179 – Eastern Franchi Expedition (14)

When Martin heard that, he shouted and said,

“That’s a matter for me to see and judge for myself, chief. Come on, let me guide you through the village.”

“All right… ”

“I will look around all the houses in the village, so first guide me to the one closest to the village entrance. Also, we will buy food for a fair price, so don’t worry too much about requisition.”

The village chief answered that, and as if he was stunned, he led us to the house closest to the entrance of the village with his shoulders down.

And he spoke carefully, in the most respectful tone possible, so as not to cause trouble by going against the requisition officer’s planting.

“This is the house where Mark lives, and 7 people live here, including Mark’s wife… Mark is not there because he was conscripted by Count Iris… no, Count Iris… ”

Some might say it’s servile, but… If you go against the planting of the requisition official, in the worst case, there are cases where not a single grain of wheat or a handful of barley flour is left behind.

If you don’t want to fall into that kind of situation, it’s comfortable to go in as low as possible.

That’s the common sense I’ve experienced while living as Count Iris’s serf, and it’s the common sense I must have in order to survive.

“Before looking around the village warehouse, I will first check the food in the warehouse at home.”

“Yes, I understand. Requisition officer Nari… ”

Read more novels at noblemtl.com

Martin, who is acting as a conscript officer, looked at me and gave me a wink as if to stop looking around and to come around him.

Receiving that signal, I quickly moved around him and watched the villagers’ reactions.

Although they do not directly express their dissatisfaction or concern because they are in front of a high-ranking person, everyone is anxious because they do not know when the food they have worked so hard to collect will be taken away.

Despite being stared at, Martin-sama just goes around all the houses in the village, including Mark’s house, and calmly checks the food.

After checking for a considerable amount of time, Mr. Martin organized the ledger and said.

“130 Barley to 100 Martin Wheat, 140 Barley to 120 Lucas Wheat… Sam Wheat 110 Barley 130… . 3 tons of wheat and 6 tons of barley in the village head’s warehouse… . The total is 6 tons of wheat and 9 tons of barley… It’s very hostile for a village with 420 serfs… ”

At that, the village chief said in an apologetic voice.

“The French army, who was defeated in the last war, took turns stealing enough food to keep us from starving to death. So there’s not much food left in the warehouse… ”

“The Frenchy guys took it badly as they were defeated and ran away… However, we cannot unconditionally look at your circumstances. This is because there are obviously limits to relying on warlords. So I have no choice but to requisition.”

Read more novels at noblemtl.com

Martin-nim, who plays the role of a conscript officer, talks as if he has to commandeer food, but the Marquis of Creutel has already secured enough food and hay through warlords.

And a low-level soldier like me… No, to the extent that even a hired man who is not even the lowest can notice it.

But, just like Martin-sama had been explaining to me for a few days ago…

‘No one will believe it if we say that we do not receive anything from the serfs of your territory who are hostile to us, and do not plunder or exterminate them. Just like that, we will buy the minimum amount of food from them with money. Then you will gradually believe.’

After the army of Count Iris lost the war and the army of the Elain Empire entered, over the next few weeks, they showed care for the serfs in this way…

It’s the first time the lord is so considerate of us, so I still feel awkward.

“Well… great. don’t do this Command 2 tons of wheat and 3 tons of barley, and give 2 gold coins in return. Martius, take the money out of the purse and hand it to me right away.”

The village chief doubts that the requisition officer forcibly took their food and gave them pennies or something like a requisition certificate that was difficult to write so that they did not take their food…

For a moment, I looked at the commanding officer as I came out with a puzzled expression on my face.

It must have been because they were surprised to see a reaction that was different from common sense, because I was like that at the beginning too.

When I took two gold coins out of my pocket and handed them to the village chief, Martin-sama said with a tired expression.

“It’s late at night now, and I’ll be transporting food when I pass here tomorrow anyway… I’d rather stay here today. Chief, I’m a bit tired, so I’ll stop and go to sleep.”

“Yes, Mr. Requisition Officer… ”

Then, quite naturally, Martin-sama went into the village chief’s house, occupied the best room, and began pretending to sleep.

He’ll probably pretend to be asleep, then change his clothes and come out to eavesdrop… We’d better start soon.

“There, by the way, where would you like me to sleep?”

At that, the village chief responded with irritation in a different way from the way he treated Martin.

“Since the requisition officer sleeps at my house, can’t we just sleep at my house?”

“Is that so… By the way, how much did you take away so that you had such little food? From what I hear, there is no bad harvest this year in our estate… ”

“Looking at what you’re saying, you’re the guy who was conscripted into the Elaine Empire from Iris’ farming village, right? don’t talk Because of the goddamn war, Count Iris walked by and took a lot of money without giving me a single penny. I’ve been requisitioned twice, so that’s the only way to do it. Still, it’s fortunate that the conscript officer from the Eline Empire paid the price generously.”

“The Elaine Empire, no, the Marquis of Creutel commanded labor and food, but as the chief must have seen, don’t they pay the appropriate price? So, if you just listen carefully, nothing will happen.”

The village chief listened to my words and said while touching the two gold coins in his hand.

“Well, seeing as you said, taking food and giving money… there will be no death how will it work… ”

**

It had been four weeks since the march had begun, and it had almost reached the border of the Earl of Iris.

Colonel Samuel, who oversees Intelligence Command, came up to me and reported.

“Your Excellency, as you commanded, after dispatching fools who complained about your mercy… When the army passed, the reaction of the serfs improved. In the past, if you were anxious because you didn’t know what your allies would do, now you’re only showing a reaction that makes you feel uncomfortable when troops pass by.”

If it were only our family that was mobilized for this war, it would have improved awareness by mobilizing personnel from among our family’s upper ranks and providing food to all villages passing by.

However, as long as other families and the Elain Empire to which I belong are intertwined, if I act too conspicuously by myself, the reputation of ignoring the empire and other nobles will spread.

No matter how much I plan to become independent through this war, at least during the same expedition, it’s better not to damage my honor by doing crazy things that are too conspicuous…

Reluctantly, he told the duke and the two counts to pay the appropriate amount when requisitioning food.

And as a result, the allies did not receive any hostility, even if not favorable, in the Ilias Counties, which had been enemy territory until a month ago.

“That’s good, and where are your allies now?”

“Elias, the two Counts of Isra are crossing the Sylphron River, and the Duke of Orléans is passing through the Hurne Valley. It is believed that they will soon arrive at the town of Seil, where they have decided to join.”

It is said that the sacrifices were great on the battlefield, but if you do not take over the territory of the Marquis Simon in this war, you will suffer a great loss due to the deficit when the territory is divided…

He must have come this far, prepared for non-combat losses to protect the territory and family.

Under the current situation, on the premise that only supplies will continue, this is the best move I can make as a commander… It’s a taste to die for in the position that is forced to lose.

“Where are the enemy forces now, and what is their estimated size?”

“The Marquis Simon gathered all the serfs and 30,000, Count Louis 20,000, Count Laurent 20,000, Count Iris 20,000, Count Aquitel 8,000. And the Marquis of Montmartre, who was originally going to join the French central garrison, sent 10,000 reinforcements. It is estimated that the total number of troops is about 108,000.”

When I received the report a month ago, the number of our troops was 78,000 after barely recovering even the wounded…

if it goes like this… We have no choice but to go to the front with the Duke of Orléans…

“When Your Excellency, Duke of Orléans, Count Isra, and Count Ilias arrive, we must establish a strategy and position first. Also, I have no choice but to inflict maximum damage to the enemy without using cannons and grenades… ”