"Your Highness, this is a message from Baron Camorra's messenger eagle." Genolio hurried into the study and presented a piece of grey silk to Lollister.
Lollister, who was in the middle of a political discussion with Fatty Shi, took the silk and quickly read through its contents. His expression immediately darkened.
"What happened?" Fatty Shi asked.
"Some people are itching for a beating. It's time to teach them a lesson." Laurist passed the silk in his hand to Fatty Shi and said, "Take a look for yourself. The logistical supply points set up by Baron Camorra in the provinces of Chixess, Foreward, Westwood, and Delamark have all been attacked by unknown armed forces. Not only did the local nobles refuse to cooperate with our investigation, they even accused us of attracting the bandits' attention and causing their territories to suffer heavy losses. They want our family to take responsibility for compensation … "
"Pfft!" Fatty Shi said disdainfully, "The thief is calling the thief to stop the thief. Without the cooperation of these nobles, how could our camps have been attacked by those bandits? I even suspect that those bandits were the private forces of these local lords. I didn't expect that after His Highness left the central 11 provinces, those nobles who usually keep their tails tucked between their legs would suddenly become active and target our Norton Family. Do they think that the Norton Family's armed forces are so easily bullied? "
Due to the fact that the Norton family's armed forces would launch winter raids from the Magick province to the Andvov and Podorg provinces, His Highness had already ordered his 300,000 troops to move to the two southwestern provinces at the end of September. Even the White Lion Legion, which was stationed at the border of the Magick and Andvov provinces, had handed over their station to a regiment of guards led by Ovicis before they set off for the Hanstermos province. This was so that they could reach the border of the two former provinces of the Duchy of Lulm as soon as the rainy season ended and pose a threat to the Commerce Federation.
However, as soon as His Highness and his army left, the situation in the eleven central provinces, which could be considered peaceful, started to become lively. Without the suppression of the second prince and his 300,000 soldiers, the nobles who had been obediently living with their tails between their legs began to think of ways to make up for the economic losses caused by the second prince's presence in the central 11 provinces. The method was simple. The big fish ate the small fish, and the small fish ate the shrimps. In the short span of two months, the nobles of several provinces in the central region had more than ten territorial conflicts and family wars. Some lords even pretended to be bandits and robbed merchants and passersby.
However, he did not expect the nobles to have designs on the armed forces of the Norton Family. Come to think of it, these eleven provinces in the central region had been plundered by the second prince in order to support the three hundred thousand soldiers. Although the weather was good and the harvest was good, it only guaranteed that no one would starve to death. It wasn't just the commoners; almost all of the nobles were having a hard time.
As for the Norton Family, in order to complete their winter assault on the Andvov and Podorg Provinces, they were preparing to move more than 500,000 immigrants from these two provinces. In order to ensure the supply of military supplies to the frontline, the Norton Family had specially set up supply lines and security camps in the ten provinces. They had been busy stocking up all kinds of supplies. The huge fortress was only guarded by a battalion of 3,000 guards. In the eyes of the nobles in the central provinces, it was a huge piece of juicy meat.
Fatty Shi looked carefully at the content written on the silk and said, "Baron Camorra did not mention the casualties of the Guards Battalion guarding the camp in his letter. I think it should be very light and not a big deal. However, he said that the endless attacks and robberies have seriously affected the transport and stockpiling of supplies. Due to the long route, Baron Freya's 5th Royal Guard Corp is currently short on manpower for patrolling and patrolling the supply line. They're worried that they'll collapse from exhaustion from running around, so they're hoping to send more troops to avoid serious consequences … "
Buckingham nodded, "Yes, this supply line is too long, and we didn't expect this to happen. It seems like we have to increase the number of troops to maintain the safety of this supply line. But before that, I have to teach those ungrateful nobles a lesson. Do they really think that the Norton Family won't retaliate? "
"Genolio!"
"Your Highness, what are your orders?" Genolio quickly stood at attention.
