Chapter 17: Tutoring, Noble Lessons

In the third month after we arrived in Kunlan City, the Winston Western Route Army — which had once completely destroyed the Seventh Legion of the Delanmaya Army at Dragon’s Spine Canyon and pushed deep into enemy territory — broke through the Delanmaya Army’s layers of encirclement with unpredictable movements and smooth, precise flanking maneuvers. It successfully rescued the trapped Eastern Route Army from the danger of total annihilation, and completely tore open the northern defense line of Delanmaya, leaving a brilliant page in the history of continental mobile tactics. Prince Louis, Marshal of the Winston Empire Army, direct commander of the southward-invading Western Route Army, and Crown Prince of the Winston Empire, was also praised as a military genius who had created war miracles of his time. He earned military honor never before achieved by any soldier on the continent, and was called “the commander who can embroider on the battlefield.” Indeed, his miraculous strategies allowed his lone army of fewer than twenty thousand to escape from dense encirclements time after time. Several times they even brushed past the Delanmaya Army, and in the end, they successfully opened up the battlefield situation. His army embroidered flowers of honor across the vast northern plains of Delanmaya again and again, making the commanders of all nations of the same era look inferior by comparison.

Now, the entire northern plain was completely exposed beneath the iron hooves of the Winston Heavy Cavalry. North of the Morning Light River, nothing could stop the flood-like charge of the Winston Army. This young prince had created a miracle of an era.

No one knew that in the small city of Kunlan, hidden in the northwestern corner of Delanmaya, an ordinary soldier could accurately see through Prince Louis’s intentions, correctly predict every one of his tactical moves, and had long ago foreseen the doomed fate of the Delanmaya Army. That soldier was Fred. His predictions were so accurate that even Carlson, a veteran of countless battles, had to admire Fred’s correct judgment of the war situation.

It was not that he had failed to offer his judgments to the high-ranking commanders at every level. On the contrary, he had written letters many times to the Delanmaya Army’s headquarters offering strategies, and he had tried to seek meetings with officers of every rank, from the Marshal down to the various legions. Unfortunately, no one was willing to listen to the voice of a lowly soldier, even if it was the truth.

Finally, one day, we received a transfer order. It commanded us to report to the port of Kampnavia, on the southern bank of the Morning Light River, within ten days, to continue fulfilling our duties as soldiers.

Soon we discovered that, due to the chaos in the military’s internal management, we could not complete this harsh task.

We went to the Kunlan City Defense Office and applied for a boat that could carry us across the river, but we were rejected. The reason was: our unit was not under Kunlan City’s jurisdiction, and Kunlan City had no obligation to provide transportation for our transfer.

We searched the docks for an entire day, but none of us could find a boat that could leave. The boat owners said that His Excellency Count Futal, the governor of Kunlan, had issued a navigation ban. All boats were requisitioned for military use. Without special approval from the Dock Military Management Office, no one was allowed to set sail. Violators would be charged with the crime of aiding the enemy.

We tried to ask the Dock Military Management Office to make an exception, but they wouldn’t even open their door. It was said that this door had been closed for four whole days, and during those four days, not a single boat had been approved to leave.

And so, we fell into an awkward dilemma: we had to cross the river, or we would be sentenced for desertion; but we absolutely must not cross the river, or we would be executed for aiding the enemy.

On the way back to camp, everyone was depressed, each of us thinking of ways to slip out of the city. Just as we were all racking our brains without finding a solution, Fred suddenly pointed at a group of people near the docks and said:

“That group has a problem.”

It was a young nobleman and his guards. The nobleman’s clothes were exquisite and luxurious, and the guards were tall. They were walking toward the Dock Management Office. I couldn’t see anything wrong at all.

“Follow me!” Fred ignored our reactions and walked forward quickly. We hurried after him. Without meaning to, I noticed a thoughtful smile on Carlson’s face.

In a secluded alley, Fred, I, and Carlson appeared in front of the group.

“Dock Security Guard. Routine inspection. Please show your documents,” Fred said. His tone was so certain that even I almost believed we really were the “Dock Security Guard.”

The group in front of us froze for a moment, and then the young nobleman took a document from inside his clothes and handed it to us with both hands.

“So you are Viscount Enrique, staff officer of the Fourth Legion?” Fred stared at the young nobleman.

“That’s me.” His expression was very natural, but I still saw a flash of panic in his eyes.

“Tell me the truth. Who are you, really?” Fred’s face suddenly changed. He raised his blade.

The young nobleman’s pupils suddenly contracted. He drew his long sword and thrust it at Fred. The guards behind him also drew their weapons, ready for a fight.

By this time, we were no longer fresh recruits who had never seen battle. Especially over the last three months, we had received focused training from that insane Captain Carlson, and our fighting skills had improved greatly. The young nobleman’s sword thrust looked completely harmless to us. The sword in his hand was no more useful than a broom. As for the guards behind him, they were fellows who couldn’t even hold their swords properly. I was really worried they might hurt their own people.

Captain Carlson charged forward without even drawing his sword. He gently lifted the young nobleman’s sword hand with one hand, grabbed his neck with the other, pressed him straight to the ground, and held the young man’s own sword against his own neck. Then he glared viciously at the guards rushing over. Those so-called guards immediately stopped in their tracks. There was no skill involved at all. Carlson subdued his opponent with sheer physical strength, and at the same time intimidated the rest, completely taking control of the situation.

