I'm not a lord

Chapter 62 Where is your daughter?

"Soward, are you the clan leader, or are those elders the clan leaders? Do you need them to teach you how to do things?

And what choice do you lowland tribes have now? Can you feed four thousand of your people just by hunting, fishing, and gathering wild fruits and roots in the forest?
You know best how hungry your son is. He is already thirteen years old, but he is not even as tall as the ten-year-old serfs in my territory!
This is the heir of your tribe, what about the others? I’m afraid they’re almost starving to death!”

Lynn didn't want to waste any more words with Soward, so he started talking with all his might.

You still want to negotiate terms?
You negotiate terms without even considering your appearance.

The keys are three dollars each, or three for ten dollars. Would you like one?
Faced with Lynn's accusations, old Thorward not only did not refute, but lowered his head with a little shame.

The Lowland Tribe, once the leader of the nine tribes, has fallen into such a state today, and he, as the tribe leader, cannot escape the blame.

Of course, this cannot be entirely blamed on him. The foundation left to him by his ancestors was really too poor.

But the previous clan leaders had long been buried, so if anyone wanted to hold anyone accountable, they could only trace the responsibility back to old Thorward.

When Xiao Suo saw his father's appearance, he also lowered his head. As the heir to the clan leader, he also had the obligation to revitalize the tribe.

However, the environment faced by the lowland tribes was too harsh, and no matter how they struggled, the outcome seemed inevitable.

Lin En stood up from the small stool, his tone becoming increasingly high-pitched:

"Thorvald, there are only two paths before your lowland tribe.

Either return to the wilderness and become a slave to another tribe, or surrender to me now!

My White Bear Territory is rich and powerful, and it is no problem for me to support four thousand of you.

Although you have nothing, at least you have yourself!

Do you think I would waste your precious 4,000 laborers?
Do you think I will allow others to bully you?

No, you can only be ruled and oppressed by me!
Of course, I will also fill your stomachs and let you live in a house where even rain and snow cannot get in.

But I can't tolerate you eating and living for free!
I will give you work, either farming or mining or taking up arms and fighting for me.

Even if you die, you can only die on my territory! Do you understand?
You are not qualified to negotiate terms. Either you die or you live! Choose quickly! "

Lin En knew very well that he had to overwhelm old Soward with his momentum.

This negotiation is not about the reorganization of the two forces.

Rather, one force swallows up another.

He had to have the absolute upper hand and rely on the fear that the war thirty years ago brought to the people of the wilderness.

He had previously given weapons and mail to young Thorward as a gesture of goodwill and also as a demonstration.

With this generous gift, he told the lowland tribes: I can give you swords for free, so naturally there will be more swords to equip the warriors under my command!

The five bandit brothers who came with Lin En today were all fully armed and arrogant, and they were threatening to attack if they couldn't reach an agreement.

When they saw Lin En stand up, the younger brothers were immediately ready to take action, and they would charge as soon as he drew his sword.

Not far behind old Thorward stood a dozen or so barbarian warriors wearing animal skins.

Seeing this scene, not only did they not dare to roar, some even staggered back in fear.

There is no way. We have lost too many wars in the past and are afraid of losing.

Moreover, the equipment gap is too big, so there is no way to fight at all.

Cutting an armored person without armor is like cutting cabbage.

Old Thorward first turned around and used gestures to appease the tribesmen, then looked up at Lin En, his tone becoming more humble:
"Your Excellency, Baron, I understand what you are saying, but I alone cannot have the final say in the tribe. I am only here to negotiate with you on behalf of my tribe."

Lin En pressed on, not giving him a chance to breathe. "So what can you decide? Tell me!" "There are women in the tribe who have lost their husbands, and children who have lost their fathers. If you could take them in for the tribe, I would be grateful for your generosity, and the entire tribe would remember your kindness."

After all, old Soward possessed sufficient political wisdom, and he directly used a tactic of retreating to advance.

These women and children who had lost their family breadwinners had troubled him for a long time. He was unwilling to give up on them, but the barren forest could not feed them.

Didn’t you, Lin En, say that you could feed the entire lowland tribe?

Then you should try to feed these burdens first.

In old Thorward's opinion, a broken family without her husband is a pure burden.

But for Lynn, these women were exactly what he needed.

Isn’t this a coincidence? There are really a lot of bachelors in White Bear Territory who are in need of wives.

Moreover, this group of bachelors will continue to expand in the future, and if it is not properly addressed, trouble will arise sooner or later.

As for whether these bachelors are willing to raise the children of the barbarians, Lin En thinks this is a small problem.

For serf families, children were also valuable labor and ate less.

This group of women and children from the barren land not only solved the problem of bachelors, but also effectively eliminated the serfs' psychological fear of the barren land.

It's like the salami slicing tactics in war.

First, let a small number of harmless and weak savages move in, and then gradually increase the number of savages.

By the time all four thousand barren dwellers move in, the serfs in White Bear County will have already let down their guard.

Although he was delighted in his heart, Lin En snorted coldly: "You want me to take care of these burdens for you? I don't see any sincerity in you!"

Old Thorward immediately replied, "Baron, think about it. If even they could have hot porridge, the rest of the tribe would be more willing to believe in your generosity and magnanimity."

Lin En curled his lips reluctantly: "That's fine, but I think there's a more sincere way."

"Please go ahead!" Old Thorward was overjoyed, thinking he had finally gotten rid of this heavy burden.

Lin En cast his gaze towards Xiao Suo behind him, a smile on his face:

"I will accept the burden from your tribe, but in exchange, you must send your sons and daughters to my castle.

I will teach them their language and provide them with the best food. Your son will grow up to be an excellent heir, and your daughter will become my wife, a symbol of the union between the White Bear Territory and the Lowland Tribes."

Lynn was very familiar with the customs of the barbarians.

Unlike the monogamous Northern Kingdom, the Wilderness people practice polygamy.

The more powerful the tribal leader is, the more wives he has.

"No."

Just as old Thorward was about to refuse, his son, young Thor, cheered and said, "I do!"

"you"

Lao Suo turned and glared at his son.

But Xiao Suo actually persuaded her:
"Father, this is a good thing! My sister and I can eat hot porridge and learn the southern language. And with Lin En as her husband, how dare other southerners bully us?"

Lao Suo was speechless.

"Look, what your son said makes so much sense." Lin En was amused by what he heard, and the more he looked at the boy, the more he liked him.

(End of this chapter)