Chapter 55: Confrontation, Conflict, and the Beginning of War
The strength of the Earl of Black and Brown and the Marquis of Green Leaf are similar, but the number of troops confronting Taner's troops at this time is far greater than Taner's.
The other side is not a regular army. The flags they have seem to be scattered all over the place. It is probably five or six mercenary gangs gathered together.
This situation is very common in aristocratic wars. Since maintaining an army will bring huge financial pressure, many nobles will use mercenaries when facing war.
Although it is expensive, it is still more cost-effective than raising, training and maintaining an army by yourself.
But the price is that the mercenaries are not subordinate to each other, and there may even be considerable conflicts.
If mercenaries are used in large numbers, the opposite situation will occur, looking bustling and somewhat noisy, like a mob.
But the advantage in numbers will still bring huge advantages in combat power. This group of mercenaries can even defeat Taner's forces by taking turns to fight.
Taner has 450 men here, while the number of the opposite side is three times his, estimated to be 1,400.
The two sides faced each other across the river.
As it was judged that a direct military conflict would occur, Taner had already sent a message requesting support from the Black and Brown Count.
Both sides are now on a high slope, separated by a knee-deep stream. The stream can only slightly hinder the army's progress, but it is still a favorable terrain for the defenders.
Moreover, once the opponent wants to rush over, they will change from the same height to the low terrain. Now the slingers of the Fengrang Mercenary Corps have all been replaced by archers.
As long as they rush over, a few rounds of arrow rain can still consume a lot of the enemy's numbers.
I’m just afraid that the other side doesn’t care about life.
After receiving Taner's letter for help, Count Black and Brown opened it and read it, then put it aside in the sorting area.
He had almost figured out the origins of this mercenary group. They were from Crescent Moon Territory, and they were probably forced into a desperate situation by the war, so they came here to become mercenaries.
Their weapons and equipment, as well as the minds of their commanders, were all very much favored by the Black and Brown Count. He was truly surprised that the mercenaries had such quality. If it were any other time, he might even have tried to recruit the leader of the Taner mercenaries.
But none of this matters now. What he needs now are the troops to fill in the gaps. As long as they complete the mission well, as a noble, he will not default on paying the commission. It all depends on whether they can survive.
Of course, Earl Black and Brown knew that Marquis Green Leaf was ready to make a move, so he had already arranged another army. There would be more than one passage from Black and Brown Territory to Green Leaf Territory.
Since it has been confirmed that the Marquis of Green Leaf has deployed troops to Taner, he can completely take another route and go straight to the heart of the Marquis of Green Leaf.
Just as the Black and Brown Count was about to set out for a detour attack, the conflict at Taner's place officially broke out.
The commander on the opposite side was obviously well aware that the combat effectiveness of his mercenaries was OK individually, but if they attacked together, they might not be as good as a group of pigs, so he only sent two mercenary groups, one in front and one behind.
Taner's heart sank slightly. The reply he received from the black and brown earl was to hold on.
Although he was allocated another 200 men, it was estimated that there would be no further reinforcements.
But as for the withdrawal, regardless of whether the Earl of Black and Brown's direct troops, which have reached 500 in number, agree or not, as long as the employer pays the commission, the mercenaries are not qualified to disobey orders.
Moreover, the Black and Brown Earl is not particularly black-hearted. Now that there are 650 people against 1,400 or 1,500, the pressure has been reduced a lot.
"Shoot!" Following Taner's command, the archers bent their bows and shot arrows, and the arrows covered the charging soldiers as if they were free.
Taner had no idea where these mercenaries came from, nor did he know if they were dragged onto the battlefield just to get a meal.
If he were still the Torchlight Paladin of the past, he might think such a conflict was meaningless and cruel.
But now, there is no mercy and justice on the battlefield.
The power to annihilate the enemy is kindness to your own people. Killing one more enemy will reduce the casualties of your own soldiers.
Although the stream was only deep enough to cover the knees, it could still effectively slow down the enemy's charge, thereby increasing the effect of the arrows.
After two or three waves of arrow rain, most of the mercenaries at the front were killed or wounded and began to disperse. The deserters were then killed by the supervisory team in the rear. Taner didn't even notice what their flag was. A mercenary group disappeared forever.
Perhaps if it weren't for the "Reference for the Use of War Strategies" by the Rand Envoy and the favor of the Black and Brown Count, the Fengrang Mercenary Group might have had the same fate as these mercenaries who were used to consume arrows.
Then the second and third batches of mercenaries rushed up, some of them carrying large shields, but the spearmen and halberdmen waiting on the river bank let them know that even if they crossed the stream, it would not be easy to get ashore.
Taner no longer needed to look at the "Reference for the Use of War Strategies". He could recite the booklet even if it was read backwards. Every time he thought of it, he couldn't help but marvel at the amazing wisdom of the Rand Messenger.
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At the hideout, Rand was also busy at this time. Adventurers had gradually arrived at the holiday villa in the hideout, and all aspects of the affairs were about to start.
Rand was still wondering if mixing juice could remind Taner and the mercenaries of the taste of home, even though they might never have tasted this kind of juice before.
The package sent to Taner contained a lot of sugar and spices, which should be enough for all the mercenaries to have a taste, and when they come back, they can taste it at cost price.
I just don't know how many people can come back. In fact, not only Taner, Rand can also remember the name of every soldier who went to the Black and Brown Territory. These people were trained by him personally, and I hope that every one of them can come back.
Of course, Rand also knew that this was simply impossible. As the strength of the mercenary group grew, the situation in the Frost Moon Kingdom became increasingly tense, and the mercenary group would inevitably have to participate in this conflict.
Casualties are inevitable.
But as long as the Fengrang Mercenary Group can join it, there will be a chance for the legalization of Crescent Moon Territory's autonomy. After all, after all the reshuffle, there will be a large amount of vacant territory, and those greedy nobles will no longer need to keep their eyes on this remote place.
If it weren't for the support of the White King and the fact that Crescent Moon Territory had decent fighting power, it would have been wiped out by the nearby nobles long ago.
The pace of development must be accelerated.
Now that the autumn harvest is approaching, all matters need to be put on the agenda, but the most important thing now is to seduce Elsa.
Rand prepared a map of the ruins and placed it in the most conspicuous place in the sacrificial room. He would bring Elsa to see it from time to time and occasionally mentioned the map.
Rand estimated that Elsa could see that he had placed the route map there on purpose, but Rand knew very well that her kleptomania could not be stopped by reason.
(End of this chapter)