"Master Cooper, this is the situation." Father Hamish, who had just returned from Tyniec at dark, drank a large amount of wheat paste with minced meat in it while reporting to Cooper what he had learned during his trip. We roughly concluded that this group of people came to the valley. The reason why they wantonly killed people, set fires, and deliberately destroyed them was not only to frighten the people in the county, but also to test the reaction of the valley.
Cooper did not speak immediately after hearing this, but paced back and forth at the door of the Lord's Hall of the wooden castle. He kept stroking the gray beard on his chin. Whenever faced with a major decision, Cooper would always stroke his chin, as if this would make him feel more at ease. Judging from what Hamish said, the reason why the gangsters have not attacked the valley yet is because they have not yet understood the situation in the valley and dare not attack rashly.
“Pfft~” As the sound of Father Hamish drinking up the last mouthful of minced meat and wheat paste in the bowl came, Cooper also stopped walking and looked at the children playing outside the door. After Hamish burped with satisfaction, Cooper stepped forward.
"Father Hamish, you said those guys are planning to attack the valley?" Cooper didn't want to question Father Hamish's words, but he still expected Father Hamish to give him a negative answer.
"Dear Lord Cooper," Father Hamish wiped the remaining wheat paste from the corner of his mouth and continued, "Based on my observations of that guy and what he did to those county soldiers, that bastard is definitely a tough guy to deal with!" Hamish cursed.
"Lord Cooper, in my opinion, whether that bastard will really come to attack the valley or is just bluffing, we must prepare for the worst. Don't forget, if they really come in, how many people in the territory will be massacred. Moreover, everything that Lord Art has worked hard to lead everyone to build may be destroyed. How will we explain to you then?" Hamish said and sighed deeply.
How could Cooper not know it? After all, every brick and tile here has an inseparable relationship with him. He has already regarded this place as his second hometown, not to mention his grandson, Mrs. Lottie and the young master. If those gangsters were really allowed to come in, Mrs. Lottie and the young master would have their shortcomings, and Cooper would never forgive himself.
“At this point, we have to mobilize all our forces to protect the valley.” At this time, Cooper, standing at the door of the Lord’s Hall, turned his back to Hamish and made the firmest determination.
………
Early in the morning of the second day, Cooper convened a group of civil affairs officials headed by temporary garrison commander Scott on the first floor of the Lord's Hall of the Valley Wooden Castle. In addition, Lottie, the hostess of the Valley Castle, and Hamish, the priest of the Valley, also attended the meeting.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Cooper bowed politely to Lottie, "according to the news brought back by Father Hamish yesterday, we have analyzed that the gang of thugs may indeed attack the valley in the near future." As soon as Cooper said this, although all the officials had been mentally prepared, they still started talking about the bad news.
“Everyone, please be quiet,” Cooper continued. “I can understand your mood at this time, but worrying will not solve any problem at all.” Civil affairs officials were silent at this time. Lottie looked at Cooper and nodded repeatedly. She now finally knew why her husband chose Cooper to be the civil affairs official. This elderly man is not only down-to-earth in his work, but also good at soothing people.
"～So, we should now mobilize all the forces we can mobilize to guard the valley. This is your core interest, and as long as the valley is still in our hands, it is not too late."
"Lord Cooper is right," Hamish continued. "We only need to do one thing this time, which is to gather the strength of the entire county to guard the valley. The purpose of that group of people is obvious. By destroying the valley, they will cut off your retreat and force you to withdraw from Kodor. They are not bandits at all, but sent by the Thorne Palace to destroy our home!" Hamish said excitedly.
“Are you willing to watch those bastards kill your wives and children, take away your food, and seize your land?” Hamish was so excited that he almost stood on the table in the wooden castle hall.
Everyone replied in unison.
“Okay!” Cooper continued as he saw the civil affairs officials being mobilized by Hamish’s words. "Everyone, there are only about seventy of the defenders in the valley who are actually capable of fighting. The other two hundred are only used as auxiliary forces to deter the group of ruthless bandits. These troops are definitely not enough. Therefore, I suggest that because the focus of this defense is on the valley territory, we should transfer back all the county soldiers and peasant soldiers who are assisting in the defense of Wincheston Manor, Lane Manor and Southwest Farm. The valley is on standby. In addition, some farmers and soldiers from various territories in the county will be mobilized to assist in the defense, and all salary expenses during the period will be paid by the civil administration. "Madam," Cooper turned his head to Lottie beside him, "please notify Mrs. Galvin of Sarp Castle immediately and ask her to dispatch some of the Sarp garrison troops to help relieve the current difficulties in the valley."
“Old housekeeper, don’t worry, leave this matter to me.” Lottie stood up and said to Cooper. As the mistress of the wooden castle in the valley, Lottie naturally hopes that she can do her part for the valley.
"In addition, I have decided to recruit the veterans who were injured and disabled in the battle of the Welsh Army to supplement the defensive army." Everyone talked about it and expressed confusion.
"Everyone, although these veterans are somewhat disabled and can no longer go out to fight, their combat experience and command capabilities are not comparable to that of you and me." Everyone suddenly realized.
"Therefore, I decided to let them lead some peasants and soldiers respectively to take charge of this defense~"
The meeting continued until noon. After Cooper assigned tasks to everyone present, everyone got busy.
