Chapter 202: After the War (2)

Viscount Yanes started shaking again, riding a tall northern warhorse, with his personal guards, and waving a swaggering flag, and began to run around.

He was too familiar with the province of St. Peter. If it weren't for the arrival of the Rockers, he would be a local native.

In fact, even during the war, he kept in touch with the nobles in the west of the province of St. Peter.

The voices that once looked down on him for surrendering and despised him all disappeared.

As a surrenderer, it was very difficult to be regarded as having lost the honor of a noble.

Even if he could make money by doing business, it would not prevent others from despising him.

Having money can solve 99% of the troubles.

Rich people want to solve the last 1% of troubles.

Viscount Yanes has no troubles now. The nobles who ignored him before are now actively contacting him.

The Rockers' cavalry is still outside to grab land, and several cities were occupied at the first time.

Next are the towns in various places. It is conceivable who will be targeted next?

Now, he has received an invitation from his father-in-law's family to visit the other party's castle.

He had been here many times, but this was his first time in the past two years.

Viscount Yanes saw the towering castle, with soldiers standing guard everywhere.

His arrival even made the soldiers nervous for a while. After proving their identities, they finally opened a crack in the door carefully.

Even so, there were still people staring at the distance, fearing that Viscount Yanes was here to trick the city gate open.

Inside the gate, the brother-in-law was bending over and standing behind the gate, with a large number of armored warriors waiting in formation.

If you don't know, you would think he was going to trick people in and kill them.

Yanes clearly remembered the face of his brother-in-law. He sent someone to contact him for business, but he actually said that he disdained to do business with traitors, and then he came to him in the name of the butler.

He was both arrogant and self-righteous.

But now, there was no arrogance on the other side's face, all flattery, and he was much more bent than he was at the beginning.

Viscount Yanes pointed at the soldier behind the door and asked with a puzzled expression: "What are you going to do? Are you going to kill me?"

Brother-in-law William's smile froze. He stretched his head to look outside the door before forcing a smile: "Brother-in-law, how could it be? It's a chaotic situation now. I'm protecting myself... protecting myself."

"Tsk tsk, self-protection?" Viscount Yanes turned his head left and right and gestured exaggeratedly: "If the Duke really attacks you, your castle will be blown down with one shot. How can you protect yourself?"

William's expression became even uglier. Why are the nobles in danger? Isn't it because the deterrent power of artillery is too great?

Others don't know about this new thing, but the nobles of St. Peter Province accepted it very quickly.

It's impossible not to accept it. It's really painful.

There are those who are stubborn and don't believe in evil, but William is not one of them.

In the past, it was difficult for others to attack the castle if they defended it. The castle even stored food for several years, so they were naturally confident.

Now... there is the risk of being blown down by one shot, so of course they are not so confident.

The backbone of the nobles is not as hard as they think.

Even though Yanes ridiculed him in every possible way, William forced a smile: "Brother-in-law, I was wrong before, but we are family and don't have different opinions. Father is waiting for you. Let's go in and talk, okay?"

Yanes let out a breath, snorted, and finally agreed.

Since he came, it was not for personal matters.

Soon, he met his father-in-law, another baron.

This time, the other party rarely greeted him outside the door, and two generations invited him into the study.

"Yanes, let the past be over. Now that Duke Leopold has occupied the Province of St. Peter, what is his attitude? We need your help." The father-in-law spoke.

Yanes sneered in his heart. The past can never be over. Do you want him to give in with empty words?

"Father-in-law, I won't be so fussy, but Duke Leopold is not someone who can be easily fooled. You don't think I can help you get through this difficult time, do you?"

"Then what should we do? Aren't you Duke Leopold's confidant?" The old father-in-law was anxious.

What confidant? That was Viscount Yanes flattering himself in the past.

Now he couldn't deny that he could only bluff people by waving the banner of Duke Leopold.

"It's true that I am His Excellency's man, but His Excellency's Duke won't listen to me. You should declare your allegiance to His Excellency's Duke right now and accept his control in the future. Naturally, there will be no danger."

The old father-in-law looked grim: "I already have a title."

The implication was that he didn't want to declare his allegiance.

He still had illusions. What if the Kingdom of the Holy Cross fought back in the future and he defected, would he have a good ending?

William also knew his father's thoughts, and quickly interrupted: "Brother-in-law, you can talk to the Duke, help us deal with it."

"No room for negotiation, you must declare your allegiance to the Duke, otherwise wait for General Simon to come." Yanes was tougher.

Mentioning Simon, both father and son shuddered.

Leopold occupied the province of St. Peter, and they must know the important figures under the Duke.

Simon is the top priority, the key is that the other party is a cold-blooded butcher who has done everything, and hanging a few nobles is nothing to him.

"Is there really no way?" The father and son looked at it eagerly.

"No." Viscount Yanes was very tough.

This was not the Yanes they were familiar with.

Seeing the father and son hesitating, Yanes was angry and amused: "What are you still fantasizing about? Do you really think the Bruno family can fight back?

Since no one has surrendered yet, we might as well make a big bet. The rewards will surely be great. "

The father and son were somewhat tempted.

"Now, immediately, declare your loyalty to the Duke before anyone else, then send people to spread the word, actively appease the civilians, and cooperate with all the actions of His Excellency the Duke. Perhaps you can get some benefits." Viscount Yanes advised them.

"Then our reputation will be ruined!" William hesitated.

"Reputation? You will have nothing when the artillery arrives.

How about Baron Haley? Is his reputation good? The Bruno family posthumously named him a hero of the kingdom, but the Haley family has died out. Do you want to be like him? Do you want King Bruno and I to apply for the honorary title of a hero of the kingdom for you?

Do you think you have a choice? No, don't fool yourself. Instead of being forced to make a choice, it is better to take the initiative. I will speak for you. His Excellency the Duke will give me some face and let you retain the vitality of the family. "

These words finally convinced the father and son.

William was even more emotional: "Brother-in-law, I misunderstood you. You are a good person."

Viscount Yanes smiled indifferently, hiding his achievements and fame.

After leaving the castle, he lay in the carriage and wrote furiously: "Duke Leopold, I have personally persuaded my father-in-law and his family. They are willing to contribute to your great cause, although the two are stubborn... After difficult negotiations, I have lived up to your trust. Next, I am going to persuade..."

After writing, he sealed the letter and handed it to his entourage: "The troops will not stop, give it to His Excellency the Duke."

That's right, if you hide your achievements and fame from outsiders, you certainly can't hide them from His Excellency the Duke.