Chapter 243: Northern Expedition 4
Finally, everyone had gathered in one place.
No, everyone excluding Semi, who was managing the Rinse Kingdom South’s defense, had gathered in one place.
With Roan at the head, from Harrison, Brian, and Pierce who captured the Hoken Castle, Austin and Walter who captured the Erwin Fort, Agens President Chris, Tenebra Troop Commander Keep, and even President Ian Phillips of Evishun.
Not only them, but even Sith Wiggins, Elva Dionell, and Higgs Potter who raised a great achievement in the war with Kallum Rinse, the core retainers of the Count Lancephil House assembled together at the Mohsen Castle located in the northern McGinley Region.
“I would host a banquet if possible, but now isn’t the time for that so I hope you understand.”
At Roan’s words, everyone nodded their heads.
Although they had defeated the KaLu Allied Army and commanded the Rinse Kingdom’s Central and Southern regions, there still was a big enemy left.
The North Rinse Kingdom and the Estia Empire’s Rinse Liberation Army, and even the Byron Kingdom and the Istel Kingdom as well.
‘Not only that, we also have to pay attention to Simon and Kallum’s remnants.’
For this, he had entrusted the defense of the kingdom’s central region, including the capital, Miller, and the subjugation of the remnants to the formerly Lancephil Guardian Army and the current Lancephil Legion’s vice-commander Bernard Landingham and Andre Molde.
Roan swept through the many retainers’ faces and announced the details of the meeting that had continued for the last few days.
“According to the three intelligence agencies’ reports, the Estia Empire’s Viscount Heder Myers is leading a thirty thousand strong elite force and marching south towards the Mosen Castle here. We will intercept the enemies on the Mosen Castle’s northern plain region.”
If thirty thousand strong, it was a number they could easily face.
“First, we will form the Lancephil Fief Regiment into the main force of the center army, left wing and right wing, and separately leave the reserve force at the Mosen Castle and form as the rear guard.”
Everyone nodded their heads.
Roan’s commands continued on.
“I appoint Austin as the left wing Chief Commander, and the Walter as captain.”
The instant his words finished, Austin and Walter stood up from their seats and saluted.
“Yes sir! Please leave it to us.”
“We will absolutely win, sir!”
Roan faintly smiled and looked at Harrison.
“I appoint Harrison as the right wing Chief Commander, and Brian as the captain.”
Although Brian should be taking on the chief commander position when looking just their status, Harrison was more fitting to the chief commander role when one thoroughly considered their experiences and achievements.
Brian too knew well of such fact.
“Congratulations, sir. I will assist the best I can.”
He smiled while extending his hand first.
“Ri, right. I’ll be in your care.”
Harrison who originally led the Amaranth Troop at Roan’s side nodded his head with a slightly flustered expression.
Roan’s gaze once again turned towards Pierce.
“I will personally command the main center army. I appoint as captains Pierce and Viscount Potter.”
“Yes sir! Please leave it to us!”
Pierce and Higgs answered in one voice and lowered their heads.
This was not the end.
Roan looked at Sith and Elva.
“Baron Elva Dionell. I wish to entrust the rear guard’s chief commander to you, but what do you think?”
“Eh? To me?”
Elva asked back with a slightly flustered expression.
In truth, Elva’s position right now in the Lancephil Fief Regiment was in a slightly ambiguous state.
Because she originally was a warrior with great loyalty, she hadn’t yet decided whether to join Roan’s camp even though she had betrayed Kallum.
“I am not telling you to head out to battle. I can wait for however long until you make your decision. Only, it is regrettable to waste your outstanding abilities. I wish for you to manage the reserve force at the rear and defense of the Mosen Castle.”
Roan’s gaze turned towards Sith.
“I will give you Sith Wiggins as captain.”
At those words, Elva and Sith’s eyes twinkled and shone with light.
Because they had already confirmed their hearts, they didn’t want to separate even for a moment.
Faint smiles hung on their mouths.
Elva nodded her head with a shy smile.
“Thank you for believing in me. I will do my best, sir.”