"Take this letter and write an urgent letter. Send it to His Majesty overnight. Tell him that I want to deal with the nobles along this supply line. If we can't ensure the safety of this supply line, the Norton Family will not be able to launch a surprise attack during the winter," Buckingham instructed after some thought.
"Yes, Your Highness. I'll do it immediately." Genolio bowed and left the study.
It seemed that Buckingham had made up his mind to deal with the nobles of the central provinces. Fatty Shi advised from the side, "Your Highness, the war is imminent. We just need to ensure the safety of the supply line. There's no need to get entangled with the local nobles."
Loriste pondered as he tapped the table with his finger. "No, you don't understand. If it's just to ensure the safety of this supply route, it's very simple, but I'm worried that the nobles we've expelled will fly into a rage out of humiliation and do something stupid that will harm others without benefiting themselves. They might take a risk out of anger because of our family's strength, and they might send people to sneak into the camp to burn down the supplies.
To the local nobles, this is just a way for them to vent their anger. But to my family, as long as the supplies of one camp are destroyed, this supply line will be finished. At the very least, it will delay the implementation of our plan for a long time. Winter is short, so we have to hurry. If we can't complete our plan, it will add a lot of trouble and unnecessary difficulties for us.
So to the Norton Family, we have to get rid of all the hidden dangers along this supply line. No matter who it is, as long as they are related to the unknown armed forces and the thieves who attacked our camp, we have to chase them to the end and uproot them all. This is the real and effective way to maintain the safety of this supply line. "
"Then do you think the second prince will agree to this?" Fatty Shi asked.
"He will definitely agree. Now, anyone who obstructs his strategic plan for the winter raid will become his enemy. As long as the Norton Family's armed forces carry out the attack as planned, he will pretend that he didn't see anything even if we get rid of all the nobles in the central provinces … "
Buckingham suddenly froze, and his expression changed. "Oh no! We've been tricked … "
"Huh?" Fatty Shi didn't understand. "Tricked what?"
Buckingham stood up and paced around the study. "I suspect that we've fallen into His Majesty's trap. He might be using our family's armed forces to get rid of the nobles in the central provinces."
Fatty Shi's expression also became serious. "Do you have any proof?"
"It's very simple. We've already received permission from His Majesty to set up supply camps in the central provinces. Everyone knows how important this supply line is for our armed forces to carry out the winter attack. So why would the local nobles in the central provinces still think of attacking our supply line? It's obvious that His Majesty didn't even warn them … Haha … "
Buckingham laughed coldly. "It's not that I'm suspicious, but think about it. With His Majesty's experience and meticulous mind, would he make such a simple mistake? If he warned the local nobles, then no one would think of attacking our supply line. Otherwise, it would mean that they were challenging His Majesty's authority. Without any warning, the local nobles can covet our supply line. Even if there is a conflict, it will only be a private conflict between our family and the local nobles … "
Fatty Shi nodded. "It's the same as when our convoy passed through the Andinac Kingdom back then. His Majesty used our convoy to deal with the local nobles. On one hand, it's to obstruct us, and on the other hand, he can even use us to deal with the local nobles in the future. Right now, he needs us to participate in the war, so he pretends not to see it. Once the empire is unified, he can use this to suppress the Norton Family or force us to follow his arrangements.
Secondly, he's using us to get rid of the nobles in the central provinces. After all, these nobles are the subordinates of the original Grand Dukes of the four central countries. They aren't on the same side as His Majesty. So the more we get rid of, the happier His Majesty will be. Because these local nobles' territories can be taken back and returned to the royal family's direct jurisdiction, it will effectively strengthen his control over the central provinces.
