Gifted Grain and the Division of Credit

After Brendan was tasked with coordinating the food arrangements, Karl and Charlotte walked side by side down the hillside, through the bustling camp, toward the main camp area of Broomflower reinforcements.

When the soldiers along the way saw them, especially Karl, they stopped what they were doing, looked at them with awe and gratitude, and spontaneously saluted with their hands on their chests.

The fame of the Battle of Carnford had already spread among these reinforcements.

They were soon led to a large Military Tent, and after the guards announced their arrival, Karl and Charlotte lifted the tent flap and went inside.

Inside the tent, Sir Kylan and another stern-faced, middle-aged officer, Sir Laurent, the infantry commander, were discussing something in front of a simple marching map.

To Karl's surprise, Lyon was also in the tent. He looked much better, and although there was still a hint of fatigue between his brows, he stood quietly to the side with his posture upright.

When Karl entered, Lyon's gaze met his, and he nodded slightly in greeting, his eyes filled with complex emotions, including gratitude and a hint of scrutiny.

"Lord Karl, Charlotte Knight," Sir Kylan spoke first, his tone much gentler than yesterday, carrying a hint of formal respect, "Please come in. Are you feeling well?"

"Thank you for your concern, sir. I am now out of danger," Karl said, bowing with his hand on his chest, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant. "I have come to thank you both for your timely arrival with your troops to relieve the siege of Carnford."

Charlotte also bowed, and although she didn't speak, the criticism in her eyes seemed to lessen.

"It's my duty, Your Excellency Lord Karl," Sir Laurent's voice was rather deep. He looked Karl up and down, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. "You were able to fight against overwhelming odds, severely damage the Sauron elite, and hold your ground while awaiting reinforcements. Such achievements and courage are truly admirable."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Karl cut straight to the point without further formalities. "My lords, I have heard that the army's provisions are not plentiful. Although His Excellency the Count has given strict orders, it is neither Carnford's way of hospitality nor the conduct of Karl von Schmidt, to allow the soldiers who have come from afar to help me escape this predicament to return empty-handed."

He paused, then said earnestly and firmly, "Therefore, I have decided, in my personal capacity, to allocate a batch of grain from Carnford's reserves to your troops."

"The reasons are twofold: first, we hope that the valiant reinforcements can rest for a few more days in Carnford, as their military might will be enough to deter the Sauron and ensure peace in the early stages of our territory's reconstruction; second, we also want to help our allies recover their strength, since a forced march is extremely taxing."

As for the Count ..."Karl smiled slightly, "I will personally explain the situation to the Count, and I will take full responsibility. I will absolutely not put either of you in a difficult position."

Upon hearing this, Sir Kellan and Sir Laurent exchanged a glance, their faces revealing undisguised joy and relief.

They were indeed worried about the food supply; the Count's orders were absolute, and they dared not disobey.

However, it would be unreasonable and morally wrong to send exhausted soldiers back on an empty stomach, and it would also easily cause dissatisfaction among the troops.

Karl's move was a godsend, and his reasoning was perfectly plausible, giving them a perfect way out.

"This... Your Lord Karl, thank you so much!" Sir Kylan's tone became much warmer. "To be honest, the soldiers have traveled hundreds of miles and certainly need rest. On behalf of all the soldiers, I am deeply grateful for your generosity and thoughtfulness!"

Sir Laurent nodded solemnly in agreement and gratitude.

With the most pressing problem solved, the atmosphere inside the tent immediately became much more relaxed and harmonious.

Karl then changed the subject, his expression becoming slightly more serious. "There is another matter concerning the aftermath and reporting of this battle, which needs to be discussed with the two lords and Commander Lyon."

Upon hearing the words "report," Kellan, Laurent, and even Lyon all tensed up, immediately understanding Karl's meaning.

This is about discussing how to "divide the credit".

Battlefield victories and prisoners of war are genuine military achievements, but how to allocate these credits in the final battle report submitted to the Count is a matter that can be carefully considered.

