As time went on, the discussion grew more and more heated, and even the nobles began to murmur amongst themselves.
The nobles who hadn't come from the academies, in particular, were filled with envy, jealousy, and hate.
Glen, Boman, and Fass all came over one after another to ask about the situation, but Henry sent them all away.
The Count's Personal Guard quickly took action. Two hundred imperial legion infantry, two hundred infantry sergeants, and two hundred steppe Dahar were dispatched in all directions. A few hundred years ago, this would have been an unimaginable sight.
Ever since maritime trade brought back massive quantities of ore and technology, the empire's power had been growing day by day!
Now, if a single Legion Commander's Personal Guard was this elite, no one knew just how terrifying the Royal Capital's Imperial Guard must be.
The soldiers who had been discussing the matter all received an unforgettable "reward." But while their mouths could be shut, their thoughts were not something the Personal Guard could police.
When night fell, the turmoil finally came to an end.
The Count re-supplied the right wing's baggage train with a large amount of food and provisions, gave Henry a hefty sum as compensation, and publicly declared that any act of embezzling military supplies was an offense punishable by beheading!
This outcome satisfied the nobles, as they couldn't be made to be scapegoats and take the fall. Count Sebastian's handling of the matter had been improper.
The soldiers, on the other hand, were utterly shocked. Their fear of Independent Nobles, who possessed their own fiefs and Private Armies, deepened once again.
"Philip, from today, our men will eat military rations. Claude, I'm entrusting the remaining serfs and thirty new recruits to you. Guard our people and property well."
"Yes, my lord."
Henry had Claude stay behind, handed him a letter, and said, "This is for the King. Remember what happened today. Send it out now."
"Yes, my lord."
Meanwhile, in the Autongard city hall, Count Sebastian and Glen were talking.
"Nephew, that was a rotten idea you had. He even dared to say he'd cut off my head."
Glen took a sip of black tea and chuckled. "You have your Personal Guard, so you're safe. I suggest you write a letter to the King to avoid any blame from him."
"Of course, I've already sent it. You nobles from the academies always love to tattle."
Glen shook his head and remarked with a sigh, "A young Border Noble, highly skilled in Martial Arts, a competent commander, and utterly uncompromising."
"Tsk tsk. Skilled in both literature and combat, and handsome too. I'll cross paths with him sooner or later. I just didn't expect him to be so audacious. I thought he might resist, but not like this."
Sebastian speared a piece of peach with his fork and warned, "Give up on your foolish idea of recruiting him. Don't get yourself dragged into this. You have better prospects ahead of you. There's a great distance and many other lands between your fiefs. Don't overthink it."
Sebastian ate the peach and said appreciatively, "A fine peach. Very juicy. You could build all sorts of orchards on your lands. That's a very tempting source of income, too."
"We'll see. First, I'll take what belongs to others."
The next day, the entire city of Autongard sealed its gates. Passing merchant caravans had to wait outside. All the armies mobilized, preparing to set out.
The Seventh Legion, along with hordes of nobles' Private Armies—an army a full thirty thousand strong—officially marched out!
The Third and Eleventh Legions had received intelligence and located many Half-Beastman tribal settlements. They planned to force them into a direct pitched battle.
As for the exiled nobles, ruined nobles, and feral dog-like Mercenary companies that had proactively fanned out, no one paid them any mind.
Henry suddenly started living a life of retirement. Every day, he would listen to Claude and his deputy report on how much fodder and grain was consumed and whether anyone had taken more than their share. Other than that, there was nothing for him to do.
Boman and Fass would still come by from time to time to play chess with Henry, often allowing Henry to win a fortune from them.
"Wow, if I could play chess with you guys every day, I could even afford to form a forty-man Heavy Cavalry Team."
This comfortable, slacker lifestyle lasted for twenty days before it came to an end.
They had successfully rendezvoused with the Third and Eleventh Legions and merged into a massive encampment.
The camp stretched as far as the eye could see. Henry estimated there were at least a hundred thousand people here. On top of that, there were huge numbers of serfs and Auxiliary Soldiers serving as logistics. For the empire, this terrifying rate of consumption was... a drop in the bucket.
Potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes could feed more people, supporting the upper class and the army.
"Henry, latest news. The Half-Beastman army has assembled and is moving in our direction. A battle might break out this afternoon. Are you going to take your Private Army into the fight?"
"Of course, Boman. I suggest you and Fass group your men together. Otherwise, you won't get any spoils at all."
Soon, the vast military camp began to operate with rapid efficiency. The three Legion Commanders issued a continuous stream of orders. The soldiers began to eat their noon meal, with the promise from the Legion Commanders that if they won this battle, a reward of three months' salary and a luxurious grand feast awaited them.
The nobles' Private Armies were also assigned their roles, responsible for infiltration and reinforcement. It had to be said that the combat effectiveness of the nobles' Private Armies wasn't poor at all; they were just small in scale.
The sun slowly moved across the sky and the temperature gradually dropped. All the resting soldiers donned their armor, took up their weapons, and began to form up. The Half-Beastmen had arrived.
Henry also put on his triple-layered heavy armor, fitted his horse with Armored Horse Armor, and led his troops to the assembly point.
It was worth noting that Henry's New Recruit Team was now equipped with iron-banded hardwood shields. The weapons in their hands were all fine, imperial-patterned iron weapons. In addition to their Cotton Armor, they also wore iron helmets, Small Heart Protectors, vambraces, and thick scarves.
The New Recruit Team consisted of the soldiers Henry trusted and valued the most for training. As long as he equipped them with sufficient weapons and armor, they would continue to grow stronger.
WOOO~ WOOO~ WOOO~
The war horns sounded continuously, the atmosphere of war growing heavier by the second. Henry reached his designated assembly position and saw the Half-Beastman army forming up in ranks.
The Half-Beastmen once didn't know how to fight in formation, but after prolonged warfare with humans, they too had learned a great deal.
"Centaurs, Minotaurs, Tiger-men, Bearmen, goatmen, Gnolls, Kobolds... Oh, and some cute Rabbit People and Fox People. Looks like the enemy has brought a full menagerie this time."
Henry ignored Boman's words from beside him, instead calculating the number of Half-Beastmen and their armor coverage rate.
The two sides were evenly matched. It looked to be a tough fight—a battle worthy of being immortalized in poems and recorded in the annals of history.
Soon, both sides finished their deployments. A Centaur ran out, holding up an indecipherable totem.
Henry took a bow and arrow from Bain, galloped out from his ranks, and let fly an arrow.
The Centaur's head was pierced by an Armor-Piercing Arrow. It swayed for a moment before collapsing to the ground, its totem banner falling with it.
Huh? From that far? A headshot? Since when was there a master archer like that among them?
What had just happened? Everyone stared in astonishment at Henry, who held the bow, their minds completely blank.