292 – The Great War of Bohemia (9)
No matter what, if the result is good, even the hardships during the process become worthwhile.
The experience of eating tasteless mixed porridge with biscuits while working as a f*cking low-level mercenary has now been glorified as a fun memory from the past.
I feel like even the moments when I was on the verge of death several times were trials that I had to go through in order to become stronger.
As I was reminiscing about the past for just a moment, someone tapped me from behind.
“Oh, Viscount Cologne, what on earth are you thinking so happily to yourself? “Please tell this humble baron.”
When I looked back, I saw Dalton twitching and smiling.
Dalton, even though he is already in his 50s, his smile is the same now as it was when I first met him.
No matter how much you slow down the aging process by becoming an expert, your impression of someone is likely to change at that age.
“Looking at the results I created brings me back to old times, Captain Dalton.”
I pointed with my finger at the enemy unit visible in the distance.
To the average person, it would only be seen as a group of people gathered together, but as my level continued to rise, it was clearly visible to my sharpened eyes.
The guys holding the spears are holding their spears helplessly, showing that they don’t want to fight anymore, and their shoulders are extremely slumped.
It is truly awe-inspiring to see the commanders not even dare to reprimand them.
It was a complete mess five minutes ago, no, it was already a mess.
Dalton chuckled.
“Those bastards have completely lost their taste for that. But why do you think of the old days when you see that?”
“I remembered the first time I fought with a spear under the captain. When I was fighting that guy called Schmitz or something. “Our mercenary unit wasn’t this crazy back then.”
Among the comrades I fought with back then, the only ones left by my side were Karin, who I am now facing face to face with at the time, Dalton, who was the captain at the time, and Vice Commander Heinz…
If you add everything else together, there are probably about 30 people.
I’ll have to get together with the guys and have a drink later.
No, but when I think about this, I suddenly feel like a man who has lived a long life.
‘Am I old too?’
Dalton slapped me on the back like he used to.
In the past, if I was hit like this, my whole body would scream, but now I don’t feel anything.
“Of course. At that time, there were no allies or enemies and there were no idiots. But look here, I don’t know if he’s Matthias or he’s just a jerk, but he’s a really stupid guy. “How can we not catch it even after three surprise attacks?”
“Still, you’re smarter than His Highness Otto.”
“Ah, that crazy bastard with the head on his lower body! But there are other idiots even worse than that bastard. Oh, isn’t there Baron Pappenheim, the previous owner of my territory? “That guy really had an incredibly stupid head.”
Anyone can see, they are talking about snapping up the bait troops that were laid out as bait, and talking about attacking a fortress with 500 men guarded by 250 men.
He was a bastard who tried to suck up other people’s achievements as he saw them, and then told me to come under him because I looked competent and he would treat me poorly as if I was being generous.
I never want to think about it again, really.
Ah, once we successfully win this war, I need to relieve some of the things that have accumulated in my body.
‘My side is slowly getting cold.’
Dalton sighed, then smiled and pointed at the enemies in front of him.
“So what should we do? Should I give those bastards one last hard hit?”
I would like to attack them right now, but they also have eyes and ears on their heads, so they all know how to learn…
If we hit the guys who are forming a formation over there right now, it will definitely get blocked.
If we are stopped in a surprise attack, it means that not only I but all the people under my command will die.
“It’s like hitting a rock with an egg. Are you calling me crazy? And then we all have to return to our respective units before the war begins in earnest. “I can’t ask you to fight without a commander.”
For this surprise attack, Dalton and I had selected all the troops that could be considered elite and rushed out with them.
And since the term ‘elite’ means a person with a certain level of skill in the military, it naturally includes me and the commanders under him.
“If you’re too greedy, your stomach will explode, boss.”
When Dalton heard those words, he immediately turned his head in the opposite direction from me.
“We can’t just leave our kids to go out and fight. “Then I’ll go.”
Before he could even say that he would see him alive, Dalton got on his horse and ran straight to his unit.
“Well, there is no affection between us.”
But, there is a superstition that in a battlefield like this, if you try to survive for no reason, you will end up losing.
If we win this war, Dalton and I will both meet alive.
I also spurred my horse and started running towards the flag of the Viscount Cologne family visible in the distance.
“We are also returning to our base in a hurry. “I know you went through a lot of hard work carrying out the surprise operation, but endure the difficult times with your strength and determination!”
Even though I said this, after the last raid, I rested for half a day in a remote place.
Everyone is a little tired, but they won’t be so tired that they can’t even lift a sword.
And the guys under my command have all survived more intense and grueling battles than this, so they’ll all do well.
One person asked me in a playful voice.
“Viscount, then will you give me a generous reward?”
“Rewards? “That’s not what I’m giving you.”
In fact, I have accumulated enough money and wealth to reward them.
When everyone’s mood suddenly became gloomy due to my indifferent words.
“Her Highness Maria can’t get enough of it without giving her a reward. Don’t you know that Her Majesty’s hand is much bigger than mine? Isn’t it true that men are so small on the inside? Auto.”
If we win this battle and return home, we will be given a huge reward.
With very little preliminary work, we lowered the enemy’s morale, and as if that wasn’t enough, we successfully launched three surprise raids.
This war strategy was also designed by me.
Otto heard everything I said and shouted loudly so that the guys following behind could hear.
“Did everyone hear? “Our Viscount said that the reward should be taken directly from Her Majesty Maria.”
Everyone was giggling and laughing, wondering what was good.
“Isn’t this too much?”
“Ha, I think it’s time to show my full potential. Otherwise, you will return with an empty wallet.”
“I don’t want my wife to hit me on the back, so I have to act like a dog.”
Then we rode straight back to the base.
**
When I returned, Ox, the most senior of our family’s knights remaining in the main unit, came out to welcome us.
“Loyalty, no problem!”
If we were relatively far away from the enemy lines, after hearing this, I would have joked and encouraged him.
But now, both allies and enemies are forming formations, so there is no direct attack.
They are on opposite sides, just 1km away, and are ready for battle.
‘You can’t be joking in a situation like this.’
“You worked hard, Ox.”
“No, Viscount. “I have ordered the soldiers to prepare their squares in preparation for the Viscount’s arrival.”
I already saw that on the way here.
Unlike the soldiers under Matthias who looked like they were about to die, it was nice to see everyone moving reliably and with liveliness in their eyes.
“The morale of the soldiers seemed to be high, and it seems they were fed generously using public funds. “You did very well.”
When Ox heard those words, he shook his head.
“No, Her Majesty Maria gave an order last night that the soldiers must be fed to their full capacity, and she said to feed each soldier one chicken. And bill yourself for all expenses incurred…”
I often told Maria the story of her days as a mercenary, and how grateful she was when the Highness gave her back a piece of meat before a battle.
She didn’t forget that and made the big decision to turn chickens to over 100,000 former soldiers.
As expected, there is a world of difference between me and Otto, who had no talent other than touching the breasts of the women I served before.
‘Throwing away Otto would be one of the best decisions of my life.’
At this time, a unit flag came up announcing that those who had gone on a raid with me had returned to their units.
“It’s almost ready. “Thank you for your hard work, Ox.”
“Thank you.”
And not long after, the sound of a trumpet commanding the entire army to charge rang out majestically.
The final battle of the civil war has begun in earnest.
“I will definitely win and return home.”