231 – Battle of the Hanseatic County Occupation (4)
After arriving at Martini Castle, over the course of two months we occupied all the empty castles in the Hanseatic County.
Thanks to this, the troops had to be spread out and deployed, and even in Count Hansa’s Hanja City, where I am currently stationed, there are only about 200 defenders.
For a county that was at war (the core city of the territory), the number of troops stationed there was relatively small, so it might have been uneasy, but no one here had to be particularly anxious.
Why? The people living here didn’t seem to have any intention of resisting us, and there were no people who could become the focal point of the rebellion.
“It’s not good to see that discipline has already been lost.”
While inspecting the city, he saw people drinking alcohol brought by war merchants and said teasingly.
Then, instead of apologizing, the guys who heard that said filled a glass of wine and brought it to me.
“We are off duty right now, Baron Cologne. How about a drink?”
I don’t drink alcohol while on guard duty or patrol, so I don’t have any intention of saying anything.
No, in fact, these guys are working two 12-hour shifts every day due to a shortage of soldiers, so they have to be released.
Otherwise, you never know when they’ll go crazy from stress and turn to things like looting and rape.
“I feel like having a drink, but I’m on my way to work right now.”
The guy who offered me a drink took the glass back as if he felt sorry for me.
“So, give me a beer. “Wine is alcohol, but beer is no problem.”
Not only in the Rhine-Palatinate Empire, but everywhere on the continent, beer is treated as a beverage that can be consumed in place of water.
In rural areas, even children aged 5 to 6 are given two cups of alcohol after they finish their meal, with the instructions to clear their mouths.
So, even in the military, unless you are directly standing guard during wartime, you are not punished for drinking 2-3 drinks beforehand.
Even if there is an order not to drink alcohol in the military camp, everyone ignores drinking beer.
“It’s pretty cool.”
“I brought something to give to our Baron, but I took some care to keep it.”
“Okay, thank you. By the way, what is the condition of the citizens and serfs here? Was there anyone who seemed willing to resist?”
According to the report, it was written that there were no fools within the Hanseatic County who were trying to resist us.
However, no matter how well I manage the troops under my command, there is bound to be some ‘go’ written in the report, so I have to check for myself.
“No. “In the first place, we took Count Hansa prisoner, and didn’t we take all the other knights as prisoners as well?”
I was quite satisfied with the answer, which was not different from the contents of the report.
“Is there really nothing?”
To those words, the most senior among the guys here and the one who has been with the Whitebeard Mercenaries since their days answered seriously.
“As the Baron said, anyone who says anything even remotely disturbing is thoroughly interrogated, regardless of their age. “I’ve already caused a few people to drink the infinite stew through their noses and blow it all up.”
It may seem like I’m inspecting too harshly on people who barely have the strength to resist me.
In the first place, a civil unrest by the people could be triggered by a single word of dissatisfaction from some crazy person or a word accidentally uttered by a child.
In addition, if we release the people even before our rule is stabilized, something abnormal may occur.
“And then he released rats all over the village. Everyone was starving because they didn’t have enough to eat, but they said they would give them something to eat. “Everyone cooperated well.”
“If you did it that way, there wouldn’t be a problem. Okay, then I’ll just leave.”
I have secured a minimum level of trust among the people, and an environment has been created where it is difficult for them to cooperate and rebel against me.
Now you can slowly move on to the next step.
Approximately as soon as I finished my patrol, I called Haksen into my office.
“Haksen, you are having a hard time managing public order on my behalf.”
“No. “It’s my job.”
“Honestly, it sucks, right? “I work in shifts for 12 hours a day, watching over the guys and making patrols.”
The guy sighed heavily in front of me.
“No.”
Even if it is not said, there are very deep dark circles around the eyes, and the face is also quite haggard.
However, it would be difficult to honestly say that it was difficult in front of my superiors, especially in front of me, who had become a baron instead of a mercenary leader.
“No, what is it? “Honestly, I’m dying too.”
