Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 425 Interesting Mercenaries and a True Earldom

After Su Li chose a strategy, the effects were quickly apparent.

Even in the dead of winter, a harsh season when all things should be dormant and roads difficult to traverse, the Black Forest Territory became unusually "lively." Like hyenas drawn by the scent of blood, a large number of all sorts of people poured into this land that had just experienced war and was struggling to recover: mercenary groups with fierce eyes and bloodthirsty hands; groups of three or five desperate outlaws who made a living by plundering; and "rogue knights" who wore faded insignia, had long lost their fiefdoms and honors, and were left with only endless greed for wealth.

Their goal was singular: the "legal" privateering license issued by Lord Su Li, and the news that was being repeatedly chewed over and spread like wildfire in taverns, guilds, and even corners of churches—that the treasury of the Swamp Territory contained more than 500,000 gleaming imperial crowns!
No one knows for sure which drunkard or which dark corner this staggering figure first came from. But as it spread like a plague, reason was completely consumed by greed.

A crown worth 500,000 gold coins! Enough to turn the humblest beggar into a nobleman richer than a kingdom overnight, to allow the most down-on-his-luck knight to rebuild a magnificent castle, and to make the fiercest mercenary group buy a small kingdom! Faced with the temptation of such immense wealth, the dangers of the swamp, the possible traps, and even the terrifying reputation of the swamp lord Vicky Green all seem insignificant.

The taverns of Hessian Territory were overflowing with people, the air thick with the stench of cheap ale, sweat, and fanaticism. Rough shouts and the clanging of weapons filled the air. Mercenaries boasted loudly about their past "victories" in the corners, while rogue knights feigned modesty, displaying their rusty armor in an attempt to recruit men or find a team. Marauders scanned everyone with sinister eyes, assessing potential collaborators or rivals. Long queues formed at each privateering license distribution point, the faces of those receiving licenses brimming with excitement and fervent anticipation for the future, as if that thin piece of paper were the key to unlocking a mountain of gold.

Zijing Fortress, Study.

Hilde stood before the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, her brow furrowed as she watched the noticeably increased number of armed intruders on the street outside. “My lord,” she said, “the influx is more than expected, and more… chaotic. Reports from our border outposts indicate that some small groups, unable to wait for official permits, have crossed the border without authorization, attempting to enter the swamp, only to… sink into the mud and become food for the swamp monsters, or be riddled with bullets by the swamp territory's patrols.”

Su Li sat behind a large desk, a detailed map of the swamp spread out in front of him. He didn't look up, his fingers lightly tapping the table, making a rhythmic sound.

“It’s alright.” His voice was calm. “Greed can blind people and make them ignore danger. These impulsive fools are good for scouting ahead for us, weakening the swamp territory’s defenses, and also… cleaning up some of the more impatient and uncontrollable scum. It saves us the trouble of doing it ourselves.”

"The bigger the commotion, the better. Keep the lord of the swamp territory busy and overwhelmed. Let his army be constantly harassed and worn down in the cold mud. Let his people panic and question his ability to protect them. Let his allies waver and see if he is reliable."

"What we need to do is control the pace of issuing 'licenses' to ensure that this fire burns continuously and evenly. At the same time, we must keep our troops vigilant, guarding the border to prevent the war from spreading to our side, and also... to prevent certain 'big fish' from trying to sneak in while things are in disarray."

“Understood.” Hilde understood Su Li’s intention—to let these jackals tear and bite, thus consuming some of their overly unruly strength. At the same time, the performance of these mercenaries would also serve as a sifting machine to discover a group of truly usable talents.

Su Li was also concerned about this point and asked, "With so many mercenaries and raiders arriving, are there any capable individuals among them?"

“Speaking of these mercenary groups,” Hilde sighed, “it’s a long story. Their demands are all different. For example, the last group that impressed me was the Alcatanian Companions. They actually came to oppose our policies.”

"What do you mean by opposing our policies?" Su Li asked curiously.

"This is a renowned warhound mercenary group, hailing from a secluded village in a war-torn border princely territory. This legion is unique because they are not only exceptionally skilled in combat but also deeply care for farmers and ordinary people. They are said to be the only mercenary group that is not entirely driven by profit, and they also have compassion for the people. Therefore, their leader, Rodrigo Dilmont, is extremely popular among the common folk."