It was clear that the guards didn’t have much loyalty to their master, because quite a few of them were already backing away.

Dakla, Rodrick, Roll, and Riley had blocked their rear at some point without us noticing.

Fred walked forward again with a kind expression: “Everyone, don’t panic. We mean no harm.” Then he leaned down and faced the young nobleman. “You’re definitely not an officer.”

A sly gleam flashed in the young man’s eyes. “And you’re definitely not guards either.”

Carlson let go of him and said to Fred: “I’m going back to sleep. Wake me up before we leave.” After saying that, he yawned and walked away, completely at ease. He seemed to know very well what was about to happen, but the rest of us still had no idea what we were doing.

“Yes, sir.”

After a brief conversation, we learned that the fake noble kid was named Hugh, a merchant, and those fake guards were also merchants. They had a merchant ship full of goods. Originally, they had wanted to make a fortune from the war, but unexpectedly, their ship had been detained at the dock. Now, with the war approaching, this trip would not only fail to make them money, but might also cost them their lives. That was a death sentence for them. Under the double pressure of profit and survival, these cowardly merchants, driven to desperation, decided to impersonate noble officers on official military duty to bluff their way through.

Hugh’s father had originally been the head of the merchant guild. But two years ago, during one of his business trips, he fell ill and died on the road, leaving young Hugh and his frail mother behind, along with a large amount of debt. Hugh’s uncles took the opportunity to swallow up their family property, at one point pushing Hugh’s family to the edge of bankruptcy. To support this broken family, Hugh inherited his father’s business at the age of only fifteen. With the sponsorship of a few of his father’s merchant friends, he started out on his own as an independent trader. Unexpectedly, he seemed to have a natural gift for business. He had vision and decisiveness that even experienced merchants who had been in the trade for many years did not possess. In just a few short months, he paid off all the debts his father had left behind. He built a good reputation among the merchant guilds across the continent, becoming a successful merchant with considerable power and influence. He even owned his own merchant ship, and became the head of the big guild his father used to belong to. This caravan had been organized under his initiative, and it used his own ship. Or, to put it another way, among these merchants reeking of money, he was the only one who had even a touch of “noble air.” So the task of posing as a noble to trick the docks into issuing a departure permit fell squarely on his shoulders.

“I just can’t figure out how you knew we were fakes,” the young merchant said, confused.

“Your flaws are simply too many.” Fred shook his head and answered, telling them like a teacher lecturing students.

“First, look at your clothes. You’re on official military duty, but you’re wearing a ball gown made for nobles to attend parties. And on your feet are deerskin boots only worn for hunting. It’s a complete mess. I’ve never seen a noble as careless about his appearance as you. I dare say even a servant with a bit of status would be better dressed than you.”

“Second, look at your guards. Some are fat, some are thin, some are tall, some are short. Uncle, doesn’t your big belly hurt squeezed into that iron shell? Forget it, you don’t need to answer. Disgraceful! Utterly disgraceful! What is the most important thing for a noble? Face, you know? Face! If I were a noble, I would definitely pick a few guards with the best bodies, the best faces, and even the best voices to keep by my side. Otherwise, I would rather walk the streets alone than be followed by a bunch of embarrassments like these. If I wanted to get close to a Miss or a lady, would I use a greedy fat man to show off the glory of my family?”

“Then, you’re wearing six rings, five of them gold. Too much luxury and decoration only makes you look vain and ignorant. A true noble knows how to use the most precious, most dazzling gemstone ring to set off his own refinement and elegance. What’s more, your rings have no seals. A noble’s gemstone ring is engraved with his family crest, a symbol of identity and status, a personal honor. Yet you have none. Even if the officer at the Dock Management Office is an idiot who can’t see anything wrong with your outfit, what would you do when he asks you to press your seal on a document? Are you going to press a fingerprint like a death-row prisoner?”

“Next, you’re a high-ranking officer. When we inspected you, we didn’t salute you, and you weren’t even surprised? Even a new recruit wouldn’t make such a mistake. No noble would ignore another person’s rudeness to him. This is a vital issue that concerns his own face.”

“Finally, you brought guards, but when we inspected your documents, you personally handed them to us. Even stupider, you handed them over with both hands. Your place, sir. Remember your place. You are a noble officer. You don’t need to show that kind of respect to ordinary soldiers. You should have felt it beneath you to even toss them to me directly — you should have had your personal attendant toss them over. If you didn’t want to accept the inspection, driving us away with a whip would have been a more fitting choice.”

“Overall, you have no style, no knowledge, low taste, and no dignity. Other than being ignorant, stupid, and bold enough to pass for a noble, you have nothing to do with the noble class at all. From several streets away, I can smell the stench of new money radiating from you.”

This long, professional lecture made everyone present break into a sweat. Only now did these merchants realize how fragile their so-called perfect plan was, and how close they had been to the red-hot furnace of hell. And although we were used to seeing noble young masters born with silver spoons in their mouths throwing their weight around every day, we never once considered that even throwing your weight around required so much knowledge.

“Then it looks like we’ll never leave Kunlan City,” Hugh said in despair.

“Not necessarily.” A brilliant smile spread across Fred’s face. “Because you’ve got me!”