The Second Son of the Count Is Too Good

A few days have passed since the victory. The occupation itself was surprisingly quiet. It was thanks to the soldiers and residents that they did not see a single drop of blood.

After arranging a place for the soldiers to stay, Luke first kept his promise to the people of the territory.

“Cut the tax rate by a quarter. It also eliminates miscellaneous taxes.”

“Waaa!”

“Nari Luke, no, long live the lord!”

The villagers cheered and shouted Luke’s name, and shrugged their shoulders saying that their choice was not wrong.

However, there were voices of concern from within.

“Are you okay? Taxes would be too low.”

“It’s not a place to stay for long anyway.”

I don’t know if Luke lives here with roots at all. Considering the development of the territory, it is necessary to secure adequate tax revenue.

But now we are at war. When you have to think about winning the battle right now before you do anything with taxes.

And even if the war is over, I have no intention of setting up a foundation.

“As long as the status quo is maintained, it is not difficult even with reduced taxes. If you completely get rid of the dignity maintenance cost and return all the money to the estate, it will be more than enough.”

“There are also issues with maintenance costs, including provisions.”

“It’s enough to settle that with the property of the former lord. Looking at it, it seems to have been put together quite sparingly.”

As a former lord, Philippe’s tax policy was simple. Even if dissatisfaction is piled up, scrape it to the level of hesitation to raise a rebellion risking one’s life.

He was a competent man in that he could catch that close line. Looking at the wealth of the warehouse, it seemed that the management was quite good.

‘I didn’t assume that someone would encourage me from behind, so it ended up like that.’

Thrilling is the sound that goes right away with just a slight push. Anyway, only the theory was like a clan.

After completing the small tasks necessary after the occupation, Luke went up the wall. The snow-covered ground was still empty.

“It’s a bummer for reinforcements to come in two days.”

Philip squealed in the dungeon. In two days, reinforcements will come from Viscount Beldine, so everything will be over.

So, I prepared everything and waited, but the reinforcements did not even show their noses.

‘It didn’t look like a lie.’

At least Philip sincerely believed that. Since they didn’t come after two days, I was stunned with a devastated expression.

Then there is only one answer. Ignored the request for reinforcements. Luke summoned a soldier and gave orders.

“Call Bjorn and Henrik.”

“yep!”

It was the time when a strategy meeting was needed.

* * *

“We must attack.”

As soon as the strategy meeting started, Bjorn said firmly. Bruno frowned at those words.

“Aren’t there more troops than us?”

“Right. At least three times as many.”

“The walls won’t be worse than here.”

“It was once on the front line, so there’s nothing to compare it to here.”

Bruno made a ridiculous expression at the answer that flowed without obstruction. Is this person kidding?

I exercised my last patience and decided to ask just one more question.

“There must be a strategy or weakness, right?”

“Well, at this point, nothing really.”

“No, then why did you ask to go in!?”

Unbearable, Bruno shouted. It’s not just a fight, it’s a siege. It’s not just a castle with an assortment like here, but a proper castle.

But attacking with less than half of the enemy’s forces?

“You don’t even know how damn good a real siege is!”

The history of the empire tells this story. A veteran veteran retired and went to his hometown, and a disciple who was a general came to visit.

The disciple asked his master what he had not learned before the war broke out.

-Master, what should I do with the siege?

Then the master, who was a veteran of the war, said.

-Don’t do it, you madman.

The disciple did not understand the master’s words and went back. And when war broke out, he captured five castles with great skill.

Later, when the disciple grew old and was about to retire, a young general asked the same question as the old disciple.

-General, how do you like siege warfare?

Then the disciple answered right away.

– Never do it.

I don’t know if it’s a true story, but that’s how siege is like sh*t. To be precise, the cost of entering the siege was enormous.

You need at least ten times as many troops, you need to prepare siege weapons, and you need provisions to sustain the siege for a long time.

Even if you go through that hardship and capture the castle, there is nothing left.

“By the way, the sound of attacking with less than half an army!?”

“I’m not saying we’re going to attack head-on.”

Bjorn calmly explained to the excited Bruno.

“But my uncle won’t budge unless we move first. One year, two years, only sluggish time will pass.”

“Didn’t you say at least three times as many troops? Even with an army like that, they won’t budge?”

Bjorn is a being with a legitimate right of succession. If the head of household was seized by an unfair method, the person you want to get rid of is the number one priority.

I don’t know if he didn’t rebel, but if he rebelled, he would want to deal with it quickly before doing anything.

“why?”

“My uncle is such a person.”

Bjorn smiled bitterly. This was information that only those who saw it knew.

“I especially care about gains and losses, hate losses extremely, and like fishermen.”

“In other words, don’t make preemptive strikes that are likely to cause even a little damage?”

“Something like that.”

“Okay.”

Bruno groaned and sat down in his chair. Not all lords are excellent commanders, so there could be lords with that kind of personality.

However, if Bjorn’s words were true, it would be difficult. Defensive warfare has become virtually impossible.

“The enemy does not move first. But you can’t do a siege. Then there is only one way.”

Luke said, looking at Bjorn.

“I’ll have to drag you out of the castle.”

“That’s right.”

“Is there anything that can be used as bait?”

“If possible, I would like to volunteer, but it probably won’t have much effect.”

I guess so. Even though Bjorn rebelled, he was a person who did not come out of an advantageous position, saying he did not want to lose money.

