According to Byron's request, Fatis and the others gathered the main force of the Peony mercenaries, 500 elite mercenaries of general level 3 and above, carrying 50 four-wheeled carriages loaded with food, wine, gunpowder, and other daily necessities and tools, and rushed south to the forest mentioned in Byron's letter.

Of course, there was a group of larger, slower-moving wagons in the middle of the troops, which followed behind the larger troops.

The wagons were covered in linen and loaded with siege tools that Byron had been secretly making near Dehrim's warehouse a year earlier.

These included dismantled ladders and catapults, as well as a crash that required two wagons to load. These weapons are managed by professional engineers until they are used on the battlefield.

Manid watched them leave, and then began to procure all kinds of supplies in the vicinity of Decherim, as Byron had requested in his letter, and sent as many people as possible to separate them, so as not to attract the attention of some people, and to prevent the local merchants from using the situation to raise the price of goods to entrap them.

However, even if Byron repeatedly asked the march to be concealed and low-key, it could not prevent the spread of the news, let alone other war dogs looking for opportunities.

By the time the peony-bearing force reached the southern forest, there were more than 100 mercenaries and village idlers who dared to come along the way, hoping to follow them in the battle.

They were joined by blacksmiths and village doctors, who were starved of work, knowing that they would have too much work to do after the battle. There were also the women and liquor dealers who were able to provide some pastime for the soldiers of the troops, and even the Fatis, who had never been accustomed to them, had to admit that their guaranteed morale was very important.

Although they were prepared, they couldn't hide the surprise on their faces when they actually saw Byron's camp in the forest.

They had seen the great armies look like before, and on several occasions they were larger than Byron's troops.

However, there has never been a time when an expedition has gathered troops from Swadia, Rhodok, Nord, Vecchia, Kugit, and Salander, and the composition of mercenaries in the troops is so high.

There are more than five languages spoken by the soldiers in the camp alone. They use different weapons, they fight in different ways, and even their way of life is very different. This makes it more difficult to manage, but it also makes tactics more flexible.

Five or six hundred people marched with a large number of Zizhong, and Byron naturally received the news in advance. When Fatis Irene and the others arrived, Byron and Kenrad had already left the camp to meet them.

"I can't believe you've hired an army that is hard for the Earl to muster, and with them we will be victorious."

Irene made no secret of his excitement, rubbing his fists and seemingly looking forward to the next fight.

"Most of the mercenaries are passable, and the Rhodok army, which is quite numerous on the battlefield, is no match for us, and you have done a really good job of recruiting. But sir, we raise them, don't we? ”

After looking at the mercenary troops for a while, Fatis praised and raised his own concerns.

Byron smiled at him and answered him confidently.

"My savings should be able to support this war, and winning the war means getting rich!"

Fatis pursed his lips when he heard Byron's words, he didn't think that the wealth of a few villages and towns would allow Byron to recoup his costs, but he didn't say it.

Byron didn't pay attention to Fatis's expression and began to introduce them to the leaders of the various mercenary units.

Although they didn't understand each other, and even the language was different, everyone was polite on the surface. Even Rolf, a notoriety robber nobleman, was polite, though Byron could clearly see the contempt in the eyes of Fatis and Bandak.

Byron gathered the heroes into the camp and called Farrolf and the other captains to look after their troops.

There were several maps on the table in the middle of the camp, they were as delicate as oil paintings, but the content was so sketchy that it took several sheets to be compared together to figure out the exact geography. But this was already the best map Byron could get.

"We can rush to Norma, where we can resupply our supplies, and then we can go to Serindir and cut off the supply lines of the Rhodoks. The army of Rhodok besieging Fort Gruenwald would certainly not continue the siege at the risk of being cut off, so that we could stop them on their way back and find an open field to fight them. They are tired and short of provisions, and we can crush the entire Rhodoc army in one fell swoop. "Fatis is planning routes and tactics on the map.

"It takes a long time and is prone to accidents. And we have enough supplies, so we don't need to spend time supplying supplies that the locals themselves don't have enough supplies. I suggest going straight to Fort Gruenwald, as long as we are fast enough, the besieging Rhodok troops will have to fight us in the vicinity of the castle, they are on their backs, we can easily take them, and then wipe out all the villages and towns north of Rhoddock! And we came to the aid of the defenders of Fort Gruenward, and Count DiLinard would owe us a favor. "Compared to Fatis, Aren's battle plan is more straightforward.

"You have good ideas, two gentlemen, but you can't get away from Serindil. Why don't we just go and attack Agorlonburg? At least half of the army there was outside Fort Gruenward, and there were not enough people to defend the city. We can blow their gates open with gunpowder and take the castle after that. The Rhodoc army that attacked Fort Gruenward would have to leave in disgrace, and we had a castle. With the castle, the surrounding villages and land will naturally be ours as well. Bandak interjected, causing several people to discuss more intensely.

"That would be too risky, we could attack Fort Agorloon to extend our gains, but only after we defeat the Rhodoc army."

"In that case, do as I say, get those Rhodoks out of Fort Gruenwald, and then attack Fort Agorlom from the south."

"But then we'll have to think about the damage, because it's a well-defended castle that hasn't been occupied for decades, and even if there is gunpowder, we'll have to double our forces to be safe."

"As long as we're fast enough and they can't react, we can take it in one fell swoop."

.......

Byron listened carefully to the heated discussion of his heroes, but he kept thinking about his own plan. He looked at the map and thought for a moment, then finally interrupted the discussion of several heroes.

"All right, gentlemen, you're all right, but now I have to make a decision."

"You have the final say."

Hearing Byron's words, several people stopped arguing and looked at Byron together, wanting to hear whose plan he supported more.

"I want to take Viruga."

"What!?"

The three of them shouted out almost in unison, and even Kress, who had been silent and playing with the dagger because he didn't understand strategy, looked at him with wide eyes.

Kenrad already knew what Byron was thinking, but he still felt a little crazy when he said it on the spot.

"With all due respect, Boss, you're just... It's insane! ”

Bandak stammered a comment, rude but surprisingly unopposed.