"Lord Baron, we have had a lot of harvest in recent days." Looking at the grain supplies piled up in the warehouse and the gold and silver looted from wealthy squire lords everywhere, the adjutant beside Doyle smiled happily.
"Nick, take five thousand pfennigs from here and distribute them to the brothers. Everyone has worked hard these days. Find a place to have a good meal and tell the brothers that as long as you follow me, they will benefit." Looking at the wealth in front of him, Doyle was filled with joy and generous.
"Yes, Lord Baron. Brothers, all listen to you. You tell us to go east, but we will never go west." Nick said flatteringly.
"Do you know why I brought you with me? It's because you know your interests." Doyle pointed at Nick and said.
“In the name of God, I am definitely your most loyal slave.” Nick raised his right hand to show his loyalty.
"Okay!" Doyle laughed.
The squire standing aside saw the two of them chatting happily, so he came up to talk to them. "Two lords."
Doyle turned around and said, "Knight Benson, what can I do for you?"
"Baron, how can the things in front of you fill your treasury."
"Oh?" Doyle looked at the fat guy in front of him, thinking that this guy must know other places where treasures are hidden. "Tell me about it."
“My lord, Baron, who do you think is the richest in all of Tyniec?” Benson stared directly at Doyle.
"In addition to those wealthy squire nobles, you are talking about that bastard Art." "Wincheston Manor?" Doyle thought for a moment and continued, "You mean the Wincheston Manor of the Dean family?"
"Exactly, Lord Baron." Benson replied.
The Dean family was suppressed by all parties because of the exposure of Assassin's affair. It was originally a wealthy family, but in the end it ended up in ruins and a bad ending. Doyle remembered this. As Bernard's confidant, he was responsible for contacting Assassin and preparing to use these pagan killers to kill Art. Unexpectedly, the matter was revealed, which almost caused Bernard to capsize in the gutter. He himself was also ignored by Bernard, and the title of Viscount, which was already about to be obtained, was unknown because of this incident.
"Okay, Art, let's settle our old and new grudges together!" Doyle roared angrily.
“But, Lord Baron~”
“But what?” Doyle pressed.
"The Valley Territory is where that bastard started. I have sent people to inquire. Most of the main force of the Wells Army and the Valley Guard Corps have gone out, but I don't know how many people there are now. Since you occupied Tyniec, the valley has been on alert. The people I sent to inquire came back and told me that there must be no less than two hundred people inside."
"Two hundred people?" Doyle said in surprise. Even though the soldiers he selected this time were all elite soldiers in Thorne's army. But he also heard about Art's Wells Legion. Those soldiers had experienced many battles, large and small, and their combat power would never be worse than the more than 40 people under his command. Even if you include the private soldiers of the squire lords who are currently on your side, there are only about a hundred people. If we really take action, the outcome is unpredictable.
“What about Wincheston Manor?” Doyle had an idea and decided to test the strength of the valley by raiding Art’s direct territory.
dedleg in ?
………
According to yesterday's plan, the civil affairs officials decided to send Hamish, the priest of the valley lord, to Tyniec to test the details of the other party after discussion. The church should not be affected by these secular affairs, but Hamish knew that he was different from other clergy. He is not only the priest of the Ater territory, but also the defender of Ater's interests. The reason why Art kept him by his side was because he could move between church and secular affairs with ease and serve the interests of the lord.
Furthermore, the status of the church is obvious to all the world. Even if the army attacks the city, they must take a detour when they see the church. If you destroy every plant, tree, or brick in the church, you will definitely be condemned by God and pressured by the higher-level church.
After Civil Affairs Officer Cooper told Hamish about the city of Tyniec and everything that had happened in recent days, the guy suddenly became furious. While condemning the heinous crimes committed by the bandits, he asked Cooper what he could do. Cooper whispered his plan to Hamish, and asked Hamish to use the cover of praying for the dead county soldiers in Tyniec City and other souls who died tragically due to this man-made disaster to go and find out the origin and purpose of this group of people.
After everything was done, Hamish took a young monk and drove towards the city of Tynets in a carriage. After half a day of turbulence, we finally arrived at the southern wall of Tyniec.
………
“Reporting to Lord Baron, there is a priest outside the city who wants to come into the city to pray for the dead souls, and he is followed by a young monk.” The soldier responsible for guarding the south gate of Tyniec hurried to the Lord’s Hall to report to Doyle, who was drinking with his adjutant Nick.
"Priest?" Doyle asked with disdain. "Ask him where he comes from?"
"Report to the baron, he claims to be the priest in charge of the valley in the south." The soldier replied.
"Southern valley?" Doyle looked at Nick and continued, "It seems that the people in the valley have finally arrived. I want to see what they are up to."
"Bring them here."
"Yes!"
As the southern city gate of Tyniec opened, Hamish and his wife walked inside.
