Imperial Crown.

Chapter 397: Fighting Whether We Win or Lose

Many thanks to QQ Reading Dad [Autumn, Sorrow] for the reward of 1666!

……

It took about 40 days from entering the province of Mangtain to leaving.

The journey across the Sampoernes took nearly 60 days, due to the incident of buying potatoes.

All together, when Raven set foot on the land of the North Sea Province, the time had come to early August 1202.

Marching in summer is sometimes more difficult than marching in winter, but in the North Sea Province, one can completely forget that it is still summer.

Because from here on, the terrain of the empire began to rise as a whole.

The North Sea, Molinier to its southwest, and the coking coal province to its south together form the largest plateau on the continent - the North Sea Plateau.

Although direct sunlight is still unbearable, as long as you hide in the carriage or occasionally pass under the woods, you can experience a cool and comfortable feeling.

Beihai also became an important horse breeding area for the empire because of its flat terrain and lush grasslands.

In other territories of the empire, travelers mostly traveled on foot, or at most in horse-drawn carriages or ox-drawn carts.

Only in the North Sea, due to the unique nomadic customs, can you see large numbers of people riding horses.

Regardless of men and women.

This also gives the women in Beihai Province a wild beauty that is not found in other places, and their wheat-colored skin is a testament to their health and vitality.

When traveling through the Beihai Province, you can always see herdsmen migrating with their livestock.

Sheep are white clouds, yaks are dark clouds, and the herds of horses are rushing floods.

Once it was confirmed that Raven and his crew had no ill intentions, when they set up camp at night, local herdsmen would often camp nearby, seeking shelter and exchanging supplies.

On the grassland, there is a lack of everything except livestock.

Therefore, even if the Eagle Army just took out some sundries that they didn't usually use - burlap bags, extra salt, and secretly hidden wine, they could exchange them for a lot of good things.

During this period, there would be many children who would pester the Eagle Army to tell them stories and teach them some swordsmanship.

The girls would approach their favorite soldiers with their cheeks flushed by the bonfire and chat and laugh.

Then, he would lead everyone back to his tent.

Those who came out would often stagger on their horses during the march the next day.

"It's obscene, too obscene!" Secretary Hu Xia criticized it harshly.

"Hehe, it's just that no one likes you and you're jealous." Manseni on the side casually stabbed.

Hu Xia was so depressed that he almost vomited blood, but he couldn't refute it because the local women really didn't know how to appreciate the "beauty of knowledge", and many of them wanted to sneak into Manseni's tent.

Raven watched with interest, but he had no prejudice against this custom.

The land and water nurture the people. No matter what customs they are, as long as they exist, there must be a reason for them.

But Raven felt a little puzzled. Mantheni was obviously a girl, so how could the girls be reluctant to leave her after she entered the tent?
The team continued on their journey and soon arrived at Beihai Lake, a landmark location in Beihai Province.

Only when you stand beside it, looking at the endless lake, the azure blue water and the waves constantly rising by the lake, can you understand why the word "sea" is in its name.

Even the locals directly call it the "Goddess Sea". According to legend, this is the place where the goddess of nature washes her body.

But it looks okay from a distance, but not so beautiful if you look at it up close.

Because many herdsmen would drive their livestock to the lake to drink water when grazing, and livestock don’t care about the occasion when defecating…

Coupled with the rotting and smelly dead fish and water plants washed up by the lake, Raven always had a malicious speculation -

If the goddess comes back to take a shower on a whim, will she get dirtier and dirtier?
After staying at the North Sea Lake for a few days to replenish some supplies and take some dried fish, a local specialty, Raven and his party continued on their journey and finally returned to the Nord Province in mid-September.

After crossing the border, although we had not yet reached home, the mental state of the entire team had clearly changed. You could almost see the sense of relaxation with your own eyes.

That evening, a nearby viscount invited Raven to a banquet.

Raven did not refuse.

This meal can be said to be the most comfortable meal I have had in the past two years.

After that, the pace inevitably slowed down a lot. Basically, every time he arrived in a county, the local nobles would invite Raven to a banquet.

As the newly promoted Earl of Raven, he naturally could not show arrogance or inhumanity, so he basically accepted everyone who came.

Especially in the city of Mon'en, in response to the cordial invitation of Earl Tyrone, Raven stayed there for nearly half a month.

Even someone as calm and steady as Tyrone would always inadvertently reveal a hint of surprise at the speed of Raven's promotion in his words.

Of course, during this half month, Raven was not only socializing.

Archbishop Thomas found Raven and expressed goodwill on behalf of the Church of Light, making it clear that Lux's life would not be in danger.

In order to make up for the trauma caused by Morenzo's previous accusations, the Church of Light also gave Raven 100 bottles of the second-level divine potion that can awaken people to become extraordinary.

Raven said modestly, "Archbishop Thomas is too polite. I really don't deserve it."

Having said that, when it came time to collect things, Raven was ruthless.

He also knew that he and the Church of Light would never be on the same page, and their relationship could only be one of mutual benefit.

