NOVEL WEB
Chapter 249: Going Home to Farm? Impossible
TL: Etude The day after the battle, the lords of the Allied forces discussed how to take Fort Bidou. However, before they could conclude their discussions, a few individuals emerged from the castle. Leading them was a knight waving a white flag, claiming to represent Sir Blake Shaun in negotiations.
The previous day, as the two armies clashed, those inside the castle anxiously awaited the outcome. If Kent’s forces won against the Allies, they would be relieved from the siege.
To their dismay, they only heard the thunderous sounds from the east, followed by the sight of the triumphant Allies returning to their camp, exuberantly celebrating with a party that lasted all night.
The Allies deliberately displayed the tattered banners of the Kent family and their vassals in front of Fort Bidou as a show of intimidation.
It was clear to those inside Fort Bidou that Kent’s forces had suffered a defeat, and they were now trapped like fish in a barrel.
Including the garrison and nearby villagers, the fort housed over a thousand people who had been consuming their dwindling food supplies. Within a few days, without any attack from the Allies, they would starve.
Sir Blake Shaun had no choice but to decide to surrender. However, as a noble, he needed a “dignified” outcome, hence sending his retainer for negotiations.
After bargaining, an agreement was reached:
1. The Alliance recognized and supported the Shaun family as the undisputed rulers of Fort Bidou and its dependent territories.
2. The Shaun family would break away from the Kent family and join the anti-Kent alliance.
3. The Shaun family was to pay 6,000 Ordo gold coins or equivalent goods as compensation, starting with 2,000 coins, and the remaining 4,000 to be paid over the next four years.
4. The defense of Fort Bidou would be managed by the Allied forces until the Kent family was defeated.
5. The citizens of the territory were free to relocate to other lands (this clause was proposed by Bryce representing Alda).
Reluctantly, Baron Shaun signed the agreement. Not being stripped of his title and territory was a relatively dignified end.
At 2 PM, the gates of Fort Bidou slowly opened, and under the watchful eyes of the main Allied forces, Derrick Heller led a thousand troops into the castle. They disarmed the garrison, dispersed the soldiers and civilians, leaving Baron Shaun with only 20 personal guards and 15 family knights.
By 3 PM, other lords and generals from the Allied forces entered the castle with some of their troops, controlling every corner of Fort Bidou and completing its occupation.
In the following days, aside from guarding against a possible counterattack from the Kent family, the lords argued daily over the distribution of the spoils of war.
Bryce and Joyce did not partake in this scramble. Due to Alda’s troops demonstrating their formidable strength, many secretly sought favor with them, trying their best to win them over. Price Parker and Derrick Heller privately vowed, with utmost sincerity, not to let them down.
After a few days of reconnaissance, the Allied forces realized that, aside from bolstering defenses at the border towns, the Kent family showed no signs of amassing troops.
In a meeting, someone suggested, “It seems the Kent family won’t make a move for now. It’s time to withdraw our troops!”
Bryce, puzzled, replied, “If that’s the case, shouldn’t we press our advantage and attack?”
The other party shook their head, “The soldiers are eager to return home for farming. Continuing to fight will incite mutiny.”
Others added, “Indeed, we must continue the fight, but we need to manage the spring farming first. The Kent family is likely thinking the same.”
Bryce then realized that unlike the current Alda army, these lords’ forces, including knights and soldiers, were temporarily conscripted.
While serving the lord without pay was a knight and citizen’s duty, there was a limit. Beyond this limit, the lord would have to pay his troops, which would be painful for the not-so-wealthy northwestern lords.
Moreover, during their stay at Fort Bidou, apart from Alda’s army, everyone in the Allied forces had been living off their “supply area,” and coupled with the lords’ rewards for the victory, everyone had made a small fortune. The soldiers were even more eager to return home.
Subsequent events led everyone to finally decide to withdraw their troops — the Kent family sent envoys to negotiate the ransom of their captives.
Previously, Count Parker had stated that discussions about ransoming captives would only take place after the battle, so everyone unanimously viewed the Kent family’s renewed interest in the matter as a probe — whether to continue the war or to temporarily cease hostilities.
As the Allied forces were also inclined towards a ceasefire, they tacitly agreed with the envoys on the terms of ransoming the captives. However, neither side mentioned signing any formal treaty, implying that hostilities would resume once the current busy period ended.
Hence, Fort Bidou was left under the protection of the Malkan and Johnston families, while troops from other territories were disbanded to return home. They agreed to regroup in May to launch an attack on the Kent family’s territories.
Bryce and Joyce also began their journey back to Alda with their troops, accompanied by many families from the former territory of Fort Bidou.
Over these days, the surrounding populace learned about a “gentlemanly army” that did not loot from civilians and paid for their purchases. Given such conduct from the army, it was assumed that the lord of Alda would not be too different. The fact that the lord of Fort Bidou had to pay a large sum to the Allied forces as compensation was somehow widely known, with the amount exaggerated from 6,000 gold coins to tens of thousands. This frightened the citizens of Fort Bidou, fearing the lord would recoup this sum from them.
Thus, fleeing the area seemed the most logical choice, and what better destination than Alda?
Baron Shaun, still under house arrest, was powerless to prevent this. Not only was he bound by the recently signed agreement, but he also lacked the military strength to stop such movements. Frustrated, he spent his days angrily venting on his servants.
The Alda army had essentially achieved its initial objective — securing the safety of the region from Fort Bidou to the coastline and establishing a defense line for the southern trade routes.
What next? Should they, like the other lords, cease operations for a month?
Certainly not. The soldiers of the Alda army didn’t need to tend to the fields; their daily training was intended to make them more efficient at eliminating the enemy.
As Bryce leisurely rode his horse, he listened to Joyce reading a letter from the staff department.
Most of the letter praised their performance in battle, which greatly elevated the prestige of Alda and Baylding in the alliance and strengthened their voice within it.
However, the last part was the most critical and invigorated Bryce:
Upon arriving in Alda, the First and Second Infantry Battalions and the Artillery Company were to be stationed at the border, ready to march towards Emden at any moment.
The two battalion commanders exchanged smiles: It was time to truly wash away last year’s disgrace…
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