I, the prince in distress, send money

Chapter 335 The Players Have No Patience
When the civil war in Minicia reached its climax, with 100,000 troops gathering outside the capital, Treasure Island City, for a decisive battle, many players were present at the scene.

Not only were they present at the scene, but they even participated in the battle themselves... as members of the noble alliance.

The noble alliance supporting the Second Princess is composed of all sorts of people, making it incredibly easy for players to infiltrate. They can simply find a noble or sea god priest who supports the Second Princess, claim to be a mercenary looking to collect a bounty.

These people will happily recruit players into their ranks and then bring them to the battlefield.

As for the Kingdom's army, players also have ways to get close to the battlefield. Whether they spend some money to disguise themselves as a merchant accompanying the army or infiltrate the medical camp as a wounded soldier, they can easily get close to the battlefield.

Both sides in the war were so engrossed in the fighting that they had no time to consider anything else.

However, while it's easy for players to infiltrate the armies of both sides in a war, it's not so simple for them to do something that can influence the battlefield.

The players who infiltrated both sides were unable to influence major events on the battlefield from the beginning to the end of the Minnesota Civil War... This is quite normal; the army has its own discipline and clear class distinctions, and it's not something that just anyone can infiltrate and cause chaos.

However, although the players didn't accomplish anything significant on the battlefield, they perfectly fulfilled their role as the ears.

Players didn't see the scene where the eldest prince and second princess of Minicia were killed by the Tiger Crouching Cannon during their gathering, but later they saw and heard rumors spread by someone... Prince Chris of the Kingdom of Bagnia sent people to carry out this assassination, and there are witnesses and physical evidence.

Players were initially shocked. They inquired online and offline about which hero had done such a great thing and asked him to step forward so they could see for themselves!

After more than a day of confused and disorganized activity, the players finally realized that none of them had ever done anything like this before.

The player didn't do it, and Chris's NPCs certainly wouldn't do such a thing either. Connie's intelligence agents are all scoundrels, and they know better than anyone else what kind of people they are. Naturally, they wouldn't have the ability or the guts to do such a thing.

So, this is yet another frame-up?

With their abilities, the players quickly deduced, based on hearsay and the logic of who the beneficiaries were, who the mastermind was... Charles Stuart, the third prince of Minicia.

However, knowing who did it is of no use to the players, as even the leaders of the noble and royal armies know about it.

There are very few fools who can become the leader of a force. Even if Charles Stuart did everything perfectly and left witnesses and physical evidence at the scene... we are all old foxes. What are you trying to do?

However, the few intelligent people who saw through this fact could not help the subsequent development of events, because the deaths of the eldest prince and the second princess could not even stop the war due to political and interest disputes.

The two sides that killed the leader immediately started fighting, with cannons roaring and shouts of battle filling the air.

The war lasted for three days, with a combined force of 100,000 troops from both sides fighting fiercely on the shores of Emerald Lake, resulting in the deaths of more than 20,000 soldiers.

So much so that the battlefield was covered with the corpses of the dead from both sides, and the lake was stained red with blood, that both sides finally calmed down a little due to the terrible casualties.

During this lull in the ceasefire, the only survivor of the Tiger Crouching Cannon assassination, High Priest Ignatius, stepped forward and once again called for peace talks between the two sides.

Although it was High Priest Ignatius's last peace negotiations that led to the deaths of the eldest prince and the second princess, causing Ignatius's reputation to plummet.

However, due to the high priest's special status and the extremely heavy casualties in the great battle between the two sides, this peace talks proceeded amidst numerous setbacks.

Some people may wonder, with 100,000 soldiers participating in the war, only 20,000 died, which is only one-fifth. How can that be considered tragic?
In fact, it was truly a terrible situation.

War is essentially a mathematical problem, but there are some things you can't just calculate mathematically; you have to consider human nature.

The death of 20,000 people meant that even more soldiers were wounded.

