In May, after several months of rest and training, Art finally decided to lead his army to clear out mountain bandits and robbers across Tinietz County.
There were three reasons for this large-scale bandit suppression: first, to train the army's combat capability by clearing out bandits with outdated weapons and low fighting power, and incidentally, to seize spoils of war from the bandits to cover army expenses; second, to prepare for his next step of opening up the eastern trade route for southern goods, as only when this road was free from rampant bandit harassment could merchants travel north and south to conduct trade, and his own caravan could travel safely and smoothly along this road, allowing the subsequent steps to proceed; third, to enhance his own influence, whether by building a certain reputation within Tinietz County or by presenting a satisfactory report to the nobles in the Court to attract their attention.
Art knew well that “it’s easy to defeat bandits, but too hard to find their tracks; easy to partially annihilate, but too hard to completely encircle and wipe them out.” Therefore, his suppression plan started from the Border Outpost in the south, forming a crushing force from south to north, while clearing out scattered bandits and driving the dispersed bandits north into the wilderness and dense forests.
Throughout May, the army engaged in five battles with mountain bandits and roving brigands in various parts of southern Tinietz County.
Thanks to the “Hawkeyes” previously placed in manors and villages throughout the county, and the information collected by the Border Outpost from passing travelers and merchants, Art had a grasp of the whereabouts of a larger group of bandits in the south. From early May, when he led his troops out of the valley, in just over twenty days, Art led his army to kill seventeen bandits, capture over thirty accomplices and henchmen, and seize over three thousand fenny in money, over two thousand pounds of grain, and six large livestock including cattle and horses. Such war gains did not meet Art’s ideal expectations, but these mountain bandits and robbers were indeed not wealthy; if they were truly well-off with money and grain, they would not risk taking up this dangerous profession that easily cost them their heads.
The army also suffered casualties. Aside from the wear and tear of weapons and armor, Art’s army suffered three dead and five seriously wounded Soldiers in several battles. Most of these dead and seriously wounded Soldiers were new recruits who had recently been promoted to Soldier. When fighting, they were timid and dared not face the enemy directly, and even after tackling an enemy, they hesitated to bring down their raised swords or axes, resulting in being counter-killed by the hardened bandits who had recovered.
After eradicating several bandit groups in the south, Art’s objectives were largely achieved. After personally experiencing the might of Art’s army, the bandits scattered in the southern reaches of Tinietz began to flee north, either escaping into the northern wilderness or hiding in dense forests and valleys. More of them gathered near the village forts and manors along the Ryan, Thorn, and Bula line, because, apart from the north-south trade route, only these places could provide grain and supplies for the bandits to plunder.
Suddenly, Tinietz County City continuously received reports of bandit attacks from various places. Although Viscount Pierre had received Art’s letter beforehand and knew that this was Art’s strategy for suppressing bandits, he still grumbled and cursed Art, the “culprit,” while scratching his head.
Cursing aside, things had to be resolved, and Art was genuinely getting things done. So, after calming down, Viscount Pierre, while comforting various parts of the county and strictly ordering strengthened defenses, also continuously sent people to urge Art to move his army north as quickly as possible to eradicate the bandits plaguing the areas early.
And while Art was practical, he would never do anything that put him at a disadvantage. He demanded money, grain, supplies, and weapons from Viscount Pierre, and at the same time, under the pretext of raising funds to suppress bandits, he levied a public security tax for bandit suppression from the villages and manors in the county that had been harassed by bandits.
Of course, Art’s tax collection process this time was much smoother than when he collected provisions a year ago, not only because the various regions had been made anxious by the bandits, but more importantly, Art entered the villages and forts with his army. Those minor lords who used to dare to expel the county tax collectors, seeing Art’s strong army and horses, all greeted him with smiles and obediently handed over the money and supplies they had already prepared.
They were wise, and also forced, because not long ago, a small village fort that refused to pay Art’s bandit suppression public security tax was suddenly attacked by a group of unknown robbers the night Art led his troops out. The gentry in the village were killed, and several wealthy households were plundered clean. Although Art clearly stated that the village fort’s misfortune was absolutely not his doing, they had just left when the village was immediately raided by bandits. Who would believe that it had nothing to do with him?
