𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 (5)
“Are you really alright, Your Excellency?”
“I told you I’m fine.”
Hearing the bishop’s words, Johan firmly rejected again. Seeing his resolved attitude, others hurriedly spoke up, worried that he might change his mind.
“You have already accomplished great merits, Count. Your men must be exhausted too. Shouldn’t you give them time to rest?”
“I appreciate your consideration. Will you lead the vanguard then?”
Hearing Johan’s words, the nobles were startled. The man straightened his attire and spoke hastily.
“If Count says so, I dare not refuse. I will earn merits under my family’s banner.”
‘𝘕𝘰.’
Seeing the man answering without taking a breath, Johan was a bit taken aback this time.
Did he really take my joking words so seriously?
Fortunately, other nobles came to help Johan. They interrupted very urgently as well.
“We know Count has made great achievements, but the vanguard can’t be decided arbitrarily.”
“That’s right. Doesn’t His Excellency the Bishop think so too?”
Seeing their desperate manner like children who got their toys snatched away, Johan realized these attending nobles had great expectations.
‘𝘖𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦. . . 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘱𝘴, 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭.’
In this era, war was business. It was the same for knights leading dozens of men, nobles leading hundreds, and feudal lords leading thousands.
They had to feed the troops they brought, pay the mercenaries if any, obtain spoils of war and fame, then go home.
The supreme commander would pay a share, but often it would get delayed or turned into debt. Johan scattering gold coins to feudal lords under him was actually a rare case.
If they wanted to accomplish something, getting loans from money holders came first. Then they would sell or exploit privileges – that was the common practice for nobles.
Those present today included city nobles from nearby free cities, and feudal lords in the Order’s territory. More tempting than the spoils was the privileges guaranteed by the Church.
Even in the distant Holy Empire, the Order’s power was immense. It was even stronger in this peninsula. Holding both justification and profits, the Order could theoretically do anything.
Squeezing more taxes, seizing desired vassals’ fiefdoms, defaulting on loans from merchants, killing disliked family members. . .
The Order’s power allowed all these without repercussion.
It’s only natural they coveted such power that allowed them to do anything unchecked.
To obtain it, they had to build military exploits.
Like how Johan earned the Order’s praise by defeating various monsters and nobles of the Emperor’s faction.
The bishop fell into brief contemplation before speaking humbly.
“But I lack command experience, so I think it’s better to heed Count’s advice.”
“. . . . . .”
“. . . . . .”
The nominal supreme commander was the Bishop from the Church. Just because one’s a Bishop didn’t mean one couldn’t lead an army. There were capable fighters among them too. This Bishop also had some military experience.
But with a reliable right arm, there was no need to insist on personal command. The Bishop was willing to take Johan’s advice fully.
‘𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴. . . 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦.’
The commander ignoring subordinates would be problematic, but there was no harm being listened to attentively. The situation now was a bit different though.
Look at those gazes!
They stared as if ready to make even Johan flinch on a battlefield. If not for keeping up appearances, they would have swarmed forth pleading their case.
Seeing such eager gazes, how could he just pick a vanguard casually?
“. . .Hmm. Since you say so, I should reconsider.”
Only then did the crowd breathe a sigh of relief. Then they recomposed themselves, this time to appeal themselves to Johan’s eyes.
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Bishop Castillon was a bishop belonging to the miracle faction in the order . When he was young, he had shown the miracle of curing the villagers of a town who were suffering from the plague.
Most of the miracle bishops liked Johan. But Bishop Castillon liked him especially. It was because of the rumor that Johan had healed the injured and sick mercenaries.
‘𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘭𝘦.’
Johan felt a bit embarrassed to be called a miracle even if it was him, for just taking care of the mercenaries and being conscious of hygiene.
“Your Excellency Count. Would it be okay not to go out? The escort is enough, so you can move.”
“I don’t think it would make much difference if it was just me not being there. . .”
“Don’t say that. Too much humility can become a poison.”
The bishop said while moving pieces on the chessboard.
The fierce fight over the vanguard position ended with the victory of the commander from the nearby free city. It wasn’t because Johan valued the leadership of the city nobles highly. . . it was simply because the trade volume going back and forth between that free city and Johan’s direct territory was considerable.
If we take care of this side, the other side will also return the favor later. It was good to prepare when there was an opportunity.
“If it weren’t for Your Excellency Count, the enemies would have already rushed up to here.”
The enemies that should have rushed up vigorously in an unexpected situation seemed to not be actively attacking, confounded by the unusual circumstances. Instead, they were looting other towns to fill their supplies and spoils.
We couldn’t just watch them do that, so many went out to fight. . .
In this way, small-scale skirmishes kept happening continuously. Although the scale was in the tens to hundreds, it could not be taken lightly at all. In many cases, the disadvantaged side would retreat and the fight would end. Large-scale engagements with thousands clashing were rare.
‘𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵 𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴.’
Johan’s purpose was to maintain status quo from the beginning. As long as the Pope seat doesn’t get taken, it was fine. It wouldn’t be bad to attack the enemies from behind and take some spoils when they retreat, but that would just be a bonus.
“I heard in the reports that quite a few knights from the Empire came too. Your Excellency Count. Although I have stepped into priesthood, I am not ignorant about the honor of knighthood. Your Excellency must also feel your blood boiling, wanting to compete with them.”
