Chapter 139

Soon after, our soldiers echoed my words.

“Those who surrender shall not be killed! However, if even one does not surrender, all shall die!”

“This is Count Croilet’s last mercy towards you scum of serfs.”

“If you wish to live and harvest beans, surrender quickly!!”

Once the demand for surrender was issued, the enemy soldiers stopped in their tracks, laid all their weapons on the ground, and knelt.

They knelt down and cried out in desperation.

“P-please spare us!!”

“We will never, never rise against Count Croilet again!!”

“We were merely following orders from that damned Architel Duke!!”

Originally, serfs cannot pay a ransom even if they are captured as prisoners.

So usually, the lord who captures the serfs would choose to execute them to eliminate the maintenance costs required for food and living, or sell them into slavery to receive money.

However, even in a world where the concept of human rights doesn’t exist, killing hundreds or even thousands of serfs would build a notorious reputation for cruelty…

So they often choose to sell them as slaves, which nets a good profit and doesn’t tarnish their reputation.

Typically, serfs are aware of this and tend to plead not to be sold into slavery when they surrender, but they don’t usually beg for their lives in such a desperate manner.

However, they have lost their composure due to the thunderous noise and acrid smoke, along with the formidable power of firearms, which has made them act like this.

“All soldiers, immediately capture those men as prisoners! The serfs will become the foundation of the territory we have seized. Therefore, those who surrender should not be treated roughly like slaves. However, we will recover all the armor and weapons they are equipped with.”

Upon hearing my command, the soldiers began to capture the prisoners somewhat politely.

“Quickly, take off your armor and lay down your weapons! Do you want to end up like those pathetic ones rolling around you?”

“N-no!! Please just spare my life!”

“You idiot!! Hurry up and take off your armor, lay down your weapons, and go up there! I won’t kill you!!”

Saying this, our soldiers continued to urge them on from the side with great intensity.

Moreover, if any suspicious movements were made, instead of beating them with a club, they kicked them.

However, it couldn’t be helped since the surrendered enemy soldiers might suddenly draw a sword or weapon and attack our soldiers.

And I called over one of the officers nearby and said.

“Those enemy soldiers who have no hope left should be executed directly. However, those with even a slight chance of survival should be treated in the same facilities as our own.”

“Yes, understood! I will relay that we should prioritize treating our own over the enemy prisoners.”

“Also, while treating those soldiers who have avoided death or serious injury, have our agents infiltrate the wards to spread rumors that if they submit to our rule, they will be protected and able to live in a good environment.”

“Yes, Your Excellency!”

As the officer was about to leave, an enemy soldier came charging towards me.

For a moment, thinking he was trying to kill me, I drew my sword, but that soldier’s eyes were already completely vacant, indicating complete madness.

He swung his sword, but the trajectory itself was unsteady.

To think a soldier would experience shell shock, which was usually reported from World War I, from just one fight…

I felt the horrors of the battlefield once again.

And those who return alive from such a dreadful place will likely say this when they go back to the villages they came from.

“It is better to die than to fight Count Croilet.”

Other serfs will likely say similar things, which will only increase the fear.

As I was thinking this, the soldiers beside me were about to draw their swords to kill that soldier.

“Everyone, stop! He’s already gone insane. Do you think I will die to such a lunatic?”

After saying that, I approached the deranged soldier and struck his waist, knocking him down and disarming him by removing his weapons and armor.

“There may be soldiers among our ranks who are staggering while wielding weapons or approaching with completely vacant eyes! Such individuals are madmen and lack the ability to harm us! All of you should beat them adequately, disarm them, and then send them back home!”

Should firearms be supplied to the enemy later, there’s a high chance some of our own soldiers will display similar symptoms.

So, to prepare for that eventuality, I need to instill the notion that such conditions are a kind of illness and conduct training for the soldiers and horses with matchlock rifles without ammunition.

That way, the loss of troops due to the shock of shell shock can be minimized, and the soldiers who fought for me will not face execution due to illnesses caused by exhaustion.

As I oversaw the process of capturing enemy prisoners for about two hours, a mounted knight stopped and looked at me.

