Chapter 1258 - 1183
Bagrli’s roar was like a giant stone crashing into the boiling bonfire, instantly freezing the Cuirassiers who were dancing around.
Their hands were still resting on each other’s shoulders, with wine jars scattered haphazardly around their feet.
Aleksei also stopped dancing and turned his head to look around.
It was a man half a head taller than the surrounding Cuirassiers, carrying a blood-dripping gray wolf skin on his shoulder.
Three deep red battle lines crossed his face, extending from his left eyebrow to his jaw, with a crooked cross tattooed under his right eye.
Two sabers were tucked at his waist, the scabbards wrapped in worn deer skin, clearly having rushed back from the hunting grounds without even unloading his weapons.
"Boss Bagrli!" The burly man who had been pouring Aleksei’s wine was the first to react; he hastily hid the wine bottle behind his back. "We... we were chatting..."
"Chatting?" Bagrli stepped forward, his leather boots crunching on the gravel. "What did I say before I left? I told you to entertain properly!"
He deliberately emphasized the words "entertain properly," mimicking the tone of the previous curly-haired matron.
Around them, all the Cuirassiers lowered their heads; even the most impulsive tall and thin one clutched his coat tightly.
Everyone knew that Bagrli’s "entertain properly" was intended for Aleksei to falter amid cold treatment and pressure, so he would simply retreat.
But now, they had indeed entertained properly, calling each other brother.
Aleksei, however, was not flustered. He wiped the corner of his mouth slowly: "Sir Bagrli, you’ve misunderstood. I am a guest here after all. Eating before the host arrives is indeed impolite, right?
Moreover, asking them to serve precious bear paws is truly embarrassing, which is why I exchanged with wine and spices."
"Yes, yes, yes, that’s right." The surrounding Cuirassiers clutching wine jars echoed repeatedly.
"Not only that, I can continually supply wine and spices, as long as you visit Salted Meat Castle." Aleksei smiled broadly, revealing his true intentions. "I can provide more for you!"
"What can you provide?" An elderly voice questioned, "It’s unusual to see such a thing upon waking today."
"Master Ku Tu Yu Fu." Even Bagrli relinquished his stern demeanor and stepped aside.
Yet, the expression on the burly man’s face was one of frustration—what was he so frustrated about?
Now Aleksei realized, though Bagrli was the boss, there was indeed someone else genuinely managing everything.
This was typically an elder among the doomed Cuirassiers, the most respected elder.
Ku Tu Yu Fu—Aleksei remembered he was a fierce general under his father’s command, although he wasn’t sure if this was the same person, since Ku Tu Yu Fu is not an uncommon name.
But when the man stepped forward, Aleksei felt a bit disappointed.
The man was not tall, hunched over, white-haired, and somewhat balding.
He wore a bearskin cloak, which hung loosely, resembling a mere clothing rack, leaving only a skeleton.
And his walking was unsteady, as though he might stumble at any moment.
"I’m asking you, boy." The old man steadied himself in front of the fire under the grass shelter. "What can you provide?"
Facing such a Ku Tu Yu Fu, Aleksei naturally did not associate him with that "Ku Tu Yu Fu," confidently responding:
"Spices, salt, iron, equipment—you name it, I can provide it!"
Aleksei’s confidence came from knowing Gloev amassed considerable wealth thanks to the Holy Alliance’s demand for beef.
After the fall of Fat Cow Castle, Gloev used the Border Beef Trade Company as collateral, virtually sacrificing his family to issue a war bond for national revival.
Relying on channels from Red Leaf Hill, he leveraged these funds to borrow a significant amount from the Empire, aimed for warfare.
But this also meant Aleksei had to quickly achieve victories, gain trophies to restore public confidence in the bonds.
"And then?"
"I will pay all doomed Cuirassiers wages equivalent to the Standing Army, at least not much lower than the Holy Alliance Army or Shooting Army."
"And then?"
More demands? Quite a large appetite...
But Aleksei was not afraid, once Bear Castle is revived, money sent out will eventually come back.
"Aside from salary, after the war, I can allocate land to you, distribute national bond annuities, and even titles."
"Oh right." Aleksei’s gaze swept across, "Along with payment, lots of loot—my only condition is no gratuitous killing of civilians, looting caravans. Can you agree?"
"Anything else?"
"Would you like to tell me?" Aleksei’s eye twitched slightly, yet he continued to smile, looking into Ku Tu Yu Fu’s eyes, as though waiting for his offer.
One second, two seconds, three seconds...
Ku Tu Yu Fu remained silent, only staring intensely at Aleksei’s eyes.
"Hmm hmm hmm, hahaha—"
Suddenly, out of nowhere, the old man began to laugh, although his laughter was unpleasant, like a dying crow.
"Are you the Duke’s seed?"
"What did you say?" Gloev stood up directly, but was held back by Aleksei.
However, Aleksei’s expression also turned grim; anyone being questioned about not being their father’s child would hardly look pleasant: "Sir Ku Tu Yu Fu, what does this mean?"
Emerging from the shadow under the shelter, Ku Tu Yu Fu’s hand grasping his cane was visibly trembling: "I’ll tell you what it means."
In the icy snow, he spread his arms, allowing the bearskin cloak to slide off naturally, revealing his bare body.