Heavy Infantry
At the city lord's mansion, after seeing off Governor Pierce, Baron Ciss finally reclaimed his rightful territory.
The thought of his hard-earned money, which he risked his life for, being confiscated after being charged with a bunch of crimes, was devastating.
One after another, Baron Ciss was fined a total of 10,532 gold coins, and he was honored to occupy the top spot on the fine list, more than the second, third, fourth and fifth place combined. He was nicknamed "The Great Injustice".
The numbers, complete with decimals and whole numbers, seemed to speak of the Governor's professionalism in imposing fines. But to Ciss, it was nothing but blatant mockery.
There was no other way; the Northern Nobles south were the largest unstable group in the Southeast Province. Since Count Pierce wanted a stable Southeast Province, he naturally had to deal with the leader of this unstable group.
Judging from the current results, this tactic of making an example of someone to deter others has been very successful. Baron Ciss obediently accepted the fine, and none of the Northern Nobles dared to cause trouble.
Hard-earned money cannot be wasted. As a Northern Nobles, Baron Ciss's motto is: if there is a loss, a way must be found to make up for it.
"How's the reconnaissance going?"
Ciss asked coldly.
His words were devoid of any warmth, as if he were an emotionless machine. Only the expectant look in his eyes betrayed the desires deep within his heart.
"The four minor branches of the Coslo Family gathered together, along with twelve noble families traveling along the way, and the total number of guards exceeded one thousand."
However, not all of these people would likely accompany them along the way. Once inside Maple Leaf Territory, only the Coslo Family and the three knights who were affiliated with the Mountain Baron remained.
If we're going to make a move, the best place to do so is in Maple Leaf Territory. Their guard force will be weakened to a minimum then, probably no more than three hundred men.
Considering the large number of enemy knights, the fact that the Mountain Baron is most skilled in ranged attacks and can counter Heavy Cavalry, and the presence of an Earth Bear of unknown strength, we need to deploy at least six hundred elite troops to be confident of victory.
If you don't want to suffer too much loss, it's best to team up with several other entities, such as Baron Katerley.
Upon hearing this analysis, Baron Ciss nearly coughed up blood. If this plan were carried out, he'd probably be stuck with it for the rest of his life.
Who doesn't know that he and Baron Katerley are at odds? They clashed back in the North, and now that they're rivals, it's even harder for them to join forces.
In particular, the crime scene was chosen to be within the enemy's territory. After the incident, Baron Katerley was the first person investigated when the kingdom began its search for the culprit.
Unless he's out of his mind, Baron Katerley wouldn't agree. If they were to join forces, they might just conspire together and turn on him.
Those who send troops to plunder nobles' property deserve to be killed in retaliation. The kingdom's laws strictly protect the personal safety of nobles, but that only applies to nobles operating legally. Those who deliberately seek their own demise will not have their personal safety protected.
"Fool, it's common knowledge that that bastard Kateryne is in cahoots with the Mountain Baron. You want us to join forces with him? Are you tired of living?"
And as you judged, to take down a few local nobles, you actually need to send out 600 elite troops.
"If we mobilize so many people at once, wouldn't that expose us directly?"
Baron Ciss almost roared out the three soul-searching questions.
He used to be a pretty clever subordinate, but I don't know what's wrong with him now. He's made so many mistakes, it's obvious they won't stop until they get him killed.
"Ciss, don't make things difficult for Ravesi. His analysis may not be wrong."
The claim that Kateley colluded with the Mountain Baron is just a rumor. Rumors that spread like wildfire are inherently unreliable.
If the two of them were truly colluding and not hiding anything, waiting to sabotage us at a crucial moment, why would they have leaked the information in advance?
As for the assessment of the Mountain Baron's group's strength, I think it's spot on. Even a lion needs to use its full strength to hunt a rabbit, let alone when facing the renowned Divine Bow Knight.
It's important to know that this man rose to fame by stepping over the corpses of Holy See Cavalry. While the claim of annihilating a thousand enemies is likely exaggerated, to achieve fame in one battle, he must have killed at least several dozen Holy See Cavalry.
It is said that even Great Knight perished at his hands. Ordinary knights simply could not dodge his arrows, let alone soldiers.
