Chapter 46
Chapter 46
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 46
Chapter Title: Snare Operation (1)
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After the war plan was established, the preparation period needed to begin the conquest war was roughly three months.
First, for the initial month, officials were dispatched to all the territories under the county to assess the number of men available for conscription and purchase the necessary supplies accordingly.
These supplies naturally included weapons like swords, spears, lances, shields, bows, arrows, and crossbows, as well as food such as wheat flour, barley flour, salted meat, and even alcohol.
Once the supplies and conscription numbers were tallied, the next month was spent recruiting soldiers, and the final month involved checking the enemy territory's situation and any potential issues along the route while assembling the scattered barons' armies near Nant Castle.
So in total, it was three months, but thanks to the overly enthusiastic Count Schwein von Nant urging his subordinate barons and nobles...
We had to complete all preparations in just two months.
Fortunately, our County of Kroitel had mostly standing troops, making supply assessments easier and allowing us to meet the timeline without issue...
But the barons and nobles under the count probably had to scramble like beans popping in a lightning fire.
In an era where armies faced unexpected accidents even with "perfect preparations," rushing like this when there was no need to hurry...
Unaware of my thoughts, Schwein—from the highest watchtower of the castle, clad in armor engraved with gold patterns—looked down at me and the soldiers below and declared,
"Proud warriors of the County of Nant! Rejoice! For you shall achieve glorious victories in your first campaign today!! The goddess of victory already smiles upon us!!"
I had deliberately instructed the girls I infiltrated as spies to boost his confidence with "intimate relations followed by bedside encouragement," a tactic historically effective for monarchs of his temperament...
But I never imagined he'd fall into self-delusion this deeply.
Regardless of whether the soldiers were listening, His Excellency Schwein slammed his sword into the ground with a thud and continued,
"Lucky knights and warriors marching to this victorious war with me!! I swear on my name today: once I, Schwein von Nant, conquer that arrogant Count Helsman, I shall duly reward your merits! Follow me if you desire more land, more gold, more women!!!"
With that, Schwein clenched his right fist and thrust it high into the air.
In response, a few soldiers who looked like cheerleaders raised cheers of support.
"Glory to the House of Count Nant! Honor to His Excellency Schwein!"
"Long live His Excellency Count Nant!!!"
"Great God, protect His Excellency in this just war!!"
Soon after, other soldiers caught the mood and naturally joined in with their own cheers.
When over ten thousand soldiers cheered in unison, it felt like a massive roar shaking the heavens assaulted my ears.
Next, Count Schwein smiled, raised both arms to calm the soldiers, and shouted loudly,
"I, Schwein von Nant, guarantee it! Burn resisting villages, plunder as you will. Sate your desires, your hunger, your greed! Entire army, advance!!!"
As previously arranged, I—as the vanguard of the Nant Count's army—shouted the prearranged line to send the soldiers marching.
"Glorious warriors of Kroitel, honored to lead the vanguard! Give thanks for this chance to uphold His Excellency Count Nant's noble will! Entire vanguard, advance!!"
Our well-trained soldiers followed my mounted lead, marching in perfect order—steps, ranks, and files aligned just as practiced in drills.
As a result, we exited the castle gates as if a single man were marching.
Once outside the gates, the people the count had prepared in advance to boost morale began showering us with various flowers.
The soldiers, experiencing such a welcome for the first time, beamed with joy, but I frowned at the count's extravagant display.
Because gathering enough flowers for this massive army to pass through would have required serfs to scour the mountains for several sleepless nights.
"Pathetic..."
Baldt, riding beside me, glanced my way and asked,
"Still, aren't the soldiers happy about it?"
"Baldt, the soldiers may be thrilled... but the serfs who gathered those flowers probably went several nights without sleep. In our County of Kroitel, we'd provide 'adequate compensation' for such an event, but most lords..."
Baldt's expression soured at my words.
"They must have toiled for days without any pay. And they couldn't tend their farms properly during that time..."
"Exactly. It only loses the people's hearts. Utter madness."
A brief silence fell between Baldt and me then, and as we advanced under the scattering flower rain...
A hefty bouquet of paper flowers flew toward me.
