Chapter 152: Wubei Territory

Since the last time Luoning left Wushan Castle, Lulansi had discovered the changes in his eldest grandson, which was why the idea of an arranged marriage had sprouted.

If this were back in the days when Luoning was still in his state of being unlearned and without skill, he would not have had such thoughts.

Since his grandson had made changes, he, as the grandfather, would do his best to secure a little space for him.

When it came down to it, Lulansi still did not feel at ease regarding Luoning; he worried that after he himself died, this grandson would be the first to die.

Luoning understood that the other was considering things for his sake; although he disliked having his path changed by others, he had no reason to blame him.

"Alright, I have finished saying what I needed to say."

Lulansi said with a smile: "Now it is time to talk about your affairs."

Luoning came back to his senses; he had been pondering the marriage matter just now and had forgotten the purpose of his initiative to come find Lulansi this time.

He thought for a moment, looked directly into the other's eyes, and appeared sufficiently serious: "Grandfather, I want that piece of land, the Sain Territory."

Just as the suddenly mentioned marriage had left Luoning stunned, this sentence from Luoning also left Lulansi in a state of shock; clearly, the other had not expected this matter either.

"Why do you suddenly have such an idea?"

Lulansi's brows furrowed slightly, "Did Mawen tell you to say this?"

He knew that Luoning had come to Wushan Castle with Viscount Mawen's caravan, and he also felt that Luoning should not have the thoughts or ambitions to annex other noble territories for the time being, so he assumed it was suggested by Mawen, as the latter had the motive.

To the northwest of Muma City is the Sain Territory, and to the southeast, there is a small piece bordering Aosen's territory, while Leisen is close to Balindun.

In the future, if Aosen or Balindun were to deal with Muma City, they could perfectly form a pincer attack.

"Viscount Mawen has indeed taken good care of me; I bought over forty horses from him, but only paid half the price."

Luoning shook his head and said: "But this is not something he asked me to do; Grandfather, this is my own personal idea."

A light of surprise flashed in Lulansi's eyes; since when did his grandson dare to propose the idea of annexing someone else's territory?

"Your idea is very dangerous!"

He straightened his body and said sternly: "Even if you have conflicts with Leisen over at the wildling tribe, it has not reached the point of needing to annex his territory. Furthermore, the Kingdom's laws stipulate that unless a noble commits a grave crime, his title and territory cannot be stripped away, so I cannot help you with this matter."

He could help Luoning do many things, but he absolutely could not strip a noble of his title and territory without cause; that would be opposing the noble class itself.

"Grandfather, does your sentence just now mean that as long as a noble of the Wushan Territory commits a grave crime, then you can strip him of his title and territory?"

Luoning asked with a smile: "I am not wrong, am I?"

"You mean?"

Lulansi thought of a possibility, but found it somewhat hard to believe.

Leisen of the Sain Territory is an old-school noble; facing a junior of seventeen, what kind of fatal evidence could he leave behind?

Lulansi's tone remained as solemn as before, as if he were teaching Luoning.

"Accusing a noble of committing a grave crime—if there is no evidence, then you will also commit a grave crime; at best, you will pay a fine, and at worst, you will be imprisoned, and there is even the possibility of having your own title and territory stripped."

Luoning nodded, "I know; if I did not have sufficient evidence, I would not have brought this matter up."

"What evidence? Let me confirm it first."

Luoning gave a mysterious smile and said: "Please forgive me for keeping it secret; I want to reveal the evidence in front of many nobles."

Lulansi felt a slight shock in his heart; Luoning was going to play a big game!

If the evidence were insufficient, that would be dangerous.

"If you don't want any accidents to happen, you had better show it to me."

Lulansi was somewhat insistent; the Wushan Family had finally gained a good seedling, and he did not want the other to meet with any accidents.

Luoning, however, had sufficient confidence in his evidence; after all, he had both material and human evidence, and even the assassin was locked up in Shanlin Castle—what kind of accident could there be?

