Chapter 79
Southern Gate Defense Battle ⑪
(Day 6 of War)
Merits and Awards
Translator : PolterGlast
"Somehow, we won
this time. No, it's more accurate to say we were allowed to win..."
"Yes, Father, as
you say, if we had fought fairly, I believe we would have suffered a great blow.
Even if... we had
won."
"In the end, we
were somewhat helped by the monsters, but those monsters will be troublesome in
the future.
We can't let our guard
down here, nor in Teigun."
Even the day after the
battle was decided, the three of us led our troops and patrolled the
battlefield.
Even after the
Gryphonia Imperial Army retreated, the Kyle Kingdom Army continued to conduct
large-scale monster extermination operations.
Although they had
hunted down most of the monsters that the Imperial Army had brought in, the
situation was still unpredictable.
The small hill where
we had set up camp in the previous battle was now a place where we couldn't let
our guard down at night. The Demon Realm side route from Southern Gate Plains
to Teigun would likely be impassable for some time.
Around this time, a
messenger who had bypassed the safe route from Teigun finally arrived.
"The town of
Teigun is intact.
We repelled
approximately 3,000 enemy troops, and while there were wounded, there were no
casualties among our allies.
Many citizens
cooperated in the defense, with 500 fighting alongside our army at the
checkpoint, and over 800 supporting from the rear.
After the battle, we
recovered about 400 prisoners, over 500 warhorses, and there are a considerable
number of collected weapons and armor."
"Thank you for
your hard work on the long journey. I'm relieved to hear that everyone is safe
first and foremost.
Please rest well in
the fortress today. In the meantime, I will prepare a letter, and I would like
you to deliver it to Teigun."
I needed to thank
Miseri-san, Christoph, Claire, and everyone else again. To repel a force of
3,000, I thought they truly did well.
I wanted to rush to
Teigun quickly.
I wanted to thank them
and raise a toast with them.
Perhaps, as the next
step, I would also have to go to the royal capital with Father and Brother for
the conferment of honors and rewards.
After that, to the
town of Est.
I probably wouldn't be
able to return for a while... I thought so again.
※
I had thought I would
be engaged in monster extermination for a while, but I was unexpectedly
summoned to the royal capital quickly.
Well, the First and
Fourth Noble Allied Armies, who had been completely useless in the battle,
remained behind and were ordered to deal with monster extermination and
maintain public order for the time being, so that was the reason.
This time, I was also
called to the royal palace for the conferment of honors and rewards.
Although I held no
rank or title, I was allowed to attend the audience hall, specially, just like
my brother previously.
"First place in
individual merit, Solis von Takuhir, step forward!"
"Yes!"
To my surprise, I was
recognized as the first in individual merit in this war.
Summoned by the
minister, I stepped forward and knelt.
"Your efforts
this time are truly splendid!
Your strategic wisdom,
demonstrated through numerous proposals as a strategist,
Your loyalty, shown by
immediately rushing forward to save your commander in a desperate situation,
And your achievements
in the defensive battle at Teigun, where you overturned a 30-fold difference in
forces and protected the town with the cooperation of its people, especially in
the checkpoint battle, where you utterly repelled an enemy army six times your
size – the Solis Baronial family has been judged to have achieved military
merits that exceed the reputation of your house.
Therefore, as the
first in individual merit, I bestow upon you this reward."
"Thank you, Your
Majesty. This is entirely due to the divine grace of the Royal Family. I also
express my gratitude for the loyalty and dedication to the Kingdom shown by the
people of Teigun, who brilliantly repelled the Imperial Army."
"Indeed. As a
token of your first merit, I bestow upon you 10,000 gold coins and confer upon
you the title of Baron. I expect you to care for the people who fought
valiantly in the defensive battle and to show even greater loyalty in the
future."
"This honor is
too great for me. My gratitude knows no bounds."
"Next, second
place in individual merit, Solis von Darek, step forward!"
"Yes!"
"It is truly
splendid that you led the Second Youth Knight Corps, which was ridiculed as a
ragtag group of new recruits, and achieved military honors! Furthermore, for
your resolute struggle in the Allied Cavalry Corps and your merit in saving
allied forces in dire straits, I bestow upon you this reward as second place in
individual merit."
"I am truly
grateful, Your Majesty. I owe this entirely to the loyalty and valiant efforts
of each and every one of my soldiers."
"I bestow upon
you 5,000 gold coins and formally promote you from Baronet to Baron. After your
studies in the royal capital, a position as Vice-Commander will be prepared for
you in the knight corps that will be formed thereafter."
"I am grateful
for your gracious consideration."
Yes, through
individual merits, both brothers of the Solis Baronial family received rewards.
Incidentally, the
Solis Baronial family also received an exceptionally high evaluation in the
overall merit conferment announced before the individual merits.
＜Conferment of Honors and Rewards＞
1st Place: Solis
Baronial Family: 20,000 gold coins, elevated to Viscountcy
2nd Place: Viscount
Gorman: 10,000 gold coins
3rd Place: Viscount
Kilias: 8,000 gold coins
4th Place: Baron
Cornell: 4,000 gold coins
Yes, Father was
formally elevated to Viscount this time.
And he was bestowed
with an incomparable amount of gold coins compared to before.
"Furthermore, new
rewards will be bestowed upon each noble family that participated in this
battle. This will be provided directly by the Royal Family, replacing the
contents previously promised by the Margrave.