Anyway, regardless, since then, the performance of the various villages and manors became much more proactive. Often, Art would just arrive at the village entrance with his army, and the lords and gentry would already be waiting at the village fort's crossroads with money bags and grain.
“Officer Klaus, you said that the Lord has already explained to them that what happened that night had nothing to do with us, so why do those villages still look at us as if they’re seeing mountain bandits?” On the road leaving Bula Village, a newly promoted Soldier from the Third Company’s Second Squad couldn’t help but quietly ask Squad Leader Klaus why the villagers’ gazes had been so strange recently.
Klaus was silent for a while, then finally turned to the fellow who had just been promoted to Soldier and whispered in return, “How do you know it truly has nothing to do with us?”
The Soldier thought for a moment and said, “The Lord himself said it had nothing to do with us, and we really didn’t do anything in the village!”
Klaus smiled and said, “It truly had nothing to do with you, but where did Lord Angus and the Sentry Cavalry go that night? Why were only the gentry who insulted the Lord and two wealthy households in the village fort raided by bandits, while the other villagers were safe and sound?”
The Soldier replied, “Didn’t the Sentry Cavalry go out on patrol that night?”
“Patrol? Can a patrol last all night? Can a patrol get your armor stained with blood? Buddy, you think our Lord is too simple!” With that, Klaus stopped talking and motioned for the Soldier to focus on marching.
At the head of the marching column, Lieutenant Angus rode beside Art.
Angus lagged half a horse's head behind Art, chuckling softly and sighing, “My Lord, these fellows are just like that. If you don’t give them a bit of a threat and a lesson, they’ll really treat us like beggars. See? Aren’t they much more compliant now?” Angus smiled and patted the bulging saddlebag on the front of his saddle.
Art gently tugged on the reins, trying to slow down so that Angus’s lagging half-horse-head could catch up, but Angus consistently maintained his half-horse-head lag. Art no longer bothered, turning his head slightly to reply, “Some fellows are just so ungracious. If you speak to them kindly, they scoff at you, but as soon as you draw your sword, they immediately kneel. They don’t even think, though I collect money, I am genuinely getting things done. It’s certainly better than the garrison in the county city that only collects grain and taxes and never does anything, isn’t it?”
Art paused, then said, “However, we should try to do such things less in the future. After all, this is not enemy territory, and our Soldiers are not bandits who plunder indiscriminately, regardless of friend or foe. Unless absolutely necessary, I do not want the army to get involved in these schemes, especially against our own people.”
“My Lord, as you deal with more people and matters in the future, these dirty jobs will eventually need to be done by someone.”
“Future? I have my own plans for the future!”
Angus no longer pressed the issue of dirty work and instead changed the subject: “My Lord, our conspicuous actions this time will likely arouse more suspicion. The surrounding lords will not feel at ease with a waking lion sleeping beside them.”
Angus’s concerns were not unfounded. Art replied, “Sergeant, from the moment I was knighted and received my fief, we were destined to be watched. Moreover, I just held a grand celebration in the valley not long ago; those who eye us covetously have probably already been sharpening their swords. This time, I brought the army to various places not merely to collect the bandit suppression public security tax. My main purpose was to take the army out for a tour, to show our fangs to those who spy on and suspect us, so they can consider whether they have the sharp teeth to devour us…” After speaking, Art lightly spurred his horse and, with Felix and two cavalry attendants, returned west at the village crossroads.
The infantry officer leading the troops behind them glanced at the road to the east, stopped, and asked, “My Lord, are we not going to Andermatt Fortress in the east to continue collecting?”
Angus turned to look at the red-haired officer and smiled, “Kazak, has money really clouded your judgment? Andermatt Fortress in the east is Baron Antayas’s territory. We haven’t fallen so low as to exploit our friends.” With that, Angus also spurred his horse west to catch up with Art.
Kazak then remembered that Baron Antayas and his Lord had a deep friendship. “Right, right, how can we extort money from friends?”
Kazak mumbled to himself and ran back to the Soldier ranks.
Thirty fully armed infantrymen and a few quartermasters, escorting five four-wheeled wagons laden with grain, fruits, vegetables, and cloth supplies, quickened their pace to keep up with the cavalry.