Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence

After learning that Hilde had won four battles and achieved four victories, utterly crushing the Dryad Legion, Su Li's hanging heart was basically put down.

The remaining monster legion, after marching forcibly for days and nights, had a scale of less than 5,000. This meant that when Marshal Orstein, leading 800 gold-clad heavy cavalry, appeared on the horizon under the glory of the blazing sun, and the scarlet banners and the cold light of the spears illuminated the distant sky, the remaining monster legion would become fragments trampled under the iron hooves of mankind.

Victory was already in the bag, and even the intensity of the battle might not be stronger than Hilde's commander forcibly breaking through the Dryad Legion with pursuers.

But just when Su Li was happily waiting for the good news, the fact proved that the fantasy level of this world directly crushed the limit of his thinking!

When he heard the military intelligence personally sent back by the champion-level Druid Vandal, he was so shocked that he couldn't care about his injuries. He sat up directly from the bed and asked, "What do you mean our human and green dragon coalition is advancing towards the dragon's nest!?"

Human! Green Dragon! Coalition!

How are these three words linked together?

This is even more unacceptable to him than the fact that he had been directing the dwarf troops to slaughter humans these days.

The dwarf troops, due to their well-known poor mobility, were not taken away by Hilde in this pursuit.

This Redbeard clan's troop was stationed outside the Black Forest Castle, responsible for cleaning the battlefield and suppressing riots.

It can be said that after the city was burned down by a great fire, Su Li, this human lord, completely relied on the help of the Redbeard clan's dwarf army to stabilize his crumbling rule, suppress a large number of looters, and restore order to the territory.

This already made him feel a little magical, making him feel that his lord was supported by the dwarf clan sending troops.

But now, compared with the news from Vandal, those things that happened in the territory that subverted his three views were so insignificant!

He immediately stared at Vandal and said, "My minister, are you sure you are not making some absurd joke with me? Just a few days ago, we were still casting mountains and rivers with flesh and blood to fight against the green dragon legion. How can we stand with the green dragon in just a few days? What exactly happened on the front line?"

How could such a big change happen in just one or two days. Just before, he had received definite information from Hilde that the main human force was launching a fierce attack on the green dragon legion.

It is impossible for the two sides to suddenly shake hands and make peace. Even if the front line suddenly rebelled, it is impossible for the two legions to rebel at the same time.

Vandal quickly took out the wine pot from his body and sent it to Su Li's side. One of the two laurel flower gems in the territory has always been on this priest.

"Lord, don't get excited, drink some medicinal wine first to recover from your injuries. Chief Hilde specifically asked me to come back because he heard about your injuries, so he asked me to come back to provide you with more powerful treatment."

"The front-line battle and the fierce situation have not changed in any way. The situation is developing as we predicted before the war, and even the intensity of the battle has directly reached the most peak state since the war. In the fierce surprise attack, Marshal Orstein directly beheaded the most important pillar under the Green Dragon Throne·Elemental Giant Bear·Ostanka."

After listening to Vandal's more detailed report, Su Li finally breathed a sigh of relief, took a sip of medicinal wine, and felt that his whole body was much cooler.

It seems that the development of the situation is the same as he expected, and there is no change. If there is any deviation from the expectation, it can only be said that the ending is more perfect. When Marshal Orstein proposed this tactic, he did not dare to imagine that he could directly behead Ostanka.

Now that another Chosen One is lost under the Thorn Throne, it means that the weakness of the monster legion has exceeded expectations, and the human coalition can further try to advance into the forest.

"Then, so smoothly, with everything not changing much, what is the matter with the alliance with the green dragon?"

Vandal immediately explained: "It is precisely because everything is so smooth that a drastic coup occurred in the forest forces. When the Elemental Giant Bear died and the Green Dragon suffered heavy losses, defeated at the Black Forest foothills, the Green Dragon Elyria, who lost her majesty and prestige, could no longer maintain her rule. When she was still trying to stop our human coalition, the Chaos Beast·Chimera had already fled the battlefield, leading the rebels straight to the Green Dragon's lair!"

Hearing this, Su Li clenched his fists. If Chimera·Skaros really arrived at the dragon's nest with the rebels first, it would surely sweep away most of the dragon's nest treasures.

That means that after Su Li paid such a tragic price to win, he would not be able to get compensation from the victory at all!

This is unacceptable to Su Li anyway. Wouldn't that be him and the Green Dragon fighting each other, and Skaros, this ugly and evil idiot, would be the final winner?

Thinking of this, Su Li said in a deep voice: "Then it is not unacceptable to form an alliance with the Green Dragon and advance towards the dragon's nest, at least to prevent the Chaos Beast·Chimera from taking away all the wealth. Is the march smooth?"

Vandal shook his head regretfully and said, "It's very unsmooth. As soon as we entered the forest, we encountered heavy ambushes, and it can be said that it was very difficult. We have always been clear that it is very difficult to enter the interior of the forest, but we never expected that this Chaos Monster would secretly collude with a large number of Howler beast groups."

"Beastmen, as servants of Chaos, have close ties with the Chaos Beast Chimera. When Chimera announced that it would launch a rebellion against the Green Dragon, a large number of beastmen beast groups in the forest gathered under its command."

Beastmen are also known as the Children of Chaos. They are accustomed to traveling in nomadic war beast groups, appearing in the forests and wastelands of the Old World, as well as the suburban areas of human countries; dense forests are the hardest-hit areas for beastmen, and the traces of beast group nests are everywhere.

No matter where you have traveled or lived in the Old World in the past, present, or future, beastmen will always be with you.

Su Li was not surprised that a beastmen warband gathered in the forest. The reason why they did not join this war against the Black Forest Territory is because they are naturally hostile to creatures such as green dragons and elves.

But when a Chaos Chosen issued a call and asked them to ambush outsiders who broke into the forest, they would definitely flock to it.

Vandal frowned, his face solemn: "Moreover, these monsters are very good at ambushes. Human soldiers may be dragged into the dense forest by them as long as they are out of sight for dozens of meters. Our army has experienced fierce battles time and time again, with heavy casualties. Each army is already a remnant and needs to be reorganized urgently. It cannot withstand this kind of consumption at all."

As the lord, Su Li certainly knows the current situation of the territory very well. It can be said that the state and will of the territory's army have reached the limit and need to be withdrawn for rest urgently. Now, forcing them to attack into the forest, every meter of advancement can be said to be paid with blood.

Even the most brutal knight has to admit that in the case where the medicine has been used up and the armor has been largely damaged, continuing to force this army to launch an attack into the forest is an extremely ruthless decision.

So Su Li asked: "So we decided to stop fighting with the Green Dragon and deal with the Chaos Beast·Chimera together? Is this kind of truce agreement so easy to reach? Isn't it too childish?"

But Vandal shook his head with a wry smile, with a solemn expression, and said: "It's not childish at all, on the contrary, it is very ironic and cruel. Our coalition with the Green Dragon is the result of the discussion between Chief Hilde and Marshal Orstein, and they sent me back to report to you and ask for instructions."

"Because when Chimera launched a rebellion and the Green Dragon fell into a civil war with this Chaos Monster in the forest, they actually sent envoys to win over us humans and asked us to help them deal with the other forces in the forest."

"The Green Dragon promised us that as long as we win against the Chaos Beast·Chimera, it will give us half of the Dragon's Nest treasure as war compensation. This item is no less than 100,000 gold crowns. And signed a series of treaties with us. Including allowing us to station troops in the Blood Mist Hills and build the Storm Shadow Fortress, ceding more than 1,000 miles of core resource areas east of the hills, including Silver Mountain Valley, Flower Whisper Spring, and Esonide Lake, and promising to restrain the troops from besieging the fortress. In addition, after killing Chimera, it will also pay us two rare treasures."

"The Chaos Beast·Chimera promised that as long as we unite with it and defeat the Green Dragon, it will offer us 60% of the Dragon's Nest treasure as war compensation. And cede all the forest territory west of the Dragon's Nest to us. When we encounter war, it will also sign an employment contract with us and fight for our territory."

After listening to the treaties provided by the two parties, Su Li couldn't help but smack his tongue. Political struggles are indeed sometimes more harmful than military defeats.

The forest forces have been very unstable internally from the beginning. They intrigue and fight for their own interests. When the forces are strong, they can obtain benefits from external plunder and slightly cover up internal contradictions. But once the external expansion fails and a major military setback is encountered, it will inevitably lead to selling their own interests to external forces.

It can be said that the forest forces maintained a huge advantage over the Black Forest Territory until the last day of the decisive battle.

If they were a little more united, Hilde might have died long ago, and the Black Forest Territory would have been destroyed long ago.

But in the end, they embarked on this regrettable ending.

Such a powerful force collapsed in external expansion. The former prosperity and glory, the former ambition to swallow thousands of miles like a tiger, eventually can only linger on, relying on colluding with powerful enemies to attack opponents, maintain rule, and barely maintain a broken forest situation.

This made Su Li feel emotional, and then said to Vandal: "Chief Hilde and Marshal Orstein both think that we should help the Green Dragon?"