However, severe
punishment will be given to those who disobeyed the Margrave's military orders
and deserted the battle line. However, a petition for clemency for the First
Youth Knight Corps has arrived from the Earl who lost many of his cavalry.
The First Youth Knight
Corps shall have their sentence reduced by one degree and be spared death due
to their victory and the petition.
Each noble family
shall individually punish their own children as they see fit.
Others will be
excluded from this reward as punishment."
Thus, the rewards for
the fools who committed military insubordination, the First Youth Knight Corps,
and the three baronial families who deserted the battle line due to them, were
excluded.
＜Overall Rewards＞
◇ Hastburg Margrave Relations
Margrave: 1 house x
20,000 gold coins = 20,000 gold coins
Viscount Hiyorimi: x
2,000 gold coins = 2,000 gold coins
Barons: 3 houses x
1,000 gold coins = 3,000 gold coins
◇ Southern Nobles Dispatching Reinforcements
Earls: 4 houses x
5,000 gold coins = 20,000 gold coins
Viscounts: 8 houses x 2,000
gold coins = 16,000 gold coins
Barons: 9 houses x
1,000 gold coins = 9,000 gold coins
◇ Other
Second Youth Knight
Corps: 2,000 gold coins
Now, the Commander of
the Knights stepped forward in place of the Minister.
"In consideration
of this enemy invasion, it has been decided that a strong defensive force must
be permanently stationed in the southern frontier region.
For this purpose, a
new Frontier Knight Corps will be established.
The Knight Corps will
consist of 3,000 cavalrymen and will be placed under the command of Margrave
Hastburg for operation.
All formations are to
be completed within five years.
Nobles in the southern
frontier, including the Margrave, shall contribute soldiers to the Frontier
Knight Corps according to their rank.
Furthermore, personnel
will also be seconded from the Royal Capital Knights and the southern region
nobles who participated as reinforcements this time."
Yes, in this battle,
we struggled against the 3,000 Imperial Guard Iron Cavalry and the 2,000
Imperial Guard Cavalry.
Previously, Goth
Margrave's Iron Cavalry Corps of 2,000 men also caused similar difficulties.
The Gryphonia Empire
used overwhelming numbers of cavalry in mass formations.
We lacked a cavalry
formation capable of resisting that.
This response was
based on that reflection.
Furthermore, this
time, the Royal Capital Knights were unable to move.
The defense of the
royal capital is the highest priority, followed by the eastern border. This
flow will likely remain unchanged in the future. Perhaps this was in
anticipation...
"Furthermore,
60,000 gold coins will be provided to Margrave Hastburg as establishment costs
for the Knight Corps, and 50,000 gold coins will be provided annually
thereafter as maintenance costs.
The burden of salaries
and other expenses for soldiers contributed by each noble house during wartime
shall remain the responsibility of each noble house, as their contribution to
the Knight Corps will reduce their share of overall troop deployment."
I see, translating
that means...
It is practically
impossible to raise 3,000 cavalry in a new public establishment.
The equivalent of
2,000 cavalry will be contributed from existing forces.
The contribution of
personnel will primarily come from the Margrave, 4 Viscounts, and 4 Barons.
Each house will bear
the salaries of the soldiers they contribute from their own territory.
The number of soldiers
serving in wartime will include those who contributed to the Knight Corps.
The support funds will
cover the salaries and expenses for an equivalent of 1,000 new cavalry.
Something like that, I
guess.
The proportions of
contributions, new increases in personnel, and dispatch from the Royal Capital
Knights were all left ambiguous. It was probably more like "do what you
can."
Including the rewards
for individual nobles, the Kingdom had already spent 130,000 gold coins, so it
probably meant they couldn't afford any more.
"By the way,
Margrave, I heard you invested 20,000 gold coins in the town of Teigun, which
achieved military honors this time. Is that correct?"
"Yes, Your
Majesty! I received a proposal from Takuhir-dono, the second son of the Solis
Viscountcy, and thinking it was an elder's duty to support the future of a
promising young man, I made the investment."
The King of Kyle's sudden
question surprised the Margrave, but he answered.
"I see, a
promising young man... an elder's duty... indeed."
The King chuckled
lightly and continued.
"I, too, have
become interested in investing in the future of the newly ennobled young Baron.
If the Margrave is
investing 20,000...
Then, let's see...
How about 50,000 gold
coins?
No repayment or return
is required.
If anything, I ask
that Teigun be further developed into a prosperous city, a city that
contributes to the Kingdom.
A fortress that can
repel tens of thousands of troops, an impregnable stronghold.
How does that
sound?"
"Your Majesty's
foresight, I believe, is truly sound. Solis New Baron, this is Your Majesty's
gracious command."
Huh? Me? The King, who
I'd never even spoken to before, is investing in me, or rather, in Teigun?
Honestly, I was so
flustered I froze.
My brother, who was
next to me, nudged me, and I finally came to my senses...
"Such undeserved
words, I am so overwhelmed and deeply honored that I am at a loss for words. Your
Majesty's gracious consideration is an honor beyond my deserts.
Though I am unworthy,
I wish to devote my entire being to living up to your expectations."
I managed to say at
least that.
I wasn't sure if my
phrasing was correct.
I didn't know how to speak
to the King, after all...
I had never thought
such an opportunity would arise, so I hadn't learned it in the first place.
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