Chapter 26: Raising Provisions and Funds

When the group arrived at the giant boulder field on the wasteland, the sky, which had been clear for over ten days, began to fall thick flakes of heavy snow once again. That night, they had no choice but to rest among the rocks. Fortunately, when they left the wooden fortress in the valley, they had loaded plenty of firewood onto the carriage; otherwise, they would have had to huddle under thin felt blankets to survive the cold night.

Gathered around the fire, Otto handed a wooden bowl containing half a bowl of watery millet porridge to Art. Art glanced at the bowl and asked, “Why is it so thin?”

Otto tapped on the deep copper pot resting by the fire and replied, “Sir, our provisions are limited. We’re not sure if this trip to gather supplies will yield much, so we need to ration carefully to avoid going hungry later.”

“Yes, Sir. Do you think we’ll actually collect any supplies this time? Those lords and nobles don’t part with their money and grain easily. I recall once when our county tax officer came to the village to collect taxes for the court, the nobles showed up with soldiers and knocked out several of his teeth on the spot. After that, the officer slunk away like a beaten dog,” Kazak shared his firsthand experience of the nobles’ arrogance.

Art ignored their comments. He didn't know if he could squeeze any grain or coin from the lords’ granaries and coffers, but he had to try. Even if the levy failed, he could still purchase grain from the countryside, which was far cheaper than buying in the city of Tinec. Moreover, this campaign to gather border patrol supplies throughout the county was also an opportunity to understand the region better, especially the bandit and raider situation. Without Art and his small group, they wouldn't even catch a trace of the outlaws.

After sheltering among the boulders overnight through the storm, as the snow ceased around noon the next day, Art and his companions set off eastward by carriage. Their first destination was the easternmost fort of Andermatt, a remote border town on the southeastern edge of the Burgundy Marquisate, near the Swabian Duchy.

The journey by four-wheeled carriage took one and a half days to reach Andermatt Fort, their first stop.

Andermatt Fort sat at the foot of the Poze Mountains in southeastern Tinec, near the Swabian border. Baron Antaias Berger of Burgundy held command here, guarding the pastoral frontier. The fort was small and dilapidated, built two centuries ago against mountain barbarians and never expanded or fully renovated since. It consisted of a circular stone foundation about fifteen feet high and 450 feet in circumference, topped with wooden walls. Inside stood a three-story stone house and around twenty thatched wooden cottages, plus a small chapel with only one elderly priest. Outside the walls were low thatched huts and a modest market. The entire fort and its dependent settlements comprised fewer than 150 people, with a standing guard of only fifteen soldiers. The fort’s jurisdiction included three villages and several scattered manors, totaling nearly 30,000 acres. Usually, Baron Antaias and one household knight, along with fifteen soldiers, patrolled the land. Aside from a handful of knights, the farmers conscripted for service were nearly useless in battle, more suited to plowing than spear-wielding combat.

When Art’s party appeared about a mile west of Andermatt Fort, the alarm bells inside began ringing incessantly.

After a long wait, a rider appeared from the fort with three or four spear-bearing guards clad in worn winter clothes, approaching the group.

The rider reined in his horse at a distance, observing cautiously. Seeing no obvious hostility, he and his men approached Art’s group.

Pointing a short spear at them, the rider commanded, “Sir, please halt. If you take another step forward, you will be considered trespassing on the baron’s territory.”

Art signaled his companions to relax before speaking loudly, “I am the Southern Border Security Patrol Officer, appointed personally by the Court’s Minister of Security, tasked with collecting patrol supplies throughout Tinec.”

The rider muttered to himself. He had never heard of such a title but seeing their attire and weapons, he dared not be dismissive. Apologizing, he sent a man back to summon the old priest.

After some time, the aged priest arrived, supported by guards, moving unsteadily.

“God be with you. Sir, may I see your papers?” The priest, informed of their identity, politely asked Art.

Art produced two parchments: one was the court’s commission, the other a letter from Viscount Pierre, acting as Tinec’s governor, authorizing Art to collect security taxes throughout the county. Evidently, Viscount Pierre had not sent these documents to local authorities in time, as Andermatt Fort had yet to receive any notice.

