The fig leaf was lifted by Duke Horsman, and the embarrassment was exposed. Count Merovingian was a little angry.

But facing the powerful Duke, he didn't dare to show it. He took a deep breath and said with a polite smile.

"Duke Horsman doesn't need to worry about my debt problem. As for the so-called drought problem you mentioned, I don't think it is a problem.

Our territory has its own river. No matter how severe the drought is, the river will not stop flowing. In the worst case, if the serfs make more trips, the harvest will not be reduced too much.

I'm sorry, it's getting late. Thank you for your invitation. I won't disturb the Duke anymore and take my leave first."

When Count Merovingian wanted to leave, Duke Horsman did not stop him or make any other threats. He just looked at Count Merovingian's back with a stern look.

Count Merovingian followed the butler out of the castle and followed the carriage that came from it. When he looked back at the quoted castle, the worry in his eyes could not be concealed.

Brian asked Duke Horsman.

"Is the reason he just said reliable?"

Duke Horsman said disdainfully.

"A poor earl sold his hunting rights and allowed those mercenaries to roam around in his territory. How could he give up the benefits he obtained for the so-called dignity of the nobility.

He is just certain that you will definitely build the canal, and then the initiative will be with him.

Judging from his attitude, he doesn’t look like a boss who can kill him at 55.”

Brian suddenly had an idea in his mind and said uncertainly.

"What Earl Merovingian said just now is so high-sounding. Is it an excuse to divert our attention? He has other reasons to prevent the construction of the canal. For example, he does not want us to enter the territory of the Merovingian family and discover some secrets that he does not want us to know.

."

Duke Horsman thought for a moment and said.

"It's possible what you said. After all, the Merovingian family has been passed down for thousands of years, and it's normal to have some secrets. But looking at his current situation, it shouldn't be some kind of secret treasure.

If there really was such a treasure, I wouldn't owe anyone hundreds of thousands of gold coins.

You don’t have to worry about this. I will contact the Duke of Bourbon in two days and ask for his debt. This will give us a reason to declare war on Count Merovingian.

Since we can't get what we want at the negotiation table, we have to use war to get it.

Although I can't directly send troops to help you, it's time to let them use the 300 armored cavalry I gave you before."

"Don't worry, father, this can be considered my debut on the battlefield, just enough for me to experience the cruelty of war.

Duke Horsman patted Brian on the shoulder in a rare gesture of encouragement.

"Don't underestimate the enemy too much. The Merovingian family is a long-established noble family after all, and they still have some background.

I will send you an experienced officer to help you command 300 armored cavalry. You need to learn more from him.

As long as you don't push too far, Count Merovingian should be able to compromise easily.

Start construction on Landsburg when it's time, and don't let Count Merovingian affect the construction steps of your territory. If you are short of money, I can support you."

I heard that there is money again and Brian nods his head.

"Well, dealing with this old guy is just part of tonight. The guests in the front hall are still waiting for us to finish the dinner and send them away.

They are full of praise for the wine you provided. At least in the city of Pest, the sales market for the nearby nobles has been opened up.

I really didn’t expect that you actually have some talent for business. Maybe in a few years, I can recommend you to be the Minister of Finance."

Brian politely accepted his father's compliment and asked a little worriedly.

"Father, you just said that astrologers have determined that there will be a severe drought in the northern part of the kingdom. Is that true?"

Duke Horsman nodded and said.

"Of course it's true, Brian, you should have noticed the unusual weather recently.

But you don’t have to worry, both Landsburg and Dapest are places with no shortage of water. Just like Count Merovingian said, just let the serfs work harder."

Looking at the indifferent Duke of Horsman, Brian thought to himself, you guys are really saying this easily, but you don't know how many people would die if you worked harder.

Maybe in the eyes of these nobles, serfs were not considered human beings.

Although he had known that this place was different from modern society, Brian still found it difficult to accept such primitive values.

But he didn't say anything. Brian was just in charge of a viscounty, and he only had to be responsible for the people in his territory. Moreover, after Viscount Horton's expedition, there were not many serfs left, and most of them were free people.

.

As for changing the world, let's wait until Brian becomes king.

I hope that Brian will not forget his original intention and not become like Duke Horsman.

The two of them came to the front hall, and the guests stopped talking and looked at them, knowing that Duke Horsman might have something to say.

Duke Horsman cleared his throat, and his powerful voice resounded throughout the audience. Of course, what he said was just some meaningless scene talk, similar to what he said at the beginning.

Originally, this banquet had no theme. It was neither a celebration of someone's coming of age nor a promotion banquet.

If there must be a theme, it would be to celebrate Brian becoming the heir of Lanesburg, but the premise is that Brian's uncle, Viscount Horton, died in the war, so it cannot be used as a theme.

Duke Horsman wanted to use this banquet to let everyone get to know Brian again, a nobleman who truly controlled a territory, and was no longer just the son of the Duke.

Therefore, Duke Horsman quickly handed over the right to speak to Brian and asked him to speak a few words to everyone, which was considered as officially pushing him to the front of the stage.

Although Brian was asked to speak, in fact the manuscript had already been given to Brian by the butler, and all he had to do was speak according to the script.

As a magician, I still have a photographic memory.

But after a few sentences of his speech, Brian felt that what he said was boring, so he gave up the manuscript and said a few words that he wanted to say.

"Everyone here is a friend of the Horsman family, and they should be familiar with me, the second son of Duke Horsman, a noble young master with no talent for cultivation.

Now he is managing Lansburgh in place of his aunt, and he is an ordinary and nondescript person.

Well, I want to say that your view is correct. Maybe I am just such a person, and even if I make some achievements, it will not have any impact on you.

But after all, I am a member of the Horsman family, and every bit of my growth is the growth and extension of the Horsman family.

And you who have a good relationship with the Horsman family will also gain power and glory by uniting around the Horsman family.
Chapter completed!