Chapter 326 - 81: Ehrlichland Noble Council
Second, it was Bo Yang who had gone to Wisley Path to rescue everyone. On the surface, at least, they were all indebted to him. Bo Yang himself was a dyed-in-the-wool member of the southern faction, so he could serve as a lubricant in the matter concerning Earl Uman.
"Oh? Bo Yang, do you have a solution?" Robson asked, feigning curiosity as he looked at Bo Yang.
"My Lord, the reason everyone was led astray this time was precisely because our military command structure is not rigorous enough. Orders do not come from a single, unified source.
Our Ehrlich Province is situated on the Kingdom's frontier, and we face a long war against the Beastman Empire. We certainly cannot continue like this.
As it happens, all our peers from Ehrlich Province are present. Why don't we convene a Provincial Noble Council on the spot to discuss this matter?" Bo Yang proposed.
As soon as he spoke, the scene fell silent.
The Provincial Noble Council was essentially the highest body of authority in a province.
Provincial laws and many other major provincial affairs were all deliberated and decided there.
Even the Provincial Governor, after being nominated by the Kingdom Government, had to be approved by the Provincial Noble Council to be officially selected.
If a council was convened, the decisions made would be legally binding.
"I agree!"
Just as the crowd was hesitating, Viscount Jeffrey was the first to raise his hand to vote.
Before long, the nobles who supported Robson all raised their hands.
The nobles from southern Ehrlichland were already on the back foot and without a leader. Seeing this, they had no choice but to follow suit and raise their hands.
"Excellent! In that case, I will preside over this council in my capacity as the acting Governor of Ehrlich Province.
Bo Yang, what you said earlier was excellent. Do you have a solution?" Robson asked, turning to Bo Yang.
The so-called acting Governor was an appointment made by the Kingdom.
Because no one had yet reached their fiefdoms and no formal Noble Council had been held, the Kingdom could only appoint an acting Governor.
For example, Earl Uman was the acting Governor of Ador Province, and Count Sriphine was the acting Governor of Auric Province.
"Wait, my Lord. I believe we should vote on one matter first." Just then, Viscount Jeffrey stood up.
"Since this is a Noble Council, why don't we settle the matter of the Governor while we're at it?
His Lordship is skilled in both civil and military affairs, a man of integrity, magnanimous, and possesses the spirit of a Knight! I propose that Viscount Robertson serve as the Governor of our Ehrlich Province and form the government of the Ehrlich Province," Viscount Jeffrey declared.
Of course, Viscount Jeffrey would never have come up with these words on his own.
Robson's plan was to use this opportunity to settle everything in one fell swoop.
"Viscount Jeffrey has a point. I agree!"
"If His Lordship could lead us to victory once, he can do it again..."
In no time, the nobles present all raised their hands in support. It was a clear consensus, an undeniable tide of opinion.
"Ahem, I am humbled by your esteem. If that is the case, then I will have the audacity to accept this position.
Very well. In my capacity as Governor of Ehrlich Province, I invite Baron Boyang to share his views." After some brief pleasantries, Robson readily accepted.
Bo Yang immediately stepped forward.
"My Lord, I believe the reason we were so easily deceived before was precisely because orders within the military were inconsistent. There was no single, sufficiently authoritative voice!
Ehrlichland is no recent creation; it has existed since ancient times, and we have always been the Kingdom's shield! We are about to engage in a difficult struggle with the Beastmen.
Therefore, I believe we should establish a permanent Ehrlichland Military Commission and choose a brilliant leader to guide us against the Beastmen!
Everyone will donate troops to the Military Commission according to their respective strength, and the Chairman will be responsible for their unified training.
In times of war, we should all rally under the Military Commission as well, instilling discipline in the combined army. I believe this is the way to successfully fend off our enemies," said Baron Boyang.
'Isn't that just a private army for you, Robson?'
No one was a fool; they all instantly understood what Bo Yang was implying.
"My Lord, in addition, I believe the Military Commission should have a Standing Army of three thousand men under its command.
This army shall be furnished by the Chairman. When the Chairman's term ends, the next Chairman will be responsible for providing a new Standing Army.
The upkeep for this Standing Army will be jointly funded by the Ehrlichland Nobles, and in times of war, it will be under the Chairman's command.
What do you all think?" Bo Yang asked with a broad smile.
'So, Robson wants to take everything and leave us with the bill!'
'This basically means he wants everyone to surrender their military authority and hand over a portion of their soldiers to Robson.
The most outrageous part is that we'd have to pay to maintain his, Robson's, army!
This so-called three-thousand-man Standing Army—isn't that just us raising an army for Robson? Just look at these elite soldiers around us; you can tell they're an absolute money pit to maintain.
In a province, the Governor can declare a state of war. Once Robson, as Governor, declares a state of war, he can immediately turn around and use his authority as Chairman to take command of all our forces.
"Baron Boyang, what then are the responsibilities of this Military Commission?"
"That's right, you've said all this, but what about its duties?"
...
These questions immediately sent the crowd into a flurry of discussion.
Fortunately, Bo Yang had discussed these points with Robson and was not intimidated.
"Its responsibilities? Naturally, to protect everyone from the depredations of the Beastmen, as well as from bandits, brigands, and the like," Bo Yang said with a smile.
At these words, all the nobles of Ehrlichland fell silent.
It was not out of dissatisfaction. In fact, that responsibility was quite tempting.