I'm not a lord

Chapter 341: Pick the softest persimmon

"Your Majesty, isn't this a bit too hasty?"

During the inspection tour, many court advisors believed that Otto was acting too hastily.

These nobles had only held their lands for less than a year when Otto used various means to drive them away, and the lands were forcibly reclaimed.

No matter how you look at it, it's going too far.

Otto simply smiled and explained, "I didn't forcibly take back their territory. They abandoned it and ran away on their own. I just sent some officials to temporarily manage the territory, because a territory can't be without an owner."

"If these nobles want their lands back in the future, then let them have them; I will not stop them from returning."

Whether it was exercising the lord's 'right of lodging' or temporarily taking over the territory when the vassal ran away, Otto's actions were not out of line and remained within the traditional feudal framework.

His foundation was, after all, the Kingdom of Rui in the southern border, and his rule in Rui was based on the traditional feudal aristocracy.

Therefore, his actions were destined to be confined to this framework, and it was impossible for him to completely copy Lynn.

Unless he wants to start over and wants to revolutionize himself.

If these vassals who relinquished their territories later came to claim them back, Otto would hesitate for a moment and then return them.

As a traditional king, he would be more 'flexible' than Lynn.

Anyway, he didn't suffer any losses, and even temporarily solved the problem of the army's food and pay. It was just that these vassals lost a year's worth of territory income.

Even so, Otto felt somewhat disappointed when faced with the advisors' doubts.

He was well aware of the superiority of Lynn's policies. And he certainly wished for a group of loyal officials around him to support his comprehensive reforms in the North.

But as a monarch within the traditional framework, he was also well aware of the destructive nature of reform.

He knew perfectly well that serfdom and feudalism were backward, yet he still had no choice but to continue along the old path.

This is precisely his tragedy.

However, Otto regained his fighting spirit after a brief period of disappointment.

Lynn's apparent strength was ultimately far inferior to his; no matter how much reform the Swamp Territory underwent, its population remained far less than that of the Crown Territory.

In Otto's view, a piece of cloth the size of a palm, no matter how elaborately embroidered, will never amount to anything great.

"All I need to do is completely defeat Lynn and then slowly change the North over the next ten years. At least he has already cleared out the noble forces in the Swamp Territory and drawn up a blueprint for my future. From this perspective, I should thank him."

This was Otto's true thought; he believed he could definitely defeat Lynn, and it was only a matter of time before he swept away the entire North.

Then, he could, like Lynn, emulate Lynn's reform policies in the ravaged North and transform it into the North he desired.

What Lynn could do, Otto could do too; in terms of ability, he believed he was second to none.

It's just that his identity isn't as convenient, and it takes more time and effort.

Moreover, besides the royal authority, he has other forces he can draw upon.

"Your Majesty, Earl Harvey has arrived."

Two days later, while Otto was hunting and relaxing in the woods with his guards, Count Harvey came to visit with two attendants.

“Harvey, you’ve come at the perfect time! Look, these are two deer I just hunted. Come and have a wild game barbecue with me this fall!”

Otto greeted Count Harvey warmly, as if the defeat at Perch City had never happened.

Of course, the person primarily responsible for that defeat was not Harvey, but Count Reiner, who had already died in battle.

Incidentally, Leiner's head is still hanging on the east gate of Perch City, gazing eastward toward the Crown Territory.

“Your Majesty, my cooking skills are quite good. Please allow me to take charge of the kitchen for you.” Harvey dismounted and bowed, a humble and respectful smile on his face.

Harvey originally intended to go to Amber Harbor to personally apologize, as Reiner's death was, after all, inextricably linked to him.

It was he who encouraged Reiner to venture deep into the North, and it was his failure to provide timely reinforcements that led to the near annihilation of the seven thousand Southern Army soldiers.

Harvey had already prepared himself for dismissal and even execution after causing such a devastating loss.

However, Otto ordered him not to retreat but to remain stationed in the western part of the royal territory, a lenient approach that undoubtedly made Harvey grateful.

“Alright, I’d love to try your cooking. Even in the Southern Territory, there aren’t many people who are qualified to have you personally grill their food.”

Having said that, Otto ordered his guards to immediately gather firewood.

Before long, the barbecue grill was set up.

Count Harvey controlled the grill with one hand and used the other to gently fan the meat, demonstrating considerable skill in grilling.

This is also an essential skill for nobles today, as they cannot do without wild game to satisfy their hunger, whether hunting or fighting.

