105 run
Unexpectedly, many people were imprisoned in the prison of Yeongju-gwan.
Some wives, some daughters, were brought because they were beautiful.
Another person brought up a lot of trouble in a really strange part because he had more income than others. Such a person was released only after paying a certain amount of money.
One of those imprisoned was a man named Dennis.
He was originally an official who contacted Goruka and was in charge of the grassland.
And before Rudy came here, he was the person listed at the front of the ‘usable management list’ received from the special agency.
The lord seems to have thought that it would take a considerable amount of time for the subjugation team to arrive from the ecliptic in the first place.
So, when the special agency delivered the emperor’s order to negotiate Goruka as a guide in the steppe and let him stay as a guest at the lord’s house, he did not take any action.
Later, when the subjugation party arrived, they thought it would be enough to prepare a guide.
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Dennis made Goruka stay in the city by offering additional compensation if the lord did not properly obey the emperor’s orders.
Aside from the arrival of the subjugation force from the ecliptic, the grassland tribes carried out large-scale plunder anyway.
In that case, he thought that a subjugation party would be formed in the near future.
Until that happens, he tried to hold on to Goruka and wait for the situation.
The merchants of the steppe know their prices well, but the border cities limit their purchase of weapons.
Because of that, even with a small reward, he was able to use the grassland merchant as an informant.
Giving them the right to buy them rather than giving them weapons is enough of a reward.
The additional reward Dennis was trying to give to Goruka was like that too. I heard that you were thinking of adding a little money to it for your own expenses.
However, when the fact that the emperor personally led the punitive force and departed, the lord became desperate.
At this rate, the truth is revealed that he ignored the emperor’s order and did not intend to detain Goruka.
In addition, the guide of the meadow was also needed immediately.
Fearing that Dennis would reveal the truth, the lord accused him of hiding Goruka and imprisoned him.
The lord didn’t even threaten Goruka from the beginning.
However, I thought that if I gave an order to be a guide, he would of course obey, but when Goruka rebelled, the threat intensified and eventually Goruka ran away.
If it had been that far, the lord would have immediately prostrated himself on the floor and prayed, trying to somehow alleviate the situation.
However, the emperor who got scared and went out to greet him is a young boy who seems to have only beauty as his strength.
The foolish lord must have thought at that moment.
It’s easy to roast and boil that child.
In the first place, he seems to have thought that saying that he would lead a thousand soldiers and fight against wild people like barbarians was the act of an immature child who really didn’t know anything.
Rudy grinned as he listened to Dennis, who had a clear understanding of the lord’s actions, explain that.
Maybe it’s because of his young age, or maybe because of his appearance, Rudy seems like a weak and immature boy to someone who sees him for the first time.
I heard a similar story when the officials of the special agency greeted me and toured the border area together.
Well, can you think that way even towards the end of the battle. At least I hope you’re not scared.
Rudy ordered Dennis to investigate and release anyone who was imprisoned for not committing a crime.
Most of the people who work at the lord are as incompetent as the lord.
A list of officials recommended by the special agency was given to Dennis, and he put them in the appropriate positions to work in their stead.
I was thinking of deciding what to do in the future while watching the work for the time being.
By the time the officials had properly formulated the policy and the instructions were over, they were almost ready to enter the meadow.
Check the prepared items, such as food and torches, and do a final check.
It was that night that the news came that the barbarians of the steppes had raided villages far from the border cities.
It was a bloody soldier who brought the news of the invasion of the barbarians.
It is said that he fell off his horse when he arrived near the gate of the border city.
One of his arms was cut and he ran halfway, fixing it with his clothes.
Judging that it would be faster for people to come than to move to the Yeongju Hall, the gatekeeper came to deliver the news.
Not only Rudy, but also Gorukawa and several officials from the special agency rushed to the castle gate.
Even at a glance, the soldiers in the village seemed unlikely to survive.
Shed too much blood.
He stopped the bleeding, but all he did was tore off his clothes and tie them up. Blood was dripping from the ends of the tied clothes.
Riding a horse all the way here was a mess.
Rudy and the people didn’t seem to be able to see it properly either.
The village soldier kept shouting like bullsh*t.
“…barbarians invaded. There were many times more than other times…they killed soldiers and men and took the carts. All dead. Unlike other times…they invaded. Barbarians invaded. Please help me… the children… the girls… my wife is being taken away… please help me…”
There was a soldier in the border city who knew where the village soldier was talking about. According to him, the area invaded was several hours away from here.
“It’s already too late. If the women were taken away, the looting would have been over before this man left. It’s too late to chase after him now.”
Goruka spoke quietly in an emotionless voice.
One of the soldiers guarding the gate turned his head away.
Even in the blind state, the wounded soldier continued to cry out.
All the women, including their children, were taken away. Livestock, as well as meat and wheat stockpiled, were taken away. They put them all on a cart and took them away. His own wife is also being dragged away.
The soldier repeatedly cried out for help.
Boris took another look at the situation, but the soldier was already dying.
You can tell just by looking at it with your eyes closed. It was a miracle to have come this far.
The village pharmacist who arrived late diagnosed the soldier and shook his head in the same way.
Boris held the soldier’s hand and spoke into his ear.
“His Majesty has heard you directly. You may rest your mind now.”
At first, the soldier’s voice, which did not understand the words and kept shouting, fell silent.
Boris repeated it several times insistently.
