200: Summoned to the south

In Red River Fortress, Reyn stared intently at the map on the wall while Klimp, standing beside him, relayed the latest intelligence.

"My Lord, after defeating the legion led by Earl Porcupine, the forces of Stag Territory did not stop but chose to pursue. They have currently occupied three Baronies, and their army is roughly at this location."

Klimp tapped a spot on the map.

At the beginning of September, Heisenberg, who had just ascended to the throne of the Grand Duke of Stag, launched a war against Rage Bear Territory before his seat was even warm.

Leading a massive army of a hundred thousand gathered from dozens of nobles in Stag Territory, Heisenberg first attacked the Rage Bear Territory legion near the Plane Passage in the border region between the two Grand Duchies.

After routing the army commanded by Earl Porcupine and reclaiming control of the Plane Passage, Heisenberg launched a war of revenge against Rage Bear Territory on the grounds that Rage Bear Territory had invaded first and infringed upon the interests of Stag Territory.

Under the leadership of the Legendary Expert Heisenberg, the army of Stag Territory advanced with irresistible force, proving invincible at every turn.

"It seems this new Grand Duke of Stag wants to use our Prince Karl to establish his prestige!"

"He's using war to accumulate prestige, divert internal conflicts within Stag Territory, and eliminate negative influences against himself, all to consolidate his ruling position."

"Moreover, his justification is sound, and more importantly, the target is suitable. As one of the three Great Dukes of the North, Prince Karl's status is high enough, but his strength is a step behind, making him the perfect target for establishing authority."

Reyn admired the decisiveness and keen judgment of this Illegitimate Son Duke.

Not only was the Grand Duke of the Raging Bear lacking in relative strength, but he was also old. When Reyn last saw the Grand Duke of the Raging Bear, he could feel the heavy aura of twilight surrounding Karl's late years.

"Is there any movement from Rage Bear Fortress?"

"Prince Karl is currently summoning his army. The discussions regarding the enfeoffment of the Blackstone Territory Viscount title have also been temporarily shelved due to the invasion from Stag Territory."

Reyn had already occupied Blackstone Territory for two months. During these two months, the various blackstone ore mining areas had been operating at full capacity. The blackstone ore obtained by Red River Territory was already enough for the territory's use for several years, but Reyn still felt it was far from sufficient.

Being able to occupy Blackstone Territory for longer was good news for Reyn.

"Delaying the enfeoffment temporarily means the Viscount and the two Baron titles probably won't be granted until after this war ends."

"It seems Prince Karl is using these titles as bargaining chips, wanting those nobles to put in more effort during the war."

"By that calculation, it will be at least another month or two before the enfeoffment is completed."

Klimp then added, "My Lord, there is also some bad news."

"What bad news?"

"Our Red River Territory is included in the Grand Duke of the Raging Bear's conscription list. To deal with the invasion from Stag Territory, His Highness the Grand Duke has issued a summons requiring all grizzly bear fief nobles to send corresponding troops to participate in the war."

"Our Red River Territory is among them."

Hearing this news, Reyn was somewhat displeased.

"Didn't the Grand Duke say he wouldn't conscript us? How could he go back on his word so quickly? Are you sure this news is true?"

"Certain. Before the Shadow Guards sent back the message, the Grand Duke's messenger had already set out. He will likely arrive in Red River Territory very soon."

"It seems our Lord Grand Duke is truly desperate this time."

Although Reyn was dissatisfied, he could not directly refuse the Grand Duke of the Raging Bear's conscription. However, since he already knew he was about to be conscripted, Reyn began to arrange the territory's affairs in advance to prepare.

Klimp's intelligence was accurate; the following day, Reyn received the conscription order brought by the messenger.

Looking at the messenger kneeling respectfully before him, Reyn said indifferently:

"I have received His Highness the Grand Duke's command. The army of Red River Territory will arrive on time."

"Thank you for your cooperation, My Lord. We shall take our leave now!"

The messenger didn't dare to breathe loudly, keeping his head bowed humbly. He only dared to stand up after receiving Reyn's nod, then quickly left Red River Territory, not daring to stay for a moment longer.

It was only after leaving Red River City that he breathed a sigh of relief. Looking back at the majestic Red River City, the shock in his heart was beyond words.

"They all say Red River Territory is a barbaric wasteland in the border regions, but this Red River City is much more prosperous than those Earldoms. There's not a trace of desolation."

"And that Viscount Raine—that aura of his... if I didn't know better, I'd have thought I was meeting His Highness the Grand Duke!"

The messenger left Red River Territory with a complex mood. At least his mission was complete; anything else was not for a lowly messenger like him to worry about.

On Reyn's side, after receiving the conscription order, he followed the previously established plan and gathered the Gale Claw Legion and two thousand cavalry to set out under his personal command.

He had already handed over all the territory's affairs; they just needed to be carried out step by step.

The choice of soldiers for the expedition was also carefully considered. It would showcase the strength of Red River Territory without attracting too much attention from the Grand Duke of the Raging Bear and other Rage Bear nobles, preventing Red River Territory from becoming a target.

Two thousand elite cavalry and two hundred Gale Wolf Riders, including over a dozen Silver Knights and himself, a Gold Knight. A common Viscount Territory simply did not possess such strength; only an Earldom could muster such a force.

Reyn led his troops south and arrived at the meeting point designated by the Grand Duke of the Raging Bear three days later.

Rage Bear Territory was vast, and the conscripted troops came from all directions. Some who were far from Rage Bear Fortress did not need to gather there but would instead merge with the main army along the way.

The meeting point Reyn arrived at was a location on the marching route set by the Grand Duke of the Raging Bear.

Looking at the continuous stretch of military camps, Reyn was somewhat stunned. The army led by the Grand Duke of the Raging Bear had already arrived ahead of time. Judging by the scale of the camps before him, the army gathered by the Grand Duke must have exceeded a hundred thousand men.

"Raise the banners high, we're entering the camp."

The Wolf Banners of the Derrick Family were raised high as the more than two thousand cavalry headed toward the military camp.

The movement of the cavalry was loud, and the sentries in the camp soon spotted the rapidly approaching Red River Territory cavalry.

"Which noble does that banner belong to?"

While the sentry was still wondering, a Wind Wolf Knight from Red River Territory had already arrived at the camp gates.

"Lord Viscount Reyn Derrick of Red River Territory has come by the order of His Highness the Grand Duke. Open the gates quickly!"

"Are they the Magic Wolf Knights of the Derrick Family?"

"Open the gates quickly!"

An officer with some experience recognized the knights of Red River Territory and quickly had the gates opened.

Reyn then led the knights of Red River Territory into the military camp.

Upon entering the camp, Reyn began to observe, scrutinizing the strength of the armies under the Rage Bear Territory nobles, but the more he looked, the more he frowned.

The camp was divided into small gathering areas, with the soldiers of each noble clustered together. The soldiers' armor varied, and the personnel appeared disorganized. Many soldiers were even mixed together in small groups, drinking and making merry.

The entire camp only looked decent from the outside; it was quite imposing, but once inside, Reyn found it to be a mess of disorder. Only the core area seemed to have some semblance of discipline.

"The quality of these noble private armies is too poor. What combat effectiveness can these people have? And those peasants—so thin and weak, what work can they even do?"

Reyn couldn't stop complaining in his heart about the Rage Bear Allied Forces, feeling that his teammates this time didn't look like much, which was not good news.

While Reyn was observing the noble allied forces in the camp, the people in the camp were also observing Reyn and the army he led.