"You truly are a man of virtue, Lord Kaelar." One of the Saxons hesitated before asking, "Will you... will you forgive me?"
This was part of the Saxon culture—their tradition of confession under the teachings of the Cross. Kaelar wasn't surprised, though he found it odd that these Saxons were confessing to him.
Shouldn't they be repenting to their God?
Kaelar's answer remained consistent: "As long as you did not come to Maple Ridge of your own free will, and as long as you did not willingly harm others, I am willing to forgive you."
"Killing brings misfortune. If you do not wish to be killed, then do not kill others."
"This is my doctrine. Remember it well."
---
With the provisions distributed, Kaelar watched as the Saxons began to depart. Now, it was time to address the internal issues.
The conflicts within Maple Ridge had not vanished; they were simply suppressed by Kaelar's authority.
As the lord, Kaelar had boldly taken control of the knights' slaves, incorporating them into his own forces—an act that significantly infringed upon the knights' traditional rights. It was, in many ways, a form of reform.
They hadn't openly resisted only because Kaelar's power and reputation were too overwhelming.
But if Kaelar did not handle this now, the conflict would inevitably erupt in the future.
In fact, it seemed they were preparing to retaliate already.
One knight stepped forward, challenging Kaelar's decision: "Lord Kaelar, with all due respect, if you do not kill them, they will return—again and again. This will never end!"
"And why," he continued, "did you give our provisions to those who invaded us? That food and those rations could have been used to reward the slaves for their bravery in battle."
Another knight joined in, echoing his concern: "Aren't you worried that your actions will lead to endless turmoil in Maple Ridge?"
"This time it was provisions for two thousand men," a third knight added. "But what if it's twenty thousand next time? Or two hundred thousand? Are we supposed to provide for them too?"
Kaelar saw how the knights were subtly closing ranks, aligning themselves in opposition. It was clear that they had come together, united by their shared interests. They would not openly defy him, not yet, but they were prepared to push back.
A few knights remained steadfastly loyal—some out of respect for Kaelar's martial prowess, others due to long-standing familial allegiances.
"First," Kaelar began, addressing the challenge, "you are correct. They will come back, again and again, for as long as that cursed White Dragon remains, and for as long as the Saxons are denied true dignity and freedom, this will not end."
"But they will come to surrender. The righteous have no enemies—those men will not risk their lives to fight against me."
"For I am not some useless soft-hearted fool. I am Kaelar, a name that resounds throughout Britain."
"Second, the provisions of Maple Ridge are mine. They do not concern you."
"I only gave food to those who surrendered to me and accepted my teachings," he continued. "And if twenty thousand or two hundred thousand Saxons were to surrender to me, then the northern petty king would no longer be a threat."
If twenty thousand Saxons submitted to Kaelar...
The petty king?
What would a petty king even be compared to that?
"And as for your lack of understanding..." Kaelar's expression grew stern. "It doesn't matter. I, Kaelar, do not need to be understood. But you must follow my laws. This is my doctrine—not just for the Saxons, but for the Celts as well."
"If you refuse to abide by my rules, then I will drive you out."
"Lastly, let me remind you once more: There are no slaves in Maple Ridge. I promised that those who proved themselves in battle would be freed, and I intend to pass a decree abolishing slavery. You must remember the laws I, Kaelar, have established."
Kaelar had no need for their understanding. Someone with grand ambitions was destined to walk a path that defied conventional norms.
Moreover, he was convinced that his way was the right way. Wasn't human life more valuable than a pile of provisions?
Back in the Spring and Autumn period, one of the Five Hegemons, Duke Mu of Qin, had faced a similar dilemma. When three hundred wild tribesmen from the Horse-Eating Clan stole his prized horses and ate nine of them, Qin's ministers urged the duke to execute them.
Yes, they wanted to kill three hundred men for nine horses. Such was the logic of that era—the era of the Hundred Schools of Thought.
But Duke Mu laughed and said, "I would rather lose horses for the sake of men than kill men for the sake of horses."
Not only did he forgive them, he even gifted them his wine.
Later, when Qin was about to lose a crucial battle against the mighty state of Jin, it was those very three hundred tribesmen who fearlessly charged Jin's forces to repay the duke's kindness, leading to a decisive Qin victory.
Duke Mu likely never expected that those three hundred men would be the ones to save him.
How can you know if your benevolence will bear fruit if you never test it?
True virtue shines brightest in the darkest times.
"But..."
A knight hesitated, still unwilling to back down, until another grabbed his arm. It dawned on him that he wasn't just facing Kaelar alone—he was facing Kaelar and nearly three thousand members of the household guard.
Unarmed and leaderless, the serfs would be useless even if they were gathered en masse. But with Kaelar's support, they were no longer serfs—they were soldiers.
In other words, Kaelar no longer relied on the knights as his sole military power. With his own armed force, Kaelar could enforce his laws without opposition.
Because, in his mind, he was the only one who was right—even if others didn't understand, he remained steadfast in his conviction.
And if the knights insisted on stripping the freed men of their new status, it would only provoke a confrontation, leading to inevitable bloodshed between the knights and the household guard.
And Kaelar's support would decide the victor.
The knights knew full well—Kaelar would never... no, he would never back them.
These former slaves, elevated by Kaelar's decree, were fiercely loyal to him.
Meanwhile, the knights remained part of the upper class. Though Kaelar had reduced some of their power and resources, they were still leagues above commoners in status and wealth.
The household guard, composed of former serfs, had no lands to their name, no way to generate income—they depended entirely on Kaelar. The knights silently hoped for the day Kaelar would run out of resources and be forced to disband them, returning them to servitude.
Realizing the futility of their current resistance, most knights chose to stay silent, faced with a lord who was both powerful and unyielding.
"Kaelar, if the Saxons return, it won't be as easy next time."
A cool voice, clear in his mind. Kaelar was unsurprised, and responded evenly, "I know that. But no matter how many come, it won't make a difference."
"Because I am Kaelar."