flstandardbreds Chapter 125: March into Wyndham
Chapter 125: March into Wyndham
"Sir, I don't think we can go. This is obviously a trap. How can you let a general guarding the border go back for questioning during wartime?"
"Yes, this is obviously an attempt to kill us."
"Why not just rebel? The Midlan royal family overthrew the overlord and became king. We won't overthrow them and establish our own country in our own territory!"
"That's right, let's teach those guys a lesson!"
Looking at the excited generals in front of him, John couldn't help but feel a headache. As soon as he returned to the territory, he received news that the king asked him to go back.
John was facing the same dilemma as Caesar at this time. Either he had to go back to answer the king's questions, or he had to take his soldiers to question the king. However, John did not have the ability to do so at the moment. Not to mention anything else, the Midland soldiers who were controlled by the local nobles on the southern battlefield were enough to cause him trouble.
"Alright, alright, shut up. You all are so emotional, and yet you still lead troops. Maybe our border is being watched now. Once we send out troops, the news will reach Windham directly. Then not only will we be defeated, but our relatives and friends will also be implicated." John scolded some irrational generals, but what he got in return was even louder noises.
"We are not afraid of sacrifice. We are the bravest and most fearless warriors..."
"Alright, alright. Sacrifice is not suicide. Even if you have to die, you have to die in the right place. Anyway, stop arguing. I'll think of a solution first." John signaled the generals to calm down first, and then asked Hank beside him:
"What is the current distribution of our soldiers?"
Hearing John calling him, Hank quickly replied:
"Sir, the entire army is currently divided into the Forest Territory, Franche-Comté, Chusda and nearby islands, East Bardon, and the independent Black Watch mercenary group. The Forest Territory and Chusda each have deployed about 5000 people, East Bardon has more than 2000 people, Franche-Comté has about 5000 people, and Black Watch has more than people. In addition to these, according to the population statistics of various places, in an emergency, we can also forcibly recruit more than militiamen."
"Yes, the Black Watch led by Charlie is still outside. We can just ask them to pick us up when the time comes." John suddenly thought of the mercenary industry that had been working hard to make money for him all these years. Since releasing Charlie, apart from letting Simon communicate with him through mercenary companies in various places, he hadn't contacted him again. He didn't expect that the reason for contacting him again would be because of this matter.
"If all the mercenaries are deployed, it will definitely cause certain losses to our mercenary industry." Simon said worriedly.
"Then send out the mercenaries on standby and order them to head to the towns near Midland."
"And ask Wesker and Cyril to come over. I need something from them."
Soon, Wesker and Cyril came over, and John said to them solemnly:
"Wesker, have your people find out for me the major events that have happened in Windham in the past few days, and provide me with information about the court meetings every day while I am on my way to Windham. At the same time, arrange for your people in Windham to meet me at the palace gate in case of any unexpected events."
"Cyriel, when you hear the commotion in the palace, take your troops and immediately lead the assassins into the palace to create chaos."
"Anyway, if I can't get out of the palace, I'll be relying on you two."
"Yes, my lord!"
After the two left, John immediately ordered someone to call Pros. After a while, looking at the sleepy Pros, John shook his shoulders to wake him up and said:
"Pros, tell the archbishop that if he still wants me to be alive, he should attend the meeting on time on the day the king summons me, and tell him not to tell anyone."
Pross was puzzled when he heard the request and asked:
"What's going on? Why is there so much fanfare?"
"It's about whether our family will rise to a higher level or all of us will die in the grave."
"Ah?" Hearing this, Pross was completely awake now, and asked John tremblingly:
"Cousin, are you planning a rebellion?"
"I am about to be accused of treason. Just do as I say. If you make a mistake, your whole family will die. Do you understand?"
"I know, I know." After listening to this, Pros hurried back to his manor to write a letter to Archbishop Midland.
Finally, John sat on the chair in the office, sighed softly, and said to the captain of the White Wolf Knights who was in charge of training the new recruits:
"Tell the new recruits to get ready. The Knights will set out for Wendam tomorrow to receive the King's inspection."
In the military camp, the new recruits were excited to learn that they were about to enter Windham to meet the king. The whole camp became active. The new recruits were either happy because they were about to become real knights after going through untold hardships, or excited because they were about to see the king. In their view, this trip to Windham was equivalent to a triumphal ceremony, and they would be surrounded by applause and flowers.
"Anderson! We did it!"
Savile hugged Anderson, who was packing his things, and the latter rolled his eyes as he was hugged so tightly.
"Hurry...let go, I'm going to die!"