Then, he dismounted and reported.

“All knights, including Architel Duke, have been captured. Moreover, the enemy’s main camp has just been subdued by Count Walt, and our forces have achieved a complete victory.”

Since I had already anticipated a complete victory the moment our infantry and knights were cut down like that, I was not surprised, but hearing it directly felt much more substantial.

Also, for Walt… Even if the enemy’s main camp was nearly empty, to have already captured it…

So I unsheathed my sword, raised it to the sky, and declared.

“We have won this war!!!”

After that, I left to meet Architel Duke in order to confirm the victory of the war.

**

As I approached the tent where Architel Duke was staying to negotiate the peace treaty, two knights there blocked my way and said.

“His Excellency the Duke is in deep mourning, Count.”

“I understand your urgency, but as a knight of His Excellency the Duke, I cannot allow you to see him while he is in this state. Please return once he has donned his armor again.”

Under normal circumstances, I would have replied that I could wait for that much to maintain my dignity as a knight before being a count.

After all, noble families strangely still manage to retain their composure even in the direst of situations, even when a family member dies a horrific death.

Whether it takes one hour or two hours to don armor won’t change the outcome of the negotiations.

However, Architel Duke had just lost nearly thousands of knights, which were as precious as his own life due to his mistake, and his judgment might be slightly clouded.

As the head of the Croilet family, I needed to bring the maximum benefit to all those under our house, not merely as one knight.

Even if I am criticized for being ruthless, I have the obligation to seize this opportunity to forge the most favorable treaty.

“Understood. Then I shall wait here until you are suited up. I am quite hungry; could I have a pint of beer?”

The knight showed a weary expression upon hearing that and ordered a servant nearby.

“Quickly go into His Excellency’s chamber and have him put on his armor. And you, bring a pint of beer for the Count.”

After waiting for about 10 or 15 minutes while drinking beer, I was led into the tent where the Duke was residing by the servant.

Inside, I saw a torn map on a desk, a rack with the Duke’s casual clothing hanging, a bed, a box, and a pole for holding a spear.

And further inside… a breastplate and helmet engraved with gold, riddled with bullet holes, were stacked high.

“Your Excellency, Count Croilet has arrived.”

Upon hearing that, the Duke, who was touching the breastplate, looked at me and said.

“Sit down. Congratulations on the victory, Count.”

“Thank you. It was an honor to fight alongside you, Your Excellency.”

Hearing that, the Duke chuckled lightly and said.

“The honor of freezing to death. For you, this old man was merely a stepping stone to climb upon. Damn…”

While the Duke says that, if I think solely from a historical standpoint excluding my title as a Count…

It could be described as having reversed the Battle of Pavia, which is seen as the dividing line between the Middle Ages and the Modern Era, and won the victory.

Furthermore, with this, our family has attained a reputation and glory that none can rival, making it a truly glorious battle.

Then, the Duke pointed at the breastplate he had been touching and said.

“That armor belonged to Baron Agnescourt. He said he must return alive even if it means his family will fall apart… and as soon as the threat of being shot arose, he threw himself into danger…”

“Is that so?”

“Besides that, the one over there is Count Villain… Baron Epher… all fell to the weapons you have created. Truly a filthy business.”

“What truly loyal knights they are. I hope the knights of our territory would learn from them.”

The Duke then looked at me with a gaze that seemed to transcend mere resignation and beyond, smiling meaningfully.

“Indeed, it seems you have ended the age of knights. The curtain has fallen on a glorious era that lasted for several hundred years… Usurper Count Croilet. How does it feel?”

When I heard those words, many thoughts raced through my mind.

When I was called the usurper who ended the age of knights by the most knightly of knights, I felt delighted.

At the same time, I felt a faint sense of emptiness and sympathy as I watched the strongest enemy’s downfall.

However, offering sympathy would be inappropriate as a lord, and it would tarnish that man’s honor.

So, I spoke with the last respects I could muster for him.

“I merely did what was expected of me. And, I came here to negotiate with the utmost respect as your enemy. I will take as much as I can.”