Urban Sims

One day in August this year, Baron Connor took a few knights to the earldom castle in a hurry, and within two days, he hurried back to Glenland with the knights.

What followed was a depressing and tense atmosphere that filled the Glen Collar.

There's going to be a war.

A real war.

Everyone is likely to bleed, including lords, knights, and even auxiliary farmers.

The cause of the matter still has to start with the two noble factions that have been fighting for more than three hundred years in the royal court of the royal capital. These two factions are bounded by the north and the south. The seven counties in the south of the kingdom unite and are called the "Southern Faction". ”, the seven counties in the north of the kingdom united and were called the “Northern Faction”.

Perhaps because of the king's acquiescence, the two factions fought fiercely in the noble court, often over matters such as the amount of tribute paid to the king, the selection of court judges, the selection of generals to fight against neighboring countries, and the selection of palace ministers for the kingdom's internal affairs... ...and other matters, there were often quarrels due to huge differences, and no matter whether they were from the southern or northern factions, they all wanted to fight for greater interests for themselves in the noble court.

For example, this time, on the issue of the distribution of the 500 horses that should be paid as tribute to the king this year, the southern faction asked the northern faction to bear the tribute task of 400 horses, and the southern faction to bear 100 horses on the grounds that there are more highlands and fine war horses in the north. .

The northern faction asked the southern faction to bear 400 horses because of the warmth and wealth in the south and the cold and poverty in the north, while the northern faction could only afford 100 horses.

Both sides had their own reasons, and they were at loggerheads. In the noble court, they even rolled up their sleeves and staged a full-scale martial arts show. The nobles were bruised and swollen, and their grace and dignity were gone.

After the king was alarmed, he asked the chief justice to make an arbitration: the southern faction and the northern faction could each send a representative to fight a battle on the border between the two sides. The winning side only had to pay tribute of 100 horses every year, and the losing side only had to pay tribute of 100 horses. That side needs to pay tribute of 400 horses.

If the two sides are tied, then one side will pay half and each will contribute 250 horses.

After some consultations and discussions, the nobles from the north and the south agreed to this arbitration, and even increased the amount! The losing side would not only have to pay more tribute horses, but also have to cede one-third of the land and population of an earldom.

This was like pouring a basin of cold water into a boiling pot of oil. Counts from both factions came to fight, trying to crack the heads of the "Northern and Southerners" who had long disliked them.

In the end, Baron Connor's immediate superior, Earl Lauzitz, won the task, and his "County of Rhodes" sent troops to fight the war with the "County of Merlin" of Earl William, who was adjacent to the north. If If Count William's army can be defeated, one-third of the land and population of the "County of Merlin" will belong to him, Count Lauzitz.

As for whether he will lose?

Count Lauzitz said that he had never thought of this problem at all!

Earl Lausitz has not thought about losing, but Baron Connor must think about it, because his Glenland is right next to the Earl of Merlin. Once Earl Lausitz loses, there is no doubt that he will lose. Glenland will definitely be ceded to the territory of the Earldom of Merlin.

At that time, the lords and knights of Glenland and several other baronies that will be ceded will completely lose their territories and people, and become wandering lords and knights who need to rely on the charity of others to find a place to stay. .

"Recruit all the knights, take out all the property in the castle, hire some mercenaries with decent fighting ability, and all the strong farmers in the territory, immediately stop their farm work, recruit them all, pick up weapons, and participate in this battle fighting!"

In the castle meeting hall, Baron Connor quickly made a decision.

"Dad, there is no need to mobilize troops like this, right? The farmers are harvesting in the wheat fields now. The war will not start until September after the wheat is harvested. If we ask the farmers to stop their farm work now, won't it delay the autumn harvest? Besides, those farmers are also It’s of no use, just give them temporary spears.”

Edward, who was sitting at the long discussion table, said disapprovingly. He heard that the Yankees were very powerful, but they were not powerful enough to require such attention.

"We must stop farm work immediately! Use the remaining time to do some training. Edward, this is a real war, not a one-on-one competition in the knight academy. If you lose in the competition, you will be injured for a few days at most. That’s all, if we lose this war, we will have nothing!”