“His Majesty the Emperor himself has granted your wishes. You can relax. All the women who were taken away will be brought back to the village. Your wife and the village children will all come back. It’s okay.”
I don’t think I could understand it all at once. The wounded soldier seems to have finally understood what Boris had said several times.
“…Thank you…Thank you…Glory to Your Majesty…Thank you…”
Grabbing Rudy’s outstretched hand with one arm, the wounded soldier repeated the phrase several times before closing his eyes.
Even then, many times, he said thank you in a mumble.
When the strength of the soldier’s body was finally drained, the gatekeeper and some of the soldiers guarding the gate were weeping.
Rudy went back to the Countermeasure Headquarters and asked Goruka.
“I heard that people don’t kill as much as possible when plundering in the grasslands. Why didn’t you do that this time?”
Goruka replied with a thoughtful expression.
“There are several types of loot. The basic is to take as many people as you can carry on a horse without killing them.”
Carts take time to pull. You can’t avoid the enemy’s pursuit. Therefore, instead of carrying little, it leaves people to work for them to plunder again.
“But this plunder seems to be to stock up on food for the winter. We need a good amount. From now on, wherever we are being plundered, we’ll take everything we can rake, not even a single grain of wheat left behind.”
That’s why it leaves no one to work. Rather, they kill all adult males who are likely to pursue them.
Goruka continued with a thoughtful expression.
“That’s why the various tribes united. Unlike other times, warriors escort while using carts to move food and women.”
Goruka glanced at the officers and soldiers at the Countermeasure Headquarters and said with a stiff face.
“Many of the women and children taken this time will soon die. Strong and healthy women will live to give birth to children, but those who do not will most likely die after enjoying themselves for a while or giving them away as a reward for fighting.”
There are also slaves in the grasslands. They are mainly men and women who have been dragged after losing a war or plundering.
Such people were the first to be killed when food was scarce or conditions were poor. This is because they are treated more like livestock than people.
This time, food is scarce for any tribe. If you dragged it anyway, there was only one result.
Most of the people who dragged them would kill without consuming too much food.
“okay.”
After Rudy said that, he summoned the phoenix.
When a beautiful rainbow-colored bird and a bird as white as snow appeared in the air, scattering lights, the eyes of all but the riders who had already seen the phoenix grew as large as the lamp.
Goruka also opened her mouth as if she was quite surprised.
On the other hand, the cavalrymen who knew of the existence of the phoenix shrugged and went up.
“Trace the blood of the soldier who came earlier and go to his village. Then, can you confirm where the looters are and where they are going?”
When Rudi said, the phoenix bowed her head gracefully as if she knew it.
The two firebirds flapped their huge wings and soared into the air, disappearing beyond the building.
“We’re leaving at dawn tomorrow, so everyone get some rest.”
Rudi said, but none of the people from the border town, including Gorukawa and the officials of the special agency, moved. It seems to have hardened.
The cavalry commanders who came with Rudy seemed insignificant, but showed their chests a little proudly.
“It’s embarrassing to be this surprised. There are many more surprises in the future.”
The phoenix did not return until late that night. However, it seems that the women and children who were taken to the meadow have already found it.
Although you can’t see it, a corner of your heart moved like a rustling wind. It felt like someone was whispering in my head.
I found them, I met them, I see them.
Women and children are crying.
I couldn’t hear it clearly, but it seemed like two birds were saying that.
Apparently, the two phoenixes are sending words to Rudy.
I couldn’t see it, but I could see it.
***
Before dawn, the subjugation team departed from the border city.
Goruka stood in the forefront.
After that, Rudy, Boris, magician and cavalry followed.
Carts are not used for fast movement. Of course, I didn’t bring anything bulky like a tent.
There is also almost no fur.
As it was on the way here, at night, instead of a blanket, cover it with a cloak.
Each person had beef jerky and salt, and every few people had a pot to prepare the food.
If you put some grass that you can eat on the go and boil it with water, that’s a meal.
Rather than being simple, it’s shabby enough that it’s not food for people to eat, but in order to deal with barbarians, you have to reduce your burden as much as possible. It is unavoidable.
Just as the subjugation party passed through the gate, a phoenix suddenly appeared high in the sky.
It draws a large circle and slowly flaps its wings in the direction toward the meadow.
The phoenix, which flew for a long time and moved until it became smaller, returned again.
And again, it shows which direction the enemy is moving.
Goruka watched the bird move and guessed its direction.
The phoenix moves by flying through the air, regardless of the roughness of the terrain or the presence of animals, but people do not.
I had to estimate the direction the firebird was going and choose a path that would allow people to move and pass.
The scariest thing in the meadow is the wolf.
Unlike other places, wolves in the grasslands are large and clever.
There were several groups of wolves that attacked and ate humans.
In the grasslands, when war breaks out, people aren’t the only enemies. If anyone was wounded, at night they were killed not by enemies, but by wolves who came upon them at the smell of blood.
Especially in times of starvation like now.
Besides, now is the time when female wolves give birth to cubs. It was a time when young males were in full swing hunting for food for females.
Wolves do not attack easily when there are so many people, but at night, if someone strays even slightly from the pack, there is a possibility that they will attack.
Goruka took a route that avoided wolf-infested areas, areas that were too dry or too rough.
Seeing the speed at which the subjugation party was moving, the phoenix began to move forward slowly in line with it.
After the subjugation party left the city, the residents who saw the bird of light flapping its wings in the sky made a fuss, and the whole city was in an uproar for a while.
＜ Departure ＞
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