Just after the spring plowing ended, the Andermatt Fort on the eastern border of Tyniec County turned into a large military camp. Several heraldic flags were planted on the wooden walls of the military fort. There were military tents and bonfires everywhere in the fort.
Since Alsburg was occupied by bandits last autumn, Baron Antayas has not had a good night's sleep. The crime of losing power and land was enough for him, and it also cost the life of a knight. The punishment was unavoidable. If Alsburg could not be recovered as soon as possible, he, as a hereditary baron, would be done. So as soon as the spring plowing ended, he summoned all the knights and soldiers in the territory to gather at Andermatt Castle.
At present, even the Knight Druid of the Inner Palace has gathered five knights, eight knight retinues, and more than 60 serving peasant soldiers brought by the knights. In addition, Antayas also selected fifteen young and strong farmers from the direct territory near the military fort to join his military fort guard.
Hong Kong merchants and small wine vendors near the military fortress also gathered from various villages and manor settlements towards Andermatt Castle. Of course, among them were women who were in the leather and meat business.本就不大的安德马特堡突然涌入了这么多人显得尤为混乱，四面八方赶来的人们在堡内堡外随处搭锅做饭、拉屎撒尿，原本就臭气熏天的军堡此刻完全变成了一个大猪圈......
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军堡石屋的领主大厅中，正在召集军议。
Baron Antayas did not say any more nonsense and went straight to the point: "The purpose of recruiting everyone this time is to recapture Alsburg. You all know the situation. It has been almost half a year since last autumn. Even if the old guys in the palace are all deaf, they should know the news that Alsburg was captured by bandits by now. So we must recapture Alsburg before the palace's accusation, otherwise everyone will not be able to live well."
A knight with thick eyebrows and a yellow beard asked: "My lord, you also attacked Alsburg several times last year, why didn't you capture it?"
The knight felt something was wrong as soon as he finished speaking, and quickly added: "My lord, I have no intention of offending your majesty."
Antayas shook his head and said it didn't matter, and said: "Last year, I planned to quietly lead people to recapture Alsburg from the bandits, but I underestimated the fighting power of those bastards. I stopped in front of Alsburg twice. This time I recruit you to take Alsburg in one fell swoop."
Another middle-aged knight with a rather capable appearance asked in a deep voice: " Sir, have you figured out the number of bandits in Alsberg and whether they have reinforcements? "
Antaias glanced at the middle-aged knight named Chloe and said: "I sent someone to scout before the cold winter came last year. The number of bandits in Alsberg increased to about forty, but we don't know if there are still bandits in the bandits' nest in Poge Mountain."
"Forty people? There could be more? Sir, there are only seventy or eighty of us in total, half of them are farmers who can't even hold their swords, and the rest have not been in battle for many years. It would be difficult for us to attack the large and ferocious bandits with this small force." The middle-aged knight had experienced war when he was young, and he knew how powerful this improvised army was.
Several other knights also whispered in agreement.
Antaias raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and then said to everyone: "I also know that the situation this time is dangerous, but we are all brave and fearless knights. It is the holy mission given to you by God to eliminate violence and bring justice. How can you lose the courage to defeat the devil just because of its strength?"
Everyone bowed their heads and remained silent.
Antayas knew that these noble sermons were in vain at this time. He looked at everyone and whispered: "If we can recapture Alsburg, I will exempt everyone from half of the taxes and service this year. After capturing Alsburg, I will also give half of the battle rewards as everyone's military reward. In addition, I have also hired an elite team to come to assist in the suppression. They are probably on their way to Andermatt Castle." ”
After hearing the benefits and knowing that there were reinforcements, the knights raised their heads and expressed that they would train their soldiers diligently and they would be able to take back Alsburg in one battle...
Looking at the backs of the knights leaving, the inner knight Druid spat and said: "They are all a bunch of guys who are blind to money."
"Okay Druid, there is no free cheese and bread in the world. If we can't get Alsburg back, all the money we save now will be left to the nobles who take over the territory."
Speaking of this, he remembered the original owner of this sentence, turned to the Druid beside him and asked: "Do you think that patrol officer will really come to help?"
On the road leading to Andermatt Castle, Odo followed Art and discussed setting up checkpoints on the southern border to collect taxes. He felt that Lord Pierre's promise to allow them to collect a year's entry business tax in the border area was simply nonsense.
"Yes, it is impossible to collect business tax this year. We can only wait until next year or the year after to collect it. The war will eventually end and business will prosper." Art said.
"But Master Pierre only authorizes us to collect taxes for one year~"
Art replied with a smile after hearing this: "Really? Then we will stop collecting the inbound business tax, and we will collect the incoming security tax instead. This does not require Master Pierre's permission, as long as the swords in our hands are sharper than those of the caravan guards."
