Chapter 50： I have to hug my thighs

Time goes back to a few days ago.

In a tavern in a small town in the territory next to Arda, Baron Hansel Abbott was drinking with a man dressed as a businessman.

"The current situation is difficult!" The man across from him put down his cup, took out a roll of parchment from his pocket and handed it to the baron.

"So, this is a new mission for us?"

Hansel took the scroll, unfolded it and glanced at it.

"Raise food and grass? I remember that the officials in charge of the granaries in the capital boasted that their food could last for more than a year every time. Could it be that the thousands of people in Hals ate it up in such a short period of time?"

"Uh..." The liaison officer dressed as a businessman was at a loss for words. After hesitating for a while, he shrugged, "There is a fire in the warehouse."

"Oh, no wonder." Hansel nodded, nine out of ten it was a good thing for spies.

"Speaking of which, Lord Baron, why are you here? Shouldn't you be in Huxin Town? It took me a lot of effort to find you." The liaison officer asked strangely.

"Hmm!" Hansel cleared his throat, trying to control his heartbeat so that his face would not turn red.

"The Arda Territory is suffering from pirate attacks. As a representative of the royal family, I naturally cannot stand idly by. That's why I am here to purchase supplies and weapons for the Lord Lord."

The liaison officer gave a thumbs up: "Amazing! So Earl Greyman's ability to put down the pirates is also due to your contribution."

Now it was Hansel's turn to be surprised: "Squeeze the pirates?"

The liaison officer said: "Earl Greiman hasn't informed you yet? When I went to look for you in Huxin Town, people there had already spread the word that the Earl had led his troops to recapture Fulan Port and hanged a large number of people." Pirates, I heard about it and returned to Huxin Town after a while."

"Really? It looks like I can go back to Huxin Town." Hansel had a look of joy on his face, but he thought in his heart: that little count is really capable, and he was beaten to the door of his house before I left. coming.

He continued, "But you know, I have to wait for an official notice from Mr. Graiman before I can go back."

"I think the notice will arrive soon, and the baron will be more concerned about the matter of food and grass at that time."

"Naturally." Hansel agreed.

The liaison officer suddenly said with emotion: "I often go to the northwest area. It's really rare to see a lord who cares about the people like Earl Greyman. The coastal area has been plagued by pirates for many years."

Hansel snorted inwardly, rather disapproving. He immediately changed the subject: "Speaking of which, how is the situation in the south?"

The liaison officer shook his head: "The food has been burned, what else can I do? Ah, please don't tell others about this matter, but it is estimated that it will spread all over the world in a short time. I did not enter the city with the army at that time. The monstrous fire can be seen several miles outside the city, and it cannot be concealed."

Hansel frowned: "That is to say, the counter-insurgency army can't be transferred to the south immediately?"

"Isn't there a saying? Before the soldiers and horses moved, the food and grass went first. Now that the food and grass are gone, how can we fight? I guess we can only send a small army to help the old Duke of Dodge guard the Thorn Pass. Don't let Giles fight to the north It's not bad."

The liaison officer looked pessimistic, and continued, "Fortunately, it doesn't seem like Giles' main force is attacking Thorn Pass."

He suddenly shuddered, and hurriedly said: "Master Baron, I was too drunk just now and started talking nonsense, please..."

Hansel raised his glass to him with a smile: "I have always been very strict with my mouth. To His Majesty the King!"

The liaison officer also raised his glass: "To His Majesty the King."

Didn't Giles' main force go north? That must be to clean up those lords in the south who do not obey him. If the royal army cannot go south in time, with the power of Giles, they can only let those lords fend for themselves. When the rebels have integrated all the southern territories, it will be even more difficult to deal with.

"The current situation is difficult!" Hansel sighed inwardly, and he made up his mind to see the little count again.

…

Back to the present, in the study of the lord's mansion in Huxin Town, Cecil, the intelligence chief, is reporting the results of his work.

"My lord, according to your request, our intelligence personnel have already started working in the capital. However, due to lack of experience and the martial law a while ago, we haven't found any information. Now we finally have some results."

He respectfully hands Paul a stack of papers.

"Hmm... let me take a look."

Paul glanced at ten lines at a glance. He didn’t really care much about the information in the capital. He was already busy with the affairs in the northwest. necessary.

"I'm going, it's so miserable? The granaries have been burned." Paul was startled, thinking of what Quiller said to him in Port Flanders, Giles had people behind him, but the royal family suffered a lot. In the beginning, the capital was stolen, but after regaining it with great difficulty, it lost a lot of food and grass. Could it be that the royal family is really hanging this time.

Paul thought to himself whether he should write a letter to Giles to vote for integrity or something. As a time traveler, he doesn't have much loyalty to the Rodney dynasty. It doesn't matter who wears his crown, as long as it doesn't affect his industry. Revolutionary plans will do. UU reading When my factory is built, you will all be feudal garbage that will be swept into the corner of history.

However, Cecil's next intelligence dispelled his idea.

"My lord, with the spread of new paper, there have been many people who are secretly trying to make up our minds."

Cecil said while handing over the second information. Paul was in a hurry now, and carefully read the second information, which was an important source of finance for the Arda Territory.

"Bandit! Thief! Shameful!" After reading the information, the Earl waved his hand, and angrily reprimanded those despicable people hiding in the dark.

Intelligence revealed that multiple forces were trying to steal the new paper manufacturing technology, including several powerful chambers of commerce, and even several lords in the neighboring territories, such as the Earl of Kent in Emden and Viscount Johnston in Bordeaux. Fortunately, Paul has repeatedly emphasized secrecy, and the defense is very strict, and the high treatment given to the workers has also cultivated enough loyalty, so the papermaking technology was not stolen, but it will be hard to say if things go on like this.

It’s not that Paul wants to monopolize papermaking all the time. This thing is actually quite simple and will be learned sooner or later, but it is related to Paul’s first pot of gold. In the early stage, he must rely on monopoly to complete part of the capital accumulation. The dissemination of new technologies is actually what Paul likes to see. Otherwise, he would not be able to achieve industrialization if he struggled alone for a lifetime, but there is a premise that it must be within the scope of his control. He does not want to be one step ahead of his enemies. Fiddle with aircraft missiles or something, and then blast yourself into the sky.

But it is more troublesome when the surrounding lords are involved. He told Cecil: "Inform Steward Philip and ask him to invite Baron Hansel Abbott to me."

I can't care so much anymore, I must find a thick enough thigh to hug me right now.