British hegemon

Chapter 132 Clever Tactics

Marne was unaware of Roger's thoughts, and even less able to verify the accuracy of Roger's prophecy of a chaotic world. However, his years as a professional soldier instilled in him an absolute obedience to his lord. "My lord, I will go and begin preparations."

Roger waved his hand, indicating that he should do as he pleased.

Back in his study at the mansion, just as he picked up the radiation weight list Olaf had drawn up to make some changes, Earl with the ponytail rushed in without even knocking.

"What happened?"

Earl, with her ponytail, entered and gently closed the door. She hurried forward and whispered, "My lord, our spies at the Baron's mansion have sent back bad news."

White-faced John is up to his old tricks again. Since it's about "stirring things up," it's naturally related to his nephew, Chicken-faced brother.

Just two days ago, John the White exercised his baronial authority—granting Liam, the Knight of the Inner Court, a small estate on the edge of Bewaiting, the Baron of Arron's private estate, consisting of a four-room wooden house and a stone-walled courtyard, along with eighty acres of surrounding land and seven households.

Just when everyone thought that Whiteface John had a change of heart, he did something that aroused righteous indignation—he dismissed Liam’s Knight of the Household and sent him to his newly bestowed estate.

The reason, of course, is that Sir Liam has fought for the Isle of Arron for many years and made great contributions, and he also suffered some injuries at Galloway last time, so he needs to rest for a while.

Of course, everyone knew it was because Liam had publicly opposed John the Whiteface's decision to send troops to Galloway at the Baron's military council last time, or rather, Liam could not unconditionally carry out all of the new Baron's orders.

Immediately afterwards, John the White-Faced man announced that he would bestow the title of Knight of Brodick Castle upon the "Baron's Advisor," who had served as a knight's squire for many years.

You can't mistreat the person you share your bed with.

"Did the old lady agree to this?" Roger asked in a very calm tone.

Ponytail Earl was curious about why the person sitting in the armchair in front of him was so calm, but he didn't dare to ask. He replied, "The informant didn't mention the old lady's reaction, but I heard that the Baroness was so angry that she left Brodick Castle and returned to her family's territory. She even threatened to divorce the pale-faced man immediately."

"What a waste of such a beautiful sister-in-law, if only..." Roger quickly banished the colorful jumble of thoughts from his mind and asked, "What was Sir Liam's reaction?"

"What kind of reaction can there be? The master has already backed him up; he can't just stay in the castle all the time. However, the soldiers under Sir Liam's command are quite resentful."

"Have your spies keep an eye out for any soldiers who are complaining, and write down their names." Roger was quite interested in the soldiers under the Baron's command who had been fighting for many years. They were soldiers trained by Baron John himself, and their combat strength was slightly better than that of the soldiers under his command.

Earl, with the ponytail, nodded. "Sir, what is your opinion on this matter?"

Roger sighed meaningfully and smiled, "Good, very good, excellent."

"What's so great about it! I absolutely disagree."

Several lords of Arran sat around a long table in the main hall of Baron Brodick Castle: Baron John IV of Arran, Lord Roger of Milk House Manor, Lord Gildonan of Gildonan, Lord Pienmir, and a knight whom the old baron had recruited last year at the tournament.

The people sitting around the long table all shared a common identity—they were all knights, because the matter being discussed in this hall today concerned knights.

Of course, the guy who was the focus of the discussion naturally avoided suspicion, and Sir Liam, who was sent out of the castle, also claimed to be ill and was absent.

John, the pale-faced man, sat high in the main chair, his expression extremely unpleasant. Sir Gildonian sighed from time to time, echoing Roger's attitude. Lord Pienmir, who had been dejected since his serious injury in Galloway last year, sat motionless without uttering a word.

The knight who had just arrived on the island of Arran was clearly less interested in getting involved in such power struggles; he kept his eyes fixed on the wine glass in front of him the whole time, as if everything in the hall was none of his concern.

Our protagonist has just voiced his opposition, and he is currently filled with righteous indignation.

"You brought this bastard back before your uncle's body was even cold, and now you want to knight him? Are you trying to make your uncle rise from his grave? You unfilial son!"

"In my capacity as the First Deputy Commander of the Campbell Family Army, I refuse to acknowledge that bastard's command over the Interior Ministry's army!"

Roger's statement hit the nail on the head. Although the Inner Court Knights were generally knights without fiefs, these landless knights were different from wandering knights.

First, they were professional knights kept by the great lord, almost always by his side, and were the great lord's absolute confidants, which in itself was a political resource.

Secondly, the Inner Court Knights were usually the lieutenants of a great lord's army, and when the great lord was not in command, the Inner Court Knights had the authority to take command of the army on behalf of the lord.

Finally, and most importantly, the Inner Court Knights also control the Grand Lord's private army, which is the guarantee of the Grand Lord's rule and is naturally a group of well-equipped and valiant warriors.

Roger had no intention of stopping John the Whiteface from bestowing the title of Knight of the Inner Court upon his confidant; in fact, he was quite happy to see John the Whiteface run amok.

But the twenty or so professional soldiers in Brodick Castle were no mere decorations. Most of them were warriors who had fought alongside the old baron and survived countless battles. In particular, after last year's martial arts tournament, a group of experts were added to the ranks, and their strength should not be underestimated.

If he allows this elite armed force to fall into the hands of the enemy, his situation will become very passive.

Fortunately, the old baron had the foresight to personally appoint Roger as the first deputy commander of the army on Arran Island before his death. In other words, Roger was the highest commander of the army on Arran Island besides the baron, and his military power was above that of the Inner Court Knights.

This also includes second command over this lord's private army.

Therefore, Roger's objection was valid.

However, Roger's effective objection was limited to this; he could not decide how a great lord would treat his vassals under Mordor.

As a result, John the White-Faced's rooster brother still became a Knight of the Inner Court at Brodick Castle. The ceremony and banquet for the knighthood were held that afternoon, and everything had been arranged in advance.

However, because Roger denied the new Inner Court Knights' acting command authority, he was temporarily unable to gain command of all of the Baron's troops. In other words, apart from the guards of Brodick Castle, Chicken could not command the other troops on the island.

Roger stormed out of the court, smashing his cup, and no one dared to stop him, because while Roger was attending this meeting against the new Inner Court Knights at the Baron's mansion, his soldiers, fully armed, were patrolling the castle gates.

About two-thirds of the lords and gentry attended the investiture ceremony in the afternoon, and the ceremony was said to be very grand.

This ceremony was far more grand than Roger's investiture ceremony.

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