Solid stone pass, inside the consul's residence.

The atmosphere was unusually oppressive.

Baron Dylan sat in the master seat of his study, looked at the merchant in front of him with a gloomy face, gritted his teeth and said, "That damn little thing, it's really vicious." ”

But the merchant standing in front of him did not dare to answer.

The identity is here.

However, in the room, two vassal knights who were trusted by Dylan dissuaded on the side: "Lord Dylan, there is no need to be so angry, maybe the forces behind Baron Kant want to push him out, so that you don't have to be completely controlled by you, after all, you have the key points in your hands, which is equivalent to choking their throats." ”

The vassal knights were naturally referring to the natural dividing line between the Narun Desert and the Lion Principality, the only gap in the majestic Sanwaya Mountains, the Solid Stone Pass.

That's where they are, where they are firmly in control!

"Hmph."

Baron Dylan's face was still gloomy, and he snorted heavily, but his expression was slightly softened.

His own vassal knight was right.

Strategically advantaged.

In particular, the solid stone pass is the only passage in and out of the Sanwaya mountain range, even if there are some country roads and some animal roads that can bypass this pass, but as long as it is strictly checked, it can always be found and blocked.

What's more, entering the Narun Desert requires a lot of supplies, especially fresh water, which is the most important thing.

The caravan must have been numerous and miscellaneous.

Traveling lightly also doesn't transport much table salt.

Therefore, it is necessary to replenish supplies at the Jianshi Pass to ensure the safety after entering the Narun Desert, and if you want to be greedy for cheap and risk the pass to enter the desert, there is no doubt that it is equivalent to playing with your life and risking your life to enter the desert.

In the past, those spy caravans seemed to leave south after replenishing supplies at the Jianshi Pass, but in fact, they carefully bypassed the pass in a circle before entering the Narun Desert.

These Barons of Dylan, as local lords, have long known this.

When the time comes, the trail will be blocked a few times.

Even if some bandit gangs were hired to enter the roads and deserts to loot, it was impossible to stop the hired professional robbers with the weak guards of the merchants.

After all, robbers in this era are sometimes no different from mercenaries.

Baron Dylan, who has developed, naturally has this capital!

Thinking of this, his face looked much better, and he waved his hand to the merchant and said, "Okay, you go down, don't pretend to be quiet, just don't know anything, just wait for my arrangement." ”

"Yes, Master Dylan."

The merchant wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and hurriedly exited the study.

The other two vassal knights in the study looked at Dylan, they had been together for a long time, and they obviously understood and arranged for them, the baron.

Sure enough, Baron Dylan asked, "How many soldiers do we have now?" ”

"38 knights, 150 knightly squires, 500 pikemen and 100 archers."

The vassal knight, who was in charge of the management of the troops, replied, "If the army is expanded, it will be possible to form an armed militia of 1,000, as well as 2,000 conscripted peasants, and an archer of 500 hunters." ”

"Well, these are our own troops." Baron Dylan squinted.

These soldiers were his original troops.

It is tantamount to gritting its teeth and giving up all the armed forces that can be put together after development.

Including those conscription peasants who only had pointed pitchforks.

In the past, this was Baron Dylan's confidence to protect himself, but in the past three months, he used the salt trade and big silver coins to open the way, and the overall level of the army has risen rapidly.

Baron Dylan continued to ask, "What about those mercenaries?" ”

"There are now all sorts of robbers and bandits as mercenaries, totaling 1,600 people."

The vassal knight replied: "If you give a standard weapon, you can go to the battlefield, and your combat effectiveness is barely good." After a pause, he solemnly reported: "But the most important thing is to accept the Tempest mercenary group hired by us, a total of 600 light cavalry, which is the strongest group of mercenaries recruited this time. ”

"Sounds good." Baron Dylan nodded slightly, but there was a little gloomy in his eyes: "But the question is, can the reliability of this group of guys be guaranteed?" ”

"Ordinary mercenaries, 30 small silver coins per person per month."

The vassal knight immediately replied, "But the 600 mercenary cavalrymen who were born of horse thieves will need 80 small silver coins per month, and if you need to add 20 small silver coins in wartime." ”

"That's 1 big silver coin." Baron Dylan snorted coldly: "I can pay this money out." ”

"That's how reliable it is."

The vassal knight was also disdainful: "These mercenaries are greedy people who see money, at least no one around the nobles can hire them for a long time, so we are the only one, and it is no problem to cultivate their loyalty with silver coins, at least they will not betray us on the battlefield." ”

"No, that's not the case." Baron Dylan instead curled the corners of his mouth and smiled, but there was no smile in his eyes: "There is no reason why they betrayed us on the battlefield, but the price is not enough." ”

The two vassal knights were silent, unable to refute this.