Harvey carefully controlled the heat, saying, "Your Majesty, I have not yet asked for your forgiveness. I must take responsibility for the disastrous defeat at Pikesburg."

Before he could finish speaking, Otto raised his hand to interrupt him, saying, "There's no need to bring up the past. I called you here not to hear about these things, but to hear your opinion on the three duchies in the North."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Harvey was secretly pleased and felt reassured. He immediately said, "Your Majesty, in my personal opinion, there are only two reasonable options if you want to completely conquer this duchy in the North."

“Go on, I’m listening.” Otto sat with his legs crossed on the soft cashmere carpet, arms crossed over his chest as if listening attentively.

Although Otto had done in-depth research on the customs and culture of the North, he ultimately did not personally travel to the Northland.

Harvey did indeed besiege Iron Fortress and nearly conquered the entire Mirror Iron Territory.

Otto felt it necessary to listen to the experience of this veteran general in order to decide on his subsequent strategic plans.

After a moment's thought, Harvey slowly replied, "The first option is what I tried before: attack the Iron Fortress of Mirror Iron Territory. Taking the Iron Fortress would open up a passage deep into the Valley Territory. By marching along several valleys, we can reach the central mountain range where White Eagle Fortress is located. Once we take White Eagle Fortress, the entire Valley Territory will become your spoils."

Otto said thoughtfully, "Isn't this first plan the same one that Count Vasa of Mirror Iron used just last year?"

“That’s true.” Harvey nodded and analyzed, “Although the Valley Territory has a complex terrain and is difficult to attack, once it is taken over, it will be able to gain a commanding position over the Swamp Territory and the Grassland Territory. In the western part of the Valley Territory, the Quiet River is relatively narrow, making it easier to cross.”

After a moment of contemplation, Otto countered, "Then the second option should be to prioritize attacking Lynn's White River Territory, right?" "You're absolutely right, Your Majesty. There are only these two options for conquering the northern interior. These are the attack plans that Earl Reiner and I once considered implementing separately. However, the difficulty of attacking White River Territory is higher than we imagined. That's why Reiner crossed the river south to join me, intending to defeat the Valley Territory's army first before finding a way to cross the river north."

In his excitement, Earl Harvey nearly knocked over the barbecue grill in his hand, and it took him a while to finally manage to secure the unfortunate little doe back in place.

Upon hearing this, Otto's expression darkened, and he asked again, "Is Baihe Territory really as difficult to conquer as you say?"

“Your Majesty, both Earl Reiner and I have personally observed the defense system of White River Territory. Lynn has constructed a complete defense system centered on Three Rivers City. It not only has sturdy and towering city walls, but also iron chains that isolate the White River channel. He has also built countless watchtowers and arrow towers on the west bank of the White River and the north bank of the Jing River. It is almost impossible to cross the river near Three Rivers City!”

Even Harvey, a veteran of countless battles, looked pained when talking about the defense system of Baihe Territory.

The southern part of Baihe Territory appears to be flat, but its natural terrain advantages are even stronger than those of Gudi Territory.

The two rivers and the Conqueror Mountains meet here, forming a natural defensive fortification stretching for hundreds of kilometers, making it impossible for the attacking forces to maneuver on the narrow east bank of the White River.

Based on this, Lynn built a large number of defensive fortifications along the coast and dispatched elite troops to garrison the area at any time.

Even with nearly 15,000 troops, Count Leiner did not dare to attack this defensive line easily.

“I understand. That’s why you suggested that I attack the Valley Territory first, and then take advantage of the terrain to attack the Swamp Territory after taking the relatively weaker Valley Territory. No matter how rich Lynn’s warehouse is, it’s impossible to protect hundreds of kilometers of riverbanks.”

As for the seemingly vast grassland territory, there's absolutely no need to pay it any attention. Once the valley and swamp territories are conquered, this territory will naturally submit.

As Otto suddenly realized the truth, he also understood the root cause of the two counts' failures.

Although the armies they commanded were disorganized, they were still nearly 20,000 warriors from the South who were eager to get rich, and they shouldn't have been defeated in just a few months.

It wasn't that these two armies weren't strong enough, but rather that the enemy was too powerful.

Lynn of the Swamp Territory, in particular, not only managed his territory to be an impenetrable fortress, but also possessed a powerful military force that could support his allies at any time.

Furthermore, since he was fighting on home soil against Vasa, his army's morale was even higher than that of the Southern Army, so it was not surprising that he won the war.

Of course, Otto could also guess that Earl Harvey and Earl Reiner were not on good terms, and that each side wanted to take all the spoils.

