Chapter 21
(Kyle Calendar
Year 502: Age 9)
The Heroes'
Triumphant Return
Translator : PolterGlast
"Solis Baronet, I
have returned!"
My brother stood
there, reporting his return with high spirits as he greeted us.
The month after the
great victory at Southern Gate, Father and Brother, along with the Solis
baronial army, returned after receiving honors and rewards in the royal
capital.
"Dalek, I'm so
glad you've returned safely. And congratulations on your military achievements
too.
Dalek, are you hurt? I
was so worried about you."
Mother hugged my
brother with tears in her eyes, while Father, slightly ignored, looked a little
lonely... Well, that's how it goes.
A part of the army had
returned ahead with the captured goods, warhorses, and Estol Bows concealed in
the baggage wagons, but the main force's return was delayed by about a month
due to the round trip to and stay in the royal capital.
"We, your
vassals, are overjoyed by your safe return and the military merits you have
achieved. The supplies that arrived earlier have already been moved to their
designated locations,"
Raymond-san then
greeted Father.
Immediately after the
battle ended, Father had all the soldiers' Estol Bows collected into the
baggage train under the guise of repair and maintenance.
In their place, he had
them carry the improved crossbows they had brought with them on the outward
journey.
In fact, only the
Cornell baronial army, who fought alongside us, had seen the Estol Bows.
Well, it would be
revealed eventually, but we were thoroughly trying to keep the new weapons
secret.
The achieved military
results were significant, so even the improved crossbows seemed to have
attracted considerable attention...
"Brother, please
tell me all about the rewards in the royal capital and what happened on the battlefield!"
"Brother, did you
bring back any souvenirs?"
I had stayed behind
this time. Therefore, I didn't know the details of the actual fighting or the
stories from the royal capital.
I was very curious
about that.
My sister seemed most
concerned about the souvenirs.
"The strategy
worked perfectly! I think Commander Weiss's command was flawless too.
I'll tell you all
about it later, but let's go inside the mansion first."
Yeah, maybe I was
rushing my brother too much.
I decided to hear the
details later.
The army, having
successfully defended the border and inflicted heavy damage on the enemy
forces, rested at the Southern Gate Fortress before heading to the royal
capital.
In the royal capital,
in the presence of the King and the assembled nobles, they received
commendations for their war efforts and were rewarded.
＜Overall Merits＞
Hastburg Margrave:
10,000 gold coins
＜Individual Merits＞
First Merit: Solis
Baron: 8,000 gold coins
Second Merit: Cornell
Baron: 5,000 gold coins
Third Merit: Kilius
Viscount: 3,000 gold coins
Meritorious Service
Award: Solis von Dalek: 500 gold coins
My brother not only
received an award but was also promoted to the rank of Baronet.
Since this campaign
was a defensive war, there were no newly acquired territories. Therefore, the
rewards were provided in gold coins.
The frontier Estol
territory had vast and undeveloped land, so Father was actually grateful for
the gold coins.
Part of the reward
money would be distributed to the soldiers who had served, and the remainder
would be used as the internal affairs budget and for territorial development.
Furthermore, Baron
Cornell, having been strongly recommended by Father, was also recognized in the
royal capital as a meritorious supporter of the Solis Baron from behind the
scenes.
Baron Cornell, who was
not particularly skilled in warfare and had been ridiculed as a shadow figure
on the battlefield, was said to be very pleased.
My brother, only 12
years old, who had achieved great military merit in his first battle, had suddenly
become famous.
For his great
contribution in confounding the Iron Cavalry with his light magic and changing
the course of the battle, he was awarded the title of Baronet in addition to
the gold coins.
He would become a
Baron upon succeeding Father, but having been without a title until now, he was
now a titled noble.
Since he had no
territory, he would receive an annual stipend from the royal family.
Furthermore, this
campaign had an unexpected outcome.
The post-battle
cleanup of the battlefield, carried out by the Solis and Cornell baronial
armies under the instructions of the Hastburg Margrave.
What was obtained from
this was also noteworthy.
Perhaps it was due to
the Hastburg Margrave's thoughtfulness, but the acquired spoils were very
beneficial.