"His biography is quite remarkable. He started as a farmer. The story begins with a sudden upheaval. As Rodrigo Dilmont tallied the losses of his crops, despair filled him. Just the day before, he had stood in the same spot, basking in the idyllic sunshine, admiring the bountiful fields of the Alcataña. Where apples, citrus fruits, grapes, and olives once grew, now only wasteland and charred stumps remained. The raging army of the green-skinned Alcado had left a trail of infamy for its plunder and destruction. Long years of hard work had been wiped out, and the farmers had reaped nothing."

"In the war-torn border territories, life was always hard for peasants, even for wealthy landowners. When Rodrigo Dilmont realized his impoverished situation, he saw only one way out—to join the army. His hired hands, to avoid starvation, also readily enlisted. In Rimas, Rodrigo sold his only remaining and favorite mule, scraping together the money to buy some cheap armor, a few secondhand helmets, and a batch of slightly bent spears. After some effort, hammering and scalding this pile of junk, Rodrigo's men set off for their first battle. After some rest and preparation, they looked quite decent!"

"The Alcatani Companions' first job wasn't very lucrative, nor did it pay much—it was simply escorting a batch of manure to rhubarb growers outside Rimas—but Rodrigo quickly became known for his reliability. The wealthy and powerful can afford to hire top-tier armies, but for every wealthy man in the world, there are ten small business owners who can't afford the enormous sums required for elite troops. Thus, the Alcatani Companions found an opportunity!"

Listening to Hilde's introduction, Su Li raised an eyebrow and said with a smile, "That makes a lot of sense. For every big tycoon in this world, there are ten small business owners. This group of companions has a good eye."

“That’s right.” Hilde nodded. “Despite their short time in the business, the Alcatani Companions have already demonstrated their strength on several occasions. Their first battle was quite a good start. In the Apchini Mountains, there’s a place called Bukko, a small vineyard where the villagers were once harassed by a particularly brutal group of orcs. These greenskins came to the border prince’s territory as mercenaries, but because they were neither reliable nor trustworthy, no one was willing to hire them. So they turned to banditry, attacking small villages in the border prince’s territory and ravaging the poor but hardworking villagers.”

"In Bukkau, the villagers poured all their savings into hiring mercenaries to rescue them, but no one was willing to risk their lives for seven gold coins, three copper coins, and a goat. Even the moneylenders didn't want to deal with these farmers (moneylenders were a profession in the Empire, closely related to mercenaries)."

"When Rodrigo Dilmont heard about the villagers' plight, he was filled with righteous indignation. The villagers' situation was just like the stories people often heard: honest and hardworking people—rare even in the border princely territory—could not seek justice because they had no power or influence. Rodrigo deeply understood such stories. So, although he was not very wealthy, he accepted the farmers' offer and promised to help these desperate people."

"After a forced march through torrential rain, the group finally entered the area under cover of night. From the roadside, they saw orc raiders carrying torches descending the slope behind the village. Despite being exhausted and hungry, these valiant spearmen resolutely began to fight. This caught the orcs off guard; they had expected to encounter only a group of weak and helpless peasants, but instead encountered a group of ferocious-looking men wielding steel spears and fighting bravely. After a brief skirmish, the undisciplined orc raiders were either killed or fled. Rodrigo's side emerged victorious, and in return, he accepted no money, only the villagers' gratitude. This was the reward the villagers would rather give."

"From that day on, the Alcatani Companions have fought countless battles and served many employers, including some of the wealthiest and most powerful merchants and generals. But to this day, this legion remains willing to fight for the poor and weak, and charges far less than other mercenary groups. Although they have never become rich, Rodrigo Dilmont has become the most beloved mercenary captain among the common people of this country. Wherever he goes, he is welcomed and praised, and his selfless deeds are known to all the common people of the entire border princely territory."

Su Li laughed and asked, "So they came to oppose our strategy of wearing down the enemy?"

Hilde shrugged helplessly and said, "Yes."

“That aligns with the values ​​of the Goddess of the Sun,” Su Li thought for a moment and said, “Then let’s keep them in the territory. They can help our civilians fight off the invasions of the greenskins and beastmen.”

In this world, the wealth of ordinary people is even lower than Su Li had anticipated. A village could only afford seven gold crowns to hire a mercenary group to fight against evil monsters.

Just as the Manor System described, it perfectly reflects the reality of the Empire.

The existence of this mercenary group is useful to the local civilians. Su Li then asked, "Aren't there any more reliable mercenary groups?"

Hilde thought for a moment and said, "There are some, such as Flanders' Hunters. They are the most famous riders in the border princely territory, and their strength surpasses that of the experienced knights of the Empire."

