Chapter 193: Plan

The last rays of the sunset spilled across the marshland, dyeing it a warm golden hue, appearing from afar like a tranquil and mysterious painting.

A dried, hardened earth road cut through two pitted wetlands, plunging into the stone forest and extending straight northward into the woods.

Years ago, after Reisen had brought the Black Collar Tribe under his control, he had this road built to transport various resources.

Now, Riedal led a knightly detachment, slowly escorting the assassin and captives into Marshtown.

Inside the cart, Philiton was bound tightly, utterly immobilized.

As he gazed upon the landscape—both familiar and alien—he finally believed Riedal’s words: Baron Reisen would never return; the land of Caine was finished.

In all these days of captivity, he had never felt so broken, so utterly hopeless.

The procession trudged slowly along the hardened road, and soon arrived before Marshkeep.

Gallier’s gaze flickered repeatedly between Ronin and Riedal, wondering who was truly responsible for this sudden emergence of such a disciplined detachment in the Forest Hill settlement.

“Lord Ronin,” he said, “I see your men are now equipped with ironwood armor. When will the weapons and gear you promised us be delivered to Wushan City?”

Gallier was captain of the First Knight Detachment of Wushan Keep—the very man who had signed the order with Ronin.

Ronin, who had been admiring his knightly detachment with evident pride, was momentarily silenced by Gallier’s question.

He paused briefly, then replied, “Rest assured—the six-month production schedule still has over three months remaining. It will be completed no later than the end of April.”

This was no empty promise.

On one hand, with no warfare in the northern reaches, demand for weapons and armor had eased, allowing the ironwood workshops to fulfill outstanding orders first.

On the other, Ronin now commanded far more laborers—he could simply redirect a portion toward the workshops, dramatically boosting output.

Soon, he would not only fulfill Gallier’s order but could begin selling openly through the Ironhoof family’s trade caravans.

“Lord!”

While they spoke, Riedal had dismounted and approached Ronin with a respectful bow. “I have brought the Shadow Assassin and Philiton, along with four other knights of Reisen, under custody.”

Ronin nodded, clapping Riedal’s shoulder with firm trust. “Well done!”

As he spoke, Ronin noticed Riedal’s cultivation progress had reached 26/800—all achieved through his own efforts, without a single energy essence spent on him.

Nor had Ronin granted any points to Macken during this time. Macken, relying solely on self-training, had only advanced to 4/1500.

In the same span, Riedal gained 26 points; Macken, merely 4.

That meant, if left entirely to natural cultivation, Riedal’s advancement was six times faster than Macken’s.

Indeed, the gap between Sunlit Talent and Golden Talent was unmistakable in the pace of cultivation.

After greeting Hoen, Jennie, and others who had accompanied him, Ronin began the prisoner handover.

Once the Shadow Assassin and Philiton were formally transferred to Gallier, Ronin’s involvement in Reisen’s judgment ended—everything beyond this point fell to Wushan Keep.

Beyond the prisoners, the defense of Marshtown also needed to be assumed by Ronin’s men.

Mas of Muham and Baron Taren had merely come to assist; Ronin had not paid them for their aid, and keeping them in Marshtown too long was inappropriate.

That night, a modest yet lavish banquet was held within Marshkeep.

It was meant to thank Gallier, Mas, and Baron Taren for their support over these past weeks—and to bid them farewell the following day.

After the feast, in his study, Ronin summoned his knights.

“After seizing the Black Collar Tribe, Magician Jennie oversaw the population census.”

Riedal handed over the census records. “Here is the list of the Black Collar Tribe’s inhabitants.”

“Thank you, Jennie,” Ronin said.

Jennie bowed slightly, maintaining humble deference. “My lord, no thanks are necessary—it is my duty.”

Ronin unrolled the parchment. Neat, elegant script detailed the tribe’s demographics.

The Black Collar Tribe numbered 1,270 souls—the largest of the four savage tribes.

Though the full census of Marshtown remained incomplete, Ronin’s registered population had already reached 4,400.

Once completed, the total would surely surpass ten thousand.

“How is the Black Collar Tribe faring now?” Ronin asked.

“The situation has stabilized,” Riedal replied, “but perhaps due to the rapid succession of leaders, the people remain tense, on edge.”

Ronin nodded slowly. “Joffrey, you were once their chieftain. When matters here are settled, return to the Black Collar Tribe and soothe their fears.”

Joffrey bowed deeply. “As you command, my lord.”

Ronin turned to a matter he cared more deeply about: “What were our casualties in the assault on the Black Collar Tribe?”

After all, this was the first true, full-scale battle they had fought together.

“The casualties were minimal,” Riedal reported honestly. “One cavalryman killed, two infantrymen. The cavalryman was a fresh recruit from Forest Hill; the infantrymen were guards who followed you from Wushan Keep since the beginning.”

“Additionally, twelve were wounded. But after all these days, all have recovered.”

Ronin exhaled inwardly in relief. Such losses were acceptable.

“Distribute one gold coin in compensation to each fallen soldier’s family.”

He paused, then added, “I will entrust Gallier to deliver the compensation to the families of the two guards from Wushan Keep.”

Ronin had once promised in Wushan Keep: anyone who joined him in Forest Hill and died in battle would receive one gold coin. He would not break that vow.

“In addition to compensation, their families shall be exempt from taxes for five years, relieved of corvée labor entirely, and pay only half the usual levies.”

Ronin turned to Riedal and Wilson. “When recruiting new soldiers in the future, make this policy known upfront.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Ronin swept his gaze across them all. “Though becoming Viscount of Northern Wushan is cause for joy, I urge you not to grow complacent. This is only the beginning.”

Leaving aside external threats, much remains to be done if Northern Wushan is to grow and flourish.

Yet these words lit fires in their eyes.

James and Hoen sought to restore their ancestral glory. Joffrey and Bablin dreamed of shedding their savage status and building legacies. David and others aspired to become ennobled knights. Chahar wished to become chief steward. Wilson longed to rise in rank…

All were dreamers. And now, Ronin had given them hope—they would not let it slip away.

“We swear our lives to you, my lord!”

Ronin was pleased. He smiled. “From tomorrow, Macken—you will train the guards and assume command of Marshtown’s defense.”

“Riedal—continue training the new recruits. We need more soldiers to patrol Northern Wushan.”

Riedal nodded. “My lord, among Reisen’s knights, survivors remain—cavalry, infantry, and archers. They are currently held in the Black Collar Tribe.”

“If they choose to submit, they may remain and serve,” Ronin said.

Training a common man into a competent soldier took time and effort.

Though they had once served Reisen, he was gone. As long as they obeyed, followed orders, Ronin had no objection to keeping them.

“I understand, my lord.”

Actually, Ridal had intended to leave them behind for this very reason.

“There is one more crucial matter.”

Ronin said: “Movement between Marsh Village, Forest Village, Ash Soil Hamlet, and Black Collar Hamlet will become frequent. To ensure safety along the routes, we must organize cavalry patrols along the roads and promptly eliminate any dangers detected.”

Exchange between villages is inevitable.

Not to mention, Wilson must take his assistants and the village heads to other places to guide agricultural cultivation.

Beyond that, communication among villagers, intermarriage, grain transport, and the eventual shipment of silk and porcelain all require secure pathways.

“Now that the Ubei Domain has no enemies, the matter of forming hunter squads, mentioned earlier, must be prioritized.”

Ronin said: “We must strive to clear all dangerous points surrounding Marsh Village, Forest Village, and the other hamlets as soon as possible.” (End of Chapter)