Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales Lorist noticed that Josk's face was a little haggard, and he seemed a little dejected. He then looked at the large group of people behind him. There were about three to four hundred of them, and there were even some old men in their fifties and youths around fourteen or fifteen. They were also holding farming tools such as sickles and pitchforks in their hands.
Josk bowed to Lorist in embarrassment, "My lord, I've let you down. I've let you down …."
Lorist laughed, "It's fine. Things change very quickly, and accidents are inevitable. Besides, you've been dragged down by us for running back and forth. There's no need for pleasantries. Come, everyone, please enter the camp and have some hot food. We'll talk later. "
The camp was filled with a strong aroma of meat. Fatty Shi had ordered his men to skin the hundreds of war horses of the cavalrymen who had died yesterday, and put the meat into a big pot to cook. After cooking for a whole day, the meat was tender and the bones were crispy. Nearly ten thousand people in the camp finally had a good meal tonight.
Hearing Lorist's words and smelling the aroma, Josk's men burst into cheers. At the same time, their stomachs growled.
Josk was embarrassed, "My lord, to be honest, we've been out of food for an entire day. Everyone is starving …."
The three to four hundred people settled down very quickly. Thirty more tents were added in the northwest area of the barracks. Following that, Sederkamp sent a few large pots of boiled large pieces of horse meat and mashed potato batter, which was enough to fill the stomachs of these people.
Sitting in the tent, Josk wolfed down the dozen round buns and the large pot of horse meat that Redi had brought over. After eating, Josk picked up a cup of tea and began to talk about what happened after he returned.
Josk was considered one of the strongest forces in the resistance against Count Corbili. He had around six to seven hundred men under him, and around two thousand if his family was included. However, Joske didn't have the intention to establish his own stronghold. Instead, he placed his family under the protection of the largest stronghold in the western mountains, Crouching Bull Ridge Stronghold, while he led his men to cause trouble for Count Corbili. They became the most active group among all the rebel forces.
Almost half of Joske's men had been killed or injured while assisting the Crouching Bull Mountain Stronghold against Count Corbili's mopping-up troops. That was why Joske had the idea of going to the barracks and burning the rations to force the mopping-up troops to retreat. That was how he got to know Lorist and the others. At the time of their parting, Josk was still full of himself, thinking that it would be easy to convince the resistance forces to join forces and attack the mopping up camp, and that they would receive a warm response from the resistance forces.
Who knew that when he returned to the western mountain area and gathered the leaders of the various rebel forces, what he got was not a response, but rejection and mockery. Many people thought that it was a great victory for the mopping up troops to leave the western mountain area. They could live in peace again, and there was no need to provoke the mopping up troops anymore. What if the mopping-up troops won and came back? It was better to sit back and watch the mopping-up troops fight to the death with the convoy that Josk had mentioned.
Some people even suspected that Josk had made some unspeakable agreement with the convoy. Otherwise, why would he be so enthusiastic about attacking the mopping-up troops' camp? Everyone had been beaten to a pulp by the mopping-up troops in the western mountain area, and now they were going to attack the heavily guarded enemy camp. Wasn't that like throwing eggs at a rock?
Some people even thought of fighting the mopping-up troops with their best convoy and Count Corbili's mopping-up troops. That way, they could take advantage of the situation and take advantage of the situation. Since Josk said that the convoy was huge, with a few hundred wagons, then there must be a lot of supplies. They could take advantage of the situation and get a few hundred wagons to make a fortune.
Josk argued with the leaders of the resistance forces in the western mountain area for three days, but he was greatly disappointed. Not a single rebel force was willing to send troops to help the convoy attack the main camp. When it rains, it pours. The chief of the Crouching Bull Ridge Stronghold sent someone to invite Josk over, and bluntly stated that the mopping-up troops had suffered great losses, and that the Crouching Bull Ridge Stronghold could no longer provide food for Josk's men and their families, which numbered close to two thousand. Josk and his men could either join the Crouching Bull Ridge Stronghold and starve until spring, or they could leave the stronghold and find another way to survive.
