A ingenious idea

"No, we can't rebel!"

Joan was terrified.

These lower-ranking knights had no idea of the duke's power and might!

Forget about the County of Gothingen, even all the count territories along the northeast border combined couldn't stand against the duke's knight regiment.

It's said that the ducal knight regiment boasted knights of unparalleled strength, twin-winged horses, griffins, and even sword masters of exceptional skill, each an elite warrior.

"If we can't resist and are being ordered to the capital to die, what do you suggest we do?" Old Marty was both angry and frustrated, but facing his son's wife, or rather his legal concubine, he could only squat in the porch, chewing on a grass root in distress.

Such is the tragedy of a hierarchical society.

Duke Diodoric wanted Conosa to lead troops to the capital. Conosa had to either grit her teeth and comply or rebel with her knights.

Of course, rebellion had little chance of success. Although history was rife with examples of lower-ranking knights and barons leading popular revolts, they almost ended in defeat. Rarely did such uprisings succeed in overthrowing the lord.

But was there really no other way?

Damian didn't think so.

…

"This way, Lord Chancellor."

Although not yet officially confirmed, the servants, various minor officials, and clerks from the church in Gothingen Castle had already accepted that Damian was the second person in charge, the true chancellor.

He was led to a reception room, a privilege only counts and higher nobles had, waiting for Conosa to return with news.

For this major matter, the countess had been forced to personally drive to Gothingen Abbey to seek information from Abbot Andreas and Lady Shayla, hoping to learn the high-level intentions of the principality.

As for Damian, he already knew who was behind this.

After all, when he was still in Milhouse Castle, the system had already provided the answer—

It was Conosa's dear elder brother, Adler.

In recent days, various noble knights had sought out Damian, especially those bound by feudal ties, expressing their indignation and swearing oaths.

None of them wanted to leave their homeland.

Even if they were to die, they wished to die here.

Most Europeans had strong attachment to their homeland and family.

"Oh dear! What should I do?"

As Damian pondered a solution, he heard intermittent sighs outside the door.

Looking out, he saw Bishop Matt.

Clearly, at this moment, Bishop Matt was the only person in the County of Gothingen who didn't need to worry about the impact of the war.

After all, his reputation and career had collapsed due to the illegitimate child scandal.

On the western side of Gothingen County was the territory of Count Kassel. Bishop Matt had been accused of casting a shadow of infidelity and scandal over a baron's family, resulting in widespread criticism.

Almost everyone believed that Matt's days as bishop were numbered.

Because the Archbishop of Metz had already issued a letter, preparing to publicly investigate the desecration charges against Bishop Matt and give Count Kassel justice.

Seeing Bishop Matt running around like a headless chicken, not even wearing his bishop's robe, convinced that he was already defeated, Damian suddenly felt a bit of sympathize.

Maybe those who casually manipulate power in the capital of the principality view Damian just as Damian now views Bishop Matt.

"I've found something."

Countess Conosa entered the reception room with a dignified yet slightly panicked expression, pushing open the back door.

Without even sitting down, she urgently said, "Do you know who drafted this plan? It's my brother!"

"Adler von Nosnberg? That's not too surprising. After all, your other brother is also quite a headache," Damian said, pointing to his head.

He was referring to Schmalen.

"I know that. But according to Andreas, this autumn defense plan is a trial by Adler. A trial of what exactly… he told me to come back and ask you," Conosa frowned. She was skilled in strategy, but she couldn't fathom her brother's actions.

"Ask me? How would I know?" Damian tapped the duchy map on the table helplessly, "Perhaps Andreas himself doesn't know and is just saying that."

Conosa thought the same.

The two could only flip through the family crests of the knights in the County of Gothingen, aimlessly searching for a sliver of hope.

As they searched, Damian noticed that many family crests did not originate from the Lotharingian lineage.

Each knight's family crest had fixed academic significance. Different patterns in different positions symbolized various historical details of the family. Small animal differences could signify different family origins.

Indeed, Damian found many family crests bore traces of Saxony and Franconia.

These two duchies were among the five major duchies in the German region, one to the north and one to the south of Gothingen.

And Gothingen County, as the northeastern protrusion of the Upper Lotharingia Duchy, was actually wedged between these two duchies.

Previously, this didn't seem to matter, but now, looking at the map, it appeared awkward.

Such a misshapen map surely wasn't the result of war.

"I understand now!" Countess Conosa realized the oddity of the knight family crests.

"The counties of Gothingen and Weimar, like Kassel, are actually the products of noble intermarriage from two generations ago. Before the division of Upper and Lower Lotharingia, the Duke of Saxony married his daughter to the Duke of Lotharingia at that time. Gothingen, Weimar, and Kassel were dowry gifts included in Lotharingia."

Conosa quickly grasped the crux of the issue.

Lotharingia was also one of the five major duchies in the German region.

But because it straddled France and Germany, with blood ties to both and having once been an independent kingdom, the Duchy of Lotharingia often flirted with France, and the Duke of Lotharingia was usually a relative of the King of France.

So, the previous Holy Roman Emperor, in exasperation, split the Duchy of Lotharingia into Upper and Lower Lotharingia.

As dowry, Gothingen, Weimar, and Kassel naturally merged into Upper Lotharingia.

After decades of development, many had forgotten this history.

Now, Adler's strange order gave Conosa a shocking suspicion.

Adler probably intended to sell off the County of Gothingen in exchange for some promises or guarantees.

And the reason for choosing this was likely because Conosa was more compliant.

Weimar was nearly an independent faction, and Count Kassel often acted independently, dismissive of distant authority.

The County of Gothingen, sandwiched in between, was easier to bully.

Hearing Conosa's meticulous analysis, Damian lamented his lacking geographical knowledge and inwardly despised Adler: "Others bully outsiders; your family prefers bullying your own."

So, how could they avoid Adler's extortion?

And how to confirm that Adler truly intended to sell off the County of Gothingen, even the entire northeastern frontier, retracting Upper Lotharingia's eastern line to near the Rhine River?

Damian pondered as he paced by the door.

In truth, Damian had few cards to play.

He only had a group of loyal knights and a large number of soldiers requiring funds for upkeep.

High-level archers like Crusader longbowmen and forest hunters were all sustained by money.

Currently, Damian's monthly income wasn't even enough to pay their salaries. Unless he could further develop his trade city into a major trading hub for the area.

And the large sum of funds he previously obtained was already more than half spent.

Damian was still searching for a blacksmith, hoping to unlock some new building blueprints from him.

While pondering, Damian unexpectedly saw Bishop Matt kneeling at the door like a servant, seemingly kowtowing to someone.

If his guess was correct, Damian believed Bishop Matt was likely pleading for forgiveness from someone on Count Kassel's side.

"I've got it! We can make it impossible for Bishop Matt to gain forgiveness. We'll even have him provoke them!"

Damian suddenly came up with a good plan.

"Wait, you mean we should fight Count Kassel before the duchy's conscription order?" Conosa said in surprise, once again in awe of Damian's ingenious idea.