Ironvine Territory (81)

A ducal army was marching toward the Golden Sunflower battle flag. At a glance, it was clearly not a regular force. The weapons and equipment carried by the soldiers bore several different noble crests, making it obvious that this was a coalition of private noble armies.

At the front of the column, two men dressed as officers were speaking among a unit of Cavalry. A young man in his twenties asked a middle-aged man in his forties, "Lord Neville, can we really attack the enemy directly?

"Shouldn't we join up with the Fourth Legion first?"

"Harold, don't worry. Look at how these enemies have behaved. They've never dared to press deep into the camp, which proves they don't have many troops.

"And the private noble forces we've gathered together amount to more than a regiment—five or six thousand men in total. Even if the other side is the duchy's regular army, I'd still dare to take them on.

"As long as we can crush these enemies, we might just claim the greatest merit. It would be enough to take both our families' fortunes to the next level.

"As for the Fourth Legion, that Ursus has always looked down on private forces like ours. He even refused to let us enter the inner camp.

"Now, all the other private noble forces stationed in the outer camp have collapsed. The biggest problem lies with him. Afterward, neither the nobles of Hampshire nor Cornwall County will let him off easily."

At that moment, another officer ran over and chimed in, "Baron Harold, you can't go wrong listening to Baron Neville. I, Scoin, can guarantee that the enemy does not have many men. If we can capture Viscount Golden Sunflower, perhaps we can become honored viscounts ourselves!"

Harold only half understood. He had been