Crown of Chaos

March into the Hurek Forest and reclaim our land of Cormyr.

Aaron's call was immediately responded to by everyone. Except for the dwarves, everyone in the castle hall was eager to fight, including Suellen priests who loved peace and advocated kindness. They also planned to follow Eleanor's call. Grant their enemies the scourge of the dark moon in the name of Selun.

Under Aaron's call, the army quickly gathered, and the entire Ninth Shepherd Legion was dispatched. All the major forces attacked. Only the fairy princess Buyel stayed behind in Sunset Town.

Under the chilling autumn wind, recruitment orders were issued at the same time. Aaron's Black Eagle Guards posted recruitment orders for the upcoming pioneering war on every village in the Sunset Territory.

Facts have proved that Aaron greatly underestimated people's enthusiasm for war. When he heard that the lord wanted to launch a war to open up Hurek Forest, everyone signed up enthusiastically, especially those farmers who had completed their harvest tasks and entered the off-season. This year, everyone has achieved an unimaginable bumper harvest under Buyer's guidance and Isa's power, and Aaron's food tax rate is not high, even if he still has to pay a tax of thirty-five to the Earth Mother Goddess Chandiya. The farmers also accepted the tithe.

Who quadrupled the harvest?

Merchants began to go to the countryside to collect grain. The farmers sold the excess grain and after having a few golden lion coins in their arms, they naturally began to have other ideas.

I heard that there was a farmer named Douglas who went to work in the city. Not only did he not starve to death, but he was rewarded for his hard work and was promoted to a formal soldier of the Shepherd Legion? Awakened the professional talent?

We also want to awaken professional talents!

The farmers began to get ready to move, and at this moment, the lord's recruitment order came down.

The scene was crazy. The farmers surrounded the soldiers who came to deliver the order, and their greedy eyes could hardly be controlled.

Adventurers from all over Cormyr are gathering towards Sunset Town.

If you raise one, you will get ten, if you raise ten, you will get a hundred, if you raise a hundred, you will get a thousand.

Aaron ordered to lay off the old, weak and those unfit to participate in the war near Sunset Town. He still obtained more than a thousand high-quality soldiers, plus Aaron's own army of a thousand shepherds, dwarf retinues, and Egil's retinues. Army, Su Lun Priest Corps and some small organizations. In this wave, he gathered a pioneering army of 3,000 people!

The chilling autumn wind blows across Feilongshui Lake, and the sky is clear and clear with each passing day.

After more than a week of concentration and training, Aaron officially announced the departure of the army in mid-October.

There is only one goal: to wipe out all the monsters, monsters and monsters in the Hurek Forest, and bring this land back into the embrace of Cormyr.

Adhering to Su Lun Mama's decree, any enemy or any force can get two opportunities to surrender. The first is the opportunity to surrender when they first come into contact, and the second is the opportunity to surrender after being defeated. If the other party has these two opportunities, If they are not caught, then the order given by Aaron is to kill without mercy.

Three thousand pioneering troops gathered in the square in front of the castle. They looked at the Viscount on the stage giving orders with full of longing and fear, and they felt a ball of fire rising in their hearts.

Of course, in addition to Aaron's huge reputation and strength, what makes everyone confident is also the legendary dragon who is entrenched in the castle and proudly patrols his territory.

A legendary power dragon!

It’s really unreasonable that we can’t win!

When the soldiers and the temporarily summoned adventurers gathered with confidence, there were some noises in the corners of the town.

"Three thousand people? Aaron Salian can actually summon an army of three thousand people? Isn't this a force comparable to the Duke level?"

"What does Her Highness the Queen Regent want to do? Does she really want to watch the Salian family dominate the northeastern part of Cormyr?"

"A viscount can actually assemble an army of three thousand people. Salian's influence is so terrifying."

"After all, it is Mr. Aaron."

The spies, spies and intelligence officers of many secret organizations in the city discussed Aaron's pioneering war.

At this time, a tall, thin man who usually pretended to be a vegetable vendor looked very ugly after receiving the news that Aaron was about to leave.

It's finally here.

I knew there would be such a day, and the Bishop also knew that there would be such a day.

This news must be reported to the Bishop immediately!

The tall male found an excuse to leave and disappeared outside the city.

…………

The official departure of the Salian Pioneer Army was on October 25. On this day, the army left the city amidst the welcome of the surrounding people.

Aaron divided the army into three armies: the front, middle and rear.

The former army is composed of a large number of adventurers. Aaron divided them into dozens of squads. Each squad is equipped with at least one or two rogues or rangers, who are responsible for scouting and reconnaissance. If they encounter a small group of enemies, they will be eliminated. , a large group of enemies or strong enemies are waiting for the arrival of the Chinese army.

