Temple Sword

Chapter 139 Highland Battle
1321, St. Michael's Month (September)
upper hungary
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Charlie was right, the lords loyal to Mate Chuck lined up to surrender one by one after the news of Trenchin's fall.The king didn't even have to leave the castle he had just conquered; the nobles knelt at his feet and offered their swords.

In this way, all the castles, the entire highlands, fell into the hands of the Anjou family.

Charles set off for home at the end of Holy Virgin month and entered Levice without any hindrance.

He remained for a fortnight more in the old castle of Gyula, and appointed as its new lord Imre Besse, who had shown great courage in the siege of Trencin's halls and So many people were killed in the battle that, in addition to the title of the castle, he was also made Baron of Barrs.

During this time in the Highlands, Charles fully demonstrated what kind of ruler he wanted to be: instead of punishing any of the lords who surrendered, he rewarded them generously by making them wealthy mine owners and landlord.

Of course, these supporters of Matei Chuck could not stay on the highlands, they moved to their new territory, closer to the heart of the kingdom, the king's own crownland, where they would be watched.

All the highland territory was given to his most trusted supporters by Charlie, so that these excellent men could monitor every move of the highland for him, so as to maintain peace and prevent future rebellion.

Charles Anjou bestowed the castle of Semmpte on Felicien Zach, and the old knight, with tears in his eyes and full of gratitude, returned to his northern homeland after three years.

Knighted for his valor in battle, Isstvan Lakfie, the irascible, burly Captain Sekai, was a happy butterfly when he was knighted.

When Charlie's chief knight, Antal Barto, touched his shoulder with his famous sword of the lily, even his most familiar men failed to recognize him.

On St. Michael's month, the king's army left Levice, and Charles officially concluded his highland campaign at Esztergom.

Even though he had unfinished business in Transylvania, and the headaches of the Soubis and Baboniks in the South, he didn't seem to care at all at this point.

He had a right to feel like a mighty king, and he was in such a good mood during the late summer and early fall weeks that he greeted anyone who begged to see him with a generous smile.

Perhaps it was because of this generosity that Antal Barto resigned as General of the King's Army at the beginning of Halloween and was allowed to return to his estate in Slavonia, whom he had not seen for several months. His family is gone.

"On second thought, are you sure you want to do this?" the king asked him in a face-to-face conversation. "Maybe you're just tired and come Christmas time, you'll probably start to regret the decision."

"I don't think so." The knight replied softly.

"Anyway, I'll wait for you back in the palace," Charlie said to Antal, who was trying not to show his emotions, "I don't want to hear about farming anymore!

Next year, when the snow melts, I hope to see you in Timisoara, maybe even you and your whole family.I will make sure your son and wife live well in the castle estate.

You can continue to be the owner of your manor here, but the work of farming and raising pigs must be done by others, because I want you to stay by my side. "

"I understand." Antal bowed his head.He didn't object because he felt that no matter what Charlie said, he was no longer his brother.

Charles was his king, and he was Charles's subjects, and they were no longer children, nor young men, nor playful.

"I'm going to do great things," Charlie said, picking up a glass of wine and taking a sip excitedly, "I can put the war years behind me forever, and finally get to do what I've always wanted to do since I was a kid: build an empire !"

"I hope so, Your Majesty," the knight bowed respectfully, "you may count on my assistance."

(End of this chapter)