As soon as spring plowing ended, Andermatt Fortress, located on the eastern border of Tinietz County, transformed into a large military camp. Several heraldic banners were planted on the wooden walls of the fort, and military tents and bonfires were scattered throughout the stronghold.
Ever since Ars堡 was forcibly occupied by mountain bandits last autumn, Baron Antayas hadn't slept a peaceful night. The crime of losing power and territory was already enough for him to bear, and it also cost the life of a Knight. Punishment was inevitable, and if he couldn't quickly reclaim Ars堡, his hereditary baronetcy would come to an end. Thus, as soon as spring plowing concluded, he conscripted all the Knights in his territory, along with their Soldiers, to gather at Andermatt Fortress.
Now, including Internal Affairs Knight Druid, five Knights, eight Knight Squires, and over sixty serving peasant Soldiers brought by the Knights had assembled here. Additionally, Antayas personally selected fifteen young and strong farmers from his direct domain near the fortress to join his Wood Fort Guard.
Itinerant merchants and small liquor vendors from various villages and manor settlements also converged on Andermatt Fortress, and of course, women engaged in the flesh trade were not absent. The already small Andermatt Fortress suddenly became exceptionally chaotic with so many people pouring in. People arriving from all directions set up cooking pots, defecated, and urinated everywhere inside and outside the fort. The originally foul-smelling military fort had now completely turned into a large pigsty.
Inside the Lord's Hall of the military fort's stone house, a military council was being held.
Baron Antayas wasted no words and went straight to the point: “The purpose of summoning everyone here is to retake Ars堡. You all know the situation; it's been almost half a year since last autumn. Even if those old fellows in the Court are all deaf, they should know by now that Ars堡 has been captured by mountain bandits. Therefore, we must reclaim Ars堡 before the Court's indictment arrives, or none of us will have an easy time.”
A Knight with thick eyebrows and a yellow beard asked, “My Lord, you attacked Ars堡 several times last year. Why didn't you conquer it?”
As soon as the Knight finished speaking, he felt it was inappropriate and quickly added, “My Lord, I mean no offense to your authority.”
Antayas shook his head, indicating it was fine, and said, “Last year, I intended to quietly lead men to retake Ars堡 from the mountain bandits, but I underestimated the combat strength of those Bastard. I was stopped twice before Ars堡. This time, I summoned you all to take Ars堡 in one fell swoop.”
Another middle-aged Knight with a rather capable appearance asked in a deep voice, “My Lord, have you ascertained the number of mountain bandits in Ars堡 and whether they have reinforcements?”
Antayas glanced at this middle-aged Knight named Knight Croy and said, “Before the cold winter arrived last year, I sent men to scout. The number of mountain bandits in Ars堡 increased to around forty, but we don't know if there are still mountain bandits in the bandit lair in Bore Mountain.”
“Forty men? And possibly more? My Lord, we only have seventy or eighty men in total, half of whom are farmers who can't even hold a sword steady, and the rest haven't seen battle in years. It might be difficult for our small force to attack a large and extremely ferocious group of mountain bandits.” The middle-aged Knight had experienced war in his youth, and he knew how little combat power this hastily assembled army possessed.
The other Knights also whispered their agreement.
Antayas raised his hand to signal for silence, then said to everyone, “I also know that the situation is perilous this time, but you are all brave and fearless Knights. Upholding justice and eliminating evil is a sacred mission bestowed upon you by God. How can you lose the courage to defeat the devil just because it is powerful?”
Everyone lowered their heads and remained silent.
Antayas knew that at this moment, all these noble sermons were futile. He looked at everyone and whispered, “If we can retake Ars堡, I will exempt half of your taxes and service this year. After taking Ars堡, I will also allocate half of the spoils of war as your military reward. Additionally, I have hired an elite team to assist in the Eliminate, and they are likely already on their way to Andermatt Fortress.”
Hearing about the practical benefits and learning that there were reinforcements, the Knights all raised their heads, indicating that they would diligently train their Soldiers and would surely retake Ars堡 in one battle.
Watching the departing backs of the Knights, Internal Affairs Knight Druid spat and said, “They're all a bunch of greedy Bastard.”
“Enough, Druid. There's no free cheese and bread in this world. If we can't reclaim Ars堡, all the money we save now will be left to the noble who takes over the territory.”
At this point, he remembered the original owner of this saying and turned to Druid beside him, asking, “Do you think that Patrol Officer will really come to assist in the Eliminate?”
Druid thought for a moment and replied, “My Lord, it was agreed he would come before spring ends, but there's still no sign of him. I'm afraid we can't count on him.”
“I'm afraid we can't count on it this year. Look, now there are only refugees and bandits on that road; you can't even see a shadow of a merchant.”
On the road leading to Andermatt Fortress, Odo walked beside Art, discussing the matter of setting up checkpoints and collecting taxes in the Southern Border. He felt that Lord Pierre's promise to allow them to collect one year's entry merchant tax in the border area was simply nonsense.
“Yes, it's impossible to collect merchant tax this year. We can only wait until next year or the year after. Wars always end, and trade routes will always prosper,” Art said.
“But Lord Pierre only authorized us to collect taxes for one year.”
Art smiled upon hearing this and replied, “Is that so? Then at that time, we will stop collecting entry merchant tax. We will change to collecting entry security tax. This doesn't require Lord Pierre's permission, as long as our swords are sharper than those of the merchant caravan guards.”