At those words, Roan faintly smiled and nodded his head.
A feeling like everything was finding its place.
His gaze now turned towards Ian, Chris, and Keep.
“I appoint Chief Strategist position managing the entire fief regiment’s strategy to Ian Phillips. I will entrust Evishun’s entire jurisdiction to you. Furthermore, I will form original Count Phillips House’s retainers and knights as your troop.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Ian quickly lowered his head.
“Chris will lead the Agens and meticulously and without fault monitor and gather the Rinse Liberation Army and the Byron Kingdom Army’s movements.”
“Yes sir. Understood.”
Chris slightly lowered his head.
“Keep will lead the Tenebra Troop and execute espionage missions within the Rinse liberation army while simultaneously focusing on grasping Simon and Kallum’s remnants.”
“Yes sir. Do not worry of it.”
Keep answered with a face and a voice overflowing with confidence.
After this as well, Roan gave out the necessary orders and missions to each retainer and commander.
Because these were the missions that had already arisen, though military meetings occurred through multiple days, there was no large dissent.
“Now there is only the waiting……”
Roan who had given out all the orders exhaled a long sigh.
Numerous retainers each chatted together and passed time.
After who knows how long, the meeting room’s door finally opened and Agens, Tenebra, and Evishun’s agents appeared.
“They’ve finally moved, sir.”
The report was simple.
Roan slowly nodded his head and stood up from his seat.
“We too move.”
The order too was simple.
However, there was no one asking back.
“Yes sir!”
Heated voices fully filled the meeting room.
*****
Bang!
With a blunt sound, the office door abruptly opened.
“Supreme Commander sir!”
A young warrior with a distressed look shouted in an urgent voice.
“What is it?”
Eastern Regional Corps Supreme Commander Aaron Tate who was holding a meeting with numerous commanders creased his forehead.
Already, military meetings had been continuing every day because the movements of the Byron Kingdom and the Istel Kingdom, which they touched borders with, hadn’t been usual.
“The, they have moved, sir!”
The young warrior dryly swallowed.
He looked long through the many commanders and added on.
“The Byron Kingdom Army and the Istel Kingdom Army have began to march, sir.”
Instantly, faces of numerous warriors including Aaron stiffly hardened.
“Hhm. So they ultimately moved……”
A quiet groan flowed out.
Aaron exhaled a long sigh and closed his eyes.
Byron Kingdom and the Istel Kingdom’s invasion was something they had expected to a degree.
‘In fact, it’s more on the slower side than we thought.’
Although the two kingdoms had taken immense damage from the many previous wars, there was no way that they would miss the situation where the Rinse Kingdom ripped into three pieces and fought a civil war.
‘North Rinse Kingdom’s Clay must have schemed it.’
Aaron tightly bit his lower lip.
‘For now, we must send letters to the Rinse Fief Regiment and the Northern Regional Corps.’
The Eastern Regional Corps alone couldn’t face the Byron Kingdom and the istel Kingdom.
At the least, the Northern Regional Corps had to take on at least the Byron Kingdom Army invading from the North.
But the situation was not so easy.
‘Since the Northern Regional Corps must be occupied facing the Rinse Liberation Army……’
That too was the same for the Lancephil Fief Regiment.
“Huu.”
A long sigh naturally flowed out from a frustrated heart.
‘We can only fight to the death.’
They could only hold out until the Lancephil Fief Regiment defeated the Rinse Liberation Army and returns.
Aaron slowly stood up from his seat and looked at the many commanders.
All were of gloomy looks.
They too knew very well of how urgent and critical the current situation was.
“All of you, let’s……”
The moment his words reached that point.
Bang!
Once again the office door abruptly opened up with a blunt sound.
Every commander including Aaron creased their foreheads and looked at the door.
Soon a young soldier appeared through the wide open door.
He slightly lowered his head and then took out a letter from his chest pocket.
“It’s Sir Count Lancephil’s letter, sir.”
“Hm?!”
Instantly the people who fully filled the inside of the office formed startled expressions.
As the situation was thus, unknowable expectations arose at the single sentence that it was Roan’s letter.
