Chapter 187

Chapter 187 - War of Wrath (4)

It's the basics for captured mercenary prisoners to be chased away after having their equipment and money confiscated, but it isn't always kept.

When they caused massive damage to allies or became a stumbling block in the war, merciless punishment was inflicted. Whether being used as arrow fodder or lined up and executed.

This is not because monarchs are sadistic. It's because only then could they resolve the dissatisfaction of allies.

"Just how many days were delayed because of these guys."

"They are guys who rejected an undeservedly generous proposal. You must lay down a heavy punishment to make Your Excellency's fear known."

Not only the tribal warriors possessing the ruthlessness unique to nomads, but the vassals also admonished in one voice.

As they came to know while spending time together, Eugene was tolerant completely unbefitting the military might he possessed. However, right now is a time when cruelty is needed.

"If we don't show an example here, the guys we meet afterwards will also think about resisting first. Since they have nothing to lose."

"Thank you for the loyal advice."

The mercenary captain Dolph and his subordinates were executed swiftly. True to the customs of Sludge Hold, and true to Eugene's promise, their corpses were thrown into the swampland.

Some of the Hammer Brotherhood warriors remained in the castle and initiated repairs. Because it was such an important stronghold, it was a place that had to be continuously occupied during this war.

Passing the rear gate and entering the East, a vast plain unfolded. Wherever one looked, the horizon entered the eyes. The wheat fields that would have once rippled with golden color were burned pitch-black.

"Is it the Eastern army's doing?"

"It probably is. No matter how much of a madman Kruger is, there is no reason to ruin the land after driving out the enemy army."

Baron Lester dismounted his horse and dug through the destroyed farmland with his hands. From the grains that had turned like coal, a mixture of burning smell and savory smell rose up.

They burned it because it seemed they would be taken away by the Central army before harvesting. Burning food and supplies that cannot be taken away when retreating is the most basic of the basics.

The same scenery must be unfolding wherever King Kruger is advancing.

"Their insides must be burning black."

At Eugene's words, the vassals laughed. Looking at the situation of the Sludge Hold garrison, it was certain that King Kruger's army was also pressed for food.

On the other hand, Valda covered her nose and grimaced. Not because the burning smell was irritating, but because this inefficient tragedy was sorrowful.

"To blow away the fruits of a year's effort like this. It is only the common people dying off."

"In this aspect, Sicily seems better."

The island of Sicily was also swept into the ravages of war, but their staple food is potatoes. Since they can't burn crops buried in the ground, scorched earth tactics cannot be used either.

As for the farmers who only care about having full bellies and warm backs no matter how the ruler changes, it's a fortunate thing.

"Excellency. The enemies probably don't know we entered the East yet."

Sludge Hold is impregnable. It had never been captured by frontal assault tactics in a prepared state.

Since they captured that in a short time, and wiping them out with a night raid at that, the possibility of the news having been delivered is very low.

"Those guys are probably scattered around, right?"

"They probably are. Because their food situation is not good at all."

Rather than moving gathered in one lump, splitting the troops and moving is much more advantageous for supply.

Especially with the Eastern lords holed up in their respective territories after one major defeat. They had no choice but to be beaten as the opponent hit them.

For the victorious Central army, it's a golden opportunity to scatter, plunder the fiefs, and secure supplies.

In a word, it means they are exposing their backs defenselessly to Eugene's army.

"Excellency. I think it would be better to aim starting from Pittsburgh. It is one of the trade routes between the South and the East. If we secure and fortify this place, we can receive supplies directly from the South."

"The best thing is that the horse feed problem gets resolved."

It's also the road connecting to the Moving Castle stationed to prevent the Central army's plundering and rear attacks. They will be able to receive magic grass from the stables there via the shortest route.

An elite mobile force selected centering on cavalry advanced.

"Enemy messenger!"

Eugene's army discovered a light cavalryman desperately running eastbound.

"Wh-What?!"

The messenger was startled by the cavalry unit encountered out of nowhere. He hurriedly tried to run away, but Britannia-bred warhorses are not of good quality. Running away in front of the warhorses and horsemanship raised by nomadic fairies was impossible.

Ping!

"Kaaak!"

The messenger was soon chased down, got hit by an arrow, and fell from his horse.

A Dark Elf warrior who searched the dead messenger's bosom and found a letter approached Eugene and handed over the letter.

"Hurry. Our allied forces are still resisting."

The messenger's letter was asking to send a transport unit to move food since the castle would fall soon.

If they hit the enemies' rear while the castle was intact, they could form a hellish encirclement.

* * *

Just like Dolph who led the Loyal Dog Mercenary Corps, the captain of the group attacking Pittsburgh is also a noble of mercenary origin.

