The former Thorne City has now become a huge military camp. In addition to the Ordo Division of the Welsh Army, which was guarding the Principality of Burgundy on the western border of Saône Province, several main armies of the Liberation Army gathered here.
Hongxia Army, Wells Army, and the Original Palace Guards Army can be regarded as the most important fighting forces in this battle of succession. After the complete occupation of Thorne City, the remaining clearing operations in the territory of Thorne Province did not need to be bothered by several main battle forces. Even the patrols of Thorne City and surrounding areas were handed over to the border troops dispatched by Baldwin from the eastern province of Yona.
After months of fierce fighting, the Welsh Army was finally able to enter wartime repairs.
Northwest of Thorne City, the mansion that originally belonged to the rich merchants in the city has been turned into the residence of the Welsh Legion.
At the entrance of a trading house's warehouse, Spencer, a baggage officer of the Welsh Legion, raised his sleeves to wipe his forehead from time to time. Even though it was already autumn, Spencer was covered in hot sweat.
In a battle for succession, the person who worked the hardest was Spencer, the baggage officer who established the baggage system of the Welsh Army.
Although there are many things to do during the march, the things involving the logistics of the army are really exhausting. After a war, Spencer lost a lot of weight, and even his hair turned a little gray.
…Three hundred and fifty bags of hulled wheat, five carts of bacon, ten carts of fruits and vegetables, drinks, one, two, three... hmm? Where are the ten carts of drinks in the list?”
Spencer slapped the warehouse account book onto the deputy next to him, "The Chinese Army asked the Army to hold a dinner tomorrow night. How do you do it? The most important drinks haven't been collected yet, you losers!"
"Who is responsible for collecting drinks?"
The adjutant of the baggage train wiped the cold sweat on his forehead, "Sir Spencer, the drinks are handled by a small team of the second baggage team~"
"Sir, there is really no alcohol available around here." The adjutant of the baggage train explained.
Spencer turned around and glanced at the adjutant, and cursed in a low voice, "There is only one adult in the Wells Army! If you can't remember it anymore, you, the adjutant, will stop doing it!"
"Yes, yes!"
"Remove the captain of the small team of the second team and replace him with someone who can do the job."
"This~"
hh "This, this, this! If I don't see enough drinks at noon tomorrow, you will be the baggage captain for me!" Spencer's tone was unquestionable.
In this time of war, he, the legion's baggage officer, is also feeling a lot of pressure, and naturally he can only coerce his opponents.
The adjutant of the baggage train had to turn around with a grimace to carry out the military order.
After counting the food supplies, Spencer led the soldiers towards the inner warehouse where weapons and war preparations were piled.
After a while, Spencer's roar rang out in the warehouse, "...it's the Jonah Army again! These bastards hid in the East to watch the excitement when they attacked Thorne City. They waited for us to break the city before running over, and now they dare to snatch our weapons and armor!"
“Immediately summon all the guards of the baggage train in the military camp and follow me to snatch back what belongs to us!”
"Lord Spencer, they claim to have a warrant from Earl Baldwin~ Do we~"
"What bullshit warrant! Those two hundred sets of weapons and armor are from the Central Command of the Liberation Army. The camp tent has long been assigned to the Wells Army, so why should those weaklings from the Jonah Army take it away? "
"Gather immediately!" Spencer had already rolled up his sleeves that were wet with sweat and walked out of the warehouse angrily.
"Should we call a group of soldiers to go together?"
"What are we calling soldiers for? We are fighting for baggage now, and the nature of the soldiers has changed!"
"Then I will ask the guards to bring swords!"
"Can you use the pig's brain."
"Then let's~"
"Get a stick!" Spencer was almost mad, so he picked up a wooden handle of a tomahawk.
The Welsh Army's Central Army commanded the camp. Matthew, who was transferred to the Central Army's Military Law Corps, was reporting to Art on the armed battle between the baggage train and Jonah's Army during the day, which the other side defined as a "camp attack."
…Sir, this is roughly what happened. Lord Spencer did argue with the Jonah Army in order to get back the weapons and armor that originally belonged to the Wells Army. At that time, the Jonah Army, relying on the support of Count Baldwin, not only refused to return the weapons, but also cursed Lord Spencer, so there was a fight. "
"Lord Spencer was wounded by them, and five of the escort soldiers were slightly injured. However, one of the other party died and five or six were seriously injured. That's what happened"
Matthew said and stood aside.
