Chapter 29 Become a city manager

The towns of Stockington are the largest population in this province, and most of them are handicraftsmen and merchants. Their existence makes this province suffering from war circulate various daily needs, and thus exudes an abnormal prosperity. Of course, in this chaotic era, the towns of Stockington, which are gathering a large amount of wealth, are often the targets of thieves and greedy nobles. However, in addition to resolving the crisis through various bribery and diplomatic means, the elite MPs in the town have more importantly possess a powerful armed force, a force spontaneously formed by the residents of the town to defend themselves, and the Baron Bern was to incite this force to fight against Schwab's invasion.

"Mr. Earl, our soldiers in the town of Steding were expelled." At breakfast the next day, Schwab, who was dining, heard Sir Koro's report. The town of Stedingshire had closed the gates and refused to enter the Mark's Legion.

"What does this mean? The civilians want to go to war with us?" Schwab angrily put down the silver plate, which was found from the burned tower, where many silver tableware treasured by the Baron Bank family.

"It was probably incited by the four major families, otherwise those merchants would not easily join the war." Sir Koro continued to Schwab. "My people have found suspicious guys around the town. Although they were cautious in disguising themselves as merchants, their expressions were still different from those of the merchants, and under their gray hood, they found brightly colored harnesses."

"Well, noble?" Schwab nodded, being able to use brightly colored belts, which is a privilege only nobles have.

"What should I do if Lord Earl?" asked Sir Coro.

"Resisting my rule is to despise my authority. If you don't use tough means to subdue it, others will doubt our rule. Therefore, we summon the army to attack the town of Steding." Schwab said sternly. Since these merchants dared to fight against him, he would not have to be polite. He knew that these people were bullying the weak and afraid of the strong.

"As you wish, Lord Earl." Sir Koro bowed to Schwab and left to summon his men.

The drums of emergency gathering sounded in the Oshevido Fort, because the town of Steding was less than one hundred erries from the Castle of Oshevido, Schwab also brought bronze artillery. When this mighty team approached the town of Steding, the merchants in the town of Steding also obtained the news.

"Oh no, the invading tyrant is starting to attack us." The merchants of the town gathered in the open space in front of the church in the town and talked in fear. They were all people with industries and had no intention of getting involved in the political struggle. However, Bonikofu had a good prestige among the merchants, so he agreed to expel Schwab's soldiers from the town. The merchants believed that the new count should send envoys to communicate with the merchants first, but the count had no political awareness at all. He did not send envoys to send an army.

"What should we do?" The merchants were so despaired by the news of Schwab's army's attack that they asked each other. At this time, Bonikofu finished his prayers from the church and walked out with steady steps. Seeing that the merchants of Bonikofu stopped talking and looked at their leaders.

"Bogonifer, what should we do if we were attacked? Tell us."

"Maybe, we shouldn't resist an earl. Compromise may be a good idea. Why not bring a gift to bribe them."

"No, how can we give money to those hateful outsiders?"

"Friends, be quiet, I have heard your suggestions." Bogonifer stretched out his thick arms and pressed down for a moment. The hundreds of merchants in the venue looked at Bogonifer quietly.

"Tell us what to do? You are our leader, how do we deal with this greedy noble?"

"Well, friends, if we compromise and retreat now, then we may be able to gain a little benefit, but our freedom will never return. This town was built by all of us through generations of efforts. We live with our family here, making this town prosperous. Now a noble who claims to be in power wants to take all this from us. Can you allow this to happen? Tell me friends." Bogonifer stood loudly on the steps of the church and said to the merchants condescendingly. When Bogonifer finished speaking, he was silent in the field, and after a moment, the merchants made a sound of tranquility.

"We cannot lose our freedom, we must be our own masters."

"Yes, we are our masters, and no one can enslave us except God." The merchants cried heartily. Although the towns in Stocking County were composed of third-class citizens' handicrafts and merchants, the long-term free towns gave birth to emerging asset elites. In order to safeguard their hard-earned rights in this era, they could pick up swords and swords. This was different from the weakness of China's modern bourgeoisie. These often led caravans through dangerous trade routes and constantly fought against robbers and even nobles. They did not lack the experience of fighting. The previous attempts to compromise were only in this era and the inherent thoughts of awe of the nobles.

