Chapter 12: Winning Hearts!

“Lord Gervas, we’ve confirmed: the Storm Domain has one small town and three villages, with roughly three thousand mu of farmland.”

“But over the past decade, over two thousand mu have been bought by wealthy families, leaving only a thousand mu still under the Storm Domain’s control—including the hundred mu surrounding the castle!”

“Also, last year, the wealthy families purchased several kilometers of forestland from the Storm Domain to plant apple trees; the saplings have already been planted this year.”

“I heard previous nobles tried to intervene, but since these families were commoners protected by law, had their own guards, and past lords rarely stayed long in the Storm Domain...”

Damn, Gervas muttered “damn.”

They nearly bought up the entire Storm Domain!

If the commoners own more farmland than the lord himself, how is he supposed to rule?

The previous lords clearly faced this same problem.

But they died too soon to solve it.

“Whatever they’ve swallowed, they’ll spit it back out!” This land was his very foundation.

He’d given them chances before; if they chose money over their lives, they had no one to blame but themselves.

“Old John, bring in the two stewards and the captain of the guard who led the resistance against the monsters!”

“Yes, my lord!”

Soon, the wheat steward and the guard captain were brought into the castle hall.

Entering the castle, both looked nervous.

Even though the hall had only been simply cleaned and spiderwebs still clung to the corners, the mere presence of the lord added instant authority.

After all, the once-omnipotent town mayor had been killed on the spot by this man.

Fortunately, Gervas was unusually warm toward them.

As a newcomer, he needed local hands to help him.

He immediately appointed the former town steward as the Storm Domain’s Civil Administrator, responsible not only for the town but for all other villages as well.

The guard captain would remain captain.

“Thank you, Lord Gervas, for your trust! We’ll serve you with all our heart and strength!”

“Good, Captain Laurens, step out now. After clearing the battlefield, gather all the guards who fought today—I’ll reward them personally.”

“Thank you, Lord Gervas, for your mercy!”

Laurens left, grateful beyond words. Gervas turned to Civil Administrator Thomas.

“Thomas, are you familiar with the surrounding lands?” “My lord, I used to lead villagers to trade goods with neighboring domains—I know them well!”

“Good. I’ll give you a cart, plus a few servants and knightly retainers. Go immediately and buy every chicken and duck you can find in the surrounding villages.”

“My lord, how many chickens and ducks do you need?” Thomas had no objections.

“All of them. Buy every single chicken and duck you see.”

Thomas froze. After confirming the new lord wasn’t joking, he said, “Yes, my lord! I’ll see it done!”

“Good. Time is short. Leave at once. Get as many chickens and ducks as possible—don’t worry about spending. And return before nightfall, understood?”

“Yes, my lord!”

After Thomas left, Gervas didn’t rest. When Captain Laurens returned with his report, Gervas took a box of copper coins and a large basket of black bread and went outside the castle.

According to Laurens’s report, the town had previously had thirty semi-professional guards.

They fought when needed, farmed when there was no battle, and took turns on duty each week.

In plain terms, they were more like militia from his past life.

After this morning’s battle, only half the guard unit remained; the rest were dead.

Of course, many commoners had also fought—but Gervas hadn’t summoned them.

He was here to win hearts, not to immediately repay his people with wealth he didn’t yet have.

“Though I’ve only just taken office as lord of the Storm Domain, I’ve seen your bravery with my own eyes—and so I must reward you!”

Gervas waved his hand; Old John stepped forward quickly, handing Gervas one portion of copper coins and black bread at a time.

Gervas then personally placed the coins and bread into the hands of each guard.

The reward wasn’t much: five copper coins and five loaves of black bread—enough to feed a family of four for a week.

Yet even so, the guards were moved to tears.

Where had any noble ever valued them like this before?

“Thank you, Lord Gervas, for your grace!”

“Thank you, Lord Gervas, for your grace!”

Gervas was satisfied. This was a trick he’d learned in his past life: granting favors must never be delegated—otherwise, the effect vanishes.

“These remaining fifteen portions are for the fallen guards. It’s not much, but it’s my recognition of their valor. Laurens, take them to the families yourself.”

“Make sure each family receives their portion.”

“Yes, my lord!”

“Lastly, tonight at dusk, a pot of meat soup will be boiled outside the castle. Notify every brave serf who fought—and their families—to come. They may drink freely.”

“And Laurens, choose fifteen of the best performers from among them to fill the vacancies in the guard unit.”

“Lord Gervas, you are merciful!”

One after another, these acts of grace—even though the rewards varied—left no one feeling injustice. All saw only the lord’s mercy: even the serfs’ deeds were remembered!

…

“Lord Kodo, what do we do now? That lord killed Karil on his first day and seized our courtyard—he’ll never let us live in peace!”

“Yes, Kodo, shouldn’t we return some of our farmland?”

“Return it? Are you fools? Show weakness before him, and he’ll demand more. Have you forgotten noble greed? What if he sets his eyes on the rest of our wealth? Do you plan to give it all to him?”

Kodo cursed loudly—he owned the most farmland, over eight hundred mu, more than all the others combined.

He had no intention of surrendering it.

“Hmph, what are you afraid of? As long as we stand united, he won’t dare treat us like Karil. Karil was caught with evidence; we’re ordinary commoners—he has no grounds!”

“Besides, over the next few days, keep your guards together. Our eight families combined have over fifty guards—he won’t dare touch us!”

…

After granting favors, Gervas went to Karil’s stone house and dug up a clay jar from the corner of its outer wall.

Inside the jar were five gold coins and over three hundred silver coins.

“Well done, Zhuīyuè. If you find more treasures like this in the future, I’ll reward you handsomely.”

As Zhuīyuè stared blankly, Gervas praised it.

Just now, Gervas had mentally instructed Zhuīyuè to stay and stomp at that spot—then he’d dug it up himself.

Thus, it appeared Zhuīyuè had discovered the treasure.

After all, his intelligence network couldn’t stay hidden forever. Using Zhuīyuè as a cover wouldn’t convince everyone—but at least it gave him an explanation.