Iron Harvest: When Farming Becomes Conquest-Chapter 347 - 20: If You Do Not Submit, Then Conquer

After Roman mapped out the development route for Origin City this year, he quickly departed from there.

Along with him, all the troops of Origin City also left.

They boarded ships and first arrived at King’s Crossing.

Roman recruited five thousand new soldiers in Origin City and similarly five thousand in Fertile City.

However, the training of the new recruits from Fertile City was worrisome, probably at the level of a Conscript Army — having not undergone much military training, they could only serve as numbers.

After about ten days, a total of seventeen thousand soldiers braved the rain and finally assembled.

Roman was not in a good mood at all.

This rainy season was too long.

Starting from early spring, nearly half a month had passed now, and it had been continuous, drizzling.

The rain wasn’t heavy, it was more like a misty haze.

But continuous overcast days would affect the growth of crops.

Origin City was somewhat better, with four to five days of sunshine.

Fertile City, however, was unsettling, with less than three days of sunshine in ten days.

The rest of the time it rained!

The first spring rain since the end of winter still hadn’t ended completely.

Roman knew that if things continued this way, the cold-resistant vegetables planted last autumn would definitely face reduced yields, or rather, they had already reduced yields.

There was no way around it; such conditions easily lead to waterlogging damage.

Roman had already sent people to drain the water, but not all the land could be taken care of, and the effect was limited. Some low-lying lands couldn’t be drained at all.

The land was only being submerged in drizzle, piece by piece.

However, the one hundred thousand acres of farmland in Fertile City were all selected by Roman, most of which were in highland areas, with less than one-tenth of the land flooded.

But the overall reduction in yield made it difficult for him to show any smile.

The necessary work had to be done.

Roman set off on horseback.

Before long, the sky began to drizzle again.

The army gathered separately at five locations.

Roman gave speeches to them one by one in the rain, essentially using the same old excuse for plundering.

It didn’t matter if the new recruits didn’t understand, as long as the veterans did.

Every new recruit was led by a squad captain, who told them what to do next.

Having them fill positions in a line was impossible; where would the battle lines come from?

In the end, the new recruits were just auxiliary forces for the veterans, serving as military servants and responsible for logistics.

Every time the army set out, thousands of military servants in varying numbers had to be conscripted.

Now each military servant had their tasks, so let the new recruits take over for the time being.

And let them see some blood...

...

"Vanguard Battalion! Target Cold Wind Town! Move out!"

Nathan, the chief captain of the cavalry battalion, shouted loudly.

He held a flag high, embroidered with a Thorny Iron Ring, and inside the ring were three swift wind streaks.

This Three-Star Angel Envoy had now become the chief captain of most of Roman’s cavalry forces, with Luca as his deputy.

Roman’s military structure was very simple.

The Infantry Battalion was the basic structure of the army.

Ten thousand new recruits were the most ordinary infantry.

Above the ordinary infantry battalion were various Transfer Battalions, each undertaking different war functions.

Transfer to the status of Angel Envoy usually meant becoming a First Rank Knight.

The role of the Vanguard was to be the vanguard army and the forefront force.

This army was the first to set out, and its target was also the farthest.

...

"Guard Battalion! Target the castle of Baron Lester! Move out!"

Kao rode on a warhorse. The flag was a sharp straight longsword piercing the Thorny Iron Ring.

Commanding five Guard Battalions, with a force of about fifteen hundred, one-fifth were Angel Envoy transferred to Guards.

This squad was also the strongest frontline force.

...

"Sniper Battalion! Target Blackbird Forest! Move out!"

With no one yet to take charge, the Sniper Chief Captain was personally led by Deputy Commander Dick.

Roman’s most elite long-range striking force, each member had been selected, possessing shooting talent.

The flag was a longbow within the Thorny Iron Ring, mastering both long-range and close combat.

...

"Special Forces Battalion! Target Shane Territory! Move out!"

After careful consideration, Roman decided Green would transfer to become Special Forces and lead Origin City’s smallest, yet most elite and individually powerful unit.

...

"Heavy Equipment Battalion! Target Apple Town!"

The last departing army was the Heavy Equipment Battalion led by Aaron, the earliest established, most strictly trained, and most disciplined professional army.

They were to be shipped to Apple Town downriver of Fertile City, named for a golden apple tree.

Apple Town was also near the inner territories of Black Iron Land.

...

Five armies set off, each professional army carrying a corresponding number of auxiliary soldiers.

The five target points represented the five noble lands closest to Roman.

It included baron lands, earl lands, castles, and towns...

At the same time, those places also had large populations.

Is Origin City lacking manpower?

Soon, it wouldn’t be.

...

Winter had passed, yet the fierce winds from the Northern were still swirling here, howling relentlessly.

The guard of Cold Wind Town was momentarily stunned.

He watched as a massive and well-equipped army slowly emerged from the distance.

They marched forward, their figures and outlines gradually becoming clear, finally reaching close.

He didn’t know how many people there were, feeling they outnumbered the entire population of Cold Wind Town.

He began to struggle holding his spear, his pale lips trembling as he asked, "Gentlemen, what brings you here?"

The vanguard army marched quickly, with Nathan backed by over five hundred vanguard cavalry and two thousand auxiliary forces.

He was surprised by the laxity of Cold Wind Town, having encountered no substantial resistance on the way.

"I come to spread the will of the River Valley King," Nathan said. "The will of my King cannot be defied!"

"We have reported to our Lord..." the guard said.

The Lord arrived swiftly.

Lord Wende of Cold Wind Town was so frightened at seeing such an army appear uninvited on his land that his legs went weak, nearly collapsing.

He shouted with a false bravado, "Who let you come! Who let you in!"

Nathan, wearing a cold helmet with only his eyes visible through the slit, solemnly said, "The River Valley King commands all in these lands to submit to him, and my King will restructure the order of this land!"

"His Majesty the King didn’t give him this power!" Wende shouted, "Don’t think I don’t know, Black Iron Majesty only made him a mere hill king. He should manage himself well! Now he’s claiming this place for himself? No way! This is my family’s land!"

"Under heaven, all land belongs to the King," Nathan said. "My King will negotiate with the Black Iron King. Sir, if you don’t agree, you can gather your troops and go to war with us."

Lord Wende was so angry he laughed.

Cold Wind Town had only a little over a thousand conscript soldiers, and even fewer Conquest Knights, poorer than the former Count Kant.

Fight? What the hell to fight!

Lord Wende angrily mounted his young mare, spitting as he said, "I’m going to report to His Majesty the King! Just wait! Have His Majesty strip your leader’s title! Let’s see how arrogant he gets then!"

He was genuinely furious, never having seen such barbarous nobles.

Years ago they threatened him for a few hundred stinking slaves, and now they wanted to seize his family’s land!

Not an ounce of king’s law...

This was the last thought that crossed his mind.

Lord Wende had left a few dozen meters when Nathan pulled out a short axe and hurled it. Everyone present saw the noble in silken clothes smashed and thrown backward, his skull indented and shattered, a bloody mess, never to rise again.

Staring at the shocked Conquest Knights and guards of Cold Wind Town, Nathan coldly declared:

"If you don’t submit! Then conquer!"