679 Trap (1/2)
Howl Manor.
Fang Yuan and Knight Gray stood together and looked at the manor not far away.
Although Frey had constructed a huge villa as a governing symbol, he only came over occasionally when collecting taxes or on vacation. Usually, he would pass the responsibilities to a few subordinates like tax collectors and constables to take care of it.
”I've already inquired. The person in charge of this area for Knight Frey is tax collector Jamal,” Gray slowly said. ”He was an adventurer before but was recruited by Frey afterwards. His profession should be an assassinator.”
”Assassinator?”
Fang Yuan was slightly surprised, as this was far higher level profession than an ordinary assassin. Although it was greatly inferior to a Disaster Knight, it was still regarded as highly talented.
Being able to be discovered by Frey indeed showcased his ability.
”However, an assassionator's best ability is to rely on the environment to assassinate, but right now, it's an open war.”
Knight Gray laughed, not the least bit worried.
Indeed, with the righteousness of the duchy and nearly a hundred soldiers under the leadership of two knights, if they were still unable to take down the manor, that would be a joke.
”Okay, let's begin!”
He waved and fifty soldiers under his command immediately arranged themselves neatly, directly advancing toward the manor.
”Let's go too”
Fang Yuan nodded. Grace promptly brought along the twenty people he had urgently gathered from the territory.
”Who?” This scene instantly attracted the attention of the manor. Not long later, a person ran over and loudly shouted, ”These are the territorial lands of Knight Frey. Visitors, please declare your name! If not, this will be seen as a provocation!”
”Name?” Gray laughed menacingly. ”Under the leadership of Baron Shawshank, Knight Gray, carrying the grand duke's orders, comes to suppress Frey. Is this clear enough?”
Clearly, this response caused the other side to descend into huge shock.
The messenger tumbled back into the territory, and after a short while, a hurried bell chime rang out.
”Knight Luhn, how should we deal with this mob?”
Gray looked at the militia that was converging in the distance. Most of them were farmers holding onto pitchforks. The corners of their mouths unwittingly carried a playful smile.
In any case, these were people were going to be under Fang Yuan's command later, and he naturally had to give them some dignity.
Of course, using the word mob had already revealed his inclination.
”I heard… this Knight Frey is very proficient at tugging the people's heartstrings, and his reputation among the lower class citizens is very good?” Fang Yuan suddenly asked.
”Yep. Due to his implementation of the 50-50 split policy without additional taxes, he was even praised by bards to be the wisest lord of Stan,” Gray replied.
”I understand. Please order the suppression.” Fang Yuan nodded. ”I once heard of a proverb. If you give someone a gold coin daily, once you stop, you will be hated. But if you give someone a slap daily, once you stop, you will be appreciated.”
Regarding trying to win popular opinion from the people, he could not match up to Knight Frey, who had already been deliberately doing it for a long time.
That being the case, only blood and metal could inform these citizens who the actual leader here was.
With the snobbishness of the citizens, how long would they even remember the person who was a benefactor at all?
What was known as a benevolent government could be implemented later. At the moment, if they wanted to conquer this land, only massacre and rendering fear could gain their loyalty.
”A wise decision and an intelligent proverb.”
Gray laughed out loud and whipped his horse. ”Charge!”
Reality had proven that a crowd of farmers holding pitchforks, no matter how many, were completely useless in front of trained soldiers.
Needless to say, once Gray casually charged and knocked down a few of the farmers in front, the others were instantly horrified, throwing down their pitchforks and escaping, leaving behind a disorderly battlefield.
”The ancient feudal kings always thought that their destinies belonged to them, and the people under them had to endlessly express their loyalty. In reality, they were all dreaming! Such a naive emperor usually would not have a good outcome.”
Wearing light armor, Fang Yuan similarly charged forward.
Under a strong military force, the small bit of resistance remaining was snapped like dry weeds and smashed like rotten wood.
”How much of the previous kindness and favor will remain in front of the sword?”
Seeing the militia collapse with one strike, Fang Yuan sighed silently and went to the villa with Knight Gray.
This was the sanctuary of Knight Frey. When he was not around, it was used by tax collector Jamal and was the governing core of this land.
At the moment, it was tightly surrounded by tens of people.
”Sir Knights, Jamal is just inside,” a few soldiers said ingratiatingly.
”Pass down the orders. We'll begin the general attack. Whoever captures him will be rewarded ten gold coins!”
Knight Gray inattentively waved his hand, and the soldiers instantly charged in with reddened eyes.
Looking at the villa, Fang Yuan had a sense of foreboding and waved his hands. ”Garce, don't contend with the guests for honor!”
At the moment, the majesty of a lord and the prestige that he had built in the previous battles instantly unleashed their effect.
Grace and ten guards did not move, and the soldiers gathered from the other territories did not dare to move, as they watched Gray's subordinates charge into the villa.
”Haha… why bother? We need to let the lads train more…”
Knight Gray smiled and said, ”However, in the end, the person who achieves victory will definitely be my squire Arnold. He's a small, burly fellow, and previously…”
Rumble!!!
Just as he was halfway through his words, a loud earth-shattering sound suddenly appeared.