Magic Industrial Age

Noble wars have a clear ending signal: the leading noble raises a white flag and surrenders!

If I don't want to fight anymore and admit defeat, the war ends!

Then comes the post-war settlement: paying reparations, ceding territory, and returning women as required.

In short, the winner takes all!

If the loser is decisive and pays up quickly, they might even earn some respect.

But if they haggle over land and money, they'll be scorned by more nobles.

These are the rules among nobles. You have to be a good sport even in defeat. That's how everyone has played for centuries.

But the problem is that in this knightly war, the Wick family has lost four times in a row without surrendering.

Instead, they chose to retreat!

This is the Wick family's territory. Although not as large as Flowerfield, it's still considerable.

Relying on their own territory, they have strategic depth. It's not impossible to fight and retreat.

Loy could only pursue, leading the Knights and militia, constantly pushing deeper in the direction Earl Wick fled.

Theoretically, this process could involve burning, killing, and looting. Villages along the way, men, women, gold, and treasures, all become spoils of war.

It's harvest season, and there's plenty of grain. Although not worth much gold, they could still plunder a lot if they wanted to.

However, Loy didn't allow his knights and militia to run wild. Instead, he kept them on high alert.

Along the way, they chased and fled, stopping for battles from time to time.

Although Earl Wick never won, he refused to admit defeat.

Until three days later, when Loy once again pressed the attack with a large army, Earl Wick finally raised the white flag.

……

Wick Territory,

A small village.

On the plaza, two teams face each other from a thousand meters away.

One side is high-spirited, with arrogant looks, ready to fight at any moment.

The other side is a defeated army, dispirited and demoralized. Although they barely maintain formation, they look like they want to run away.

Under the big tree in the plaza, Loy reined in his horse. Earl Wick and Daisy Wick were already waiting.

At that moment, Earl Wick seemed to have unloaded a great burden, saying, "I've completed Marquis Carlisle's task. I've done my best to drag you here."

Loy narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "So, Marquis Carlisle wants to lure us in deep and then wipe us out in one fell swoop?"

Earl Wick quickly shook his head, "I don't know the specifics, and I don't want to know.

But I'm sure Marquis Carlisle is planning something big, not just defeating you or winning this noble war."

After a pause, he added, "Just a day ago, he sent someone to get a document from me.

A document from the Wick family requesting the intervention of a higher noble, the Carlisle family, in the war.

In other words, their participation is now reasonable and doesn't violate the 'Noble Code'!"

Loy understood, "So, if Marquis Carlisle has been plotting for a long time, he has already made his move.

And what he wants is not just my life, but also to completely eliminate the knights and vassals of Flowerfield."

"Only when everyone is dead, Flowerfield can become the Carlisle family's Flowerfield.

Those knights and vassals who follow Marquis Carlisle can each get a piece of land."

"What a calculation!"

Daisy Wick's eyes lit up as she looked at Loy and asked, "Since the Earl knows, aren't you worried?"

"Although I don't know how many troops Marquis Carlisle has gathered, he must have made thorough preparations this time!"

Loy smiled coldly, "Heh, he has made thorough preparations. Why haven't you considered what I've prepared for him?"

After a pause, he added, "Earl Wick, that's between me and Marquis Carlisle. Do you still want to get involved?"

"No!"

Earl Wick shook his head like a rattle drum, "I've already raised the white flag and been excluded from this noble war, so of course I won't get involved again."

"I hope so. I'll lead the troops back. If you dare, you can attack.

However, if we meet again, I won't be as lenient as before."

"By the way, I'll have someone compile a list of the captured knights and attendants for you. You can estimate a price yourself.

If the price is right, send the money, and I'll release them, plus the compensation for starting this war.

You are an Earl, a prominent figure in the Norman Duchy. I believe you know the specific price better than I do."

Earl Wick looked miserable, "Can you reduce it a bit?

You know, I suffered heavy losses in this war. The consumption of various supplies is really, really…"

Loy nodded, "Sure!

But I'll spread the word among the nobles that Earl Wick had the guts to start a war but doesn't want to pay for it.

He looks down on the knights and vassals who fought for him, thinking they're not worth much…"

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Earl Wick quickly said, "Whatever the amount is, I won't haggle, okay?"

If Loy really spread such a reputation, the Wick family would be finished!

Many great nobles even actively increase the ransom after being captured, to raise their status.

If they give too little, it's a loss of face, and they can't afford to lose that!

That's the nobles!

Sometimes they're just about face, or as they say, dying for face!

Of course, that's what he said, but Earl Wick was still unwilling. He couldn't help but mutter, "We had an agreement before.

