I'm not a lord

Chapter 327 Lynn Takes the Lead

Every veteran with a distinguished record is a master of escape.

Generals who don't run away often don't survive more than a few battles, since no one can be a winner on the battlefield forever.

A dozen kilometers south of Pike Perch City lies a rugged east-west mountain range stretching for hundreds of kilometers.

First head south into the mountains, then follow the mountain road eastward, and you will reach Mirror Iron Territory, where Earl Harvey is active.

After returning with Harvey, Reiner will be able to safely return to the Crown Territory.

If they followed the main force and fled eastward, they would be caught in an endless pursuit by the enemy.

After all, the east side was all plains along the river, and it was hard to find a place to hide when you got tired of running. The enemy had a large number of cavalry, so there was no way to escape.

Upon hearing this, the guards followed suit, taking off their colorful robes as they ran, as these things were too easy to expose their identities.

Reiner glanced back at the chaotic camp one last time, secretly relieved.

Fortunately, the most important group of nobles and three thousand soldiers were sent away overnight.

After a delay of more than ten hours, they should have already covered more than ten kilometers. If they run for another day or two, they should be able to meet Harvey's reinforcements.

Once those nobles return to the Southern Territory, at least their family territories will be safe.

The only thing that saddened Reiner was the large amount of spoils he hadn't had time to take with him from the camp.

Those valuables were gifts he had prepared for his youngest son, and now he had lost them all.

Lynn remained stationary on the small hill, watching his cavalrymen move like tigers among sheep, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, a complex emotion encompassing feelings, thoughts, and reflections).

It would be great if all my cavalrymen had a pair of wings on their backs, so I could cosplay as a Winged Hussar.

However, after personally commanding the cavalry, Lynn discovered just how outrageous the rumors about the Winged Hussars' wings were.

Cavalrymen rely on speed and impact for their survival. Would attaching a pair of conspicuous wings to their backs to increase drag be a way of being afraid of going too fast?
It is clear that those things are just ceremonial decorations, only installed during military parades.

Seeing that the situation was settled, Lynn waved his hand casually: "The remaining cavalry will come with me to Perch City."

He had a more important mission and did not intend to personally participate in the pursuit.

Moreover, the enemy has lost all will to fight and is easier to capture than a few thousand pigs, so there is really no need for him to personally take action.

When Lynn arrived at the south gate of Perch City, he happened to run into Count Vasa of Mirror Iron, who wanted to enter the city to rest.

“Count Baihe, you’ve come at the right time. It seems your soldiers have had some misunderstanding with our army.”

Vasa stopped somewhat awkwardly outside the city gate. Although he had never met Lynn, he could tell who was of the highest status just by their demeanor and position.

Vasa was also helpless. He left his main force to pursue the enemy and returned to the city of Slug with less than a hundred cavalrymen. When he arrived at the city gate, he learned that Lynn's troops had taken over the city's defenses.

The hundreds of soldiers he left in the city are now being temporarily 'guarded' and cannot even leave the city to inform him.

He had intended to return to the enemy camp to the south for a rest, but he ran into Lynn. He had no choice but to bite the bullet and go up to greet him.

“Earl Mirror Iron, please understand, it is wartime after all, and it is never a bad thing for the soldiers to be cautious.” Lynn led his personal guard forward on horseback, and after understanding the situation, he ordered the soldiers on the city gate tower to open the city gate.

Afterwards, regardless of Vasa's willingness, Lynn insisted on dragging him into the city for a detailed discussion.

The two newly rich men from the North seemed to get along very well along the way.

Lynn made no mention of why he had taken the initiative, and Vasa tactfully glossed over the question as well.

In the North, might makes right.

Although this city of perch is located in the Valley Duchy, it should rightfully be Vasa's territory.

Lynn's strength is now clearly greater, and his infantry has forcibly taken over the city's defenses, so he naturally has the final say in this area.

Inside Perch City, Lynn hosted the former host in the makeshift headquarters that Vasa had previously used.

“My cavalry have already brought the first batch of spoils into the city. This bottle of wine was captured from the enemy camp. Try it; it should be the most delicious wine at this moment.”

Lynn sat in the main seat, and as soon as he finished speaking, his personal guards brought out a complete set of wine utensils.

Count Mirror Iron picked up his wine glass, took a big gulp, and grinned, saying, "Indeed, there is no wine in the world that can compare to victory wine."

