Ironvine Territory (57)

After James finished speaking, he put his hands on his hips and laughed triumphantly, as if he was pleased with the success of his plan.

"So, what do you think of this battle plan? Isn't it great? This psychological warfare tactic is brilliant, isn't it? I had a lot of trouble coming up with this."

James was indeed very proud and couldn't help but boast to Jackson again.

However, Jackson gave James face and clapped his hands. When James heard this, he laughed even harder, bending backward so much that the braided ropes of his armor plates were stretched straight.

However, he noticed something strange about Jackson's actions out of the corner of his eye, especially Jackson's gaze, which didn't show any admiration but rather seemed rather speechless.

Jackson's expression was so obvious that even James, who isn't very good at reading people, could tell.

"What's wrong, Jackson? Are you jealous of my talent?"

Jackson's words stunned James: "The Advanced Officer Training—Elite Enrichment Class, have you forgotten that you were in the first batch and I'm in the second?"

I listened very attentively to the Lord's lectures, taking very detailed notes, especially regarding psychological warfare.

After Jackson finished speaking, James immediately dropped his smug expression and said casually, "Oh, no wonder that word sounded so familiar. It seems that Victor and I both thought so."

James immediately changed the subject. "Any news from Ron?"

Jackson knew James was trying to change the subject, but he didn't intend to call him out on it. In fact, he thought it was rare for his Regimental Commander to be so cunning, and although he liked to take credit, he was already quite good.

"The messenger just brought intelligence that Regimental Commander Ron has regrouped most of the Cavalry in Great Oak Territory. He still needs to personally locate a few more units, and they will head here once the regrouping is complete."

James spat as if he'd swallowed a fly. "Those Cavalry from Great Oak Territory are really useless. They're scattered way too much. We ordered them to break out separately, not to disband. Ironvine Territory even sent guides, and some of them still broke apart."

Moreover, the scattered units are relatively easy to handle; officers can be dispatched and brought back in a short time. But why did some units run into the mountains? Did they want to become bandits?

Even Ron had to go find them himself; it was such a waste of time. Our territory's army can assemble and participate in battle on time as soon as the order is given."

Jackson answered naturally, "I just want to be a bandit. I have a horse, armor, and weapons. As a bandit, I can rob passing caravans and surrounding villages. I can rob whatever I want, and I don't have to fight the enemy on the battlefield. How comfortable would that be?"

James didn't expect Jackson to answer so readily, "This!"

"Regimental Commander, you are of noble birth and have served in your own territory since you first joined the army. Later, you directly followed the lord, so you don't really understand what a normal noble private army is like."

The lord's army is actually quite unusual. It is disciplined, well-trained, and soldiers are given land and even taught to read.

Soldiers who were wounded or killed in battle received compensation, and those who were disabled were given a job. The braver and better they were in battle, the more merits they earned, the more land they were allocated, and the better their treatment. Therefore, everyone was very enthusiastic when fighting.

These are things that other noble private armies could not do. As for the duchy's direct legions, they can only manage to be well-trained.

Normal noble private armies recruited Freemen, usually the second or third sons of destitute families, and sometimes even local ruffians and hooligans, as these people were all willing to do things for money.

Of course, there are also a few elite troops that are supported by the generous rewards of noble lords and have excellent combat capabilities, such as the infantry units of Great Oak Territory.

However, the Cavalry of the Great Oak Territory was a typical private army of nobles, which had just been recruited before the Civil War. Many of them were wandering knights from the Great Oak Territory who made a living by riding horses, and many of them may have also worked as bandits.

Such aristocratic private armies would receive rewards before each battle; they would not fight without rewards. They would cower in the face of a strong enemy and become excited when they faced a weak one. They could not fight a direct confrontation and could only fight when the wind was against them.

If the bounty is too low, they have to rely on post-war looting, which is also a very important way for them to make money.

If such a force encounters a tough opponent, it will definitely flee immediately after being defeated, and will not fight to the death.

Our order for them to break out in disarray is tantamount to defeat for them. They'll run away first, and if they manage to escape, their first priority will be to go back to their old ways."

Jackson launched into a long speech, after all, Jackson was originally from a noble private army. Although he had a smooth career in the army thanks to his status as a member of a collateral branch of the nobility, he had also seen and understood the real situation of the Noble Army.

This is why the Duchy Army is usually stronger than the private armies of nobles; the Duchy Army is at least more stable and pays more.

Even if they stopped being soldiers, they could still return to their Duchy-Administered Territory Ducal House, which was much more comfortable than Freemen citizen in many noble private armies.

James could sense Jackson's resentment; he guessed that Jackson must have had a terrible impression of such aristocratic private armies back in the day.

"Alright, Jackson, it's good that you're serving in the army in the Two Rivers Territory now. As long as you follow Victor, you might be able to be knighted in the future."

"Never mind then. I have no intention of becoming an independent noble. If the lord becomes a high-ranking noble and can establish his own court, I can be granted the title of Court Noble. It would be nice to receive an annual salary."

"No need to worry about the territory's annual pension, no need to consider the territory's defense, no need to figure out how to develop the territory."

James paused for a moment after hearing this, then said to Jackson, "Okay, you'd better not regret this later."

Jackson didn't care at all. "I really don't want to, anyway, I've already talked to the lord about it before."

Did Victor say anything else?

"Of course, the lord said he would respect my opinion."

"Alright." James shook his head. He had been taught since childhood that independent nobles were good, independent nobles were wonderful, and independent nobles were emperors in their territories.

But what Jackson is saying now, and considering his experience, does make some sense.

His territory was not long established, but with some support from his family and Victor's help, it was actually developing quite well.

The civil officials in the territory were mostly sent by Victor from the Victor Two Rivers Territory. He didn't need to manage them at all; he just needed to pay their salaries and allocate funds on time.

There is also an iron mine in the territory. As long as the people and serfs are allowed to mine it, Victor will also provide them with food support.

From this perspective, he certainly lived a very comfortable life as an independent nobleman, spending most of his time Two Rivers Territory.

"Forget about that. I want to eliminate this enemy force trapped on the hilltop. Do you have any ideas?"

James pointed to the enemy troops on the hilltop, Jackson thought for a moment before saying, "Regimental Commander, I think we can try a siege. The water resources on Jade Belt Mountain must be limited. If we can hold out for a while, we can probably force the enemy to surrender."

"That guy on the other side, Bush, probably won't order a surrender. Look at him, he abandoned most of his warhorses and is retreating to the mountaintop. He's probably a die-hard."

James agreed with Jackson's point, and then added, "And I think he might be trying to hold on and wait for reinforcements."

Therefore, besieging them is not a good idea, as it is currently the rainy season and they will not lack water in the short term.

But if we charge straight up the mountain, our casualties will likely be huge, and using Cavalry to charge up the mountain would be a huge waste."

Finally James sighed, "It seems we'll have to think of another way. If Victor were here, he would definitely come up with a good idea."

Jackson nodded in agreement.

"However, Regimental Commander, your previous psychological warfare tactics were effective. Even if we launch a direct attack now, it will definitely be easier than before. Why don't you think again and see if you can come up with a way to further demoralize them?"

"Jackson, you think too highly of me. How could I possibly come up with a good plan? We can't afford to drag this out for too long. What if enemy reinforcements arrive and rescue these guys?"

James suddenly paused at the end, then started repeating "reinforcements," "reinforcements"?

"I've got an idea!"