How to Live as a Wandering Knight

Chapter 265: ๐’๐ž๐ซ๐Ÿ๐ฌโ€™ ๐‘๐ž๐›๐ž๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ง (2)



Chapter 265: ๐’๐ž๐ซ๐Ÿ๐ฌโ€™ ๐‘๐ž๐›๐ž๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ง (2)

It didnโ€™t take long for the people to clear up their misunderstandings. The people who were terrified of the newly appeared army soon praised Johanโ€™s name in unison.

โ€˜๐˜๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ด๐˜บ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜ข ๐˜ฃ๐˜ช๐˜ต ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฃ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ด๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ.โ€™

In fact, it wasnโ€™t difficult to win the favor of serfs if they had plenty of silver.

Reduce the tribute to be paid, reduce the corvรฉe, and do not recruit. . .

The reason why nobles donโ€™t do this is not only because they donโ€™t feel the need to do so, but also because it is a matter of losing money in the immediate future.

There are not many nobles who are willing to sacrifice their profits to be called merciful.

โ€œEven though Iโ€™m going to get this fiefdom, I canโ€™t just leave it alone. Does anyone have any good ideas?โ€

Johan called his subordinates together.

Even if he used this fiefdom as a bargaining chip with other lords, or ruled it with a vassal, leaving it alone would be a loss.

At the very least, it would mean more work to clean up the mess.

One of the sub-captains raised his hand cautiously and said.

โ€œSince it is already a ruined fiefdom, why donโ€™t we conscript all the people and make them soldiers? Then, we can use the town as a camp for mercenaries.โ€

โ€œ. . .Thatโ€™s an interesting idea.โ€

Johan wanted to say โ€™๐˜ˆ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜บ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ ๐˜ค๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ป๐˜บ?โ€™, but he held back. If he berated his subordinate, the others would be even more afraid.

The captainโ€™s face brightened at Johanโ€™s words. He had only said it on a whim, but the evaluation was better than he had expected.

Encouraged by the praise, the others began to speak up one by one. Suetlg thought to himself:

โ€˜๐˜๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ฏโ€™๐˜ต ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ญ๐˜บ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ฌ ๐˜ช๐˜ตโ€™๐˜ด ๐˜ข ๐˜จ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ช๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข, ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ?โ€™

Soldiers beyond what was needed were useless. They were only making the lordโ€™s pockets lighter.

โ€œIf you will lend me the people who are skilled at hunting and are fast, I will exterminate the rogues.โ€

โ€œI heard that there are some defeated soldiers in the nearby town. I will go and hang them.โ€

โ€œThose are all good ideas. I will let you do that.โ€

Fortunately, other opinions began to emerge, besides fighting. Some of the scribes who were accompanying the army suggested that they buy good quality livestock, fatten them up, and increase their numbers.

It was a good time to release livestock like pigs into the forest, as the number of people in the area had decreased.

The sub-captains shook their heads in disbelief.

โ€˜๐˜๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ข๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ด๐˜ถ๐˜ค๐˜ฉ ๐˜ข ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฅ๐˜ญ๐˜บ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ณ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ด๐˜ข๐˜ญ?โ€™

โ€˜๐˜๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜Œ๐˜น๐˜ค๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ค๐˜บ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜Š๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต ๐˜ฎ๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ข๐˜ฑ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฐ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ.โ€™

Johanโ€™s mercenaries were as proud as they were loyal. To them, the scribeโ€™s proposal was simply too insignificant.

โ€œItโ€™s fine. Once we deal with the rogues and wild animals in the forest, things will be much better. Conduct a raid, and summon the serfs to distribute livestock to them.โ€

โ€œY-You mean just give it away?โ€

โ€œIf we ask them to buy it, they wonโ€™t be able to afford it. Let them pay for the livestock after theyโ€™ve raised it.โ€

Johan listened to the scribeโ€™s suggestions, one by one, from livestock to crops, and came up with various responses. The sub-captains looked at Johan with pity. A count like a knight had to worry about such matters.

โ€œIs there any unmined silver mine around?โ€

โ€œIf there were, the feudal lordโ€™s family would still be holding out.โ€

Suetlg answered Johanโ€™s grumble with a firm voice.

Even in the south, wealthy fiefdoms were able to hold out somehow with their sturdy walls and fairly trained soldiers. It was the fiefdoms that could not do so that were first conquered.

โ€œI heard that if you live a good life, youโ€™ll find a silver mine in the back mountains. . .โ€

โ€œWhen are you going to stop telling old stories? I donโ€™t think even dwarves would believe such fairy tales.โ€

Suetlg replied with a snorting laugh at Johanโ€™s joke.

