Knight: Becoming King of the World

Chapter 109: Chapter 93: A Count? I Dare to Fight a Count

He never expected that hiring out his army would bring so much growth and so many rewards.

Vast investments, a growing population of settlers, and minor nobles pledging their allegiance—these were outcomes Henry hadn’t foreseen.

Now, a problem lay before Henry: Count John.

As the most powerful noble in the Odoche region, Count John had ruled this land for decades and was highly vigilant against any force that might threaten his position.

Count John had never anticipated the speed of Henry’s rise.

’Fast, far too fast! It defies all logic! Where did he find the time to train such an elite army?!’

The expansion of Henry’s power and sphere of influence had quietly infiltrated Count John’s fief. Merchants began to trade under Henry’s banner, and peasants began to cultivate his land.

Even some independent minor nobles who had once looked to Count John for leadership began to waver, secretly contacting Henry in search of a more favorable alliance.

Count John’s heart was filled with anger and unease. He could not tolerate someone challenging his authority within his own domain.

In the weeks that followed, the atmosphere in the Odoche region grew increasingly tense.

The friction between the two powers was like two great boulders grinding against each other in a river with a surging undercurrent, kicking up endless spray. The final outcome of this struggle would determine the fate of the entire region.

This was not what Henry wanted to see. His plan had been to earn money, train new recruits, and then, after the autumn harvest, ride out beyond the border to stake his claim on new lands.

’Whether my population could keep up or not didn’t matter. The first priority was to claim the land.’

But events were unfolding too quickly, giving Henry no chance to react.

Henry sat in his castle’s study, his brow furrowed as he held a letter that had just been delivered. It was from Count John’s messenger and announced trade sanctions against him.

Henry knew this was more than a simple letter; it was the prelude to a conflict.

He summoned Claude. "Take a look at this."

Henry handed the letter to Claude and rubbed his temples.

’Cutting down enemies is so much easier. This stuff is mentally exhausting. If it weren’t for Claude, Tommy, and the dozens of Record Keepers, I’d go insane.’

Claude took the letter. After reading it carefully, his expression grew grave. "My lord, we must take action."

"Yes. His sanctions will severely impact our logistics. This will be a huge blow."

Henry clenched his fists. ’The autumn harvest is only two months away. Just two more months!’

Claude thought for a moment, then said, "We need to assess whether your allies will be willing to support you at this time."

Henry waved his hand dismissively. "I’ve already sent Bain to contact the three Barons and the other Knights. We can’t be sitting ducks; we have to take the initiative. So what if he’s an established Count? If he dares to make a move, he’d better be prepared for a world of hurt."

Henry’s power was built on his army. Even if Westwood Laine were razed to the ground, as long as he had a decent barracks, he could quickly field elite Warriors and fight a war of attrition against Count John.

"My lord, we could take other measures to mitigate the impact of the sanctions," Claude suggested. "For instance, we could seek out trade partners in other cities and open new markets."

"All of that takes time, and Count John isn’t going to give us much of it. Where’s Bogdan? Didn’t that kid say he had something to talk to me about?"

"I’ll go and get him."

Soon, Bogdan entered the study wearing official robes. His steps were brisk, yet they carried a barely perceptible tension.

"Bogdan, do you have some good news for me?"

Bogdan shook his head, a glint of cunning in his eyes. "Respected Lord Baron, I’ve brought some news that I believe you’ll find interesting."

Henry raised an eyebrow, gesturing for Bogdan to continue. Bogdan cleared his throat and began his report.

"According to my sources, Count John has recently been in contact with the Second Prince of Chai Kan. Their transaction appears to involve a large sum of money, and moreover..."

Bogdan paused deliberately, observing Henry’s reaction.

Henry leaned forward slightly. "And what?"

Bogdan took a deep breath and continued, "And, Count John is using this money to hire several companies of Mercenaries. They are all experienced Warriors, well-equipped, and their fighting prowess is not to be underestimated."

Henry’s expression grew grim. He stood up and began to pace back and forth in the study. Bogdan stood quietly to one side, awaiting Henry’s orders.

’John’s military isn’t weak. He has around two thousand standing soldiers. If he were to gather the Militia from his various territories and add in the serfs, he could muster an army of around seven thousand.’

’If he issued a call to arms, his vassal nobles would also have to bring their Private Armies to aid him.’

’With that kind of power at his disposal to deal with me, why would he still need to hire Mercenaries? I don’t get it. Isn’t that being overly cautious?’

’And why is it this damn Second Prince again? Sooner or later, I’m going to hang his head on the city walls!’

Henry stopped pacing and turned to face Bogdan. "This is bad news. If you get any new information, tell me. You’ll be rewarded accordingly."