Since it is a conflict of interest, being abandoned or stabbed in the back by the other party when you are unlucky is nothing.

This does not mean that Raven does not bear grudges, but it is a gesture of equality:
You can backstab me this time, but don't be surprised by what I do next time.

It was already mid-October when Raven said goodbye and set off.

The Eagles are looking forward to returning home before the snow falls.

Their expectations were correct.

I have stayed in Meng'en City long enough this time and have met all the nobles I need to meet. There will be no more banquets in the future.

But Raven changed his itinerary and went south to the Territory of Newsno in the County of Mansa - the territory exchanged between Viscount John and Raven.

John's eldest son, Jonathan, who inherited his title, personally greeted him at the door.

"Lord Raven, it's an honor for you to come. If my father knew, he would be very happy." Jonathan bowed:

"A banquet has been prepared in the castle. Earl Raven, please feel free to come and enjoy the feast."

Jonathan's physique is more sturdy than John's, but you can still see some of John's shadow in his eyes and eyebrows.

Especially the tall hooked nose, which looked exactly like John's.

"No need to be so polite." Raven said, "Before the banquet, I want to pay my respects to Viscount John."

Jonathan seemed a little surprised, but nodded: "Please follow me."

According to the tradition of the Nordic province, after a nobleman dies, his body will be placed in the family cemetery under the castle, symbolizing the protection of the family.

Normally, the cemetery would only be opened during the annual sacrifice at the beginning of each year, but this time, Raven gained the right to enter the Luke family cemetery.

A tomb always looks gloomy at any time, even if there are torches or braziers burning on the walls.

Accompanied by the sound of empty footsteps, Raven came to Viscount John's coffin under the guidance of Jonathan.

Looking at the relief of Viscount John on the coffin, it was the most heroic posture of his life.

He was reining in his warhorse, holding a spear in one hand, with an ice storm swirling and condensing at the tip of the spear.

Raven was filled with emotion. He took off his hat and bowed deeply.

Jonathan's expression changed, and he waved his hand silently, dismissing the guards who followed him. Only Raven and Qiao Sen were left at the scene.

To be honest, Jonathan was resentful towards both John and Raven.

John is obviously his father and the head of the family, but he never seems to consider the interests of the family or the feelings of his son when doing things.

More than 9 years ago, he took the initiative to return the Griffith family's Golden Town legally and legally, and even paid thousands of gold coins.

Afterwards, in the war with the Death Hand Cult, not only did they not gain much military merit, but they also exchanged territories with Raven, forcing the Luke family, which had been passed down for hundreds of years, to rebuild their own territory, and it is unknown how much it cost.

When Raven went on an expedition to Eivor, John promised that any extraordinary person who made meritorious contributions under Raven would be given a set of second-level materials.

The old man was very clear about it. He sent exactly 37 sets of materials without any mistakes. The expenditure was a whopping 13772 gold coins.

When Raven was on an expedition to Eivor, the rear was empty and horse bandits attacked. John ignored the dissuasion of Jonathan and many of his men and personally led his troops to attack and provide assistance.

All these things made Jonathan feel a little unbalanced.

If it weren't for the age difference, Jonathan would have thought Raven was John's illegitimate son.

This is also where Jonathan's resentment towards Raven comes from.

It would be fine if John spent some gold coins on Raven, but the point is that after John helped Raven resist the attack of the horse thieves, his health deteriorated drastically, and he fell ill and died soon after returning home. This war did not bring much benefit to the Luke family, but it saved Raven a lot of trouble, allowing him to successfully conquer the entire Eivor.

Raven slowly stood up and whispered, "You are a true noble. May you rest in peace beside your ancestors with all the glory you have gained in this life."

Seeing the scene before him, Jonathan felt a little relieved from his resentment.

He still couldn't understand the significance of his father's insistence on those principles, but he finally understood why John admired Raven so much.

If Raven wanted to put on a show, he could have held a grand event to commemorate John to show that he has not forgotten their old friendship and also boost his reputation.

But Raven stayed in Mon'en for half a month without mentioning the matter at all. Instead, he made a low-key detour after leaving.

Only came to pay tribute to Viscount John.

This kind of sincerity is rare in today's empire.

Jonathan had a vague feeling that, in some ways, Raven and John were actually the same person.

"Earl Raven." Jonathan walked up to Raven and said, "Before my father died, he left me a message for you."

Raven stood up straight and said, "Please go ahead."

"He said, 'We must fight whether we win or lose.'"

We must fight whether we win or lose!
Savoring the meaning of these words, Raven nodded slowly, sighed, and turned to walk out.

"Viscount Jonathan."

"In the future, no matter what happens to the Luke family, just tell me."

"The Griffith family will never forget Viscount John's help."

Jonathan nodded, "I will."

Raven stayed here for one night and continued on his journey early the next morning.

1202 11 Month 3 Day.

The first snow falls.

Raven finally returned to his territory with his group.

Eagle Castle still stood tall. From today's perspective, it was no longer the best castle Raven had ever seen, but the familiar color and outline still made people feel at ease.

There were snowflakes floating in the air and the weather was not very good.

