The Lord Of Blood Hill

Chapter 627: This Is Not Much Money

Prince Kullen wants to refute Henwell's mockery, but in the end he can only laugh awkwardly.After all, the money really is too little.

For any viscount in any country, one hundred thousand gold coins is no small sum.

But placed on the level of national strategy, one hundred thousand gold coins is indeed rather petty.

The Grand Princess asks Henwell, "Henwell, then tell us how much should be invested."

"Ten million gold coins is impossible. Give us a number that can actually work."

Henwell runs a rough calculation in his head. "Two million gold coins. Over five years."

The Grand Princess frowns. "Too much."

Henwell waves a hand. "Do not reject it yet. Listen while I lay out the numbers."

"First, if Viscount Hodith is going to join Dilio, he will need proof of loyalty."

"What have you prepared? Is it weighty enough? Is it enough to attract Dilio's attention?"

"If not, then offering money is the best method."

"Even if Dilio receives support from the Western Federation in the future, he will still need a great deal of starting funds."

"Is one hundred thousand gold coins expensive for buying a close confidant's position beside a Western Federation proxy?"

The Grand Princess shakes her head. "It is not."

Henwell continues, "Second, are you planning to send Viscount Hodith there to work alone?"

"He is a noble, a viscount with real power."

"What Dilio values is his power, his wealth, his territory, his influence."

"Most important of all, he values his army."

"As for wealth, that little bit of money is only an entry ticket."

"Territory, naturally, he has none. Influence? In the Western Regions, he has none either."

"The only thing he can present is force, and I do not see Viscount Hodith as some peerless warrior."

"Then the only thing that can make Dilio value him is an army."

"Tell me, how many troops do you plan to have Dilio raise, and in what manner?"

Prince Kullen says, "After he leaves, he will immediately head to the Western Regions."

"He will obtain starting funds, recruit fighters, and form a thousand-man force."

Henwell sighs. "He is a noble, not a bandit chief."

"Recruit soldiers? From where? He is unfamiliar with the place. How is he supposed to recruit?"

"Are you planning to throw in the hidden channels you have managed for years, or are you preparing to extort mine?"

"Think from the other side's perspective. If a Lumir noble with nothing but a ragged army came to you, would you value him?"

Prince Kullen frowns. "Then what should we do? Neither you nor I can send forces to support him. Where can he recruit soldiers?"

Henwell sighs helplessly. "How are you so inexperienced at stirring up trouble?"

"Where can he recruit soldiers?"

"Of course he should recruit where soldiers exist."

"Lumir has just finished a war and gone through a fierce struggle for royal power. A large portion of its army will be broken up."

"Also, many temporarily conscripted soldiers have now been dismissed and sent home."

"These are excellent sources of troops."

"As long as he has money and channels, he can easily raise a professional army."

"A legion is too exaggerated. A thousand-man unit is too thin. A warband is the most suitable strength."

"It will not arouse Dilio's suspicion, yet it will still be an indispensable armed force."

"A settling-in fee of twenty gold coins is enough to recruit a qualified soldier who has been through battlefield killing and possesses various combat skills."

"Leaving future pay aside, the recruitment cost alone for forming a warband will exceed one hundred thousand gold coins."

"Surely you do not expect the soldiers to bring their own weapons and equipment. That would still be a ragtag force."

"So you need to purchase weapons and equipment in full sets."

"By Peace Haven's Level Two equipment standard, which is the garrison warband standard, each set of weapons and equipment costs between thirty and seventy gold coins."

"My personal suggestion is to go all the way and use the seventy-gold-coin set."

"That comes to four hundred thousand gold coins. Give me a round number of four hundred and fifty thousand gold coins, and I will include the warband's tents, supply wagons, and one hundred warhorses."

Prince Kullen looks at Henwell suspiciously. "Henwell, are you taking this chance to bring business to Peace Haven?"

Henwell sneers. "What does this little money count for? You have all received the news that Lumir is about to reorganize its army."

"In the future, Lumir will raise taxes by ten percent to reorganize the duchy's military system."

"The previous army will be broken up and rebuilt from the beginning, with at least twenty newly organized legions."

"Obilian will also build two personal guard armies into ace legions."

"Every one of those legions will use Peace Haven as its benchmark. Guess where they will purchase weapons and equipment?"

"Each legion will need nearly two million gold coins in weapons and equipment. Do you think I care about your scraps?"

"If this did not fit Peace Haven's strategy, I would never risk offending a major client to help you."

"Also, be honest and tell me, is seventy gold coins for one set of my Level Two weapons and equipment expensive?"

"I am even waiving the transport cost for you."

"Most importantly, this business can only be done once."

"Large-scale arms supply is something I will only provide once to the future western Lumir."

"Think carefully about Hodith's identity. Can he keep buying equipment from Peace Haven?"

"This time, outsiders can say he sold his family property, bet everything, bought weapons from me, and fled to join Dilio."

"But when he buys again later, how will you explain his relationship with Peace Haven to Dilio?"

In the silence that follows, Henwell counts on his fingers. "Aside from all this, Viscount Hodith needs some money on hand."

"You cannot have him take an army and expect Dilio to support him."

"That would not be joining him. That would be begging. How could he receive heavy use?"

"A leader wants a subordinate who solves problems for him, not a subordinate who creates trouble."

"So after Hodith reaches western Lumir, he must not be frugal. He must spend lavishly and make extravagance his main approach."

"Forming the army will cost nearly six hundred thousand gold coins. Offering money to Dilio will cost one hundred thousand."

"After that, winning hearts, purchasing castles and other assets, and building a network in western Lumir will require at least another two hundred thousand gold coins."

"He also needs emergency funds. All told, one million gold coins is the absolute minimum."

"This is a long-term plan. Over the next four years, you will still need to invest more money. I have not overcounted at all."

The Grand Princess sighs as well. "You are right. Unfortunately, I cannot produce that much money."

Henwell frowns. "That is a little exaggerated. You cannot even produce one million gold coins?"

The Grand Princess shakes her head. "It is not that Ika cannot produce it. I cannot."

"Our cooperation is limited to Livos territory. It does not involve the Ika Kingdom."

"Also, the kingdom is building a fortress defense line and has helped me form three legions. Ten million gold coins have already been invested."

"Before Livos clearly becomes part of Ika, it will be hard to obtain another large sum from Ika."

"As for me personally, I have already invested several million gold coins into Livos. I have even mortgaged my properties in the royal capital."

Henwell asks in confusion, "Are you not from the Dienbos family?"

"That is the leader of the Lumir Trade Alliance, backed by the Crystal Goblet Guild."

The Grand Princess looks at him. "Henwell, not everyone works the way you do."

"My vassal's vassal is not my vassal. Do you understand?"