Siler Fox Tavern proved through their actions that Tang Mo's money was well-spent; they efficiently gathered first-hand intelligence and delivered it to Tang Mo with the utmost speed.
A Ranger, spurring his horse, galloped from King City to Brunas. Another man resembling a mercenary went without sleep for two days, changed his mounts twice, and managed to find Tang Mo amid the chaotic warzone.
However, the intelligence this time wasn't particularly significant, but it served to demonstrate that Tang Mo's intelligence network had begun to take preliminary shape.
With such an information network, Tang Mo was no longer blind. He could analyze the intelligence in his hands and manage the situation he faced with greater composure.
Naturally, Count Fisheo didn't know that Tang Mo had established such an extensive intelligence network so quickly. He just felt that Tang Mo seemed even more suspicious than before.
On the other hand, he was indeed persuaded by Tang Mo. Since he needed to supervise more territory than before, he began to consider Tang Mo's proposal seriously after Tang Mo left.
The Northern Ridge had previously been sparsely populated and not densely inhabited, so maintaining a military force of 1,500 troops had been barely sufficient.
At that time, Earl Fisello hadn't expected that the Kingdom wouldn't provide him with strong support, so he believed that if war broke out, he would have reinforcements from the Leite Kingdom behind him.
But now, it seemed as if that tacit understanding had been broken, and with the Leite Kingdom failing to provide support, Fisheo finally resolved to expand his army.
However, Fisheo was unsure whether it was appropriate to follow Tang Mo's advice to expand by adding three legions, providing Northern Ridge with a total military force of four legions.
He was aware that after securing the regions south of the Crystal River, the population under his control had, in essence, quadrupled, and under such circumstances, it was a legitimate move for him to expand his army.
"He just left like that?" Alice walked in shortly after Tang Mo's departure, her dissatisfaction evident as she tossed something onto the table and asked.
"He left, and he really went back to Brunas. His troops didn't stop, and he only came here temporarily to discuss some matters with me," answered Fisheo, feeling annoyed as if someone had stolen his treasure.
Alice sighed and then adjusted her mood before speaking, "The handover at the Crystal River has been a complete mess... Many of the nobility's estates are deserted, and officials from every town have fled without a trace."
"How is it? Feeling pressured?" asked Fisheo, a bit concerned: "Acquiring so much land all at once can be overwhelming, can't it?"
"It is a bit much; we're short-staffed and weren't prepared to take on so much land. But if we bite the bullet, we can still manage," said Alice wearily: "If he was willing to stay, it might have been easier on us."
"That guy isn't willing to help; in fact, our relationship is merely cooperative, not one of subordination, so stop thinking of relying on him," Fisheo reminded with annoyance: "He even lured away my most trusted officer!"
After saying this, he remembered what Tang Mo had told him and continued, "Alice, have you calculated how much funds we'll have left after this war?"
"What for?" Alice furrowed her beautiful brows as she looked at her father: "What's he planning to sell us now?"
"He suggested I expand the army. The fact is, relying on just 1,500 men, we can't control such a vast territory," explained Fisheo.
Alice nodded in agreement with the plan: "That's true. We should expand the military because, after this war, we've completely fallen out with both the Suthers and Leite Kingdoms."
"And that includes Shireck!" Fisheo added: "Actually, we've also made an enemy of Shireck, we must share some of the burden, to help that guy..."
"How much did he suggest you expand by?" Alice asked for Tang Mo's opinion first, feeling that his advice should be considered in this matter.
"4,500 men, three legions," Fisheo replied.
"That's too many!" Alice immediately shook her head in rejection of the proposal: "Father, although we've been quite wealthy lately, maintaining four legions is very expensive, we need industries to support these troops before we can confidently expand them so much!"
"He advised me to expand by at least two legions, 3,000 men," Fisheo said, stating Tang Mo's initial suggestion.
Alice fell into thought and finally came up with a compromise: "Well... actually, we don't need to expand by 3,000 all at once. We could start by adding 1,500 men, and once they start training, we can enlist another 1,500."
She was in charge of Northern Ridge's financials and was well-versed in such matters. To increase the total number of troops, one needed to not only grow the population but also increase the revenue from the territories.
Only with sufficient money and population could they support a military force of adequate size; this was a sustainable and positive cycle. Otherwise, conscripting a large number of soldiers would only lead to a disaster of one's own making.