Aaron received the letter and carefully opened it up.
Words were tightly filling the letter.
“Wha, what does it say, sir?”
“Is it something that could help us, sir?”
From here and there, questions poured down.
Aaron, who meticulously read the content from start to end, faintly smiled.
With a face full of relieving look, he looked at everyone’s faces.
“Us Eastern Regional Corps……”
Gulp.
Everyone dryly swallowed with tense expressions.
The smile hanging on Aaron’s mouth further deepened.
“March to the North.”
The instant those words fell, numerous commanders creased their foreheads.
“Eh? Then what about the East sir?”
“What about the Istel Kingdom Army, sir?”
Questions kept pouring down.
Aaron gave a bright smile in place of an answer.
“Is that the formation of Roan Lancephil, the self-proclaimed War God?”
Viscount Heder Myers smiled as he looked over the Lancephil Fief Army’s battle arrangement and encampment fill the plains.
“At first glance, it looks ordinary, but it’s a great formation without a single empty gap.”
His eyes twinkled as he felt heartfelt admiration.
The adjutants around him also nodded and played along with him.
“It’s definitely sturdy looking formation sir.”
“There isn’t any unnecessities sir.”
It was the perfect formation with the great mass in mind.
Then.
“But it’s actually a bit ridiculous. We’re bringing 30,000 many, but they’re thinking of employing a standard tactic against us.”
One of the Adjutant snorted.
Heder also gave out an empty smile at the outrageous part of the formation.
“Formation was good, but he’s underestimating our soldiers too much. Although we’re different from the Greenhorns in Rinse Kingdom.”
A voice filled with confidence.
Heder looked to his left.
“Vance Perrin.”
The man, who was as big as Heder, bowed his head slightly.
“Yes, Lord.”
Vance Perrin was a knight who had been a member of the Knights family for Viscount Myers from generation to generation, and was also known for his fencing skills among Heder’s leaders.
“I’m going to give you 3,000 horsemen. Go and stir it up.”
He was going to give him some lessons before the battle began in earnest.
“Yes, I understand.”
Vance understood Heder’s meaning and kicked his horse while answering him.
He held his sword up high and grabbed the horse’s reins, and soon after that, 3,000 horsemen followed him.
Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo!
With the sound of horseshoes resounding, the calvary ran across the field towards the infantry of Lancephil Fief Army encampment.
“Enemy calvary is rushing towards us sir. The number is about 3,000.”
One of Lancephil’s scouts, who was watching the situation, cried out loud.
Roan nodded silently.
Thanks to Kalian’s Tears, he was able to identify the leader who was advancing from afar.
‘It’s Vance Perrin who’s the right arm of Heder Myers .’
It was ridiculous.
‘They seem very eager to show the power of Empire……’
With Vance, it isn’t possible at all.
Roan lifted his right hand lightly.
“Pierce.”
“Yes, Lord.”
Pierce responded with a low voice as he approached.
Roan just kept looking forward and gave out a clear order.
“Lead the 3,000 horseman squad. Cut the neck of the enemy leader.”
He casually issued out a difficult command.
Pierce, however, bowed his head without hesitation.
“I’ll be back soon sir.”
He responded back with confident voice.
Soon, 3,000 horseguards were deployed, and lead by Pierce.
Doo-doo doo doo doo doo!
Likewise, the sound of horseshoes resounded as thick dust cloud rose up.
“Oh-ho! I had thought that with the miniscule size of the Rinse Kingdom, they would bring out a tiny force! They do seem to have some guts!”
Vance looked at Pierce running, and cried out in a fierce voice.
Pierce shook his head with a grin.
“The Estia Empire guys fight only with words?”
The sense of ridicule clear.
“This, this bastard!”
Vance yelled out loud, and kicked back his horse with his heels.
Compared to the Estia Empire, Rinse Kingdom was a tiny country.
Furthermore, Pierce’s appearance did not seem like an aristocratic one.
‘How dare he look at empire’s knight family with such ridicule!’
He swung his sword at once, and he thought Pierce’s neck would have slitted off.
