Ironvine Territory (82)

"Someone like you dares to set your sights on Viscount Victor? You've got some nerve. I wonder how big you are when you dig them up?"

James, mounted on his horse, looked at Scoin, who had been pinned to the ground by his guards, with disdain Scoin hearing James's words and immediately knelt down and kowtowed.

"Lord James, I wouldn't dare! It's all that Neville's fault; he used his superior numbers to coerce me!"

Just then, James's guards dragged over another man, who looked like he had been beaten up, his face bruised and swollen. Scoin glanced at him and didn't recognize him at first, but upon closer inspection, he realized it was Baron Harold. This terrified him even more, and he felt a heat in his groin.

James saw Harold being dragged over and was about to interrogate the two men again when he suddenly smelled a strong odor of urine. Then he saw that Baron Scoin's genitals were soaked. He instantly understood what had happened and spat, "What bad luck!"

James had no interest in interrogating them further and waved for them to be taken away.

Just then, several of his detachment Detachment Commander ran over to report to him. Detachment Commander Buffons said, "Regimental Commander, the results are excellent! We captured nearly 2,000 men and seized a large amount of weapons and equipment. This is only because a considerable number of the routed soldiers escaped in the chaos; otherwise, the number of prisoners would have doubled."

After hearing this, James had a headache. His troops, including Foss's, numbered just over a thousand. To face twice that number of prisoners of war, he was no longer able to fight.

Moreover, James didn't dare to release these prisoners directly. There should be several Duchy Army nearby, and if they were to recruit these prisoners, even if they were just used as cannon fodder, it would be troublesome.

However, James could not directly order the killing of these prisoners; Victor had specifically emphasized before the battle that prisoners should not be killed.

Seeing the troubled look on James's face, Buffons immediately understood his Regimental Commander's concerns. He thought for a moment and said, "Regimental Commander, let's hand these prisoners over to our detachment! Just give me a company of crossbowmen, and I promise to keep an eye on them."

"Will it work?"

Buffons patted his chest and said, "No problem, sir. The small camp we just passed by has intact walls on all four sides. We can dismantle the tents and use it as a temporary POW camp."

James also remembered the camp, which did meet the requirements: the walls were intact, and there were several arrow towers around it. Arranging archers there would be enough to intimidate these prisoners of war.

"Then it's up to you, Buffons. If you encounter a large enemy force, I'll allow you to abandon these prisoners and escape immediately."

"Yes, Regimental Commander!"

Seeing that James had agreed, Buffons did not waste any more time, and the troops began to regroup and advance again toward the position of the battle flag.

"Report! A large number of defeated soldiers have been spotted ahead. An enemy force has just routed a unit of our Coalition of Nobles here."

We captured several soldiers and extracted some information from them..."

Ursus listened to the report, his expression grave, and he didn't say a word.

His adjutant said angrily, "Legion Commander, those damned nobles dared to act without informing us, and were even routed by an enemy flanking force, wasting 5,000 cannon fodder for nothing... truly..."

Ursus patted his adjutant on the shoulder, signaling him to be quiet, then took out a map and began to look at it.

As he looked around, he gestured with his hands and said, "The enemy just fought here. Their numbers should be at least a large battalion. They'll probably follow this route to meet up with that Viscount Golden Sunflower."

This is troublesome; this has directly given him a fresh force.

"Legion Commander, we've joined forces with two other units along the way, bringing our total strength to over 6,000. The enemy has only added one battalion; it's nothing to worry about."

"Being able to defeat an opponent five times their size, even if it's a noble's private army, proves that this War Department is also elite."

I had originally hoped to organize some more troops during the march to attack with me, but these nobles only lead their men in reckless battles, which also affects the morale of our soldiers. They are completely unreliable.

Order the troops to speed up their march. We have already gathered six battalions, most of which are elite troops directly under the Legion Headquarters, with more than half of them wearing armor. Even if the enemy is the elite cavalry of the Northlands, I dare to challenge them.

"It's a pity. If only we had a unit that could have outflanked us from another direction and drawn the enemy's attention, it would have increased our chances of victory."

At this moment, Ursus's Personal Guard Martin and Fourth Regiment Ernst both volunteered to lead the troops, saying, "Legion Commander, leave it to me!" ×2

Ursus looked at the two of them, and finally nodded to Ernst: "Ernst, since you volunteered, I'll leave it to you!"

I will give you half of the troops to attack the enemy's flank. Make sure to throw all your troops into the enemy's path."

"Legion Commander, if I throw all my troops into this battle, what are my chances of winning?"

"Thirty percent!"

What if I die on the enemy's battlefield?

"Thirty-five percent!"

Ernst laughed heartily, "Half a percent more is enough!"