“??”
Johan almost dropped the piece he was holding. Far from blood boiling, he was in a very cool state. . .
‘𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵?’
Well, since he had been rampaging around swinging weapons here and there like a crazy b*stard, it was no wonder he got such a misunderstanding.
“I will not forget that you held back such ardor and guarded this position. There will certainly be blessings.”
“I see.”
After Johan moved the last piece, he solidified his defense tightly. In the meantime, a servant came in and gave a report – that Iselia had called for him.
“Iselia called? Tell her to wait.”
“Yes.”
Bishop Castillon’s expression wrinkled slightly then relaxed. Not because of the servant’s interruption, but because of Iselia’s name.
The order did not like Iselia very much.
Since the very faithful Count was stubborn when it came to Iselia, from the order’s standpoint, they could only suspect that Iselia had him bewitched.
‘𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩.’
“There are two more moves left.”
“Ah. I’ll put them down now.”
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Except for the centaurs roaming around for reconnaissance, Johan did not send out the mercenaries. There was no need to.
“Are you feeling frustrated?”
Iselia Unlike other noblemen who ride horses and fight, being cooped up all the time can be stressful. Although Johan comforts her at night, it has its limits.
“Ah. You came?”
Iselia was delighted when Johan came. She didn’t look particularly frustrated.
“What is it? You didn’t call me to ask me to let you go out?”
“. . .My dear. What did you think of me?”
Iselia asked as if she was dumbfounded. Of course she loved charging out on a horse and piercing the enemy commander’s chest with a spear the most, but she wasn’t the kind of person to whine and ask to be let out thoughtlessly.
“Of course I knew you wouldn’t do that.”
“. . . . . .”
“If that’s not the case, why did you call me?”
“Someone brought an interesting story, so I called you to relay it.”
As Iselia relayed the story, she grumbled a little. She seemed quite upset that Johan thought of her that way. Johan stroked Iselia’s hair to comfort her.
“Tell me. What story did you bring?”
“I have come to convey my master’s honorable words to Your Excellency.”
“. . .?”
Who is your master and why are you talking like this. . .?
“If I am given honorable treatment as a knight, I wish to swear allegiance to Your Excellency while holding my sword reversed. . .”
“. . . . . .”
At first he wondered what he was talking about, but Johan soon understood. Although he added polite words, in short he wants to surrender!
‘𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘤𝘬. 𝘖𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵?’
The enemies must also be gradually realizing that the plan has gone awry. If rogue gangs are wrecking havoc from behind, these feudal lords wouldn’t be able to hold out so stubbornly.
And how one reacts when things go wrong determines life and death. It was not surprising for a knight to betray like this.
“Are you thinking of accepting it?”
“There is no reason not to accept the opponent’s surrender.”
The enemy’s surrender is always helpful. On top of that, being a former knight, he would know more.
“But my dear, isn’t it a bit suspicious? For a knight to surrender so easily.”
“Knights from the Empire do tend to switch sides easily. . .”
“. . . . . .”
‘𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵, 𝘐𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵.’
Betraying right away makes sense, and not betraying also makes sense. In the end, the only way to find out was to see for myself.
“Tell your master. If he comes to the front of the camp alone fully armed, I will accept his surrender.”
“Yes. I will convey it that way. Thank you for listening!”
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Adviko scowled at the emperor’s envoys.
“Is that what you call an answer? Did you think I brought this up to hear ‘𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘵’? Shouldn’t you figure out a way no matter what?”
The envoys broke into a cold sweat. As the situation grew complicated, Adviko asked the emperor for more support. He offered money in exchange for sending over more knights.
It was a reasonable enough request, and Adviko wanted Karamaf, known as the most outstanding among the knights, to come here.
He believed that with his own transcendent might, Karamaf would be needed to rein in and command the knights here.
But the emperor’s envoys kept making excuses like ‘𝘐𝘵’𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵’ and ‘𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘭𝘦,’ obscuring their words. . .
“It seems you misunderstand the situation, Your Excellency. If I withdraw the army, it will be just as troubling for Your Majesty! There will be significant backlash if we start something like this and then fail.”
“Of course we know that! However, Sir Karamaf is really. . .”
“Unless he’s cursed, there’s no reason he can’t move, is there? Enough! Get out!”
Adviko threw his glass. The envoys were startled and fled the tent.
Adviko grumbled and glanced over the map. Originally, they should be advancing faster, but now they were practically immobilized.
There was no real impact yet, but if this dragged on, it would clearly disadvantage them.
He wanted to fight a decisive battle in more favorable conditions, but should he start an all-out war in this state?
“Advik-nim.”
“What is it?”
“The servant you sent into enemy territory has returned with a positive response.”
“Good news!”
Adviko was delighted. Tricking the enemy with a false surrender to obtain intelligence was his plan. Most of all, he had to find a way to get to the Pope. If he could manage that, complex battles would be unnecessary.
Ideally the empire knights would handle this, but they would never agree to such a dishonorable task. One mercenary captain volunteered, disguising himself as a knight instead.
“Best send him before they get suspicious. Have him gain their trust first before sending back information.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve pretended to be a knight countless times.”
The mercenary grinned. With countless minor houses of no renown or fiefs, there was no need to worry about exposure.