Tadat!
The warhorse rushed towards Pierce and slammed into him.
Pierce snorted as he saw a long sword flying towards him.
“Heung!”
At the same time, the warhorse twisted as he seized the reins.
Supot!
Vance’s sword cut through the air pleasingly.
Pierce twisted his wrist, staring straight at the blade coming towards him.
The spear swung shook with much force as if the spear danced.
“Huhup!”
Vance took a deep breath as Pierce’s spear came towards him like a snake.
‘Dangerous!’
A single mistake would cause his throat to be cut in a single blow.
He twisted with all his might and swung his sword.
‘I did it!’
A light of relief emerged in both of his eyes.
He was convinced that he had off coursed the spear right in front of him.
But it was a big misunderstanding.
Sukuk
Pierce’s spear, like the wind, passed Vance’s sword and pierced his chest.
“Kkurk.”
The sound of a drum bursting came out from Vance’s mouth.
Pierce twisted his wrist shook his much force to Vance’s chest.
“Kkerek.”
Vance overturned his eyes.
Just before he died.
Pierce leaned down and whispered into his ear.
“Go to hell and say that Roan Lancephil’s spearman Pierce sent you there.”
At the same time, he pulled his wrist and spear, which was embedded in the chest.
“Ku-huk.”
Vance shrieked out loud as he shook his head.
That was the end.
He couldn’t move anymore.
Vance, Heder’s proud swordsman and knight, couldn’t stand a single bout against Pierce.
Pierce speared and slashed Vance’s neck.
“The enemy leader’s neck is slitted!”
A roaring voice resounded throughout the battlefield.
“Huck! Ge, General!”
“Sir Perrin Knight!”
The soldiers around him shouted out, startled.
Even though they were already struggling against the mighty Lancephil calvary.
Vance’s head that had fallen as well as the troop and motivation and lost their energy.
The efforts to show the power of the Estia Empire to the Lancephil Fief’s Army rather dealt them a devastating blow back to them.
“How could Vance go down in a single exchange!”
Heder, who was watching, widened his eyes.
His hands trembled as he held the reins.
“Urgh!”
“Ku-urgh”
From a distance, he could hear the screams of the allied soldiers.
“Lord!”
“Will you just be watching them, sir!?”
The adjutant around him shouted out in a desperate voice.
Heder quickly calmed down and smiled coldly.
“How could that be possible!”
He picked up a pair of huge hammers that had been tied to the horse’s back.
“We have to pay back Vance’s enemies!”
Heder quickly kicked the horse and yelled.
“Let’s go! Let’s show the real power of our Estia Empire!”
“Waaaaaaaaa!”
Soon a loud roar erupted.
Nearly 10,000 troops began to rush along with the man who took charge at the front .
Doo-doo doo doo doo doo!
Heder that was running up ahead was actually quite imposing.
It was the momentum that could be called upon as the Estia Empire’s Inferno Bear.
“Who can stand against me?!”
A roaring voice.
It was like a bear’s roar.
“He’s really like a bear.”
Roan smiled, as he watched the situation in front of the main camp.
Of course, it was absolutely not a compliment.
“Send Pierce a retreat signal.”
A short command fell.
“Sir!”
The flagbearer nearby waved two small flags with signals.
Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!
Soon the signal for the retreat resounded throughout the battlefield.
Pierce and the 3,000 horsemen retreated to the main camp without looking back.
“These guys! Where are you running away to!?”
Heder looked at it and yelled in a frenzy.
“Hahahaha! It can’t be helped for them being a tiny force!”
His announcement burst out.
He kicked the horse in order to catch Pierce, who was running away.
Doo-doo doo doo doo doo!
The sound of horseshoe became louder and the chase was advancing in faster pace.
Roan visage gave out slight smile as he stood still.
How long has it been?
A scout who climbed into the makeshift wooden tower that watched the battlefield shouted out.
“They’re by the trap sir!”
Roan’s smile grew stronger at that moment.
He raised his right hand gently and gave his command in a powerful voice.
“Begin the bear hunt.”