15 – Bandit subjugation (1)

In this world, bandits are heinous criminals who cannot be compared with modern thieves who simply steal things or gangsters who occasionally threaten, blackmail, and extort money from civilians.

These guys commit heinous crimes like murder, looting, robbery, rape, kidnapping, and human trafficking.

At least, most bandits don’t want to fight the army of the lord of the territory, so they live quietly in the mountains, robbing passing merchants and serfs.

Territories with weak military power because they are under development like ours come to plunder openly.

Even in the Middle Ages, a great number of bandits burned and plundered many villages, killing and raping the inhabitants in them.

Even in a country like Joseon, which had a well-established administrative and military system by the standards of the time, it was a daily routine for the Jurchens from the north to kidnap people and stand out like bandits…

How common is this in a society where one bailiff can ruthlessly exploit 1,000 people for years if he chooses?

So as soon as I received Balt’s report, my eyes started to turn white.

Nonetheless, in order to rectify the situation, I managed to hold on to my spirit and asked.

“How many are there? where is the location? Damn, since we don’t have any troops, if there are too many, we’ll have to give the bandits a reward and send them back…”

Balt looked at me and replied in a serious voice.

“The number is thought to be around 50, and the location is Mount Saint. It’s about an hour’s drive from here. It may be a little different since the information was given to me by a merchant from the next estate…”

After that, fortunately

It bothers me that it only takes an hour by wagon from here, but if there are 50 or so, as long as there are no thief knights (knights who became bandits because they are unemployed), the serfs of our territory are sufficient for our defense.

No, if you hold out too long, should you mobilize the serfs of the territory to eradicate it…

There will be some victims, but it’s most certain.

If that’s the case, should I just ask the baron to get reinforcements?

But if I did, the baron would doubt my military prowess…

Seeing me lost in thought, Balt cleared his throat three times before speaking again.

“About 50 people won’t invade our territory. However, you must control that the serfs try to go to another territory with surplus food. If I were a bandit, the serfs with expensive horse-drawn carts loaded with grain would look really appetizing.”

“right. After that?”

“It is one of the two. Either mobilize mercenaries or give farming tools to serfs and raid bandit strongholds.”

When I heard that, I realized that I was narrow-minded.

Come to think of it, there are many unemployed serfs in places like this, but there are also many unemployed soldiers and knights.

The initial mercenary army was created by gathering these unemployed people. why didn’t i think?

“Ah, mercenary… yes. Let’s mobilize mercenaries. If it is the income of our territory, it is enough to hire mercenaries.”

At those words, Balt nodded.

“This is a wise choice. Bocchan, maybe 50 people… no, you only need to hire 30 people to get rid of the bandits. Well, a few people will die, but that’s none of our business.”

**

A week later, Balt brought 30 mercenaries as I talked to.

All of them were wearing iron breastplates, gloves, and helmets, and they were carrying various weapons such as short spears, bows and arrows, and swords.

And the look of the guys holding weapons and taking a cheeky posture gave the feeling of saying that they were warriors who rolled as they would on the battlefield.

Would this be worth spending money on?

As he lost himself in such thoughts, the mercenary in the front slammed his spear on the ground and spoke loudly.

.

“I am Helmut, the captain of this mercenary army! We, the Red Honey Mercenaries, will follow the orders of Sir Ciel von Kreuttel, Lord of Windheim, from today until the bandits are defeated. However, as contracted, you must provide us with 6 silver coins and food every day, and if any of these are violated, the contract will be canceled regardless of whether you defeat the bandits or not!”

As expected, this world and the world I lived in are similar in that people called mercenaries run away if you don’t give them money.

Then, wouldn’t these people just ignore me and run away when a terrible battle breaks out in which their lives are in danger?

Still, it’s only going to catch 50 bandits, but the veteran mercenaries won’t lose, so there shouldn’t be a problem.

I held out my hand to shake the mercenary’s hand and said,

“Okay, please. Thank you for coming all the way here for our estate.”

“Thank you sir!”

“With my name and the honor of the Baron Creutel family, I will definitely pay you. And in the case of plundered goods, let’s divide them in half according to the contract. Any complaints?”

When I heard that I would pay for it with my honor, Helmut replied with a smile.

“Of course, Sir!!”

“Okay then let’s start the meeting. We have to talk about the strategy together and then move on.”

As soon as that was said, Helmut and I moved to the strategy meeting.

**

Even if it’s a meeting room, it’s my office anyway, so there’s nothing special about it.

At most, there is only a desk, a very simplified map of Mount Saint and its surroundings, and a few wooden chess pieces.

As soon as Helmut entered the meeting room, he saw Balt wearing plate mail and greeted him politely.

“Are you Lord Balt? i look forward to. I am Helmut, the captain of the Red Honey Mercenaries.”

