When
"A cunning old fox…" After seeing the messenger off, Lorist commented. But he also understood the Kenmais family's predicament — being a fence-sitter had its own hardships. Which way would the grass on the wall lean when the wind blew hard? But the wind could change direction at any moment. For all the Kenmais patriarch's solemn oaths about sending twenty thousand troops just to stand around doing nothing — was that really possible? Once the
Count Kenmais was in the Second Prince's hands. If the Second Prince didn't exploit the Kenmais family's twenty thousand troops, he'd truly be a pig. The most likely scenario was that he would force those twenty thousand men to serve as the main assault force in the siege. The pity was that the Second Prince had miscalculated — Lorist had no intention of fighting any defensive battle. He planned to defeat the Second Prince's First Royal Legion head-on in open field combat and show everyone what the Norton family was made of. The Kenmais family had, in a way, dodged a bullet.
The next evening, two mysterious men wearing gray hooded robes entered Bedrock Castle. They claimed to be messengers sent by Baron
When the man in front lowered his hood and removed his gray robe, Lorist stood up in surprise: "Baron Filim, what are you doing here?"
The man was none other than Filim Charlwood, Baron of the Pegasus family.
"Just call me Chuck. Although we've only formally met once, I have a feeling the Pegasus family and the Fury Bear family could become allies. That's why I'm here — and I've brought the Pegasus family's friendship." Baron Filim smiled, extending his right hand to Lorist.
Lorist stepped forward, and their two hands clasped together firmly.
"I'm honored to receive the Pegasus family's friendship. But the Norton family's situation right now is quite dire, as you must be well aware, Baron. So why are you still willing to lend a hand?" Lorist asked.
"Let me be direct. We of the Pegasus family have had enough of that idiot of a Second Prince. I've come here in disguise because I want to join forces with the Norton family, defeat the Second Prince, and give him such a devastating blow that it loosens the reins he's bound us with — giving the Pegasus family time to recover and breathe." Baron Filim stated his purpose plainly.
Meeting Lorist's questioning gaze, Baron Filim smiled bitterly: "Truthfully, I didn't want to come to Northland. You should know that the Pegasus family's traditional lands are in the empire's southern provinces — the same ones that idiot renamed the Three Southern Commanderies. During the empire's civil war, I threw in my lot with the Second Prince and fought for him for five years, hoping to be granted a title and return to my family's ancestral lands.
I never expected that when the kingdom was established, the Second Prince would send his trusted men to find me, claiming that the kingdom was newly formed and its treasury was strained. They demanded I donate a large sum of wealth and resources in order to receive my title as a landed noble. I believed the Second Prince's promise and agreed to raise a substantial sum. However, I insisted that my fief be granted in the Pegasus family's traditional territory. The Second Prince agreed.
On the day I was made a baron, I learned that my fief had been granted in Northland. I went to confront the Second Prince, but he claimed he was planning to invade the Meleing Duchy, which meant the Three Southern Commanderies had become the front line — so he had granted my fief in Northland instead.
Later, I learned the truth. The enormous sum I had donated made the Second Prince suspicious. He believed that during the Crescent War between the Pegasus family and Krisen IV a century ago, the family had buried countless treasures in their ancestral lands before their defeat. That was why I had been able to raise such a large sum so quickly. So the Second Prince sent men to my family's traditional lands, digging everywhere for the so-called treasure. They even exhumed my ancestors' graves…"
At this point, Filim's eyes turned red with fury. "When I went back to the family's traditional lands to pay respects at the ancestral graves two years ago, I discovered the family cemetery had been destroyed. I went to confront the Second Prince, and he actually had the audacity to deny it, claiming it was the Meleing Grand Duke's forces who had done it when they invaded the Three Southern Commanderies. I had no choice but to swallow my anger — after all, he was the king…
Before I came to Northland, the Second Prince instigated those of us lords who had been enfeoffed in Northland to start wars with the old Northland lords. He promised that no matter how much territory we conquered, he would recognize our claims, as long as we had the ability. So war erupted across Northland a few years ago. Although I was only a baron, I managed to conquer a neighboring viscounty and two baronies. Once those four territories formed a contiguous block, I stopped fighting — I just wanted to develop my holdings in peace.
Two years ago, the Second Prince launched a campaign against the Madelas Duchy and ordered me to send troops to assist. I sent my cousin with a thousand soldiers, but the idiot lost them all — not a single man returned. My cousin had fought alongside me for over ten years. As a Silver Three-Star Knight, he likely would have advanced to
He even sent soldiers to ransack my subjects' homes, rummaging through everything looking for valuables. I protested that I had already paid my annual tribute, but the tax collector said that covered only my barony — it didn't apply to the viscounty and two baronies here.
I went to confront that idiot again, but he calmly told me that was how things were before, when Northland belonged to
Baron Filim gripped Lorist's hand tightly, his emotions running high. "That's why I've made up my mind this time — I want to join forces with your Norton family and teach that idiot a lesson he won't forget. I have an idea that can defeat the Second Prince's First Royal Legion in a single battle."