Seeing it, Baldt grinned at me and said,
"A paper flower bouquet? That's a first. Whoever threw this is a good fellow... Hitting the vanguard lord with paper flowers..."
I ignored him for a moment and searched the paper bouquet for the hidden letter.
Soon enough, I found the concealed note inside.
And as expected, it named the two maids I'd sent to the count: Aine and Silpi.
Unfolding it quickly, I found explicit details about the count's private life—more than I'd even hoped for.
**
After departing, we marched for a week to reach the midpoint rest area at the border between the County of Nant and the County of Helsman: the Bautmann region.
Fortunately, despite the rushed preparations, there were no shortages of food or alcohol.
However, true to medieval armies, deserters began appearing from the count's unit and the other barons' forces.
At yesterday's strategy meeting—held to finalize detailed war plans—they reported about 1% of the troops had deserted.
In modern warfare, 1% desertion would be a "massive" number, prompting commanders to reassess morale and strategies...
But in this world, where the rule is that one in ten conscripted serfs deserts before combat even begins, it's considered low.
That's why Viscount Kroitel had been so worried before departure, but seeing the relatively few deserters so far, he was relieved...
Honestly, if I'd been conscripted without pay, unable to farm properly and facing livelihood issues, I'd want to desert too.
And with no thorough modern oversight or proper census, as long as you weren't caught on-site, there were no real penalties...
Seeing this incomprehensible situation, I recalled a line from some famous documentary.
"Man, it's straight out of the Middle Ages."
Really, the medieval era is impossible to grasp from a modern perspective.
Lost in such thoughts as I rode, we soon arrived at Bautmann.
Upon entering Bautmann's borders, the local bailiff and his subordinates were already there to greet us.
They knelt swiftly upon seeing me, bowed their heads, and said,
"Are you Baron Siel von Kroitel, Your Excellency?"
"Yes."
"As ordered, we've prepared 50 tons of wheat flour, 50 tons of barley flour, 50 pigs, 1,000 chickens, beer, and other supplies in the warehouse. We've also gathered women from nearby villages and towns for the nobles and soldiers' entertainment. Please stamp these documents."
With that, the bailiff handed me the "documents."
Before stamping, I leaned down from my horse for a final check and asked,
"You're not falsifying this, are you?"
Terrified by the pressure from a baron like me, the bailiff trembled as he replied,
"O-Of course not, Your Excellency..."
"Good. I'll trust you."
I stamped the documents he offered.
**
A few hours later, the count and other barons came to find me at the vanguard.
While the soldiers set up camp—serving as both billets and an impromptu banquet hall—we passed the time discussing the "upcoming war" and idle chatter.
After a few hours of talk, a messenger entered and reported,
"Report: The banquet for the soldiers is ready."
Until then, the count had worn a bored expression, but it brightened instantly.
"Is that so? Thank you for informing us. Everyone, enjoy this final feast before battle."
With his order to leave, all the barons quickly exited the count's tent.
As I moved to go, the count grabbed my shoulder and said,
"I trust you negotiated well with the bailiff. So, while you're vanguard, no need to report on supplies. Just have Viscount Kroitel inspect occasionally."
"Understood."
No matter how impartial Viscount Kroitel is as my guardian, we're still "father and son," so who knows when we might collude...
Entrusting supply management to us in this relationship—what if we deliberately supplied "spoiled goods" or "poor-quality food," causing non-combat losses like food poisoning and financial drain...
Sigh. Of course, no matter how much I despise the count, I'm not selling my conscience for such petty gains...
That bastard really is a moron.
**
That night, the unpaid soldiers and other nobles reveled in a mad feast before entering enemy territory.
I quietly shared a few drinks with Ella, then quietly... no, rather intensely...
Anyway, nothing noteworthy happened, and I slept and woke up.
The next day, after a few more days of marching, we finally arrived at the decisive battlefield: the Linz Plains.
As expected, the enemy had already set up camp with over ten thousand infantry and several hundred knights.
When our vanguard scouts made contact, I deliberately let them escape to alert their side and shouted to our soldiers,
"All hands, increase speed!! Our target is Helsman Castle—the city of Count Helsman! Move faster than the enemy and fully encircle their city!"
The die has been cast. Now, Count Schwein von Nant and Count Helsman will drag each other into the "sewer" on their own.