Looking at Edward, Baron Connor stood up and said extremely seriously: "We must use all means to increase our possibility of victory, even if we sacrifice all the farmers in the territory!"

"Yes, Dad!" Edward put away the contempt on his face and nodded solemnly.

"Willard, Morris, you are responsible for training those farmers who lack training, and strive to have them set up a decent formation within a month." Baron Connor ordered the two guard knights who had followed him for many years.

"Yes, Lord Baron!" the two knights stood up and protected their chests.

…

Zhou Ming in the castle quickly noticed this strange atmosphere.

Groups of farmers put down their farm work and were gathered at the training ground in front of the castle. Each of them was given a brand new spear and a thick hardwood shield. Under the personal command of two knights, they were in full swing. Marching in formation, spear assassination and anti-bow and arrow shooting training were conducted on the ground.

Even the butler Bruno, who has always been known for being stingy, took the initiative and asked the cook to prepare a whole pot of fragrant beef and mutton, baked pine-yellow soft oatmeal bread, and a large amount of dried meat, cheese, eggs and other meals for these hard-trained workers. Farmers replenish their physical strength every day.

During the interval of training, the butler Bruno walked among these farmers and shouted: "Practice all the spears in your hands! The Baron said that if you kill a farmer on the battlefield, you will be rewarded with 50 silver coins. A mercenary will be rewarded with 1 gold coin. If you can kill a knight, you will be rewarded with 50 gold coins! You all behave well. If anyone makes a contribution, the Baron will not treat you badly!"

Hearing these seductive words, among the farmers present, except for some young people, their eyes lit up and they asked, "Is this true?" "Are there really so many rewards?" and secretly decided to kill a few of them. Except for the enemy, most farmers had a lukewarm expression on their faces, as if the matter had nothing to do with them.

Zhou Ming, who was watching silently from the side, thought to himself: Except for a few young people who are dazzled by rewards, what these farmers think about most about this war is how to save their lives on the battlefield, right?

Looking at the nine knights who were training intensely in the castle training ground, and the more than a hundred mercenaries hired by Baron Connor with a large sum of money and who had just arrived at the castle yesterday, while they were also playing with swords and axes, Zhou Ming guessed: These equipments The mercenaries are sophisticated, fierce-looking, and there are even many barbarians in the team. There is absolutely no problem in fighting a smooth battle, but it is 100% impossible for them to risk their lives and fight against powerful enemies until the last moment.

"In other words, what Glenland can really put to use now are the more than 110 knights and mercenaries. As for the more than a thousand farmers training outside the castle, they are probably used as cannon fodder for the enemy. It’s used by knights to consume their physical strength..."

Zhou Ming's body couldn't help but tremble. Fortunately, he was now Downey Jr.'s servant. Otherwise, if he went to the battlefield with him, good or bad luck would be unpredictable.

"Ryan, Lord Baron just said that some strong servants in the castle will also participate in training. You are in such good health, come with us to the battlefield!"

Edward's knight squire, Fatty Baum, appeared behind him at some point, looking at him with a sinister smile on his face.

Zhou Ming's heart skipped a beat, and he stepped forward and whispered: "Master Baum, my chest was injured by a black bear last year, and it's not completely healed yet..."

"It's been more than a year, how could it be possible that you still haven't recovered? Stop making excuses, Ryan! The Baron didn't raise you to eat and drink here all day long! The time has come to serve the Baron. I just talked to the Baron I said it, Lord Baron said that since you have this intention, just follow him as an auxiliary and help carry some food and grass...Can't you do such a small thing?" Baum said with a dissatisfied tone.

"It's done, of course it's done."

Zhou Ming clenched his teeth and said, this damn Baum actually wants to frame him!

But even if he went to explain to Baron Connor now, it would leave a very bad impression on the baron... He could only knock out his teeth and swallow it.

"Hahahahahaha!"

Looking at Zhou Ming's retreating back, Baum laughed in his heart, Ryan, come with us to the battlefield. I will ask Master Edward to place you at the front of the battlefield. When you die, your delicate and lovely Let me, Baum, take care of your sister. Of course, I also told Master Edward that Alice’s first night should be left to him to enjoy first...