According to the information we have gathered, this person had always used standard military bows and arrows, which did not allow him to unleash the true potential of Divine Archer.
After gaining fame, even if one cannot obtain a divine bow, with the connections of the Coslo Family, acquiring an Elves elven Strong Bow would not be difficult.
Unless we launch a sneak attack and immediately engage in close combat to kill him, this Divine Bow Knight could inflict heavy losses on us.
In fact, it wouldn't be easy to ambush him. Although his achievements all came from a single bow, the fact that he was able to subdue an Earth Bear suggests that his own strength wasn't lacking.
We've all seen that bear before; it can transform into a three-meter-tall body, which means it has clearly passed through its most vulnerable infancy stage.
It is unknown what stage of growth it has reached, but even if the Earth Bear has just passed its infancy, its combat power will not be inferior to that of a Great Knight.
I don't believe the Coslo Family has the capability to accelerate an Earth Bear from infancy to maturity in a short period of time.
Although reality can be harsh, it must be acknowledged that geniuses do exist in this world. Sixteen- or seventeen-year-old Great Knight, and even Silver Knight, have appeared on the continent before.
You've seen the more than one hundred armored soldiers under his command with your own eyes. Just by looking at their military bearing, you can roughly tell that their combat strength is extremely formidable.
The guards brought by the nobles of the other Southeast Province were also their respective elite troops. Although their military training might be insufficient, their individual combat capabilities were not weak. With so many men blocking the way, it was enough to buy the Mountain Baron sufficient time to launch his attack.
I believe that even if we send in six hundred elite troops, we might not be able to hold them off. Even our fastest warhorses cannot catch up with the Earth Bear in their growth stage.
The title of Earth King is well-deserved. Legend has it that the Earth Bear can continuously draw magical power from the ground as long as it stands on it, and once set a record of fighting continuously for seven days and seven nights.
Even if we succeed in the robbery, as long as we don't capture that Divine Bow Knight, with him and the bear working together to launch a ranged sneak attack, we'll have a hard time escaping unscathed.
The old man's words instantly silenced Baron Ciss. Gold coins were tempting, but one had to be able to stomach them.
Having spent so many years deep within the Orc Empire, he wouldn't have survived this long if he weren't quick-witted.
Deep down, he believed the old man had exaggerated the other man's strength in order to dissuade him from killing him.
As the leader of a powerful faction, Baron Ciss had to consider the costs. Even if the robbery succeeded, if his own casualties were too heavy, he would still be finished.
Leaving aside how to make up for the losses, the Kingdom of Light will inevitably investigate. As a prominent figure in both prefectures, his strength is out in the open, and the loss of over a hundred elite troops is impossible to conceal.
"Understood, Uncle Ferren. I won't act rashly without being sure of what I'm doing. Are there any Northern Nobles who are interested in them?"
"I'm concerned, "Ciss asked.
Just because you can't act yourself doesn't mean you can't incite others to act. If you can take the opportunity to sabotage your competitors, that would be even better.
"There are some. When I sent people to investigate, I also discovered spies from other noble families. However, after assessing the strength of the Mountain Baron's group, I doubt many would have the courage to make a move."
Lavezzi answered in a very serious tone.
Regardless of what Baron Ciss thought, as a loyal subordinate, the first thing to do was to honestly answer his boss's questions.
After hesitating for a moment, Ciss ultimately abandoned the idea of organizing a group to carry out the assassination. On the one hand, there were too many people involved, and the loot wouldn't be enough for everyone to share; on the other hand, he simply didn't trust his teammates.
There was no betrayal only because they didn't have enough leverage. When it came to his own life and fortune, Ciss wouldn't dare gamble with his teammates' integrity.
The murder of a nobleman would have too great an impact. Once exposed, even the eldest son of a grand duke would not be able to cover it up, let alone this illegitimate son.
"It seems this man is my greatest rival if I want to control Wright County. If I can't eliminate him before he gains power, it won't be so easy to make a move later!"
Ciss couldn't help but sigh.
He certainly didn't lack strategic vision. Although Hudson's strength wasn't the strongest in Wright County, his wealth was definitely among the top of all the nobles.