Moreover, once Weijinsi knew that Leisen was associated with the Skull Society, given the other's personality, he would absolutely skin Leisen alive; he wouldn't even need to go find the Shadow Assassin—he would be determined to convict Leisen.

In order to keep Lulansi from continuing to probe, he changed the subject: "I want to say it during the second half of Grandfather's birthday banquet; Grandfather won't blame me for disrupting this pleasant grand event, will you?"

Lulansi naturally knew that Luoning was determined not to say it, so he sighed and leaned back against the sofa cushion, "That doesn't matter; I've had many birthday banquets, and having something different is also a pleasure."

Speaking of this, he complained a little, "It's you, actually having things you hide from me now."

It was also to blame that Wushan Castle hadn't managed Shanlin Town all these years; that place seemed as if it were isolated from the world, and no news had been able to come out.

Otherwise, he would have been able to guess a thing or two.

"Don't worry, Grandfather, I never do things without preparation."

Luoning continued: "If I really take down Leisen, then can the Sain Territory be given to me?"

Lulansi stopped dwelling on the issue of evidence, "If your evidence is enough to topple Leisen, then that should count as having performed a huge service for the Wushan Castle. I can not only give you the Sain Territory, but I will also give you that area to the north, and enfeoff you as the Viscount of the Wubei Territory!"

A Baron going to marry a Princess was, after all, a bit of a loss in status.

According to Lulansi's own plan, he already had the intention of raising Luoning's title and the size of his territory, but he just hadn't found a suitable reason.

Enfeoffing without cause, and since Luoning was not the legal heir, would invite criticism.

Hearing this, Luoning's eyes lit up.

He had originally only wanted a piece of land, but he hadn't expected there to be an unexpected surprise.

A Viscount title—this is a good thing!

The high title is secondary; the key is that with the title raised, his Monthly Sign-in rewards will double—that is the most important thing.

"The area to the north is very large, and adding the area of the Sain Territory, I feel I could even be a Count."

Luoning said shamelessly: "How about you just enfeoff me as a Count, Grandfather? That way the title will be even grander."

Currently, the Wushan Territory only has two Counts, and Weijinsi's Count title is temporary.

"Go, go, go!"

Lulansi glared and laughed, scolding: "Your father is only a Count, and if you become a Count, where would that leave his face?"

"Father's skin is very thick; he shouldn't care," Luoning argued.

Lulansi was left between laughter and tears as he waved his hand, "If there is nothing else, hurry and leave. You can be promoted to Viscount without military merit, but to be a Count, you need at least some."

Luoning sighed helplessly; it looked like he wouldn't be able to beg for the position of Count.

However, this is also within reason.

If Luoning could obtain the Sain Territory, be promoted to Viscount, and incorporate the entire North into his own territory all at once, he would be very satisfied.

As for the title of Count, where would he go to obtain the military merit for that? Surely he wouldn't have to go and exterminate the Black Gold Brotherhood as well?

So, is the purpose of this organization's existence just to let the nobles farm for military merit?

Luoning stood up, "Thank you for your care, Grandfather. I will take my leave now."

"Go on, go on!"

After Luoning left, Lulansi sighed, "Moste, why do you think Luoning has changed so much in these past six months?"

"I have heard that great fortune follows great disaster. Perhaps it is the same principle; Young Master Luoning has experienced such great ups and downs in life that his heart has matured."

"Perhaps."

Lulansi could not help but think of his eldest son, "When Geleimusi was seventeen or eighteen, his thinking was also very meticulous. The current Luoning is quite similar to his uncle, it is just a pity that there is too great a gap in their strength."

Geleimusi, the eternal pain in his heart.

Moste comforted him, "Master, sometimes a wise ruler does not need to be exceptionally strong to gain the following of the powerful. It is the same for Young Master Luoning; he already has a follower capable of defeating a Bronze Knight!"

"Ha, you really know how to comfort people."

(End of this chapter)