[Luke POV]
“Out of the more than 21,000 that were stationed in Roella, 4,500 needed immediate treatment, 8,500 had minor injuries, and some were suffering from frostbite leading to amputation. At the moment, the 8,000 soldiers have been disarmed and they have been placed in the prison compound near the training center, the hospital as well as the prison compound is at full capacity.”
“Send some messengers to House Romwell, and inform them of the situation.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
This was the only way.
Many battle tactics were considered, but the top Department of Political Science student decided that winning or losing a war with the Romwells would not go well for us.
“If we lose, the Romwells will take everything, if we win, the royal family will justify that victory to take Neverwinter due to its military capability.”
“So are you suggesting that we have to win without fighting?”
“As much as possible.”
After much debate, I had to resort to a scorched-earth policy.
“A tactic that denies your enemy of any resources and shelter…”
“This…”
“You Highness…”
“The troops that Cynthia trained will burn down villages that people who have immigrated here have settled in and also pollute local water sources. As for the resources they need, I have been stockpiling wheat and other essentials from other territories. I doubt they can provide anything meaningful. I'll tell the merchants that whatever the Romwells offer, I will double it.”
It’s the one thing that Romwell can’t beat us at. The amount of gold and platinum stored in Neverwinter is no joke. I don't even need to put money on the table, I could just give the merchant tax breaks.
Stolen story; please report.
It took a few days to treat everyone but in the end, none of them died. Some reunited with their families in the village, leading to a vouching system where POWs are allowed to go outside the prison if a family member is residing in the village.
Almost half huh…
In the end, more than 9,000 were vouched by their respective family members. Many were happy to reunite with their loved ones.
Now I have to deal with the headache…
“Do you have any idea who I am? I am the heir to the Marquis Romwell!”
“Yeah, yeah, you’ve been saying that ever since I took you in.”
In front of me is the young lord of the Romwells, when the reconnaissance found him he was on the brink of death due to some soldiers leading a mutiny in his camp. Fortunately, Sir Ian rescued everyone. It wouldn’t be good if the young lord died near Neverwinter.
He’s a pompous brat who kept threatening me about his lineage or whatever. Aren’t I a prince?
“As I said, I am holding you and your army in Neverwinter at the moment, we are currently treating your soldiers due to malnutrition.”
“This city is the Romwell family’s possession! How dare you do something I did not permit!”
“This city is Neverwinter, your Highness, neither you nor your father has a right to command anyone in this city. This city is granted to me by the Royal Council.”
“When I get back to Romwell I’ll raise a bigger army to burn you all!”
“Yeah, yeah…”
I left the prince in the prison compound… well more like an apartment complex than a prison compound… Some had to share rooms but everything was clean, the young lord had to be placed in a private room though, as the prisoners might beat him up again.
The prison had anti-magic properties which interfered with casting or using any form of mana. Just like the village’s bar district.
.
.
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[A Certain General of the Marquis POV]
I’m in paradise…
After a mutiny broke out in Roella due to the extreme starvation of the soldiers, the soldiers sent by the Prince arrived. They wore black armour, and they immediately detained the mutineers.
“We serve His Highness Lucas Arthurias, we received some information that Roella was under attack. I didn't expect it to be a mutiny…”
We tried fighting them but due to extreme starvation and seeing as the young lord was already on the brink of death, we agreed to be captured by them.
We were weak due to not having eaten anything decent for two weeks, and many of our soldiers were sick and injured already even if we wanted to fight to the death, I doubt we could deal any damage to them.
In just hours, we were transferred to the city we were supposed to attack.
The person who led the escort was Sir Ian, a Knight of the 6th Prince. They disarmed us to prevent us from attacking them.
Our journey was comfortable. The road leading to the city was warm and properly lit, even the other generals were impressed by how wide the road was allowing our army to pass easily.
I doubted why the Marquis ordered so much to be sent to attack the city but now that I see it… even 25,000 would not be enough to dent it.