Money talks, and that's the defining characteristic of the North. This principle applies equally across the entire continent.
Any ambitious nobleman, once his pockets are full, will first do the same thing: expand his military power.
It doesn't require much technical expertise; as long as you're mentally sound and don't mess around recklessly, you can build an elite force simply by throwing money at it.
"Young master, there is no need to worry too much. The Mountain Baron is indeed exceptionally capable, but the Coslo Family's strength cannot support his ambitions."
The choice of fiefdom reveals this. While the Salam Mine Area could indeed generate huge profits in the short term, these profits were not sustainable.
The Southeast Province lack high-quality coal, so even if they have mines, it is difficult to forge high-quality weapons and equipment.
We've all seen the weapons forged by the Mountain Baron; their quality is comparable to the scrap metal of the Orc Empire. They're only good enough to equip serfs; in the hands of elite troops, they'd simply drag down their combat effectiveness.
Once peace is restored in the two counties, the huge profits from selling weapons will immediately decrease sharply.
At that time, the profit from selling only farm tools or daily necessities will not be very high.
Among the feudal nobles of the two counties, the Mountain Territory might have higher incomes, but it was simply impossible for them to be so far ahead as they are now.
It is likely that this person also saw this point, which is why he has been recruiting people from the outside world in an attempt to develop the vast area of the Salam Mountain Range.
This is a long-term project; without a continuous investment of hundreds of thousands of gold coins, nothing can be accomplished.
If nothing unexpected happens, he will spend the next few decades developing his fiefdom.
For minor nobles, this is undoubtedly the most correct choice. Once fully developed, it will be enough to bring the Coslo Family back to the ranks of middle-class nobles.
But that's about the limit. With his strategic focus on developing his territory, he no longer has the energy to compete with you, young master, for dominance over Wright County.
Our immediate priority is to consolidate our fiefdoms as quickly as possible. Only by concentrating our resources can we rebuild Dadir City in the shortest possible time.
As the largest city in the southern Southeast Province, Dadir City is naturally suited to become a commercial and trade center; this is our greatest advantage.
Although the old man spoke casually, as if he didn't take Hader seriously at all, he couldn't hide his envy.
If you can develop steadily, you can easily enter the ranks of middle-class nobles, so why bother with all this trouble?
Slow is not important; the key is to win steadily. If ten years is not enough, then twenty; if twenty years is not enough, then thirty; if thirty years is not enough, then fifty. Just slowly wear down the territory.
The input-output ratio is indeed low, but for nobles, they should not only focus on short-term economic benefits, but also on the long-term future.
The upper limit for the Mountain Territory is middle-class nobility, and the same is true for the Dadir territories. Even if one seizes the position of governor, it can only support Baron Ciss to the ranks of middle-class nobility at most.
Did the Hudson get the better deal?
This conclusion is, in fact, a fallacy. Before Hudson moved into the Salam Mine Area, iron smelting efficiency was not this high, and the quality was appallingly poor.
It could only be used to forge farm tools and daily necessities; it was barely enough to forge inferior weapons. The profits from the mining area were far less than they are now.
After deducting all the lord's expenses, the surplus would be at most a thousand gold coins. To invest hundreds of thousands of gold coins was simply a joke.
If it were easy to do, the original lord would have done it, and Hudson wouldn't have had the chance to get this "bargain".
Even now, many people outside the industry are still not optimistic about this protracted development plan.
After all, no one knows whether tomorrow or an accident will come first. To pour the entire resources of an entire family into a bottomless pit of a development project is simply irresponsible.
With everything settled, news of the conflict between the kingdom and the Church finally reached the Southeast Province.
At this moment, everyone finally understood Governor Pierce's intention. However, what infuriated countless Northern Aristocrats was that if he hadn't told them this was happening sooner, they would have promised not to cause trouble!
They started by delivering a crushing blow, exposing everyone's dark past, causing the already loose alliance to collapse completely.
Once trust is lost, it's very difficult to regain, even with ten times the effort.
Before everyone could catch their breath, a huge fine was imposed, weakening everyone's financial resources to the extreme, leaving them with no capital to cause trouble.
The most crucial point is that everyone's lifeline is now in our hands; we are forced to purchase the limited, affordable grain provided by the Governor's Mansion. The monthly ration is so small; anyone who dares to cause trouble will be facing starvation next month!