Baron Filim's plan was simple: a night raid. The Pegasus family had been forced to send five thousand troops to support the war, and Baron Filim intended to act as a mole from within. Another "Dawn Strike," just like the one the Madelas Grand Duke had pulled off. He believed that if the Madelas Grand Duke could do it, then the Pegasus and Fury Bear families could certainly do the same.
Lorist smiled and shook his head. He told Baron Filim that no night attack was necessary. He was confident that he could destroy the Second Prince's First Royal Legion in a straightforward open field battle, and show the world the might and invincibility of the Fury Bear family's armed forces.
Lorist didn't need Baron Filim to do anything — just ensure that the Pegasus family's five thousand troops stayed out of the battlefield to avoid friendly fire.
Baron Filim was somewhat bewildered by Lorist's confidence. He reminded Lorist that while the Second Prince might be an idiot, the First Royal Legion still numbered fifty-six thousand strong. Add Baron Shaxin's ten thousand troops, Count Kenmais's twenty thousand family soldiers, the Pegasus family's five thousand, plus the miscellaneous forces from other Northland lords, and the total exceeded a hundred thousand men. Did Lorist truly have confidence in winning an open field battle?
Lorist smiled and told Baron Filim that Baron Shaxin and Count Kenmais, just like him, would not actively participate in the fighting. As for the Second Prince's First Royal Legion and those Northland lords' allied forces — they were nothing but clay chickens and pottery dogs. Lorist said this with utter contempt.
"Well, I should at least do something, right? I don't want to just stand around and watch," Baron Filim protested unwillingly.
"Tell you what…" Lorist thought for a moment and pulled out a map of Northland. "The five thousand soldiers your family has sent would best all be mounted. Once the Second Prince's First Royal Legion is defeated, you ride hard and, catching them off guard, seize the Hendrifulso Bridge checkpoint and Fort Freste. The two towns and three estate castles nearby will all belong to the Pegasus family. I trust that should be enough to sustain your family's soldiers and have the resources to expand your forces."
"What do you mean?" Baron Filim asked, somewhat confused.
"That's right. I intend to drive that idiot of a Second Prince out of Northland in this one battle, so he can't keep stirring up trouble and making everyone's life miserable." Lorist declared with full confidence.
Baron Filim was skeptical: "What about Gildusk City?"
"The other half of the Grand Duke's territory, starting from Gildusk City, I'll hand over to Baron Shaxin. You two will split the Grand Duke's territory equally." Lorist replied in a tone that brooked no argument.
"Very well, let's divide it that way then." Although the Grand Duke's former capital wouldn't be his, having the Hendrifulso Bridge meant a steady stream of toll revenue from river crossings. Baron Filim was quite satisfied with that. Now he only worried about one thing: whether the Norton family's forces could actually crush the Second Prince in one decisive blow. That would be the critical question.
"Don't worry. In about ten days, you'll see it with your own eyes. Then you'll understand where my confidence comes from." Lorist smiled as he saw Baron Filim off.
"My lord, did you suspect Baron Filim was a spy sent by the Second Prince? Is that why you rejected his night attack proposal?" Tagel asked hesitantly. As Lorist's personal attendant, he had been standing nearby throughout the meeting with Baron Filim.
Lorist shook his head. "Tagel, you don't understand. As a noble, Baron Filim could never serve as a spy for the Second Prince. Even if the Second Prince won, the Pegasus family's century-old reputation would be destroyed if word got out. Everyone would shun and despise his family. Among the nobility, he would be completely isolated — no one would want anything to do with his family. For him, that would be a fate worse than death."
"Then why didn't you accept the night attack proposal, my lord? With Baron Filim's forces acting as insiders, wouldn't it have been easier to win?" Tagel pressed.
"Tagel, this time our family needs to establish its prestige. We need the world to witness the strength and prowess of our family's forces. That's why we're fighting a pitched battle — to intimidate our enemies. A night raid might be easier to win, but it would make people think our family won through trickery. They wouldn't truly accept our dominance. This time, I'm going to use the Second Prince as the chicken to scare all the monkeys. Let's see who dares to provoke the Norton family after this!"
"The Second Prince is a chicken? And there are monkeys? My lord's words are too profound…" Tagel scratched his head, deep in thought…
…
June 14th, Som River, Northland.
The Kenmais family's armed forces had already arrived and set up their camp here. Nearly ten thousand tents stood in orderly rows, forming a vast and imposing military encampment.
The Second Prince rode a tall, powerful Zeno steed, surveying with great satisfaction the continuous stream of troops filing into the camp.
"The Kenmais family has done well. I'm very pleased." The Second Prince praised Count Kenmais beside him with an arrogant air.
"As your subordinate, this is our duty." Count Kenmais replied weakly. He hadn't expected the Second Prince to place him under house arrest, force his family to send twenty thousand troops, and even demand that they provide logistical supplies and equipment for the Second Prince and the Northland lords' allied forces.