"From the Kingdom, the person they sent is Baus, Minister of Construction," Fisheo eventually brought up the intelligence Tang Mo had deliberately shown him. now.
"Baus? The King sent such an inconspicuous man to us... and you knew about this?" Alice looked at Fisheo, somewhat surprised, as if she was trying hard to recall any familiar faces in her father's circle at King City.
Fisheo didn't conceal the truth and stated directly, "This is the intelligence Tang Mo obtained... This lad doesn't seem as straightforward as he appears, he has an independent network of informants... better than mine."
"So we've chosen the right ally, haven't we?" Alice smiled knowingly, looking at her father, not sure whether she was boasting about her own foresight or genuinely joking.
With a helpless sigh about his daughter's attitude, Fisheo continued to ask, "With Baus coming here, what should we demand?"
Feeling somewhat tired from chasing Tang Mo back from Ice Crystal River, Alice stretched lazily and asked in return, "Didn't Tang Mo already agree on everything with you?"
"He didn't say anything..." Fisheo paused, then told Alice immediately.
Alice waved her hand and reminded Fisheo, "The agreement he reached with Suthers was clear. We want the authority to expand our forces, the land south of Ice Crystal River... and also, a marquisate!"
Hearing what Alice said, Fisheo was taken aback and immediately shook his head, "What a joke, His Majesty would never promote me to marquis... If I become the only marquis within the kingdom..."
"Father, it's only our asking price; how much they give is up to their counteroffer," Alice quipped with a smile blooming like a flower.
At Leite Kingdom, King City, inside the estate of Shireck Consortium, a subordinate, looking dejected, asked, "My lord! What should we do about the situation in Brunas..."
Gis, irritated, waved his hand dismissively, shelving his plans for Brunas, "Put that aside for now! Haven't you noticed the mess we're already in? Dammit! How did I end up with such a bunch of idiots who can't see what's happening?"
He had indeed been rattled recently, as the operation he planned against Northern Ridge seemed to have utterly failed.
Gis threw a letter from Suthers into the fire basin, clenched his teeth and said, "We can't let Suthers Kingdom fall completely, that benefits no one! If things turn severe, our influence in other countries will be affected."
"So, my lord, what shall we do?" another subordinate asked submissively, bowing his head.
"Find a way to stop this farce! No matter what conditions Northern Ridge proposes, make Leite Kingdom hold their noses and agree for now!" Gis commanded coldly, "Suthers... is not our concern!"
"But the person in charge in Suthers..." the subordinate who spoke first immediately asked.
Gis, watching the flames in the fire basin, ordered, "Push the blame to the leaders of Suthers Kingdom! After all, it's them who lost the battle, someone has to take the fall, don't they?"
"But, my lord, rumors of Northern Ridge being armed with a large amount of new weaponry are widespread among Suthers' routed soldiers," the subordinate quickly pointed out, "We have interrogated many of them, and their testimony is remarkably consistent."
The news was out and could not be concealed anymore; thousands had seen Northern Ridge's new weapons, and even General Tucci was killed — there was no covering it up anymore, nor was there any need to.
"They all confirmed that at the fork in Northern Ridge, there emerged a force not belonging to Northern Ridge, clad in grey-green overcoats, wielding new weapons, and using a very powerful type of cannon," the subordinate continued, as Gis remained silent.
"On the other hand, the Suthers troops that engaged with Earl Fisheo also confirmed, Northern Ridge Legion was equipped with a new type of firearm, with a firing rate three times that of our Shireck flintlock guns!"
"Is there more?" Gis felt his temples throbbing, inching closer to the brink of explosion.
He longed for the days when Beiji was by his side, at least he shared some of the burden and provided reliable advice.
Now, Beiji had gone missing, and it was connected to Northern Ridge's new weapons — Gis felt that all recent troubles seemed to be conspiring against him.
"That's all, my lord; we have at least ten identical statements, and Suthers will surely make their preparations. They will lay the blame on us, and that will be very unfavorable for us..." the subordinate hurriedly explained.
Gis waved his hand irritably, ready to bury his head in the sand and escape it all, "Leave me! I got it."
"But my lord!" the subordinate grew anxious.
"Leave!" Gis shouted coldly.
"Yes!" The subordinates immediately fell silent and exited Gis's room.