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Sitting in the speeding carriage, Hobert looked out the window at the crowd, who had not yet recovered from the shock. Some sat by the roadside, blankly watching the carriages passing by, while others stared blankly at the destroyed buildings, lost in thought.
Besides them, there were two other types of people: those who were weeping beside the ruins, either because their livelihood had been destroyed or because their relatives were still buried in the rubble.
The second type were those who were relatively calm and were directing everyone to put out the fire.
Hobert sighed, "Backlund is truly a city plagued by disasters."
"Those Feysac people, like curly-haired baboons, will pay the price," Georgina said coldly.
Hobert didn't respond and continued to look at the bombed-out Backlund outside.
Soon, they arrived at Georgina's mansion. In a private room in the theater, Hobert met Alice, who had an elegant demeanor.
To Hobert's surprise, Georgina had actually brought in a symphony orchestra to perform on stage.
After bringing Hobert to Alice, Georgina retreated and closed the soundproof door.
Alice stood up and asked with a smile, "Did you receive intelligence beforehand that the Feysac Empire was going to attack Backlund?"
Hobert hung his coat on the hanger, "No."
"Then why did you promote the teleportation array to the military?"
"I just think the three main military regions of the Loen Kingdom are too far apart," Hobert said. "For example, the southern coast of the Midseashire and the border with the Intis Republic are blocked by the Hornacis Mountains, and you still have to pass through the Tucker Plain.
"If you want to mobilize troops between them, even if the train doesn't stop for a moment, it will take three days and three nights."
Alice didn't continue to ask this question, but said, "Please sit down."
Hobert sat on the wide sofa. Alice didn't snuggle into Hobert's arms as usual, but sat on the side and said seriously, "We are friends, right?"
"Of course," Hobert said with a smile. "It is precisely because of our friendship that I am willing to provide you with some help."
What he meant was: I am only friends with you personally, which does not mean that the "Creator's" forces are friends with Loen.
"Then I'll get straight to the point," Alice seemed not to have understood, but more likely pretended not to understand Hobert's meaning. She said, "The Loen Kingdom hopes to become allies with the power of the 'Creator'."
Hobert seemed to consider it for a while before saying: "Compared with the Feysac Empire, the Loen Kingdom seems to have considerable advantages, right? Why would you need allies?"
"That's right, we definitely have advantages," Alice described very directly. "But the Loen royal family has always been very friendly with the 'Creator'. We don't want the 'Creator's' forces to establish an alliance with our enemies."
Hobert nodded slowly, "I'll be blunt too. We are not very willing to participate in this war, because even if we win, we won't get much benefit."
Alice made a 'please speak' gesture: "Name your conditions. What will it take for you to stand on the side of the Loen Kingdom?"
She noticed that Hobert said "not very willing" instead of "unwilling."
Hobert didn't stand on ceremony, "We need a piece of our own territory, territory where we can build a country!"
He had long anticipated that the Loen Kingdom would immediately seek cooperation with him after the war started, so he had already thought about the conditions.
If you want the "Creator's" forces to take a stand, the Loen Kingdom must show sincerity!
Alice closed her eyes for a few seconds before saying, "Okay, but we can only give you a territory in the Southern Continent.
"You will become a Duke of the Loen Kingdom and can establish your own Duchy."
In other words, the country established by the "Creator's" forces would legally belong to the Loen Kingdom.
Hobert then realized that William I was likely using Alice's perspective to watch this negotiation and would directly instruct Alice, agreeing to some conditions or drawing the royal family's bottom line.
No wonder Alice's expression was so serious and she didn't make any overly intimate gestures.
"Please wait a moment." So Hobert pretended to pray and was silent for a few seconds before saying, "Okay, but we have to designate where to build the country, and Loen Kingdom cannot take back Longtail Island."
Alice didn't immediately agree to anything, but said to the outside, "Bring a map of the Southern Continent."
The soundproofing of the room was very good. Georgina didn't hear it. Hobert waved his hand, and the doorknob turned by itself, opening a crack in the door.
Alice shouted again, and after a while, Georgina brought a map of the Southern Continent.
Hobert also had a plan for which land he wanted. He pointed to the map of the Southern Continent and said, "Milherbon, South Haagenti Province, and the Barana Province and Saint-Sern region."
The four places Hobert mentioned were all in the southern part of the Southern Continent, bordering the Haagenti Grassland to the north and the Hodis River Basin to the west.
These are connected to the three regions where the Balk family currently has investments. As long as he establishes a Duchy here, he can immediately establish a force spanning the southern part of the Southern Continent.
Moreover, the northwest corner is the Star Plateau, and you can enter the Highland Kingdom by crossing a mountain pass, which is very suitable for the next step of expansion.
