As expected, Duke Hubald had indeed met Angron before. Given Angron's appearance and physique, it was hard for anyone to forget him.
As Angron had anticipated, seeing that it was a "familiar face" committing the act, the Duke generously forgave the group for their "meddling" and invited them to his castle, the famous Carcassonne Castle in the Old World, as guests.
The Duke's casual attitude greatly displeased the female Norscan, Ingrid, who shouted, "Damn it, if it weren't for me... I mean, us, only their Lady of the Lake knows if these villagers could hold out until the knights arrived!"
"Shut up, Ingrid. If you don't want to spend the night outside the castle, keep talking," Fugan said with a bright smile.
The female barbarian wisely closed her mouth. This was partly out of respect for the strong, and partly because she knew that her strength could only intimidate the beastmen, but was not enough against hundreds of knights.
However, the barbarians had one redeeming quality: when facing someone as overwhelmingly powerful as Fugan, they would generally obey unconditionally.
It would have been troublesome if they had encountered people particularly skilled in debate, like the Estalians or the citizens of Nuln in the Empire. These people were notorious for being argumentative, often shouting about "freedom of speech, democracy, and equality," and were famous for their stubbornness and contrarianism, often opposing for the sake of opposition.
Some diehards would even stress that their opponent's punching stance was unattractive after being knocked to the ground, which could indeed be a headache.
Led by Duke Hubald, Fugan's force of over 500 soldiers set out for Carcassonne Castle.
By late afternoon, the combined forces finally approached Carcassonne Castle.
As one of Bretonnia's most important strategic points in the south, Carcassonne Castle had a long history and numerous legends of Grail Knights and wars. Architecturally, it resembled a typical high elf-style castle, with cylindrical towers and conical roofs that were particularly striking.
Inside the castle, Fugan took an interested tour of Carcassonne. The most spectacular sights were the inner and outer walls and towers that defended the castle. It featured massive fortifications surrounding the castle, compact houses and streets, and the perfect Grail Cathedral. The streets inside the castle were a maze, the houses were densely packed, and only the patrolling soldiers' strict presence marred the aesthetic.
Duke Hubald, with a stern face, spoke to his attendant, who then approached Fugan and his group. "Commander of the Ash Legion, our Duke says that the Duchy of Carcassonne is not wealthy. We appreciate your help against the beastmen invasion, but we have little to offer in thanks. We can only provide lodging and ensure you have enough mutton to eat."
"That's fine, it's enough," Fugan said nonchalantly. As he had stated before, fighting against evil was a duty, not something for which one should seek reward. Having mutton for two meals was a bonus.
"The Duke also invites you to dine with him in the inner castle this evening," the attendant continued. "He wishes to inquire about the situation in Tillyria."
"Alright."
...…
Time moved into August.
Old World, Bretonnia, southern Lyonnais, former Mousilon Duchy.
A small army was advancing across the plains.
This army, led by the Old Guards sent by Ryan, was tasked with supporting the southern Lyonnais nobles and quelling local peasant uprisings.
The problems in Lyonnais had long been an issue. Since the bloody battle with Egil-Redeye, the duchy had been in decline. Due to food shortages, the knights couldn't solve the peasants' hunger. They could defeat the peasant rebels, but couldn't restore them to production.
Worse still, the old Mousilon nobles lacked sufficient military forces. Despite rejecting any orders from Duke Alderreld of Lyonnais after Egil's invasion, they had suffered significant losses. As the rebellion spread throughout the land, the nobles were left with only some castles and a few guarded estates. They were anxious but powerless, knowing that while knights could rout the rebels in the field, it wouldn't solve the fundamental problem of the rebellion.
It was well known that bandits could flee and avoid battle. Knights couldn't pursue them over long distances, and even if they did catch up, the bandits would retreat to fortresses, making a frontal assault difficult and costly. Additionally, the knights themselves were short on food.
But now, Duke Ryan's reinforcements had arrived. Led by a regiment of about 400 Old Guards, with two peasant infantry regiments and a team of dwarf artillery, they marched to southern Lyonnais to support the old Mousilon nobles.
This would be the first battle for the newly formed Old Guards under Ryan's command.
The first target was the rebellious stronghold of Boursalle Castle in southern Lyonnais. This small castle, abandoned by its knightly lord who died fighting Egil, was now occupied by peasant rebels who crowned themselves Barons of Boursalle, seeking recognition from local nobles.
But what awaited them was the Old Guards and the commanding Baron Biocali Juan-Carlos Sunwatcher.
Under the dwarves' engineering, a floating bridge was quickly constructed, allowing the army to cross the small river near the castle at great speed. The rebels inside the castle were still unaware of the approaching force.
