Being a knight is not easy

Chapter 329 Rewards based on merit
Outside Fort Wilkesburg, on the main square, sunlight streamed across the vast plaza, where tens of thousands of people gathered to watch.

The crowd was dense, like a sea of ​​people, all craning their necks, their eyes filled with anticipation.

There were women holding children, their eyes sparkling with curiosity and excitement;
There were elderly people with white hair, leaning on canes, their faces solemn.
There were also strong young men who squeezed in front of the crowd, trying to see every detail in the square.

Thousands of soldiers stood in the square, glancing nervously at the surrounding crowd.

Many people, even on the battlefield, have never seen so many people.

They were used to facing the swords and blades of their enemies, but now, with so many eyes watching them, they couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

The soldiers, dressed in neat armor, tried their best to maintain their military dignity, but a hint of unease could still be seen in their eyes and subtle movements.

Robin was dressed very formally today, in a baron's robe and with a Tang sword hanging at his waist as he walked onto the stage.

The exquisite embroidery on his robe shimmered in the sunlight, highlighting his status and position.

His steps were steady, each one carrying a sense of confidence and strength, his gaze sweeping firmly over the soldiers in the square and the surrounding crowd.

"Today, everyone standing in the square is a hero of the territory. They shed their blood for the territory and bravely resisted the invaders..." Robin's voice was loud and passionate, echoing in the square.

His voice was like a magnet, drawing everyone's attention.

Upon hearing Robin's words, the soldiers unconsciously straightened their chests, and a proud expression appeared on their faces.

The crowd quieted down and listened attentively to Robin's speech.

"These soldiers faced an enemy several times their size on the battlefield without flinching. They used their lives and blood to defend our homeland and protect the safety of each and every one of us."

As Robin spoke, he slowly walked past the soldiers' ranks, his gaze meeting that of each soldier as if expressing deep respect to them.

"Our territory has been able to stand firm in the face of war precisely because of these brave and fearless soldiers. Every scar is a medal of honor for them; every drop of sweat is proof of their dedication."

Robin's words warmed the soldiers' hearts and strengthened their resolve to protect their territory.

At that moment, an old woman called out from the crowd, "Lord Allen, thank you, thank you for these brave soldiers!" Her voice trembled slightly, but it was full of gratitude.

Robin smiled and replied, “This is our shared responsibility. Every citizen of Wilke, whether a soldier fighting on the battlefield or a civilian working hard in the rear, has contributed to the prosperity and security of the territory.”

The crowd nodded in agreement, their respect for Robin and the soldiers growing even stronger.

Inspired by Robin, the soldiers felt a sense of value and mission, their eyes filled with fighting spirit, ready to continue their valiant march for the future of their territory.

Robin snapped his fingers, and a large group of maids dressed in fine clothes came out.

These maids, with their graceful figures and light steps, were all handpicked by Viscount Wilke.

Each of them was exceptionally beautiful; their appearance was like a beautiful landscape, attracting everyone's attention.

They held a tray in their hands, containing military badges that had been made in the recent period of time, and a wooden box.

The military badges gleamed brightly in the sunlight, as if telling the story of the soldiers' heroic deeds.

The wooden box contained the Power Fruit, which emitted a faint, mysterious aura, allowing one to sense the immense power it contained. "From this day forward, military merit in the territory will be divided into four ranks. First, the third-rank merit soldier will be awarded the Guardian's Medal," Robin's voice was solemn and serious, his words echoing clearly across the plaza.

"Soldiers whose names are called, step forward to receive your medals..."

As Robin's voice rang out, a long line of territorial knight-level officers stepped forward and stood quietly behind Robin.

Today, these knights and officers were also dressed up in finery, wearing magnificent knightly armor, the patterns on the armor polished to a shine, reflecting a captivating luster in the sunlight.

The feathers on the helmet swayed gently in the wind, adding to its heroic air.

“John Smith,” Robin began reading the first name.

A young soldier took a deep breath and strode forward with firm steps.

His face was filled with tension and excitement, his eyes fixed on Robin and the tray in the maid's hands. He walked up to Robin, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head.

Robin picked up a Guardian Medal and smiled, saying, "John Smith, for your bravery and courage on the battlefield, your steadfast defense of your position, and your protection of your comrades, you have made outstanding contributions to the security of our territory. Therefore, you are hereby awarded the Guardian Medal, Third Class." With that, he pinned the medal on John's chest.

John looked up, his eyes filled with gratitude and pride: "Thank you, Lord Allen. I will continue to serve the territory!"

Then, a maid stepped forward and handed John a wooden box containing the Power Fruit.

John took the wooden box and held it carefully in his hands, as if it were a rare treasure.

Then Robin read out the next name: "Tom Brown."

A burly soldier stepped out of the ranks, his steps steady and powerful.

When he approached Robin, Robin solemnly bestowed upon him the medal and the Power Fruit.

The entire awarding process proceeded smoothly and in an orderly manner.

Each time a name was called, the soldiers would step forward with excitement to receive the honor.

The surrounding crowd cheered and exclaimed in admiration, proud of these brave soldiers.

The soldiers whose names had not yet been called had eyes full of anticipation, longing for Lord Robin to call their names and for them to receive the honor that belonged to them.

Alina, who was not far away, could clearly feel that the soldiers' sense of honor and loyalty to the Wilke family had reached their peak at this moment.

She stood there, watching all this quietly, and couldn't help but admire Robin's leadership and organizational skills.

This method of enhancing soldiers' sense of belonging and loyalty through awarding medals is undoubtedly very effective.

More than 800 people have received the Third-Class Merit Award. In addition to Robin, mid- to high-ranking military officers also helped to complete the awarding of medals in a short period of time.

The fact that so many soldiers received third-class merit is enough to prove the heroic performance of the Wilke family's army in the previous battles.

During the medal-awarding ceremony, the officers were serious and solemn, and every movement was full of ritual. They were also proud of the soldiers under their command.

(End of this chapter)