The central army is the Shepherd Legion led by Aaron himself. They are responsible for the main combat missions. Many Purple Dragon Knights and Shepherd Legion soldiers can't wait, especially the Orc Sword Master Doherty. If Aaron hadn't allowed it, , he planned to lead his Great Sword Battalion as a pioneer.

The rear army is mainly composed of baggage troops and caster troops, which are composed of Eleanor's Suren priests, Anna's medical team under Bjerre, Barrier Moonflower and others' small groups, and a small number of rear troops. Among them, the rear army There were also a huge number of merchants, peddlers accompanying the army, prostitutes accompanying the army, handymen, transport workers and large groups of baggage trains. This group also numbered more than 3,000 people.

Don’t think it’s too much. This is already because of the war on the edge of Aaron’s territory, so it seems less. Judging from the country’s current organizational structure, under normal circumstances the ratio of soldiers and accompanying personnel in the army will be 1:2 or even 1: 3 or more.

The most profound thing in Aaron's memory is the Battle of Fujigawa during the Genpei War in his childhood. According to "The Tale of the Heike" at that time, the Kanto Genji army led by Minamoto Yoritomo numbered 50,000, and the Taira Eastern Expedition Army numbered 50,000. 70,000.

Looking at it this way, an army of 120,000 people would have been an out-and-out battle at any time in history.

However, according to the military records of some senior samurai, the Genji had an army of "two thousand cavalry", and the Taira clan also had an army of "about two thousand cavalry", which means that the two sides only had a total of more than 4,000 soldiers.

Comparing 4,000 and 120,000, the gap is too big.

Many people's reaction is that they can do it even when they are young.

But in fact, 120,000 is real, and so is 4,000.

There were really 120,000 people deployed at both ends of the Fuji River, and there were really only 4,000 people who were serious about fighting! It just depends on how it is recorded.

Such was the case with ancient warfare.

Once the cannon is fired, gold is worth ten thousand taels. In any era, once the army is dispatched, it will face staggering expenses. Three thousand people will consume mountains of food every day if they eat horses and chew them. Soldiers who participate in battles will have to pay extra military pay and achieve military merit. Sufficient rewards are needed, and a large pension is needed if he is killed in battle.

No wonder that in Aaron's previous life, many countries even outsourced their military affairs. For example, they asked their own cooks to form a mercenary army to fight instead of the regular army. This was because the cost of the regular army was too high.

Of course, this army also has a small problem: there are not enough genuine mages.

This is also the trouble in the fantasy world. Very few wizards are willing to join the army. They can make more money doing anything than joining the army. The wizards also dislike the life in the military camp. As long as they leave the apprenticeship period, there are not many wizards. If an individual is willing to be treated as an ordinary soldier, he must line up and obey orders. If he wants the masters to help Aaron, he must pay at least five times the salary of a normal soldier.

Aaron once asked about the price of hiring a team of war mages from Susal. Even the friendly price offered by the eldest lady was enough for Aaron to pay the salary of an entire shepherd army during the same period.

The key to the problem is that the salaries of the Shepherd Legion are still fully paid by the Oberszil royal family.

Fortunately, Aaron himself is a powerful spellcaster, as well as Eleanor's group of priests, Barrel Moonflower's small group, and the great dragon Egil will also take action when necessary.

Two days after the army set off, news of sporadic firefights gradually came from the front.

When they first entered the edge of Hurek Forest, the scout troops in front began to exchange fire with goblins and gnolls. The number of enemies was not very large. Facing the scout troops formed by adventurers, they were only slaughtered. They were like a network. Spread out, immerse yourself in the deep and dark forest, annihilate small groups of enemies individually, and send the information back to the rear.

Aaron's Chinese army constantly receives intelligence from the front.

Everything seems to be going well.

The first day of the pioneering war passed in peace. According to the country's stipulated rules, all spoils of this type of scout battle belong to the individual.

The next day was also peaceful. Except for one unlucky guy who accidentally fell into a jackal trap in the forest and broke his leg. The army gradually went about five kilometers deep into the forest.

It was not until the third day that news of casualties finally came from the front.

"Discover the Gnoll tribe!"

"Discovered a large tribe of lizardmen! Among them were lizardmen druids!"

"The goblin warband was discovered, and the bugbears killed several adventurers!"

"Sir, we seem to be approaching the Druid's sacred grove. Is it negotiation or..."

"Your Excellency, we have found no traces of the Hui people, nor have we found any monasteries of the Hui people."

News came one after another. After Aaron sat on the Tzeentch survey chariot and read the news from the front one by one, he officially announced his joining the regular army.

"The Jackal tribe will kill them all, but the Lizard tribe will mainly drive them away. Tell them that this is our territory and we can give them a chance to move away."

"Don't attack the Druids' sacred forest for the time being. Send envoys to negotiate with them and promise to protect their interests. We can grant them citizenship and promise not to harm the forest at will."