The priest squinted, scrutinizing the parchments and seals carefully before nodding to the rider.

Satisfied, the rider stepped aside and invited them into the stone house within the fort.

Servants brought bread and pea stew with minced meat. The group devoured the meager fare in the dim, dilapidated lord’s hall.

The rider, having patrolled outside, returned and removed his short sword from his belt. “Sir Patrol Officer, I am Druid, household knight to Baron Antaias. Unfortunately, the baron traveled to the southern mountains yesterday.”

“Honorable Sir Druid, thank you for your hospitality. However, I must discuss matters personally with the baron. How might I find him?” Art, a commoner without noble rank, knew he must show due respect to receive courtesy.

The knight humbly replied, “The baron should return tomorrow. Please rest assured and wait. I have prepared a guest room for you tonight, though the fort has few rooms. Your soldiers will have to make do in the granary.”

“Much obliged.”

That night, after two days of hunger and cold on the wasteland, Art and his companions slept soundly in Andermatt Fort.

………

It was not until noon the next day that Baron Antaias returned with seven or eight soldiers and a dozen farmers with their families.

Upon hearing that a man claiming to be the court’s Southern Border Security Patrol Officer had come to the fort, the baron felt a pang of suspicion. Apart from the annual tax season, this remote and stable border region had rarely seen strangers, especially court-appointed officials. Had their secret been exposed?

At first glance, Baron Antaias was impressed by Art’s group’s bold and vigorous bearing. But upon learning Art was a commoner without noble rank, the baron’s attitude cooled considerably. When Art explained his mission to collect supplies, the baron’s expression darkened further, almost as if he were ready to draw his sword.

After explaining the purpose and emphasizing the patrol unit’s role, Art earnestly tried to persuade the familiar-faced baron. “Honored Baron, I understand that Andermatt’s lands are mostly barren mountains, but isn’t the security of your domain more important than the coin and grain?“

Antaias looked disdainful and replied calmly, “Officer, I believe my domain’s security does not require a shadowless patrol unit to maintain.”

“Is that so? Then who are those people you brought back today? I suppose they are displaced by mountain bandits? I do not doubt your courage and strength, but with only about ten guards and twenty or thirty conscripted farmers here at Andermatt, can you really drive the raiders back to the Poze Mountains?”

Before Antaias could answer, Art lowered his gaze to a horn-made wine cup he was turning and spoke softly, “Also, before autumn, your territory’s Arles Fort was occupied by a band of mountain bandits, wasn’t it? That was one of your knight’s fiefs. I don’t know if the noble inside Arles village escaped. If you don’t quickly reclaim the fort and rescue that poor knight, the marquis and the court will have to send another noble to garrison Andermatt.”

Antaias’s heart sank. He had not reported the loss of Arles Fort to the court, as such a failure could cost him his title. Over the past six months, he had repeatedly conscripted farmers to try to retake Arles but, besides a handful of knights, retainers, and his dozen or so castle guards, his forces were weak. The conscripts scattered at the first clash with the fierce bandits, and many villagers had died. He had yet to reclaim the fort.

“Has the marquis already heard about Arles?” the baron asked with a trace of panic.

Art sipped his wine. “If the marquis knew, would you still be sitting here comfortably? But if you don’t retake Arles soon, he will find out eventually. I suspect then the court will send troops to assist you.”

“Hmph. At the latest, I will reclaim Arles Fort by next summer,” Antaias said, clenching his cup.

Art stood and paced to the baron’s side. “You certainly can regain it, but if a friendly and strong army could assist you without the court’s knowledge, perhaps you could retake it sooner.”

“You mean your patrol unit? Just a few of them?” Antaias glanced toward Otto and the others at the far end of the long table.

“Including these elite few,” Art did not answer directly.

“How many men can you bring?” Baron Antaias fixed him with a stare.

“By the end of next spring, I can bring more than ten well-trained elite soldiers to aid your campaign. Beyond that depends on you.”

Antaias caught the meaning behind Art’s words and asked, “Oh? What are your conditions?”

“Sir, I told you the court ordered me to form a patrol unit to maintain security on the southern border, yet they only gave me a scrap of parchment and sent me here.”

