Chapter 344 — The Day of Allegiance

Abolish fiefs, replace them with domains; abolish tax revenues, replace them with annuities investigated, calculated, and issued by the Administrative Hall; abolish governing rights, replace them with administration by the Administrative Hall or its subordinate units; knights may join the Administrative Hall, but must undergo examination like commoner clerks, and "official" posts may not be inherited...

On a single sheet of paper, nearly every privilege grounded in land was wiped away.

And this was only for knights, who were but "half a lord" and whose privileges were limited to begin with. If a viscount or even a count were to be merged into the Cecil family, how much noble power would he lose?

The old knight noticed that those around him had fallen silent. He scarcely needed to look up to know that several pairs of eyes were fixed on him. But what could he say?

What could he say to a duke?

Yet he must speak—at the very least he could not remain silent. So after a dozen seconds of difficult deliberation, the knight Wald raised his head: "Your Grace, permit me to..."

"No hurry," Gaoyang interrupted with a smile. "What is on these papers is only to give everyone a first understanding of what Cecil's 'order' is. But swearing allegiance is a very solemn matter, and understanding a few legal articles is not enough. I invite you to tour my city and come to know this land from every side, so that you may better judge whether the Cecil family is worthy of your allegiance. Is that not so?"

The knights exchanged glances. Some wore thoughtful expressions, and Wald Perrich nodded quickly in assent: "You speak truly."

The new lord perhaps wished to show off the territory's economic and military strength, thereby adding weight to the case for allegiance. Everyone could see that plainly, and it was the most common means by which a new lord attracted followers.

So since Gaoyang meant to follow this "traditional procedure," the Kant knights did not mind playing along. But play along they might, the privileges they should fight for must still be fought for.

Each man had his own calculations as he followed Gaoyang out of the lord's residence and began the tour of this city still somewhat unfamiliar to them.

Neat and orderly districts; broad, straight streets paved with some unknown material; a flourishing commercial street and well-dressed commoners everywhere in sight. Wald rode his horse, silently watching all before him, yet somewhat distracted.

All of this was indeed evidence of the territory's prosperity, powerful proof of Gaoyang Cecil's governing ability and wealth. In fairness, a place built in under a year that had developed to such a degree had already surpassed the very notion of "rapid development"—it could almost be called incomprehensible. Yet the attention of the Kant knights seemed not to rest on any of it.

Gaoyang kept a smile on his face the whole while, silently observing the reactions of these old knights, but he said nothing. Instead he signaled the party to quicken its pace, heading toward the exit in the northeast of the city.

One of the female knights noticed the party had quickened its pace and could not contain her curiosity: "Your Grace, where are we headed?"

Gaolan spoke up: "I noticed you seemed less than interested in the commercial streets and common dwellings of the domain, so I thought we might first go and see something you actually might find interesting."

"Something we'd find interesting?" The female knight grew even more curious. "You mean..."

"Something you will most certainly have to deal with from now on."