readsfreenovel Chapter 602 Let’s go to Midland to cut wood stakes
Chapter 602 Let’s go to Midland to cut wood stakes
"Snapped!"
With a crisp sound, Count Castori slammed the "Voice of Helderland" in his hand heavily on the oak desk, causing the ink bottle on the desk to tremble slightly. A few drops of black ink splashed onto the spread-out military map, blurring the words "Padua".
He stood in front of the window, his back to the military commander Alvin, the hem of his scarlet cloak hanging to the ground, and the silver buttons embroidered with the family coat of arms gleamed coldly in the candlelight.
"Didn't Bosco say that Padua was completely sealed?"
Castori's voice was low and angry, as if squeezed from deep within his chest.
"Look at this! Now this rebel leader named Münzer can actually brazenly go to a banquet in Helmingen!"
Alvin stood opposite him, his gray beard shining in the candlelight.
He glanced down at the newspaper and saw the headline:
Minzer - A leader deeply loved by the people of Yoda!
Alvin's Adam's apple rolled. He certainly knew who Münzer was, the peasant leader who came from a clergy family. A few months ago, he rose up in the Padua area and called on the peasants to resist the oppression of the nobles.
At first, the imperial military did not take him seriously, thinking him to be nothing more than a clown. However, this Münzer showed amazing organizational skills and oratory talent. In just a few months, he gathered tens of thousands of followers and even captured several small towns.
"Is this news really true?" Alvin asked in a low voice, with a hint of uneasiness in his voice.
"It has been confirmed that Count Reginale's son is a diplomat in Helmingen!"
Castori turned sharply and looked at Alvin.
"That same day, Münzer even gathered people from various countries living in Helmingen for a reception, publicly denouncing our Yoda nobles and officials, calling them 'inhumane and unjust'!"
"Don't even mention Helderan. I think even the old man in Wyndham from Midland knows about it!"
"He...what else did he say?"
Alvin asked cautiously.
"say what?"
Castori sneered.
"He says the recruiting officers are withholding soldiers' rations and selling them secondhand to grain merchants at exorbitant prices! He says our nobles are exploiting the peasants and treating them like animals!"
His voice rose in pitch, and he jabbed his fingers at the paper.
“He even said that the people of Padua were not rebels, but we were the ones who betrayed the country!”
Alvin was silent.
He knew that this was worse than a simple military failure. Military failures could be made up for over time, but once a reputation was destroyed, it could never be recovered.
"It has already happened. If that's the case, we should remedy it as soon as possible."
Castori took a deep breath and tried to calm down.
"You, as the military commander, tell me, what should we do now?"
Alvin raised his head, a hint of hesitation in his eyes.
"The most direct solution is to immediately mobilize the armies of the surrounding governors and lay siege to Padua again."
he whispered.
"Since Minzer dared to go to Helmingen, there is probably no prestigious person in the city now."
"Again?"
Castori sneered.
"The last siege lasted three months, and the treasury was drained of sixty thousand gold coins! Tell me, where will the money come from this time? Where will the food come from?"
He suddenly grabbed the account book on the table and threw it hard in front of Alvin.
"The freedmen have already fled to the free cities, and the serf desertion rate has tripled compared to last year! You want me to forcibly levy them? Are you planning to leave us without food before the walls of Padua are breached?"
Alvin lowered his head and didn't dare to refute.
He knew the numbers, of course. Ever since Bosgod took over the siege, the treasury of Yuda had been nearly emptied, while the rebels in Padua had grown stronger and stronger.
To make matters worse, Yoda's nobles were unwilling to contribute money and food, and the Free Cities were watching and even secretly funding the rebels.
"...Then what do you think we should do?"
Castori's voice lowered, with a hint of fatigue.
Alvin was silent for a while, and finally whispered:
"...If we surround them again, we can at least hold Min Caier back."
"drag?"
Castori scoffed.
"Until how long? Until the Midland army launches a counterattack? Until Helderland completely controls Yoda?"
He sank back into his chair and rubbed his temples, as if trying to push the nagging questions from his mind.
"I've had enough!"
The office fell into dead silence.
The candle flames crackled, and melted snow dripped from the window frames, creating small puddles on the stone tiles.
Alvin stood there, not daring to move. He knew that Castori was in a very bad mood, not only because of Minzer, but also because the situation in Yoda as a whole was on the verge of collapse.
"...Go and invite Count Reginale over."
After a while, Castori finally spoke, his voice low and tired.
"To solve this problem, we must first talk to John, who is supporting Minzer behind the scenes."
Alvin looked up:
"You mean...private communication?"
"if not?"
Castori rubbed his swollen temples.
"Shall I write to Münzer myself? Or shall Bosgau go to Helmingen with the letter of surrender?"
He sighed helplessly.
"Helderland is hyping this up, simply to use Münzer as leverage. Regginari knows the people there. Having him broker the deal is better than doing nothing right now."
This matter came to an end for the time being, and Castori was preparing to take a rest. As he got older, he felt that his energy was getting worse and worse.
"That side of Bosgod, you see?"
Alvin hesitated for a moment, but still asked.
Castori's eyes darkened.
Bosgod, the commander of Yoda's most elite Holy Purple Rhino Knights, is also one of his most trusted generals.
But this time, Bosco failed in his duty.
"he?"
Castori sneered.
"Let him take his Holy Purple Rhino Knights back to the Western Front to chop wood."
"Then who is in charge of their base?"
Alvin asked.
"Isn't that old man Goron very rich?"
Castori curled his lips.
"It's up to him!"
Alvin was silent for a while and didn't dare to ask any more questions.
He knew that Castori was "punishing" Bosco, but more accurately, he was "passing the buck."
On the surface, it was indeed Bosgod's fault, but the more important reason was that most of the Yuda nobles withdrew their troops from the siege, so that now only the army led by Bosgod is struggling to hold on near Padua.
Of course, Count Castori would definitely not admit his mistakes, and asking those nobles to admit their mistakes would only make him enemies in the Council of Nobles.
The blame was passed around until it reached Bosgod.
"……Yes."
Alvin bowed his head and accepted the order.