Soft and Hard Tactics

"Totti, what are you doing here?"

Viscount Boateng noticed that his son, Totti, was standing right behind Viscount Victor. He and Ekmeier had been so focused on Victor that they hadn't noticed the person behind him.

Victor was also surprised. He and Ron looked at each other, not expecting that even though they were only meeting a few envoys, the lord of Red Hemp Territory would actually appear.

Meanwhile, Steward Ekmeier covered his face, looking utterly dejected. Young Master Totti had come, but how could he have brought out the Viscount?

And Viscount Boateng, why are you so openly admitting it? Aren't you the most cowardly one?

Now that their lord has personally delivered himself to their doorstep, if this Viscount Golden Sunflower doesn't act with some restraint, the Red Hemp Family is doomed.

However, what Ekmeier feared did not happen. Victor laughed and then extended his hand, "Viscount Boateng, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Victor Golden Sunflower, commander of the Southern Marching Legion of the Northern Frontier Allied Army."

Viscount Boateng quickly stepped forward and shook Victor's hand. "Lord Victor, it's a pleasure to meet you. I am Boateng Red Hemp. I have long admired your name."

Victor felt that Viscount Boateng's hand was still trembling, so he patted him on the shoulder. "Viscount Boateng, you must be very worried about your son Totti. Why don't you two talk for a while and then we can chat later?"

After saying that, Victor gestured to Ron, led him aside, and began to speak in a low voice.

Seeing that Victor had already walked away, Viscount Boateng had no choice but to pull Totti aside and start talking, "Child, are you alright?"

"I'm alright, Father. It's all my fault for being so stupid..."

Totti began to recount his experiences during this period to Viscount Boateng. Although Totti had no command skills, he was eloquent and described the entire battle vividly and dramatically, eliciting exclamations of surprise from Viscount Boateng.

Steward Ekmeier's lips twitched the whole time. His lord was clearly timid, but sometimes he was quite heartless.

Meanwhile, Victor was asking Ron about this Viscount Boateng.

"I don't know either. I really thought he was an envoy, and given his behavior, I figured there wouldn't be any danger, so I just let it go. Who would have thought he was a viscount!"

When Victor heard that Viscount Boateng had almost fainted from fright, he nearly burst out laughing, but thankfully he covered his mouth in time so that no one else could hear.

"Alright, Ron, leave this to me. You go back and command the troops."

"OK!"

"Wait a minute," Victor called out to Ron, who was about to leave. "Be polite to the Red Hemp Territory's delegation; there might be other distinguished guests!"

"I understand, don't worry!"

After Ron left, Viscount Boateng and his son finished their conversation. Seeing that they were done, Victor calmly walked over.

"Viscount Boateng, your child is unharmed and perfectly fine. How do you feel?"

Viscount Boateng bowed directly to Victor: "Viscount Victor, thank you for your magnanimity. I am ashamed of what I did before, obeying the Duchy's orders and attempting to oppose your army."

I never expected you to be so aristocratic. My child was unharmed and well taken care of. You and Count Colt are truly role models of nobility.

The false Grand Duke Mora's slander against the Northern Frontier nobles is utterly despicable; I must have been blind to have been deceived by him..."

Seeing that Viscount Boateng had humbled himself so much, showering him with flattery but saying nothing in return, Victor realized that although this man was timid, he was still a competent nobleman.

"Viscount Boateng, what is your opinion of my army?"

Victor pointed to the army marching in the distance. The location where he was to meet the Red Hemp Territory's envoys was a small hill beside the main road. Standing on it, one could see the entire marching column.

Viscount Boateng replied earnestly, "Its momentum is overwhelming and unstoppable."

Victor looked at Viscount Boateng with a playful expression. "I plan to join forces with the army of Great Oak Territory to suppress the loyalist nobles throughout Suffolk County. What do you think my chances of winning are?"

Viscount Boateng broke out in a sweat when asked the question, "Of course we are invincible, especially since there are no loyal nobles left in Suffolk County."

"What's the meaning?"

"Your battle has broken the backbone of all the nobles in Suffolk County. You don't need to send troops to attack. A single letter is enough to make all the nobles, including me, submit willingly."

"I see. I'm going to Cornwall County in the south next. Would you be willing to join me in this campaign?"

Boateng was taken aback by this, and quickly replied, "Of course, I am willing to obey your orders. If you need, I will immediately send troops to accompany you south."