At this time, Ron rode back to the team from the front road, "Master, there is no enemy in front, and three miles to the east is Andermatt Castle." The soldiers of the frontier team loudly ordered: "Stop advancing and repair on the spot. Camp in Andermatt tonight." The military fort was suddenly in a panic, especially the farmers and small traders outside the city, who thought it was bandits coming to attack Andermatt, so they all retreated into the military fort.
When the inner knight Druid brought three or four cavalry to a hill west of Andermatt, they saw an army wearing a black robe and cape walking towards them under the leadership of a rider. After a while, two more cavalry joined the team.
"Att? Patroller."
After seeing the outline of the incoming man clearly, the Druid said to himself, and then said to a cavalryman beside him: "Go back and tell the Baron that it is the patrol officer, Mr. Ater, who is coming with a team."
Att did not allow the patrol to garrison the military fort, but instead set up a military tent as a camp in an open space outside Andermatt Castle. Art set up four outposts around the patrol camp. He was not worried about enemies sneak attacks, but he was worried about the undisciplined conscripts and farmers.
In the evening, Baron Antayas hosted a banquet in the stone house of the military fort for all the army leaders who came to assist in the suppression. As the leader of the patrol, Art was also fortunate to be invited to the banquet. Large plates of beef and mutton were placed on the table, and glasses of light beer and ale were poured into the stomach. The stone house was filled with passion and indulgence.
A middle-aged knight with a calm face held a wooden wine glass and bypassed a few guys who were having fun drinking. He came to Art, who was sitting at the end, and sat on an armchair. He asked, "Are you the patrol officer who came to help with the suppression that the Baron said?"
Matt put down his wine glass, glanced at the tall knight with long hair and beard, and said respectfully: "Sir, I am Art Wood Wells, Inspector of the Southern Border." A civilian officer. "
"Oh, yes, but I saw the army you brought, and you don't look like a civilian without a title background." The middle-aged knight questioned how an ordinary civilian officer could train an army with such an appearance, not to mention that this civilian has a surname that looks like a noble.
Matt shrugged.
The middle-aged knight raised the wine glass in his hand and said to Art: "I am Chloe de Bourbon from the Park Ninken Manor."
“Are you from the Bourbon family? Son of the Eagle.” Art had heard about this prominent family.
"Oh, yes, I am honored to be a member of this family, but my family does not feel that it is more glorious because of me..." The middle-aged knight's words always have some complaints against the Bourbon family.
At the entire banquet, Art didn't say much. He just sat quietly at the end of the long table and listened to the knights talking about the wild boars they had hunted, the women they had slept with, the battles they had fought, and the most vulgar jokes they had ever heard during their knightly careers. Except for Baron Antayas who politely offered a drink to Art, only Knight Chloe came over and said a few words to Art. It was not because the knights looked down on Art. It was about the attitude of the nobles. This group of roughnecks had always been very careful about this issue.
In the camp outside the military fort, a banquet was also going on.
Baron Antayas generously sent several large pieces of pork and a large barrel of light beer to the patrol. Odo arranged for a pot full of onions and pork to be stewed, and everyone got a lot of delicious beer.
When they returned to the camp outside the fort, the soldiers had already fallen asleep. After checking the surrounding posts, Art summoned Odo and others for a military meeting.
Several people were sitting around in the Yate military tent.
Matt observed the people in the tent for a while and saw that they were not drunk. He nodded and said: "Very good, you still have the most basic vigilance. From the moment we step out of the wooden castle in the valley, we must maintain the mentality of encountering the enemy at any time, being able to defend the enemy at any time, and being able to attack the enemy at any time. I allow the soldiers to have a relaxed mentality, but I do not allow you officers to be slack at all."
Everyone promised.
Art took out a simple map of Alsburg dictated by Lawrence and drawn by himself, and said: "Baron Antayas has ordered that the entire army will start from Andermatt at sunrise the day after tomorrow, and march towards Alsburg." The people participating in the suppression of the bandits were five knights, eight knight retinues (four archers), twenty soldiers guarding the fort (including six archers), sixty-two peasant soldiers, and twenty-one of our patrols. A total of one hundred and fourteen people (including fifteen cavalry), all the troops were led by Baron Antayas. "
"In the marching sequence, we are the third team of the entire army, and in front of us is the army of Knight Chloe."
"If it's a city siege, Baron Antayas's fortress guards, knights, and retinues will serve as the first echelon, and we will be the main force of the second echelon; if it's a field confrontation, our patrol will serve as the left wing of the entire army."
"Now let me talk about the specific deployment of our patrol..."