“Why are you detaining our goods and caravan escorts? Do you know that the Dean family entrusted us to transport this cargo?” In the open space next to the border outpost, a middle-aged man who looked like a caravan manager shouted to Benjamin.
"I have told you that a large-scale crackdown on bandits is underway in the north. In order to prevent bandits from plundering caravans to expand their strength, caravans carrying southern goods will not be allowed to pass before the end of the crackdown. I have warned you to return, and you have to force your way through. If you hadn't had a document issued by the guild, I would have suspected that you were an accomplice in delivering supplies to the bandits. To be on the safe side, I must temporarily withhold your supplies and accompanying goods. Of course, you can rest assured that I will never harm you, and the food and lodging provided for you here is also very cheap. There are twelve of you, and the food and lodging fee is sixty pfennigs per day. You can pay for ten days first, and you should be able to return after ten days." After that, Benjamin pointed to the tax collector at the roadblock and motioned to hand over the food and accommodation expenses to the tax collector for recording.
"You are simply robbers, you are not afraid~~"
Benjamin drew out the dagger from his waist and put it against the steward's neck, and said fiercely: "Whether we are afraid of the Dean family or not is our business. From now on, if you dare to say one more thing, I will kill you as a profiteer who is collaborating with bandits."
Benjamin turned to the two outpost guards behind him and ordered: "You two, go get their room and board fees for this steward."
The two outpost guards smiled and ran towards the impounded caravan.
The caravan steward looked at the one-eyed Benjamin with a scar in horror and helplessness, not daring to say another word.
At this time, a guard at the outpost ran to Benjamin and whispered something in his ear.
Benjamin glanced at the heraldic flag of the team and ordered: "Let them go. They are the caravan of Baron Labelle in the county. They must have nothing to do with bandits. I don't think any bandits dare to rob them. Let them go and let them bring Lord Art's greetings to Baron Labelle." They have to be repatriated or detained? It’s not fair.”
Benjamin said harshly: “How can you, a lowly businessman, compare to Baron LaBelle? Go back and stay here.”
“Listen to me, you are safe if you stay in this fence. Once you step out of this fence without permission, you will be treated as bandits attacking the camp and beheaded.” After that, he left...
"What's going on? Why are we only focusing on caravans that have connections with Dean." The caravan manager muttered to himself and returned to the fence where the caravans were impounded with a look of despair. The fence space originally used as a market had already impounded three caravans that purchased and transported southern goods for the Dean family.
..................
At the wooden castle in the valley, all the soldiers of the legion have been deployed to garrison the town of Boulder and the border outpost. There are only seventeen newly recruited laborers and miners from the North who are still undergoing recruit training. In order to deal with the crisis outside the valley, all the soldiers of the legion were mobilized, so the training of new recruits could only be carried out by the three soldiers who had basically recovered from their injuries in the battle of Boulder Town. Art would occasionally go to the training ground to personally train these new recruits.
In the second week of July, Bass, the former 1st squadron leader who had been paralyzed for more than a month due to a serious head injury, was finally able to speak.
When Camille told Art the good news, Art, who was training soldiers, threw away the halberd in his hand and ran back to the wooden castle, running straight into the cabin where Bas was training.
"You bastard, I knew you could recover." Art rarely cursed in front of his subordinates, but Buzz was able to regain his speech ability after being injured in the head and paralyzed for more than a month. Art was extremely happy. Before that, Art thought that Buzz would never be able to speak again in this life.
In the month since he was seriously injured and paralyzed in bed, Bass has become as thin as a withered stick, with sunken eye sockets, a sallow complexion, dry limbs, and a thick cotton cloth wrapped around his head.
When he was carried back to the valley from the battlefield in Boulder Town, he was already about to die. It was Odo and Kazak who begged Art on their knees to ask a healer to save him.
Matt also had deep feelings for this laborer who was the first to follow him. He begged Thomas and Farnaz to do their best to keep Bass in the world.
Bath fell into a coma for five whole days, and did not open his eyes until the sixth day. However, a heavy hammer smashed his skull, and he could no longer make any other movements except swallowing clear soup and wheat porridge.
Matt sent a lonely peasant woman from the territory to stay by Bass's side day and night, serving him food, drink, and diarrhea. Thomas and Farnaz would also replace Bass's wound medicine and check his head injuries on time every day.
Having been paralyzed on the bed for a month, Bass can barely speak until now.
“Sir, I thought I couldn’t live any longer. I’ve already seen God.” Bass’s voice was very small and his breath was very weak. He had to divide the two sentences into several paragraphs to finish.
