Chapter 222 What does he want?
Alina clenched her fists and began to pace back and forth again, looking like she was worried about something.
"Just as you said before... that should be fine, right?"
Loris was a little confused.
"We were considering 100,000 dinars, allowing him to establish trade routes within the empire, promising not to attack his territory, and doubling the grain repayment... Maybe these are what he really wants, but the problem is that he didn't negotiate with us yesterday, and today he directly started mobilizing grain and troops - this probably means that he has more special requirements, and we may not be able to meet his requirements."
Alina sighed, "He once captured my father, but released him easily. If it weren't for my father's close relationship with His Majesty, he would probably have been demoted like Levius... He is not a guy who plays by the rules."
But Loris shook his head: "Alina, in my opinion, Mr. Leon may not make any excessive demands."
Alina stopped and turned her head: "Why?"
"Many people will not show mercy when facing their enemies, but they will not care too much about personal interests when facing major issues... Your Majesty the Emperor and your father are both like this..."
Loris pointed at the sword at Alina's waist.
It was the Sword of the Orator, the Emperor Marius.
"You are the same, Knight Commander Loris. But... do you think Count Leon has such noble character? My father only said that he was difficult to deal with, but he never said anything about his character..."
Alina asked with some confusion.
"Ha... Of course not! I'm not that kind of person..."
The voice of the Lord came from the entrance of the inn: "Miss Alina, Sir Loris, I will spare no effort to help solve the Red Death and the Snake Cult... but of course I have conditions."
Alina closed her eyes and sighed, then opened her eyes and looked at Leon: "Sir Leon, please feel free to ask for any conditions you have..."
"I plan to 'capture' Fort Karen and rebuild Fort Shieldwind - that is to say, this time I am not providing assistance to the Bacchus Empire, but leading the troops to capture the imperial stronghold Fort Karen alone... I will capture the strong fortress that the Kingdom of Sarleon has not been able to capture for 30 years. Maybe King Ulric will appoint me as the marshal..."
Li Ang smiled at Alina and said, "I just found out that your father is Governor Justus, but shouldn't Justus' daughter be named Luciana?"
"Half a year ago, my name was indeed Luciana... Please call me Alina, Lord Leon."
Alina thought for a while and shook her head: "I can understand why you want to occupy Karen Deer Castle. This may satisfy King Ulrich. But in this way, you will inevitably become the enemy of all the lords of the Bacchus Empire..."
"I am the archenemy of the Baccus Empire... Alina, I think your emperor will understand that he actually needs an 'archenemy' like me. General Cleon is probably the only one who will not be happy about this, so you have to get him to cooperate..."
Leon still smiled, his eyes looking at the sword at Alina's waist.
"Since you have decided, I am certainly happy to do so... I will ask General Cleon to cooperate."
Alina thought about it for a while and agreed.
"In that case, my food team will set out at noon, and the army will set out the day after tomorrow, so we can probably reach Karen Deer Castle at the same time. I know we have to hurry, and I hope the Glorious Cross Knights can clear the way for my food team."
Loris nodded: "That's great, of course we will do our best."
"Very good. I still have a lot of details to learn. Miss Alina, please come to the Lord's Hall this afternoon to discuss specific countermeasures and tactics with me."
After Li Ang finished speaking, he turned and left.
Alina was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Loris: "It seems we all guessed wrong..."
Loris was a little puzzled. "Although his request was a little unexpected, it was just as I imagined, not excessive at all. Even if he didn't occupy Karen Deer Castle, without support, it would be conquered by the rebellious slaves sooner or later... or even destroyed by the plague."
"No, Loris, what I mean is that I originally wanted General Cleon to abandon Fort Karen and free up his troops to rescue Boshi City... He didn't ask for anything, but instead took the initiative to help us. I am even more worried now..."
Alina said worriedly, her voice getting lower and lower.
At noon, the convoy loaded with food was ready to set off under the leadership of the Glorious Cross Knights.
Traveling with the food team was a medical team led by Anson.
Anson organized people to explore the surrounding areas of Changhe Town overnight, and disinfected important entrances and exits with lime. The members of the medical team and the patrol team have not rested for a moment since yesterday afternoon.
It has been confirmed that no one in Changhe Town has been infected with the Red Death, and Li Ang can rest assured.
"Sir Loris, let me introduce you to Anson, an outstanding medical officer. He once studied at the Seminary of Boshi City and has a close relationship with your Knights... So, I entrust his safety to you."
Leon stood in front of Loris's horse and pointed at Anson who was sleeping soundly in the carriage behind.
