"Quick, we must get ahead of the bastards to the south of the valley and inform Hans of them. Once the enemy is allowed to infiltrate, the consequences are unimaginable. ”

At dusk, the two task force members who had accepted the mission approached the mouth of the valley on the southern side of the valley. In addition to resting and drinking horses, the two spent most of the day on the road.

Yesterday evening, the two were called to the room of Task Force Captain Oliver, who ordered them to return to the southern garrison of the valley in the early morning of the next day, following the news that a member of the team had heard in the Sorenburg Tavern.

Early the next morning, after a hasty breakfast, the two task force members left the city with their dry rations. After finding the horses hidden outside the city, they headed north. In the afternoon, we finally arrived at the mouth of the valley on the south side of the valley. In a day or so, you can go directly to the canyon where Hans and the others are stationed.

When the two of them headed north, Oliver and the others, who were still in Sorrenburg, were not idle. In addition to continuing to spy on Wade. Burley's movements, Oliver also sent two members of the team to Milan, the seat of the Lombard court. The two men had two tasks, one was to gather useful information, and the other was to monitor the movements of the Lombard army and prevent the enemy from sneaking up on the valley. Report any anomalies immediately.

Before the Duke of Lombardy sent the group of people to the valley to set out, Wade. The knight of the Burley Mansion who had previously slipped into the valley also took a detour to Provence with five men, and was already approaching the border between the Marquis of Burgundy and Provence. The main purpose of the group this time is not to assassinate Art, but to find out about the recent situation in Wales Province (whether Art was assassinated).

Wade. Burley had been pinning his hopes on the two spies who were still lurking in the valley. But after a long time, he still couldn't sit still. As long as Art is not removed for a day, he will not live in peace. It's a pity that God is not on his side this time~

…………

On May 10, it was dark. Six riders who had arrived from the south of Provence were approaching the border outpost set up in the province of Wales. Several people went out day and night along the way, and they looked unusually low-key.

“…… Quick, everyone get off the horse! ”

The slender guy who rode at the front whispered to the man behind him, and he held on to the reins.

"Yes~"

The other five replied in unison.

"Find a place to hide the horse. Then change into shabby clothes~"

After a while, several homeless creatures came out of the grass on the side of the road. The guy at the head was wearing a rag shirt, and his pants were half cut all over the place, and his whole body was stinking, and he could smell it from twenty feet around. The rest of the guys are dressed similarly, living out of the image of a homeless person suffering from hunger.

"Remember to me, don't open your mouth when the time comes, lest you miss a flaw. Our mission this time is not to assassinate, just to find out if the earl is still alive~"

"Sir, what about our people?"

"Count Wade said that if they didn't complete their mission, they would never go back." The guy in the lead replied indifferently.

"You, stay here and look after the horses and cover us. If there is any abnormality, blow the dark whistle to notify us. ”

"Yes, sir."

"The rest, let's go!"

"Yes."

Before the onset of early summer, one or two insect chirps can be heard from time to time in the grass. As the sun sets, the air gradually becomes slightly cooler. Five outcasts clasped their shoulders tightly and walked slowly towards the border outpost.

From a short distance, the torches burning on the stone walls on either side of the gate of the border post stood still like two guards. Golden flames pulsed up and down, adding a touch of life to the remote outpost. Inside the outpost, four or five soldiers in armor kept patrolling the surroundings.

Since the last time the spies from Lombard infiltrated, the security has been tightened here. Every day at sunset, the gate of the outpost closes punctually and no one is allowed to enter. It was not until sunrise the next day that people waiting outside could pass through after being inspected and questioned.

In order to protect the homeless or merchant travelers from the cold or from wild beasts, the border post also built a simple thatched hut that could accommodate 30 people from the wind and rain not far from the gate. In addition, two meals of porridge and soup are provided every day so that those who are hungry do not starve to death in the surrounding area.

Of course, it was all Yat's idea. While developing business, he also did not forget to attract people's hearts. In this way, the Earl of Wales's virtue of kindness and generosity will spread through the mouths of these people.

