Knight: Becoming King of the World

"What’s wrong?"

Roland noticed the Militia Captain staring blankly into his cup, his wine glass held aloft.

The Militia Captain shook his head. "It’s nothing, Lord Attendant. I just feel that the things you all talk about are things I’ve never even considered."

The melancholy in the Militia Captain’s eyes was impossible to hide. He had always been the genius among his peers, but now, surrounded by a group of truly formidable people, he was finding it difficult to accept the disparity.

Roland understood the Militia Captain completely. As a child, he had felt the difference in perspective between himself and the other young noble heirs, as well as the divide between him and the common children.

Different backgrounds, different upbringings, different people and events witnessed.

Roland said softly, "I know how you feel. I grew up in a noble family, but I realized from a young age that I was different from the children in the streets.

We talked about banquets, balls, and hunts, while they... they had no way of ever experiencing such things."

The Militia Captain nodded, a flicker of resonance in his eyes as he looked at Roland.

"Yes, I feel it. Back in Odoche, I thought I’d seen a fair bit of the world, but now... I feel completely out of place with you all..."

Roland smiled and raised his glass, gently clinking it against the Militia Captain’s.

"But that doesn’t mean you can’t find your own path. Look, aren’t you the Militia Captain of Ximira Castle now? You have your own status here, your own responsibilities."

The Militia Captain smiled as well. He took a sip of wine and said, "Yes, I’ve found my place here. Life here is more real. It’s fulfilling."

Their conversation caught Leon’s attention. He sidled over and asked curiously, "What are you two talking about? It seems interesting."

Roland waved Leon over, inviting him to join their conversation.

"We were just talking about our different experiences. This is Leon, a good friend of mine and also an Attendant to our lord."

The Militia Captain nodded to Leon. Being a cheerful person, Leon quickly struck up a conversation with the captain.

The three of them talked for a long time, discussing their pasts and their hopes for the future.

They discovered that despite their different backgrounds and experiences, they all shared a love for life.

As time went on, they grew more familiar with one another and even started joking around. Their laughter made the atmosphere of the banquet all the more lively.

Whether noble or commoner, on the battlefield or in a castle, people need friendship and understanding.

Everyone slept well that night, no longer needing to make camp in the wild.

The barracks at Ximira Castle were ordinary, but for those accustomed to roughing it, a simple roof over their heads was a rare luxury.

The farther east they traveled, the more the temperature dropped, and the more they felt the biting wind.

The walls of Ximira Castle provided warm shelter, allowing the soldiers to rest easy in the barracks.

Henry gazed at the pitch-black sky, wondering about the strange weather. For it to have not snowed yet on the eastern grasslands was not a good omen.

In the Caladia Empire, the winter snow was crucial for most farmers. A few heavy snowfalls were necessary to ensure a good harvest the following autumn.

Henry stood in the castle’s study, pondering this as he gazed out the window at the night sky.

’It’s not going to just... not snow this year, is it? This isn’t some coastal city!’

’If it doesn’t snow this winter, it could affect crop yields. That would be a huge blow to the domain’s economy.’

’It would also cause the farmers’ income to plummet.’

"My Lord, you haven’t rested yet?" Claude asked softly as he entered and saw Henry standing by the window.

Henry turned to look at Claude. "I was just thinking, the weather is a bit strange this year. It still hasn’t snowed on the grasslands, which isn’t good for us."

Claude nodded. He knew Henry’s concerns were valid. When they were in Gasil, they had expected Ximira Castle to be blanketed in snow by the time they arrived.

But aside from the withered grass and the biting wind, there were no signs of winter at all.

"Yes, I’ve noticed that as well."

Henry waved his hand dismissively. "Whether it snows or not isn’t up to us. We’ll have to see what fate has in store."

Claude smiled, and they both left the study, each returning to his own room to sleep.

The next morning, after breakfast, Henry and his army resumed their journey back to Westwood Laine Castle.

They marched along the road, the scenery constantly changing as forests and farmland gradually came into view.

The closer they got to Westwood Laine Castle, the more orderly and developed the villages and farmstead houses became.

Henry observed the passing scenery from horseback. ’This first-person view of my own little territory is quite interesting,’ he mused.