"Of course, protecting the doctor is my mission..."
Loris nodded in surprise: "Is he your relative?"
Loris probably thought that people like Leon, who were taken care of by a great lord, must have some blood relationship with him.
"No, he is my partner. But his lifelong wish is to become a Knight of the Radiant Cross..."
Li Ang smiled and said, "I just sincerely hope that my friends can realize their wishes."
Loris turned his head and looked at Anson, who looked a little thin. "In fact, in our Knights, an excellent doctor has a higher status than a knight..."
"It's the same with me... But the standard of a knight in his eyes is probably a little higher."
Li Ang shrugged and said, "You guys go quickly. If nothing unexpected happens, we will meet at Karen Deer Castle in three days."
…
In the afternoon, Alina came to the lord's hall.
"Alina, do you think I might have some plans?"
Li Ang noticed that she seemed a little uneasy.
"Mr. Leon, to be honest, I really don't understand what you want."
Alina was indeed thinking about Leon's intentions with full of doubts. She didn't understand why Leon didn't ask for anything but was willing to take the risk to provide assistance.
"I just want to ensure my own safety... Since you all come to me for help, it obviously means that the Bacchus Empire is on the verge of life and death. If the Bacchus Empire is destroyed by the Snake Cult and the Red Death spreads to the entire continent, I am afraid I will have no way out..."
The Lord shook his head and smiled: "Let me first understand the full situation in Bacchus, and then I will tell you what I want..."
Then he pointed to the round table in the hall and motioned Alina to sit at it.
Alina was a little dazed. Except for not holding the wine glass, Leon's movements, expression and even tone looked exactly the same as Emperor Marius.
She told Leon about the current situation of the empire without reservation, without hiding anything.
It was as if she was facing Emperor Marius himself.
The current situation of the Bacchus Empire is indeed quite dangerous.
Previously, General Agathon had recaptured Malasburg after a hard battle, and had barely restored the connection between the three major cities of the empire.
But the news we received afterwards was all bad news.
The Red Death was raging everywhere, the Knights of the Glorious Cross were exhausted, and the lords' troops were all trapped in the plague.
The outbreak of the Red Death in the surrounding areas and the frenzied counterattack of the Snake Cultists caused Agathon to be dragged by the Snake Cult to the vicinity of Malasberg, unable to escape and resolve the crisis in Imperial Port.
Dilingang was besieged by the Snake Cult for several months. High-ranking officials either fled or surrendered. However, the lower-class people in Dilingang organized a militia on their own and barely prevented the port from being captured by the Snake Cult.
However, although the Snake Cult's large-scale fleet failed to land smoothly at the Imperial Port, the Legion of Fear bypassed the bay southeast of Siyuan City and landed at Qiza Village.
After repelling one powerful enemy, Emperor Marius faced an even more formidable enemy.
The key to solving the problem actually lies in the rebel army that besieged Boshi City.
This army developed from gladiators was originally created by Arina and Emperor Marius. Although they are currently somewhat out of control, at least they can communicate.
If they can be recruited and reorganized into the empire's army, this large army can solve all the problems one by one.
They have strong enough military force and enough driving force. After all, they would rather rebel than join the Snake Cult.
A month ago, after Alina returned to the city of Bozhi with the emperor's sword, she and her father, Governor Justus, reached an agreement to recruit the rebels led by Brutus.
The rebels still trusted Alina. They had already agreed to the conditions - to be pardoned, restored to civilian status, and provided with enough food. Then they were willing to be incorporated into the Second Legion of the Empire under the joint guarantee of Alina and Justus.
This is the real Second Legion of the Empire, and it is completely different from the banner that Levius had created to defraud military funds...
Of course, a large amount of food is needed to recruit this army of tens of thousands of people. However, due to the shortage of food and grass in Boshi City, the progress is naturally slow. In addition, it is impossible to complete the reorganization of such a large force in one go, so it can only be done slowly.
So Justus sent some low-ranking officers to appease the rebels, and then allowed some leading gladiators to enter the city of Bozhi.
Justus originally wanted to show his sincerity by letting some leading gladiators enter the city as witnesses. After all, it was impossible for all the troops of more than 10,000 to enter the city.
But at this time, the Red Death broke out on a large scale in Boshi City...
And the most unfortunate thing was that many representatives of the rebels who had just entered the city also contracted the Red Death in the city. Most of these representatives were scarred gladiators and core figures of the rebels.
