In the Lord's Hall of Tyniec City, several squire-looking guys in regular clothes were sitting at the table in the Lord's Hall and talking in low voices.
"Hey, do you think the people sent by the Earl this time can solve the big trouble in the valley to the south?"
"I think there is no problem. With my many years of experience, these People are by no means idle. Didn’t you see how miserable the county soldiers who usually showed off their power in front of us died? "Yes, yes." The other squires who listened attentively agreed. Only one guy looked at everyone quietly without saying a word.
"Look here~" Just as another squire was about to speak, a man who looked like a bandit leader followed by several minions opened the door of the lord's hall and walked inside.
“Oh, Lord Baron, you are finally here!” The guy who said nothing just now hurriedly licked his face and greeted the visitor. The bandit leader took one look at this group of guys and walked straight towards the chief's seat. After the broadsword in his hand landed on the corner of the table, the man who looked like the bandit leader said: "Everyone, I believe you also know the reason why I invited you here."
"Baron, of course we know." A guy with a fat face quickly replied. The bandit leader looked at this guy. It was the man who met him in the dense forest outside the city with several territorial guards a few days ago.
After receiving the secret letter from Count Bernard, the squire went around to inquire about the Welsh Army and the defense situation in various parts of the county. After confirming that everything was normal, he secretly passed the news to the leading baron sent by Count Bernard to attack Tyniec. Under the cooperation of the two, more than a dozen soldiers from Tynets County were killed. The remaining soldiers who defended the city took their injured companions and fled towards the south gate. The city of Tynets fell into the hands of the leading baron.
"Okay, very good, then tell me what I asked you to do." After speaking, the leading baron turned his attention to the squire who spoke.
The guy with the fat face immediately took off the bulging cloth bag from his waist and placed the opened bag in front of the leading baron with a smile on his face. Under the illumination of the candlelight, I saw that it was full of small shiny gold coins, and the scattered golden light reflected into the wide-open eyes of the leading viscount. Upon seeing this, the rest of the people immediately placed the money bags they had prepared in front of the leading baron.
"Ahem," the leading baron restrained himself, and continued, "My lords, what are you doing? I came here under the order of the Earl to help you get rid of the brutal rule of the border viscount, and so do you~"
"My lord, Baron, this is our little thought, I hope you will accept it." said the squire who first presented the purse.
「Yes, yes.」
"This..." The baron who led the army touched the bulging money bag with his hand, and only heard the sound of metal colliding inside. "Well, since you adults are so thoughtful, I won't be polite." After saying that, he turned around and motioned to the attendants around him to put the money bag away.
"Everyone, you should all understand the main purpose of your Lordship sending me here this time, and I won't repeat it to you." The leading baron said, "The Wells Army took advantage of the confrontation between the Thorne Palace and the rebels to sneak attack. They arrived at Fort Marcy in the Côte d'Or Province, and Fort Marcy had already fallen." Hearing that the Wells Army had already marched north, everyone present was stunned. They knew that Art was quite capable, but they didn't know that his ability was already great enough to compete with the Côte d'Or Province. At this time, he was only a frontier viscount. If he was allowed to grow in the future, the life of these squire lords who secretly opposed him would be even worse.
“After capturing Fort Marsi, the Wells Army will definitely go all the way north to attack the city of Codor. As a result, the Thorne Palace will face greater pressure. Tyniec is the home base of the Wells Army and also their foundation. Your Lordship sent me here this time to destroy Tyniec in one fell swoop, stab a knife in the back of the Wells Army, stop their march northward, and buy time for the Soane Palace.”
After listening to the leading baron's analysis of the current situation, everyone broke into cold sweat on their foreheads. Since Art took over Tyniec County, he has made detailed statistics on the fiefdoms and population of various lords in the territory, in order to prevent those who usually conceal and lie about their land from recovering the taxes they owe. In this way, the large amount of money these guys accumulated in daily life went into Art's pocket, which was tantamount to snatching meat from their mouths. For these guys who value money more than their lives, they already hate Art deeply. Now, taking advantage of the opportunity of the Wells Army's expedition abroad, it is time to unite with external forces to regain what was lost before. With the support of the Thorne Province Palace, these guys have a lot of confidence.
"Baron, tell me what you want us to do." One of the squires asked.
“Yes, Lord Baron, we all listen to you.” Everyone responded in support.
"Okay! You all come here~" The crowd immediately gathered around. "Let's do this for now~"
After making plans and assigning tasks, the squires exited the lord's hall one after another and returned to their respective territories under the cover of night.
………
The next day, on the wall of the south gate of Tyniec City, the bodies of the dozen or so county guards who were killed in the previous days were tied with ropes and hung on the wall for public display. It was extremely hot in Tyniec in August, and the corpses on the wall exuded a stench that made people vomit. Occasionally, the pedestrians who passed by covered their mouths and noses, looked at the corpse on the wall, shook their heads and walked away.