- Loyal warrior. Rise. From now on you are Sir Kent. Go forth and claim the rights you ought to enjoy as a new noble of Britannia!

Kent, who became a noble after receiving a knighthood directly from King Kruger after the great victory in the pitched battle. Now he came to Pittsburgh to obtain a fief.

"Push a little further! When that place falls, I will become the lord, and you too will each occupy a position and live prosperously!"

"You're definitely keeping that promise, right?!"

The veteran subordinates whose morale had risen cheered passionately.

The destination of all mercenaries is to earn a lot quickly while their bodies are intact, retire, and spend a comfortable rest of their lives.

For a place like Pittsburgh, there are many locations intertwined with vested interests such as mills, grinding mills, highways, hunting forests, and marketplaces. Becoming a manager in such places was a tremendous blessing as a mercenary.

"Of course I will keep it! Is that all? Pick any village maidens you want too. It's about time everyone started a family anyway."

"Uwaaaaaah!"

Kent, who had nothing visible in his eyes out of the ecstasy of becoming a lord, poured out populist promises recklessly.

Of course, he had no intention of keeping them all. As long as he becomes the lord first, he can just make excuses and not keep them.

The lord is the one wielding truly absolute power inside the territory. There existed no mercenaries who would argue about not keeping promises.

"Cheer up more! The first one to jump into the castle will be given two gold coins!"

Pittsburgh was a stronghold undergoing renovations from a wooden palisade castle to a stone castle. If they just had 2 more years of time it would have been completed somehow, but right now the vulnerable parts under construction were exposed.

Servants, slaves, and even boys were mobilized to defend desperately. But they are currently being beaten like dogs in front of the mercenaries who differ in number by more than 5 times.

"Enemies! Enemies are approaching from the rear!"

At that time, a scout brought news that ruined the whole mood.

"No, from where on earth? There shouldn't be any place they could come out from!"

Kent couldn't even imagine that Sludge Hold would have already fallen.

However, as Eugene's advance party soon appeared, his eyes grew so large they seemed to tear.

In terms of numbers, they themselves had nothing to fall behind on, but the problem was that the opponents were entirely cavalry. And each holding a large bow at that.

In Britannia, there was only one army that led around horse archers of that scale.

"Blackhand Mercenary Corps!"

"It's Count Meyer's army!"

Veterans terrified with fear screamed.

"Reinforcements have come!"

Hearing that sound, the defenders recovered their fighting spirit that was on the verge of collapsing.

"Captain. I think we will have to give up."

"Damn it. To come at a moment like this of all times."

If they had come just a little bit later, they could have withstood from the inside after capturing the castle.

But seeing the defenders resisting fiercely at the appearance of reinforcements, it seems it's already a lost cause. The mercenaries were pushed back and some even showed disgraceful behavior like falling over.

"We throw a chunk of those guys."

"Understood."

Kent designated a group to throw as sacrificial lambs for the pursuit to his lieutenant. It's a place where many new recruits are included and veterans with many usual complaints are mixed in.

'We must absolutely not fight.'

Kent, who participated in the civil war after being active on the continent, knew Eugene well. Facing him alone was the same as a suicidal act.

Of course, contrary to Kent who spared his body, there were also many knights in the Central main army anxious to fight Eugene.

- Your Highness. They say the young master of Roman prefers to fight at the forefront. I will surely show him a lesson.

- Please allow me to request a duel before the battle. I hear that bastard handles a flail well, but I will shame him by cutting the chain with my battle axe!

The problem was that there was too much un-updated information, and inaccurate information.

An era where the spread of news is slow. There are many difficulties in transmitting information even between adjacent territories.

Furthermore, Eugene travels crossing distances far over 1000km riding the Moving Castle. Compared to the achievements he built up, surprisingly there are also many things not well known.

"Damn it. What the hell did those Loyal Dog bastards do to get that castle breached?"

Kent spat out curses towards the direction of Sludge Hold as if feeling wronged. It was incomprehensible that they couldn't defend from that mighty fortress.

Because the infectious disease was just about to circulate in earnest around the time they passed by, his resentment grew even bigger.

* * *

Kent's mercenaries, composed centering on infantry, could not respond properly to the sudden surprise attack.

"Drive those bastards towards the castle!"

"Do as we did at the Rasta Monastery!"

Using overwhelming mobility to cut off the rear retreat route took only an instant. Kent's unit got sandwiched between the castle and the horse archers and began to be miserably beaten.

"Spears and shields! Spears and shields!"

"Firmly stick shoulders together! As long as you keep your wits sharp, you can live!"

The veterans encouraged their subordinates and solidified the defensive formation, but the tribal warriors snorted.

"It seems their shields are too small, so teach them where's empty."

At Eugene's shout, the tribal warriors shot arrows simultaneously.

"Kak!"

"Keuak!"

