Chapter 55: Chapter 51: They’re Really Refugees
The iron hooves of the warhorses shattered the tranquility of the grassland as Gang Le led the squad like an icy edge piercing into the crowd ahead.
Scenes of bloody slaughter had already played out in his mind, and Gang Le was eager to unleash the restless energy within him.
But before he could lead his brothers to charge at those people, the crowd scattered in all directions like a flock of startled birds.
"Not here to rob?"
Gang Le was stunned for a moment, "Are they really refugees?"
Gang Le quickly put away the war axe that had yet to see blood and commanded loudly, "Stop them!"
Refugees could also be turned into slaves!
"Doron to the west, Jess to the south, Klie to the east!"
Gang Le whipped the reins fiercely, spurred his horse to chase after the furthest-running refugee, and lashed out with his whip to bring them down!
"Those who want to eat, stay where you are obediently!"
"Those who want to die, keep running!"
As soon as these words fell, Gang Le cracked his whip fiercely in the air twice, scaring the surrounding refugees into squatting on the ground immediately.
The other soldiers followed suit, shouting, and most of the refugees stood still obediently, except for a few men holding long spears who leaned together, eyeing Gang Le warily.
Gang Le didn’t mind, and shouted, "I am the Lord of Black Pine Ridge, under Baron Rod..."
What am I to the Lord?
Gang Le felt a bit frustrated, never having done such a thing, he shouted with a stiff face, "I am Knight Gang Le under Baron Rod’s banner, and the noble Lord Baron is currently recruiting villeins. As long as you work honestly, you can have delicious black bread and wild vegetable cakes to eat. Who is willing to come with me?"
The refugees looked at each other in silence.
After waiting a long time with no response, Gang Le suddenly became anxious!
Bam!
The whip cracked in the air, and Gang Le shouted loudly, "Who wants to come with me!"
"I, I am willing."
"I’ll go, don’t kill me!"
"I’ll go too."
...
The refugees shrank their necks and raised their hands one after another.
Seeing this, Gang Le showed a satisfied smile on his face,
"Now gather together, follow the warhorses one by one."
...
...
Luo De was just about to enjoy the roasted wolf meat when Avril hurriedly came to report.
She said Gang Le had captured a large group of refugees, and the team was slowly making its way back, hoping Luo De would lead a team to meet them.
Where did Gang Le find the refugees?
Luo De was filled with questions.
But Avril doesn’t joke around, so Luo De had no choice but to bring the roasted wolf meat, gather the troops with Durant, and set off east to meet Gang Le’s convoy.
The warhorses galloped quickly, and soon Luo De saw the slow-moving team in the distance.
The so-called refugees were walking sparsely at the front, with the salt carts following behind.
Gang Le and others were riding horses alongside the team, holding whips, and occasionally shouting at them.
"Lord, you finally arrived!"
Upon seeing Luo De, Gang Le breathed a sigh of relief, rode forward quickly, and spoke in a low voice, "Luckily they’re obedient, if they all ran we wouldn’t catch them!"
"In front of you, these people shouldn’t dare."
Luo De waved his hand, and five guards quickly rushed to both sides to help guard.
"What’s going on, where did they all come from?"
"I asked, they’re from the Eagle Ridge in the south, where the war is fierce right now."
"The border copper mine war? But there shouldn’t be so many refugees, right?"
Luo De was somewhat puzzled.
The copper mine is in the mountains without any villages, and only soldiers should be charging there.
But here in this refugee team, there are women and children, as if the entire village has fled.
This doesn’t seem like a border war. This looks more like an invasion war.
"That’s why I said it’s fierce."
Gang Le then relayed the information he gathered from the refugees to Luo De.
The original war was as Luo De imagined until the second son of Count Hawk was fatally injured and died, changing the nature of the conflict.
Allegedly, the death of the Count’s son wasn’t the intention of Viscount Bai Lu.
Because the leading role in that battle was the Bailu Clan’s mercenaries, who struck too hard and knocked the Count’s son into a sharp stone.
Luo De found this explanation quite reasonable.
Noble combat usually isn’t too severe; it’s common soldiers who fight to the death.
Nobles and Knights wear armor, and even soft armor is a luxury for ordinary soldiers!
Nobles prefer negotiation, and most wars end at the negotiating table.
Thus, nobles have an understanding not to let their opponents die in warfare.
But a grieving Count Hawk paid no mind and led an army to raid the Bailu Clan’s territory personally, decapitating over a dozen heads and placing them on village fences.
The soldiers of Viscount Bai Lu reciprocated by bypassing the Hawk Territory border, attacking the villages inside, and initiating looting and burning.
Mercenaries seemed to be responsible for this, acting even more ruthlessly.
Since then, the real war began.
From the gleaned information, Gang Le believed this war would last for some time.
Luo De agreed with this view.
The two nobles are no longer vying for veins but for noble dignity.
As it’s commonly known, face is everything.
Only such wars disregard interests.
Unless a higher-ranking noble mediates, the fight will continue.
Neither Count Hawk nor Viscount Bai Lu lack foundation.
Each has three or four thousand subjects, so losing a few people is insignificant.
"So why did these refugees come here? Why not go to the Border City?" Luo De asked in confusion.
"Haha, we knew you’d ask this, so we inquired specifically!"
Gang Le anticipated Luo De’s doubts cheerfully and explained, "A merchant claimed that if each family paid him two silver coins, he could find them a safe, stable place with food.
"These villagers didn’t have that many silver coins, so they pooled five to buy the merchant drinks, and he disclosed that the place was in the Northern Wasteland after getting drunk."
"That’s why they fled here."
That merchant is probably Simon.
For a moment, Luo De wanted to laugh.
If it truly were Simon, he might be playing both sides.
On the one hand, collecting money to receive refugees, then transporting them over to sell as slaves to Luo De.
This guy indeed has a bit of brains.
But isn’t he afraid of being caught by the Lord with such brazen propaganda?
"Lord, I need to confess something," Gang Le scratched his head, a bit embarrassed. "Earlier I claimed to be your knight, please don’t be angry."
"Since you last pledged loyalty, I’ve already regarded you as a prospective knight."
Luo De said openly, "Once you’ve achieved merit, I’ll hold an enunciation ceremony for you."
Gang Le’s horsemanship and archery were not inferior, lacking the lance training and noble etiquette, but these weren’t important to Luo De.
"But I haven’t cultivated the Breathing Technique, nor am I used to wielding a Knight’s Sword..."
"Those things don’t matter, if you wish to learn the breathing technique, I’ll have Durant teach you."
Luo De smiled and reassured him, "You needn’t worry about these trivial matters, from now on you can declare yourself as my knight."
Finishing, Luo De walked up to the refugees and asked loudly:
"I am Baron Lord of Black Pine Ridge, Luo De Tulip, who among you is the leader?"