Finally, the relationship between the nobles in the central provinces and the original three Grand Dukes is very complicated. To get rid of them to ensure the safety of our supply line, our family's armed forces will definitely cause us to become enemies with the remaining local nobles and the three Grand Dukes. This should be something that His Majesty will be very happy to see. This will prevent the expansion of the alliance of the four northern families and our relationship with the three Grand Dukes. This is probably the balance of power … "
"I think this is what His Majesty is thinking. After all, the Norton Family's strength is comparable to the kingdom's, and he has always been wary of us. That's why he made so many arrangements first, "Laurist said calmly." But is there any use in doing so? Such a small scale will only make us look down on him. As long as our family's strength remains strong, even if he unifies the empire, what can he do to us? Could it be that he really dares to shed all pretense of cordiality and declare war on our family? "
Fatty Shi laughed. "He really wouldn't dare to do that. Even though he has 500,000 soldiers, he also knows that he is no match for the Norton Family's armed forces. But Your Majesty, the problem now is, who should we send to ensure the safety of our supply line and get rid of the attackers that are a threat to our logistical support camp? The Flying Tiger Legion and Monolith Legion are both heading towards Madjik. Should we ask them to send out some troops to wipe them out? "
"There's no need for that," Laurist replied. "The Flying Tiger Legion and Monolith Legion are heading towards Madjik to prepare for a winter assault on Andervov and Bordoorgs. It's already the end of October. By the time they reach Madjik, they won't have much time to rest and reorganize. There's no need for them to fight the local nobles and bandits, lest they delay the attack.
I'm going to transfer a division from the Hunting Cavalry and have Jost lead it to the central provinces to reinforce Freya and ensure the security of the supply lines. As a light cavalry division, their mobility should be enough to deal with the bandits and the local nobles' private forces. At the same time, I'm going to summon Aire and Redi back and have them lead a thousand guards to clear out the nobles along the supply line. We'll uproot the nobles who have designs on our family, so that those who come later will be warned. "
"Your Majesty, if Baron Jost and Aire are called back, what will happen to Hunter's Cavalry?" Fatty Shi asked.
"Don't worry. Yuri and Vasimar are still in the Hunter's Cavalry. The two of them are more than enough to deal with the Grass Barbarians in the northeastern plains. Jost has been with Hunter's Cavalry for a few years now. Let him go to the central provinces to relax. As for Aire, he was sent to Hunter's Cavalry because Yuri was injured. Now that Yuri has returned, I'm going to let him leave Hunter's Cavalry and make him the commander of the 5th Guard Division after this war ends. "
On the 31st day of the tenth month of the year 1786, the Norton Family's supply line and logistical support camp in the Marjik Province were threatened by unknown armed forces, bandits, and local nobles. Laurist urgently dispatched the Knight Hunter Corps' Captain Joost to lead a group of reinforcements. At the same time, Redi and Aire were ordered to lead a thousand guards to investigate and eliminate the unknown armed forces, bandits, and local nobles that posed a threat to the supply line.
Up until the 30th of November, the Norton Family's armed forces had wreaked havoc in the various provinces along the supply route. Almost a hundred groups of bandits and highwaymen had been wiped out by Redi and Aire's guards and Jost's hunting cavalry. More than fifty nobles who had been accused of colluding with the bandits and highwaymen had been exterminated, and their territories had been swept clean.
Back then, the number of nobles in the central provinces that were conferred titles by the second prince numbered less than a hundred. Now, more than half of them were wiped out by the Norton Family's armed forces. In a short period of time, the Norton Family's armed forces were infamous throughout the provinces of the Andinac Kingdom. The supply line was like a ghost town, and no one dared to get close to it. Even if they had to pass through it, they would choose to take a long detour. No one was willing to get close to the supply line.
On the 20th of the eleventh month, Laurist led a thousand guards towards Madjik Province. Accompanying him was the family's level 2 Grandmaster Swordsman, Hugh. Princess Silvia, four concubines, and two sons came to send them off. There were also a few high-ranking members of the family.
After bidding farewell to Princess Silvia and the rest of them. Laurist said to the commander of the 1st Guard Division, Baron Bellunick, "I'll leave the safety of the North to you."
Baron Bellunick bowed in a knight's salute. "Rest assured, Your Highness, I will not fail you!"
Laurist nodded and mounted his horse. "Depart."
… …
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