"My lord, Baron, that is Winchester Manor." Adjutant Nick, who was pointing forward with his right hand, whispered to Doyle, who was watching.
"Okay, tell the brothers, rush in and kill all the bastards inside, take away all you can, and burn all the ones you can't take away."
"Don't worry." Nick's mouth corners rose, his eyes revealed a slit, and he stared straight ahead. Because I had long heard that Wincheston Manor was extremely rich, and the Dean family's business territory spread all over the country, so there were naturally a lot of gold coins waiting for me here. Thinking of this, Nick was secretly happy.
From a distance, there were only two peasant soldiers on duty walking around at the gate of Wincheston Manor. The two guys who usually stood on the high wall inside the door have long since disappeared. Soldiers are very fast. Yesterday, the leader of the valley sent someone to notify the county guards who were assisting in the defense. In addition to the two peasant soldiers guarding the gate, they gathered all the peasant soldiers from Wincheston Manor and most of the peasant soldiers from Lane Manor and Southwest Farm to return to the valley to help defend against the gang of bandits who had previously attacked the county city.
"No, why are there only two people at the door of such a big manor?" Looking at the situation in front of him, Doyle had doubts.
"You mean they have an ambush?" Nick leaned over and asked.
"In an emergency, it's better to be more cautious. In this way, you take two people to touch it first, and then I will rush in with my brothers after I understand the situation there."
"My Lord Baron," Nick said hesitantly, "If there is an ambush, then we won't..."
"How dare you make terms with me!" Doyle slapped Nick on the forehead. "Go quickly! Your benefits will be indispensable when the time comes."
"Yes, yes! I'll go right away." After hearing what Doyle said, Nick immediately greeted the two brothers and walked towards the gate of Wincheston Manor.
At this time, the two peasants and soldiers standing at the door had no idea that the danger was approaching...
Doyle, who was hiding in the wheat field, watched his men approach the two unaware guys step by step. In a moment, the two peasant soldiers fell into a pool of blood. The three of them opened the door and walked inside.
After a while, a soldier who followed Nick came out of the manor gate and waved to the others to pass.
"What? There are only two peasant soldiers on such a big farm." Looking at the four or five grey-haired manor servants and farmers kneeling in the yard, Doyle shouted to Nick loudly.
"Baron, everyone is here." Nick looked at the old men and women on the ground and said to Doyle.
"Tell me, where have the others gone?" Doyle said, pulling out his broadsword and pointing it at the neck of an old farmer, making the old man tremble with fear. These guys who were lucky enough to think that the enemy would not kill them now regretted it.
"Sir, the peasants and soldiers were transferred back by the people in the valley yesterday afternoon. The other farmers also ran back to the valley with their families to take refuge." The old farmer's throat kept shaking as he spoke. Several other people kneeling on the ground were already sweating on their foreheads, fearing that their necks would be wiped by the sharp sword.
“What?” Doyle was puzzled.
"Baron, could it be that..." Nick whispered in Doyle's ear.
I saw Doyle's eyes opening wider and wider, and he almost rolled out.
"You mean that the defense force in the valley is weak at this time, and the people from these places have to be transferred back to the valley for defense." Doyle thought thoughtfully.
"Yes, Lord Baron, this is the only reason why the farmers and soldiers here returned to the valley, indicating that that is their core interest."
"Hmph," Doyle said with a sinister smile, thinking about what method to use to deal with the valley. "It seems that my previous judgment was correct. The priest was really bluffing."
"What are you still doing? Take all the good things inside with me, and burn the ones that can't be taken away. Also, have you seen those wheat fields outside? They were all destroyed by me."
Yes, Lord Baron~"
Since the valuables, grain and other important materials in the Wincheston Manor had been transported back to the valley for storage yesterday, the followers rummaged through the manor and only found money and goods worth less than two thousand pfennigs, plus some iron candlesticks and other daily necessities.
"Lord Baron, we found some of these things. There is nothing inside except some furniture and farm tools." Nick handed the belongings in his hand to Doyle.
“These bastards must have transported all the valuable things back to the valley.” Doyle was furious. "That's fine. When the time comes to conquer the valley, I'll make them spit them out!" Looking at the old guys kneeling on the ground and the thatched hut at the corner of the courtyard, Doyle signaled his men to drive the old guys in and lock the wooden door.
"Light the fire!"
"Yes!"
With Doyle's order, the thatched house was set on fire by the attendants. For a moment, several people in the house struggled and screamed desperately, banging on the wooden door and shouting for help. The people outside just stood there motionless, admiring their handiwork.
"Why are you still standing there, let me burn this place down!"
"Yes, Lord Baron!"
With puffs of blue smoke rising, the once tall, spacious and prosperous Wincheston Manor was burned by the raging fire. The wooden roof and windows continued to fall, and the sound of wood exploding could be heard from time to time inside. The stone walls were scorched black by the fire...
……………
"What are you still doing? Move these things to the city wall quickly." Scott, who was preparing defensive supplies for the enemy at Beiguan Army Fort, ordered the peasants and soldiers who had just brought the stones and logs from a distance with their carriages.
Since Cooper assigned the task, Scott has stepped up the defense arrangement of Beiguan Army Fort and Boulder Town, and does not dare to relax for a moment. Although he had never participated in a battle, as a major civil affairs official, he could only bite the bullet and rush forward at this time. Because behind you is your home and your family...