Johan was doing quite well, regardless of those delusions. He had quickly reorganized the fiefdom and calmed the dissatisfaction and fear of the serfs as soon as he arrived.

You could feel the atmosphere if you just went outside and rode a horse around.

Peopleโ€™s anxiety would be greatly reduced if they could just confirm that they were being protected by the new lord.

The land was in a mess, but the land was vast and there were many uncultivated forests and mountains. If they just waited patiently, the territories would surely regain their former appearance.

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

When a major war breaks out, the number of mercenaries increases accordingly. The Empire, which has had many major battles, has a large number of mercenaries.

These mercenaries did not disappear easily even after the war ended. Only a very small number of mercenaries made a career. Most of them spent the money they received that day, and some unlucky people even lost their equipment.

As such, it was not difficult for the southern feudal lords to gather mercenaries. Mercenaries who wandered around nearby gathered from all over after hearing the news.

โ€œHave you seen Count Yeats?โ€ โ€œOf course I have. I saw him from afar, but I saw him clearly.โ€

Naturally, the stories that mercenaries tell are about the recent wars. Participating in a famous battle was a kind of medal. The more battles you participate in and survive, the more respect you can get from other mercenaries.

โ€œYou said you saw the Dragon Slayer King?โ€

โ€œIsnโ€™t he a count, not a king?โ€

โ€œIsnโ€™t it similar?โ€

โ€œYou ignorant b*stards. Itโ€™s different. And itโ€™s a count, not a king.โ€

An aged mercenary clicked his tongue and scolded the others. The mercenaries here couldnโ€™t quite distinguish between a count and a king. To them, all feudal lords seemed alike.

It was natural, then, for them to mistake the recently famous count for a king, referring to him as โ€œyour excellencyโ€.

โ€œKnights, dozens of them, attacked, and he didnโ€™t blink an eye, just stood his ground and knocked them down, charging forward. It seemed like there was a halo shining behind him.โ€

โ€œWasnโ€™t it just sunlight?โ€

โ€œAccording to rumors, the count is blessed by God. He even won a battle once after receiving a divine revelation in a dream.โ€

โ€œIt doesnโ€™t seem possible for him to be human. Is he really a person?โ€

The mercenaries, who had never seen Johan, were very curious. There was no one as widely rumored as the count. The rumors were so varied that it was hard to guess based on them.

There was a superstition that seeing a brave and honorable person from afar could make one a bit like them in glory, but even without that, curiosity was piqued about what kind of knight could slay a dragon.

โ€œTo arms!โ€

โ€œForm up!โ€

The sound of trumpets and drums rang out, and the mercenariesโ€™ steps quickened. Hundreds gathered in one place, but there was little semblance of order.

Even though they were all mercenaries, they were rarely trained in formation. But here, dozens of mercenaries, big and small, were gathered together. Just assembling them was enough.

From far ahead, knights on horseback began to shout and encourage the mercenaries.

โ€œWe look forward to a glorious battle! There will be no retreat. Letโ€™s sweep away all those rogues!โ€

โ€œLong live Sir Knight! Long live Sir Knight!โ€

There was no pay for shouting, so the mercenaries happily cheered.

They were now on their way to quell the rebel army that was hiding in the forest.

Even though the forest was large and dense, the mercenaries were not worried. Their opponents were just serfs, and they were seasoned veterans of the battlefield.

โ€œForward! The one who finds the rogues first will be rewarded!โ€

The mercenaries drew lots to select a few scouts. The lucky ones looked happy, while the remaining mercenaries looked envious.

โ€œThey made free money.โ€

โ€œDonโ€™t worry. If we win, Iโ€™ll treat you to a big drink.โ€

The scouts who went ahead did not return for a long time.

โ€œ. . .?โ€

โ€œItโ€™s a fire! Thereโ€™s a fire over there!โ€

The mercenaries at the main camp, initially puzzled, were startled by the sudden flames and began to move.

โ€œPut out the fire!โ€

โ€œItโ€™s impossible right now! The fire is fiercer than we thought! Please allow us to retreat!โ€

โ€œRetreat? We havenโ€™t even seen a shadow of the enemy, and you speak of retreat? What nonsense!โ€

Although the knight shouted in anger, some mercenaries had already begun preparing to escape upon seeing the fire.

They knew too well how quickly a fire could spread in such a forest.

โ€œShoot them!โ€

โ€œWhat???โ€

โ€œI clearly stated that those who run will be punished.โ€

โ€œBut thatโ€™s. . .โ€

โ€œShoot!โ€

Not many mercenaries could withstand the knight threatening them with a sword at their neck. Eventually, the mercenary captain fired a crossbow at those fleeing.