"Then gather my friends and go to fight the tyrant's army." Bogonifer pulled out the long sword at his waist and shouted to the merchants, and responded to him by the merchants' roar full of fighting spirit.

"Boconifer, why don't we stay in towns? The chances of winning will be greater when defending behind the walls." Some businessmen suggested this.

"No, do you think that those who can break through the Castle of Oshevido will take the walls outside our town seriously?" Bogonifer shook his head. The outstanding leader had already had an idea.

"Then, will we go out to fight? How much chance of winning?"

"Only God has a 100% chance of winning. We can only fight hard. As for the result, let God decide." Bogonif's firm voice made the merchants seem to have found the backbone. They prepared armor and weapons according to Bogonif's orders and prepared to welcome Schwab's army. The town immediately became as organized as a military camp. The spirit of cooperation formed by handicraftsmen and merchants was undoubtedly reflected.

At this moment, Schwab led the Mark Legion to the town of Stockington. The soldiers of the Mark Legion lined up in the marching columns and meandered forward on the muddy path. It often rained lightly in early spring. This kind of light rain would be very pleasant if it was an outing, but stepping on the wet soil was a very uncomfortable thing. Schwab rode his horse and saw a carriage pulling bronze cannons. The pack horse struggled to pull the carriage out of the mud. The artillery and other soldiers pushed the carriage forward in mud. The team was moving forward very slowly.

"Damn it, if you want to build a good road in the future." Schwab frowned, looked at the poor soldiers, and then whipped the war horse under his crotch with a horse whip and advanced to the vanguard.

"Sir Earl, I'm not good, I've found a unit ahead." Sir Koro led the Husar cavalry and ran towards Schwab. They found that a force was crossing there in a place where hills and forests intersected, and there was a force there. Their flags were varied and it was impossible to tell that it was the troops there, so he quickly found Schwab and asked for a plan first.

"What? Enemy? Do you see whose troops it is?" Schwab asked.

"No, their flags are strange, like the signs of a group of grocery owners." Sir Koro really didn't know how to say it, but it was indeed the case.

"Grocery store?" Schwab drove his horse to a protruding rock and saw a force that was indeed crossing the road that was necessary to pass through the town of Steding. Most of the troops were infantry in armor, but there were also a small number of heavy cavalry. However, most of the cavalry were wearing plate armor and waving long swords in their hands. They were neither light cavalry nor cavalry, but like a group of nouveau riche in gorgeous armor. As for the flags, they were indeed diverse, and even patterns of hammers and sickles that made Schwab ashamed, making Schwab horrified that it was a party who had traveled through time.

"Well, it's the merchant's army." Srick said, riding a gray horse and walking to Schwab's side.

"Merchants? They still have army. I thought they could only hire mercenaries?" Schwab said in wonder. Isn't it that usually merchants are greedy and afraid of death? Why do they dare to fight against the nobles when they come to me?

"It's not surprising that the town of Steding has always been a place where merchants are autonomous. The reason why other nobles dare not attack here is because they have their own troops. Look, those cavalry are their caravans and cavalry. Don't underestimate these cavalry. They are elite troops that often fight with robbers, and those infantry, because they are familiar neighbors, and they are not inferior to us in terms of mutual cooperation."

"But, is it a group of vendors who have any chance of winning when fighting a trained army like the Mark Legion?" Sir Korrow said disdainfully. In the subconscious of the nobles, they despicable, despicable, lowly, profit-oriented, which is what the nobles describe the merchants.

"It seems I want to be a city manager for a while~ha." Schwab pulled the corner of his mouth, ignoring Sir Korrow and others, saying without caring about whether he understood or not, then raised his iron gloved arm and turned his head to shout loudly at the soldiers of the Mark Legion, "Marke Legion, prepare for battle~~~."

"Mark~~~~." The commands gradually spread to the end of the army. The Mark Legion moved, and several square formations of combat were arranged from the marching formation. The sound of drums and flutes sounded. The merchant troops of the Mark Legion were commotion, but several people who seemed to be leaders were walking among the merchants on horseback. The commotion was stopped. They held their weapons and stared at the square formation of spears that looked like forests on opposite sides.
Chapter completed!