Chapter 71: Chapter 62: Flourishing Caladia
Henry graciously accepted all the flattery from the surrounding nobles, frequently raising his cup in toasts. His hearty manner lifted the atmosphere to a whole new level.
No one could dislike a hearty, valiant, and generous noble, especially one who had earned their rank through military merit. Only those decadent nobles who had fully turned to commerce would follow etiquette to the letter in every situation.
Of course, it was still best to maintain proper etiquette in front of the King. You could have an eating contest with a good friend, but you shouldn’t be impolite in front of someone of higher status.
"By the way, you just said that the descendants of the Kyiv princes were discovered. How did that happen?" Henry asked the noble from the Northern Lands abruptly, after a few rounds of drinks with the other nobles.
"Huh? It seems they wanted to take advantage of the Empire’s foreign wars to restore their kingdom. Maybe because three legions were withdrawn from the north, they thought they had a sliver of a chance?
They didn’t even stop to think. Why on earth would the nobles of the Northern Lands support them? Just because they’re descendants of the old Stegian-Kyiv princes?"
Fass snorted, his words laced with contempt, "Those gray-skinned beasts were beaten so badly by us they fled to who-knows-where. They’ve probably already frozen to death in the snowfields farther north.
The nobles in the Stegia region today are all noblemen of the Empire. And yet these lingering remnants still dream of splitting the Empire."
Wiping the wine from his lips, Henry found he couldn’t comprehend how these people thought either.
Henry only knew that the Stegia Kingdom was based on the Kievan Rus’ principalities, which had already been conquered by the Empire in this world.
Their remnants, along with the remnants of the Kuset Khanate, had all fled to the far northeast. It was even colder there, so much so that the Empire had no desire to expand in that direction.
The Mamluk Sultanate of the Aserai had also taken their ’chocolate people’ and fled farther south. According to merchants on the desert trade routes, you could get your fill in that place without even needing to farm.
The Battania highlanders had been completely assimilated. As for the royal family of Valandia, which was based on the Franks, they had fled far overseas, receiving the "Third Crown Prince Zhu" treatment, and were still being hunted by the Imperial fleet to this day.
This was the Caladia Empire of today—an empire more prosperous than its Roman archetype!
’I can’t be sure what kind of world I’ve been transported to. All I can trust is my loyal army and the weapon in my hands.’
"Knight Henry, what are your thoughts on the Empire’s future?" a young noble Knight stepped forward and asked with a mix of curiosity and respect.
"The future of the Empire lies in the support we Vassals give to our great King. Whether on the battlefield or in governing our domains, we should all exhibit the demeanor and wisdom of Imperial nobles."
’Heh, trying to bait me into saying something?’ Henry sneered inwardly.
The banquet lasted late into the night before the nobles gradually dispersed. The Legion’s Auxiliary Soldiers would come to clean up the remaining mess.
"Knight Henry, please forgive my audacity for disturbing you so late at night."
Henry had just reached the vicinity of his own camp when he saw a Square Banner Knight waiting for him.
Taking a closer look, wasn’t this the officer from the Seventh Legion who was in charge of stationing the nobles’ Private Armies at Odoche before the Battle of Zhiluo? Only...
Henry looked at the Square Banner Knight’s empty right sleeve. "I’m sorry for your loss," he said.
For a Square Banner Knight to lose his right arm meant that all the effort of the first half of his life had been for naught.
"Thank you for your concern, my lord. The Legion will give me a considerable severance payment. With that and my savings over the years, it’s enough for me to buy a few dozen acres of land and live as a wealthy man."
The Square Banner Knight forced a smile, but it looked painful.
Henry nodded. The value of the Empire’s Square Banner Knights far exceeded that of Armored Cavalry. They didn’t dominate the battlefield because of their superior armor, but were awarded their banners for their consummate horsemanship and skill with the Riding Spear.
Everyone would lament a Warrior like that losing an arm.
"What do you need me for? Did a Legion Commander send you?"
"That’s right. Legion Commander Sebastian and Legion Commander Soslan wish to see you."
Henry nodded and followed the Square Banner Knight to the Legion Commanders’ great tent. He didn’t mind the trouble; he just considered it a walk to help digest his food.
"Legion Commanders, Knight Henry Bro has arrived."
"Come in."
Henry entered alone and immediately saw the three Legion Commanders inside.
"Count Soslan, Count Sebastian, Count Milan, good evening."
Soslan smiled amiably. "Good evening, Knight Henry."
Sebastian nodded at Henry, a gesture of goodwill.
Even Count Milan spoke, a rare occurrence. "That Imperial robe suits you well."
Henry looked around and asked, "Is Marquis Alberti not here?"
"He was injured. His warhorse was pierced by a Tiger-man’s Javelin, and the Marquis was thrown from his mount. He is resting now."
Observing propriety, Henry exchanged a few pleasantries with the three Legion Commanders before asking, "So, is there a mission you need to entrust to me?"
Soslan cleared his throat and explained, "It’s like this. We wanted to inform you in advance not to leave too early. In a few days, a letter from the King will likely arrive by carrier pigeon.
By tradition, you have already actively fulfilled your Vassal’s military service in two major battles and have earned great merit. The King will certainly summon you and hold a banquet in your honor."
"No problem. I will have my Private Army return to my fief with the spoils of war. I myself will accompany you to the Royal Capital with my Attendants and Personal Guard."
Henry had already anticipated this.
Sebastian suddenly sighed and began to speak to Henry about Glen.
His former senior from the academy had died on the battlefield. He killed a full ten Minotaurs and over thirty Gnolls before being shot full of arrows by the Fox People, turning him into a porcupine.
Henry blinked, looking at the somewhat sorrowful Sebastian, and expressed his own condolences. Although he and Glen had their differences in the past, the man was dead now, and all of that was in the past.
"He was an excellent Knight. His deeds will be recorded in the Royal Capital Knight Academy’s registry of famous students, and his valor will live on forever in the songs of Minstrels."
Henry chatted with the three Legion Commanders a while longer about things like casualties and spoils of war before taking his leave. As for the prize money, he would get it sooner or later.
When Henry returned to his camp again, no one else came looking for him. Claude, however, was waiting with a few sheets of paper to give a report.
Henry’s Private Army had lost over two hundred serfs. The reason the losses were relatively low was that Henry had mostly used the Legion’s serfs and Auxiliary Soldiers as cannon fodder to absorb the Half-Beastmen’s initial charge.
Only three Heavy Cavalry remained, but the leftover barding and armor would allow him to quickly reform the unit. Over forty Grassland Warriors were lost, one Skilled Infantry Team was wiped out, and more than thirty archers were lost.
The casualties seemed significant, but compared to the enormous gains, they were practically no loss at all.
"We’ve collected a full thirty-seven cartloads of Half-Beastman weapons and armor. In total, we have over one thousand four hundred Half-Beastman heads in good condition, and we’ve already handed over three hundred and seventy-two prisoners to the Legion for sale.
By a rough estimate, this haul is worth over twenty thousand Dinars."
