Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 154 The Huge Scale of Knights

The flag of the Bauhinia Family actually embodied the powerful effects of two runes, which really made Su Li overjoyed.

He excitedly hugged Ingrid's slender waist, kissed her cheeks and earlobes, and said, "Baby, your surprise really makes me even happier."

"You'll feel better all day. Tell me about the effects of these two runes."

Ingrid was already very accustomed to Su Li's kisses, and said lightly: "You should have heard about the effects of the fear rune."

Su Li nodded. Boros had once introduced Su Li to this rune of fear. An army carrying this banner into battle would create the illusion that they were even larger than their enemies. The dwarves themselves were formidable opponents, and a single, massive dwarven force was enough to intimidate even the most formidable of foes!
This rune, combined with a powerful knight, is enough to unlock the effect of inducing fear.

Then Su Li asked with concern: "Where is the sacred rune?"

"This rune enhances the natural magic resistance within every dwarf, forming an aura. It significantly increases a soldier's resistance to magic and divine spells."

Hearing the results, Su Li frowned and asked, "If we activate the dwarf's natural magic resistance, will it be effective against knights?"

Ingrid said calmly, "Normally, no. However, with the help of Anarrek's spider silk, it can significantly activate a person's magic resistance, producing an effect comparable to that of a dwarf's natural talent."

After hearing what Ingrid said, Su Li finally understood. Although humans didn't have as strong magic resistance as dwarves, they were naturally resistant to magic. Otherwise, magic damage to humans would be divine damage, devastating.

With the blessing of the spider silk of the giant spider Anarrek, these hidden magic resistance abilities of humans are enough to form a holy aura to resist the damage of magic and divine arts.

Su Li smiled and kissed Ingrid's lips, saying, "Your rune banner arrived just in time. It will greatly increase our chances of winning against the demon army."

"Is there anything you want? I'll come back to prepare a gift for you after I defeat the demon army."

Ingrid stared at him for a few seconds before she said calmly, "I want to go back to being a forest witch."

Su Li was stunned for a moment, then asked: "Why? Are you living...unhappy?"

Ingrid turned her head and said calmly, "No. It's too lively here. I can't adapt."

Su Li breathed a sigh of relief from the bottom of his heart. He had thought that this woman's tenderness for so long was all fake.

He slid his hands slowly from her shoulders, embraced her slender waist, and leaned close to her cheek and asked, "What should I do if you leave?"

"You have other female courtiers."

Su Li stared into her eyes: "But, they are not you."

Ingrid met his gaze, was silent for a few seconds, and then said calmly: "If you want me, come to the forest cabin, I can accompany you."

Su Li smiled: "Okay then."

Ingrid's beautiful eyes trembled, and she looked at him expressionlessly without saying anything.

Su Li kissed the beautiful witch's lips and said, "I promise you. You want to go back to the forest cabin, right? But you didn't say which forest cabin. I will build you a beautiful tree house under the sacred wisteria tree. Just like the beautiful gardens of the halflings, no one in the territory is allowed to approach. No one will disturb you except me."

A hint of surprise appeared in Ingrid's cold eyes, and a smile as bright as a summer crabapple blossomed on her face.

This solution made her very satisfied.

So she took the initiative to give him a sweet kiss and whispered in Su Li's ear, "Do you want to try the effect of this pair of stockings?"

Of course Su Li wanted to!
The effect of this pair of stockings is really delicate and smooth, giving Su Li a completely different experience.

He had never expected that Ingrid's toes, which were as round as a baby's, were so flexible. They seemed even more agile than a knight's.

After the morning practice was over and the conflicts of the female courtiers were finally calmed down, Su Li walked out of the room and came to the restaurant.

It was actually almost noon at this time, and the halfling chef was already preparing lunch.

Su Li simply skipped breakfast and invited the territory's military commander, Knight Orstein, to have lunch together.

When Knight Orstein arrived, Su Lixian asked with concern, "My Lord Commander, were you not injured in the fierce battle last night?"

Knight Orstein laughed heartily and said, "It's just a minor injury, nothing to worry about given my physique. Thanks to the care of the Knights Hospitaller, I will recover quickly."

Su Li nodded. The territory had elite Knights Hospitallers, whose primary duty was to oversee healing. There wouldn't be any major problems. Su Li then focused his attention on military matters and asked, "How was the breakthrough last night?"

The territory cooked a light-scale fish weighing over 100 kilograms yesterday. The fat fish meat was as thick and tender as beef when cut.