"The members of this legion are all descendants of nobles and lords, but some have defected from their families, some are too weak, and some have been abandoned by their families for various reasons. However, they have all become expert cavalrymen, and their leaders are also first-rate. The leader and captain of this professional cavalry is named Frand. No one knows his background, but some say he is the son of a nobleman, or the son of an elector, or even the emperor's illegitimate son. Frand himself has never confirmed or denied these rumors."

"Flanders was born somewhere in the Empire and later came to the border princely territory. He started as a mercenary hero, throwing himself into the endless wars of the border princely territory. Later, he rose to become the captain of a cavalry mercenary army called the 'Hunters.' Flanders and his brothers joined the army for reasons completely different from the chivalry of the Imperial knights. The Hunters fought for money and were only interested in making and spending money. However, they were still first-class knights, and their thunderous charges were unstoppable, even breaking through the enemy's last ranks."

"Those who join Flanders are often exiled or disgraced sons of wealthy or famous men, possessing nothing but splendid armor and a docile warhorse. Their ambitions turn to fighting and money, and it's hard to say which comes first. They are not content with being good warriors; they practice relentlessly, striving for perfection. Among these abandoned young men are some traitorous knights of the empire, and one or two who were originally chivalrous knights but somehow forgot their mission. The gathering of people from different backgrounds leads to many interesting conflicts and quarrels."

"The hunters of Flanders fought their way through the Old World, risking their lives for money, which they spent primarily on the seasons of debauchery and wine consumption. At one point, they would travel east to the border princely territories, where they were employed by some hopeless settlers, holding out for small kingdoms in the barbarian-infested wilderness. To amuse themselves, these hunters would spar with each other, and their companions would place bets. In these contests, and the ensuing drunken brawls, serious injuries and deaths were commonplace."

"Accompanying this legion was a long supply train, filled with servants, grooms, and noisy camp prostitutes, who moved slowly along in wagons laden with spoils. Once, Frand and his men, fresh from a battle in Kisliv, their armor still stained with blood and mud, went to participate in the Imperial Knights' Tournament. This unkempt audacity and shamelessness completely shocked the Imperial nobles. Despite still being drunk, they won the tournament, defeating the noble champion and their best knight. The local nobleman, enraged, vowed that Frand would never again enter his kingdom unless shackled. Despite the nobles' hostility and the Imperial knights' avoidance, the members of the Hunters' Company were unconcerned. After all, they had repeatedly faced far more treacherous enemies, scenes that even the noblest and more composed knights had never witnessed."

Su Li's eyes lit up, and he said, "These are exactly the talents we need for this battle. Their raids on the swamp territory will cause Count Litanel a lot of trouble."

"How many mercenaries have we gathered in total?"

“My lord, the numbers far exceed our expectations. There are already more than thirty registered gangs, large and small, with over 1,500 members, and the number is still growing.” Hilde stood beside him, her tone tinged with worry. “Among them are many notorious villains. We are under great pressure to maintain order, and there have already been several deaths from fights and thefts.”

Su Li nodded and said, "Then let's not delay and begin implementing the strategy."

Su Li's order was like lighting a fuse. The mercenaries, raiders, and rogue knights, who could no longer contain their greed and restlessness, immediately swarmed towards the muddy and dangerous green moss swamp in the south, like a swarm of flies that smelled carrion.

The first group to rush in were mostly small, poorly equipped, and undisciplined gangs. Driven by the illusion of the 500,000 gold crown, they were blinded by greed and completely ignored Su Li's suggested "safe routes," which were relatively solid ground that Su Li had deduced based on limited intelligence. Instead, they plunged headlong into the seemingly flat but actually dangerous mud and swamp.

"Ah—! Help me!" A piercing scream quickly echoed at the edge of the silent swamp. A raider carrying a heavy bundle stepped into what appeared to be grassy mud and instantly sank up to his chest. He desperately waved his arms, but his struggles only accelerated his sinking. His companion tried to pull him out with his spear, but the spear shaft broke, and he himself almost succumbed, only to watch in horror as the mud submerged the man's head, leaving only a few bubbles of despair.

"Watch out! There's something in the water!" Another team cautiously approached a murky puddle when the surface suddenly exploded. A monster covered in sharp teeth, resembling a giant loach, leaped out and bit the leg of the mercenary leading the way, dragging him instantly into the bottomless water. All that remained was a ring of rapidly spreading blood and a few abruptly stopped shouts.