Since he had already taken the position of head of household, he wouldn’t venture out.

‘It can be used as bait.’

As you can see, he is a human who will not move unless he has enormous wealth. Luke glanced at the map for a moment, then his eyes lit up.

One of the reasons I came to this North. When everything was done, the place I was trying to find was marked.

‘I’m using this here.’

The corner of his mouth went up at the coincidence that the cogwheels fit perfectly. Luke looked at Bjorn and said.

“How is the dungeon?”

“You mean the dungeon?”

“So, will this be the bait to attract your uncle?”

“Even if I lay a trap openly, they will come out.”

If the gain far outweighs the loss, he is a person who will jump out without looking back. No, it’s not just the viscount.

A dungeon full of ancient artifacts. With that much lure, even the most prudent people will not be able to resist the temptation and jump out.

“But my uncle is very suspicious. False information will be found out soon.”

“It’s not false information.”

“yes?”

“There is a real dungeon.”

The reason why Luke had to come all the way to the North before returning. It was to check if there were any leftovers in the dungeon that had already been dug up.

Unfortunately, there was no income. On the way back, all I did was visit my maternal grandfather and mother’s hometown.

‘But at this time, I’m still fine.’

Luke’s eyes turned to the map. His gaze was directed to the foot of the snowy mountain, a little away from the Beldine estate.

* * *

The current head of Viscount Beldine, Lugres Beldine, was in the worst mood. It was because of the news that his nephew had rebelled against him.

‘If possible, I was going to kill him slowly by drying him out, then hit him when he didn’t have the strength to resist.’

The first few years were just taming. Starting this year, I was thinking of properly holding on to the leash and consuming the soldiers.

By taking advantage of hunger, cold, and frequent barbarian invasions. However, the guy rebelled at the point where there were still more than 100 strong soldiers left.

‘You idiot Philip. I can’t consume it, but hand over the entire territory?’

Just thinking about it made my teeth clench. Lugres tore up the letter on the spot and threw the messenger into prison.

I didn’t care about the request of the rural baron, who couldn’t even do my part.

‘Huh, let’s see if he raised a rebellion.’

Although he was angry about Bjorn’s rebellion, it didn’t give him a sense of crisis.

This territory was once one of the front lines of defense against barbarians. The castle is solid, and the material is full.

If he attempted a siege, his army would melt first. Still, I couldn’t help but feel irritated, so I was at the point where I was trying to soothe my stomach with alcohol.

“What is this?”

Lugres grabbed the letter in his hand and trembled. His face was red from how angry he was.

The messenger who delivered the letter was calm.

“What, didn’t I tell you? This is a personal letter from the Warchief.”

“A letter? A personal letter!?”

I was stunned. A personal letter is an expression that can be used only by those who hold a title higher than that of a king. However, a barbarian guy wrote his own letter.

“Ragnar, that savage is crazy! I made a deal, so you want me to come under you? Did you even eat poisonous mushroom soup!?”

“… Be careful what you say, sir.”

“What!? You barbarian scum!”

How dare a barbarian squire say such a thing. It was when the enraged Lugres drew his sword and approached the messenger.

My body froze at the cool messenger’s eyes.

“Where is this guy!”

From noble mtl dot com

“Six families agreed with the warchief.”

“what?”

Lugres blinked at the unexpected sound. The six families refer to the families at the forefront of barbarian defense besides Beldine.

Doesn’t it mean that all the families recognized the barbarian as their king?

“Don’t lie, bastard!”

“It’s not a lie. If you have any doubts, why not ask other family heads?”

“Kuhm!”

Rugres rolled his tail at the messenger’s confident attitude. If this is true, it was not normal.

The next emotion after anger and bewilderment was doubt. why the hell

‘Why did the six families acknowledge Ragnar as their king?’

No matter how many tribes we unite, it won’t be enough to subdue the six families.

Looking at Lugres lost in thought, the messenger said.

“Anyway, I delivered the letter and came to hear the answer. The answer seems to be no.”

“Wait, wait a minute.”

“You don’t have to worry.”

“what?”

The messenger smiled at Lugres, who narrowed her eyes, not knowing what she was talking about.

“The Warchief doesn’t actually want His Excellency to join us. Because he wants to exterminate at least one person as an example.”

“… … !”

“And he said that His Excellency is the right person for it.”

It was a word with implications. Lugres trembled with rage, but an ominous feeling stopped him.

What if that messenger was telling the truth? What if all six real families succumbed to Ragnar?

‘And if he really has the power to annihilate Beldain and remain.’

The dry saliva went over the temple. It was as if this one word could change the fate of the family.

“Everything, I will give you an answer in a month!”

“It is one month. That much can wait.”

However, he said he would not wait any longer, and the messenger left with a meaningful word. Lugres sighed.

I couldn’t tell if that was a bluff or the truth. The savages were originally deceitful.

“Send spies to gather information. I want to find out what happened.”

I can’t write a letter to the real six families. If you had succumbed to Ragnar, you would be hiding that fact and pretending to be loyal to the Imperial Family.

Even if you ask, only a formal answer or scolding will come back anyway. To get any real information, I had to gather it myself.

‘I wish I could gather even a little useful information.’

A few days later, a spy returned. However, the information he brought back was not about Ragnar.

Hearing the spy’s words, Lugres widened his eyes.

“Bjorn discovered a dungeon and is excavating?”