Lord: I Grind EXP with Warband Panel

Of course, protection from the Beastmen meant protection from external invasions. As for bandits and mountain robbers...

In the early days after arriving in a new territory, it was all too easy for nobles to go bankrupt for some inexplicable reason, their lands then annexed by a more powerful lord.

"This is an excellent proposal. I'm in!" Just as everyone was still buzzing with discussion, Earl Uman was the first to take the lead and announce his decision.

Earl Uman genuinely thought it was a good idea.

To put it bluntly, Earl Uman was so poor that all he had left was money.

After the battle at Wisley Path, Earl Uman's Family Knight Order had been cut in half—and this was the man in charge of a Count's Domain!

And most critically, the Gauss Count's Domain and the Affleck Domain were quite close.

Upon hearing this, it wasn't just the southern nobles of Ehrlichland who were stunned—even Robson's own people were dumbfounded.

'What in the world? Isn't Uman the leading figure of Ador? Why has he come over to run with our pack?'

"Sir, as you well know, my military prowess is sorely lacking.

I would rather my army be led by a wise Commander-in-Chief," Earl Uman said with a smile.

His meaning was clear. Uman wasn't here for Ehrlichland; they didn't have the caliber. He was here for Robson, the soon-to-be chairman of the commission.

This was Earl Uman's own little calculation. 'I may submit to you, Robson, but that doesn't mean I submit to the Odogin Family. Once our generations pass, the Gauss Clan will remain the Gauss Clan.'

Robson, of course, understood Uman's intentions and simply smiled without a word. 'My heir is practically the designated heir to Earl Fengman. With Earl Fengman as their mother and the overlord from beyond the border—practically the King of the Northeast—as their father, the next generation of the Gauss Clan will submit, whether they like it or not.'

Earl Uman's statement kicked the discussion into an even higher gear.

After all, Earl Uman's declaration was basically a pledge of fealty to Robson. But the crucial point was that Uman was from Ador Province!

Even Count Sriphine, standing off to the side, grew nervous. However poor his political instincts, he could vaguely sense that something was wrong.

'This Military Commission... it doesn't necessarily have to be an Ehrlichland affair!'

Unfortunately, even if he did sense something was wrong, there was nothing Count Sriphine could do about it.

As for the Ehrlichland nobles, after a flurry of discussion, they finally elected an elder to speak for them—the very same Knight Vina from before.

"Lord Viscount, the other points are fine, but... a Standing Army? Isn't that asking too much? Forgive my bluntness, but everyone here is impoverished. Where would we find the extra money and grain? Also, regarding the number of soldiers each of us is to contribute to the Military Commission, what exactly would be a suitable amount?" Knight Vina said.

"Sir Vina, what do you think?" Robson asked with a smile, looking at Vina.

In that instant, Vina felt an inexplicable pressure, and for a moment, he found himself unable to speak the words they had just discussed.

"How about... each noble contributes twenty percent of their militia, and the Standing Army... as for the Standing Army, we could start with... say, three hundred men?" Knight Vina stammered.

The surrounding nobles also grew tense; this was basically the most acceptable plan they had managed to agree on.

"Done," Robson said.

Knight Vina had been prepared to continue haggling, but he never expected to get such an answer.

"What did you say, sir?"

"I said, done," Robson replied with a smile.

"The Military Commission exists to protect all of you, so it's only natural that you should be the ones to decide."

The Ehrlichland nobles were stunned by his magnanimity. Even Count Sriphine found it incredible.

"The Viscount speaks wisely!"

"The Lord Viscount is truly magnanimous!"

...

In an instant, a chorus of praise filled the air.

Robson just watched the scene, a smile on his face.

'An endeavor like the Military Commission is only difficult at the beginning. Once it's established, there will be far more room to maneuver later on.'

'Forcing a decision on them now would be foolish. It's far better to wait until they discover problems on their own and come begging Lord Robson for help.'

"Very well, the matter of the Military Commission is settled for now.

Let us proceed with electing the members of the commission," Robson said with a smile.

"It must be Viscount Robertson, without a doubt!"

"Viscount Robertson is a master of both civil and military arts. Of course it should be him!"

...

The southern nobles of Ehrlichland, believing Robson had made a huge concession, heaped praise upon him.

As for the others, truth be told, besides the southern Ehrlichland nobles, the northern ones were Robson's old comrades, and the other was Earl Uman, who had been thoroughly beaten into submission by Robson.

And so, amidst a chorus of cheers, Robson was unanimously elected the first Chairman of the Military Commission.

Bo Yang, Claude, Uman, and Vina, among others, joined the Military Commission.

Once the discussions concluded, everyone immediately began to mingle, getting lost in a sea of newly-formed friendships and familiar titles like "Uncle" and "Brother."