Alice quickly gave an answer: "Okay!"
For the Loen Kingdom, the places Hobert mentioned were only about the size of a county.
The key point is that the Loen Kingdom's development efforts there are not very large. The colonies that various countries have invested a lot of energy in developing are basically in the northern part of the Southern Continent.
Hobert knew that the northern region would never be given to him, so he simply didn't consider it.
Moreover, this kind of region with little development has a good advantage: it is easier for Hobert to establish his own set of order.
Alice added, "However, the prerequisite is that after you establish the Duchy, you must help contain the Feysac Empire colonial army of West Balam."
"No problem," Hobert said with a smile. "But we have to build several ordnance factories in the Duchy, and the Loen Kingdom must provide military technical support."
Alice asked, "What will these ordnance factories produce?"
"Guns, cannons, grenades, bombs, bullets, etc.," Hobert said. "In short, weapons that can be used on the battlefield in the Southern Continent."
As long as it wasn't asking for cutting-edge technologies such as airships and steamships, Alice could make the decision: "Okay."
She said, "After we officially become allies, we will announce this news to the public."
Hobert smiled, "This is the second point I want to make. We can only accept cooperation with the Loen Kingdom, but not an alliance.
"Well, we don't want to follow in the footsteps of the Demoness Sect and the Aurora Order.
"Also, the news that I will establish a Duchy will be announced to the public tomorrow. Starting tomorrow, the area I just designated will legally belong to me."
Alice frowned, "In other words, we used such a large piece of land in exchange for your promise to help us contain the Feysac Empire colonial army?"
"No, there is also our promise that we will not help countries other than the Loen Kingdom in this war," Hobert said seriously.
"As you said just now, we have considerable advantages in this war."
"That's now," Hobert said with a smile. "Currently, the Intis Republic and the Feynapotter Kingdom have not yet stated their positions, have they?"
Alice didn't give an immediate answer, and after a pause of two or three seconds, she smiled and said, "Okay, we will announce the news of your founding tomorrow.
"Congratulations, Grand Duke Hobert."
Hobert smiled, "Congratulations to you too, Princess Alice."
For them, this negotiation was definitely a win-win situation.
The Loen Kingdom used a less important piece of land in the Southern Continent to tie down the "Creator's" forces, while Hobert got the opportunity to build a country, and this opportunity had a legal basis.
This meant that when the country was first established, Hobert's forces did not have to face pressure from the Loen Kingdom.
The tone of the negotiation was set. After Hobert left Georgina, he first went to "Earl's Light" to comfort Audrey.
In fact, Audrey didn't need to be comforted. Hobert just briefly explained to her that the war had begun, and then mentioned the negotiation with Alice.
Audrey was very surprised. She didn't expect Hobert to take this opportunity to be promoted to Duke and be able to establish his own Duchy!
After all, the Loen Kingdom's former three Duchies were all established thousands of years ago, and the current three Duchies have long been dismembered.
Hobert mentioned this news, first to prove his sincerity to Audrey, and second to hope that Audrey would convey this news to Earl Hall.
After leaving "Earl's Light", Hobert immediately began to mobilize human resources. Before this, he had already made preparations. Whether it was Longtail Island or the grassroots staff in South Colson, they all began to be dispatched to the Southern Continent.
With Hobert's order, another group of officials poured into the Southern Continent.
To ensure their safety, Hobert dispatched the Tony family and the Moderates, as well as Angus's forces, adding up to more than seventy Beyonders to protect them.
During the upcoming war, Hobert wanted to seize the time to consolidate the foundation of the country and establish a country whose comprehensive strength could be proud of the Southern Continent.
...
In the early morning, Xio went out as usual.
Although yesterday's bombing didn't last long, it cast a shadow over Backlund.
Xio could still see grief or lingering fear on the faces of some pedestrians.
"Extra! Extra!" The newsboy shouted at this time: "'Earl's Light' founder Hobert promoted to Duke, granted permission to establish a Duchy in the Southern Continent!"
Xio was stunned for a second or two before quickly calling out to the newsboy: "Give me a newspaper!"
After taking the newspaper, Xio immediately spread it open, and the headline on the front page was indeed the news of Hobert establishing a duchy.
For Xio, this news was even more surprising than the Feysac Empire's sneak attack on Backlund, after all, the Loen Kingdom and the Feysac Empire had already begun attacking each other in the newspapers.
But there was no sign of him establishing a duchy.
Closing the newspaper again, Xio smiled: "He established a territory, so doesn't that mean I also have an official identity?"
...
Boklun Street, Dwayne Dantes' residence.
At this time, there were not many servants here. After the bombing ended yesterday, Klein asked the butler to take people to the manor in the suburbs.
Today Klein is also leaving here. The war has begun, and he needs to change to a more secretive identity to make it more convenient to act.
After Klein got up, he enjoyed breakfast while reading today's "Backlund Morning News".
He smiled in his heart and said: Today is the last day to enjoy the life of a rich man.
Then Klein's smile froze. He thought he had misread it, so he took another serious look at the headline: "Hobert established a country! I..."
He didn't bother to eat breakfast, he carefully read the report, and recalled in his mind the place where Hobert established the country: "That's a good place, far away from the war, with abundant resources."
Then he realized that this was the Loen Kingdom's purchase of the "Creator" forces!
So in this war, the "Creator" will support the Loen Kingdom.
Then Klein sighed in his heart: Also came through Transmigration, this guy has established a country!
But then he thought about it again, for the path that Hobert chose, establishing a country seemed to be a matter of time.
Klein closed the newspaper and sighed deeply: "War is also an opportunity for many people!"
...
At the same time, Christian also saw the reports in today's major morning newspapers. Hobert had told him about this yesterday, so he was not surprised.
After putting down the newspaper, Christian sighed: "Hobert still went to the Southern Continent."
Then he smiled and said: "But it's different from our experience back then. We were occupying colonies for the Loen Kingdom back then, and every inch of land that Hobert has conquered is his own!"
Christian sighed, suddenly lamenting why he hadn't thought of such a method when he was young?
But then he shook his head. Back then, he and Rex did not have a strong backing to support them. Even if they became warlords in the local area, they would still be serving the colonists of the Northern Continent.
...
"Earl's Light", General Manager's Office.
Todd looked at the newspaper: "Am I equivalent to the Minister of Economy of the duchy?"
After all, a large amount of pounds are being transferred to the Southern Continent, which should be used to build the duchy.
Currently, he is maintaining the daily operation of such a large "Earl's Light". It is not an exaggeration to say that he is the Minister of Economy, right?
While reading the detailed content of the newspaper, he thought: Fortunately, he listened to his father's advice before and joined Earl Hobert...now he is a Duke, and joined the "Earl's Light" that was still being planned at that time. I thought that I would become the general manager of a company with tens of thousands of people in half a year, which was already very remarkable, but I didn't expect that this was far from my peak.
...
The Hall Earl family, who were also having breakfast, didn't eat the delicious breakfast and were all concentrating on reading the newspaper.
Finally, Hibbert pushed the newspaper away: "This is completely incomprehensible."
First of all, he couldn't understand why the royal family would promote Hobert to Duke at this time?
Theoretically speaking, generally only those who have made great contributions after the end of the war have the opportunity to become a Duke and establish a Duchy, right?
"Obviously this is a purchase in the early stages of the war." Earl Hall glanced at Audrey before saying: "It seems that Hobert's biggest backer is not Duke Christian."
Audrey smiled slightly. Although she wanted to, she still resisted and did not tell her family the secrets of the extraordinary world.
Then she took a deep breath. In the future, she will be the Duchess!
...
Southern Continent, Saint Sern region, Angel City.
This city is more like a fortress. It was originally a city built by the natives here. Later, the Loen colonial army occupied it and became an important stronghold in the western Mountains.
At about ten o'clock in the morning, the guards on the city wall saw a team of soldiers with very neat formations coming outside the city. Their flags were bright, beating the marching drums, and marching forward in neat steps.
Because the other party was not wearing Loen military uniforms, the guards immediately blew the whistle, and the entire Angel City immediately entered a state of combat readiness, and soldiers and commanders quickly climbed the city wall.
The chief commander there, Kurt, calmly picked up the telescope and watched for a while.
The equipment of this team under the city is so sophisticated, it is definitely not the troops of the local warlords!
Judging from the decorations, they are not Feysac or Intis people either. The military uniforms are a bit like the style of the Feynapotter Kingdom, but there are obvious differences.
The key is that if it is the colonial army of an enemy country, it would not march in the Saint Noses area so openly.
At this time, the other party's large army stopped outside the range of the artillery, and an officer came alone under the city with a flag: "The Duke is here to receive his city!"
The telescope in Kurt's hand fell to the ground. Before he climbed the city wall, he had just received a telegram from Backlund, ordering them to quickly withdraw to the north, and the four regions of Saint Noses became the Duke Hobert's fief.
He just didn't expect that just after reading the telegram and climbing the city wall, he was greeted by the Duke's team to receive the city?
It is unlikely to say that this is an enemy's trick. After all, he has just received the corresponding order. The enemy must obtain the information two or three days in advance to have time to prepare.
But then again, why would the Duke's army come so quickly? It's as if this army has been stationed outside the city.
