Chapter 150 Split

Swan Castle is Derek's territory. Although it briefly belonged to the Perez family, no owner has ever lived there.

Until Derek and his wife moved in, outsiders certainly didn't know about the situation inside and the subsequent renovations.

Places like open-air balconies are good places for private conversations at first glance. How could they not arrange some back-up plans?

A copper pipe hidden in the cracks of the stone directly transmitted the sound to the secret room upstairs.

Knowing that the two earls were chatting in the night, Derek certainly wanted to listen.

Of course, he didn't want to hear any secrets. He just wanted to know whether the two earls were satisfied with their lives so that he could make improvements at any time, really. (￣(エ)￣)

Now, after hearing the dissatisfaction of the two earls, Derek was ready to make some adjustments.

"My cheap grandfather really thinks highly of me." Derek recalled the conversation between the two. To be honest, he didn't expect so much.

Who has a conspiracy in his mind every day, and can still figure it out without missing a single thing.

He really didn't expect that Count Jeffreys calculated so carefully.

He really thought that the Jefferys family chose to show their favor to him purely out of gratitude and to curry favor with him.

It was also because Earl Jefferys had been too low-key in recent years that people subconsciously overlooked that they were the long-term pillars of the Northern nobles.

"But it's good this way. Everyone's internal fighting can also divert other people's attention."

Derek decided to pretend that he didn't hear the conversation tonight and fight with the two earls.

The Northern nobles have been too dazzling in the past two years. I don't know how many eyes are watching them now. Only by fighting internally can people feel at ease. Otherwise, it's not easy to do some small actions under high attention.

The next day, the three earls met, just as if nothing had happened the night before.

They showed off their acting skills, and no one was inferior.

Just here, the grandfather and grandson had a deep affection.

There was a deep affection between the old friends.

Then there was gratitude for revenge for the murder of their father.

Just looking at the relationship between these three people, it must be thought that the Northern nobles were very united, enough to make people terrified.

However, as soon as Count Perez left Swan Castle, his face turned black.

"You heartless boy, you have tricked me, an old man. I will teach you a lesson."

Count Perez acted quickly. He first sent people to the mountains and beat up the people who caught the mountain wolf Lloyd.

The latter had been doing the business of occupying the land as the king with the tacit consent of the nearby nobles, without any defense.

And the Perez family was also one of the umbrellas. Who would have thought that the other party would suddenly take action?

Count Perez's move was called throwing a stone to test the water.

The target was also a bandit who could not be on the stage. The meaning was to tell Derek that I knew about your affairs and I would see how you would respond next.

Derek did get the news very quickly, which was not unexpected.

If he admitted his mistake and gave in next, everything would be over.

But once this happened, it was guaranteed that everyone would know it in a very short time.

Then there was no need to fight for the top spot of the northern nobles. No one would be convinced by a bowed and submissive earl.

Derek certainly wouldn't do that. His response was very simple. He directly cut off the knight armor for the Perez family.

Then he forcefully dismissed several officials who were vassals of the Perez family.

Instantly, the atmosphere in the sky above the Northland became tense.

All the nobles were waiting to see who would be the leader of the Northland.

Of course, Earl Jefferys couldn't even think of watching the fun.

Earl Perez turned around and encouraged the knights of the Iron Wall Legion to rebel against the Jefferys family, which had lost the face of the nobles.

Derek was not idle either. He raised the tax on the trade routes of the Jefferys family a little bit... only 50%.

Well, Earl Jefferys, who was watching the fun, was a muggle, and he ate the melon himself.

Then, Derek's second brother Sergei was driven out of the Iron Wall Legion and became a sheriff.

A group of knight officers from the Perez Knights were dismissed on the pretext of something.

The Jefferys family has declined in recent years, but the knights trained by the previous generation of earls are still there, and it is not difficult to control a legion.

Earl Jeffreys had enough confidence to confront the two earls.

At the beginning, everyone could find an excuse to fight, but as the atmosphere became tense, they didn't care about any rules. They had to trick the other party when they got the chance.

The northern nobles fell into internal strife on the spot, and the three-way melee affected the entire group.

Nobles of all sizes naturally had to take sides, otherwise they would not have a good end.

At this time, the results of Derek's three years of management gradually emerged.

Many old noble families were forced to join the emerging Augusta family camp for various reasons.

Those who want to make achievements and establish their careers can definitely follow the legendary general Earl Augusta.

Those whose children serve under Augusta will inevitably be affected.

Those who get money from the Augusta family tax system, their salaries are paid by others, can they still change jobs?

However, despite the chaos, there was no bloodshed.

Even trade was carried out normally, and no one refused to recognize the tax receipts issued by Degen Port.

The knights of the Perez family also took their certificates to the Augusta family to collect the money.

Anyway, the momentum was great, but they did not completely tear each other apart.

Everyone met and became a happy family again.

…

Louis II read the intelligence of the North and threw it on the table: "A bunch of old foxes."

Of course he knew that the intensity of the internal conflict was not enough.

But to be honest, he was a little relieved.

The Northern Knights were originally famous for being poor and tyrannical, so he was biased and did not want this military group to fall.

But in recent years, not only has the territory of the Northern nobles expanded rapidly, but the economic strength has also grown rapidly, which has reached a point that makes him uneasy.

If the earls of the North are still as united as before, he really has to doubt whether the throne under his butt is stable.

Now, the three earls of the North have quarreled among themselves. Although they have not reached the point of irreconcilable, they have also involved the power of the Northern Knights.

Internal strife consumes a lot.

"The size of the Northern nobles is a bit too big."

Louis II thought, as long as he was not blind, he could not tolerate this situation to continue, even if the three earls quarreled.

What if the other party reached a tacit agreement, wouldn't it be the end?

"Split up, split up the northern nobles."

Louis II finally made up his mind. He had been thinking about this idea for a long time.

"It's just right. The old accounts of the Jeffreys family need to be settled. Augusta's request can also be agreed. The old earl will not move."

Support the weak, isolate the new nobles, treat the old earl differently, and do not believe that the northern nobles cannot be split up.

Sometimes, personal will is insignificant in the face of conspiracy, and the general trend will push you to make the corresponding choice.