It must have looked good, so Balt took off his helmet and put it on the desk.

“My name is Balt. Well, since it’s a commoner knight without a territory, it’s okay not to be too polite.”

“Yes, Sir Balt.”

After confirming that they had finished their greetings, I clapped my hands to get their attention, then spoke.

“How do you plan to suppress the bandits?”

Balt then picked up a red-painted chess piece and placed it on a black dot on the mountainside, placed the black chess pieces around the mountain and said,

“First of all, we will temporarily conscript about 120 serfs to block the mountain roads. At the same time, Helmut and I are planning to rush into the bandit’s lair inside the mountain and destroy the enemy.”

No matter how you think about it, isn’t it too simple?

No matter how flimsy the enemies are, they’re going to fight only with a small number of mercenaries…

“Baltic.”

“Yeah.”

“Helmut’s mercenary force is only 30 people, and there are 31 people including you. If you deal with the bandits who have ambushed in the mountains with just that many people, won’t you make some sacrifices?”

Hearing that, Balt said in a relaxed voice as if to be relieved.

“Boss, according to the scout who looked around their camp, they are ragtags who don’t even set their guard properly. The bandits in the living quarters are drunk day and night, and even the soldiers who stand guard sometimes secretly drink, saying that their discipline is such a disgrace. I don’t think you need to worry.”

“Anyway, you’re dealing with the enemy. No matter how mercenary you are…”

Hearing that, Helmut laughed loudly and said:

“There is nothing to fear from those who stand guard like that. young master. Besides, it is said to be a grand bandit, but in reality it is like a bunch of runaway serfs. We will not lose to those guys.”

“It is as Helmut said. young master. As long as the minimum discipline is maintained like the soldiers, there is no need to be wary of dealing with idiots like that. ”

Hearing this, Helmut looked a little surprised.

Despite the difference in status between a low-ranking knight and the successor of a lord, Balt’s direct opposition must have come as a shock.

Well, if it were actually other lords, it was a situation that could make them very angry.

However, on the contrary, it is also an impossible action unless you are sure that he will entrust you with full power or at least listen to your story.

Therefore, ‘No matter how much it is, people’s lives are at stake, so shouldn’t we be more vigilant?’ and gave up refuting.

Although I am a commanding authority, I do not know much about the military.

There is also a formula that says that Seonmu-dang catches people, and that commanders who always engage in uncertain subjects in history must die.

Therefore, I asked Balt in a calm voice.

“Then what am I going to do?”

“I want you to lead 120 serfs and encamp at the foot of the mountain to prevent the bandits from escaping.”

“great.”

Helmut looked puzzled at the conversation that was a little beyond common sense based on mutual trust between Balt and I.

‘Why can this knight and the young master trust each other in this way?’ He looked at me with a questioning look.

I pretended not to see Helmut’s eyes and spoke in a calm voice.

“The bandit subjugation operation begins. Don’t miss a single one.”

**

At dawn the next day, the bandit subjugation operation began.

As I had agreed with Balt, I camped with the serfs at the bottom of the mountain.

As soon as I confirmed that I had camped out, Balt and Helmut led the mercenaries up the mountain.

Only me and the serfs in the camp, the men and the serfs began to agitate.

And the serfs a short distance from me chatted with each other in anxious voices.

“Hey, what if bandits come down like this?”

“Whatever, I just have to fight hard. Run away from here and get caught by the young master. Will you be beheaded?”

“Ha… It’s easy to say. Those guys must have been stuck in the wild and robbed the merchants. Isn’t one bandit dealing with 10 guys like us?”

“Ah, but Lord Balt and a mercenary captain named Helmut just went up. I will win and come back.”

To be honest, I agree to some extent with what they say.

After all, bandits, who would have committed crimes such as looting and rape in the wild, would fight much better in battle than innocent serfs.

Right now, even in modern times, the number of serious criminals was conscripted as soldiers instead of being executed.

But if you leave them shivering like that, fear spreads to everyone.

So I went up to them and deliberately pretended not to be afraid at all.

“Like these stupid serfs! I’m with you, what’s so scary?”

As I said that, the eyes of the serfs focused on me.

“Do… Bocchan?”

“According to what I have confirmed, those guys are from serfs just like you and are ragtag. Besides, we have three times as many troops, so what’s scary?”

At those words, the serfs’ expressions softened a little.

“No need to worry! And if you say that you are afraid of losing to those guys in the future, I will strictly rule it according to military law. If you don’t want to be beheaded according to military law, keep your mouth shut and be vigilant.”

When the serfs heard that, they responded with disciplined voices.

“Yes, Bocchan!”

And not long after, a soldier belonging to the mercenary came down and said.

“Bocchan, Bocchan!! I’m Spearman Mine from Red Honey! I have brought a letter from the mercenary captain Helmut!!”