At the urging of his subordinates, Kurt judged that the possibility of the enemy was unlikely, so he ordered to go out of the city to meet him.
Originally, Kurt visually estimated that the other party was only a regiment of troops, so the commander was a regimental commander, and they were at the same level.
No one expected that the officer who was carrying the flag just now would say that the Duke himself was here!
This made Kurt a little flustered, because he had never seen a nobleman of this level.
Hobert was still far away from the city, and Kurt and others felt a huge pressure. The soldiers all lowered their heads and dared not look forward.
Only Kurt, as a Beyonder, endured the pressure and looked forward a few more times. Duke Hobert is very recognizable, that is, the person who doesn't look very serious, but makes people feel very majestic.
He is handsome, wearing a military uniform, with a black cloak on his back, riding a white horse, and walking towards this side unhurriedly.
Just seeing this, Kurt lowered his head unconsciously.
A few minutes later, as the sound of horseshoes approached, they heard Duke Hobert say: "Colonel Kurt!"
"Yes! Your subordinate is here!" Kurt felt that his answer was stupid, because he was not the Duke's subordinate.
Hobert said again: "Take me to your headquarters."
Kurt agreed and quickly jumped on the horse to lead the way.
The area of this city is not large, with only two short streets each horizontally and vertically.
Most of them are military camps or residences for soldiers' families.
A regiment is stationed here, about six hundred people.
Most of the local residents are Loen merchants, as well as some natives who have their own manors or large tracts of land.
Hobert estimated that this small city can accommodate up to two thousand people.
Arriving at the garrison headquarters, because there is no administrative agency here, this headquarters is the most impressive building in the small city.
Kurt's office is very spacious, with a map of the Southern Continent hanging on the wall, a radio transceiver, a grand desk, and some office supplies used by staff.
Hobert took off his cloak and hung it on the hanger as if he had returned to his office, and sat in Kurt's seat: "You should have received the corresponding withdrawal order and know that this is already my fief, right?"
Kurt nodded repeatedly.
"Then I order you to vacate the barracks before two o'clock this afternoon, and withdraw completely before evening." Hobert said.
Kurt didn't expect it to be so urgent, but in the end he could only say: "Yes."
Hobert said again: "Supplies and tents, as well as personal belongings and weapons can be taken away, but no public property can be taken away. According to legal principles, all public property here belongs to the Duchy from zero o'clock today."
Kurt agreed again. He realized that this was a good opportunity to show his diligence, so he asked: "Duke... Your Excellency the Duke, have you received the Barana Port and the Inverly Port? Do you want me to leave a platoon of soldiers to guide you?"
These two ports are considered to be relatively prosperous places in the southern part of the Southern Continent, and are the capitals of Milherbon and South Haagenti Prefecture respectively.
"No need, I don't plan to receive there for the time being." Hobert said lightly.
Kurt was stunned again. He didn't go to receive the two prosperous ports, but came to receive this small inland fortress?
Hobert smiled and said again: "In the future, this will be the capital of the Southern Byron Duchy."
Kurt thought he had misheard: "This...here?"
To the east is the Newin Mountains, which greatly affects the traffic to the port, and to the north is a hilly area. After passing this hilly area, you reach the Haagenti Plains.
To the west, the high Barana Mountains are a large plain, and the land is relatively fertile, but it is often hit by floods, resulting in reduced crop production.
The southern region didn't significantly impact transportation, but further south, the climate began to cool, and the land wasn't as fertile. Although the Kingdom of Loen supported agents in that area, it did little to develop it.
While this place wasn't exactly a wilderness, judging by the number of troops stationed here, it wasn't a crucial location either.
Hobert stated with certainty, "That's right, it's here."
A place that Kurt saw as worthless was, in Hobert's eyes, a treasure trove.
The surrounding terrain was very favorable for defense. Since the advent of teleportation arrays, Hobert favored this relatively enclosed terrain, allowing for both retreat and attack, along with a large expanse of grain-producing plains.
Hobert had visited this place many times before. The reason for the frequent floods was the lack of river dredging and reservoir construction, making it difficult for the melted snow from the mountains in the summer to flow out of this basin.
As long as manpower was organized to dredge the river channels, floods could almost be eliminated.
Building a few more reservoirs would provide enough water to irrigate the farmland.
What he favored most was the mountainous area to the east. As long as the local bandits were eliminated, a weapons factory must be built there!
In the event that the fortress was lost, they could retreat there and continue fighting.
Officer Kurt left the command headquarters somewhat dejectedly. After conveying the corresponding orders, he suddenly noticed a large number of Beyonders and clerks at the end of the receiving team brought by the Earl.
He couldn't understand what the Duke wanted, but he was very clear: this land had changed hands.
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