Bogdan smiled, looking completely self-assured. "I’ve already had my people continue to monitor Count John’s movements. I will inform you the moment new intelligence comes in."

Henry nodded, very pleased with Bogdan.

After Bogdan left, Bain arrived with a report. According to the news brought back by several riders, the three Barons had expressed their willingness to help Henry. The other Knightly nobles were undecided, but they were willing to provide Henry with serfs and weapons.

"Send a few more riders. Invite the three Barons to meet in person at Chaimudi Village in four days."

Time flew by, and soon Henry was waiting in Chaimudi Village with his Personal Guard.

Chaimudi Village was a picturesque place, situated on a fertile plain and surrounded by lush forests.

Here, the banner of the Bro Clan fluttered in the breeze, proclaiming its ownership.

Henry sat on the village’s threshing ground, awaiting his three good friends.

When Edmund, Calvin, and Boras arrived on horseback, their faces showed varying degrees of anxiety.

"We meet again."

Henry stepped forward and embraced each of them in turn.

Edmund made a nobleman’s bow and said with a smile, "Your army is incredibly powerful. Those Knights’ fiefs stood no chance against it."

Calvin nodded in agreement with Edmund.

The four men sat around a rough wooden table laid with maps and simple refreshments. Henry was the first to break the silence.

"I know you may be shocked by my decision, perhaps even find it improper. But I must face reality. Count John’s threat is imminent, and I cannot stand idly by."

Edmund said with a frown, "Baron Henry, we all know the extent of Count John’s power. Confronting him head-on could be a disaster for us."

Calvin voiced his worries as well. "We don’t want to shrink from this, of course, but we must also consider our lands and our people. What would a war bring us?

Pardon my frankness, but while your army is indeed powerful, it can hardly stand against Count John."

Boras sipped his black tea without saying much, but his expression told Henry he was not optimistic about a direct confrontation.

Henry understood their concerns, but he had his own plans.

Henry’s gaze swept over the three Barons’ faces. He took a deep breath. "My allies, I understand your reservations. My new troops have been training for a long time, and they are ready for the battlefield. They may lack practical combat experience, but they have High Morale and are well-disciplined."

Edmund’s brow unfurrowed slightly, but he still felt it was a mistake. "Even so, Count John’s army far surpasses ours in both size and experience. I fear victory will be difficult."

Calvin voiced his own concern. "Yes, and you mentioned in your letter that Count John has also hired companies of Mercenaries. Those men are battlefield veterans. Their involvement will turn the tide of battle heavily against us."

Boras remained silent, but his eyes were fixed on Henry, as if waiting for a convincing answer. He just needed to know his mission; he had no other thoughts. This was Henry’s war.

"I’m not asking you to follow me blindly into battle."

Henry said, pointing to the map on the table, "Look here. This is a route Count John’s army must take to mobilize. We don’t need to wage all-out war. We just need to strike a heavy blow at a critical point."

He continued, "I’ve already drawn up a detailed plan. Our goal isn’t to declare war. It’s to let him know that making a move on me will only bring him further humiliation! We’re going to weaken his power.

I just need you to deploy your Private Armies and serfs to support my troops. Combined with the serfs from the other Knightly nobles, we’ll be more than capable of taking on Count John in a field engagement."

Edmund, Calvin, and Boras exchanged a look. They were becoming intrigued by Henry’s plan.

They saw a possibility—an opportunity to cause Count John major problems without engaging in a full-scale war. The chance to vex a Count... the thought was quite appealing!

"We need precise tactics and strategy. Can you present us with a viable plan?"

Edmund and the other two breathed a sigh of relief, though they were still shocked by Henry’s aggressive stance.

’A Baron, an outsider Baron at that, actually dares to provoke a Count?’

"Of course. I already have a preliminary plan." Henry unfolded the map and began to explain his tactical arrangements and strategic deployments in detail.

"We’ll set an ambush here, using the terrain to our advantage. Simultaneously, our Cavalry will conduct harassing maneuvers over here to weaken their morale..."

As Henry continued his explanation, the three Barons began to seriously consider his plan.

If they could emerge victorious from this ever-escalating conflict, they would undoubtedly earn greater renown and prestige.

And such prestige meant more than just honor; it could also bring tangible benefits—more Dinars and higher status.

These rewards would, in turn, further solidify their positions and grant them greater influence in the borderlands.

"Baron Henry, I must admit, you are a nobleman who dares to dream and to act. If you truly manage to humiliate Count John, your fiefdom will attract even more investment from merchants."

Calvin tore off a piece of sausage and said with admiration, "Ever since I attended your Wolf Hunting Festival, I feel like I’ve found my purpose in life. All the days before that were a complete waste."

’A noble’s life is for fighting! A Count? We’ll fight a Count, too!’