Damian, sitting beside him, was a little hesitant, but at his brother's prompting, he picked up his glass and forced a sip. Damian was utterly bewildered. Just before midnight this morning, this Perch City was their territory; how could Lynn be in charge in the blink of an eye?
Logically, shouldn't the brothers host a banquet to entertain the distinguished guests who came to provide support?

It's as if Lynn is the master of Perch City, and they are the guests who have come from afar.

The more Damian tasted the wine, the more he felt something was wrong, but he dared not say it outright, since his brother Vasa was all smiles, as if everything before him was normal.

Seeing that the two brothers had both drunk their wine, Lynn took a small sip and smiled, saying, "Thank you for your hard work, warriors of the Valley Territory. Without your valiant fighting, neither you nor I would have been able to completely defeat those sons of bitches from the South."

"I should be thanking you for your timely support. If it weren't for the assistance of the swamp lord's soldiers, I wouldn't have the chance to drink this celebratory wine here now." With that, Count Mirror Iron took another big gulp and finished the glass of wine in one go.

Vasa was well aware of his brother's doubts.

But when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head.

Count Mirror Iron's army suffered hundreds of casualties in this battle, and most of the surviving soldiers were exhausted and unable to fight Lynn.

Despite their recent alliance as allies, both are well aware of each other's true ambitions.

A mere duchy cannot satisfy the enormous appetite of an ambitious person.

Only now, with the Southern Army at hand, are they maintaining their alliance.

Once the southern invaders are completely driven out of the north, they might turn on you in an instant.

Just then, the third brother, Yang, walked up behind Lynn and leaned down to say something.

Lynn didn't reply, but only gave a look, and Yang then withdrew.

He then explained to Count Mirror Iron, “It was nothing serious. It was just a minor conflict between my soldiers and your soldiers in the enemy camp over spoils. The matter has been resolved, and the captured prisoners and spoils will be transported to Perch City.”

The so-called problem had been resolved, meaning Lynn's soldiers had taken control of the situation.

In fact, Yang also suggested keeping Count Mirror Iron, but Lynn refused.

The Valley Territory is an extremely fragmented territory, and the nobles, both large and small, are all rebellious. Even the former Duke Herman and his ilk dared to rebel, so naturally they wouldn't take Earl Mirror Iron too seriously.

It was simply that the Southern Territory people were powerful, forcing these minor nobles to temporarily gather under the banner of Earl of Mirror Iron.

If we were to eliminate Earl Mirror Iron now, it would simply mean the emergence of another ambitious figure to rule the Vale, while Lynn would bear a terrible infamy, and his reputation would plummet to rock bottom.

Moreover, Lynn hasn't even fully conquered the Swamp Territory yet. Besides the stubbornly resisting Golden Deer Castle, there are still two earldoms that haven't submitted. He simply doesn't have the resources to deal with the other duchy right now.

One must take things one step at a time, and eat one bite at a time. Lynn has already overexpanded. If he were to take on another duchy, he would not only overeat but also give the Southerners an opportunity to take advantage of him.

Lynn's primary task now is to completely drive out the Southern Invaders led by Otto III, rather than engaging in passionate infighting with his allies.

Earl Mirror Iron was naturally trying to guess Lynn's true thoughts, and upon hearing this, he breathed a sigh of relief.

"According to the pre-war agreement, you have priority in the distribution of prisoners and spoils of war. After you have made your selections, I will be satisfied if you can leave some for my soldiers."

Count Mirror Iron adopted a humble posture, as if Lynn was the one who had contributed greatly to the war.

In fact, this is indeed the case.

While it may seem that Earl Mirror Iron contributed the most, it was actually the cavalry brought by Lynn that determined the final outcome of the war.

If it weren't for the timely arrival of reinforcements, Earl of Mirror Iron, who launched a rash attack, would most likely have been unable to withstand the counterattack of the southern invading army, and might even have lost the city of Perch.

In other words, Lynn saved Vasa's political career.

If Vasa loses this war, he won't just lose his position as Duke of the Valley, he won't even be able to keep his position as Earl of Mirror Iron.

The more than 10,000 troops under Earl Harvey's command in the southern border are still stationed in Mirror Iron Territory.

But Damian really couldn't sit still anymore.

"Brother, this..."

But before he could finish speaking, Vasa's murderous glare silenced him.

"Damian, go and see the soldiers who remained in the city. Tell them we have won the war!"

(End of this chapter)