Before the war began, the soldiers may have harbored hopes of victory, or for justice on their side, or for a hefty bounty, or simply to save their own lives.

However, as their comrades fell one by one, as blood stained the waters of Emerald Lake, and as corpses piled up like mountains, the fear of death and the uncertainty about the future began to spread in the soldiers' hearts.

For the Kingdom's army, their original purpose was to unify the country and end the state of division.

However, the death of the eldest prince left them without their leader, and the deaths of 20,000 soldiers on both sides made them realize that the cost of this war far exceeded their expectations.

The soldiers began to doubt whether the war was truly worth such a heavy price. Their morale began to decline, and their once unwavering faith began to waver.

The situation was equally dire for the noble alliance.

The deaths of the two princesses deprived them of their spiritual support and their original political commitments, while the deaths of 20,000 soldiers made them realize that the goals they pursued might never be achieved.

The already diverse noble alliance began to have its internal conflicts exposed by this brutal battle. Some soldiers who were already skeptical of the war began to waver, and some even began to consider surrendering.

Both sides have reasons and interests to continue fighting, while both sides also have the reality and situation that they can no longer sustain the war.

High Priest Ignatius's second peace proposal provided both sides with a dignified way out, and they quickly used this opportunity to step off the stage of civil war.

The players have no idea how the peace talks went. All they know is that after the negotiations ended, the third prince, Charles Stuart, ascended the throne and became the new king of the Kingdom of Minicia.

Clearly, the pressure from both inside and outside the country has made the nobles, the royal family, and the church eager to end the civil war. If the fighting continues, not only will the soldiers below not be willing to fight, but Bagnia and Reteria outside may take the country's life at any time.

After Charles Stuart hastily ascended the throne, the first thing the new king did was to organize all the armies and soldiers willing to obey him, raise supplies, and prepare for war.

All the players who were mixed in with the army held an online meeting overnight. They combined the intelligence they had gathered, the price of food in the market, and their own intelligence, and quickly deduced the next move of the Kingdom of Minicia.

First of all, the Kingdom of Minicia is unable to initiate a war this winter. Although they still have many soldiers, they are exhausted from the civil war and need time to recover their morale and physical strength.

The military organization also needs to be reorganized, eliminating some of the old, weak, sick, and disabled, as well as officers who are receiving salaries without working.

After joining the Minisian army, players discover that embezzlement is not unique to certain ancient Chinese dynasties; it is quite common in the Kingdom of Minicia, including among the royal army.

After investigating, the new King Charles Stuart was shocked to discover that the supposed 100,000-strong army in the Civil War was actually only about 80,000, or even fewer.

The number of the more than 20,000 soldiers who died in battle, as well as the number who died from serious injuries or were discharged afterward, is an even more questionable figure.

Did 20,000 people really die in the civil war?
The casualty figures for both sides in the war were accurate!
King Charles had many questions in his mind, but he dared not ask or investigate. He simply sent people to obtain the so-called casualty figures from the nobles and generals, then opened the royal treasury and distributed the compensation money to appease the army.

Some things really shouldn't be investigated. It's fine if nothing's found, but what if something big comes out?
King Charles has only recently taken the throne, his power base is unstable, and he has not yet taken control of the royal army. If he really angers the generals and nobles who are receiving salaries without working, the consequences could range from "fire dragon burning the granary" to "the king falling into the water."

In addition, it is currently winter in the Kingdom of Minicia, the weather is cold, and the granaries in various places have been almost completely depleted due to the civil war.

Therefore, players judged that the army of the Kingdom of Minicia was more capable of defense than offense this winter... They couldn't even march within the country. Once the army left the city, its combat power would be greatly reduced due to hunger and cold, and it was even possible that it would collapse without a fight.

The Minisian army can only set out on a campaign at the very least, after winter ends and next spring... and even then, the chances are slim, because the Minisians also need to start spring planting.