Seeing that Anderson was about to die, Savile quickly put him down. The latter lay on the ground and breathed in the air, then stood up and said:
"Although it still feels weird, I'm still very happy. After all, isn't this what we paid so much for?"
"What's weird?" Xavier asked in confusion.
"I can't explain it. I just feel that everything happened too suddenly and there was no prior notice," Anderson explained.
"You look overly nervous. Don't be like this when you meet the king."
The next morning, John, looking at the new recruits ready to go, put on his White Wolf armor and shouted to them:
"Everyone, after a year of training, you have passed the test and grown from a recruit to a knight who has experienced the baptism of war. Just last year, you successfully defeated the Yoda Blue Whale Heavy Knights and captured the Yoda noble Adam. In summary, I think you have the ability to fight independently. Now I approve your graduation. All instructors applaud and encourage!"
As John finished speaking, the entire playground erupted in warm applause. The centurions were very excited to see the rookie they had trained become a knight.
As the applause died down, John continued:
"Then, my fellow knights, what awaits you is to go to Wendam and receive the king's official canonization. Let me remind you at the end that after you step out of the city gate, you are no longer a recruit, but a real knight. I hope you can fight bravely on the battlefield and remember the virtues of chivalry."
After saying these words, John took a deep breath and shouted:
"Now! Knights! Move out! March to Wendam!"
As the order was given, the recruits from each century rode out of the city gate in order and headed towards Wendam.
"The lance is in the iron fist, and the reins are in the left hand."
"This is the charge of the Midland Knights, their swords shining!"
Suddenly, John, who was walking in front, began to sing a song, and the thousand men and centurions of the White Wolf Knights around him also sang along.
"The army song has started to be sung up front. Should we start singing it too?"
In Savile's centurion team, a knight at the side asked Savile.
"Of course I will!" said Savile, and he began to sing along:
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!"
"Their swords are shining!"
As the military song spread, the entire army began to sing it.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey!"
"The white and blue flags are flying, and we are riding horses!"
"This is the charge of the Midland Knights, their swords shining!"
After the army left Franche-Comté, countless spies who were observing saw John leading the Knights out of the territory, and they immediately wrote letters and tied them to the carrier pigeons they carried with them. The pigeons carried the letters to their respective owners. Within a day, most of the nobles in central and eastern Midland knew that John was leading his army to Windham.
"Report!"
Far away in the palace of Wendam, King Midland and his ministers were waiting for John's message. When the king saw the letter sent by the spy, he immediately ordered:
"read."
The Home Secretary took the letter and read aloud:
"In the spring of 1447, Earl John led dozens of carriages and troops to Midland. The army had about people, mostly cavalry, and would arrive in about a week..."
Before the letter was finished, a minister jumped out and said:
"Your Majesty, John brought so many troops just because the king asked him to do so. He must be planning a rebellion with his accomplices. Your Majesty, please mobilize the army quickly to wipe out this traitor John and his accomplices."
"Who do you say is a traitor and who is gathering a group to rebel!" The minister from the court on the opposite side immediately got angry, and stood up and pointed at the minister who had just spoken.
"Oh, I haven't told you yet, why do you admit it?"
"You are a man who has no ability. If you didn't have a good father, you wouldn't be able to hear these dirty words here!"
"You sound like you have so much power. At least I won't stand with the rebels."
"Looking for a fight, right?"
Seeing that the situation was becoming increasingly chaotic, the king pounded the ground with his scepter and said in a serious and loud voice:
"Quiet! Quiet!"
After everyone quieted down, the king looked at the Minister of the Interior anxiously and said:
"Keep reading."
"Yes." The Home Secretary cleared his throat and continued:
"According to observation, John's army, except for a part of it belonging to the White Wolf Knights, the rest belong to the new knight order appointed by His Majesty. There are about 5,000 people, including members of the Britannian nobles and the Loire nobles..."
"This……"
After hearing what these nobles said, the local ministers on the opposite side fell silent immediately, because most of the nobles in these territories were the main forces of the local factions, and some of them were even relatives of these ministers. If they continued to shout that John was a traitor, wouldn't these relatives of the local factions also rebel and even become entangled with themselves?
After listening to the contents of the letter, the king's brows gradually relaxed, and his heart was relieved. He didn't want John to really organize a rebellion, but the recent rumors always made him uneasy. Now that the rumors were self-defeating, the king's mood became much better.
"What are you waiting for? Order people to prepare for the welcoming ceremony. I want to review the Knights!" The king was in a good mood and waved his hand, giving orders to the ministers.