68 – Poitiers Family – 8
It was a very coincidental event.
A group of mercenaries who had joined Georges de Poitiers’ army were having a conversation near the forest.
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“hehehehe, I made a lot of money through this war. “The crown prince’s camp said they would pay 50% more than the existing contract terms.”
“I almost died this year due to poor harvest, but I survived because you called me. I never thought he would treat me like this when he came out wearing only the armor his father wore… “
“Remember today’s events well. In today’s day and age, it’s more beneficial to occasionally rob the thugs than to just farm every day. How much do young, healthy men like us benefit from fighting each other to acquire land in the vain days after the emperor lost his mind? “You can use other people’s money as you want.”
“That’s right. The battlefield was overflowing with all kinds of expensive items. Ha ha ha!”
“So… “
As one mercenary looked somewhere while trailing off his words, another mercenary followed his gaze. There was a man wearing armor and riding a horse.
“Why not try a side job?”
“Side job?”
“Plate armor is expensive. “If you get full plate armor intact on the battlefield, that day can be considered a turning point in your life, and even if you get half plate armor that only covers your chest, you can play around for a year.”
“Oh, so?”
“Hey, that guy is coming. A guy who comes to the main road on horseback. If you rob that guy, dispose of the body, and take away the armor, wouldn’t it make a lot of money?”
My colleague’s eyes sparkled at those words. But there was a problem.
“But how do you know if that guy is an enemy or friend? If we become His Highness the Crown Prince’s subordinates, won’t we die?”
“I’m talking about when you get caught, you man! Who knows if we just kill them here, hide the body, and quietly disappear! Do you think you can make some money doing business like that? “You may be good at farming, but you are a poor man!”
My colleague was caught up in that provocation.
“Do it. “If you sell the armor, you get to share it in half.”
“That’s how you behave as my friend.”
They had been hiding in the grass and waiting for a while, but when the cavalry passed by, they suddenly came out of the grass and held out their spears. Due to the nature of horses being afraid of sharp objects, they immediately raised their legs and threw the horseman to the ground. The horse ran away alone, and the cavalryman was unable to come to his senses from the shock of falling.
“Now is the time! “Stab!”
Kwasik! When one mercenary stabbed the cavalryman with a spear, his chest was pierced and he died instantly. However, the mercenary who was watching strongly hit the back of the head of the mercenary who stabbed him.
“I should stab the neck, what if I stab the chest?” Your armor is damaged! This will only get you the price of metal… “
“How much would I have received if I had stabbed him without causing any harm?”
“At least 5 ducats. Now I wonder if I should even get 1 ducat.”
“… “
The mercenary was scratching his head at his mistake, but the other mercenary didn’t care and searched the cavalryman’s arms. If he happens to have gold or other valuables, that too will be sold at a high price. But…
“What is this? Letter? “Seeing as it even has a seal, it must be a letter from a high-ranking official?”
The man carelessly opened the seal and read the letter. And in that letter…
[I will purchase the mercenary group right now. I will also pay the price of 5,000 ducats right away. However, the situation here is urgent and quick reinforcements are needed. Please get to Oxenberg as quickly as possible. Since the enemy is right in front of the castle, communication through letters will be difficult from now on. So, let’s meet and talk in more detail. Posted by Charles Jean Rochepol.]
I don’t know who Charles Jean Rochepol was, but it was a request for reinforcements from Oxenberg. In short, it is an incredibly important military document.
“What kind of letter is this?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. It’s a love letter from a nobleman. Anyway, take your armor with you. I’ll give you that armor. “I will accept one ducat.”
“Really? Is that okay?”
The mercenary put the letter in his arms and headed straight to Georges de Poitiers’ military camp. I thought that if I handed over this letter, I would receive a big prize. And back to the present…
“Sister! I could never have imagined that my smart sister would believe in the letter and hold on for so long. Buy a mercenary group and call that mercenary group as reinforcements? hahahaha, that’s stupid. Where are the mercenaries who risk their lives to participate in an unfavorable war? Obviously they won’t come. But just in case it comes… “
Georges grinned.