In a short time, five outcasts dressed as outcasts had appeared less than a stone's throw outside the outpost gate. From time to time, one or two people popped up from the thatched huts outside the gate, shuttling between the humble houses.

"What are you doing?"

As several people approached the gate of the outpost, the soldier on duty asked.

"Great~sir," the leader said in a not-so-skilled Burgundian language, "I~ we are refugees from Provence, and I heard that ~ you~ are recruiting laborers here, and we want to come and have a look." ”

"Exiles from Provence?" The soldier standing in the doorway covered his mouth and nose as he looked up and down. "Don't you see the wooden sign at the door that says that it is forbidden to enter the city after dark. If you want to go into the city, come back tomorrow! ”

The soldier was almost stunned by the outcasts, and hurriedly took a few steps back.

"My lord, you~ Look, it's all dark, we have been on the road for a day, and there is really nowhere to go. Otherwise, you can let us in. The leading outcasts pleaded.

"Do you see the thatched hut over there, and don't want to be eaten by the wild beasts of the mountains, so you roll over there and stay. That's what our Lord Earl built for you pariahs. The soldier stretched out his hand to the row of thatched huts to the left of the gate.

A few people outside the door glanced to the left, but they were still unmoved.

"Hey, you bastards!" When the soldier saw that several of them were standing still, he cursed. "I tell you, if you stay here and don't leave, you'll end up with the same two heads hanging from the gate!" The soldier said, glancing to either side of the gate.

When several homeless people outside the gate heard this, they hurriedly took a few steps back. Cast his eyes on both sides of the gate.

"I can't see it clearly, right, then I'll let you take a good look!" Immediately, the soldier took out the torch on the side of the gate and held it high.

"Ahh Among the homeless, one of the guys screamed. There was also a hint of horror and uneasiness on the faces of the others.

The soldier laughed and said, "I'm afraid! Let me tell you, these two bastards were ordered by the Earl to cut off their heads and hang them on the gate because they sneaked in and wanted to assassinate our Earl~"

The leader of the outcasts looked up at the head by the light of the fire. One of them had already had a rotten face, and the rotten flesh on his nose had been washed away by the rain, leaving only a little skin attached to his face. The head was pecked by a crow with several large holes, and the carrion could be vaguely seen. The other guy was in a similar situation, but the little hoop that glittered above his head and ears was unusually familiar to him.

"Joel!" The leader of the outcasts said silently in his heart.

"Get out of here, or you'll end up like them!" The soldiers standing on the other side also came over and stared straight at the few people outside the door.

"Big~My lord, let's go, let's go~" Then a few people stepped back and left, walking towards the thatched hut on the side.

"Sir, what's wrong with you?" One of the homeless people with a dirty face asked. Apparently, he noticed the change in the expression of the guy in the lead.

"It seems that those two guys have been~"

"Sir, who are you talking about?"

"Quick! Return to Lombardy right away~"

…………

By the time the few men were about to return south, the two members of the task force were almost in the vicinity of the valley mouth.

"It's in front, watch your step~"

As they walked in, the road narrowed and thickened, and the bushes and weeds became thicker, so they had to lead their horses through it slowly.

A few days ago, when the group headed south, they deliberately cut down the weeds and shrubs on both sides, but in such a short time, the road became narrow and impassable.

"I don't understand, this valley is full of weeds and shrubs, and it's a little difficult to get through these places alone. What did the Count think, and to build the trade road to the border of Lombardy. How many years will it take to get through~"

The task force who followed the other muttered in confusion as he kept cutting down the branches sticking out on either side.

"You kid, I've been following the Earl for so long, why haven't you grown any skills at all. Since the Earl has spent so much energy and money on this trade route, he must have a reason. Let's not worry about it, let's get the news to Hans and them. When the time comes, when those Lombard mongrels come, there will be their good-looking~" The guy who walked in front took a hard sip.

"Yes, none of them will want to get out alive when the time comes!"