He led people to investigate the armed fight with the Jonah Army during the day today. More than thirty baggage guards from the Wells Army broke into the camp of the Jonah Army with sticks and demanded that the other party return the weapons and equipment taken from the Thorne City arsenal. The other party was unreasonable and eventually triggered an armed fight.
Thirty or so baggage guards were stunned and beat up sixty or seventy members of Jonah's army, including a dozen combat soldiers.
The Welsh Legion's heavy equipment "became famous in one battle".
The young and energetic Matthew was just proud of the might of the Welsh Legion, but Art, who was pacing back and forth in the camp, had a headache more and more.
When the war is about to begin, everything is complicated; all parties take the stage, and the situation is complicated.
There was only one enemy during the war. Once the war was over, the faces of the former sincere comrades slowly began to change.
Leave aside the external countries, at this time, the intertwined forces in Thorne City have already begun to fight secretly.
Baldwin's eastern forces, the "veteran" forces of the Longxia Army, Lucese's supporters, those who surrendered in the early stages, and those who recently surrendered...
Thorne City has turned into a pot of minced meat and wheat paste without boiling.
The country of Burgundy, scorched by the flames of war, turned into a tantalizing piece of barbecue, and everyone wanted to tear off a large piece and stuff it into their mouths.
Barbecue is limited, but these people’s appetites are bottomless.
Recently, the command of the Welsh Army has been temporarily handed over to Odo, Angus and Kazak.
Hunt, the commander of the Welsh Army, deals with the wooing and lobbying of various forces every day. Of course, he does the same thing himself.
Matt, who was pacing back and forth, simply turned around and lay down on the armchair in front of him, rubbed his head, and asked softly to Robert and Bob beside him: "You two, what do you think of this matter? Bob goes first."
Bob, who was wearing a military uniform and was slightly fatter, put down his right hand that was touching his chin, stood up and replied: "Sir, there is something I probably shouldn't say."
"There are no outsiders here, tell me."
“That old Baldwin—” Bob wanted to say “old guy,” but stopped immediately.
"Earl Baldwin is not an easy character to deal with, and I'm afraid it's not a good thing to offend him at this time. It was because I offended him that my family was exiled to the border of Jonah, where we often suffered oppression and intrusion from the Swabians~"
"You mean we shouldn't provoke the Jonah Army?"
Bob bowed his head and remained silent.
"What about you, Robert?"
Robert, who is now the Bishop of Tyniec, is still wearing the same casual clothes as when he was a priest. He touched the cross on his chest, stood up and took a look at everyone.
"Sir, I don't think this fight is necessarily a bad thing. I heard that Earl Baldwin was somewhat unhappy with the new king at yesterday's palace meeting. It seems to be about discussing meritorious rewards and conferring fiefdoms after the war~"
Robert will stop at that, and it will be useless to say more.
Matt raised his head and closed his eyes. The break between Flanders and Baldwin became more and more obvious. At such a sensitive time, Art's Wells Army and Baldwin's Jonah Army were fighting, and the timing was really not chosen right.
Just when Art was worried, Ron opened the door and walked in. He stood next to Art and reported softly, "Master, there are two guests who want to see you."
"Which noble disciple are they? Missing!" There have been quite a few people visiting Art recently, and they just want to follow Art's relationship to climb onto the new king's ship, and he doesn't want to deal with it anymore.
"One is our old friend, Sir David. He has now been transferred to the newly formed Palace Guards Corps, and he came to visit you specially."
Matt's face relaxed slightly, "Ask Sir David to wait for me in the living room and entertain me. I will go to see him soon."
"Who is the other person?"
"He is also someone you know..."
"Viscount Jeffery? Wasn't he sent to the north to guard the border? How could he appear here."
hh "He went south in disguise~"
Jeff Viscount Li, the confidant of the former ruler of the Count of Burgundy and the original Marquis of Ivrea of the Count of Burgundy, and the chief of the palace guard, was a smart man who chose to stay away from the whirlpool during the battle for succession, and was also a poor man who was alienated by the new king.
Matt shook his head helplessly, "Invite Viscount Jeffrey to my study. Remember, don't let others see..."
"It's day by day, more tiring than fighting." After saying that, he got up and prepared to meet the guests.
"Sir, what shall we do with Mr. Spencer? He is still in the Military Law Corps." Matthew immediately asked for instructions.
Matt stopped for a moment and said, "The baggage train is full of things, so let him get back to work quickly."
The hall of the mansion was full of people, including commanders of various regiments of the Liberation Army, lords and nobles from all over the country, and forces from the Western Region who had just surrendered.