At this moment, Lawrence rode his horse back to the team from the main road ahead. “My Lord, there's no enemy ahead. Andermatt Fortress is three miles further east.”
“Good, continue scouting.”
Art turned around and loudly ordered the Patrol Team Soldiers following behind him, “Stop advancing and rest in place. We will camp at Andermatt tonight.”
Inside Andermatt Fortress, a rider galloped into the city to report that an army was approaching from the west. The military fort immediately became somewhat chaotic, especially the farmers and small vendors outside the city who thought mountain bandits were attacking Andermatt, and they all huddled inside the military fort.
When Internal Affairs Knight Druid led three or four cavalrymen to a hill west of Andermatt, they saw an army dressed in black cloaks and robes approaching them, led by a rider. Soon after, two more cavalrymen joined the team.
“Art? Patrol Officer.”
After clearly seeing the outline of the approaching person, Druid murmured to himself, then said to a cavalryman beside him, “Go back and tell Baron Antayas that Patrol Officer Art has arrived with his team.”
Then Druid spurred his horse and rode towards the approaching people, personally welcoming Art.
Art did not allow the Patrol Team to be stationed in the military fort but set up military tents as a camp in an open space outside Andermatt Fortress. Art arranged four sentry posts around the Patrol Team's camp. He wasn't worried about enemy sneak attacks but was uneasy about the undisciplined conscripted Soldiers and farmers.
That evening, Baron Antayas hosted a banquet in the military fort's stone house for all the army leaders who had come to assist in the Eliminate. Art, as the leader of the Patrol Team, was fortunate enough to be invited to the dinner. Large platters of beef and mutton were brought to the tables, and pale ale and wheat beer were poured down throats glass after glass. The stone house was filled with enthusiasm and unrestrained boldness.
A steady-faced middle-aged Knight, holding a wooden wine cup, bypassed several boisterous, drinking fellows and came to Art, who was sitting at the far end. He sat on an armchair and asked, “Are you the Patrol Officer the Baron mentioned who came to assist in the Eliminate?”
Art put down his wine cup, glanced at this tall, long-haired, and heavily bearded Knight, and respectfully said, “Sir, I am Southern Border Patrol Officer Art Wood Wells.”
“Art Wood Wells? No title?”
“Yes, I am just a common official.”
“Oh, really? But I've seen the army you brought. You don't seem like a commoner without a noble background.” The middle-aged Knight was somewhat skeptical of how an ordinary common official could train an army with such a demeanor, especially since this commoner also had a seemingly noble surname.
Art shrugged.
The middle-aged Knight raised his wine cup and said to Art, “I am Knight Croy de Bourbon from Berningken Manor.”
“You are from the Bourbon family? Son of the Eagle.” Art had heard of this prominent family.
“Oh, yes, I am honored to be a member of this family, but my family probably doesn't think I add any glory to it.” The middle-aged Knight's words always carried a hint of complaint about the Bourbon family.
Throughout the banquet, Art hardly spoke, just quietly sitting at the end of the long table, listening to the Knights talk about the wild boars they had hunted, the women they had slept with, the battles they had fought, and the crudest jokes they had heard during their Knightly careers. During the feast, besides Baron Antayas politely toasting Art, only Knight Croy came over and spoke a few words with Art. It wasn't because the Knights looked down on Art; it was a matter of noble demeanor, and these rough men were always very meticulous on this issue.
Outside the military fort's camp, a banquet was also underway.
Baron Antayas generously sent several large pieces of pork and a large barrel of pale ale to the Patrol Team. Odo arranged for someone to stew a full pot of onion pork, and everyone received a good amount of delicious beer.
Upon returning to the camp outside the fort, the Soldiers had already fallen asleep. After checking the surrounding sentry posts, Art called Odo and others for a military council.
The few of them sat in a circle in Art's military tent.
Art observed the people in the tent for a while, and seeing that no one was drunk, he nodded and said, “Very good, you still have the most basic vigilance. From the moment we stepped out of Valley Wood Fort, we must maintain this mindset of being ready to encounter the enemy, ready to defend against the enemy, and ready to attack the enemy at any time. I allow the Soldiers to be relaxed, but I do not allow any of you officers to be even slightly negligent.”
Everyone assented.
Art took out a simple map of Ars堡, dictated by Lawrence and drawn by himself, and said, “Baron Antayas has ordered the entire army to depart from Andermatt at dawn the day after tomorrow and advance towards Ars堡.”
“Currently, there are six assembled armies at Andermatt Fortress, totaling around one hundred men. Excluding a small guard team remaining at the military fort, this Eliminate operation involves five Knights, eight Knight Squires (four archers); twenty Wood Fort Guards (including six archers), sixty-two peasant Soldiers, and our Patrol Team of twenty-one men. A total of one hundred and fourteen men (including fifteen cavalrymen), with all armies commanded by Baron Antayas.”
“In the marching formation, we will be the third team of the entire army, with Knight Croy's army ahead of us.”
“If it's a siege, Baron Antayas's Wood Fort Guard, Knights, and Squires will be the first echelon, and we will be the main assault force of the second echelon; if it's an open-field battle, our Patrol Team will be the left flank of the entire army.”
“Now I will discuss the specific deployment of our Patrol Team…”