"Then what?" Looking at Chen Heng, Oriman's expression turned solemn as she continued to speak.
She had already realized the importance of the North-South trade before. However, previously, she was more aware of the huge potential profits hidden within it. After Chen Heng's explanation, she was shocked to realize how important this trade was for those northern lords who were in trouble.
"Then, it's for the duchy to step forward and give rewards and support to the lords who have made meritorious deeds in the wars," Chen Heng continued. "In the past, most of the inland territories didn't pay attention to the wars waged by the northern lords in the north, thinking that it was the business of the northern lords themselves."
"But in fact, if the northern lords hadn't resisted the pressure from the desert in the north, the whole kingdom would have faced huge pressure, and those nobles wouldn't have lived such an easy life."
Princess Oriman nodded silently.
Indeed, in the past, except for a few people, no one cared about the situation of the northern lords at all. Everyone thought that it was their duty to resist those alien tribes from the desert.
On the one hand, it was because it didn't concern them. On the other hand, it was also because, according to the conventions of this era, affairs within one's own territory belonged to oneself. The lord had all the rights to dispose of his own territory, so naturally he had the obligation to defend it.
"Under normal circumstances, that's true," Chen Heng continued. "But the situation in the north is unusual."
"Resisting the pressure from the desert is not easy for the northern lords."
"If things continue to develop as they are now, the situation will be very bad."
"What will happen?" Oriman asked subconsciously.
"War requires investment. If the northern lords can't benefit from the wars and can't get assistance from the kingdom, then there are only two possible results," Chen Heng said softly. "Under continuous losses, these northern lords will either collapse, and the kingdom will lose its northern barrier as a result, or these northern lords will look for other ways out."
War requires costs. The investment in grain, weapons, equipment, and even manpower, all these are costs. When the gains in a war can't offset the losses, then losses are inevitable. And when the lords suffer losses as a result, they only have two choices left.
Either they choose death in the face of continuous losses, or they look for other ways out.
"By that time, the vast majority of the northern lords will look for other ways out," Chen Heng said softly with a sigh. "And what will be the way out they choose?"
"What will it be?" Oriman subconsciously followed Chen Heng's train of thought and began to think.
When the northern lords couldn't bear the continuous losses and chose to look for other ways out, what would their choices be?
The answer was actually quite obvious.
"They will abandon their own territories and lead their troops south," Chen Heng said softly. "Since the wars with the alien tribes can't make up for their losses, they will just plunder other places."
"By that time, the northern lords will surely march south and start wars with the other lords in the Kutu Kingdom."
"By then, it will be a turmoil."
Oriman couldn't help shivering.
A group of northern lords who couldn't bear the losses and were forced to march south would bring a disastrous result to the Kutu Kingdom.
Especially when they found that the southern lords and the troops of the Kutu Kingdom were much easier to deal with than the alien tribes in the desert.
Although the northern lords were poor, precisely because they had been facing wars all year round, their combat effectiveness was definitely among the strongest.
Moreover, by that time, they would have no other way out, and the power they burst out would definitely be astonishing.
By then, no matter what the result was, the whole Kutu Kingdom would surely face huge turmoil.
And without the resistance of the northern lords, the alien tribes in the desert would definitely take the opportunity to attack, putting the Kutu Kingdom under great pressure.
Just thinking about this consequence made Oriman tremble.
"So, even just to avoid this result, the kingdom must support the northern lords and let them hold on as long as possible," Chen Heng said softly, looking at Oriman.
"But should it be directly supported by the royal family?" Oriman continued to ask seriously.
"Of course not," Chen Heng shook his head and said. "The support for the northern lords will definitely cost a lot."
"If these costs are completely borne by the royal family, it will surely lead to the gradual weakening of the royal family and create opportunities for those lords."
"So, the lords from all regions must also contribute."
"But how can this be achieved?" Oriman asked, with a very serious attitude and a look of expectation on her face.
Unconsciously, she had already devoted herself wholeheartedly to this conversation.
Chen Heng's conversation seemed to have opened up her vision so far, leading her to look at problems from an angle she had never had before.
This feeling was something she had never experienced before.
Therefore, unconsciously, her mood had changed from being casual at first, to solemn later, and then to expectant and serious now.
"Under normal circumstances, it's impossible, of course," Chen Heng continued, looking at Oriman. "However, there is one exception."
"That is, the opportunity to acquire territory."
"We can tell them to lead their troops to the north. As long as they have the ability to take root in the desert and successfully defend that area, we will recognize them as the lords of that area and give them the opportunity to become real nobles."
"It can also be done like this..."
Oriman was stunned for a moment and then suddenly understood.
Yes.
The nobles cherished the strength of their own families very much. Under normal circumstances, they were definitely unwilling to waste any wealth of their families to support the northern lords.
However, territory was an exception.
In this world, no matter who it was, they were extremely eager for a territory of their own.
If there was an opportunity to acquire a territory and become a real noble, even if they needed to pay something, I'm afraid many people would be tempted.
Especially those second sons who originally had no chance to inherit the territory and become nobles, and even other children.
And in order to acquire the territory, they would have to lead people to fight in person, go there to fight with the alien tribes in the desert and seize their territory.
And these actions would indirectly reduce the pressure on the northern lords and make the pressure they needed to face less.
The whole process didn't require much property or much effort.
All the kingdom needed to do was to recognize these lords.
Thinking of this, Oriman's eyes grew brighter and brighter.