Even more deadly were the ubiquitous poisonous insects and miasma. Tiny gnats swarmed like black clouds towards exposed skin, causing bites to quickly swell and fester. Inhaling the mist, carrying with it the scent of decaying plants and a cloyingly sweet smell, made even strong men dizzy and unsteady on their feet. The unprepared troops quickly suffered non-combat casualties, and morale crumbled rapidly in fear and discomfort.

As these chaotic invaders ventured a little deeper, the true "master" of the swamp territory began to reveal himself.

Crossbow bolts coated with neurotoxins or septicemia were fired from dense reed beds, the canopies of withered trees laden with vines, and even the seemingly calm edges of the swamp. The attackers were human scouts, masters of camouflage and intimately familiar with every inch of the mud. Clad in grey-green and mud-brown cloaks that blended seamlessly with the swamp environment, their faces smeared with mud and charcoal ash, they moved with the agility of otters. After a successful strike, whether or not the enemy was killed, they would immediately retreat like phantoms, disappearing into the elusive and complex terrain.

"It's a mud hunter! Spread out! Find cover!" the experienced mercenary roared, but in this treacherous, muddy land where danger lurked everywhere and there was nowhere to rely on, the so-called "cover" was often the next deadly trap.

An even more horrific encounter occurred while attempting to approach what appeared to be an abandoned watchtower. A group of about thirty men, led by rogue knights, had just stepped onto a relatively solid dirt road when suddenly the ground collapsed beneath their feet. A specially constructed trapdoor revealed a bottomless pit of mud, instantly swallowing the first few men. Amid screams, dozens of swamp infantrymen, clad in crudely armored and wielding long hooks and poisoned spears, suddenly rose from the seemingly calm swamp on either side. These were the lowest-ranking soldiers under the Earl's command, accustomed to the harsh environment and mired in poisonous miasma and mud, their eyes filled only with a numb ferocity and hatred for the intruders. At the same time, the mud churned, and several swamp crocodiles, driven by hunger or specially trained, lunged out, their massive bites tearing limbs apart instantly.

The battle was brief but brutal. The rogue knight's roar was drowned out by mud and screams, his mount struggling in the mud becoming an excellent target. The group of more than thirty men was divided, surrounded, and devoured within minutes, with only a few escaping back to Blackforest Territory covered in mud and filled with fear.

Not all teams were so incompetent. The Flanders Hunters, an elite mercenary force renowned for its cavalry, displayed a completely different character.

Instead of blindly venturing deeper, they patiently operated in the relatively dry areas at the edge of the swamp. They sent out lightly armed scouts to carefully explore the terrain, marking out possible hard spots and traps. They moved swiftly, riding well-trained warhorses (though the mud limited their speed, they were far superior to infantry), in small squads, cutting through the outer perimeter of the swamp territory like razors.

If they encounter a small patrol, consisting of a dozen or so poorly equipped swamp militiamen and some swamp scouts, the hunters will decisively launch a classic cavalry charge. The horses' hooves thunder on the relatively solid ground. Although the terrain limits the power of the charge, their excellent horsemanship and coordination still make their surprise attack highly effective.

Using this method, they did achieve some success in several raids, which greatly alarmed the Swamp Territory. However, the Swamp Territory's counterattack was swift and fierce.

As the hunters prepared to retreat after a successful hunt, the "hard ground" beneath their feet suddenly softened and became sticky! It was as if the entire land had come alive, ready to devour them! It was swamp magic! Immediately afterward, an impenetrable, pungent poisonous fog surged in from all directions, instantly obscuring their vision, even causing their warhorses to neigh in terror. Within the fog, shadowy figures approached like phantoms, arrows and blowguns raining down from unexpected angles. And then, a colossal monster, resembling a living rotten tree—the Swamp Treant—emerged from the fog, its heavy steps accompanied by the wielding of moss-covered, thorny branches.

Even though Frand made a decisive move and sounded the retreat horn, the hunters, relying on their superb horsemanship and initial familiarity with the terrain, managed to force their way out of the poisonous fog and ambush amidst the chaos. However, the cost was the deaths of more than a dozen elite cavalrymen, an equal number of wounded soldiers, and several horses stuck in the mud.

From the outset, the war was far more brutal than either side had anticipated. Countless heads and severed limbs hung from the withered trees along the border, swaying in the cold wind, exuding an aura of death and demonstrating the unparalleled danger and ferocity of this swampy territory.

(End of this chapter)