Triss, the Crow Queen, nodded slightly, "That would be better."
"It won’t easily provoke hostility from the Hermitage."
If the church here were suddenly wiped out, the Hermitage masters from the European continent might come over.
Duncan has his own plans, but now is not the time.
Only with a strong fist can you have a voice!
Duncan stood up and said, "Have Anya find a way to recruit some talent from the Italian Peninsula, doesn’t she own estates there?"
"Are there any experts in farming?"
"These Britons are simply a pile of dung, so many years have passed and they still haven’t learned the farming techniques of the Romans!"
Do you rely on the weather for your food every day?
They don’t farm properly, don’t develop commerce properly, and the towns don’t even have decent sewer systems. It’s been centuries, and while the infrastructure in London from imperial times is somewhat intact, the rest of Great Britain is truly an unspeakable mess.
No wonder the Romans looked down equally on all European ethnic groups!
The gap in civilization is simply too great; it’s even said that this place is a bit inferior to the small Roman towns of the pre-Christian era.
Great Britain is at least five hundred years behind.
Get some technical attendants over here!
Agricultural experts, armor smiths, engineering masters, as many as Duncan can support, he won’t consider too many.
Triss, the Crow Queen, whispered, "There shouldn’t be a problem; I can also send people to recruit some talent over."
Duncan nodded, "Handle it as soon as possible."
"Don’t abandon the natives either; let them learn more Roman techniques."
"Estate economy, grape cultivation, the Franks learned it? They can’t learn? They aren’t missing a brain!"
It’s truly overwhelming.
There’s really confusion about where to start dealing with these things.
Duncan finds it more suitable to lead an army in battle than to deal with countless internal administration and economic affairs.
In the distant Italian Peninsula, some rumors began to spread within the empire’s territory.
Inside a grand palace.
Under the watchful eyes of palace guards, a man looking like a jester briskly entered the main hall, then passed through several doors, entering the deepest part of the Roman imperial palace. Inside a lavish inner hall, maids and female slaves in thin garments surrounded, with alluring beauties dancing in the center, a group of nobles in toga robes were frolicking and having fun. There was even faint moaning and gasping from the rooms on both sides of the hall.
Emperor Valentinian III of the empire enjoyed the pleasures of life, generally leaving Protector of the Realm Aetius to handle major affairs.
Close attendants around him were all extravagant pleasure-seekers, even after the rise of Monotheism, they maintained early empire traditions of indulgent banquets, albeit slightly concealed.
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As long as the emperor doesn’t self-destruct, and he doesn’t plot to murder Protector of the Realm Aetius, the empire could still barely survive for a period.
But there’s no "if," Valentinian III is both indulged in pleasure and eager to prove himself.
The jester-like man quietly moved among the crowd of women, surrounded by a thick odor of fragrance, the Roman empire’s upper echelons were superbly decadent and corrupt, not inferior to the pleasures of the flesh. Even in early empire times, when male and female hosts shared a room, there would be seven or eight female slaves attending beside, catering to their various needs.
Valentinian III pushed aside the female slave next to him, letting a maid kneel at his feet, lazily said, "You’re back? Heard anything interesting lately?"
The man called Quintus glanced around, joining in the flow, unbuckled his belt, and pulled over a female slave, "Your Majesty."
"Aetius is currently allying with the Goths and Franks to resist the Hunnic army."
Upon hearing Aetius’s name, Valentinian III showed a trace of disgust; Protector of the Realm Aetius is both a loyal and powerful minister, whom the emperor really detests yet must show respect openly.
Seeming to notice Valentinian III’s dislike for hearing this name, Quintus immediately shifted the topic, "Hiss!"
"Recently, there are some rumors from Britannia."
"Perhaps Your Majesty might be interested."
Indeed, Valentinian III showed a trace of interest.
Soon, Quintus shared the information he gathered with Valentinian III, then offered advice, "Your Majesty has always wanted to showcase your capabilities to the Roman people, right?"
"In the past, there wasn’t an opportunity, now the opportunity has come."
Valentinian III’s eyes gleamed, inquiring, "What plan do you have? Tell me."
Quintus trembled slightly, got up to straighten his clothes, leaned close to the emperor’s ear and said, "Your Majesty. Although the British Province has been abandoned, since Duncan can earn a reputation in that barbaric land."
"Why not take the opportunity to appoint him as the Governor of the British Province?"
"He’s of Roman descent, also your subject. If he can indeed unify Great Britain, wouldn’t it be under your leadership that the empire reestablished control over the British Province?"
"We don’t need to provide him any military funds."
"Just offer him some nominal recognition and incentives, we might be able to win over a loyal army under your command!"
Quintus continued, "I know a friend, Anya."
"She just sold her estate to me, seems planning to form an ocean fleet in Britain."
"She said Duncan needs craftsmen, needs some skilled talents."
"We can provide all these to him."
"As long as he nominally remains loyal to the empire, his achievements in Great Britain will count as part of Your Majesty’s accomplishments."
"Your Majesty can also find a chance to gain merit within the army."
After hearing Quintus’s words, Valentinian III’s eyes lit up with excitement, "Really?"
Quintus nodded, "Absolutely true."
Valentinian III pondered for a moment, then waved his hand, "Give him everything! Not only can I provide him with craftsmen and talents, but I can also fund him with military supplies."
"As long as he can capture the British Province!"
If the empire nominally resumes control over the British Province, but need not manage it, nor station troops to protect it, while gaining another trade province, then he’ll have prominently stood out before the Roman citizens.
As for Duncan actually being a local lord in Britain, that doesn’t matter, the place was already a barren land.
The empire dispatched reinforcements to help reclaim the British Province, but the reinforcements comprised solely of Duncan.
In the past, only the Duke of Dingtiger acknowledged Duncan’s status.
Now having accomplished something, even the emperor of the empire intends to acknowledge it.
Quintus, watching the pleased Valentinian III, reached into his clothes, feeling a manor contract.
The matter entrusted by Anya has been accomplished.
It’s just unfortunate he didn’t even get to touch that stunning Roman noblewoman; Quintus has longed for her, but this woman’s standards are exceptionally high.
Despite the allure of beauty, he prefers his career.