Some of the older houses had been renovated. In the fields, farmers were bent over, busy with some task or another. Despite the cold, their faces were beaming with joy.

Compared to the subjects of other nobles, their taxes were very low. They had hope for the future!

"My Lord, look over there."

Bain pointed to a nearby field. "Last year, that was just a patch of wasteland. Now they’ve already started planting winter wheat."

Henry nodded and said to Bain, "As long as there’s enough grain for the army’s needs, I don’t care much about the grain tax."

They continued onward, and Henry noticed new roads under construction. These infrastructure improvements would help increase transport efficiency and promote trade and economic development.

’If you want to get rich, first build roads!’

The army marched on, passing through another village.

"My Lord, look at that village over there."

Bain pointed to a village that was being expanded. "They’re building new houses."

Henry knew this was all the result of his policies. He had encouraged the farmers to clear new land, build more houses, marry and have children, and increase agricultural productivity.

His subjects were actually quite easy to satisfy. As long as they had food to eat, shelter from the cold, and a place to live—and if you could give them just a little bit of "face"—they would support you with all their heart.

The army continued its march, and Henry’s mood improved with every step.

He could see his domain gradually prospering, his policies having a positive impact.

Of course, this was also thanks to Tommy’s execution. Even the best policies are useless if they are implemented poorly.

Henry’s army continued its march. When they reached Taienlai Village, they encountered a patrol of Grassland Warriors.

Upon seeing Henry’s noble banner, these Grassland Warriors became very excited.

A detachment immediately split off, galloping back to Westwood Laine Castle to spread the news of Henry’s return.

Henry and his army received a warm welcome from the villagers of Taienlai Village.

This was one of the first villages Henry had established, and it was home to many self-employed farmers and tenant farmers.

In Henry’s fief, villages had few serfs; most serfs were assigned to farmsteads. After working for two years, they could become tenant farmers, and those farmsteads could then be officially designated as villages.

The villagers gathered on both sides of the road, cheering for their lord.

Children ran about excitedly, while the adults held out loaves of bread, expressing their respect for Henry and their support for the army.

In the center of the village, Henry was invited to a brief welcoming ceremony.

The temporary village chief—elected by the villagers and confirmed by Tommy—gave a passionate speech, thanking their lord for bringing peace and prosperity to the village.

Their good lives today were all thanks to Henry’s great benevolence and virtue.

Henry responded that he was proud to have such loyal and hardworking subjects. He promised that as their lord, he would fulfill his duties and responsibilities and continue striving to provide them with better living conditions.

After the ceremony, Henry decided to stay in Taienlai Village for a while to speak with the villagers and learn about their living conditions and needs.

He visited several farming households, inspected their harvests and livestock, and asked for their opinions and suggestions regarding the village’s development.

In his conversations with the villagers, Henry learned that although life had improved, they still faced some challenges.

For example, the irrigation system still needed improvement. Without a better water-management system to channel water, irrigating the fields was time-consuming, laborious, and a great waste of manpower.

The education of the children was also an issue, as was the demand for a larger market for handicrafts.

Henry had Claude diligently record these issues, to be resolved as soon as possible within the next three years.

’Governing is not like fighting a war. In war, you just need to cut people down. But governing requires considering so many different things.’

In the end, Henry declined Taienlai Village’s invitation to stay the night. He and his army resumed their journey to Westwood Laine Castle, carrying the villagers’ blessings and expectations with them as they marched on.

On the next leg of their journey, Henry and his army passed several farmsteads, where they were met with the same warmth they had felt in Taienlai Village.

Despite their hard lives, the serfs on the farmsteads showed no signs of numbness or resentment when they saw Henry’s banner. Instead, they watched the procession with enthusiasm.

In the eyes of these serfs, there was an unmistakable glimmer of hope.

He knew the serfs reacted this way because they saw the possibility of changing their lives; they believed Henry could bring them a better future.

’A serf with a full belly, clothes on his back, and a roof over his head... It’s unthinkable, absolutely unthinkable!’

In front of one farmstead, Henry reined in his horse and spoke with a few of the more able-bodied serfs.

They told Henry that their lives had improved significantly since he became their master.

They were no longer mercilessly exploited as before, and they had more time to look after their health and think about the future.