I'm not a lord

Chapter 193 Lynn's Series of Schemes
"A bunch of shameless scoundrels, how dare they steal military rations!"

Upon receiving the news, Earl Blackwood was furious and summoned his cavalry, who then sped off towards the docks.

The cavalry were stationed outside the west gate of Sanhe City, while the docks were located at the easternmost end of the city.

Hundreds of cavalrymen roared through the city's main road, frightening the citizens along the way into scattering and fleeing. Shops on both sides of the road also closed their doors, fearing that the cavalrymen would rush in and loot everything.

Over the past month or so, the citizens have been quite tormented by these cavalrymen.

They not only had to pay extra taxes to the grain merchants to buy food to feed the soldiers and warhorses, but they also had to endure the constant harassment and freeloading by these arrogant soldiers.

The citizens could display great martial prowess when dealing with serfs who sneaked into their homes, but they were helpless against the cavalry of the Marsh Duke and could only be slaughtered at their mercy.

But today, these cavalrymen seemed to have changed their personalities, charging forward relentlessly without any intention of stopping to make free purchases.

Only after the cavalry had vanished like a black whirlwind did the citizens dare to peek out of their doors and windows.

They exchanged information and learned that a batch of grain ships would arrive at the dock today, and that most of the grain on board would be given priority to these cavalrymen.

"Damn it, isn't this all our money?"

Some citizens immediately realized what was going on.

Some people even shouted curses in the street: "No wonder they suddenly levied another tax a couple of days ago, it turns out it was to buy food to feed these damn bastards!"

More intelligence then came that a large number of serfs had gathered at the docks and were even trying to climb onto grain ships to steal food.

This cavalry force was most likely sent to suppress a serf uprising.

"Oh my, two pigs are fighting! Good, good fight!"

Immediately, citizens applauded and cheered.

To them, neither the arrogant cavalry nor the thieving serfs were good people; destroying them all suited their purposes best.

The Northern proverb, "Two pigs are fighting and they're both covered in mud," describes this kind of scene.

But these serfs did not succeed, nor did they inflict much damage on the cavalry.

The cavalry that arrived later crushed more than thirty serfs with a single charge, and the remaining serfs scattered and fled into the narrow alleys of the city.

As evening approached, Count Black Shirt led his cavalry in a triumphant march across the city's main thoroughfare.

The cavalrymen, in pairs, dragged the body of a poor serf with their warhorses.

Behind them, truckloads of grain lined up one after another, continuously being transported to the military camp in the west of the city.

The citizens retreated back into their houses, angry but unable to speak out, only able to curse the Duke's cavalry through the windows.

Hearing the crisp sound of iron hooves breaking through the stone pavement, the citizens were reminded once again of the fear of being ruled by nobles and the original intention of establishing the municipality.

The iron hooves crushed not only the cobblestone streets, but also the last vestiges of the citizens' fantasies about noble knights.

Cities yearn for autonomy precisely because they fear the endless demands and plundering by feudal nobles.

The municipality's unique legal system provides maximum protection for the private property of merchants and artisans.

The reason the citizens have been able to tolerate the knights' exploitation over the past month is mainly because they are afraid that the Earl of White River from the north will invade the city.

But as they looked at the serf corpses being dragged behind the knights, the new fear overwhelmed the old.

Outside the window, on the crimson streets, knights habitually sang victory songs. Behind the window, in the dimly lit houses, citizens gritted their teeth, silently chanting in unison: Get out!

Meanwhile, information from various parties within the city was also gathered and sent to the city council.

The Barrel Guild Master from the Brewing Guild spoke first: "We should consider asking Earl Blackwood to leave Three Rivers City. Letting them stay here might cause even more serious trouble."

Militia leader Quinno immediately voted in favor: "I agree. In the past two weeks, citizens have been complaining to me that the knights have looted their shops again. The citizens' patience has reached its limit."

“No, without Earl Blackwood, who will protect Three Rivers City?” Bishop Rothgi quickly followed up, casting his dissenting vote.

Kuno immediately raised his voice: "The militia and the citizens will protect their city; they don't need outside help!"

Rotege scoffed, "What about the monasteries and manors outside the city? Can you protect them too?"

Kuno didn't even bother to look at the bishop, and simply asked, "What does it matter whether it's outside the city or inside?"

"Heh heh, then Lynn will just wait for you to force Earl Blackfurter out, so he can continue to cause trouble in the city!" Rotegi suddenly stood up, looked around at the group of city faction councilors sitting on the right side of the round table, and said loudly.

"The merchants and grain ships were all arranged by Earl Lynn of White River. He leaked the information to the serfs, which led to today's incident. His goal is to plunge the city into complete chaos! Earl Black Shirt and his knights are the best weapons to restrain Lynn."

"But you ignorant and short-sighted fools actually want to force Earl Blackfurn to leave! You're just courting disaster!"

Rotegi is certainly not stupid; a fool could not graduate from a church university, let alone become a diocesan bishop.

Lynn's plan was not complicated; any senator who was even slightly sensitive to the situation in Three Rivers could see through his intentions.

Even though he used an open strategy and played his cards in the open, the city council was powerless against him.

Lynn's every move was in line with the prevailing trend, cleverly using others' strengths to his advantage, and maximizing the conflict between the various factions within the city.

How could Kuno not know Lynn's sinister intentions, or the importance of Earl Blackwood?

But he could neither thwart Lynn's scheme nor curb the knights' arrogance.

That's how knights are these days. The only two ways to prevent them from plundering are to physically eliminate them or to grant them the land and its inhabitants.

The contradictions within the city, and the contradictions between the city and the feudal knights, are vividly displayed in today's city council.

Just as the two factions were locked in a fierce confrontation, the president of the Grain Guild suddenly said:

"The merchant sent to the Valley Duchy to purchase grain has sent word back that he has acquired a batch of grain. I think we should wait and see."

Mayor Jürgen, as if grasping at a lifeline, immediately stood up and gave a summary of the meeting:

“Okay, I also think we should wait a bit longer. As long as the most important food problem can be solved, other problems are easy to discuss.”

The parliamentary session ended in discord.

Thanks to Lynn's provision of some valuable supplies, the city of Three Rivers briefly regained some peace.

As for the serfs who died at the docks, no one remembered them after dawn the next day.

But just half a month later, the merchant who went to the Valley Duchy brought back bad news.

The grain they had painstakingly acquired was intercepted by the Duke of the Valley's soldiers and could not be transported to Three Rivers City.

(End of this chapter)