Josk was seething with anger. It was obvious that the Crouching Bull Ridge Stronghold wanted to swallow up his men to make up for their losses. They didn't care at all about the sacrifices his men had made to help the Crouching Bull Ridge Stronghold fight against the mopping-up troops. Lack of food? Lack my ass. At the end of last year, he had led his men to attack one of Count Corbili's granaries, and two-thirds of the food they obtained had been sent to the Crouching Bull Ridge Stronghold's granary. Only an idiot would believe that they had run out of food.
The proud and arrogant Josk didn't bother to expose the Crouching Bull Ridge's chief's lies. Without another word, he left with everyone that very night and set up camp in an abandoned stronghold that had been breached by the mopping up troops. Looking at the crying women and children, as well as the hundreds of injured men, Josk felt a splitting headache. He clenched his teeth in hatred when he thought of the leaders of the resistance forces in the western mountains. This bunch of unambitious, short-sighted people who only dared to play tricks in their own territory would never help him achieve his goal of killing Count Corbili. All they wanted was to stay in their own stronghold and do whatever they wanted. That was enough for them to do whatever they wanted.
Thinking of the promise he made to Laurist, and then thinking of the faces of the leaders of the resistance forces, Josk thought for the first time that he might as well die in battle. So, he left all the food for the women and children, and rushed over with the three hundred men who could still move. His thinking was simple. As long as the convoy and the mopping-up troops were still fighting, he would attack the main camp of the mopping-up troops regardless of his life. That way, he would show Laurist that he had fulfilled his promise.
But by the time Josk and his men arrived with empty stomachs, the battle had already ended two days ago. Josk told Laurist that he regretted it. If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have wasted time with the leaders of the resistance forces in the western mountains. After being rejected, he would have just brought his men here and made it in time for the battle.
Laurist briefly explained the battle that happened last night. Due to various coincidences and a bit of luck, the convoy was able to achieve a complete victory. Then, Laurist made a suggestion. He thought that since the convoy would be leaving in two days, Josk should move the families of the troops still in the western mountains to this camp. The terrain here was easy to defend and hard to attack, and the surrounding terrain was flat and open, suitable for farming. As long as they occupied this camp, Josk would have a better life in the future. He wouldn't have to live under someone else's roof in the western mountains anymore. If Josk was willing, Laurist could send people to send carriages to help with the relocation. He would also leave enough weapons, equipment, and supplies for Josk when the convoy headed north.
Josk frowned and thought for a long time before shaking his head and declining Laurist's good intentions. On the contrary, his words shocked Laurist. "My lord, I want to bring them to join your caravan and follow your caravan north. But once we reach your family's territory, I will return here once they have settled down. I will only return to serve you after I kill Count Corbili and his illegitimate children. "
Laurist was curious as to why Josk would think this way, and was curious as to why he was so obsessed with his hatred for Count Corbili.
Josk sighed. "Sir, I'm tired. I'm really tired. You don't know, but I've thought a lot on the way here. I'm not a good leader. I'm obsessed with my hatred for Count Corbili, but I've neglected the feelings of my men. They've been fighting with me all this time, but I can't even take care of their families. It wasn't until I led everyone away from the Crouching Bull Ridge that I realized how wrong I was. I've let down the soldiers who sacrificed themselves on the battlefield. I can't give their families a safe place to live. I can't do it … "
"Sir, I'm grateful that you've given us the barracks. But I know that even if we settle down here for a while, we will still be caught in the crossfire of war. That's why I want to entrust my men and their families to you. I want them to follow you to the north and live a peaceful life. I believe that you'll do what you say, and let those who follow you to the north live a happy and peaceful life. "
Josk then explained his hatred for Count Corbili. In Laurist's eyes, this was both a fairy tale and a legend of revenge.
Josk's father was a Gold-ranked knight. Twenty years ago, he responded to the empire's call to bid farewell to his new wife and participated in the Crimson Empire's invasion of the Forde Trade Union. Josk was a posthumous son. Not long after he was born, his mother passed away due to depression and longing for his father. Joske grew up without a father or a mother, and grew up with the help of his kind-hearted neighbors, who took care of him and didn't have enough to eat. When he was twelve, Josk accidentally saved Baron Umador who was being chased by a wild boar while hunting in the forest. The grateful baron brought him back to the castle.