The residents of Tyniec have never encountered such ferocious bandits, who even humiliated the dead county soldiers in this way. After thinking about it, the only one who has such ability is the current Sheriff Art of Tyniec County. When Art was still a patrol officer, he cut off the heads of a group of gangsters and hung them on both sides of the commercial road. His reputation spread far and wide, and the gangsters around Tyniec no longer dared to come out to cause trouble. What a scene. At this time, the corpse of his own county soldier was also hung on the city wall by the gangsters. I wonder what Art would think when he saw it.
“You all listen to me,” the squire who led the gangsters shouted to a group of people huddled on the ground: “As long as you declare your independence from the rule of that bastard Ater and swear allegiance to the current lord of Tyniec City, , I can guarantee the lives of your whole family. "
The group of people who were kneeling on the ground and had been trembling looked up at the group of thugs, and then at the squire who was leading them, and they didn't speak for a while.
"Madil, why are you silent? Aren't you the best at flattering that bastard Art? Why don't you even dare to fart now?" The group of minions behind the bandit leader and several of the squire's followers suddenly burst into laughter.
Doyle saw that the lord was indifferent and did not even look at himself. This was a great insult to him. As a nobleman and a popular person around Bernard, he couldn't swallow this breath no matter what. These bastards are loyal to Art, but they despise themselves so much. How can they establish their authority in front of other squire lords if they don't chop off his dog's head.
“Get out of here!” Doyle shouted to the leading squire. After saying that, he pulled out the long sword from his waist and slashed at the squire who was kneeling on the ground. In a burst of screams, the squire's head rolled a few steps away, dripping with blood, and his limbs had already fallen to the ground.
Seeing their master beheaded, the others hurriedly kowtowed for mercy and screamed loudly. Even the squire who took the lead was pale at this time, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Doyle was a cruel guy and remained unmoved at all. He turned around and motioned to the followers behind him to clear out the remaining people.
For a time, a dozen or so people in the territory were all killed by the followers. Seeing the corpses and bright red blood on the ground, Doyle smiled with satisfaction and said, "This is what happens to those disobedient bastards!" The squire who took the lead was so frightened that he couldn't help but tremble.
"Cut off all their heads and take them back and hang them on the city wall! Take away all the good things inside and set the house on fire!" Doyle ordered to his followers.
…………
For several days, Doyle, led by the squires from various places who had been suppressed by Art, bloodbathed the squires and nobles who were friendly with Art, escaping and dying. The entire Tyniec was now shrouded in darkness, filled with the smell of blood. During the day, few pedestrians were seen on the streets of Tyniec, and the doors of the houses were closed. People huddled in the houses were afraid that they would be killed by the murderous devils if they went out. At night, the city residents huddled at home heard a group of people breaking into the mansions of some nobles from time to time, followed by waves of screams. After the group of people left, the house would probably be burned to the ground. Then, the sound of dogs barking spread throughout the empty streets...
At this time, the harvest season of food in various places around the city of Tyniec was approaching. According to Art's order, wars are ongoing at this time, and the civil administration must prepare food reserves for this year to prepare for emergencies.
As a military leader who has been fighting abroad all year round, Baron Doyle certainly understands this truth. In order to cut off Yate's food supply, he ordered all the best-growing wheat fields around him to be set on fire. Watching the wheat fields that were about to be harvested being devoured by fire, the farmers, who were looking forward to a good harvest this year, knelt on the ground and wailed loudly, cursing the group of devils who would be punished by God sooner or later...
…
As the chief civil affairs officer, Cooper knew very well that he must not go head-to-head with those gangsters of unknown origin now. Although nearly three hundred peasant soldiers were armed in the valley, most of them were old farmers with farm tools in their hands. It was difficult to even farm, let alone fight with those strong combatants with swords. Sooner or later, the valley will become the target of those guys. If the other party doesn't know the reality in the valley, it is estimated that this is the first place to suffer. The only way at present is to find a way to delay the group of people's attack on the valley and buy time for reinforcements.
"Everyone," Cooper said, "Everyone has heard about what happened in recent days. If those guys didn't know the actual situation in the valley, I'm afraid our fate would be the same as those squires who were killed."
"Yes, yes." Everyone agreed.
“The top priority is that we must find a way to delay their invasion of the valley and buy time for the reinforcements sent back by your Excellency. I discussed with several civil affairs officials and decided to make peace with the gangsters as long as possible, but everyone must be prepared to defend against the enemy at any time.” Everyone immediately bowed their heads and listened.
"Everyone, let's do this first..."