“Why should I trust you will bring troops after taking my coin and grain?”

“You don’t have to trust me. In fact, you have no better choice. If you cannot recapture Arles before the marquis learns of it, the money and grain you save today will only enrich the noble who replaces you. And if you want to quietly invite other lords to send troops, you will pay a much higher price than with me.”

Antaias tapped his finger lightly on his cup, pondering for a moment before replying, “I must admit, your sharp tongue has swayed me. Let me think it over.”

In the end, Art secured 1,800 pounds of wheat and 1,200 finneys in military funds from Baron Antaias’s domain, but took only a third immediately. The rest would be delivered when Art returned before the end of spring with no fewer than twelve elite soldiers, as promised by the baron.

Additionally, the baron agreed that if Arles Fort was retaken, one quarter of the bandits’ seized wealth and goods would be given to Art as reward.

Having agreed on the military assistance, Art and his group loaded the gathered supplies onto horse-drawn wagons and departed Andermatt Fort that afternoon.

Ron looked back at Baron Antaias standing at the fort gate, watching them leave, and could not hide his joy. “Master, this wasn’t hard at all! We collected so many supplies on our first stop.”

Art drank from his water bag, casting a glance at Ron. “Ron, you’re thinking too simply. Do you think Baron Antaias is a fool? He’s seen right through that you are not well-trained elite soldiers. He gave us some grain just to shut me up. He doesn’t want the court to learn too soon that he lost Arles Fort.”

Otto leaned toward Art, tilting his head, “But when he was negotiating with you, he didn’t seem to be dismissive?”

“That’s because he knows I really will help him clear out the bandits.”

“Ah, then we must hurry with training. If a fight breaks out, clothes alone won’t win the day,” Otto said to the others.

………

As Art had expected, in the following days their mission to gather supplies met resistance everywhere.

Except for Andermatt Fort, no large villages in Tinec were occupied by bandits. The small settlements frequently raided were either ignored or so impoverished that they could not offer a single grain. These places desperately wanted help but had nothing to contribute. Art did not visit the Leyne Manor between Tinec and the wooden fortress, as he knew he would get no favors from Baron Bazel, nor did he like that place.

Despite quoting the court’s Minister of Security and even Archbishop Olof Hannis, Art managed to gather less than 800 pounds of moldy mixed grains and 300 finneys from the remaining villages and fort settlements.

After nearly a week of traveling across the county, aside from placing informants to gather bandit intelligence and learning the general situation, the harvest of supplies was meager. Art had no choice but to lower his tiger-skin banner and begin trading with the lords and gentry.

Tinec’s terrain was mountainous and rugged compared to the north, but without war in recent years, the mountain plains yielded good harvests. Though farmers toiled each year and barely made ends meet, the lords and gentry’s granaries were always filled with grain waiting to spoil. Due to ongoing wars in Provence severing north-south trade routes, southern grain merchants ceased their purchases, causing the lords’ stores to swell.

Art and his men haggled, buying 8,000 pounds of unhulled wheat at about six pounds per finney—a price over half that of Tinec’s market but slightly higher than what unscrupulous grain traders typically paid.

As a condition of the high price, Art required the lords and gentry to deliver the grain themselves to the northern forest edge near the wooden fortress. Bandits were quieter this season, and Art promised to escort the grain caravans and pay for their safety, so the lords agreed willingly.

On this trip, Art’s group traversed all the southern towns, forts, villages, and manors of Tinec, collecting only about 1,400 pounds of various grains and 700 finneys in funds. Thus, Art had to spend 1,700 finneys buying a large stock of grain and some salt and cooking utensils.

This grain would not suffice until the new harvest in the reclaimed fields, and Art’s remaining funds could not even buy enough seed wheat for spring planting. Worry gnawed at him as he felt the crushing weight of responsibility.

On the thirteenth day of their campaign, when the wooden fortress’s stores were nearly empty, Art and his five companions, along with a group of teamsters, drove seven or eight ox and horse-drawn wagons to the northern forest edge.

When Ron returned on horseback to tell Cooper to organize farmers to move the grain at the forest edge, Lawrence had already selected seven or eight farmers to accompany the northern grain purchase expedition…