The arrows accurately pierced the areas around the instep and ankles that the greaves couldn't cover. As screaming mercenaries sat down holding their legs, the shield wall wavered like waves.

Steel boots are things knights riding horses wear. Many mercenaries, having poor pocket situations, wore things similar to sandals.

"What are you doing?! Hurry up, get up and maintain the formation!"

At Kent's shouting, they forcibly raised the injured soldiers from all directions. Because the opponent was flying arrows again.

However, the mercenaries flailing due to pain and the mercenaries trying to raise them got tangled and tumbled down in a heap.

Thwack!

Thwump!

Arrows ruthlessly lodged into the bodies exposed like that.

"Follow me! Let's make those bastards' flanks wide open."

The shock cavalry led by Eugene aimed for the flank and struck in.

As Blackout's giant axe blade ravaged about 4 times, arrows or whatever, the shields all turned towards Eugene's direction.

"Aaargh!"

As the mercenaries with arrows embedded in their exposed flanks fell like falling leaves, Kent's unit completely collapsed.

"Thank you for the salvation, Excellency!"

The Lord of Pittsburgh, whose despair changed to joy in an instant, knelt before Eugene.

Even if he's the leader of the South, it's an excessive courtesy to someone he hasn't even made a vassal contract with. But it was that moving of a salvation.

The lords of the places captured by the mercenary captains sent by King Kruger were hung by the neck without exception. Because there cannot be two masters in one territory.

It was tyrannical behavior ignoring the rights of nobles or the like, but if he was someone who cared about such things, the situation wouldn't have even reached this point.

"Sludge Hold has fallen and the vicinity is safe. Since there are many places to fight, I would like to receive cooperation with food."

"..."

The Lord of Pittsburgh's expression stiffened for a very brief moment, but he soon nodded his head.

If he brings out nothing in this situation, Eugene's army might do 'requisition'. Because he doesn't know how the future war situation will become, it is troublesome to be hated by the rising conqueror.

'Perhaps I might have to switch to Count Meyer.'

It's an irreverent thought towards Earl Harvester, but there is no absolute. If there is an excuse, changing lords is quite possible as much as one wants.

"We found the mercenary bastards' food transport wagons."

"Ah... Is it cod?"

The tribal warriors were appalled at the piled-up dried cod. They liked land meat, but disliked fish that smelled fishy.

"Still, aren't they amazing in efficiency as combat rations? If they didn't have this, the Central army wouldn't have been able to confidently cross over to the East either."

"That is true."

The soil quality of the Center was just so-so, but it adjoins the widest sea. In particular, they owned a golden fishing ground half water half fish called the 'Fish Bank'.

The massive amounts of herring and cod coming from there are praised as the wheat of the sea. From the distant past to the present, it was the driving force that became the muscles and physical strength of the Vikings.

"Excellency. The food has actually increased from when we came."

Hind, who has a lot of interest in logistics, smiled in satisfaction. The tail of Homi, who likes fish, also wagged busily.

"It is said in military strategy that taking 1 sack of enemy food is the same as gaining 20 sacks of my food."

It's the reason Eugene comes to prefer cavalry as his career as a commander increases.

It was an era heavily dependent on local procurement of food due to the limits of transportation and preservation technology.

Even if a large amount of food is sent from the rear, the amount eaten up by transport units, packhorses, and the soldiers escorting them is beyond imagination.

The importance of cavalry hitting in without even giving enemies a chance to burn food and supplies doesn't need explanation.

"We only robbed one place now. You wouldn't want to get pushed back in the match, right?"

"We've only just lightly warmed up our bodies! Let's quickly find new prey!"

Everyone answered to Eugene's question with a resounding shout.

Eugene's unit wasn't the only one aiming for enemies scattered and plundering. The separate cavalry unit led by Rex or the vassals' units were also charging in, aiming for loot and ransoms.

The plundering units that were attacking while thinking they would still have enough leeway were smashed from all directions.

* * *

"Like incompetent mercenary bastards. We left them behind to get food, yet only bringing back sad news."

"Placing expectations on the likes of sellswords, that's why you are disappointed."

"I heard Count Meyer is even commanding monsters as an army, is that true? The mercenaries who barely escaped testified. They said Sir Veron, who was bravely standing up to the Count, had his head chewed off and died."

"No, say something that makes sense... Monsters is going too far."

"I mean it's real! The people who witnessed the battle scene are not just one or two!"

The atmosphere of the central nobles sank greatly. Just when they had achieved a great victory at King's Field through bribery, it felt like the unification of Britannia was right before their eyes.

But they, who were always in the pursuing position, are conversely being pursued. And by the Southern army famous for being weak, of all armies.

