During the previous war, Henwell earned the nickname "Nemesis of the Nobles" after repeatedly crushing the noble coalition forces. Most nobles now demand to relocate their territories, wanting nothing to do with being neighbors to Peace Haven.

  Divarak, on the other hand, was promoted because he had previously "repelled" Peace Haven's forces. The kingdom's only condition was that he remained near Peace Haven. Despite his efforts, he only managed to retreat forty kilometers.

  Divarak knows Henwell's ambition and appetite; someone like him won't be satisfied with the status quo. Henwell seems amicable now only because he's content for the moment.

  Once he digests his current gains and hunger strikes again, he'll certainly set his sights on neighboring nds. Divarak estimates that Henwell will take at least ten years to fully consolidate his recent acquisitions. When he bares his fangs again, it will likely be within the forty-kilometer radius.

  Given the current border demarcations, Henwell's next annexation would only reach the edge of Divarak's territory at most. Moreover, Divarak doesn't believe that Henwell will have an easy time ahead, so he's not worried about his own interests being threatened.

  The two exchange some intel. Divarak has managed to secure a substantial sum from the kingdom to rebuild the Ninth Border Legion, where he'll serve as the commander. Additionally, he's tasked with forming a private army exceeding four thousand troops.

  Due to the war, the kingdom's weaponry is both expensive and subject to exploitation by various factions, leading to shortages. So, Divarak opts for cash to figure things out himself.

  For weapons and equipment, he'll source from Henwell. As long as they're forged in the Ogiro style, and the quality is adequate, it'll suffice. However, his private army will require top-notch gear, as those are the tools that safeguard lives.

  Moreover, Divarak's cousin, Pavaro, hasn't made a single major mistake during the war and has earned several significant merits. His rank has risen to Viscount, and he's now the commander of the border legions in the kingdom's northwest region. Pavaro oversees six border legions and wields considerable power.

  Once the situation stabilizes further and he navigates the bureaucratic channels, Pavaro will have the ability to control military procurement.

  This news is a boon for Henwell's new territory, particurly for the growth of his foundries and armories. Peace Haven's armory is currently out of stock, with the st three thousand sets of equipment taken by Jansen.

  However, Jansen is fair-minded; he believes in clear transactions even among families and didn't take Henwell's resources for free. Knowing Henwell's need for popution, Jansen handed over the war-dispced people to him—about fifty to sixty thousand of them.

  Though these people seem uprooted, this is actually the best outcome. Nobles rarely engage in disaster relief unless their own interests are at stake.

  Without Henwell's intervention, most of these people would have starved, and many might have turned to banditry, posing a severe threat to the security of both Peace Haven and Jansen's territory. Now, Henwell has settled them in his new nds, promising their survival as long as they keep the peace.

  The refugees were just a part of Jansen's compensation. After several major battles and recruiting so many soldiers, the Phoenix family's finances are nearly depleted. But it was worth it, as the Phoenix family finally became the duchy's eighth count family. With such a vast territory to develop, they face another massive investment.

  Therefore, Jansen currently cks the funds to pay for Henwell's weapons and equipment. Instead, he used his authority as the former southern commander to amass a substantial number of warhorses, with no intention of returning them. He figures the duchy can handle the debt.

  Jansen gifted Henwell over two thousand warhorses. A good warhorse is worth a lot, sometimes over a hundred gold coins each. The value of these horses exceeds a hundred thousand gold coins, roughly covering the cost of the weapons and equipment Henwell provided.

  Henwell is quite satisfied with this arrangement and has signed a long-term cooperation agreement with the Phoenix family's territory in the name of Peace Haven.

  Jansen's territory now boasts three excellent horse farms capable of consistently supplying warhorses. Additionally, the Phoenix family has channels to acquire even more horses. Peace Haven pns to purchase warhorses from the Phoenix family at seventy gold coins each.

  Rough estimates suggest that the Phoenix family can supply Peace Haven with several hundred warhorses annually. Including other livestock, this amounts to an annual trade deal worth around a hundred thousand gold coins.

  With this influx of funds, the Phoenix family can approach the development of their new territory with greater ease. This deal is incredibly valuable for both Henwell and Peace Haven. With such a lucrative arrangement in pce, the members of the Phoenix family are less likely to oppose Count Jansen's future support for Henwell.

  Simirly, economic exchanges between the two regions will become even more closely intertwined.

  Additionally, Peace Haven indeed requires more warhorses. Although Henwell has proactively established ranches to breed horses, the rapid development of Peace Haven has resulted in a demand that far exceeds the current supply. With over four thousand cavalry, Henwell pns to expand to five thousand.

  These are part of the formal military forces, and to ensure regional stability and instill confidence in trade caravans, patrol cavalry units need to be formed. Two patrol cavalry units would mean an additional two thousand cavalry.

  Furthermore, both the left and right armies need their own cavalry units, including scouts, communication riders, and even mounts for officers. Despite seizing a considerable number of warhorses, there's still a significant shortfall.

  If Jansen hadn't sent over two thousand warhorses, the new patrol cavalry units in Peace Haven might have had to resort to riding inferior horses.

  Beyond the active forces, two massive new recruit training camps have been constructed near the Henwell manor, where the workshop district was relocated. These camps also need warhorses to help identify promising cavalry recruits.

  Besides military needs, the intelligence department, the oversight department, Henwell's personal guard, and the patrol cavalry brigade of the secret workshop district all require horses.

  With so many demands for warhorses, importing a few hundred annually barely scratches the surface. Henwell even resorts to smuggling horses from Ika and Ogiro to meet the needs. Everyone knows Peace Haven is profitable, and Henwell is wealthy. While specifics of Henwell's wealth were previously unclear, the recent war has given many a rough estimate.

  With each of the two main armies boasting eleven thousand troops and a cavalry regiment of five thousand, Henwell's main fighting force numbers over twenty thousand elite soldiers.

  This doesn't even account for the garrison troops at various fortresses, the new recruit camps, patrol cavalry units, and tax battalions. Feeding and maintaining such a vast elite force is a feat few in the Vorry duchy can manage.