After boiling water, herbs and seasonings, three large pots of fish soup are ready.

Then the halfling distributed the food in bowls among the knights and armed squires.

Generally speaking, the principle of distribution was that the knights ate meat, and each person received a piece of fish weighing half a pound. The armed squires drank soup, and although the meat in the bowl was no bigger than a silver coin, the fish soup was full.

It can be said that the territory provides everyone with an opportunity to break through. Whether they can achieve the breakthrough or not depends on their personal understanding and efforts.

Knight Orstein took a bite of steak and replied calmly, "My Lord, the results of last night's light-scale fish were very impressive. After a night of reflection, today's statistics show that 17 knights in our territory, not including those in the Knights' Order, have received major promotions, including two who have reached the elite level."

"Another 29 knights have received rank upgrades, and the results are very significant."

Su Li smiled in surprise and asked, "Did your battle inspire the knights so much? It seems we need to build a larger Lion Ring Arena."

Orstein shook his head and said, "It's not just because of the inspiration we gained from the battle, but more importantly, the increased strength of our army. The size of the territory's army is different from before, so even if the breakthrough probability is the same, the increase in the number will be greater."

Su Li nodded slightly: "In this regard, we should indeed do a count. How many soldiers do we have now, my commander?"

Su Li could only ask Commander Orstein about this question.

Because as the size of the territory expanded, the composition of the army became more and more formal, and it became more like an aristocratic feudal territory.

Now the army commanded by Knight Commander Orstein is not the same as before. It is basically composed of Hilde's subordinates, that is, high-ranking attendants directly under Su Li.

He now had soldiers under his command contributed by subordinate fiefdoms, such as the Balan Dominion, which provided a full squadron of soldiers, including two squads of elite soldiers.

There are also many knights, armed servants of the church, and militia organizations. For example, the Church of the Goddess of the Fiery Sun organizes free people to participate in training every weekend. The dwarves in Hessen Town also have their own militia organizations. The direct superiors of these militias are not as high as Su Li, but they are the military commanders of the territory.

Of course, the most elite army in the territory is undoubtedly the high-ranking attendants directly under Su Li, including the largest number of knights, equipped with the most sophisticated equipment and armor.

Commander Orlstein was a master at leading armies. He immediately reported, "Your high-ranking retainers currently number 186, all of whom are above the rank of apprentice knight. In addition, there are 44 elite knights."

44 elite knights! 142 knights!
Su Li took a deep breath. He knew that his subordinates' strength had increased dramatically, but he didn't expect it to increase to this extent!

The number of official knights and apprentice knights was not so bad, it was an increase and a decrease. It was only about four times higher than when he left Bauhinia Castle.

But how did the Elite Knights increase so much? It's almost tenfold!

"Forty-four elite knights, their monthly salary alone is 44 gold crowns! Even if they do nothing for a whole year, it would cost nearly 220 gold crowns to maintain such a knight squire. Where do they come from? Where do all these elite knights come from?"

Just yesterday, the joy of harvest day made Su Li very proud.

The current development of the territory seemed full of hope. He did a simple calculation and found that he could earn 5000 gold crowns a year just by farming, industry and the output of some fantasy items.

With this much money, he could have some financial surplus besides supporting the army, so he could invest in production and buy some beautiful women to enjoy.

Even if he thought further, he could save enough money for a betrothal gift, find a powerful noble for marriage, arrange a wedding, learn from the Habsburg dynasty, use the stick to build the country, reasonably use blood to unite the country, and obtain the sacred imperial power.

Then, after he had enjoyed himself enough, he would still have some money left to leave to his sons. The inheritance of the Bauhinia family could not be broken. He couldn't afford to sponsor his sons with 300 gold coins when they went out to make their own way!

But all these beautiful and easy plans came to an abrupt end today!
The output from the farming of his less than two thousand commoners was not enough to support even his own high-ranking attendants.

Without the additional large financial gains, these 186 knights alone would have bankrupted him.

It is true that it is a joy to expand the army, but it is heart-breaking to maintain the soldiers.

Su Li was now curious about where so many knights had broken through! Especially the elite knights who had already broken through to 44th rank!

Knight Orstein said calmly, "Isn't this perfectly normal? The slaves you bought and the captives you surrendered amounted to nearly two teams of elite knights. And by repeatedly consuming fire rabbits, light-scaled fish, and moose sparrows, the knights with fire, light, and wind attributes have all been promoted."

"And we haven't even begun to count the elite knights among the Sun Goddess's immigrant followers."

(End of this chapter)