Chapter 164: Chapter 150: The Power Structure of Snow Peak County (Part 2)

Louis nodded, and after a moment of contemplation, said, “His ambition is quite evident, but if it can be used effectively, it might become an important part of our Northern Territory defenses.

We just need to ensure that we maintain dominance at the intersection of interests, preventing him from becoming excessively inflated.”

Bradley nodded and continued with the next introduction: “The second is Edward Noether, the second son of the Nott Clan, closely affiliated with the Royal Knight Order.

Though young, his strength has already reached the level of an Extraordinary Knight, albeit without much military merit.”

Bradley paused slightly, his tone becoming more cautious: “It’s rumored that Edward is inherently quite timid; although he appears brave, he often lacks decisiveness and judgment when facing real challenges.

To temper his will, the Patriarch Nott sent him to the Northern Territory, hoping to force his growth through the fires of war. When the 20-year pioneering period ends, he is likely to return and inherit the family.”

After hearing Bradley’s introduction, Louis remained silent for a moment, contemplating how to exploit Edward’s weak nature to his advantage.

Moreover, his background and his father’s intentions could offer substantial potential value.

Bradley continued, “There are also some minor nobles from the South, whose backgrounds are not illustrious and whose strength is relatively weak.”

He concisely summarized, “Firstly, there is Thomas Calwen…”

Bradley then briefly recited a string of names, all from minor southern nobility.

In the end, he concluded, “The inclusion of these minor nobles poses no threat to us and their resources are limited, making them not much help at present.

Perhaps they can play a small role on certain occasions, but we should not hold great expectations.”

Louis nodded, pondering for a moment, “Although these minor nobles have little influence, they can serve as feudatory supporters.

If used wisely, they could also act as supplementary players in some situations.”

Bradley went on, “Next are the heirs of some of the original Northern Territory old nobility.

Due to the Snow Peak County battle and political purges, these families’ statuses have significantly declined.

Many of the mainline members of these families were either killed in battle or purged, so they mostly pose little threat.

He collected his thoughts briefly, then continued, “For instance, the Villa Baron Clan, whose former patriarch and his first, second, and third sons all died in battle, with even their bodies not recovered.

This large-scale disruption forced the inheritance to be transferred to collateral lines, and originally lower-status collateral members have been pushed into positions of inheritance.

Take the Grant Clan, whose new heir is a daughter who married outside the family; she has inherited the title but completely lacks rulership abilities.

She relies on the support of other families, even appearing somewhat feeble…”

Bradley’s voice was steady: “These heirs, though nominally holding noble titles, actually possess no substantial power.

Their rule is more dependent on family lineage than personal ability.

Lord Louis, you must be wary of their potential threat, as they may become obstacles to Northern Territory stability or pose a challenge to you with external support.”

Louis remained silent for a moment, gazing toward the distance as if pondering the situation of these new and old nobles Bradley had mentioned.

“Though these old nobility have decayed to such an extent,” he murmured, a hint of calm thought in his eyes, “we cannot ignore their existence entirely.

After all, excluding Snow Peak County, most of the Northern Territory still belongs to these families.

They continue to control traditional territories and resources, with even intricate familial relationships intertwining among some families.

Even if they seem to hold no real power now, the influence of their bloodlines and the resources of their families are still cards in their hand.

If we underestimate these families too much, we might pay the price in future conflicts.”

He pondered for a while, finally smiling faintly, “In this complex situation, we must not only consider their current strength but also the potential latent power behind them.

To maintain stability in Snow Peak County, we must first ensure the loyalty of these families or at least convert them into our allies.”

After Bradley’s concise introduction of the various aspects of Snow Peak County, Louis quietly sat down, picked up a pen from the table, and began sketching on paper.

He had initially thought the situation in Snow Peak County was straightforward enough that, as Prefect, he should be able to control everything with ease.

After all, only he currently holds dominance in Snow Peak County, with a considerable backing of power.

However, as Bradley’s detailed introduction unfolded, Louis couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

The originally simple situation had suddenly become complicated.

The arrival of two Pioneer Nobles from the South, Joseph Kadari and Edward Noether, brought significant pressure.

Although their current strength does not yet match his, the families behind them are formidable, not part of the Eight Great Clans, but newly prominent under the Emperor in recent years.

“The situation seems more troublesome than I anticipated; I must employ some tactics,” he muttered to himself, continuing to draft his plans on paper.

Their arrival would bring great volatility to the dynamics in the Northern Territory.

Louis turned to Bradley, “I want to host a banquet, centered on my Prefect position and the future planning of Snow Peak County.”

Upon hearing this, Bradley did not frown but instead showed a slight sense of agreement.

Louis’s decisions are usually not simple, and holding a banquet at this time is evidently to establish his rule as Prefect, ensuring everyone’s place is clear and power is effectively distributed.

“I understand, Lord Governor,” Bradley responded, “I will immediately begin preparations for the banquet and the invitations. I’ll send out invitations to the nobles one by one, ensuring every one receives it.”

After Bradley left, Louis leaned back in his chair, his gaze deeply set on the map before him.

In his mind, the situation in the Northern Territory resembled a complex chessboard, with his plans gradually taking shape.

The situation in Snow Peak County was more complex than he had imagined.

Those former old noble families, though mostly decimated after the war, still held significant influence.

Especially those heirs on the fringe, who, while superficially compliant, were hiding underlying currents, with certain families even stockpiling strength, waiting to rebel.

Meanwhile, the Pioneer Nobles from the South, such as Joseph Kadari and Edward Noether, have ambitions and strength that cannot be underestimated.

Louis pondered for a moment, his gaze scanning the map on the table, revealing calm determination, “If the entire Snow Peak County can align on the same side, only then does this winter hold a glimmer of hope.”

He knew the Northern Territory’s defenses needed restructuring from within outwards, as relying solely on one person’s power was not enough to tackle the imminent threats.

And this banquet was not merely to assert his position as Prefect to the nobles.

More so, it was to unify everyone’s strength to face the impending crisis.

He had already decided that the primary aim of the banquet was to establish his authority.

From those minor nobles, Louis didn’t expect much contribution.

If they could perceive the power and future hope he represented during the banquet, that would be sufficient.

For those with strong backgrounds, such as the Kadari Family and the Nott Clan, he needed more intricate strategies.

The upcoming banquet would be a stage to test his wisdom and strategy.

“No matter what, my capabilities must be felt by everyone,” he murmured, with a hint of a cold smile.

He picked up the pen from the table and began marking the map.

The situation in the Northern Territory was severe, but he was prepared.

Following the banquet, a new beginning was bound to come.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep