sigismund, and I have not lied to you about that. As for what happens next, that depends on how you define deception."
Istvan, as always, enjoys sophistry.
Turnov was about to argue, but Peter interrupted him by raising his hand and raising an eyebrow. "Oh? Istvan, what are you trying to say?"
"grown ups."
Istvan began by bowing, then gestured to Count Turnov, saying, "Although we stand on different sides, during our brief time together at the castle, I observed that while you may be impulsive, you are not a despicable man. You value promises, uphold your knightly oaths, and possess the noble virtues of honesty and trustworthiness. You are a respectable opponent and should not be treated too harshly, as that would tarnish your reputation for benevolence."
Count Turnov looked at Istvan with some surprise; the man who had deceived him was now pleading for him.
"You bastard!"
Peter rebuked, "Turnov is also a brave and powerful enemy. I've learned this deeply on the battlefield; he dared to charge twenty cavalrymen alone. Should I give such a brave man the chance to recover so easily?"
Peter's logic was clear. Turnov, however, was secretly pleased; it seemed even his enemies admired his martial prowess!
Istvan, undeterred by reproach, spoke in a compelling voice: "My good sir, enough blood has been shed; hatred should not drag on indefinitely. Perhaps we can find a more dignified way to end this conflict, one that upholds your authority while preserving the dignity befitting an ancient nobleman. This might bring greater long-term benefits than mere money."
Turnov's feelings became complicated. He hadn't expected that during his most difficult time, it would be Istvan, his "enemy," who pleaded for him. Indeed, his judgment was correct; Mr. Tos was a man of noble spirit, just like him!
Peter paused for a moment, seemingly seriously considering Istvan's words. "So, what's your opinion?"
"Your Excellency's territory is vast, with numerous villages. Rather than clinging to a huge sum of gold coins that cannot be immediately converted into cash, why not use land as collateral? For example, how about using the five villages bordering Troski to offset part of the payment?"
"As for the castle, it is a symbol of the Turnov family, and I strongly suggest that you return it without compensation, which would better reflect your generosity."
"The remaining 50,000 in war reparations can be paid by the Earl through an IOU, to be repaid in installments. In this way, the Earl can preserve his family's foundation and reputation. And you, you will gain a reputation for generosity and the opportunity to reconcile with a powerful neighbor."
Count Turnov's heart pounded. Trade border villages for freedom and a castle? It would be a huge loss, but undoubtedly a better choice than losing everything, even his life. His gaze towards Istvan became more complex, a mixture of lingering anger at being deceived, as well as current surprise and a glimmer of hope.
Peter paced slowly through the dungeon, his footsteps echoing clearly in the silence. He seemed to be weighing the pros and cons. Finally, he stopped and looked at Turnov.
"Istvan's words are not without merit."
Peter said slowly, "I admire a brave opponent and am willing to give an honest man a chance. Count Turnov, I can accept this proposal. You will use five villages bordering Trossky to offset all the ransom and castle redemption fees. I can return your castle to you now. But you must write a legally binding IOU for the 50,000 Groshin war reparations, stipulating that it be repaid within three years, and using the tax revenue from your remaining territory as collateral."
"It actually worked?"
Count Turnov's mood was like that of a small boat adrift on a stormy sea. From despair to hope, from stubbornness to compromise. He took a deep breath, as if he could smell the scent of freedom.
"I—I agree."
He said in a hoarse voice, "Thank you for your—mercy, Lord Peter." The words were spoken with great difficulty, yet they carried a trace of genuine gratitude. He regretted his greed and underestimation of the enemy, which had led him to such a state, where he had to exchange his ancestral lands for his freedom.
"Present paper and pen to His Excellency the Earl."
"Um, sorry, I can't read."
"You really are illiterate? I thought you were lying on the battlefield."
"I'm ashamed to say that I prefer swords to pen and paper."
"That won't do. As a count, one should be well-versed in Latin to avoid being deceived and prevent us from blindly starting a war, which could lead to such serious consequences."
"Yes, Lord Peter, you are right."
While the two were talking, the priest had already written down the agreement.
Turnov was illiterate, but he believed that God's servants wouldn't lie to him, so he took out his family crest ring, and his heart skipped a beat as he pressed it down. The loss of those five villages wasn't enough to cripple him. Old noble families never owned more than one territory; they had lands in other places. But it did mean a loss of tax revenue and population.
Ah—it's better than being penniless like Baron Rowan. He picked up the ring and pressed it down solemnly.
When it was all over, he felt a sense of relief. He looked up at Peter's young yet composed face, and at Istvan beside him, nodding and smiling, and felt a mix of emotions. He had lost the war, and he had lost some territory, but he had preserved the foundation of his family—the castle and the name.
"I hope this is the end of our conflict, not the beginning, Your Excellency."
Peter took the signed agreement, his tone calm yet meaningful, "Peace is always more precious than war, isn't it?"
Count Turnov nodded silently and was soon escorted away.
After he walked away, Istvan and Peter looked at each other and smiled. They thought the charade had been quite well done.
Peter's current strength is not enough to contend with the three Earls of the North. Letting Turnov leave and taking some tangible benefits for himself is already the limit.
In this way, without compromising his own core interests, Peter achieved multiple goals—territorial expansion, weakening powerful enemies, and obtaining potential reconciliation—by adopting a "magnanimous" attitude.
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