You said be gentle, be gentle, but what happened?"

Loy rolled his eyes, "Earl Wick, you should be content!

If it weren't for fishing for the big fish, Marquis Carlisle, if it weren't for the agreement, do you think you could have lasted until now?"

"In the first battle, I held back. The rest was just playing with you. Even then, I didn't harm your territory or people.

Even the food was provided by me.

And you're still not satisfied?"

At this point, Loy didn't want to say any more. He waved his hand and said, "Let's go!"

He spurred his horse towards his knights. The crowd parted like waves, allowing Loy to pass.

Four extraordinary knights followed, then the formal knights, the knight attendants, the militia, the logistics…

The hooves thundered, and they disappeared from sight at the fastest speed.

Under the tree, Earl Wick watched, and Daisy Wick also watched.

Until they could barely see the figures, Earl Wick turned around and saw his granddaughter staring into the distance, lost in thought!

"Daisy? Daisy! Daisy! Stop looking, they're gone!"

Daisy came back to her senses and met her grandfather's teasing expression. She couldn't help but blush and said, "Grandpa, you're laughing at me!"

"When did I laugh at you? I'm just watching my granddaughter miss a man!"

"Grandpa, I didn't!"

"No? You were watching so intently?"

"I just, just can't understand how he can be so powerful when he's so young.

It's one thing to have strong personal strength, but he can also manage the territory, make so many knights obey him, be proficient in war, and confront Marquis Carlisle!

He doesn't seem to be afraid of Marquis Carlisle at all?"

Earl Wick slowly put away his smile, his expression serious. He was silent for a moment before saying, "I haven't seen many people like that in my life.

So, Daisy, you don't have to compare yourself to him. You'll lose confidence."

After a pause, he added, "By the way, the follow-up negotiations with the Raymond family, redeeming the knights and militia, and the war reparations, are all up to you."

Daisy seemed to think of something and couldn't help but say, "Grandpa, I really didn't mean that?!"

Earl Wick rolled his eyes and said, "You are my heir. You're the only one in the Wick family who's any good!

I'm letting you negotiate so that all the knights will remember your kindness and listen to your orders. What are you thinking?"

Daisy blushed again, accompanied by Earl Wick's laughter.

It seemed that although he had lost the battle, he wasn't in a bad mood!

……

On the other side,

After leaving Earl Wick's sight, Loy immediately began to make arrangements.

The two thousand militia were too slow, so Loy left Knight Alan Wells behind.

He had enough prestige and wasn't an extraordinary knight, so he could command the militia without affecting the Knights' combat power.

As for the others, they first cooked and ate their fill, then rode off again at full speed.

This time, Loy wanted to take them back to Frostmoon Canyon as quickly as possible.

Perhaps there, he could give Marquis Carlisle a big surprise.

……

At the same time.

Frostmoon Canyon.

Alfonso Zeke and Vincent Ackerman stood at the highest point of the war fortress, looking down. They could see more clearly.

As far as the eye could see, countless people gathered at the end of the mountain road.

There were knights, fully armed, glaring fiercely. Most surprisingly, there was a team of twelve cliff rock goats as mounts.

With these cliff rock goats, the cliffs on both sides were no longer insurmountable barriers.

In addition, there were a large number of archers. The number of Sardinian longbowmen was far greater than that of the Raymond family.

The only difference was the lack of magic cannons.

As a backbone of the old nobles, Marquis Carlisle would lose face if he brought out magic cannons now.

However, they were equipped with two catapults. Although they looked wooden, they were engraved with many complex magic patterns, obviously a kind of magic item.

Seeing the number of people increasing and various engineering machines emerging, Alfonso and Vincent's breathing became a little stagnant.

Vincent said, "If it were before, I definitely couldn't defend against this lineup from Earl Wick!"

"You're right, if it were before. The Wick family couldn't possibly put on such a show.

So, this is the kind of power that only Marquis Carlisle has."

Alfonso took a long breath and said, "Fortunately, fortunately, the Earl had anticipated this!"

……

East of Frostmoon Canyon.

Inside the camp.

Marquis Carlisle stood in front of the magic mirror, and everything outside was reflected in his eyes.

He held a cigar in one hand, looked at his generals, and waved his hand.

"Give you half a day. I want to completely take this Frostmoon Canyon! I want to open up the road to Flowerfield and cut off the bastard's return.

Tell me, can you do it?"

Responding to him was a unified roar: "We obey!"

So, the war began again, but the enemy had changed.

Today, at this moment, the Carlisle family officially declared war on the Lion King.

That's all for today. I'm too tired, and I'm having a terrible writer's block!