This led to Reiner being attacked from both sides by the two northern forces, resulting in his defeat and death.

Harvey finally finished roasting the venison. He took the meat off the grill, placed it on the prepared silver plate, and, with an expression of loyal earnestness, said:

“If Your Majesty wishes to quell these rebellions, I am willing to lead the army to clear the way for Your Majesty. After our army’s harassment during this period, Count Mirror Iron’s army has suffered heavy losses. As long as Your Majesty launches a full-scale attack, you will surely be able to take Iron Fortress before winter arrives!”

Otto III sniffed the aroma of roasted meat and questioned, "Even if Earl Mirror Iron already possesses the entire Valley Territory, he certainly cannot stop my advance. But what if Lynn sends troops to support him? Are you sure we won't suffer another crushing defeat like at Bass City?"

Otto saw it clearly: in the North, only Lynn could be considered his enemy, and only Lynn had the ability to stop him.

Harvey had prepared a plan beforehand, and thus immediately provided a complete solution:

“The Valley Territory is not Lynn’s territory, so the reinforcements he is willing to mobilize are limited. Moreover, His Majesty has an advantage that neither I nor Lyner have: the power on the water.”

Your Majesty has the authority to summon ships from cities such as Amber Harbor to fight for you. You only need to send ships to blockade the marshland cities along the Quiet River, such as Three Rivers, to effectively sever the connection between Lynn and Vasa, as well as the trade route between the two duchies.

"The Valley Territory has always been short of food. If you can cut off its food supply, even Lynn wouldn't dare send many reinforcements south, and might not even be able to support Vasa at all!"

He then added, "If the city council of Amber Harbor is unwilling to fully assist you, you can even requisition ships from the South. Only a king as noble as you has the ability to mobilize such a large fleet!"

Harvey's plan sounds complicated, but it's actually quite simple: to blockade and isolate the Valley Territory by water.

In his view, without Lynn's support, Count Vasa of the Mirror Iron was half dead and would fall down with just a few kicks.

While the Jinghe River is a natural defensive line for the inland forces in the north, if used properly, it can also become a barrier that hinders their communication and exchange.

With Vasa's limited forces, even Xavi was confident he could defeat him head-on.

If he and Reiner had been able to mobilize a naval force to stop Lynn from sailing south, they might be celebrating with champagne at White Eagle Castle right now.

“I understand your plan completely, and it is indeed quite feasible.” Otto III had to admit that he was indeed persuaded by Harvey.

The wide expanse of the Jinghe River is undoubtedly a natural paradise for ships on the water.

Ships from Amber Harbor and the Southern Coastal Municipalities can navigate the vast ocean, so handling the relatively calm inland rivers is a piece of cake for them.

As far as Otto knew, Lynn also possessed some naval power, with both Three Rivers and Golden Deer having a large number of armed merchant ships.

But how can these ships compare to the large ports along the coast?

The armed merchant ships of Amber Harbor alone could easily overwhelm these two municipalities.

Furthermore, Otto was very wary of Lynn, and he did not want to engage in a strategic decisive battle with Lynn now unless necessary.

If they were to lose, the consequences would be unbearable even for him, the ruler of both countries.

Taking over the Valley Territory first would indeed be a more prudent choice for Otto.

You can't go wrong picking the softest persimmon.

After chatting for a while, the two finally began to enjoy the freshly roasted, tender venison.

Otto plucked a deer leg, tore off a large chunk without ceremony, and asked as he chewed, "How have your troops fared these past few months? How have you solved the food problem?"

Harvey nibbled on the venison and replied earnestly, "Your Majesty, the army's food needs can be met for the time being. We plundered a batch of spoils in Mirror Iron Territory, which can barely cover the army's food consumption."

"Hey, how can we let the soldiers exchange their spoils for food? I'll handle this. Tell my secretary how many troops you have in total!"

Otto waved his hand and offered to cover the army's food expenses.

Although he was very generous, in those days the army always pledged allegiance to whoever paid them.

Within two months, he will be able to turn Harvey's army into his own.

To be honest, Otto has been letting these impoverished nobles from the South cause trouble in the North for more than half a year. It's time to reorganize them and bring them under his control.

Could Harvey refuse? Of course not, he even had to put on a smiling face and thank His Majesty the King for his generosity.

After all, he was a defeated general, and by rights he should have lost the right to command this army.

He also wanted to hand over this hot potato; if it dragged on any longer, he wouldn't be able to control those arrogant, fallen nobles.

(End of this chapter)