"Be careful! Father Hamish." The young monk who was following him squinted and saw something falling from the wall. He immediately grabbed Father Hamish's arm and took a few steps back. When the two of them looked down, a stench came over them, almost knocking Father Hamish unconscious. This is the arm of a soldier hanging on the city wall. After several days of wind and rain, the flesh has turned black and is filled with maggots, feasting on the host.
"Ugh..." Looking at the disgusting thing in front of him, Hamish couldn't hold back after all, and vomited out all the food and wine he had eaten before leaving.
“Father Hamish, are you okay?” The young monk quickly helped Hamish up and walked towards a stone on the inside of the city gate. Hamish, who was sitting on the stone, was cleaning the vomit from his mouth and looking towards the city wall. Hanging on it were the corpses of the county soldiers who had resisted the bandits. Some of the corpses had their arms cut off with the bones by sharp swords, leaving only the skin connected to the body. Flies buzzed in the rotting places, emitting bursts of stench under the scorching afternoon sun... "These devils are going to hell!" Hamish kept cursing as he watched those young lives passing away like this.
"Dear Sir, thank you for your greetings. I'm fine." Hamish replied politely.
"Please sit down, Lord Priest." Doyle greeted Hamish to sit at the long table in the Lord's Hall. "I wonder why you came here this time?" Doyle asked straight to the point.
"All this is given by you, my noble lord." Hamish also made no secret of it.
"Oh, how dare I, a mere bandit in the mountains, trouble you, the chief priest of the Valley Territory." Doyle looked at the priest, and then glanced at the adjutant Nick beside him.
"I came here specifically to pray for the souls who died in the hands of you and your "soldiers", hoping that their souls can ascend to heaven and receive God's salvation. Hamish tested Doyle's reaction.
"Soldiers? Father, I don't know what you mean. These brothers are just ordinary farmers who live with me in the mountains by robbing passing traders. How come they become soldiers in your mouth?" Doyle obviously knew that the other party was testing his background. As a leading baron, he couldn't be so stupid that he didn't know the true purpose of the other party's trip.
"The large and small bandits around Tyniec have been almost wiped out by my Lord Art. Where did this Lord make a living before?" Hamish asked rhetorically. "Could it be that he escaped from the north?"
"You!" Doyle shouted, slapping the table. "I wonder what the priest means by this?" Doyle, who had calmed down a little, asked Father Hamish.
"I think this gentleman should understand what I mean."
"Oh, really? Then I would like to ask the priest if he is here on behalf of the Valley Leader?" Doyle asked with a sinister look.
Faced with the murderous devil in front of him, Hamish paused and replied: "As the chief priest of the Valley Territory, I am responsible for the affairs of the churches in Tynets County in the absence of the Bishop of Tynets County, Father Robert. This time I heard rumors from believers that there is a group of murderous devils. They captured the city of Tyniec, killed more than a dozen county soldiers, and went to the surrounding areas to kill people, set fire, and plunder property, causing many casualties. As a messenger sent by God to the world, I must pray for these lost lives in the name of God, and pray that their souls will ascend to heaven and be relieved." Hamish was already filled with righteous indignation.
“So, Father, if the people of the Valley Territory are in trouble, will you also curse those demons and pray for the dead Territory citizens and soldiers?” Doyle asked Father Hamish in an almost threatening tone.
"How dare you!" Hamish shouted. A layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead. The monk behind him also took two nervous steps back.
"What do I dare to do! All the members of the Welsh Army have gone off to fight, and the only ones left behind must be the old, weak, sick and disabled. I heard that your valley leaders are extremely rich, and my brothers have already been ready to make a move." Doyle looked at Hamish, hoping to see a hint of fear in his eyes, which would prove his judgment.
Hamish jumped up, so frightened that Nick, who was behind Doyle, had already put his right hand on the hilt of his sword. "If you doubt the determination of the Valley Leader to resist foreign enemies, you can try it yourself!" Hamish tried to confuse the fierce but wise guy in front of him. After that, he led the young monk towards the door.
"Wait!" shouted Doyle, who was following behind. Hamish's heart was so frightened that it almost reached his throat.
"Master Priest, I hope you will go back and tell the steward of the valley, and I will definitely take my brothers to visit!" Doyle threatened Hamish.
After Hamish and the young monk left, Nick whispered to Doyle: "Lord Baron, are you really planning to attack the valley?"
"This damn guy, I underestimated him!"
"Then~"
"Shut up," Doyle shouted just as Nick was about to speak, "The situation is unclear now. It seems that the plan to attack the valley first is not feasible. We can only attack Wincheston Manor..."
… />
"Father Hamish, do you think those bandits will really attack the valley?" The young monk who had just followed the priest out of the city of Tyniec asked hurriedly, hoping to hear something useful from this wise priest.
"It's hard to say, this guy is anything but simple. We immediately rushed back to the valley to tell Mr. Cooper the situation, so that the valley could take precautions. Oh my god, this damn war!"
After saying that, the two sat in the carriage and headed south with whips raised.