He had thought that with a thirty-thousand-strong legion at the family's disposal, the Second Prince would think twice before making a move against him. He never imagined the Second Prince would shamelessly seize him and coerce the family into submission. The thought of it made Count Kenmais want to die of shame. But he couldn't really bring himself to die — all he could do was grit his teeth in silent fury…
"Hahaha, with an army of a hundred thousand, where in the world can't we go?" The Second Prince laughed. In that moment, he had completely ignored the feelings of Baron Shaxin, Count Kenmais, Baron Filim, and the other Northland lords beside him, treating the hundred thousand soldiers in the camp as his own personal army. He even made a resolution: after dealing with the Norton family this year, he would sweep through the Madelas Duchy again next year. With this army of a hundred thousand, he would smash that old fool the Madelas Grand Duke's face for certain. The Second Prince was a man who never forgot a grudge.
"Issue the order — rest for two days and get into proper formation. Our army of a hundred thousand will present itself before Bedrock Castle in the most immaculate array. We'll give that stupid bear a proper look at what a real army looks like. Perhaps that stupid bear will just open the gates and surrender, saving us a lot of trouble…" The Second Prince waved his ornate golden riding whip as he issued his commands.
March 17th, noon. The army of a hundred thousand finally appeared within the sight of Bedrock Castle's guards…
The Second Prince led the Northland lords to a position five or six hundred meters from Bedrock Castle. Surveying the fortress, he nodded: "This castle is indeed easy to defend and hard to attack. No wonder the Norton family has been so arrogant and insolent. But they certainly never expected me to bring a hundred thousand troops. I imagine the Norton family's head is up in the castle right now, clutching his head and weeping with regret. Heh. Issue the order — set up camp. We have all the time in the world. No rush…"
"Your Majesty is wise…" several Northland lords beside him fawned.
Before the words had faded, a clear, piercing horn call rang out from the direction of Bedrock Castle…
"That — that's — that's the signal for a sortie!" one of the Northland lords exclaimed in shock.
Everyone exchanged bewildered glances. Had the Norton family taken leave of their senses? They were facing an army of a hundred thousand! Instead of cowering behind their walls, they were going to march out for open battle. What was going on?
Then, from the distance, the gates of Bedrock Castle swung wide open. Countless Norton family soldiers in shining silver armor poured out like a tide, charging straight toward them…
The Second Prince's face changed dramatically. Although his side numbered a hundred thousand, they had just arrived and had yet to settle into position. If the Norton family's forces charged straight at them and caught them off guard, it would be an utter humiliation.
"Baron Shaxin, Count Kenmais, Baron Filim — immediately order your family forces to assemble and stand by!" The Second Prince quickly made his decision. He would have these three families' troops block the first wave of the Norton family's assault.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Only Baron Filim responded loudly, turning his horse and riding off.
Knight Henred glanced at Count Kenmais, who was looking back at him.
"Your Majesty, my family's forces won't obey orders unless I go there to command them personally…" Knight Henred said.
"The same for me…" Count Kenmais echoed.
The implication was clear: both of them had been held captive by the Second Prince this whole time. Even though their troops had been dispatched, sending someone now to relay orders — who knew if the men below would actually obey? Whatever happened, they would bear no responsibility. The Second Prince could figure it out himself.
"Fine. Go back to your respective family's forces, then." The Second Prince figured that since both had already committed their troops to this extent, there was no need to worry about them colluding with the Norton family. Moreover, it was indeed a fact that each family's armed forces only obeyed their own lord's commands. Still, the Second Prince was concerned they might drag their feet, so he decided to send men to shadow them.
"Wait — you'll each take two of my personal guards with you. Baron Shaxin, you and Baron Filim position your forces together to protect my center's left flank. Count Kenmais, your family's forces will be on my right flank. When the time comes, you will follow my commands. Understood?"
"As you command, Your Majesty." Knight Henred and Count Kenmais each took two of the Second Prince's guards and departed hurriedly.
"Issue the order — the First Royal Legion will advance immediately into blocking formation. Longbowmen, prepare for high-angle volleys. All other lords' forces, assemble and stand by immediately behind the First Royal Legion's lines, ready to step forward and block the enemy at any moment…" No matter what, the Second Prince had fought his way through the empire's civil war. While he couldn't be called a veteran of a hundred battles, the string of commands he issued still showed his experience and seasoning in warfare.
The First Royal Legion was well-trained and responded swiftly. After the Second Prince's orders were given, sword-and-shield infantry formed the front line, followed by spearmen, while longbowmen readied themselves for high-angle fire. Two scout cavalry regiments took positions on either flank, prepared to circle around and envelop any enemies that charged toward them.
The rumbling of drums sounded. The charging Norton family forces, at a distance of four hundred meters, began to converge and form their ranks — infantry in the center, cavalry on the flanks. Under the watchful eyes of a hundred thousand enemy troops, they arranged themselves into neat square formations, lined up in a row.
The great battle was on the verge of erupting…
…