Who Says Logistics Can't Fight?

Compared to the food outside for the soldiers, what the nobles ate was far more lavish.

There were all kinds of carefully prepared dishes, with great quantities of honey, wine, and Condensed Milk giving off their sweetness.

Yet in contrast to the soldiers' cheerful atmosphere, the nobles' words did not match their hearts.

They praised Henry's generosity and claimed to be deeply grateful for his invitation, but aside from drinking a few beverages, they barely ate anything.

Except for Boman and Bain, who were competing to see who could finish a small roast pig first.

The viscounts and Barons raised their wineglasses and elegantly offered their congratulations, clinking glasses with Henry, but Henry could sense their coldness and distance.

Damn nobles. One day, every one of you will lose your heads. Henry smiled as he drank his wine, while thinking of ways for them to die.

Henry moved constantly among the nobles. The Knights, on the other hand, thought highly of him and offered sincere congratulations.

Lesser Nobles could not afford to offend anyone. Every noble showing signs of rising was someone they admired and sought to flatter.

The Champion Banner Knight found Henry, offered his congratulations, and drained the wine in his cup.

"Sir Knight, the Legion Commander sends his congratulations, but he is unable to come. From the Parchment you brought back, we can estimate part of the Half-Orc tribe's population, food reserves, and rate of armor and weapon ownership. The Legion Commander is still occupied with many battle plans."

"And your bounty and reward, sir."

"Of course, officer. Help yourself to the food, and I hope you enjoy yourself today."

After making the rounds, Henry returned to his tent and discussed their next move with Glen.

Since they had already worked together once, they could certainly do it again. Glen believed Henry could bring victory.

"Where's Fas? Isn't he with you?"

Glen shook his head, took a bite of Cream Bread, and said, "He seems to have gone to compete with Boman over who can eat faster. I think your attendant joined in too."

Henry rolled his eyes, too lazy to bother with those three childish fools. "When will the bounty and reward be issued? Did your Earl relative tell you?"

"I don't know either, but it should be today. Maybe they'll hand it out soon?"

Henry nodded, tore a wing from a roast chicken, dipped it in honey, and stripped the meat clean from the bone in one bite, leaving Glen dumbfounded.

"Wow, Henry. Not only are you good with blades, your mouth is impressive too."

Henry snorted and chewed his chicken. "I have something even more impressive, but I don't think you want to try it."

Glen quickly waved his hands. He had no interest in men. In the Empire, once same-sex relations between men or women were discovered, it often meant castration, punishment, and death.

"By the way, Henry, we need more manpower. Although we gained a lot this time and it was worth it, there are almost no serfs left to handle the direct fighting. If this continues, we won't be able to keep going."

Henry sighed and said nothing. He had been considering the same problem.

"If we temporarily buy serfs and send them to the battlefield, they may mutiny. Not only would we waste our money, but our private army would suffer severe losses."

Henry nodded. "But mercenaries are even less reliable, aren't they? When they act alone, they dare to fight and risk their lives."

"That's because they're fighting for themselves. But when we hire them to fight, they can battle for three days and three nights without getting a scratch."

Glen smiled. "Henry, I want to hear your opinion."

"I don't have any good ideas, Glen. Right now, the only people we can rely on are ourselves."

"I still have nearly two hundred men in my private army, so I can fight some small battles. If we continue to combine our forces, we can absolutely confront a small Half-Orc unit head-on."

Glen shook his head and explained helplessly, "Use our private soldiers for direct combat? A hundred or so serfs can't support a real fight. At most, they can cheer us on. If not for the Supervisory Team being large enough, they would have run away long ago."

"I can't let all my cavalry die here. They are my treasures for intimidating the nobles within my territory and nearby."

Henry lowered his gaze. "Then we can't continue working together, Glen. Sorry."

Glen sighed, ate some more fruit, and left.

The Barracks banquet lasted a full three hours before everyone finally dispersed.

At the same time, Henry received the bounty and reward Sebastian had delivered.

It was three thousand five hundred Denars, along with an appointment letter.

"Knight Henry Bro is appointed temporary independent quartermaster of the Seventh Legion's right wing, responsible for transporting the Logistics Train and ensuring that supplies are not lost. From the day of departure onward, he will receive one thousand Denars per month and be provided with legion rations."

Henry could not quite describe how he felt. He was somewhat relieved, but also somewhat unwilling.

A quartermaster could earn money easily, and it completely solved Henry's shortage of manpower. Logistics was not warfare; all he needed was people to transport things.

That was how war worked. Logistics only needed transportation, while warriors at the front had much more to consider.

This job would make him a fortune, enough at the very least to add two more villages to his territory.

But Henry wanted even more to go to the battlefield himself and obtain more "treasures."

"No, who says logistics can't fight? Once the battle begins, I can bring Bain and the cavalry into the fight."

Henry smiled and shook his head, then called Claude and Philip over to distribute wages to the soldiers, reward those who had killed Half-Orcs, and give them leave to enjoy themselves.

Getting paid was something anyone would be happy about. The soldiers were delighted that Henry had issued their wages, and they planned to get drunk in a tavern for the night.

However, Henry suddenly heard an argument. He walked over and found Bain arguing with several soldiers.

"Bain, what happened?"

When Bain saw Henry, he hurriedly said, "My lord, these men say you're stingy. You would rather spend money hosting others than give them more wages."

Henry looked calmly at the three skirmishers standing before him with their heads lowered.

"Soldiers, answer me. Did I withhold your wages?"

"No, Lord."

"Didn't I provide you with armor and weapons, my private soldiers?"

"You did, Lord."

Henry placed his hands on his hips and advanced toward the skirmishers step by step. "Then did you soldiers with military achievements receive your bounty?"

"Y-yes, we did."

Henry slapped a hand onto a skirmisher's shoulder. "Then were you full after today's feast?"

"Of course. We are grateful for your generosity." The skirmisher grimaced in pain from the blow and answered through clenched teeth.

Slap!

Henry gave each of the three skirmishers a smack across the face. "You are all free men. Now take off your armor and weapons, leave behind your wages and bounty to repay me for the feast, then get out of my sight. Don't let me see you again."