Due to his outstanding military exploits and relationship with his wife, Art was able to sit on an armchair near the main seat in the hall.
Hong the ears are the fierce quarrels among the powerful and meritorious. Behind their red faces are the competition for newly conquered lands, vacant official positions, and lucrative war profits. Everyone is emphasizing their indelible contribution in this war, and everyone hopes that they can obtain more land, money and titles...
Such large-scale court meetings have been held three times. Originally a court meeting to discuss how to restore the country after the war, it turned into a arena for nobles to compete for interests. Each time, the result was that everyone became more hostile to each other.
Flender, who was sitting in the main seat with his eyes closed and concentrating, finally stood up from the armchair.
The noise in the hall stopped immediately, "Today's court meeting is over!"
Everyone in the hall was still unfinished, but Flanders had already turned around and walked towards the inner court, so he had to leave.
At, who had been silent all this time, was about to get up and leave when Flanders's personal guard walked up to him.
"Viscount Art, the Marquis invites you to come to the inner court."
Walter (the commander of the first branch of Jonah's army) said that your soldiers attacked their camp with weapons, robbed their weapons, and killed their soldiers. Is this true? Flanders was lying on the couch in the inner court, and asked Art with his eyes closed.
Matt did not expect that Jonah's army's ability to fight was average, but his ability to file complaints was unstoppable.
"Back to the Marquis, yes. My baggage soldiers rushed into the camp of the Jonah Army with wooden sticks and snatched back the weapons and equipment that belonged to the Wells Army. Several soldiers did kill a Jonah soldier by mistake."
Flender opened his eyes, looked up at Art who was as if nothing had happened, and closed his eyes again to rest, "Have you apologized to Count Baldwin?"
Art glanced at Flanders, who spoke calmly, "As the Prime Minister, Earl Baldwin will definitely not care about such trivial matters."
Flender raised his lips slightly, "I have found out what happened. However, although the Prime Minister is broad-minded, he is kind to you after all. You should take the initiative to explain it."
"I will definitely obey the Marquis's order." Art has already made his attitude clear.
Flender opened his eyes, stood up and poured a glass of wine for Art himself, "Art, in the recent court meetings, everyone has been competing for credit, why are you always silent?"
Art took the wine glass, "My Lord Marquis, you are a wise prince, and you know the merits and demerits. Besides, we are the ones you give us. It should be done."
Ding~
Flender touched Art's wine glass lightly, "Art, if everyone was as sensible as you, I wouldn't have to waste my energy on endless court discussions."
Art didn't answer.
"Our eagle eye in Paris has sent back the news that France has agreed to my request. His Majesty the King and His Majesty the Pope will personally come to negotiate with the Principality of Burgundy for the return of the Count to France." Flanders changed the topic.
"It is estimated that it won't be long before I go to Paris to receive the canonization and coronation from His Majesty the King and the Pope."
"Have you decided to break with the principality?" Although Art, a confidant, had heard the news in advance, he was still a little surprised.
Flender nodded with a cold face.
"Then we may have to face a more cruel war. I hope that the Kingdom of France can calm down the anger of the Principality of Burgundy~" In addition to worrying that the Principality of Burgundy would choose to "recover" by force because the county country betrayed its suzerainty, Art was also worried about the future northward passage for European commercial banks.
“So I decided to seal the city on the western border of Thorne Province and the surrounding land to you.” Flanders looked at Art with interest.
"Isn't that why you asked for the Wells Corps to clear the border?" Flanders chuckled softly.
"There are only two major passages from the Principality of Burgundy to the Count of Burgundy. The Longxia Army will be sent to garrison on the northern border of Besancon, while the western border will have to be handed over to your Welsh Army."
At suddenly regretted it.
"Don't worry, I won't treat you badly, cousin Art, Earl of Wells." Flanders emphasized the word "Earl"...
The earth-shattering changes in the County of Burgundy have ended.
In October, Flanders, the new king of Burgundy, led a group of important court officials, escorted by the newly formed Palace Guards, to go south, bypassing the Principality of Provence, enter the south of the Kingdom of France, and then go north to the capital Paris.
Flanders received the canonization personally from the King of France at the Louvre Museum in Paris, and officially became the Marquis of Burgundy of the Kingdom of France and the ruler of the new County of Burgundy.
On the morning after Flanders's coronation, two thousand cavalry from the Duchy of Burgundy were displayed in the northern border of the country.
On the afternoon of the same day, eight thousand cavalry from the Kingdom of France entered the border of the Principality of Burgundy...