Interception and Suppression

Victor and Benjamin watched as Count Colt delivered his impassioned speech. Victor breathed a sigh of relief, thankfully Count Colt remained confident.

"Benjamin and Victor, the reason I sent someone to inform you of this news to Iron Mountain Fortress is not only to inform you of this news, but also to assign you a mission."

"Please give the order." ×2

"There are currently 38 independent noble families in the Three Counties of the Northern Frontier. I have received information that Mora has sent people to contact some of them, but I am not sure which noble families have been contacted!"

Count Colt looked at the two of them.

"Although these people have made contact with Grand Duke Mora, it doesn't mean they will betray us now. Knowing some people as I do, they are the kind of guys who won't act until they see the Glowing-Eyed Rabbit. They will definitely need to see the secret agreement before they agree to support the Duchy."

"Before that, there are many things we can do to avoid the worst-case scenario. Commander Lawrence informed me that the convoy carrying the secret pact will depart from the Raine Kingdom this afternoon, cross the Tears of God Inland Sea, and arrive at the Duchy. The First Fleet will send people to delay them, at least by two days, meaning they will not arrive at Strath County in the western part of the Duchy until the 15th, instead of departing on September 11th."

Victor understood what Count Colt wanted them to do.

"Count Excellency, shall we send men directly to intercept the secret agreement?"

"Yes, I have prepared an elite interception squad, all of whom are elites drawn from my guards and Iron Knight Regiment."

Count Colt pointed with his scepter to a point on the Carson Mountains, where York County and Durham County meet.

"I have another small path that can cross the Carson Mountains. It's difficult for a large army to pass through, but it can easily carry a small team of 100 or 200 people. It is estimated that it will take two days to cross the Carson Mountains."

"After the interception team reaches York County, they can go through Lincoln County and arrive directly at Ent County. The area is all plains, and if there are enough horses, it will only take a day. The team can arrive in Ent County on the afternoon of the 14th, rest for a day, and then intercept the convoy transporting the secret agreement on the only road from Ent County to Silver Maple City in Milan County."

"Count lord, leave this matter to me. I will personally lead men to intercept the secret agreement."

Viscount Benjamin spoke first, saying that Victor had never expected his future father-in-law to be so loyal to Count Colt.

Count Colt shook his head.

"You have other tasks, and I will have Alex handle this matter. However, if the interception fails, I must prepare for the worst."

Count Colt looked at the two men with his eyes.

"I trust you two very much. After all, you have been deeply involved in my plans. Of the 38 independent noble families in the Northlands, 9 are my vassals, 3 are branches of the Iron Birch family, and 2 new noble families are also under your control. In addition, Hawk Pumpkin and Edmund Viscount Crimson Maple can also be trusted. They also have 4 barons under their command. These are the core forces of the Allied Army."

"Does that mean there are still 17 noble families that might side with the duchy?"

Victor asked the Count.

"Yes, I cannot guarantee whether these 17 noble families will waver, so I intend to have you mobilize troops and, with my order Governor of the Northern Frontier, station them in these noble territories, and suppress them if necessary."

"But it's not enough for just the two of us. Some nobles live far away from our territory, so we can't reach them."

Viscount Benjamin offered his opinion.

"Not only the 17 independent noble families, but also the 8 pioneering lords in the north of Durham County should be watched out for, as they also have considerable military strength."

Victor thought of the young inland nobles who had started the pioneering work with him. More than half of them had already given up. In North York County, only his Two Rivers Territory and James' Green Valley Territory remained. However, there were still eight pioneering lords in Durham County, with a combined force of five or six thousand men.

"Yes, I have considered all of these. You will only be responsible for a few nobles near your respective territories. Benjamin, you will be responsible for the three barons near you. Victor, please keep an eye on one baron and one viscount near you. Viscount Edmund of Crimson Maple Territory will keep an eye on Sage Territory. Viscount Hawke will be responsible for the three barons near his territory. The eight independent nobles of Bria County will be the responsibility of the Iron Birch Territory army. My vassal, Albert Holly, has his fief in the north of Durham County. He will lead troops to keep an eye on those eight pioneer lords."

Count Colt, holding a scepter, marked the targets each party was responsible for on the map.

Victor looked at the two noble families under his jurisdiction. He recognized both of them: the Black Pine Viscountcy, with which he had always had business dealings, and the Stream Territory, owned by his old comrade-in-arms, Baron Brown.

"Count Lord, I don't believe that Baron Brown would betray the Allied Army. There's no need to target him for suppression."

"The suppression mission is entrusted to you. You can decide on the specific methods of execution. I don't think Baron Brown will betray the Allied Army, but the Alfalfa Family is an old noble family in the Northlands. There are four baron branches in total, and they are all quite powerful. They are closely connected with each other and have always kept a distance from the Iron Birch Family. I dare not easily trust them."

Count Colt explained.

"I understand, Count Excellency. Leave it to me."

Viscount Benjamin was standing nearby, assured him that he would keep a close eye on the three barons.

Victor silently calculated the number of troops needed to guard the two noble families. He knew that Baron Brown's territory had no more than 1,200 troops, and he planned to send James with three detachments of the First Regiment to guard it. The Black Pine Viscountcy was considered a weaker territory among the Northlands Viscount territories. He had learned from his previous conversation with Marcus that the territory had a total of about 1,500 troops, and even if there were changes, it would not exceed 2,000. He would send Santos with the Second Regiment to guard it, and they could reach it quickly by using the fleet to travel west along the Great Fish River.

Keeping these two noble families in check wasn't difficult for the Two Rivers Territory, but Victor didn't know what to do next, so he directly asked Count Colt about it.

"Ensuring they get through this winter smoothly is enough. The Iron Birch Territory has already mobilized, and by next spring, the four legions will be at full strength. I will raise an army directly in the name of all the nobles of the Northlands. Even if they want to betray the Allied Army, Mora will not dare to accept them easily. If they are still stubborn at this time, it will not be difficult for us to simply replace these territories with a new lord."

Victor nodded, indicating his approval, and turned to Viscount Benjamin.

"Lord Benjamin, it seems the wedding next year can't be held as scheduled. In that case, why not skip the ceremony and just ask Veronica to marry me!"

Benjamin looked at Victor, whose expression was resolute, and nodded.