Knight: Becoming King of the World

Chapter 153: Chapter 132: Too Partial, Jealous

"Quickly, give the order! Assemble the army! Summon the nobles and have them gather their troops!"

Count John had no idea that Henry’s army was heading for the desert region to support Hobia. This was a mission given to Henry by the emperor, conveyed by letter.

And the fastest route from Ximira Castle to Hobia was to cut through Odoche, pass through Danustika, and enter the southern regions.

As Count John’s orders were issued, the atmosphere throughout the entire Odoche region grew tense.

Soldiers began to gather in castles and villages, and the fires in the blacksmiths’ forges burned day and night.

The Militia was also mobilized. Some helped transport supplies, while others reinforced the city walls, preparing for the impending conflict.

Count John’s command spread rapidly throughout the Odoche region. The nobles answered the call, bringing their Private Armies and servants as they hurried to Odoche.

If Henry’s army were to truly attack, their fates would be inextricably linked to Count John’s.

After the news had circulated for over a month—that Henry had captured one of Count John’s castles and dealt a heavy blow to the nobles under John’s command—Henry’s name had become legendary.

In the common gossip of the Odoche region, rumors began to spread that a single man could kill thousands. Most of these rumors were exaggerations, but they were more than enough to strike fear into people’s hearts.

So, when an informant revealed that the reason for the mobilization of Count John’s army and his nobles’ Private Armies was that Henry’s forces were already marching here from Ximira Castle, the entire Odoche region erupted in chaos.

The markets suddenly grew quiet. People rushed home, barring their doors and windows, anxiously awaiting the latest news.

Some of the more timid Free People even began packing their belongings, preparing to flee the area that was about to become a battlefield.

Inside Odoche’s castle, the nobles gathered to discuss their strategy.

Some of them advocated for an immediate attack, to proactively meet Henry’s army in battle and display their courage.

Others suggested taking a defensive stance, using the castle’s strong fortifications to repel Henry’s assault.

Count John sat at the head of the table, listening to their arguments, his heart filled with conflict and unease.

He knew Henry’s army was formidable. If he retreated without a fight, his prestige and position would be trampled into the dirt.

On the outskirts of the Odoche region, Henry’s army was steadily advancing.

Henry didn’t know Count John’s army was mobilizing, nor that they were about to become the focus of the entire region. Henry’s destination was Hobia.

This time, Henry brought his Personal Guard, an elite Imperial Senior Infantry unit of 109 men, 123 Imperial Veteran Shooters, and thirty-three grassland horsemen.

The main force consisted of six units of 120 Imperial Senior Infantry, three units of 80 Imperial Skilled Shooters, three Skilled Infantry Teams of 120 men, and six units of 40 Grassland Warriors.

The original Ximira Castle garrison, a New Recruit Team of 120 men, served as the logistics and supply corps, supported by four hundred serfs.

The army totaled over 2,300 men, with one horse-drawn cart for transport and supplies for every twelve men on average.

This time, the carts were all widened and lengthened, avoiding the previous awkward situation of needing a massive number of carts for every expedition.

Not only did it affect the marching speed, but the fodder consumption for the horses was also immense.

The column of carts moved slowly forward, their wheels leaving deep ruts in the dirt road. Each cart was laden with heavy supplies—indispensable equipment and provisions for the march.

The carts carried the soldiers’ armor and weapons; after all, no commander was foolish enough to make his soldiers march long distances weighed down by armor and heavy weaponry.

The carts also held tents and blankets needed for making camp. The tents were a haven for soldiers camping in the wild, sheltering them from wind and rain.

The blankets provided necessary warmth, which was especially crucial as the temperature could plummet during nights in the desert, ensuring the soldiers wouldn’t catch a chill while resting.

Furthermore, the carts were loaded with the pots, bowls, and basins the soldiers needed for daily use. This cookware was essential for preparing food on the march, guaranteeing the soldiers could eat hot meals to maintain their strength and morale.

The Medical Master’s medicinal herbs were another important supply on the carts. Soldiers would inevitably be injured, and herbs and bandages were key to treating wounds and preventing infection.

Of course, the most important cargo was the abundance of grain—the most basic guarantee for the army.

"My lord, why did you order the Ximira Castle garrison to pay special attention to the affiliated villages?"

Henry was always thoroughly patient with Bain’s questions.

"When we attacked Ximira Castle, we killed many enemies. Most of their relatives are villagers, so the soldiers need to keep a close eye on them."

"My lord, your attention to such small details is something we should all learn from."

Henry glanced at Claude, feeling a bit uncomfortable. ’What’s wrong with my men? Why has everyone started taking every opportunity to praise me?’

"This next part of the mission is a losing proposition. We can’t sell Lizardmen as specimens, nor can we take them as prisoners. Even their armor and weapons are worthless.

