第123章 贵族联军
来到黑河堡之后，李察很快见到了老熟人莱斯男爵。
莱斯男爵领距离黑河堡更近，已经来到黑河堡两天时间。
见到了李察，莱斯男爵主动邀请李察到一家酒馆。
这家酒馆是莱斯男爵的产业，装潢非常高端，内部使用了格兰特王国南部的紫檀木。
里面售卖的基本上都是价格昂贵的葡萄酒。
现在黑河堡的酒类市场，最上层的人依旧习惯喝红酒，中下层已经习惯喝哈兰德领地的白酒。
随着白酒的热销，红酒的销量下降了一大半。
很大一部分有喝酒习惯的军人、佣兵、猎户，以前只是偶尔喝点儿红酒，现在基本上都转化成了白酒忠实客户。
红酒越来越感觉像奢侈品了，只能为少部分人服务。
北疆地区气温较低，葡萄产量较少，只有乔纳森公爵领生产少量的红酒。销售的红酒主要来自保卢斯、夏洛特、马塞尔三个伯爵领。
南方伯爵虽然实力很强，在酒类市场上称得上过江龙。
但是在北疆地区，也拿哈兰德家族这个坐地虎没什么办法。
毕竟红酒从一千多公里外运输过来，每一瓶还要用价格较高的玻璃瓶，根本竞争不过本土生产的白酒。
除非使用肮脏的手段，暗杀售卖白酒的人员，从暴力上打击竞争对手。
但是这样一来，哈兰德家族也不会坐以待毙，同样会使用暴力手段，杀来杀去得利的未必还是南方三伯爵。
除非李察要将白酒在全国范围内销售，夺取剩下的市场，三位伯爵可能忍不住会挑起商业战争。
Baron Rice's tavern is basically not open to the public. It is like a private club in the previous life. It only deals with noble business. In addition to acquaintances of the Rice family, it receives senior bureaucrats from Heihe County.
There was a stage in the middle of the tavern, with several scantily clad dancers standing there.
These dancers perform sexy dances and look beautiful and young.
Richard knew that these dancers were Baron Rice's prostitutes, used to entertain distinguished guests of the Rice family.
In addition to Baron Rice, there were also several acquaintances of Richard in the tavern, namely Baron Duck, Baron Barton, Baron Barzel, and Baron Dirham.
Because Richard purchased salt from the Duke of Jonathan, Baron Rice and others knew that the Harland family and Archon Jerram already had commercial conflicts.
Although they didn't know anything about Jerram hiring mercenaries to attack Richard, the two families almost fell out directly.
But the instinct of the nobles is to avoid trouble. During this period of time, they are still unwilling to get too close to Richard to avoid being implicated by the Harland family.
After all, during this battle, Archon Jerram was responsible for managing the logistics of the entire army.
Jerram's casual operations can make the army in Harland's territory very uncomfortable. If he is in the same army as Richard, he may suffer unreasonable disasters.
In a war, food supplies come one day early or one day late, and whether the logistical supplies are sufficient or not is a very big deal.
There is no reason for them to be careless, and there are many things to consider ahead of time.
But after Richard brought his army to Black River Fort, he met the soldiers from Harland Territory. After discussion, Baron Rice and others immediately changed their views and decided to follow Richard to take action and gain military glory.
The soldiers in Harland's territory were well-equipped and marched in neat steps. It was obvious at a glance that they were elite soldiers who were not weaker than the main army.
In addition, Richard also has Warcraft Cavalry under his command. In this counter-insurgency war, the main army only dispatched two brigades to go south, and did not send Warcraft cavalry.
The soldiers led by Richard may be the main force in the counter-rebellion army, second only to the main army.
Depending on the income of the territory, a barony can basically support one or two squadrons of soldiers.
For example, the Barony of Rice only has two squadrons of regular troops.
Because the Baron of Dirham was completely eaten by Richard and others, there are now less than 2,000 people in the territory, and a squadron of serf soldiers with extremely weak combat effectiveness has been organized and trained.
With this kind of army that is not even equipped with spears, Richard can easily defeat the Dirham Squadron by sending out a small group of soldiers.
Even tens of thousands of rubbish serf soldiers will be easily disabled by Richard's thousand elite soldiers.
Because the situation was unclear, Baron Rice and others did not invest in the main force of the territory. Instead, they organized and trained a squadron of serf soldiers to fool the province into completing the recruitment order.
Baron Rice and others also know the quality of the soldiers they lead. Do you also know what responsibilities such a soldier can bear?
When going to counter the rebellion this time, these serf soldiers were either used as cannon fodder to fill trenches or escorted grain from the rear.
Baron Rice and others knew that their relationship with Archon Jerram was only average, and they would not be able to get the job of transporting grain to the rear, so they would most likely be destined to be cannon fodder.
If they were asked to draw out the main force in the territory, they would not be able to agree.
If the main force is lost in the counter-insurgency war, how can we resist the orc invasion?
Maybe it will be the fate of the two baronies of Stowe and Dirham.
Stowe was afraid that the Baron also had a genius daughter, Sophia, who had the discerning eye to find a good husband who was capable, powerful and could make money, so that the territory could be turned around.
Look at how miserable the Dirham Territory is now. Years of accumulation have been ruined, and we don’t know when we will be able to turn around.
Even if he died in the counter-rebellion war, his son would still inherit the territory, and everyone would still be a hereditary noble, with their strength intact.
Therefore, even if they would die in the counter-insurgency battle, they were unwilling to use their elite soldiers to counter the rebellion.
Seeing Richard leading three main squadrons, a Warcraft Cavalry squadron, and two hundred auxiliary soldiers, Baron Rice and others immediately decided to go for it.
As for whether Consul Jerram might be up to something, it was not something Baron Rice considered.
If Jerram ignores the overall situation and deducts military rations if it is too obvious, everyone can take the evidence and file a joint complaint at the meeting of nobles.
A group of nobles objected, and the position of consul of the province of Jerram may not be saved.
Many people on Nolan's side are vying for this lucrative job.
King Charles does not have only Felix as a prince, and Jerram's position is not as stable as a mountain and cannot be shaken.
Counting the United Kingdom of Sharpfield, there are a total of twelve baronies in Black River County.
The only territory directly under the royal family is around Heihe Castle.
The Harland family has three baronies, plus the five barons of Rice, Duck, Barton, Bazel, and Dirham. The command of the private army of the nobles in Heihe County has fallen into the hands of Richard.
Besides, Baron Sharp has a good relationship with Richard and will definitely support Richard.
The remaining Baron Green, Baron Sauron, and Baron Wilden have close relations with Viscount Romen, and are expected to join the Romun County Noble Alliance and fight with Viscount Romen.
(End of chapter)