In mid-April, the weather warmed up, and the entire country of Burgundy was enveloped in the excitement and vitality of spring.
At this moment, the palace hall of Besancon was solemn and cold.
On the main hall platform, seven oak chairs are arranged on the left and right sides of the iron seat. Seven important court officials of the Count of Burgundy are seated on both sides. The iron seat in the middle of the hall is empty. The Prime Minister of the palace sits upright next to the iron seat. He represents the ruler of the count, the Marquis of Ivrea, and presides over the ceremony for the vassals to meet and canonize.
Below the hall, representatives of the lords above the court viscount of Burgundy and the border viscount stood on both sides of the hall. They were ordered to come to witness and observe the ceremony.
Hand around the palace and at the giant oak door, there are a row of palace guards (palace guards) wearing black armor, feathered helmets, and holding power axes.
On the left side of the hall, the Chancellor of the Royal Seal was holding a sheepskin album with lace and gold seals in his hand, and read out the pardon in the album...
In the side hall of the main hall, Art changed from his usual armored uniform and put on an expensive and high-quality baron uniform.
Listening to the bursts of warm cheers in the hall, Art quietly wiped away a thin layer of sweat from his palms on his uniform, cursing in his heart: "You are really worthless, why are you nervous?"
After fighting in this chaotic world for so many years, Art has become accustomed to killing on the battlefield, and he can remain calm in the face of life and death. However, today's interview made his heart slightly shaken.
After a long time, the palace usher opened the door of the side hall and came to Ate, "Lord Ate, please follow me into the main hall to have an audience~"
As the court usher in the Marquise's faction, this arrogant guy obviously didn't like Art, the newly promoted vassal noble, and his tone was not at all as solicitous as when he summoned Martinus just now.
Matt put away the twinkling in his eyes, regained his sharp gaze, stood up, patted the folds of his uniform, and followed the lead officer's steps generously.
The palace door opened, and everyone in the hall stopped talking and turned their eyes to Art, who slowly walked into the hall.
"Knight of the Palace Guard, Sir Art Wood Wells is here to see you!" The ushering officer shouted towards the iron seat of the main hall, then stepped aside to make way, and motioned for Art to come forward on his own.
Hands on both sides of the hall also returned to their original positions and stood in awe.
Att raised his feet wearing cowhide boots, took steady steps, and walked to the bottom of the palace platform step by step. He stopped and looked straight at the important ministers on the palace platform.
When Art's eyes met the Finance Minister Bernard, Bernard suddenly stood up from his seat, "Everyone, I have some important matters to take care of and leave first. You can enjoy the crowning of the monkey here."
After saying this, he left the hall regardless of the eyes of everyone, leaving everyone in the hall noisy and talking.
"Quiet, everyone! Quiet, everyone!" The Prime Minister of the Palace glanced helplessly at Bernard's leaving figure, raised his hand to silence the noise.
"The Chancellor of Finance does have important matters to deal with, and the promotion ceremony will be held as usual."
“Please ask the Lord Privy Seal to read out the appointment letter of Sir Artwood Wells from the palace.” The Prime Minister of the Palace said to the Lord Privy Seal who was standing aside holding the document.
The Chancellor of the Privy Seal nodded, walked to the center of the hall, slowly opened a piece of delicate parchment, and read aloud: "Adhering to the sacred will of God and the monarch of the world, Art Wood Wells, the knight of the palace guard of the Earl of Burgundy, is promoted to the frontier baron of the Earl of Burgundy, and the Lord is granted a fief..."
The letter of appointment in the hands of the Lord Privy Seal very simply stated that Art was promoted to the border baron of the County of Burgundy, and that he was granted a large valley between the Lamer Mountains and the Poge Mountains in the southern border of the County as a fief. This fief immediately belonged to the territory of the County of Burgundy and was under the jurisdiction of the County of Tyniec. The appointment letter also states the vassal honors that Frontier Baron Art Wood Wells can enjoy, the number of knights that can be canonized, the size of the army that he should have, etc.