At stepped forward to help Bass and let him lie back on the bed, "Don't sit up in a hurry, lie down for a few days and wait until your body recovers."
After finishing speaking, Art called the peasant woman who had been waiting on Bas, "Lucia , Add more chicken and fish to every meal of Bass from today, so that Bass can return to his former glory as soon as possible."
"In addition, you have worked hard to take care of Bass during this period, and you will go to the lady to receive the reward of thirty pfennigs and fifty pounds of grain."
"Thank you for the reward, sir." Lucia's husband died in Talburg. She had children to support. During this time, the wooden castle supported her family. Now she can still receive the reward, so naturally she is grateful to Art.
Matt turned his head again and looked at Bass, who had a sallow complexion. "Bass, I'm going to give you a task. You have to restore it to your original appearance within a month. The legion needs your return."
Tears welled up in the corners of Bath's eyes...
"When I was speechless, Odo told me that Ron was also seriously injured." Bass used a weak voice to care about the smart guy who often followed Art.
Matt's expression of joy just now was replaced by a heavy face, "While you were in coma, I led the caravan north to open up the trade route, but was assassinated by a killer hired by the Dean family. Ron was hit by a poisonous arrow to cover me, and is still recuperating in the monastery in Lucese."
"But with the monastery taking care of him, he should be fine."
Bass nodded silently.
Matt stayed with Bas for a while and talked to him in front of the bed, telling Bas about some of the major battles that had taken place in the past month and the situation outside...
...
“Father, they dared to detain our caravan. I can’t tolerate it anymore this time. I will lead my soldiers to smash his shabby outpost and kill all his black-robed dogs.” At the Lord’s Mansion of Winchester Manor, Dean was furious.
Since the failed assassination of Lucese, the Dean family had a feeling that Art would not give up, so during this period the Dean family recruited dozens of mercenaries from various places and recalled more than twenty of their own elite caravan guards. , plus the manor guards and soldiers left behind, a total of more than 80 people guard their manor and farm. Once the crazy Art dares to lead his troops to attack their legal territory, they will successfully kill the "invaders" in the territory.
However, nearly a hundred people guarded the two lands for more than half a month, and not even a shadow of the black-robed soldiers was seen. Just when the Dean family thought that Art knew the current situation and did not dare to attack the Dean family rashly, news came from the southern border area that their family and their allies' caravans were detained by border guards.
"Didn't you hear? He is temporarily blocking the border in the name of suppressing bandits and blocking the bandits' material plundering routes. Although this reason is far-fetched, it is considered within the law after all. It is not only that guy's legal territory, but also the entire territory. If you rashly lead people to attack the border of the country, how will you explain it to the palace in the future? The power struggle in the palace is subtle now, and any slight disturbance may be used by the powerful to eliminate their opponents. "Old Dean's business has been ups and downs for many years, and his thoughts cannot be based on temporary moods.
"Father, you just think too much. If we had bribed someone to kill him when he just returned from the battlefield in the north, how could there be so much trouble now!" Dean expressed dissatisfaction with his father's character of overthinking everything.
Old Dean ignored Dean's words and continued to ponder for a moment, and said: "I do have a way."
Hearing this, Dean rushed up, stuck in front of Old Dean and asked: "Father, what can I do?"
"Go find the money. The minister took the initiative to seek a name for transporting supplies for the palace, and then hired a group of mercenaries to pretend to be our caravan and go to the border with documents to cause trouble. If they dare not take action, we will break in later. If they dare to kill people, humph, rob and kill the convoy transporting supplies for the palace~ This crime is barely enough for us to lead our troops to conquer~"
"Is this possible? They wouldn't be stupid enough to rob a caravan with a document accredited by the palace, right?"
"How can he know what kind of goods the caravan is transporting without showing the documents in advance. Well, but before that we still send someone to negotiate, maybe that guy can retreat."
……………
「……总之，迪安家族派来的人希望我们知难而退，另外他们愿意赠送六千芬尼的军费换取那三支被扣押商队的自由。」山谷木堡内，骑马赶回的安格斯汇报了一天前迪安家族派人来边境哨站的交涉情况。
"You want to send me six thousand pfennigs? Do you accept the money?"
"Of course, the meat was all put into my mouth, how could I spit it out. However, the three caravans were still detained, and the people they sent were beaten back by me."
Matt laughed three times, "Sergeant major, you did a great job! These six thousand Fenni will be regarded as the compensation they paid to Ron for his injury and support."