On the contrary, although the Retelian army did not move in winter, the player's scouts discovered during their in-depth armed reconnaissance that small groups of Retelian troops were constantly crossing the gap in the Casro Mountains and entering the provinces of Chivelevka and Dur in Miniscia to join up with the Retelian army.

To date, the number of Retalian troops stationed separately in the two provinces continues to rise, reaching over 50,000.

According to players' speculation, once winter ends and spring arrives, it will be time for the Retalia army to take action.

They either swung their swords at the Bagnian army in the western Tavitsky province, or attacked Chris.

They can either march north and continue their attack on the Kingdom of Minicia to seize its territory. As for what the Retalians will do, the player is unsure; perhaps a powerful empire will choose to fight on both sides simultaneously.

Therefore, after holding a player meeting and conducting careful discussions and simulations, the player guild leaders and some leaders elected by individual players who attended the meeting all agreed that they absolutely could not sit idly by during this winter in the game, and that they needed to take action.

For now, we can ignore Minicia. Players should focus their efforts on attacking the Retelia Empire and implementing a strategy of helping the weak and punishing the strong.

So Chris received an application from a player's warband to join the expedition.

What can Chris do about this application?
It's the only way. It's a decision made collectively by the players. The game planners insist on going against the big spenders. You think the game's revenue is too high and want to cool it down, right?
……

The cold wind, like a knife, swept across the jagged rocks of the nameless mountain, whipping up hard snowflakes that lashed against Barbarossa's face.

Even though he was wrapped in a multi-layered composite snow camouflage cloak, with an outer layer of fine canvas soaked in wax, which was water-repellent and windproof, and an inner lining of thick, warm, moisture-wicking, and breathable top-grade velvet, he could still feel the biting cold.

However, the cold was reduced to a level that Barbarossa could tolerate thanks to this expensively made "top-grade fur coat".

He didn't "curl up," but rather, in the most effortless and comfortable posture, like an experienced and patient snow leopard, he perfectly blended into the snow-covered mountain rocks.

The thick, specially tanned bear skin beneath them insulated them from the cold, damp snow.

Only those slightly squinted eyes, their sockets carefully coated with charred cork powder, calmly and composedly scanned the vast, bustling Retalia military camp in the valley below through a pair of high-quality brass binoculars perched between rocks, their barrels wrapped in dark velvet to prevent glare.

Barbarossa is doing what he loves most: wilderness survival and reconnaissance in extreme environments.

This was the purest enjoyment he could find in the game, and he spared no expense in arming himself, striving to reach the pinnacle of human endurance and skill in this harsh 16th-century simulation environment.

The military camp in Reteria, in the province of Chivelevka below, has visibly expanded in size compared to a few days ago.

But Barbarossa's heartbeat was steady, his breathing was long and deep, and he showed no signs of anxiety.

He gently turned the focusing knob on his binoculars, the cold brass feel traveling through his fingers gloved with the finest lambskin.

As the view zoomed in, the newly arrived supply train was clearly visible. The soldiers, wrapped in thick wool and coarse fur coats, were clumsily carrying sacks and wooden crates through the snow. Their breath stretched long in the cold wind, and their movements were stiff.

Barbarossa calmly pulled out an exquisite silver flask from his pocket, unscrewed the lid, and took a small sip of the scalding hot spirit, which was infused with plenty of honey and expensive spices.

A warm current quickly spread from my throat to my limbs, dispelling the last trace of cold.

In his other hand, he held a small strip of top-quality venison jerky, cured with salt and spices and dried to perfection, chewing it slowly to replenish his energy and strength.

His gaze swept across the camp like that of the most experienced hunter.

The new unit's flags and insignia, the soldiers' equipment, the location of the supplies, the heavily guarded areas... the outlines of what appeared to be a gunpowder depot and dozens of siege cannons wrapped in thick felt blankets and straw mats.

All these details were imprinted in his mind.

