Chapter 465: Negotiation with the Wayne Family
While Viscount Wayne and the other barons were looking awkward, on the flat and barren land of the North County, a group of people had already started to move forward. They formed a long dragon formation in a mighty manner, and their target was Grothen Castle.
That was the political order and political center of the Northern County, and also the residence of Viscount Wayne’s family.
To the north was the plain.
And to the south was the relatively fertile Mountain of Leo.
There were countless streams in the mountain range. Although most of them flowed towards the south, there were also a few that flowed to the north. They went around the foot of the mountain and formed a small river, barely nouris.h.i.+ng the soil at the foot of the mountain.
At the very least, it would allow Viscount Wayne’s family to be self-sufficient in agriculture.
It was the only good place in the North County.
But now, there were many changes in this good place.
On the city walls of Grothen Castle, the troops responsible for guarding the castle were ready.
Sword-s.h.i.+eld soldiers, lance soldiers, archers and crossbowmen were also waiting for orders behind the city gates and on the city walls. There were close to 1,000 of them and their weapons were well-equipped. They were all elites with resolute expressions, fearless of life and death.
These were the true foundations that the Wayne family had trained and nurtured over the course of a hundred years.
There were even two grand knights among this group of people.
Including Viscount Wayne and the six grand knights under him, the Wayne family already had nine grand knights.
It had to be said that these n.o.ble families were really well-hidden. According to the official records of the Dukedom of Leo, Viscount Wayne was the only grand knight in the North County, there was no one else other than him.
However, thinking about it carefully, there were already two grand knights at the Stone Pa.s.s, plus Viscount Kevin’s castle.
They were all well-hidden!
But even so, it did not matter to the cavalry below and outside the castle, which numbered close to 3,000 people.
50 Royal Knights were all grand knights and had extraordinary powers. They were not being able to directly attack the city. However, they could form a large-scale a.s.sault force in the field that could easily break through the infantry formation of tens of thousands of people.
Together with the 1,500 heavy cavalries and 1,300 light cavalries, it would not be a problem to defeat an infantry group of less than 30,000 people!
Even without these Royal Knights.
Just the number of heavy cavalry and light cavalry was enough to intimidate them.
Now, the members of the Wayne family were all trembling in fear. Even the faces of the sons of Viscount Wayne, who were wearing full-armed mail armor and chain armor, were turned pale.
Such a large-scale heavy cavalry force was rare in the North County.
The most important thing, his father was in that huge troop.
And Viscount Wayne had asked to open the door for these unfamiliar troops.
Thinking back to the time when the n.o.ble alliance army attacked the Stone Pa.s.s together, and now they were brought back by an unfamiliar army, it was not difficult to guess the outcome. They had definitely lost the battle.
If they had lost a battle, it would have been fine. At most, they would have closed the castle and defended it.
But their own father, the head of the Wayne family was in the enemy’s troop.
The young people really did not know what to do.
But more than that, after a short meeting, they decided not to open the city gates.
There was still room for discussion. If they opened the city gates and let the unfamiliar army rush into the castle, then there would be no discussion. Even their safety could not be guaranteed, let alone the family members inside.
The Wayne family might not have a family head, but they definitely could not be cut off!
It was not as if the family head had never died on the battlefield.
But there was one point.
As a n.o.ble family, they definitely could not cut off all of their bloodlines!
Bloodlines were the signs of a family’s inheritance. Looking at the history of those once glorious families, because all of their members were killed, their inheritances were cut off in the end. This also meant that their family’s glory was cut off, and they were completely wiped out in history.
Although their Wayne family was not a high-level family, it was definitely not a small family.
Being able to occupy the North County showed one’s own strength.
If one wanted to continue the bloodline of family, one had to learn how to sacrifice!
Even those young people who had yet to completely take over the family had some ulterior thoughts.
In the past, their father, Viscount Wayne, was still in his prime, so they couldn’t have much right. Now that their father was suddenly captured, and they became closer control the power of the family, this feeling… was very good!
In less than half a day, the entire family had depended on them.
Because they were facing the danger of execution.
There was no other way.
That was why they could unite as one!
However, just as this group of people were daydreaming, an envoy arrived.
Firentis personally led the team, followed by 10 Royal Knights. They came to the city gate and told the defending soldiers that they hoped to talk.
The willingness to negotiate was quickly confirmed. A huge basket was placed on the city wall, which could fit three people. Firentis didn’t find it strange. He led two Royal Knights to the city wall and negotiated with the infantrymen of the Wayne family who were secretly on guard.
As an experienced n.o.ble, Firentis also noticed their uneasiness.
He smiled elegantly and said, “We do not have any hostile thoughts.”
“Is that so?” the one in charge of the negotiations was the eldest son of Viscount Wayne, who was also the first successor. “Then please send my father back to the castle, and then ask your troops to leave the castle’s range of three kilometers.”
“These can actually be done.” Firentis nodded with a smile.
“Can be done?” the eldest son frowned. “So, you mean that there is a price to pay?”
“That’s right!” Firentis nodded. Looking at the eldest son who was the same age as him, he said, “Logistical supplies, this is the price you have to pay!”
“Huh?” the eldest son was stunned. “What do you want to do?” He looked at Firentis, it was as if he was looking at a madman. “I know that you are the subordinates of Baron Kant, but you have to know that the troops of the South County are ten times stronger than those of the North County. This is absolutely not an alarmist. This is the truth!”
“Is that so?” Firentis chuckled, but his words were still firm, “I still need to tell you that I need to guarantee the logistical supplies for my troops, and then nothing will happen. Otherwise, we will act irrationally.”
“Yes!” the eldest son did not have any objections. He gritted his teeth and said, “But I can only secretly fund you and not sign any contracts!”
“No problem!” Firentis smiled and nodded, “It’s a pleasant deal then.”
But the eldest son said quietly, “Then what about my father? And the troops my father took away. I need to see them!” He said, his tone was extremely grave. “The n.o.ble families of South County are absolutely powerful in our eyes. We cannot follow you to attack South County. Especially when you fail, we will be hunted!”
“That won’t do.” Firentis continued to chuckle, “Your family is already willing to cooperate with us. At the same time, Viscount Wayne has already represented the Wayne family and pledged his loyalty to Baron Kant. This is the truth!”