The situation, already chaotic, worsened as they began fighting amongst themselves. Even the mercenaries maintaining order started to crumble, marking it the worst decision.

โ€œThe enemy has appeared in front!โ€

โ€œFollow me!โ€

The knights, along with their elite forces, prepared to charge.

The chaos in their own ranks didnโ€™t matter. In the end, crushing and trampling the opponent meant victory in battle.

As the knights led the charge, even the disoriented mercenaries looked on with hopeful eyes.

A powerful charge that even mercenaries found hard to emulate.

The knightsโ€™ infamous reputation on the battlefield was not without reason.

๐๐ž๐ข๐ ๐ก!

โ€œItโ€™s a swamp! Thereโ€™s a swamp!โ€

โ€œWhat nonsense is this?!โ€

The knights were baffled as a swamp, which hadnโ€™t been there during reconnaissance, appeared before them. Arrows began to rain down. The knights held their ground with shields and armor, but one by one, their horses fell.

Excellent! Wizard! The knight dastards are running away!

Halzedel slapped Bolts on the back with his large hand. Bolts coughed up phlegm from the impact.

โ€œI. . . I told you it would work. Iโ€™ve worked for the knight dastards before, and theyโ€™re very susceptible to this kind of trickery.โ€

โ€œExcellent. I, Duke Halzedel, am very pleased.โ€

โ€˜๐˜‹๐˜ถ๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ? ๐˜ž๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ช๐˜ด. . .โ€™

Bolts thought it was a bit funny that a fallen nobleman would call himself a duke, but he didnโ€™t say it out loud.

The rebellion was not as easy as the southern lords thought. Unlike the rebellions where the exploded serfs beat up the administrators and drove them away, this rebellion was growing like wildfire due to the combination of various factors.

The remnants of the army, wandering mercenaries, gangs of thieves, and descendants of fallen noble families had all managed to charm and control the exploding serfs.

They were not elite, but they were not a mob either. They had the skills to defeat the knights who were moving quickly to resolve the situation by surprise.

โ€œListen up! We won today. If we win a few more times like this, those b*stards wonโ€™t dare come in here, and the other lords of the Empire will recognize us!โ€

The leaders of the rebellion had a clear goal.

To have the land they occupied recognized as their own fiefdom and live there.

Occasionally, knights or mercenary captains would attempt to seize small towns or fiefdoms by force and make them their own.

Most of them failed miserably, but there were also cases where they succeeded due to a combination of luck and coincidence.

Their scale is different, but there is no reason why they canโ€™t do it, right?

๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ๐Ÿ”ธ

โ€œYou lost?โ€

Johan couldnโ€™t believe his ears.

โ€œYes. . .โ€

โ€œNo, how could you lose to serfs? Thatโ€™s ridiculous.โ€

Losing to the emperor was one thing. The emperor was a crazy b*stard, after all.

But a knight losing to serfs was too much.

โ€œThey werenโ€™t as disorganized as we thought. The leaders seem to be quite intelligent. In fact, they sent a letter to Your Excellency the Count.โ€

Johan laughed in disbelief.

โ€œBring it here.โ€

Fortunately, the rebels had some sense and didnโ€™t dare to proclaim themselves dukes. Acting that way towards a real noble would only earn their wrath.

The letter was a humble appeal.

I am actually a descendant of a certain family in the south. My family actually had some rights to this fiefdom originally, and my wife is also a distant relative of the feudal lordโ€™s family, etc., etc.

Then, they went on to write that they would pledge their loyalty to Count Your Majesty if he would accept them as vassals.

โ€œI donโ€™t need such vassals.โ€

Johan threw away the letter with a click of his tongue. It was a letter that didnโ€™t need to be answered.

โ€œEven though we lost once, thereโ€™s no need to worry too much. The feudal lords will come to their senses and properly suppress them again. We just have to sit back and wait.โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s right!โ€

The sub-captain nodded as if he understood Johanโ€™s words.

โ€œBy the way, is it true that silver mines were found in the mountains?โ€

โ€œI havenโ€™t confirmed it as a silver mine, but. . .?โ€

โ€œOh, Iโ€™m sorry. Is it something similar?โ€

โ€œYes. I think we need to confirm it more, but for now. . .โ€

โ€œWell done!โ€

โ€œT-Thank you.โ€

Johan smiled with a joyful expression. He had said it as a joke to Suetlg, but he never thought that a mine would actually be found.

The sub-captain was puzzled by Johanโ€™s reaction. He didnโ€™t think that the count, who was full of dignity, would be so happy about the discovery of a mine.

Could there be some magic sleeping there?


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