Chapter 22: The Chivalrous Knight
The bandits' stronghold was indeed very close, situated at the border of Veneto and the March of Austria, merely a few kilometers away. However, it required leading pack animals and carts over mountains and through a long stretch of night road. For most people, who suffered from night blindness, this was undoubtedly an insurmountable obstacle. This was the reason why the bandits hadn't returned to their stronghold directly.
Lothar had initially thought it was because these bandits had fierce wives at home, making them hesitant to openly bring back a group of plundered female captives for their amusement.
After a moment's thought, he understood. The status of women in the lower classes during this era was exceedingly low. Even if a few Grand Duchesses, Empresses, and sought-after female nobles existed within the aristocracy, along with those fearsome witches hidden behind the scenes advising lords, it still didn't change this fundamental fact.
Firstly, women found it difficult to fulfill a vassal's military service obligations to their feudal lord, preventing most of them from achieving class advancement through warfare like men. Secondly, they were oppressed by religion, viewed as evil temptresses possessing "original sin," denied the right to education, and forced to depend on men for everything.
The bandits didn't dare travel at night. Lothar naturally had no such intention either. He instructed Ryan and Moder to lead the newly recruited subjects and set up camp in an open area in the mountains. A roaring bonfire was soon rekindled. Lothar distributed the food the bandits hadn't had a chance to enjoy to his new subjects, and also took out the provisions carried by the packhorses to heat over the fire.
Lothar instructed, "Moder, Ryan, don't just stand there foolishly. Go see what the subjects need. From today onwards, they are under your management."
"Ah?"
"Don't be foolish. You two will be my sergeants in the future. Although we don't have many people now, they will be the backbone later on. You need to train them well."
"I understand!" Both men were somewhat invigorated upon hearing this. They held Lothar in great awe and were convinced he could achieve great things, which made Lothar's regard for them all the more appreciated.
They departed one after another, a previously unthinkable hope dawning in their hearts. 'If Milord becomes a great lord one day, could he really enfeoff us as knights?,
The bonfire crackled. Lothar sipped his meat broth, his expression calm. Once upon a time, he was a mere rookie, but now, after major battles, he was a seasoned warrior who could kill over a dozen men and still drink meat broth without a change in expression. He was transforming rapidly. He often had the feeling that he might be a natural-born madman who enjoyed killing.
"What? You want to pour me a glass of water?" Lothar cupped his ear as if listening intently, then nodded. "Well, thank you then, Banu."
Banu: "..." She expressionlessly took out a wooden cup, filled it with hot water, and handed it to him.
Lothar took the cup, gently blew on the steam, and then sipped it slowly.
Banu opened her mouth, then said with some resignation, "If you have a request, you can say it directly. There's no need to beat around the bush. As your subordinate, I will follow your orders."
Lothar raised an eyebrow, staring at her face, which was cast in a warm orange hue by the firelight, and smiled. "Alright then. I'd like to borrow your lap to lie on for a while."
The atmosphere instantly became somewhat oppressive. Lothar could clearly feel a chill emanating from across him. Meeting Banu's cool gaze, he swallowed a mouthful of warm water, but his eyes showed no fear.
After a long while, Banu finally said, "I apologize, but that is not within the duties of a subordinate."
Feeling the atmosphere ease somewhat, Lothar said rather sheepishly, "I was just saying."
"My Lord, I can..." Hans patted his own thigh, a naive smile on his face. "If you are tired, your subordinate is willing to act as your pillow, so you may get a good night's sleep."
This poor child, perhaps because his quality was too low, only one star, his affection increased at lightning speed. A quick check of the system revealed it! It had already risen from "Friendly" to "Adoration."
"No, it's alright." Lothar quickly shook his head. "I was just joking with Banu. I'm not that delicate."
Hans thought to himself, "Milord is truly Milord, to even dare joke with General Banu." This honest child hadn't a clue that Lothar was teasing Banu. In his eyes, he had never regarded Banu as a woman; more accurately, not even as a human. She was the Gatekeeper of Hell!
***
At dawn the next day, before the sky had brightened, the group set off. Lothar, Hans, Banu, and Moder traveled light, trekking arduously along the mountain path. This time, it was Ryan's turn to be left behind near the base camp with the new subjects to guard the pack animals and carts.
After such a short period of acquaintance, Lothar couldn't completely trust these new subjects. So, before leaving, he specifically instructed Ryan to be vigilant and prevent them from secretly colluding. One could never be too careful. No matter how small the chance, precautions had to be taken. A prepared Ryan, armed with a crossbow and wearing armor, would make it difficult for the subjects to succeed even if they were driven by greed.
As for why he didn't take these new subjects to attack the bandit stronghold, it was because even though the young and strong among them, armed with the bandits' leftover weapons, could be considered qualified "conscript soldiers," he had no intention of using these newly recruited subjects as cannon fodder. Instead, he planned to hand them over to Moder and Hans for training into regular soldiers. Even if he lacked the funds to train them all as "sergeants," he wouldn't forcibly drag a group of tatterdemalions, untrained peasants, onto the battlefield.
Besides, most of the subjects near the Holy Land were of different cultures and races, believing in Orthodoxy or, a minority, Zoroastrianism. These dozen or so subjects were, at least, Germanic people of the same culture and race, making them a more trustworthy and valuable key force in the future. Being wary of them while also placing high hopes on them were not contradictory.
Halfway through the journey, Hans suddenly asked, "Milord, what if we encounter women and children?"
Lothar pondered for a moment, then said, "If they pose a threat, kill them. If not, leave them to their fate. In short, prioritize your own lives." Although Lothar knew that even the old, weak, women, and children, since they enjoyed the wealth and food plundered by the bandits through murder, were not entirely innocent, he still found it somewhat difficult to completely dig up the roots.
Hans nodded. "I understand." He was still a raw recruit, but influenced by the Teutonic Knights' elders, who often invaded Slavic lands, burning, killing, and plundering, he was not one for misplaced compassion.
After crossing a small hill, their destination finally came into view.
"This is the so-called bandit stronghold?" Standing on the hillside, Hans frowned deeply. "This is clearly a village!" They had even cultivated a small patch of farmland. Not far from it, a large orchard could be seen, with pale yellow flowers blooming, their fragrance filling the air. It almost looked like an idyllic sanctuary.
Lothar was also puzzled. "Could that bandit have deliberately given us the wrong directions?"
"I'll go scout!" Moder took the lead and headed towards the settlement. Before long, he ran back, his face full of regret. "No mistake. The locations and layout of the traps the bandit described are correct. This is the bandit stronghold he spoke of. He wouldn't dare deceive us."
Lothar sighed heavily. This was likely a settlement formed by runaway serfs, a place where they could avoid their lord's oppression and heavy taxes, and occasionally band together to raid downhill. Perhaps they were once pitiful people. But when they picked up the butcher's knife, they were no longer pitiable.
"Hans, Moder, you two flank from the sides. Banu and I will break through from the front. Remember my instructions: prioritize protecting your own lives above all else." His current forces were limited; he only had these few reliable people. Before truly acquiring a fief and activating the system, the opportunities to draw retainers through milestones were also very scarce.