Vandal nodded and said: "This is what the Dean of the Provincial Council Oliver told her when Chief Hilde counterattacked. Sir Oliver had predicted before the war that the monster legion was likely to have a rebellion or a coup."

"But no matter which direction of the monsters unites with us, we must choose the force that agrees to station our troops. Completely defeating the opponent and not entering the forest at all are not favorable situations for us."

"The Blood Pine Forest is too vast and fertile. If we cannot restrain a force and let it become our barrier, then in less than half a year, any monster that occupies this vast forest will pose a terrible threat to us."

Hearing this, Su Li's spirits lifted, and he immediately had a more respectful attitude towards Oliver's wisdom.

This is the talent of Wang Zuo who can make himself achieve great achievements and help himself build the foundation of Wang Ba!

He is indeed a genius who can manage the country and benefit the people.

This strategic plan is undoubtedly very clear.

If humans win this war and are completely unable to expand their forces into the Blood Pine Forest at all, it will undoubtedly be a strategic defeat, and even the entire war cannot be called a victory.

The dense forest is like the grassland in the north of the Eastern Dynasty. Even if humans who farm defeat the monsters in the forest, they cannot gain a long-term foothold in the forest.

Then the Green Dragon can easily recuperate in it, and a large number of monsters will flow from other directions of the forest to hunt and survive. At that time, these monsters will belong to the Green Dragon, and the scale of the Green Dragon's minions will soon expand and pose a fatal threat to the Black Forest Territory again.

Even the recovery speed of the human territory may not be faster than the Green Dragon! Su Li is not sure that he can win another war.

This victory in the battle with the Green Dragon can be attributed to at least 50% or even 60% to the fierce infighting within the Green Dragon Legion.

But if humans completely swept the Green Dragon forces, or occupied the western Blood Pine Forest, it would not work, because humans do not have the ability to occupy such a vast area.

The forces in the western Blood Pine Forest can barely be resisted by humans now. If this barrier is lost, who knows what the strength of the forest internal forces that penetrate next time will be.

If they are relatively weak, it will be fine, at most they will continue to harass humans, causing humans to endure the damage of this unsuitable living environment in the forest every month.

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But if they are extremely powerful and integrate the vast land in the western Blood Pine Forest, then the territory will be just a situation where a hungry wolf has just been driven away from the front door, and a tiger has entered the back door!

Su Li doesn't want to experience the situation of just getting out of the dragon's pool and entering the tiger's den.

And this desperate situation can be said to have a very high probability of happening in this world, because the Green Dragon is far from the most dangerous creature in the forest. There are also a large number of Minotaurs and powerful Dragon Apes among the Chaos creatures and Beastmen.

This is also why Hilde and Orstein unanimously chose the Green Dragon instead of the Chaos Beast·Chimera, because after killing the Green Dragon, this Chaos Monster is very likely to merge with other Chaos creatures and summon a large number of Beastmen and Dragon Apes.

The agreement signed with the Green Dragon is just right, ceding the most fertile land and the most resource-rich mining areas in the western Blood Pine Forest to the Black Forest Territory, and allowing humans to build fortresses and station troops in strategic locations.

Humans naturally hope to support this force to continue to maintain this vast forest land.

But Su Li is also afraid of raising a tiger to cause trouble. If this force is not controlled well and is allowed to recuperate and make a comeback, then the Black Forest Territory will also face a disaster.

So Su Li pondered for a moment and said to Vandal: "Let Dean Oliver come over, I will discuss with him how to weaken and control this Green Dragon."

Oliver is extremely busy right now. The brutal war and the city-burning fire have almost completely destroyed the ruling order of the territory. Everywhere is filled with wounded soldiers, so weak that they can't even suppress the looters and rebels taking advantage of the chaos. It's only with the help of the dwarves that order has been maintained.

As the Dean of the Provincial Council, he's so busy he can barely keep his feet on the ground, wishing he could be in multiple places at once. He has to tally the casualties, care for the wounded, take stock of the losses, repatriate farmers and herders, and, even more importantly, maintain prices and quell public grievances.

When order is destroyed, finance, healthcare, agriculture, and commerce all collapse. It takes several times the effort to restore them.

So Oliver hasn't slept for days and nights. When he heard Su Li's greedy and harsh ideas with his dark circles under his eyes, he instantly sobered up a bit and asked, "Lord, are you brewing up another war! Wanting the Green Dragon to pay us 500 gold crowns in tribute every month? Each tribute is like cutting flesh from the Green Dragon's heart!"

"I think if you really add this clause to the treaty, even if the Green Dragon signs it through gritted teeth now, it will definitely be full of resentment in the future and desperately fight us again."