"Hearing the arrival of reinforcements, the Eastern lords are refusing to surrender. They will stubbornly resist to the last one. Since the supply routes from the Center are also in a state of being attacked one by one."

As the noble with the highest speaking power summarized the story, everyone's gaze gathered.

"We might have to conclude a peace treaty before the situation worsens further."

"..."

"..."

It was what everyone was bringing up in their minds. But who would suggest this to the King?

"Urgent dispatch! The city of Flamand has surrendered and the Southern army has entered!"

"I-It won't do like this. Let us all suggest it to His Highness together."

Now the pursuit was narrowed down to just a two days' distance. If they wanted to retreat without fighting, now was the last chance. But everyone didn't really expect much.

"Do you all still not know the King? If he was a person to accept such a request, the war wouldn't have happened in the first place."

Like the self-deprecating words of a certain vassal, King Kruger rejected the request for a ceasefire.

That is not necessarily just because of his tyrannical nature. Because if he steps back here, he would be put in a state where it would be better not to have started the war at all.

He couldn't even grasp how many things he would have to concede to call Count Meyer out to the negotiation table.

And King Kruger was a person who didn't accept the concept of cutting losses. If anything, he would gamble risking all the stakes, he didn't accept compromising while taking moderate losses.

It is also true that he has been rolling in successive victories because that succeeded until now. However, for this time at least, there are heaps of people who don't want to raise the stakes further.

Unlike the mercenary captains running amok enthralled by the opportunity to become a lord, the nobles still had a lot to lose.

"Like cowards! I will face Count Meyer."

"Duke Krey. Please restrain yourself. The King's army hasn't all gathered yet."

"That is why I'm saying I'll step forward. Won't time be needed to gather those guys crazy for plundering? If it's father who rallied all the Viking bastards, he can ably fight a decisive battle with the Southern army."

Badmouthing saying 'Dirty bastards who mixed blood with sea plunderers'. It's the central nobles who harbored a sense of inferiority inwardly even while pretending not to outwardly.

Therefore, they sent sons with qualifications as warriors to study abroad in Roman and receive knightly training.

King Kruger's second son, Krey, is also such a case. Thanks to that, possessing humanity unbefitting his cruel father and befitting a knight, he was popular among the vassals.

"From what I hear, Count Meyer is a knight who doesn't refuse duels that come looking for him."

"That's because he wins them all when he fights."

Although his close aides subtly talked around it and chided him, it didn't work at all. Krey rather nodded his head with competitive spirit and joy.

"Wouldn't the honor to be gained be great precisely when winning against such a person? I will fight fair and square and help father's great task!"

Krey knew very well how cruel his father was, and that he was the very person who brought a huge fire of war to Britannia. But as a warrior, he respected his father.

* * *

Krey, who suddenly brought his troops and suggested a fight between honorable knights. At his boldness, the blood of Eugene's camp also boiled up.

"Excellency! Please give me a chance!"

"The bastards have continuously insulted the South! I will surely avenge our disgraced honor today!"

The Southern knights serving in the army competed to volunteer to step forward for the match. It was a golden opportunity to get into the good graces of the new Southern administrator.

In particular, the knights who were ambushed and routed while pursuing the plundering Central army were the most enthusiastic.

'We must make up for our disgraceful behavior now!'

Although Eugene passed over it with an attitude of 'Failures can happen while carrying out military operations, what's the big deal.', from the perspective of the people in question, it was equivalent to suffering a huge disgrace.

"Lord. Can't we just wipe them out? They say he's Kruger bastard's biological child; catching him as a hostage would be useful."

Rex and the tribal warriors below him, who had no interest in this sort of thing, seemed eager to answer with a hail of arrows saying 'Hurray!'.

"Given King Kruger's disposition, it doesn't seem like he would exactly cower before a hostage."

He wasn't even the heir in the first place. The firstborn has no military talent but has skill in domestic affairs, so he remained in the rear. He is in charge of organizing supply units and sending new reinforcements from the Center.

If he trampled a guy who came so confidently to request a duel with an army, it would also hit Eugene's reputation.

"It wouldn't be bad for the purpose of livening up the atmosphere before the all-out war."

Now that he became the leader of the South, he had to give his subordinate knights opportunities to play active roles too. Because he felt that only he and his direct units had been building up merits too much meanwhile.

"...."

The desperate gazes of the knights were hot enough to make even Eugene flinch. It felt like entering a refugee camp that had starved for 1 week while holding a basket of bread.

"Knight of Roman! I heard you're famous for the flail, let's see some of your skill! The best flail master of Britannia, Conrad is here! I will show you the real thing that cannot be compared to your crude clubbing!"

Just in time, another central knight's provocation reached Eugene's camp.

"..."

Crack.

Crackle.

Homi, who had taken a step back as if not really interested, also twitched her eyebrows and loosened her hands.