After laughing, Art's face became gloomy again, "I made such a big noise in the south just to anger the Dean family."
"Sergeant Major, the food and supplies are running out in this valley. Get ready. Over at the border, you can continue to repatriate and impound the caravans. Odo will also patrol the trade routes with the garrison of Boulder Town in the past few days. Remember, the next period of time is related to our future life and death, and no method is too much."
Angus knew that Art's move was very difficult and dangerous, but if they could not make this move, they would not have access to this river of gold in the future, and they would not have the money to support huge military expenditures.
"Sir, it's time now, I understand. I will accompany you on this dangerous journey." Angus answered firmly.
Matt picked up the wine glass and took a sip, then put it down and replied: "Yesterday, I also received a private message from Viscount Pierre. In the letter, he scolded me and asked me to quickly lift the border blockade to avoid a serious situation."
Viscount Pierre also hinted in the letter that the Dean family is moving around. He reminded me to act carefully. In times of turmoil, the death of a knightly nobleman will not cause much waves. "
Angus laughed after hearing this, "Sir, it seems that Viscount Pierre does not believe in our strength~"
“Sergeant Major, it’s not that Viscount Pierre underestimates our strength, it’s just that the strength of the Dean family cannot be underestimated. As long as they are willing to spend money, they can gather a mercenary army of two to three hundred people. If there are really two to three hundred mercenaries to attack us, Wherever, the situation will be very terrible~ What is even more terrible is that they can spend more money than this huge sum of money..."
"So we can't let them go out in droves, at least let them worry about their nests."
“You are right, we have to be concerned when they are dispatched in full force. Sergeant major, two things. First, after you have settled the border guards, you can take two squadrons of soldiers to Tyniec County for me in the name of chasing down bandits. Make a few rounds around the southwest farm. There is no need to suppress bandits. Just let me fully armed and make a few turns in front of the Dean family. Secondly, give Redoan an order to keep an eye on Winchester and the southwest farm. Once the Dean family sends troops to attack me, "You guys, ask Redoan to attack the Dean family's territory immediately." If you give it to him, he can try to gather other bandit forces. By the way, tell Redoan that his son has been assigned to the priest's parish school to learn writing and combat skills. The boy is doing well, so he doesn't need to worry."
“In addition, pay close attention to all the developments of the Dean family. I want to know any actions of my opponents. You ask Lusignan to lead the sentry team to continuously inquire about the news, and ask Eagle Eye to keep an eye on the Dean family.”
"Yes, I will start making arrangements immediately."
…………
As soon as Angus walked out of Art's office, Spencer, the legion's baggage officer who had recovered from an arrow wound, hurried into the room.
"Sir!" Spencer walked in and saluted Art.
"Spencer, sit down!" Art asked Spencer to sit across from the business table.
"Has the arrow wound healed?"
"Thank you for your concern, sir. It's healed. It's just that the pain is extremely severe when the weather changes."
"It's not easy to survive after being hit by an arrow in the bone. I'll let Thomas and the others find a way to heal your arrow wound."
h "I'm here to report to you on the preparations for the army's food supplies." The government allocated 20,000 pounds of wheat to the army as military food. The border outposts had the largest number of troops stationed, and 10,000 pounds of food were allocated. The garrison at Jushi Town allocated 6,000 pounds of wheat. Considering that Beiguan Army Fort also had to occupy the Valley Guard, 3,000 pounds of food were also allocated for backup. In addition, according to your arrangement, the new troops are preparing to reinforce various places as a mobile force, so they have also prepared a thousand pounds to carry with the army. "
"Sir, these food reserves are enough to feed each station for three months."
“In addition, all the weapons and armor brought back by the caravan from the North have been distributed to soldiers, including the peasants and soldiers of the guard. The craftsmen’s workshops are also making weapons day and night. At present, the arsenal has been emptied. With the war, the replenishment of weapons and armor will also be a problem..."
hh After hearing this, Art asked: "How is the preparation of the wound herbal powder produced by the hospital?"
hh "I have sent heavy troops to assist the two doctors Thomas and Farnaz in preparing a large amount of hemostatic powder. The Civil Affairs Bureau has also sent people to help pick herbs and collect materials~"
"Okay, I will ask the caravan to go to the south to buy armaments. You first make arrangements for the transportation of food and baggage."
"Yes, sir."
Spencer left the room, and Art called Felix, "Go and invite the old housekeeper and all the stewards to the public room. I want to explain to them all the affairs in the valley during this period."