As war booty, they
obtained warhorses, weapons, and armor owned by the Iron Cavalry, including
many expensive pieces of equipment.
Regarding the
warhorses, as expected, many were injured, but there were 100 warhorses with
minor injuries that could be used immediately, and 200 horses that could likely
be used as warhorses again if treated.
In addition to these,
it seemed they had secured over 300 horses that were deeply wounded and whose
recovery was uncertain.
Of these, the Margrave
gave 300 usable warhorses to the Solis and Cornell baronial families.
Weapons and armor were
removed from the surrendered soldiers and the buried dead, and approximately
1,300 sets were secured.
Among them were items
full of holes and others that were bent and unusable, but there were also items
that could be repaired and reused.
Unusable items would
be sold to blacksmiths as materials or sold through merchants.
The breakdown of the
distribution was as follows:
Solis Barony Army
・250 warhorses
・1000 weapons (including unusable items)
・1000 armors (including unusable items)
Cornell Barony Army
・50 warhorses
・300 weapons (including unusable items)
・300 armors (including unusable items)
Baron Cornell, upon
witnessing the use of the Estol Bow, had apparently inquired about purchasing
them, but Father had refused, citing that they were weapons that needed to be
kept secret at this time.
He had left it open
for future discussion.
As a temporary
measure, it was decided that 200 improved crossbows, though not Estol Bows,
would be sent to the Cornell baronial family as a thank you for the
distribution of warhorses and the like.
"So, Father
actually received more income than the gold coins he was awarded?"
"Yeah, there was
quite a bit from the captured goods alone, so I think he'll probably use it to
strengthen our forces..."
The Solis baronial
family's financial leeway would have a very significant meaning for what I
would consider in the future.
The information I
obtained from my brother was extremely valuable.
"Takuhir! You're
plotting something again, aren't you? It's written all over your face."
Oops, from my
brother's story, I might have inadvertently made the face of a corrupt official
who saw golden sweets.
I must be careful...
Later, the military's
composition was greatly changed due to the rewards and captured goods.
Utilizing the
warhorses and weapons obtained in this battle, a new Iron Cavalry unit was
created, the cavalry units were also strengthened, and almost all soldiers in the
regular army were equipped with horses.
Furthermore, many
part-time soldiers were also conscripted into the regular army.
◯Composition of Warhorses
Solis Baron
210 horses (160 in the
expedition + 50 in the reserve unit) + 290 new warhorses
Twin-Headed Falcon
Mercenary Corps
40 horses + 10 new
warhorses
◯Composition of Forces
Solis Iron Cavalry
Corps: 200 riders (composed of regular army soldiers)
Solis Cavalry Corps:
100 riders (composed of regular army soldiers and part-time soldiers)
Solis Archer Corps:
350 soldiers (mainly composed of part-time soldiers)
Reserve Warhorses: 200
horses
Twin-Headed Falcon
Mercenary Corps: 50 riders (mercenary contract renewed)
By the way, part-time
soldiers are those who receive a certain contract fee and participate in
regular military training but have other occupations in peacetime.
The main occupations
of part-time soldiers vary, such as guards at town and village gates, hunters,
farmers, and mine workers.
In small villages,
part-time soldiers sometimes take turns covering most of the security and
garrison duties.
Although nominally all
regular army soldiers became cavalry, there were many who still needed training
as cavalry, and the Twin-Headed Falcon Mercenary Corps was also expected to
play the role of instructors.
Unnecessary weapons
were repaired and restored by blacksmiths and then stockpiled or sold.
Commander Weiss also
added new members to his corps on his way back from the royal capital, and with
the addition of 10 new horses transferred from Father, the mercenary corps
would continue to serve as all cavalry units in the future.
Father apparently gave
2,000 gold coins from his reward money to Commander Weiss as a reward and an
advance for the contract extension, and he also requested a further increase in
the mercenary corps' numbers.
Father had strongly
recognized Commander Weiss's value in this battle and seemed to want to keep
him on his side in the future.
The temporary income
from the sale of unnecessary weapons, which improved his financial situation,
also seemed to have encouraged this bold move.
In this way, the Solis
baronial army began to build up a substantial military force that was
disproportionately large for a Baron.
They would continue to
gradually strengthen their forces in the future.
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