Besides, I was summoned by the emperor, so there’s no bounty to be had. SIGH."

In response to Henry’s grumbling, Claude said with a smile, "My lord, in the eyes of His Majesty the great emperor, you are a rising star among generals. In the future, you will surely have both power and wealth—everything you could possibly desire.

Right now, you lack neither money nor grain, nor do you lack prisoners of war to repair roads, build houses, and work in the mines. I’ve looked at the ledgers; the number of prisoners put to work at Ximira Castle is over two thousand, which is more than enough."

Henry nodded. It was just as Claude said. He was currently very well-off; by the standards of the western coastal regions, he would be considered a rich man.

After he finished laughing, Claude thought for a moment and asked, "My lord, why don’t you invite nobles like Baron Edmund and Baron Calvin to dispatch troops with you?"

"Hah? Invite them? Am I supposed to provide them with food and military pay as well? Besides, this is a mission the emperor gave to me. I have no authority to order other nobles around."

Just like that, after another two days of marching, Henry’s army reached the border of Count John’s domain.

The terrain here was open, a stretch of fertile farmland. In the distance, one could see the castles and villages within Count John’s territory.

Henry’s Scouts returned to report that they had spotted a small contingent of Count John’s troops, about a hundred men, camped in the distance.

This small unit appeared to be monitoring Henry’s army. They took no hostile action, merely following from a distance.

Henry simply ordered his soldiers to don their armor and be ready for battle, then continued to advance.

He had no intention of actively clashing with Count John’s army here. His goal was Hobia, not getting bogged down with the forces in Count John’s domain.

’If anyone’s going to violate the mediation pact, let it be John!’

And so, the number of "tails" following Henry’s army grew, making it look as if a grand army of thousands was gathering to besiege Odoche.

Although Count John’s army and the nobles’ Private Armies were numerous, they dared not make a rash move when facing Henry’s forces.

They merely maintained a certain distance, closely monitoring the movements of Henry’s army.

Henry still paid them no mind, simply continuing his routine: march, make camp, march, make camp.

His army was highly disciplined and moved in an orderly fashion. Even in hostile territory, there was no sign of chaos.

When they passed Odoche from a distance and headed off in the direction of Danustika, Count John and all the nobles under him breathed a collective sigh of relief.

’So that menace wasn’t coming for them after all? Thank the heavens, and may the sun protect us.’

But they were also curious. What was Henry planning to do with that army?

The nobles gathered together, discussing the movements of Henry’s army. They sent out more Scouts, trying to figure out Henry’s true objective.

’If they couldn’t figure out the reason, they just couldn’t rest easy!’

In the end, it was Count John who, through his own network of contacts, managed to buy the information.

It turned out Henry was leading his army to Hobia to support the Third Prince!

Now they were completely at ease. That very night, John and his nobles held a banquet to celebrate Henry’s departure.

As night fell and all was quiet, John lay in his bed, his heart burning with jealousy.

’First, the emperor mediated, giving Henry a one-year truce to consolidate his rule. Now, he issues an order for him to go fight alongside the Third Prince.’

’This way, Henry has helped the First Prince and crushed the Second Prince’s conspiracy, and now he’s off to help the powerless Third Prince fight on the Alien Race battlefield.’

’Damn it, the emperor is too biased toward his student! Aren’t we the emperor’s Vassals too?’

Henry knew nothing of this, nor did he care.

’I just didn’t expect John to be so patient. His enemy marched right past his doorstep, and he actually managed to restrain himself from acting. What a pity. I guess I’ll just have to go to the southern battlefield and fulfill the emperor’s summons.’

The army departed from Odoche, advancing toward Danustika along a winding road.

The farmlands of the Odoche region gradually gave way to dense forests. Tall trees cast mottled shadows on both sides of the road, and occasionally, one could hear the chirping of birds in the woods and the gurgling of a distant stream.

Slowly, the forest began to thin out, replaced by vast, sweeping plains.

Wildflowers were in full bloom, a riot of color, and a gentle breeze sent ripples through them. These wildflowers would soon wither, for the weather was growing colder by the day. Each glance at them might be the last.

Occasionally, wild animals could be seen running on the plains, curious about this massive human army, yet maintaining a wary distance.

Along the march, Henry’s army also encountered a few small, nomadic grassland tribes.

These tribespeople lived by herding. Their tents and livestock dotted the grasslands, adding a touch of life to the landscape.

They strongly insisted on maintaining the traditions of the grassland people, the consequence of which was that they had to pay more taxes.

After a long and arduous journey, Henry’s army finally arrived at Danustika. They were stunned by the sight before them; the city’s walls and wealth were in no way inferior to those of the imperial capital, Lukaron.

Even Henry found himself captivated by the city.