Haksen lowered his head and looked embarrassed at my words.
“But it can’t be helped, right? “It’s going to be a little difficult right now to prevent other guys from taking advantage of the Baron’s achievements.”
It would have been more convenient if we had received additional military support to occupy the County of Vienna with ease.
But just as when you eat something delicious at school, there are always kids asking for a bite to eat, so if we received additional reinforcements…
Those who didn’t like me would have taken every piece of my achievements, and because of that, the rewards and territory I would have received would have been greatly reduced.
It is possible to read it and take over quickly, but this also has its limits.
“So, to make management more efficient, I plan to conscript local serfs.”
The Haksen guy opened his eyes wide.
“Are you crazy, or are you crazy?”
It is dangerous to conscript those who not long ago said they would plunder and murder us, but it cannot be helped.
Because if we continue like this, our soldiers are on the verge of collapsing from overwork…
The Second Prince’s faction will realize that the Hanseatic County is half empty and will immediately lead a small elite force to attack…
If you don’t fill in the ‘number’, at least 1/3 or at most half of the county territory will be taken away.
“If our children do their best to maintain security, we can hold out until only 2 reinforcements arrive. But are there only idiots in the Second Prince’s faction? “There are probably a ton of bastards out there trying to bring in even a few elites and mess with them.”
When I spoke as if I were a mercenary leader, Haksen nodded his head.
“That’s right.”
I returned my tone to solemn and serious.
“If something like that happens, our family’s standing will fall significantly.”
Strictly speaking, there are only a small number of elites, but in the end, there is no way we will lose our position as we occupy half of the county with a ragtag group of 7,000 people.
Rather, everyone would be amazed if they admired the fact that two barons ate up half of the Hanseatic County.
However, compared to eating an entire county, the status of that achievement is greatly lowered, so it can be said that it has less standing here.
“To prevent such a situation, we must at least increase the number of soldiers stationed in the castle. “That way, we can at least try to defend the castle against these exhausted people.”
It took only three months for me to overthrow Count Hansa and completely take control of this territory.
At this time, no matter how quickly the second prince organizes an army and dispatches troops here, the limit is 2,000 to 3,000 men at most.
And if we march rapidly all night, we will be able to win the battle before the reinforcements sent by His Highness the Fourth Prince arrive here.
You will have to run like crazy during the march, prepared to let 20-30% fall behind.
Why? This is because our ancestors cannot do the supply and marching for us.
“Even if the numbers are filled with conscripts, those who are tired from marching will despair. “You know why, right?”
“Just hiding behind the walls increases the effort required to take down the fortress. Then there will be no need to rush to get there.”
“It’s just as you said.”
What if you lead a battle with over 2,000-3,000 troops and capture only a few castles and territory that is less than half of the barony, and then the whole world is broken?
Their morale, which was already low because I defeated an army of 15,000, will be lowered even further.
Then, in the end, you will have no choice but to retreat with your soldiers.
“Select soldiers from the serfs, with the ratio being one newly conscripted soldier for every soldier we brought in. “We have to mix the newly conscripted guys with the guys we brought in.”
If you mix things up like that, there will be no confusion.
“Please provide enough food to the conscripted soldiers and their families.”
If you present them with a way to live a little better, even among the serfs, they will want to become soldiers rather than cause an uprising.
So, the possibility of a popular rebellion is eradicated with this.
“My work here is done, so tell Baron Maurer to come here.”
“Yes, I understand. Then how will we deal with Count Hansa and the rest of his vassals?”
I feel like I want to deal with it all, but I think it’s still too early.
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“No, just feed him well and take good care of him for the time being. “If there is someone who says their sides are sore, we put them in and give them food.”
That way, it will be known that I follow the customs that exist among nobles.
And when they disappear from your attention, it’s better to just kill them, right?
You have to spend money with your heart to give a death row inmate a last dinner.
“I understand.”
Having said that, I quickly rode my horse to the castle in the border area.
And as expected, after one month and fifteen days, the enemy army arrived at the castle.