Victor nodded, then shouted, "Very good, Viscount Boateng, you are indeed a man of great principle. If your Red Hemp Territory can achieve merit this time, Count Colt will not be stingy with rewards."

So be it. I will lead my troops south to Sunset City with Count Black. You go and contact the remaining nobles. The Viscount will send 1,000 troops, and the Baron will send 500 troops. Gather your troops and arrive at Sunset City to meet me before May 5th.

To show my trust in you, here's what we'll do: your son Totti will come back to the territory with you first.

Viscount Boateng was surprised by Victor's quick agreement and was about to agree when he asked a question on a whim, "Thank you, Your Excellency. I wonder when the captured troops of Red Hemp Territory will be released to us? I don't want their equipment and supplies. I will rearm them and meet up with you after I take them back to my territory."

Unexpectedly, Victor pretended to be stupid and said, "What captured army? Red Hemp Territory is so rich, why would it need so few people? You can bring a new batch of troops. I have a great use for these prisoners of war."

Hearing Victor say this, Boateng became anxious and prepared to step forward to argue. "But what about the army of our territory..."

As a result, Ekmeier quickly stopped him, and only then did Viscount Boateng notice that Victor's expression had become very displeased.

"Viscount Boateng, were you lying to me about what you just said?"

"You clearly recognize that our Northern Frontier Allied Army represents justice and righteousness, so why are you making excuses when I ask you to send troops? Do you still side with the false Grand Duke Mora?"

Victor's voice grew louder and his expression more and more stern, and his last sentence made Viscount Boateng fall to the ground in fright.

Ekmeier quickly embraced the terrified Viscount Boateng and Young Master Totti: "Viscount Victor, my lord didn't mean that. We are willing to support the allied forces of Count Colt and the Northern Frontier Allied Army, without any falsehood!"

Seeing Victor's expressionless face, Steward Ekmeier had no choice but to grit his teeth and say, "Red Hemp Territory will send troops to accompany the army, and in gratitude for Lord Victor's care for Young Master Totti, we are willing to give you 3,000 gold coins as a token of our appreciation."

However, the Red Hemp Territory's military strength is limited, and they wish to ransom a group of prisoners of war from you.

Victor's expression softened slightly, and at that moment, the clerk standing to the side finally spoke up, "At what price do you intend to redeem them? How many prisoners of war will you redeem? Can you, as the chief steward, make that decision?"

Ekmeier quickly shook his lord, Viscount Boateng finally understood. It seemed that this Viscount Golden Sunflower wouldn't act until he saw the Glowing-Eyed Rabbit.

He smiled wryly and said, "Lord Victor, why don't you just name a number?"

However, Victor remained silent. Viscount Boateng knew that he had to make the offer himself. "More than 4,000 people have been captured in our Red Hemp Territory, including 14 ships. I am willing to ransom all the sailors and soldiers on these ships. I will offer 3,000 gold and provide a month's worth of rations for 20,000 troops."

Victor hesitated, but Boateng, knowing his offer was insufficient, gritted his teeth and said, "5,000 gold coins and 2,000 tons of wheat, but all the prisoners of war must be paid."

At this point, Victor spoke up, saying, "6,000 gold, plus 1,000 tons of wheat. I need the fleet for a while longer, and I'll return it to you when I'm done. It can only be used to redeem combat soldiers; I'll keep the Serf Soldiers for later use. Weapons and equipment can be exchanged for yours."

Viscount Boateng smiled wryly, "The most expensive part here is the fleet. Why don't you give me a return deadline? Money is no problem, but we don't have any more grain. Since the Serf Soldiers aren't returning, they don't need to prepare winter rations. I can contribute up to 500 tons."

"Here's what we'll do: give me the families of the Serf Soldiers as well. I won't take much grain, even if you give me 2,000 tons of wheat. I'll only take 5,000 gold coins. We'll return the fleet to you after we defeat the false Grand Duke Mora."

But Totti must accompany me to Cornwall County with 1,000 of his Red Hemp private troops, while you yourself will lead 500 private troops to Suffolk County to help suppress other nobles under the orders of Great Oak Territory.

Viscount Boateng then understood what Victor was up to, but since it was about suppressing other nobles, he might be able to recoup some of his losses, so he quickly said, "Deal!"