As Thoras's only son, Galen was the likely heir to the throne.
Galen had only just realized why his father had so readily agreed to let him form an army.
This was to allow him to build his future team, while also earning military merits. Throughout history, there were generally two ways to ensure a smooth transition of the throne.
The first was legitimacy. You had to be outstanding enough to stand out among the many people with inheritance rights, gain the approval of the old king, and be declared the crown prince to the outside world. This was righteousness, a matter of title.
The second was prestige, to be able to suppress the older generation of ministers.
This prestige could be a reputation for virtue among civil officials, gaining their support and stabilizing the court. It could also be military achievements, where you could command the army and beat whoever you wanted, and no one would dare say a word.
Thoras was paving the way for Galen. Stromgarde valued martial prowess, and military power was the real strength. Winning battles was the most convincing thing.
Thoras had done the same back then, establishing a Highland Knights regiment that routed the forest trolls, preventing them from launching large-scale incursions into the kingdom's borders for ten years, only daring to engage in small-scale probing conflicts.
Galen only understood this after returning to his courtyard, so he had Omar spread the news of his army formation, and then waited patiently in the castle courtyard for the opportunity.
After the news of the crown prince forming an independent army spread throughout the noble circles, those noble sons without inheritance rights, like Fadir, would likely choose to attach themselves to him.
This was an inevitable choice for the nobles, and the best way out for the younger sons, especially since the current king only had one son, so there was no need to worry about choosing the wrong side.
Galen received Fadir Dabyrie in his study.
He had a good impression of the Dabyrie family. The current Earl Dabyrie was a powerful mage deeply obsessed with arcane arts, with an almost fanatical dedication to magical experiments.
Galen had once wanted to become a mage instead of the warrior he was now, after all, heaven was to the left, and warriors to the right. Mages were more comfortable, the beloved sons of Blizzard, symbols of elegance, grace, and knowledge.
Later, Thoras invited Earl Dabyrie to teach Galen, but after more than half a year, the Earl discovered that Galen had an unusually strong mental power but could not cast spells, not even Frostbolt or a small Fireball. Galen had no choice but to give up on the path of a mage and follow his father to learn martial arts.
The Dabyrie family was also one of the few families who chose to stay in the Arathi Highlands during the future Scourge invasion, instead of following Jaina west to the continent of Kalimdor to seek refuge. Perhaps they couldn't bear to part with their family's fief, or perhaps they couldn't bear to part with their vast wealth.
But who cares why? They chose to stay and provide assistance to the last of Stromgarde's people in Refuge Point. In Galen's view, in a way, the Dabyrie family had achieved coexistence with Stromgarde.
Galen sized up Fadir. He had long golden hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt and a black vest, paired with black trousers, making him look energetic and capable.
"Good day, Your Highness," Fadir greeted Galen after entering the study.
After inviting him to sit down, Galen asked him in return, "How is Teacher Dabyrie's health recently?"
"Father's health is still good, but he is still obsessed with magical experiments and rarely pays attention to other things."
There was a hint of resentment in Fadir's tone, because his father was obsessed with magic and left all family matters to his mother, and his mother favored his eldest brother, otherwise Fadir wouldn't be so worried about the future.
"Your Highness, I heard that you are about to form an army and go to the Southeast Mines to defend against the trolls of Witherbark Hills?" Fadir went straight to the point, appearing somewhat eager and impetuous, but considering his age and his experience in the army, Galen rather liked his guileless manner.
"Yes, my father has agreed to my request to form an army and has also given me the mining rights to the Southeast Mines." Galen had been meeting with Thoras these past few days and had learned that Thoras had transferred an elite Highland cavalry squad back to Stromgarde, which would arrive in the next two days. Galen was planning to hold a swearing-in ceremony then.
Upon receiving Galen's affirmative reply, Fadir's expression was excited, and he blurted out:
"Your Highness, can I join your army?"
"Of course, no problem. The team is still in its initial stages, and we are in need of people. I am very happy that you can join."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Although Fadir knew that the prince would most likely not refuse his offer of service, he was still a little apprehensive when he walked into the study. Now that he had received the prince's definite reply, accepting his service, the stone in his heart finally settled.
"I can appoint you as the captain of the Third Great Company in advance. Your first task is to recruit members yourself, with a quota of 300 for now, and a strength limit of novice or above. You are more familiar with our peers among the noble sons than I am. You can recommend two squad leader candidates under your command, and the candidates must be approved by me, and I will give you an appointment letter then."
Such a good thing? Fadir was overjoyed. Wouldn't that mean he could be the direct superior of those few hooligans? They were usually lawless and arrogant, wouldn't they have to call me Captain then?
"You are the first person to come to me, Fadir, and I will remember your benefits. You can tell the noble sons who are willing to join us that I intend to give up the mining rights to Mine No. 1 in the northern part of the Southeast Mines for a period of three years, to the highest bidder. Of course, your families can also invest together, and we will share the mine's output according to the proportion of investment."
Another bombshell was thrown out by Galen, almost knocking Fadir out. Three years of mining rights, this was a considerable fortune. The Southeast Mines were known for being rich mines, but they had been temporarily abandoned for some reason.
Galen had read Thoras's plan, which estimated that they would begin attacking the gradually recovering trolls of Witherbark Hills as early as next year, and resume production. However, Galen knew that in the original timeline, the kingdom did not have time to start this plan, possibly because it was shelved for various reasons, and then a few years later, the orc invasion happened, followed by the ogres of the Stonfist clan occupying the land.
When Fadir walked out of the courtyard, he still had an incredulous expression. He probably couldn't understand why the prince was willing to contract out the mining rights.
Galen was short of money, extremely short.
Contracting out one of the mines that had already been acquired to the nobles was also a helpless thing. He didn't have enough troops to open branch mines at this stage, and he wanted to develop quickly, so he could only recharge gold coins to the base.
Thoras didn't have any extra gold coins to support Galen, so Galen came up with this method. The nobles were all rich, but if he wanted them to obediently send gold coins to Galen's pocket, he needed enough benefits.
Only three years, just consider it fundraising.
Galen could only comfort himself like this, with a calm expression on the surface, pretending to despise money like dirt, but his heart was already pounding the ground, aching with pain.