The young master really was a genius

Once Byron calmed down, he abandoned the idea of wiping out the Troggs.

Byron might have been stubborn, but he knew that fighting an enemy with both favorable terrain and superior numbers was nothing short of digging his own grave.

Everyone had moments when they got carried away, but against an enemy holding every advantage, it was best to wait until cooler heads prevailed before making detailed plans.

"Do you think Young Master Rowan will let these Troggs off?" Byron asked as he rode toward North Mountain alongside Leonard.

Leonard remained composed. "It's good that the young master has some fire in him, but he's still a sixteen-year-old boy. There are things we still need to teach him."

"Do you really think Young Master Rowan is just a sixteen-year-old boy? I certainly don't." Byron looked miserable as he recalled what had happened to him a few days earlier.

Leonard took a map of North Mountain from his pack, studied it closely, then continued, "Do you know why Lord Aldrius sent Young Master Rowan to Morris Town?"

"I heard a rumor that Young Master Rowan was trying to make ships move without wind runes," Byron said uncertainly.

Putting away the map, Leonard dismounted to examine the trampled brush, then beckoned Byron over.

"That's only part of it. Ships from several of the Norwington Family's shipyards are currently stuck in port because they lack wind runes. Can Young Master Rowan solve a problem even Lord Aldrius can't resolve? Besides, Young Master Rowan has been in Morris Town for over half a month. Look at what he's actually done."

Leonard respected Rowan, but only because Rowan was Lord Aldrius's son. Having sworn allegiance to the Norwington Family, Leonard had to remain loyal and deferential to Rowan. In private, however, he saw Rowan as a child who refused to grow up.

"The mine up ahead should be one the Troggs use. Mark it, then we'll move on to the next one." Leonard took out two daggers and handed one to Byron.

Byron took the dagger and carved a mark into an oak tree, nodding in agreement. "You might have a point. All Young Master Rowan has done these past two weeks is set up a smithy. Come to think of it, does a smithy have anything to do with making warships move?"

"It's good enough that you understand that much. Our job right now is to keep Young Master Rowan safe. Everything else is secondary."

Byron nodded slightly, thinking that an old soldier like Leonard really did know more. But you're always so respectful toward Young Master Rowan, Leonard, acting so loyal. Who would've thought you were a slippery old hand who said one thing and did another behind his back?

"Ahem. Well, well. I never imagined that you, Leonard, with those honest-looking eyes and thick brows, would turn out to be this sort of man," Byron teased, giving Leonard a cold look.

Leonard mounted his horse and rolled his eyes at Byron. "If I didn't spell it out for you, you'd drag Young Master Rowan off to get himself killed again. Wouldn't you get me killed along with him?"

"That sounds a little strange, but thinking it over, you're right. Still, I keep getting the feeling that Young Master Rowan really knows what he's doing. He doesn't seem like a sixteen-year-old boy," Byron remarked.

Early the next morning, Byron submitted his report on the Trogg activity he had investigated the day before to Rowan.

Rowan skimmed through the report and already had a plan in mind.

The Troggs were active in two abandoned mines, just ten kilometers from the Whitewater River Smelter and the residential district on Morris Town's northern side.

"Because this year's rainy season lasted longer than usual, much of the food the Troggs stored in the mines has gone moldy. Their recent raids have all targeted the townspeople's granaries." Kande's voice was heavy. He shook his head and continued, "In previous years, when the harvest was plentiful, it wasn't so bad. We'd deliberately store some of our grain in granaries near the North Mountain Mine in exchange for several months of peace. But this year, our townspeople are already struggling to feed themselves. How could we spare any grain for these Troggs? Young master, if this continues and all our grain is stolen, our townspeople will be the ones starving to death."

As Morris Town's veteran administrator, Kande knew far more about the town than anyone else present.

Leonard's expression stiffened. After hearing the old steward's words, he understood that the conflict between Morris Town's Troggs and its poor had reached a breaking point.

"Young Master Rowan, if things have already become this serious, I believe the best solution is to report the problem to the estate. His lordship will surely send another force to wipe them out." After weighing the options, Leonard still felt that calling in a larger force was the best approach.

Byron agreed. "Leonard has a point."

Rowan understood Leonard's concerns. Indeed, defeating the Troggs hiding in the mines with a force of only thirty men sounded like pure fantasy.

The enemy had everything in its favor, holding an overwhelming advantage in both terrain and numbers.

Rowan was no fool. He had his own tactics for dealing with troublesome enemies like these.

Feng Ge, the renowned StarCraft tactician whom Rowan had idolized back on Earth, had once said, "Steady play beats rushing, rushing beats sneaking, sneaking beats cheese, cheese beats dirty tricks, and dirty tricks beat steady play."

The Troggs currently held every advantage and believed their position was unassailable. An ordinary extermination force really would struggle to do anything about them.

Since conventional tactics were useless against them, victory would have to come through an unexpected move.

After analyzing tactical theory and the situation at hand, Rowan decisively chose the "dirty tricks beat steady play" strategy.

Don't the Troggs want grain? Then I'll give them grain.

"Kande, does the shipyard have any grain left?" Rowan asked.

Kande reported honestly, "Last year's harvest was decent. The shipyard still has six months' worth of rations."

"Take all that grain out, then bring it to the mill in town and grind it all into flour," Rowan continued.

Kande looked at Young Master Rowan in confusion and said quietly, "Young Master Rowan, in times like these, even our shipyard has no grain to spare. We can't just give it to those damned Troggs."

"Uh, old steward, let me finish." Rowan thought, Do I look like the sort of leader who bends over backward to appease others?

"Buy up all the croton and laxatives in town, then mix them all into the flour," Rowan said calmly.

Byron stared at Rowan in shock. "Holy Light above, this is the first time I've ever heard of such a sinful way to fight. May the holy light forgive our sins."

"Ahem. You can handle buying the croton and laxatives, Byron." Rowan rolled his eyes at him and spoke irritably.

What Rowan hadn't expected was that Byron's dark eyes would light up the moment he received the order. "Holy Light above, let me severely punish these wicked thugs and restore peace and tranquility to the people of Morris Town."

Your faith really is cheap.

Everyone present rolled their eyes, thinking they had never seen such a shameless Paladin.

Although Byron alone had been told to buy the croton, in practice, Leonard went with him to carry out the task.

"Didn't see that coming, did you? Young Master Rowan really is a fucking genius," Byron said appreciatively, smacking his lips.

Leonard flushed with embarrassment. "I didn't see it coming either. The young master's way of thinking is always so unconventional."