However, Baron Dylan did not delve into this problem, sitting in his chair, his hand lightly tapping on the table: "Next, there will definitely be a lot of caravans and spies in my pass, this is the most troublesome." ”

"Command, Lord Dylan."

Two vassal knights spoke.

"Well, you do need to be busy."

Baron Dylan nodded, knocked on the table and said, "Let's get our rats moving, it's best to plant them in any corner of the entire pass, I don't want my territory to become a sieve where anyone can enter, then I will really lose face, I think you two understand this." ”

"We'll do our best!" The two vassal knights replied in fear.

"That's the kind of attitude I need."

Baron Dylan smiled: "But don't worry, when this turmoil passes, I will remember your loyalty." After a pause, he looked at the two of them and said solemnly: "When the time comes, I will arrange an actual fief for you, as well as 2,000 big silver coins as a bonus, you will definitely not be disappointed." ”

The faces of the two vassal knights were already showing joy, and when they heard Baron Dylan's words, they immediately knelt down on one knee and saluted their chests very respectfully: "My lord, we will do our best to complete the task you gave us!" ”

"Good!"

Baron Dylan chuckled and nodded, and waved his hand, "Go down, and cheer up tomorrow, so that our rats can sniff out where those filthy bed bugs are." ”

"Yes!" The two continued to salute before exiting the room gratefully.

But when the two left.

Baron Dylan's face suddenly darkened.

"Hehe, I can't sit still anymore, are we all looking for a way back?"

His hand tightly grasped the handle of the chair, and his face was extremely bad: "You two guys are starting to have a dislike for me, do you really think I didn't notice it?" Your extraordinary power was inspired to you by me, and now even you have begun to betray me, I really didn't expect it, I really didn't expect it! ”

"They are all former veterans, you have become a baron, and they are still vassal knights under your command, how can they be willing?"

In the room, a calm voice emerged in the gloom.

Baron Dylan didn't panic, but narrowed his eyes and said, "But they don't know gratitude, heh, gratitude, well, it's ridiculous that this word can come out of my mouth." ”

"Yes, it's ridiculous." The calm voice chuckled: "It's like when you betrayed Princess Sophia and betrayed the Silverplate Kingdom on the battlefield, and then you can become this nobleman and really set foot in this class, isn't it?" You also see them as stepping stones. ”

"You know a lot." Baron Dylan didn't seem to hear the taunts and sneers from the man's mouth.

"Of course."

The man in the shadows finally came out.

Limped, came to the chair next to the study and sat down, chuckled: "Well, yes to me, Baron Dylan, the people around you have begun to betray you, if you don't consider your own retreat, I think it will be so vain to hold on, and the final consequences will be absolutely miserable." ”

"You're threatening me." Baron Dylan's face was gloomy, but there was no outburst.

"I'm just telling the truth."

This man looked up, and it was the spy leader under the house at the pass.

He deeply understood Baron Dylan's character, but he didn't force it too hard, but changed his tone and said: "Sometimes you can take refuge in others too early, and you will be reused, especially at this critical juncture, you can get unimaginable benefits by taking refuge, such as the increase of power, the promotion of the title..." ”

"It's very lucrative, and it's also very reasonable." Baron Dylan gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, as if he had made up his mind: "Alright, please answer Count Elsaga, I am willing to be his most loyal baron." ”

"No, no, no." The spy leader smiled: "You are the most loyal viscount. ”

Baron Dylan also smiled: "Thank you, Count Agatha. ”

"She is the most merciful." The spy leader nodded: "However, you also need to pay a certain amount of loyalty now, such as sending troops into the Naryn Desert to recover the salt mines that have fallen outside the principality." ”

"It's a bit difficult, you know my troops aren't capable of going into the desert yet."

Baron Dylan narrowed his eyes and replied, "It's really difficult. ”

"No, you're still mistaken."

The spy leader chuckled, "You have troops that can enter the desert, such as a 600-man mercenary cavalry, well-equipped, powerful, and with enough logistical supplies. ”

"I don't understand." Baron Dylan frowned.

"This Tempest Mercenary Regiment used to be very popular with Count Agatha."

The leader of the spies smiled and said, "Don't let this elite cavalry live up to its reputation. ”

"No, it won't." Baron Dylan looked at the smile of the spy leader, but felt a little chill in his heart, he had been skeptical that he could recruit such an elite cavalry team, and now he was right.

This 600-strong Tempest Mercenary Group is the hidden force of the Countess of East County, Agatha, who is responsible for the black hand!