Chapter 143: Good News Arrives at Lei Dun Fortress!

That night, the Lei Dun Fortress at the back mountain was brightly lit.

Because Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi, the war commander, was stationed here, messengers from all directions constantly arrived at or departed from the fortress via the side mountain paths at every moment.

"Make way! Good news from the Left Wing Army! Make way, good news from the Left Wing Army!"

A cavalry unit of thirty men galloped up from the mountain path below, shouting as they ran.

The griffin flags planted on their backs clearly proved their identity, and they were not blocked along the way.

The cavalry unit passed through the outer gate and entered the forecourt, only then pulling their reins one by one and dismounting.

The guard soldiers who had been waiting for a long time quickly stepped forward to lead the warhorses away.

The cavalry captain then took out a silver token.

"I am a cavalryman under the command of Commander Brick of the Left Wing Army. I am returning good news from the Left Wing Army. I must see Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi immediately!"

"My lord, Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi has been sleepless for several days due to the war and only just rested a while ago. I cannot let you disturb him. I can take you to the fortress conference hall, where military advisors serving the Hou Jue are on duty."

"No, Commander Brick said this good news is extremely important and must be reported to Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi immediately. Moreover, the Hou Jue will surely be happy upon hearing this news!" the cavalry captain insisted.

The official in charge of reception frowned. "My lord, tell me what good news this is. If it is merely good news about two or three hundred savages, it is better to wait until tomorrow, as many reports have already arrived from all places today!"

Upon hearing this, the knight solemnly declared: "Although the tally is indeed only two hundred kills, my good news concerns the kills of two hundred warriors from the Black Tiger Tribe, and I have also brought back the head of Baron Leven!"

"What? Two hundred warriors from the Black Tiger Tribe killed? And the head of Baron Leven? Are you sure?" The official was stunned, and his expression immediately became serious.

The Black Tiger Tribe had killed several nobles, committing countless crimes. Even more outrageous, they had displayed the nobles' heads as trophies, impaled on their bone flags.

Even the King knew of this matter, and the entire nobility attached immense importance to it.

If the nobles' heads could truly be retrieved, that would indeed be a significant piece of good news.

Especially since this was the first noble head!

"My lord, I am very certain!"

"Follow me! I will take you to see the Hou Jue right now!"

More than ten minutes later, Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi, who had only just fallen asleep, was awakened.

"Hou Jue, I am very sorry to wake you from your sleep. The Left Wing Army has indeed delivered an important piece of good news."

"What good news?" Although full of fatigue, Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi was not angered by being woken up.

"The head of Baron Leven has been brought back, along with the heads of two hundred Black Tiger Tribe warriors, plus a Black Tiger Tribe bone flag!"

"Oh?"

The subordinate presented Commander Brick's report scroll to Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi.

Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi instantly became alert, confirmed the wax seal was intact, and immediately opened the report to read it.

After finishing the report, a smile appeared on Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi's face. "Excellent. Where are the head of Baron Leven and those bone flag heads?"

"Hou Jue, they are in the courtyard of the fortress forecourt, waiting for your inspection before being stored in the warehouse to register the merit."

"Let's go, take me to see them!"

Soon, Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi arrived at the forecourt.

After personally confirming the head of Baron Leven, plus the two hundred tribal savage heads, he held the captured Black Tiger bone flag and said, "Excellent. The first noble head was retrieved on only the third day of the expedition."

"Counting it this way, this result was achieved on the very first day of contact combat. That is truly excellent!"

"Immediately send this good news to the capital by fast horse. Additionally, inform the main force and the Right Wing Army to exert themselves as well, to restore our kingdom's honor!"

"Also, return Baron Leven's head to his widow and bury Baron Leven properly!"

"Yes, Hou Jue!"

"By the way, that Baron Gervas, which family's offspring is he? How could he alone kill two hundred Black Tiger warriors?"

Upon hearing the inquiry, the subordinate's expression became strange.

"What? Is there a problem?"

"Hou Jue, this Gervas is not from a great noble family; he seems to come from only a baronial family. Furthermore, his territory is in the Storm Territory!"

Worrying the Hou Jue might not have heard of the Storm Territory, the subordinate added: "It is that southern territory located on the edge of the Death Mountain Range, where three noble lords have died in ten years!"

"Oh? The Storm Territory, known among the nobles as the Land of Death? And he is not an offspring of a great noble family? Then how did he accomplish all this?"

After seeing the battle achievements reported, Marquis Marshal Mi Xiusi had assumed Gervas was from a great family.

The reason was simple: first, one must possess such strength to kill two hundred Black Tiger warrior heads as a baron.

Second, no one embezzled this merit this time; without some status, that would not be easy.

Who knew the report received was like this.

"Hou Jue, currently there is only this much information regarding Baron Gervas. I learned it all by querying the registration data this time. As for other more detailed circumstances, a deeper investigation is needed!"

"Forget the investigation. He has established merit, not committed a crime. Just keep an eye on this young lad for me!"

"Additionally, his merit must be recorded. It is truly not easy for a small noble to achieve such results!"

"Yes, Hou Jue!"

They did not stay at Baron Leven's castle, only arranging for over a hundred serfs to remain behind.

To gain more merit faster, the Left Wing column continued its advance.

Time passed, and three days later arrived.

Today, the Left Wing Army finally reached the second noble territory to be conquered... Baron Kras's territory.

And as the army advanced along Baron Kras's territory, they soon discovered that the savages on this territory had also fled.

"What do these savages want to do?" Commander Brick was full of confusion.

"Commander Brick, who cares what they want to do? It is best if these fellows keep retreating all the way to Paca City; then we won't need any fighting to pick up all the merit for free!" Fario did not care at all.

Successfully subduing two noble territories meant the merit for him was already substantial.

If they could continue to recover the planned territories next, his ennoblement as a viscount and his territory were surely guaranteed.

Commander Brick heard this and silently cursed Count Farrio for not understanding military affairs.

These western barbarians went to great lengths to capture these noble lands.

Could they truly be willing to surrender them so easily?

It's unthinkable.

"Report!"

At that moment, five swift horses arrived rapidly at Baron Carlas's fortress — one of the scout cavalry units assigned to forward reconnaissance.

"What is it?"

"My lord, while scouting ahead, we spotted the retreating western barbarian force three li ahead — three hundred men total — fleeing toward the southwest!"