Before the higher-ups review the data, these frontline commanders could easily "communicate" among themselves to make the distribution of the spoils more "reasonable" and more in line with the interests of all parties.

Almost simultaneously, the three officers glanced, intentionally or unintentionally, at Charlotte standing next to Karl.

Although she didn't speak, the implication was clear: was it appropriate to have the Count's daughter present to listen to this private discussion about the distribution of military merits?

Karl naturally noticed their gazes, but his expression remained unchanged. He spoke calmly yet firmly, "Charlotte Knight is one of us, but rest assured, she will not interfere with our discussions."

Charlotte blinked her bright blue eyes, seemingly not quite understanding their cryptic exchange. She looked at Karl with a puzzled expression, then at the officers with their varied expressions.

Although Sir Kylan and the others still had doubts—after all, the fewer people who knew about the distribution of credit, the better—since Karl had made his position so clear, they couldn't say anything more and could only acquiesce to Charlotte's presence.

Karl walked to the map table and lightly tapped the location representing Carnford: "In this battle, our army has captured over six hundred Sauron heads, one of their Battle Group Commander, Invag, and several junior officers. These are all genuine achievements."

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over the three men. "The credit is too great for my Carnford family to claim, much less to keep. In my opinion, the credit should belong to all the warriors who participated in the battle."

He proposed a distribution plan. "Although the soldiers under Sir Kylan and Sir Laurent did not directly participate in the main battles, their timely arrival and deterred the enemy are invaluable contributions."

"I propose that you two each receive the first merit of one hundred level Sauron Combatant," he paused, turning his gaze to Lyon, his tone solemn, "As for Commander Lyon, you led your cavalry in two bloody battles against the Sauron Vanguard Camp cavalry and main cavalry, charging twice, blunting the enemy's morale, and achieving great victories. All the officers and soldiers witnessed this and can attest to it. Therefore, the first merit of two hundred level Sauron Cavalry should rightfully belong to your unit."

"As for the great achievement of capturing Invag, the Corps Commander the Sauron Sparrow Corps Legion..." He deliberately slowed his speech, making each word clear, "The fact that we were able to capture the enemy's commander alive was entirely due to the bravery of the warriors under Commander Lyon's command who charged straight into the center of the enemy army. This great achievement naturally and without dispute belongs to Lyon's troops."

This distribution plan means that Sir Kellan and Laurent each gained the heads of one hundred Sauron elite, with almost no actual combat casualties!

This will be a significant achievement in their personal military records!

Kellan and Laurent's faces instantly lit up with unbelievable surprise and gratitude! They had thought they would be lucky to get even a small share, but Karl was being so generous!

"Your Lord Karl! This... this is inappropriate!" Sir Kylan said hastily, but the joy in his voice was undisguised.

"That's right," Karl nodded firmly, his tone sincere. "Without your timely assistance, Carnford might have held out, but it would have been impossible to achieve such a brilliant victory, let alone capture the enemy general. This is what you all deserve."

Lyon had no objection to this assignment, as his achievements were already the most illustrious.

Karl had his own reasons.

The fact that Kellan and Laurent were dispatched so quickly suggests that they are the Count's most trusted and trusted generals.

Using these military achievements, which he himself could not fully digest and might even arouse jealousy, to gain the friendship and goodwill of these two powerful figures, and to secure more support and resources for Carnford in the Count's camp in the future, was a very worthwhile political investment.

Ultimately, all parties were happy and reached a tacit agreement.

After the discussion, the atmosphere inside the tent became even more harmonious, and Sir Kylan even warmly invited Karl and Charlotte to stay for a simple dinner.

Just then, Karl glanced at Sir Kylan seemingly casually and asked in a relaxed tone, "By the way, Sir Kylan, I wonder if the Count is still in Fran City these days?"

"Once this matter is settled, I hope to pay him a visit in person. Firstly, to express my gratitude to the Count for his assistance, and secondly, to have some personal matters I would like to consult with Count."

As he spoke, he glanced at Charlotte beside him out of the corner of his eye.

Charlotte seemed to realize something, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she awkwardly looked away.