Hearing this, Su Li pondered slightly. Was it really not feasible to add a tribute clause to the treaty signed with the Green Dragon?

But according to the customs of this world, the defeated party, in addition to paying a one-time war indemnity, also needs to pay a tribute every year.

The Green Dragon was defeated and should pay the price for it. What's more, it currently urgently needs human help to defeat the rebels in the forest. If we don't take this opportunity to greatly weaken it, there will be no such good opportunity in the future.

So Su Li frowned and said, "But we can't pin our hopes on the weakness and docility of our opponents. If we want true and lasting peace, weakening our opponents and strengthening ourselves is our most reliable means."

But Oliver firmly shook his head and said, "It would be easier for you to ask the Green Dragon to pay 8,000 gold crowns in tribute every year than to ask it to pay 500 every month. But even so, it will only delay the time for the Green Dragon to launch another war."

"Once this treaty is signed, it means we must face a ten-month truce. At most ten months, the Green Dragon will make a comeback."

Su Li clenched his fist forcefully and slammed it on the bedside, saying, "In any case, we must weaken the Green Dragon's power. This is the established strategy of the territory. Think of a strategy for how to implement it."

As the lord, he could be so domineering. And in fact, this may not be a bad thing for a force.

A lord doesn't need to have high wisdom. As a monarch, what he should need is firm will and clear strategy. As long as the direction his sword points is clear, he can unite all the power of the territory. That's more meaningful than him overthinking!

A territory is not afraid of no one proposing various ingenious plans, but is most afraid of a monarch who is indecisive and changes his orders frequently.

Even the most powerful force, if its policies sway 180 degrees two or three times, will consume a great deal of strength and fail to exert even two or three tenths of its effect.

And under Su Li's resolute attitude, Oliver's talent was able to be fully发挥. After a brief thought, he pondered and said, "In that case, we can adjust our thinking and reward the Green Dragon with 1,000 gold crowns every month!"

"Reward the Green Dragon with 1,000 gold crowns every month?" Su Li raised his eyebrows. Why did he feel that this routine was a bit familiar? "Tell me more about it."

So Oliver patiently explained, "With the Green Dragon's extreme greed for gold, even if it knows that the gold is smeared with poison, it will not hesitate to swallow it. If we want it to pay 500 gold crowns every month, it will inevitably be extremely resentful, but if we reward it with 1,000 gold crowns every month, it will definitely be happy to do so."

"But this 1,000 gold crowns is not so easy to get. It must bear the tribute and feudal tax worth 1,000 gold crowns."

"For example, paying 300 fire-tipped crystals, 1 elite knight, 50 slaves, 5,000 pounds of iron ore, and 10 pounds of Zhenjin to the territory every month!"

Su Li immediately realized that this was a simplified version of the Eastern tributary trade system!

In name, Su Li was indeed rewarding the Green Dragon with 1,000 gold crowns every month like a sucker, and the Green Dragon could earn a whopping 13,000 gold crowns from Hessen every year. Just by relying on the title of vassal, it could earn nearly 200,000 gold crowns from Hessen in just over ten years, thus becoming rich.

But the problem is that the suzerain state controls the pricing power in this trade system!

300 fire-tipped crystals, 1 elite knight, 50 slaves, 5,000 pounds of iron ore, and 10 pounds of Zhenjin, you say their value is only 1,000 crowns?

The value of just those 300 fire-tipped crystals is more than 1,000 gold crowns.

In this battle, why was the human legion able to easily defeat the treant legion in the decisive battle? It was because Hilld brought together the fire-tipped crystal weapons of the territory.

Even an ordinary weapon, inlaid with fire-tipped crystals, will emit a fiery red light with a whistling flame sound when it hits a critical hit or combo, increasing fire damage.

And the dwarves, with their superb forging skills, can confine the powerful properties of fire-tipped crystals into rune weapons, which can unleash even more powerful flame properties. When fire-attribute knights use rune weapons, even ordinary attacks can explode with a dazzling and scorching red light, adding extremely powerful fire damage.

This kind of gem can easily抵得上 the annual income of a farmer's family.

If he could really get 300 of them every month, then Su Li could completely sell this gem as a new specialty of the territory.

And the content of the agreement regarding slaves can also force the Green Dragon's legion to not be able to rest and recuperate in peace. 50 slaves are easy to solve. The Green Dragon's legion can easily gather them by destroying a forest bandit group or beastman captive in the forest, but elite knights are not so easy to capture.

It means that they must attack more monster camps to find this kind of captive. Constant wars will inevitably drag down the Green Dragon's legion's energy and strength development, but instead add a fixed population source to Hessen.