Beside Barbarossa lay a hardcover notebook wrapped in waterproof tarpaulin and a charcoal pencil, but he didn't write anything for the time being... Memory was his primary weapon, and he only took notes when necessary to minimize the risk of exposure.

Barbarossa noticed a significant increase in patrols around the camp, and that the Ranger squads were riding through the snow more frequently, extending their search area outwards.

Barbarossa's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile.

Have the defenses been strengthened?
This was within his expectations, and it also confirmed the urgency of the players' winter campaign.

The cold wind intensified, whipping up snowflakes like a white sandstorm, but for Barbarossa, it was merely background noise.

He pulled up the brim of his velvet shirt hood to make sure the cold wind wouldn't get into his neck.

His snow boots, crafted by master leatherworkers from multiple layers of reindeer hide and filled with dry goose down and soft lambskin, kept his feet dry and warm, a stark contrast to the Leterian sentries below, trudging through the snow and stamping their feet in the cold.

Time seems to stand still in Barbarossa.

Cold and hunger could not really bother him.

Barbarossa has undergone the most rigorous wilderness survival training in other games, and knows how to regulate breathing, conserve body temperature, and make efficient use of food and water.

He is now like a rock encased in the finest fur and with unwavering will—cold, hard, and possessing boundless patience.

As the last rays of the setting sun stained the snow crimson, countless campfires blazed in the camp, and the faint aroma of stewed beans and salted meat wafted through the air, Barbarossa remained unmoved.

He took another sip of strong liquor and pulled out a few expensive nuts and dried fruit from the leather pouch at his waist to replenish his energy.

As night fell, the campfires became the most conspicuous targets in the darkness.

He adjusted his observation posture, using the rocks to better conceal his figure. His eyes adjusted to the dim light, yet he could still clearly distinguish the outlines of the tents and the movement of the patrol torches.

At midnight, most of the camp fell silent.

Barbarossa remained absolutely vigilant. He keenly observed a sizable cavalry squad, under the cover of night and snow, silently leaving the camp and galloping northwest, the sound of their hooves quickly swallowed by the wind.

"Northwest...Tavetsky direction...reconnaissance or support?"

He silently memorized the number of cavalrymen, their departure time, and their direction.

Every detail is a crucial piece of the player's attack plan.

Only when a faint wisp of gray appeared on the horizon, signaling the end of the long, cold night, did Barbarossa calmly begin to pack up.

He first carefully wrapped the precious telescope in velvet and placed it in a specially made hardwood box. Then he slowly and precisely folded up the bear skin he was lying on, without making any noise that might disturb those below.

He took one last look at the military camp below, which lay dormant like a giant beast in the dim light of dawn. Thousands of Retalian soldiers were still asleep, completely unaware that their every move had been observed by the priceless "eyes" and the minds of top survival experts on the mountaintop.

"enough."

He mentally assessed the amount of information he had acquired. He meticulously packed his gear into the specially made, heavy leather backpack lined with waterproof tarpaulin.

Barbarossa stood up, his tall figure stretching out in the dim morning light, his movements fluid and powerful, showing no signs of fatigue or stiffness from a night of lying in wait.

Barbarossa carefully inspected the resting spot one last time. The marks left by the bear skin were mostly covered by the newly fallen thin snow. He then carefully used his gloved hands to completely smooth out the small piece of debris and shallow footprint he had left in the crevice of the rock, and naturally camouflaged it with the surrounding snow.

Then, like a real snow leopard, he chose a shady route with deeper snow and less chance of leaving footprints, and with steady and silent steps, he calmly glided towards the secret rendezvous point preset by the players.

The cold wind was still biting, but for Barbarossa, who was fully armed, experienced, and equipped with top-notch gear, it was just a scene on his way home.

What he was thinking about was how to transform the "map" of the Reteria military camp in his mind into the first precise combat plan for the players' winter raid.

(End of this chapter)