King
Chapter 169 - 169 114 Foe or Friend in an Instant_3

169: Chapter 114, Foe or Friend in an Instant_3 169: Chapter 114, Foe or Friend in an Instant_3 Earl Piers sneered.

Precedents matter significantly.

The Felix family has a lot of dark history.

With such a neighbor behind one’s back, it is tough to be vigilant.

As for “fairness”, it’s merely theoretical.

The stratification of society has long seeped into every corner of the Continent of Aslante.

The Alpha Kingdom is still decent; with the threat of the Orc Empire, the Major Nobles dare not go too far.

On the surface, they maintain the veneer of “fairness”.

However, once the stakes get high enough, this veneer is insufficient.

In the end, what matters most is one’s lineage.

“The continent is going to be in chaos!”

Baron Caryo can’t help but exclaim.

This is the experience of history; whenever an outstanding generation emerges, it marks the beginning of the continent’s upheaval.

When these elites find that the world has left them no room for advancement, they inevitably stir up the situation.

The simplest operation is to incite a war.

One carrot, one hole.

Only when the original carrot is pulled out can a new one be planted.

“Whether the continent is in chaos is not for you to decide.

Just because the Felix family has secured the position of the Governor of Layton County, it does not mean that your position as the Governor of Wharton County is secure.

With so many eyes watching, the kingdom must provide some form of cover.

Unfortunately, the post of Governor of Wharton County has to be earned through sweat and toil.

The northern nobility, who dare not fight against the Felix family, can still wage war against us.

Don’t be fooled by the current decorum of these nobles; they’re just avoiding being the pioneers.

Once they start, you may find yourself their common target.

Your upcoming trip to Luoye Town is not as peaceful as it seems on the surface.”

The anger in Earl Piers’ brow indicates his extreme dissatisfaction with these bully tactics.

However, one can’t bend the knee to the thigh, the Dalton Family is merely the overlord of the Southeastern Province.

In the entire Alpha Kingdom, they are merely a major power.

Although the governor holds a high position and great power, it does not mean that the appointment of key officials within the province should be under his control.

To promote a close confidant, the king has to consent.

Every capable monarch includes in his arsenal the ability to counterbalance.

Caesar III happens to be an accomplished political strategist, his skills of balancing, and thwarting unseen elements within his kingdom are top-notch.

Even the Five Great Houses of Northland are restrained by the Royal Army’s garrison, aren’t they?

This intricate balancing act is the essence of Alpha Kingdom’s political stability.

…

Unaware that the fruits of victory had already been plucked by others, Hudson was still busy working on his alliances.

Whether or not Baron Caryo takes the stage, the stage must be set.

By first fanning public opinion, even if Baron Caryo does not cooperate, he can at least ensure that the new lord’s initial actions do not lead to his detriment.

Earlier, when Hudson did not stand with us and the Northern Nobles in battle, it was because we, the native nobles, had no hope of victory.

Although it was a bit cowardly, aside from the victims, the other nobles were supportive.

No one wishes to bet their hard-earned wealth on something extremely risky.

But it’s different with Baron Caryo.

As a direct descendant of the Dalton Family, he represents the Dalton Family.

The ones who had been impulsively charging at the beginning were mostly younger members of the Dalton Family.

If the younger members are wronged, it’s only right for the older ones to step forward.

Whether he steps forward or not, Baron Caryo is bound to be busy.

Busy people don’t have time to cause trouble.

“Tom, send these golden horses to Baron West.”

Hudson said without any expression on his face.

There are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.

If there is an additional competitor on the stage, this drama should change its way of playing.

Everyone is smart, many things don’t need to be explicitly stated, a subtle hint is enough.

The confrontation must continue, but the scale must be monitored.

They must not spark a real fire, lest they are unable to pull it back.

Even if he loses to Hudson, Baron West is still the lord of Dardiel City.

He can simply lie low for a while and then make a comeback.

If he loses to the representative of the Dalton family, he might have to pack up and leave, bidding permanent farewell to Layton County.

The same goes for Hudson’s situation.

Losing the contest for the position of governor to Baron West is not fatal.

If he loses the Governor’s position, he can still hold titles like Government Officer, Judicial Officer, Military Officer, right?

The Alpha Kingdom doesn’t have this rule that as a governor, you can appoint all the officials in the county.

On the contrary, these officials are likely to be your opponents.

It’s all a case of mimicry; the king uses this means to keep the governors in check.

The Governor’s Mansion naturally follows this and torments the county offices below.

Losing the governorship does not mean a complete loss of influence.

Mainly, the lion’s share of the revenue from taxes will be eaten up by others.

For Hudson, the loss of one or two thousand gold coins of income is not a big problem.

After all, no matter how much Baron West squeezes, he can’t possibly get the excessive tax payment onto Hudson’s head.

If pushed, Hudson can resist paying taxes.

According to incomplete statistics, several tax resistance movements of various sizes occur every year in the kingdom.

They usually happen when the official responsible for tax collection is not strong enough to suppress local nobles, or in a few cases when the official is too greedy, exceeding the local nobles’ limit.

The latter is less likely.

Exploiting nobles is not a good choice.

If treated unjustly, their family and friends will come to seek justice, which may not end well.

Unless they are extremely unpopular, nobles are rarely bullied in this respect.

A small increase is fine, but crossing the line will cause big trouble.

Not just the aggrieved nobles will cause a fuss, but nearby nobles who receive the news will also join in.

After all, if they do not stand up when others are being bullied today, who will help when they are being bullied tomorrow?

If the situation escalates, the kingdom will not let the offending official off easily when investigating.

If it has serious consequences, the official may even be stripped of their nobility.

But if he loses to the Dalton family, it’s different.

Not only is the governorship out of the question, he might not even be considered for any official position in the county, and he may even be marginalized.

In the Southeastern Province, no matter which noble family, none can withstand the sanctions of the Dalton family.

Once targeted, everything becomes difficult.

Especially now, the high-speed development of the Mountain Domain mainly relies on financial leverage.

Many things are persuaded by Hudson.

If a conflict with the Dalton family occurs, no one can guarantee how the debt owners would react.