Chapter 11: 11 Hehe, I'm Back Again

Chapter 11: 11. Hehehe, I’m Back Again

To address the shortage of manpower, Luo Ning pondered for a moment and identified two main avenues.

The first was to spend money on purchasing slaves.

In this world, the slave system had not been abolished; in fact, nearly every city had slave markets.

Luo Ning retrieved a map from the carriage and examined it. The route from Wushan City to the mountain forest town passed through many noble territories, and if he truly wanted to buy slaves, likely many of these territories would have slaves available.

However, the most suitable cities were undoubtedly two: the first was Muma City, the largest city near the mountain forest town;

the second was Wushan City, the place he had just departed from.

"Should I go to Muma City to buy, or return to Wushan City?"

Luo Ning tapped on the carriage wall and fell into prolonged contemplation.

Of course, besides purchasing slaves, there was another method to expand manpower: spending money to recruit workers.

Luo Ning could use money to hire people to go to the mountain forest town.

However, recruiting wasn't something that could be done casually in any city; first, he needed the permission of other lords.

Essentially, the populace of a territory was also considered the wealth of the lord. Without the lord's consent, Luo Ning's private recruitment would violate lordly laws, and in serious cases, the other party could even use this as an excuse to wage war.

After much deliberation, Luo Ning turned his attention back to Wushan City.

Whether buying slaves or hiring commoners, returning to Wushan City was the optimal choice.

He believed that even if he privately recruited a group of people in Wushan City to go to the mountain forest town, Lulansi probably wouldn't intervene, and Wiggins might even choose to overlook it, hoping only that Luo Ning would quickly take his people and leave far away.

However, if he had to turn back, today's journey would be wasted.

"If I really return, I could consider asking the Earl for more."

In essence, he wanted manpower but didn't want to spend money.

What could he do? He could only shamelessly "borrow" from Wushan Castle.

"Simply appealing to pity or playing on emotions clearly won't work. Is there another way?"

Luo Ning pondered for a long time.

Firstly, the nine guards arranged by Wiggins had betrayed him; going back to replace them seemed reasonable, right?

Once this thought sprouted in his mind, it couldn't be stopped, and ultimately he decided to return to Wushan Castle.

What was the saying about a good horse not turning back? If the grass ahead was tasty, what did turning back matter?

After the guards finished feeding the horses and everyone hastily ate, Luo Ning waved his hand grandly: "Chahar, order the convoy to turn around; we're returning to Wushan City!"

"What?"

Chahar was stunned, "Master, aren't we going to the mountain forest town?"

"Of course we are, but I suddenly remember there's an important matter I haven't handled!"

Although still puzzled, Chahar didn’t press further and quickly relayed the Baron’s order.

The five betrayers immediately grew anxious upon hearing they were returning to Wushan City. If Luo Ning handed them over to Wushan Castle upon returning, wouldn't they be doomed?

But seeing Knight McKen riding his warhorse, they completely lost any thought of escape.

The carriage swayed along, and after another four hours or so, the convoy passed through Wushan City and arrived outside Wushan Castle.

Luo Ning chose not to buy slaves within the city but first returned to the castle to try his luck. If he could obtain resources, wouldn’t it save money?

Seeing him, the guards at the castle gate were utterly bewildered.

"Sir, what is this?"

The gate guards were full of questions. Hadn’t this young lord left in the morning? Why was he back at night?

Luo Ning grimaced and snorted, "Go tell Earl Wiggins that the 'elite troops' he arranged for me are all traitors—they attempted to assassinate me halfway!"

"What?"

The gate guards thought they misheard. Could there be traitors among Wushan Castle's guards, and they wanted to assassinate the eldest grandson of the Wushan family?

The five traitors Luo Ning had temporarily spared and not killed upon hearing this felt as if they had plunged into an ice cellar, their faces instantly changing.

Indeed, the worries along the return journey had become reality—the Baron still hadn't spared them.

"Master, spare us! Master, spare us!" They knelt on the ground, pleading incessantly.

Luo Ning didn’t look at them again. He wouldn’t kill them; he would only hand them over to Wushan Castle.

As for how Wushan Castle would treat them, that wasn't something he needed to concern himself with.

"McKen, Chahar, follow me to see my grandfather."

Luo Ning spoke while entering Wushan Castle, "These traitors are handed over to you guards; make sure they don’t escape."

"Rest assured, sir!"

The gate guards immediately restrained the five traitors, with one quickly running into the castle, likely to inform Wiggins of this incident.

Without any delay, Luo Ning swiftly arrived at Lulansi’s small building.

"Grandfather, grandfather!"

He shouted as he walked, his demeanor growing frantic.

"Lord Luo Ning?"

Old steward Most was surprised and came forward, "Didn’t you depart in the morning? Why are you back?"

Luo Ning’s acting skills were fully engaged; he urgently asked, "Where is my grandfather? I need to see him!"

"Well... the master is inside." Most stepped aside, preparing to let Luo Ning enter.

But then, Marquis Lulansi had already walked from inside the house into the courtyard, leaning on his cane.

"I could hear your shouts from inside the house. What happened? Why are you back?"

The Marquis wore a long robe, seeming as if he had just gotten out of bed.

Luo Ning hurried forward, "Grandfather, the guards Father assigned to me attempted to assassinate me halfway!"

He grasped Lulansi’s hand, trembling uncontrollably, "I suspect, I suspect they were instructed by Father. Father wants to kill me!"

Lulansi’s expression changed. Could Wiggins be so foolish as to want to kill his own son?

"You’re lying!"

Before the person arrived, the voice came first. Earl Wiggins, rushing hurriedly, heard Luo Ning falsely accusing him from afar, and his roar seemed ready to lift the roof.

"I wish you’d die outside, but I’m not so idle as to arrange people to kill you!"

As the words fell, Wiggins had already entered the courtyard.

Though only a high-level knight, his strength was insufficient to impress major nobles, but at this moment, the surging battle aura emanating from him still exerted considerable pressure on Luo Ning.

"Stop!" McKen stepped forward, blocking Luo Ning.

Wiggins snorted angrily, "Get out of the way!"

He lifted his leg and kicked toward McKen, who didn’t evade but countered with a kick.

With a loud thud, their legs collided solidly, the immense force making them stumble backward simultaneously.

"Are you alright?"

Luo Ning quickly steadied Macken. It was evident that Wiggins had gained the upper hand in this exchange.

This was unsurprising—after all, the opponent was an advanced knight, while Macken was only a beginner.

If Wiggins had exerted his full strength, or even used his battle aura, Macken, taking the hit so directly, might have been bedridden for months.

"Who are you?" Wiggins frowned and asked coldly.

Beside him, Lulans’ eyes flashed with a peculiar light, wondering how Luo Ning had acquired a knight. And judging by the knight’s performance, though his rank was not high, his foundations seemed relatively solid.

This grandson had once again caught his attention.

"Come inside to talk."

The old Marquis turned and walked toward the house. "Fighting in the courtyard—if word gets out, the nobles outside might think the Wushan family is on the verge of a feud!"

"Hmph!"

Wiggins angrily swept his robe aside and followed indoors.

After having Macken checked and confirming he was unharmed, Luo Ning also entered.

Once the three parties were seated, Lulans finally spoke: "Luo Ning, explain clearly what happened today. Why do you suspect your father wants to kill you?"

(End of Chapter)