A Time of Tigers - From Peasant to Emperor

Chapter 716 The Use of a Village - Part 5

"As I said to Judas, I'd appreciate it if you didn't change too much. I have a need of a variety of perspectives," Oliver said. "It doesn't seem like transforming entirely into a noble would make me particularly stronger... But I don't know what needs to go, and what needs to change."

"Well, if you can glean any of that just from us talking normally, then I'll do what I can to fulfil that wish," Greeves said. "But I would caution you against asking for that kind of speak on days like today – when there's other nobles about. Even those girls I brought don't know about your proper origins. It's only a handful of us. Anyway, enough of that.

You seemed to be in the middle of mentioning something interesting. I heard my name mentioned – something about my investments?"

"Aye. Investments," Oliver said. "I was wondering about ploughing a portion of my income into the village."

"You're already speaking like us again," Greeves noted. "Sure. I suppose. Put money into the village, towards what end? Let us see what brilliant ideas the Academy has instilled in our young strategist."

"Well, speaking of strategy, you sort of define what I'm already after... Can we not raise walls and make it defensible? Would that be going against the law to do? I know I'm only meant to be a protector in name – is that too blatant an attempt at rule?" Oliver asked.

"Ballsy bastard, ain't he?" Greeves said, nudging Nila. "And we wonder where you got your bad habits in business from, eh?"

"It sounds a good idea to me..." Nila said. "Especially after what happened with the Yarmdon. With walls all around us, even the villagers could defend it, couldn't they?"

But how quickly are these villagers going to flock here? I don't think it'd be quick enough to make a difference to you, Oliver. In a few years, you might be able to double the size of the town but eh... The economic benefit you're looking for likely won't exist for a while."

"But, the military benefit," Oliver said firmly. "That is something that it will have."

"Oh, Gods be damned, obviously. For a runt with hardly any men under him, someone who's only just been given command of the damned place, the loyalty that the populace has towards you is unfathomable. Siege this place, and every one of those men and women will die in your name, praising you all the while," Greeves said. "That's a frightening thing to target.

They'd need to raise a proper army to deal with you, and in order to move that many men, you're going to need an intense bit of politicking."

"Then, it shall be done," Oliver decided. "Even if it just affords the villagers extra protection, so we can ensure their safety from Yarmdon raids... Oh Gods, I've just realized how close we are to spring. Another month, and the Yarmdon will come knocking... I can't be here all the time to keep it defended."

"Blackwell has assured us of his protection in that," Greeves pointed out. "Even without a wall, you can be damned sure Blackwell won't let a single axe fall here in spring. Not if he doesn't want to get himself considerably embarrassed. Still, aye, a wall and some men would make the populace feel more comfortable." Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire

"It'd make me more comfortable, that's for damn sure," Judas said. "If those bastards come back again... If anything comes back... Now that Felly is pregnant, I'll fuckin..." It was such an intensity of emotion that the man felt as he clenched his fist that he couldn't even put it into words.

"I won't let a single whiff of danger come anywhere near David and Stephanie ever again," Nila said with firm sureness. "If you are wanting to build a wall, Oliver, then you don't need to cover the costs yourself. I'll send as much gold your way as I can possibly afford to – I've enough of it at the moment as it is. I'm sure the other business owners in the village would do the same."