“We also made a purchase offer to them. Twice as much as 5,000 ducats! 10,000 Ducats! At this rate, it goes without saying whether they will choose us or your sister, right?”
“Georges, 10,000 ducats is not an odd amount to buy a castle, not just a mercenary group. “Did you really have that much money?”
“Let’s just say there was hidden property. Ha ha ha!”
The hidden wealth is a mess. The crown prince probably secretly supported it.
Of course, I don’t think that the Crudia mountaineer mercenaries would betray us for money. Their faith is famous, so I won’t change their words. But the fact that they knew about the existence of reinforcements is itself a problem.
When he did not know of the existence of the reinforcements, he could use the strategy of surrounding them from front and back and annihilating them while the enemy was confused by the sudden appearance of the reinforcements. But it was different now. Since the enemy knew of the existence of the reinforcements, if they tried to cut off the reinforcements midway or set up camp on the way for the reinforcements to hold out, the allies would have no choice but to lose.
In other words, the battle from now on is going to be really difficult because our army’s strategy has been clearly revealed through that letter.
“Isabel, things are going badly. “The mere fact that the enemy knew of the existence of reinforcements would be the same as ruining our operation.”
“Aren’t there any other operations?”
“If you think about it, it should be possible, but it won’t be easy since our radius of action is already limited to the castle.”
“… “
Meanwhile, while Isabelle and Charles were having this conversation, Georges laughed out loud, tore up his letter, and returned to his military camp.
That night, the attack began once again. This attack was very brief and the casualties on both sides were less than a dozen, but it was enough to break the morale of the allies who heard the conversation between Georges and Isabelle.
—–
Meanwhile, inside the castle. As Isabelle was burying her head, a commotion was heard in her office.
“No! Please! “I mean, Isabelle is at work right now!”
“What a house job! “We should go in!”
Boom! The door to the office opened with a loud noise. When Isabel raised her head and looked at her door, there were mercenary captains led by Beth Aston.
“I heard that the operation to call in reinforcements failed.”
Isabel answered Beth Aston, who suddenly got to the point.
“It hasn’t failed yet. It’s just that the enemy intercepted our friend’s letter… “
“It’s as if it failed! Damn it! I don’t want to die participating in a fight I’m sure I’ll lose! Get us out of the castle right now! “I must go home!”
“… “
Isabel felt her headache getting worse. No matter how faithless the mercenaries are, doesn’t it make no sense to ask them to leave the castle they are defending? That was something he was openly asking for.
‘As expected, mercenaries are difficult to control… ‘
Our army’s direct soldiers are 300, including Charles’ soldiers, 300. And the remaining mercenary soldiers are about 500. In short, the number of mercenaries was only half. As a result, the mercenary’s strength was equal to Isabelle’s, so he was able to make such an absurd request.
“The battle is still ongoing. Suddenly, going outside the castle is out of the question… “
Isabel tried to have a conversation based on common sense, but unfortunately, the mercenaries had no common sense at all.
Jump, jerk, jerk.
Beth Aston, one of the mercenary leaders, came closer and slammed Isabelle’s desk.
Taang!
The teacup that Isabel was drinking from fell and shattered, and Beth Aston spoke to Isabel with a threatening expression.
“Now we stand before death. In one word, there is nothing to see. If you want to survive, you can open the castle gate to make it easier for enemies to enter. So, it would be for your best interest to let them go obediently.”
And the next moment.
Charles, who heard a loud noise, came into the office, out of breath, as if he had run.
“What’s going on?”
Charles, sensing an unusual atmosphere, asked. And it was Beth Aston who answered.
“Ah, there was you. Come to think of it, you were in the same group as Isabel. So they ruined my plan, which was supposed to work out well.”
Beth Aston took out her sword and pointed it at Charles. In response, Glacia Ehrenberg stepped forward, but Charles raised her hand to stop her.
“Please stay behind for a moment.”
“But then the author… “
“The author won’t be able to kill me anyway.”
“This baby teases her mouth!”
Beth Aston took out her sword and tried to swing, but Charles did not dodge. Instead, he was moving his mouth.
“I will let you all leave the castle.”
“… What?”
At one word from Charles, Beth Aston stopped her sword.