But the streets were still crowded with people.

The people of Xiongying Town, the people of Shimmering Gold Town, and the people of the more distant Snow Maple Territory and Holo Territory, whether they were civilians or serfs, merchants or ordinary people, all gathered together spontaneously upon hearing the news that Raven had returned.

Everyone had an excited smile on their face.

It was the labor of these people that provided the Eagle Army with equipment and supplies, allowing the Eagle Army to kill all around.

When the news of Raven's arrest came, everyone was filled with righteous indignation and wanted to rush to the capital to overthrow His Majesty the King.

And when the news of Raven's conferment spread back, they could of course proudly hold their chests high and share the glory with Raven!
They called Raven

"Our Lord Earl."

When Raven appeared on the street on his warhorse, boiling cheers spread.

"Long live the Earl!!!"

Raven responded to the cheers of his subjects with a smile on his face, a faint sense of accomplishment rising in his heart.

At the gate of Eagle City, Fiona was there first, followed by Fili, Kuman, Koru and others, who had already brought officials of all ranks in the territory to greet them.

Seeing Raven return, everyone was excited, and their expressions were slightly different.

Fili pursed his lips tightly and looked at Raven with eager eyes.

He had followed Raven the longest and could be said to have witnessed how Raven had reached where he was today.

If there are miracles in the world, then Raven is the one who truly achieved them.

From baronet, he became earl.

This also made Philip's long-dormant desire to become a nobleman burn again.

Kuman, on the other hand, relaxed with a hint of relief.

Lord Raven is finally back.

The two largest factories in the entire Griffith family territory are both in Xuefeng Territory. After Raven left, he was basically in charge of it, and the pressure was too great.

Kolu was excited with a hint of high spirits.

During the time that Raven was away, he managed Holo Territory in an orderly manner.

I just hope that when Earl Raven comes back, he will notice his efforts and he is ready to step onto a bigger stage!
Clerk Zhu Nasheng didn't have the mood to think so much - he had been waiting for too long and his old bones were really unable to take it anymore.

However, all thoughts came to an abrupt end when Raven came in front of them, and everyone bowed:
"Welcome Earl Raven back to Eagle City!"

Raven rode into the city, and everyone followed behind.

Now that I'm back, a welcome party is inevitable.

This was also the most relaxing drinking session for Raven. Listening to everyone talk about the interesting things that happened after they left was a rare enjoyment.

Everyone came up to toast, even Fiona was no exception:
"Mr. Earl, congratulations on your promotion to Earl."

It has a bit of the flavor of nonsense literature, and is also a bit dry, but after all, Fiona, who is extremely socially anxious, can make a toast here openly, which is already a big improvement.

That face started to turn red before he even drank the wine.

"Thank you for your hard work during this period." Raven clinked glasses with her, and Fiona's shadow was reflected in the wine glass.

During the time that Denise was away, the operation of Raven's entire territory basically depended on her.

Fiona is even thinner than she was two years ago, but her silver-gray hair is still shiny and her overall temperament has become more intellectual.

And maybe it’s because she’s also the vice-president of Griffith College, but in addition to being intellectual, her temperament also has a bit more sharpness. She’s the type that can freeze any naughty student on the spot with just a glance.

boom--

The door suddenly opened.

Everyone looked over and saw old Gordon wrapped in a wrinkled blanket, shivering in the cold wind.

Regardless of everyone's gaze, he rushed to Raven and shouted, "Lord Baron, you are finally back!"

A rotten smell unique to the elderly, accompanied by the stench of feces and urine, hit me in the face.

As time passed, old Gordon became older and older. The hair on his head became sparse, like the fluff shaved off a sweater. He was thin, but his eyes were round and he looked frighteningly energetic.

Around his waist, there was a thick cotton cloth wrapped around it, and brown and yellow spots were seeping out of the clean and tidy outer skin.

"Grandpa..." Fiona frowned, walked to old Gordon and lowered her voice to scold:
"Didn't I tell you to stay in your room?"

"Also, your Excellency is already an Earl, Earl! I told you so long ago!"

There was a hint of impatience in his voice that was almost like a breakdown.

Old Gordon was stunned, revealing a trace of helpless grievance. He lowered his head and mumbled with his cheeks.

"Okay, the Earl has just returned from the royal capital, so please don't make things worse!" Fiona said as she was about to pull him out.

But old Gordon stood there stubbornly. He finally mustered up the courage to look at Raven and saluted tremblingly: "My Lord Earl..."

"Sorry, I got the wrong person."

"However, my Baron Raven also went to the capital. Have you seen him in the capital? Is he doing well?"

Raven forced himself to smile: "Good, very good."

As if he had received a very satisfactory answer, Old Gordon smiled, stopped resisting, and followed Fiona out.

After finishing the wine in his glass, Raven got up and left the party, and fell asleep with Petty's service.

The next morning, after breakfast, Raven called Fiona.

Firstly, I wanted to inquire about the detailed changes within the territory during this period of time.

Secondly, it's time to ask about Simon.

……

(End of this chapter)