After reading out Art's letter of appointment, the Lord Privy Seal took out a gold-plated flower-seal booklet from the tray carried by the attendant beside him, which was the Special Letter.
“...Baron Art Wood Wells has the power to judge in his barony except for treason, has the power to levy taxes on land, mills, roads, bridges, workshops, shops and other things that can create value, has the power to appoint officials of all sizes in the barony, and has the power to recruit soldiers in the territory to defend against foreign enemies...No one is allowed to do so without the permission of the lord. Trespassing into the territory, otherwise the lord has the right to punish the trespassers..."
"As a vassal of the County of Burgundy, you will be directly loyal to the ruler of the County of Burgundy, Marquis Ivrea Otto and the successor to the title of Marquis of the County. When your lord issues military recruitment, tax collection and all vassal obligations enjoyed by the lord, you should unconditionally comply with the lord's orders..."
The Chancellor of the Seal talked about a lot of things, nothing more than the various "independent decision-making" powers Art will enjoy in the territory, and when the superior feudal lord (Marquis of Ivrea) needs the vassal to provide troops, taxes and other obligations, Art must unconditionally satisfy them.
"Baron Art Wood Wells, do you clearly understand all the rights and obligations you need to fulfill as a vassal?" The Lord Privy Seal finally closed the special letter and looked up at Art in the hall and asked.
Ater stood up straight, focused his eyes on the special gift in the hands of the Lord Privy Seal, and replied loudly: "In the name of God, I have understood all the rights as a frontier baron of the County of Burgundy, and I also clearly understand all the obligations that need to be faithfully performed as the ruler of the County of Burgundy, the Marquis of Ivrea and his successor vassal."
The Chancellor of the Seal placed the special gift certificate in his hand on the tray, and led the attendant to carry the tray down the hall to Ater.
"Baron Art, please stretch out your hands and take your letter of appointment as a baronet and the certificate of fiefdom."
Ate raised his hands.
The Chancellor of the Seal put the two documents into Art's hands and nodded, then returned to the hall, bowed to the Prime Minister of the Palace, and sat down on an armchair.
The Prime Minister stood up and said to the lords in the hall: "From now on, Art Wood Wells will be named Baron and join the ranks of the noble vassals of the County of Burgundy. Let us cheer for Baron Art~"
There was silence for a moment in the hall, and sparse cheers rang out...
On the night of the court audience, in Earl Baldwin's mansion.
"Art, during today's meeting you have realized how difficult it is to be promoted to baron. In order for you to be promoted to baron smoothly, Bishop Olof and I have lobbied countless nobles in the palace. Even if you have been promoted to baron against all odds, there are still many stubborn and political opponents who are making things difficult for you. This is the reality!"
"But you also I should be glad that you have taken every step steadily..."
Baldwin encouraged Art for a while and then returned to the topic, "After the court meeting, you became a baron with a fief. Although you did not get a decent fief, I have heard about your ability to manage the territory. Besides, you don't seem to rely on the territory to raise troops. "
"I have treated you as my confidant, and I will not hide many things from you. The reason why I tried my best to help you become a baron is to forge a sharp sword. When the time is right, I will pull out the sharp blade and swing the sword directly at the enemy ~"
"Your fiefdom is in the desolate valley in the south, which is far away from the palace and hidden from the eyes of the world, so I give you a task." Baldwin paused.
Att sat upright and leaned slightly, "Sir, what do you say!"
"If nothing else happens, Count Longxia will "visit" the Marquis next spring. I hope you can train an elite infantry regiment of more than 500 people before next spring. Once you get the secret order, immediately rush to my fiefdom of Jonah to assemble! "
"I will provide you with funding for military expenses and armaments. Someone will contact you later on this matter."
"You don't have to worry about the regulations of the palace, I will resist everything for you!"
At heard this, his blood boiled...