The local nobles were also unhappy, but they didn't harbor as much resentment towards Count Pierce. After all, the ones who suffered most from this round of attacks were the Northern Aristocrats had migrated south.
Ultimately, the leader favors his own people; this political signal is enough to appease everyone's discontent. Aside from one unfortunate bystander who remains resentful, most of the local nobles have accepted the current outcome.
Having arrived in the territory without any major setbacks, Hudson began to doubt whether he had been judging others by his own petty standards. Perhaps the moral standards of the nobility were not as low as he had imagined.
However, the promise had to be kept. After treating everyone to good food and wine, Hudson opened the storeroom and let everyone choose whatever they wanted.
Since everything has already been screened, no matter how many you pick, you won't find a single item of high quality.
When it comes to his own life, Hudson wouldn't make such a fundamental mistake. To conceal the fact that he could forge excellent weapons from charcoal, he even spent a fortune buying high-quality coal from outside sources.
They don't sell to the public because the cost is too high. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it; Count Pierce can attest to that, as none of the finest weapons they forge have ever been sold to outsiders.
The weapons and equipment manufactured by purchasing high-quality coal from outside the province at exorbitant prices only cost slightly less than the market price, and therefore lack economic value for large-scale sales.
The Dalton Family insisted on in-house casting, primarily because they were uneasy about the quality of products supplied externally. This was, after all, the magical world, where underhanded tactics were commonplace.
If someone were to tamper with the weapons and equipment being sold, it could be extremely dangerous for a large family.
While precautions can be taken, it's unreasonable to expect a magician to inspect every single item.
Instead of bothering the mages, it's better to organize our own forging operations. After all, the Dalton Family has plenty of iron ore, and this will save us some money.
As for the lesser nobles, there's no need to bother with such matters. Using underhanded tactics also comes at a cost, and they're simply not worth it.
Even if you need to check, you can simply ask someone to help you see if the weapon you're using is cursed.
There's no need to worry about the lives of ordinary soldiers. If the enemy is willing to go to such lengths to wipe them out, it wouldn't be difficult for them to simply come and destroy them.
A hundred-man assassin squad is enough to decapitate 99% of the minor and middle-ranking nobles. The remaining 1% are simply the lucky ones who happen to be away from home.
Hudson's approach, while seemingly making a mountain out of a molehill, was not surprising to anyone, as it did save some money.
"Hudson, hurry up and forge plate armor! I see that the iron produced in your territory, although it's not good for making high-precision armor, should not be difficult to forge large plate armor."
Even if the quality is slightly inferior, it's not a big deal. As long as it's thick enough, it shouldn't be difficult to stop ordinary weapons.
After visiting the smelting plantation, Knight Adrian made an enthusiastic suggestion.
Baron Berrio and Knight Guarente, who were standing nearby, also unusually expressed their agreement with his suggestion.
It's clear that the nobles of the Alpha Kingdom are obsessed with those iron lumps of plate armor. Many powerful nobles have equipped their private armies with these things.
"It's not very practical. Unless you prepare in advance, it's hard to make any use of it. If you have a lot of money, you can prepare some and keep it at home so you can use it when you encounter an invasion."
In normal times, those heavy iron lumps, weighing dozens of pounds, were exhausting for soldiers to wear, making them ill-suited for long marches. If they were placed on wagons, there wouldn't be enough time to put them on in the event of war.
Take my advice: these expensive toys aren't for poor folks like you right now.
Hudson retorted without holding back.
Despite his complaints, his heavy infantry plan was secretly launched. Although plate armor had many drawbacks, it had one advantage that was enough—its defensive capabilities were strong enough.
This is, after all, a magical world. Warriors who have cultivated Battle Qi are far stronger than ordinary people. Wearing armor weighing tens of pounds, although somewhat inconvenient, doesn't make even moving difficult.
The reason the three were advised to abandon the idea was that the production capacity of plate armor was extremely limited. There were only three craftsmen in the territory capable of forging plate armor, averaging thirty suits of armor per month.
They haven't even assembled enough equipment for their own Heavy Infantry, let alone sold it to others.