Baron Umador was an oddity among the nobles in this area. First of all, the baron was a very loyal man. He had no illegitimate children, nor did he have any entanglements with maids. Ever since his wife passed away, he and his precious daughter depended on each other. Secondly, the baron treated his subjects very well. He didn't punish them easily, and he would laugh off small mistakes. He would even distribute food and clothes to his subjects during festivals. Among the nobles in this area, Baron Umador had the title of the most benevolent lord.
After learning about Josk's family background, the baron adopted Josk and had strict requirements for him, hoping that he would become a Gold-ranked knight like his father. Josk worked hard, and under the baron's guidance, he became a one-star Gold-ranked knight and sharpshooter at the age of twenty-four.
Josk lived happily in the baron's manor for fourteen years. During this time, the baron's precious daughter also grew up. The two young people spent time together, and as expected, they fell in love. The baron was happy to see this happen, and on the day that Josk became a Gold-ranked knight, he announced his daughter's engagement to him. In two years, when his daughter turned twenty, the two young people who loved each other would become husband and wife.
It was supposed to be a beautiful fairy tale, but on the day of Josk's wedding to his lover, Count Corbili sent someone to propose to the baron's daughter on behalf of one of his illegitimate sons. The baron flew into a rage and chased the messenger away. However, as soon as the messenger was chased away, Count Corbili's army invaded the baron's territory and surrounded the manor castle. The reason was that the baron had chased away his messenger, which was disrespectful to him. For this reason, Count Corbili declared war on the baron.
The manor castle, which was in the middle of preparing for the wedding ceremony, was no match for Count Corbili's well-prepared army. In less than two hours, the castle's gate was breached. Josk, who had been fighting at the front, was surrounded by a few Gold-ranked illegitimate children of Count Corbili, and was severely injured. If not for his soldiers risking their lives to rescue him from the manor, he would have been dead. On the way to escape, Josk had a moment of clarity, and he saw a scene that he would never forget. The manor castle that he had lived in for fourteen years was ablaze, and black smoke rose into the sky. And the person he loved the most was wearing a pure white wedding dress, and she jumped down from the highest point of the manor castle …
Josk screamed and fainted. It took him half a year to recover from his injuries. He sneaked into Count Corbili's territory and tried to assassinate the count and his illegitimate children to avenge the baron and his lover. Unfortunately, he failed. He shot three arrows and killed two of the count's illegitimate children, but only managed to injure Count Corbili's shoulder. After that, he was chased by the lancers. Because of this hatred, Josk had been busy looking for trouble with Count Corbili ever since he formed a resistance team.
Josk cried as he spoke, and tears streamed down his face. Suddenly, he knelt in front of Laurist. He said that if Laurist was willing to avenge him, he would swear to be Laurist's master and serve the Norton family for the rest of his life.
Laurist used a lot of effort to pull Josk up from the ground. He said that he had always admired Josk, and if Josk was willing to serve him, he would be overjoyed. However, he was currently leading a large family caravan northward, and he had a heavy responsibility. That was why he could not promise Josk that easily. But Laurist promised that the caravan's route had not been decided yet, and he needed to plan it carefully. If there was a chance to fulfill Josk's wish, he would not let it go. This was not only to avenge Josk's lover and Baron Umador, but also to avenge the Norton family's caravan.
After much persuasion, Laurist finally calmed Josk down, and he followed Redi to a nearby tent to rest. After all, he had not eaten or slept for an entire day, and even a Gold Knight would be exhausted.
Laurist rubbed his chin as he pondered. He really admired Josk, and he really wanted to take him under his wing. However, he had to fulfill Josk's wish and destroy Count Corbili's family. Hmm? This seems to be a game's strategy. I've accepted a mission, and the mission requirement is to destroy Count Corbili and his family. The mission reward is to become the Gold Knight and Archer Josk's follower.
Alright, let's see how I can complete this mission. Laurist sat in front of his desk and flipped open the map.
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