After encircling the castle, Juan immediately ordered the northern Earl Duren and Earl Lalotte to launch a feint attack, while he and the Old Guards' commander, Lord "Green Arrow" Bertrand Winford, attacked from behind.
The peasant rebels soon experienced the might of Ryan's army.
First came the cannon fire. The dwarf cannons and organ guns bombarded the castle. The low walls, neglected after being taken over, couldn't withstand the dwarven firepower and collapsed. Buildings inside the castle were blown to pieces, with bodies and debris flying, horses neighing, and chaos ensuing.
Terrified before even engaging, the rebels cried and screamed, fleeing in all directions, shouting that the Lady of the Lake's wrath had descended. Morale plummeted, and when the Old Guards, dressed in white uniforms and silver half-plate armor with red or blue epaulets and tassels, charged through the fallen walls, shouting slogans, the rebels were already broken in spirit, screaming that they had lost the Lady's protection.
The rebellion was crushed without much of a fight.
The rebels, who had anticipated a battle with what they imagined were forces comparable to themselves, were shocked to face elite troops like the Old Guards, armed with weapons crafted by dwarf workshops and radiating a deadly aura.
Seeing the rebels' imminent defeat, the originally feinting Earl Duren and Earl Lalotte turned their feint into a real attack to seize some military merit.
From the start of the siege to its conclusion took only three hours. A rebel stronghold that had eluded local nobles for years fell.
As the army entered the castle, the sight made both knights and Old Guards frown.
Everywhere was carnage, with limbs and bodies strewn about, and excrement on the ground. The able-bodied rebels had fled, leaving only the elderly, women, and children, too weak to run. They were emaciated and desperate, with some even begging for a quick death rather than mercy.
Earl Duren and Earl Lalotte were deeply saddened by this. They felt that punishing or pardoning these people was equally difficult, so they temporarily imprisoned them and provided some black bread for the starving elders.
This poor-quality food, long eliminated from Ryan's territory, was seen as a delicacy by the starving elders, who gnawed at the bread with their teeth cracking.
As they ate, tears flowed. An elderly peasant wept, "If we had known there was black bread to eat, we wouldn't have joined the rebellion!"
The castle was filled with such cries.
Night fell at the Old Guards' camp nearby.
Bertrand, chewing on raisins, wore a tricorn hat and a pristine Old Guards officer's uniform. Not far away, the Old Guards lined up for their meals, receiving food from the mess.
Iron barrels heated over fires, and a large pot of stew emitted a rich aroma. Cooks ladled out big chunks of sausage (imported from the Empire) and fragrant meat soup into the Old Guards' bowls.
Bags of bread were opened, and soft whole-wheat bread was buttered and handed out.
The nobles of old Mousilon envied the Old Guards' food.
"Their food is as good as what we give our knights," Earl Duren said helplessly. "Lady above, sausage, vegetable meat soup, whole-wheat bread, and butter! This is the Old Guard?"
"Just shows how wealthy the southerners are," Earl Lalotte shook his head, watching his peasants eat black bread with porridge, which only had some flour, vegetables, and carrots. "Look at the supplies, and you see the problem."
"Don't say 'southerners.' Remember, we've pledged allegiance to the Duke," Duren said quickly, feeling like he'd been pricked.
"...I forgot," Lalotte nodded, acknowledging his slip. "Following the Duke is paramount."
The two earls exchanged glances and smiled.
While the local peasant soldiers and even knights envied the Old Guards' food.
"Sir, here you are!" Raymond, carrying a tray with a large piece of bread, a bowl of vegetable meat soup, a sausage, and some dried fruits, approached Bertrand. "Good evening."
As an officer, Raymond had more dried fruit, and Bertrand had oatmeal and a plate of roast lamb.
"Good evening, Raymond,"
Bertrand said, eating his oatmeal and cutting the lamb. At forty, the knight and commander of the Old Guards reflected, looking at the night-shrouded camp.
Who would have thought that eight years ago, he was a bandit leader in Chalon Forest?
It all seemed like a dream.
"Raymond, you're from Lyonnais, right?" Bertrand asked, enjoying the lamb. The meat was tender and juicy, typical of Carcassonne. "How does it feel to be home?"
"It's strange, and exciting," Raymond's hands trembled. "I've been away for years. I want to see my family."
"There will be a chance," Bertrand reassured, stroking his bow, a prized Starfire Bow from the Wood Elves. "How far is the village?"
"About eighty kilometers. The rebels occupy it," Raymond's excitement grew, feeling a surge of emotion.
Beat them back home! Beat them back to Lyonnais! Beat them back to the village!
Your Old Guard, Raymond, is back!
"Oh, that village?" Bertrand checked the map under a dwarf-made lantern. "We should be there by the day after tomorrow."
"You'll get to visit home then, Raymond!"
"Yes!"
Raymond's eyes burned with passion.
We're going home!
_________________________
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