Chapter 107: Gaining Control
South Gate of Brambleford City.
Simon, accompanied by a group of officials, was seeing off Princess Lisa.
Just as her arrival had drawn attention, her departure was equally conspicuous.
Simon had explained the entire situation with the Goldwynd family to Princess Lisa the previous night. Her reaction had been indifferent, as if she had merely squashed an ant.
However, this trip to Brambleford had taken an unexpected turn, and Princess Lisa seemed unwilling to stay any longer. She planned to leave for Burrow’s Town the next day.
Simon prepared some specialities as gifts for her: fine wine, perfumes, soaps, and, of course, glassware.
Her visit had been a blessing in disguise, allowing him to eliminate the Goldwynd family. Compared to the gifts he gave her, he had gained far more. The grain stored in the Goldwynd family’s warehouses across the six cities alone would ensure that the Brambleford army wouldn’t have to worry about food for years to come.
In addition to the grain, the Goldwynd family also owned vast tracts of farmland, Plow oxen, mines, and slaves. All of these assets were now confiscated by the state. Truly, the fall of the Goldwynd family had left Simon feasting on their riches.
"My Lord, the Goldwynd family has fallen, but there are still three other families left. Strangely, the Redwyck family didn’t intervene to support the Goldwynd family. Otherwise, we could have had an excuse to wipe them out as well." Baldwin said.
Simon was also surprised by this. The Redwyck family had remained inactive, as if the matter had nothing to do with them. It seemed they were content to watch from the sidelines.
"It just means the Redwyck family isn’t foolish. Otherwise, they would have met the same fate as the Goldwynd family." Simon said slowly.
"My Lord, what should we do about the remaining three families?" Baldwin asked. He believed in striking while the iron was hot and wanted to resolve the issue once and for all.
Simon had taken down the Goldwynd family in one swift move, catching everyone off guard. However, it wouldn’t be long before the other families realised what had happened. He spoke. "No rush. The combined strength of the remaining three families is about equal to that of the Goldwynd families. We can handle them easily. It all depends on whether they are willing to cooperate."
Baldwin nodded, understanding Simon’s meaning. "If they disband their private armies, surrender their fortresses, and content themselves with being wealthy merchants, Brambleford can accommodate them."
As they watched Princess Lisa’s carriage disappear into the distance, Simon sighed softly. The greatest taboo for any ruler is having armed forces within their territory that are beyond their control.
Simon was no exception. He could tolerate the powerful families engaging in business, no matter how much profit they made. But there was one line they could not cross: they must not threaten his rule.
Using the Goldwynd family incident as a pretext, he intended to put an end to the practice of powerful families maintaining private armies in his domain.
As he discussed this with Baldwin, he led the officials back into the city.
Meanwhile, in the carriage that had already travelled several miles, Princess Lisa lifted the curtain and looked back at Brambleford City. She said to Zephyrus. "Why do I feel like something isn’t right? It’s as if I’ve been used by the prince."
Zephyrus, who had been silent throughout the journey, replied. "Your Highness, this humble general cannot say for sure, but Prince Simon is certainly not simple. During the incident at the Goldwynd family fortress, he didn’t act rashly as he did five years ago. Instead, he was patient and calculating."
"Resolving the issue of the powerful families in his domain without shedding blood, he certainly has some skill. The more you say, the more I feel like I’ve been played by this nephew of mine. Ah, perhaps Simon deliberately acted contrary to expectations, making me believe that the Goldwynd family was behind the assassination attempt." Princess Lisa sighed.
Zephyrus said. "If that’s the case, we can report the prince to the emperor when we return to Eldora."
Princess Lisa chuckled. "You think too simply. With no evidence and no witnesses, who can prove anything?" She lazily yawned and let the curtain fall, thinking to herself. "If Simon is given a few more years, the struggle for the throne in the Eldorian Empire might take an unexpected turn. How interesting."
At the same time, in the Chandlier family residence in Brambleford City.
Lothair was not celebrating the fall of the Goldwynd family. On the contrary, when Cedric and Pascal were publicly executed in the eastern market, he felt a chill run down his spine, as if he would be the next to lose his head.
"Father, what should we do now?" Alfred asked nervously, watching his father pace back and forth in the room. The image of Cedric’s lifeless, wide-open eyes still haunted him.
Lothair stopped pacing. "What can we do? Can’t you see His Highness’s intentions now? He wants his domain free of any threats to his rule. The Goldwynd family openly and secretly opposed him, and he knew it all along. This was a warning to the rest of us."
"Father, will our family be next?" Alfred asked, trembling.
Lothair fell silent. Gritting his teeth, he said. "No, we absolutely cannot become the next Goldwynd family. Come with me now to see His Highness."
Alfred nodded and followed his father to the prince’s castle. On the way, they ran into Simon, who was returning.
"Your Highness, Lothair is guilty!" Lothair knelt on the ground as soon as he saw Simon.
In the middle of the street, Lothair’s kneeling drew the attention of many merchants and commoners, who stopped to watch.
Simon glanced at Lothair and his son. "Both of you, get up. This is a public place. It’s unseemly. If you have something to say, come back to the castle with me."
Baldwin nodded inwardly. It seemed Lothair had finally realized the gravity of the situation.
The group returned to the castle, where Simon and Baldwin received the Chandlier father and son in the main hall.
Simon was now ready to openly implement his policy of weakening the powerful families, as the balance of power had shifted.
"Sir Lothair, what has made you so anxious?" Simon asked, though he already knew the answer.
"This commoner is guilty of failing to properly discipline his clan members. Many of them have violated the laws in the six cities. I beg Your Highness to punish me." Lothair said with a pained expression.
Baldwin and Simon exchanged glances and burst into laughter. Baldwin said. "Sir Lothair, there’s no need to beat around the bush. You’re here because you’re afraid your family will meet the same fate as the Goldwynd family."
Lothair was taken aback but then slowly nodded.
Alfred knelt before Simon and spoke. "Your Highness, this commoner was disrespectful in the past, daring to address you as an equal. I deserve death."
"Get up," Simon said calmly. "Since you’ve come, you must understand that I cannot tolerate powerful families in my domain who refuse to obey."
Lothair and Alfred both nodded.
Simon continued. "I am not a bloodthirsty man. Otherwise, the thousands of members of the Goldwynd family would already be dead. You are my subjects. If you are willing to live peacefully in the domain, I will not harm you. Disband your private armies, return the land you seized from the people, and from now on, focus on doing business peacefully. The Chandlier family will remain safe."
In the past, the powerful families not only monopolised the economic lifelines of the domain but also meddled in political affairs. Many officials in the six cities worked for them.
Now, Simon was cutting off their access to political power. From now on, they would simply be merchants.