"The Hui people...continue to search, send more people, we must find their monastery!"

"Once you find the monastery, don't approach it rashly. Come back and report to me."

"yes!"

Maximian went down, and Aaron frowned and looked at the Hurek Forest in the distance. His Chinese army tent stood in the open space at the edge of the forest.

Miss Pastor walked up to him: "It seems to be going well so far, but...Aaron, I have a hunch that there is something else in the forest."

"Of course, there must be something else." Aaron sneered: "If everything is really that simple, then how could the previous development have been frequently blocked, and what about the ghost and supernatural events that the villagers frequently reported before?"

"I guess we'll find out soon, though."

Aaron looked at the forest sea in late autumn calmly, with his arms folded across his chest. Like Miss Pastor, he also vaguely felt the strangeness coming from the depths of the forest.

Around him, fifty black vulture guards covered in heavy serpentine steel armor and holding chaos-enchanted weapons were on standby.

Not far away, the Snow Elf Demon Archer Camp and the Orc Great Sword Camp were also ready.

What exactly is in the forest? Aaron thought he would find out soon.

…………

Deep in the Huleike Forest, Hui people, the Holy King Hall, a secluded place of monasticism.

A Hui man with a rune ring on his head is praying to his god.

This Hui people have always been called "Bishop". He has a huge figure, pale skin and blue eyes.

His most striking feature is his smooth, almost flat face, which makes his features look more like a stone statue than a living person.

His clothes were simple but gorgeous, a white robe inlaid with gold rims, and the red cloth on his chest was branded with the sacred mark of the Hui people. He prayed to the blurred icon, and the expression on his face was pious and without any traces. Distractions.

"My God, do you hear me?"

"Mortals need redemption. Every mortal living in the mortal world now needs redemption."

“Never have I desired victory so fervently, never have I sought truth so fervently, have I never been so…desirous of the purification of the heart.”

The tall Huimin continued to kneel and worship: "Please give us the strength to fight, my God."

At this time, the door to the prayer room was opened, and there was noise from outside, and faint shouts of death could be heard.

A Hui citizen rushed in from outside: "Mr. Bishop! Oh no, the Cormyrs are coming to kill us!"

"He's been killed?" The tall Huimin turned around and looked at his servant with a very kind expression: "Tell me, what's going on?"

Hui Min looked at "his bishop" with eyes full of admiration.

He still remembers how he was left to die in the wilderness when he was hungry and cold, but his life was saved by the bishop himself. How he treated his disabled body kindly, not only healed his injuries, He also personally transformed him into a Huimin, allowing him to obtain the coveted professional talent.

Every Hui people living here was saved by the "bishop". Once, when they were holding a Holy Communion meeting, someone asked curiously: "Which of you has been saved by the bishop?"

Every one of the hundreds of people present raised their hands.

They are like a big family, bathing in the glory of "God" together. The Bishop personally teaches them how to worship "God", respect "God", and purify people's hearts in the name of "God".

As for who this "god" is, the bishop did not answer. He just said that God is God. God has no name, and God cannot be referred to by a specific image or name.

They have been living in this secluded monastery. Since they have been transformed into Hui people, they do not need food, and naturally they are indifferent to the world.

Until now.

"It's Aaron Salian! Lord Viscount of the Sunset Territory!" Huimin said: "He came with his army and there was news from Master Thorn that he is looking for our monastery."

"Oh, really?" The bishop was still so kind. He spoke softly: "So...so you disobey my order and have contact with those outside who believe in false gods?"

"Uh..." Huimin was stunned, and then he remembered the bishop's warning - in order to maintain his own purity, no one in the monastery is allowed to have contact with mortals who believe in other false gods.

"You... are no longer pure!" Veins suddenly popped up on the bishop's face. He opened his mouth and changed from amiable to furious and ferocious in less than a second. The staff was raised high and brought down hard: "Death, heretic!"

"Bang!" Huimin's head was smashed to pieces on the spot, and his brain mixed with blood sputtered out, staining the white carpet red, and he died on the spot.

Huimin's eyes bulged from their sockets. Before he died, there was still a look of disbelief on his face, as if he couldn't understand why the bishop wanted to kill him.

His life was saved by the Bishop!

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu" He killed his disciple with his own hands. robe.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Dravidian, I'm sorry, I don't want to be like this, but I can't help it! The only thing I can do is to purify your polluted soul."

"Ahhhh!" He cried bitterly for a few seconds, and the bishop wiped the tears on his face with his sleeves.

"It's all your fault! Aaron Salian! It's all your fault!!!" Picking up his cane, the bishop strode out of the prayer room with extremely distorted fanaticism on his face: "Heretics, they are all heretics! "

"If you break this peace, I will purify you in the name of God!"

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