Half a day later, the two finally arrived near the narrow valley at the mouth of the valley~

"Sir Hans, there seems to be someone in the bushes over there."

The soldier who was on duty at the checkpoint at the valley turned back to report to Hans, who had come to check on the situation.

"Let me see~" Hans leaned closer to the entrance of the cave and looked out, and vaguely saw the bushes swaying from side to side not far away.

"If there is an enemy, the people above are ready!" Hans looked up and gave orders to the two soldiers on duty above the checkpoint. After a while, several soldiers who were resting in the temporary barracks also ran over.

"Bow and arrow ready!"

Seeing that the bushes were showing their heads, the group was ready to defend themselves against the enemy......

"Hey, don't let go of the arrows, we're a task force~" The guy who had just come out of the bushes looked up and saw two soldiers with crossbows and crossbows above the sentry post ready to release arrows.

"It's really those guys from the task force~" The soldier standing above muttered, and then put away his crossbow.

"Sir Hans, the task force is back." Another soldier said to Hans, who was standing below.

"Task force? Quick, put the ladder down and let them in. ”

"Yes."

…………

A short time later, the two of them were led by Hans to Art's tent.

“…… My lord, it is estimated that those soldiers will arrive here in one day, and we must take precautions as soon as possible. A task force reported to Art all the news that Oliver and the others had heard in Sorenburg.

Art sat at the table, tapping his fingers on the table from time to time.

"What's going on with the Lombard army?" After a moment, Art asked.

"Back to the Earl, there is no sign of the Lombard army heading north. However, Chief Oliver had already sent two men to Milan to inform the valley if there was any disturbance. ”

Art nodded, then got up and walked around the tent, thinking about what to do.

Now it seems that it must be Walder. The bastard of Burley revealed the situation of the valley to the Duke of Lombardy. His intention was obvious, once his assassination failed, he could use the hands of the Duke of Lombardy to get rid of himself and prevent future troubles. If he hadn't sent people to garrison him in time, once he let those people touch the valley, maybe something would have happened.

So far, I can't hide. Art's plan to secretly open up the valley was aborted. Since the Duke of Lombardy has sent someone to explore the way, it means that he has become greedy for the valley, and if he shows weakness, the old fellow will definitely have to move forward. The only way now is to let him retreat.

"Ron, you take forty soldiers to find a place outside the valley mouth to ambush, and once those bastards enter the encirclement, cut off all their dog heads!" There was a hint of murder in Art's eyes, and his face suddenly became serious.

"Yes, sir!"

After half a year without fighting, he was finally able to take this group of Lombards, which made Ron extremely excited.

"Lord Count, I ask to come with Lord Ron!" Hans, who was standing on the sidelines, couldn't help but speak. A few days ago, Hans was demoted and reduced by Yate because of the affairs of the mountain people, and if he did not take this opportunity to accumulate military merits, he was afraid that it would be difficult for him to turn over.

Art turned around, looked at Hans with anticipation, and said, "I intended to have you stationed here, and since you have spoken, I shouldn't have stopped you." Remember, bring me two Lombard heads! ”

"Yes, Lord Count!" Hans half-knelt down and thanked him.

Burry, who was standing on the sidelines, saw that there was a fight, and the frenzy in his heart was also hooked.

"Bo~"

As soon as Burry spoke, he took half a step when Art reached out to stop him.

"Bury, don't go. If both of you leave, who's in charge of the station. ”

"I~" Burry glanced at Hans aggrievedly, wanting to argue, but he didn't dare to speak.

"Now it seems that the Duke of Lombardy has set his sights on the fat of the valley. Ladies and gentlemen, this place is of great strategic importance and it is important to be vigilant. ”

"Yes, Lord Count." The crowd replied in unison.

"Besides, Ron, when you go down, let Grenor and a few people completely destroy all the mountain trails that can enter the valley mouth, and never let them enter through those places."

"Yes, sir."

"Alright, let's all go down and get ready. When those bastards arrive, let them see how powerful the Wells are! ”

"Yes, Lord Count!"