NOVEL WEB
Chapter 256: Countermeasures
Duke Kent held the report in his hands, feeling an overwhelming urge to tear it into pieces.
Who allowed Grayman to make so much money?
He looked up and saw a porcelain vase on the table, grabbing it with the intention of smashing it to the ground.
Yet, the Duke’s hand remained suspended in mid-air, unable to let go. In the end, he awkwardly placed the vase back in its original spot. (lol)
Marltz then summoned the intelligence chief again, instructing him to gather his trusted aides in the great hall and to dismiss the others.
A while later, his confidants arrived, including Emerson Wilde. The Duke’s son was absent, occupied with numerous duties such as inspecting the army and recruiting new soldiers.
The Duke explained their current predicament to his aides.
“We must find a weapon that can counteract the fire crossbows and thunder hammers, and then we can crush them with our numerical superiority.”
However, finding such a solution was easier said than done. The current bows and crossbows were inferior in range and power, and they struggled to come up with a viable plan.
“Uncle Kent, I have an idea, but I’m not sure if it’s feasible,” Emerson suddenly spoke up.
Marltz, eager for a solution, immediately responded, “Oh? Let’s hear it!”
“Have you heard of the longbow?”
“We have those here too!”
“The longbow I’m referring to is not the ordinary kind. It’s much longer and larger.”
Emerson gestured with his hands, explaining to the people in the study.
“This longbow is about 1.5 to 2 meters in length, made from purpleheart wood, though elm and oak can be used as substitutes. However, purpleheart wood is preferred for its strength, durability, flexibility, and resistance to breaking, allowing for a wider draw.”
“Its range can reach 200 to 300 meters, which is comparable to the Aldan fire crossbows. And its power is tremendous, capable of piercing leather, padded armor, and fabric at a distance of about 220 to 260 meters, or even chainmail. Plate and scale armors can resist its penetration; however, at a distance of 100 meters or less, even plate armor cannot withstand a direct hit. Within 50 meters, the arrows of a longbow are virtually unstoppable.”
Emerson’s description sparked a glimmer of hope among the listeners.
“Really? Emerson, does this ‘longbow’ truly possess such formidable power?”
After a brief pause, Emerson replied, “Well… I’ve heard it from others, so there might be some exaggeration. But the immense power of the longbow is undoubtedly true.”
Marltz Kent made a decisive statement: “We must try it, no matter what. Do you know how to make these bows, or where to buy them?”
“I don’t know how to make them, but I know where to buy them. However, Uncle Kent, simply acquiring them is not enough. Training soldiers to use longbows is not easy and requires years of extensive training to become proficient.”
“What can be done about this?” asked Kent.
“Mercenaries.”
“Mercenaries?”
“Yes, Uncle Kent. Spend money to hire longbowmen, preferably from large mercenary groups.”
Marltz Kent narrowed his eyes. He was aware of mercenaries, who thrived in conflict-ridden areas. They operated solo or in groups, and some grew to impressive sizes, rivaling the forces of powerful lords.
However, most mercenaries were morally corrupt and lacked any sense of honor, often moonlighting as bandits and thieves. While local recruits might still show some restraint due to shared community ties, mercenaries, being complete outsiders, had no such scruples.
Of course, this aspect did not concern Marltz Kent at all. His only concern was the cost of hiring them, as the price of life-risking loyalty was never low.
But if he could defeat the opposing lords’ alliance and absorb their lands and wealth, especially that of Paul Grayman, the investment would ultimately pay off manifold.
The Duke slammed his hand on the table and exclaimed, “Excellent, young Emerson! This is exactly what we need — both the weapons and soldiers in one.”
Emerson puffed out his chest, “If Uncle Kent wishes, I am willing to make a trip to contact various mercenary groups.”
Marltz agreed, “Alright, this task is yours. We can negotiate the price, but the main thing is to assemble a sufficient number of troops.”
Emerson reminded him, “However, this will take time. Before the mercenaries arrive, we need to find a way to hinder Grayman. His army has stopped advancing for now, but there’s no guarantee they won’t resume their attack.”
The Duke somberly agreed, acknowledging the urgency of the situation.
The silent intelligence chief suddenly spoke, “Your Grace, please leave this matter to us.”
“What do you propose?” asked the Duke.
The intelligence chief smiled slightly, “Count Grayman has been thriving this past year, unaware that two volcanoes are brewing under his rule. They might be small now, but they are bound to erupt eventually.”
The Duke prompted him to continue.
“The report mentioned Alda’s new salt-making method that allows rapid and large-scale production. At first glance, this seems excellent. However…”
“However, what?”
“Along the coast, many salt workers depend on traditional boiling methods. They can’t compete with the new method in terms of cost. Salt merchants no longer buy from them, leaving these workers nearly destitute. If we just…”
Before the intelligence chief could finish, someone in the room interrupted, “I know what you’re suggesting! It’s a rotten idea! Your Grace, we must not resort to such methods.”
The interjector, a vassal of the Kent family, argued, “Although we are at war with Grayman, we are still nobles. Inciting commoners to oppose their own lord is disgraceful.”
Other nobles joined in:
“Absolutely absurd!”
“Treasonous!”
The intelligence chief fell silent, unable to comprehend what the nobles were thinking, especially with the situation so dire.
Duke Kent, irritated, waved his hand, “Enough, we’ll discuss this later. Any other ideas?”
Several suggestions followed, but none seemed feasible to Marltz.
“Emerson will contact the mercenary groups skilled with longbows, and we’ll retrain our troops. Until the mercenaries arrive, we’ll try to hold off the Aldans.”
With that, the Duke concluded the meeting.
Everyone left, except for the intelligence chief.
“What was the other volcano under Grayman?” the Duke inquired.
The intelligence chief’s eyes lit up, whispering, “The countryside.”
“What has he done there?”
“After repelling pirates, Count Grayman implemented a ‘Land Consolidation’ decree, aimed at better land utilization by centralizing scattered plots of land.”
“That sounds like a good law.”
“Yes, but many in the countryside underreported their land to evade taxes, and others occupied public lands due to lax management. You know, it’s a common issue.”
Marltz chuckled wryly, signaling the chief to continue.
“During the land consolidation, the first step is to survey and measure the actual farmland…”
“Also, not all farmland is of equal quality. Despite efforts to maintain fairness, some will feel shortchanged.”
“We can exploit this situation,” concluded the intelligence chief.
After he finished, Marltz Kent pondered in silence for a while, then simply said, “You may leave now.”
The chief departed, leaving the Duke’s study in quiet contemplation.