Chương 247: Battle of the Biddeburg 3
Translator: Cinder Translations
...
Bryce and Joyce made a round of the entire garrison and, upon returning to their own camp, issued two immediate orders:
No one is allowed to enter or leave the Alden army's camp without permission. No officers or soldiers are allowed to participate in any "entertainment" activities within the garrison.
These orders were communicated to the entire army that evening, dousing some eager individuals' plans with a bucket of cold water.
With nothing significant happening that night, the next day, the allied forces gathered, and the troops from various territories familiarized themselves with each other. They coordinated flag signals, bugle calls, and other communication methods to avoid the chaotic situation from the previous battle. The Kent family's army on the opposite side was likely doing the same.
To avoid frightening their own troops, the Alden army conducted another demonstration of their firearms and cannons in front of all allied forces. The sound of gunfire and cannon blasts echoed through the garrison once again.
The commotion from the previous day's demonstration had already piqued the soldiers' curiosity, and the entire garrison was abuzz with discussions about the mysterious sounds. Many speculated that it was the legendary "fire crossbows" and "thunder hammers," given that these items had come from the Alden territory, and the Alden army had arrived the previous day.
Today's live demonstration opened the eyes of the lower-ranked officers and soldiers. They were amazed to see that the powerful weapons were in the hands of their own allies, boosting the entire army's morale.
The senior officers, on the other hand, were impressed by the discipline of the Alden army. To them, this army's obedience to commands, uniformity, and synchronized appearance left a deep impression.
"Wouldn't it be great if I had such a disciplined army under my command!"
Each senior officer had this thought in mind.
Drills continued until around three in the afternoon. With the ordinary soldiers' stamina, continuing any longer would be too exhausting, so the troops were dismissed to return to their respective camps.
As Bryce had just sat down, a guard reported that three people claiming to be from nearby villages wished to see him.
He followed the guard to a tent where, as expected, three people were waiting. Upon seeing someone enter, they immediately stood and saluted Bryce.
Bryce motioned for them to sit, and the three representatives nervously took their seats.
He smiled and asked, "May I know how you are addressed? What brings you to see me?"
Bryce always remembered to be kind to ordinary civilians, following his lord's teachings.
The representatives exchanged glances, and finally, the one sitting in the middle spoke up. He introduced each person and their status: they were from the three villages designated as Alden army supply areas. They had come as representatives to discuss the "supply" issues with Bryce, the highest commander.
That morning, a quartermaster led a team to collect the last batch of supplies from their villages. As for which lord's quartermaster it was, they didn't need to know, and knowing wouldn't help. They just needed to obediently turn over the supplies.
Before leaving, the quartermaster had left them with a parting remark: "From now on, you'll be under Alden's management."
Hearing that a new army was coming, the villagers felt their spirits crumble. These villages, being far from the lord's domain, could not escape to the castle in time when the allied forces arrived. Even if they had enough time, the castle couldn't accommodate too many people, leaving these unfortunate peasants at the mercy of the invaders.
The three villages that had already been heavily plundered immediately sent representatives to the garrison to find out more. They had no choice but to do so, as further plundering would leave them in dire straits.
"My lord…"
Seeing that Bryce seemed approachable, the representatives felt less constrained.
"May I ask… how much food do you require?"
"Food?"
"Yes, the three of us villages can gather some. Please take a look."
The representative in the middle handed over a piece of paper detailing the amount of supplies they could provide to Alden.
The use of paper even in rural areas was a sign of progress. Bryce, while admiring this, took the paper and glanced at the numbers, then fell silent.
Seeing Bryce's silence, the representatives became anxious, fearing that Bryce might be displeased with the numbers provided.
"My lord! For the love of the Almighty, please spare us. We truly cannot provide more. Our villages have already been visited by several waves of armies."
They implored Bryce persistently.
Bryce quickly waved his hand and said, "What are you thinking?"
He continued in a serious tone, "Let me tell you now, and make sure to pass this on to your fellow villagers—Alden's army will not requisition any supplies from your villages, uh… at least not at this stage."
Bryce didn't fully commit to the statement, leaving some ambiguity.
As soon as he finished speaking, the three representatives looked at each other in disbelief. An army that didn't requisition supplies from nearby villages was truly rare… no, it was unheard of.
"Excuse our ears, but… what did you just say?"
"I said—at this stage, we will not requisition supplies from your villages!"
Bryce repeated his earlier statement to ensure the representatives heard it clearly.
"This… this is truly incredible! Oh no, I mean, we are really grateful to you!"
The representatives, upon realizing what Bryce had said, repeatedly bowed and thanked him.
"Good! I'd like to add one more thing. If we do find ourselves lacking something and you happen to have it, we will purchase it with money. We hope you'll offer a fair price."
Wow, they're even paying? The representatives swore they wouldn't deceive the Alden army.
Bryce continued, "Actually, I was considering another matter. Please listen carefully and convey my words back to your villages."
The representatives listened attentively.
"The position of Biddeburg is crucial. We will likely engage in repeated conflicts over this location. If you find it difficult to stay here, you can relocate to Alden, where you will surely find a satisfactory job."
Alden? Recent news indicated that it was indeed developing well. Moving there might be a viable option.
The representatives remembered Bryce's words, "Rest assured, General, we will relay this information."
"Also, I want to hire the able-bodied laborers from your villages. Remember, it's 'hiring,' and I will pay wages."
Hearing that it was not a forced conscription but a paid job, the representatives' eyes lit up. This would help the villagers supplement their income, as many families were on the brink of bankruptcy due to the ongoing military actions.
Bryce's purpose for recruiting villagers was straightforward: to have them carry stretchers to transport fallen soldiers from the battlefield to the rear once the fighting began.
Of course, they would not be required to go in front of the army; they could stay behind and follow from a distance. And if Alden's army encountered unfavorable conditions, the villagers could escape without being held accountable.
(End of the Chapter)
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