Although the headquarters of the Knights of the Radiant Cross is in Boshi City, the doctors of the Knights had been dispersed to various places a month ago. Faced with this situation, Governor Justus naturally had no choice but to suspend the recruitment.
He completely blocked the city of Boshi and locked up the gladiators who were unfortunately infected with the disease.
This was a helpless but necessary measure, but it caused misunderstandings among the rebels, who were already somewhat uneasy.
After all, this army was composed entirely of slaves, and they did not trust the high-ranking officials of the empire.
Although Justus always had a good reputation, the governor had a reputation as a 'brain trust' - a reputation that represented wisdom in the eyes of the lords, but was basically equivalent to 'cunning and treacherous' in the eyes of the slaves.
Although Governor Justus tried his best to explain, the uneducated slaves certainly would not listen. They only knew that many of their companions were forcibly detained as soon as they entered the city.
In the eyes of the slaves, this was probably a conspiracy - they also found it difficult to understand the measures Justus took against those infected with the Red Death.
They thought that Governor Justus's previous promise was just to lure leaders like them into the city, then divide and buy off some of them, and then kill most of them... This is also the result that most rebels encounter when they are recruited.
So the gladiators who entered the city fled out of the city overnight and returned to the army outside the city, saying that this was a scam of Justus.
He killed many people in order to escape.
Fortunately, Alina and Brutus were among the slave army outside the city, and they tried their best to control the situation, so it didn't turn into a tragedy of internal and external cooperation to capture the city in one fell swoop...
There are already many contradictions between the two sides. Once the seeds of suspicion are planted, it will be difficult to regain trust.
Justus did try his best. He even went out of the city alone to explain that it was the Red Death. Alina and Brutus also tried their best to comfort the army.
The slaves were reasonable, but they demanded that Justus open the city gates to allow them to enter the city for investigation.
But how could Justus dare to open the city gate and let them in at this time ?
These slaves don't know how to protect themselves from health problems. If the Red Death in the city were to spread to the slave uprising army, the result would certainly be that it would spread across the entire continent!
In the eyes of the slaves, since the governor did not dare to let them enter the city, he was certainly not trustworthy, so they killed all the imperial soldiers sent by Justus to appease them, and then surrounded the city of Boshi again...
They were hundreds of low-ranking officers from the Imperial First Legion, including hundreds of Imperial Knights.
If it weren't for Alina and Brutus protecting him, Justus probably wouldn't have been able to go back.
This hatred was huge, and many voices opposing the incorporation emerged in Boshi City.
In addition, the rebels besieged the castle, and the high-ranking officials in the city were unable to leave the city to escape the threat of the Red Death, and the contradictions became more and more...
Fortunately, before the two sides were about to engage in a life-and-death battle, Knight Commander Loris of the Knights of the Radiant Cross returned.
Loris convinced the slaves that the Red Death was real.
The lower classes of the Bacchus Empire do have great trust in the Knights of the Glorious Cross.
Under Loris's guarantee, Justus collected the surplus food in the city and provided it to the rebels, in exchange for the last bit of restraint of the rebels.
In fact, this last bit of restraint was also earned by Brutus, the initiator of the uprising, with his last prestige. The slaves have now begun to suspect Brutus and his sister.
But in any case, with the joint efforts of everyone, the slave rebels did not forcefully attack the city, but they no longer trusted Justus or any nobles in the city of Boshi.
This is not because they still think Justus deceived them, but because they have killed many of Justus's subordinates, including many new generation nobles.
Most of the gladiators were not too worried about killing those slave owners who had committed many crimes, because they knew that those slave owners were not in the same group as Emperor Marius.
But killing the soldiers of the First Legion of the Empire and the new nobles under the reformists, Justus, is completely different. Everyone in the Bacchus Empire knows that Justus is Emperor Marius' closest comrade-in-arms.
Even Brutus himself felt that the rebels might be punished later...
Naturally, the leading gladiators also had many different opinions, and it was difficult for them to regard Brutus as their common leader. The army was currently leaderless and in chaos.
But fortunately, in the chaos they didn't know what to do next, so they still surrounded the city but did not organize an attack.
Because of this, Alina began to try to find other support.
As long as a large amount of food can be transported to the city of Boshi and the trust of the slaves can be regained with the food, it is still possible to save the situation.
However, the Red Death broke out everywhere, and there was basically no place for support in Bacchus. Alina had to ask for help from the Kingdom of the Fierce Lion together with Knight Loris.
"That's right... It was Knight Commander Loris . He thought you would be willing to help us and that you have the ability to help us..."
Alina finished explaining the whole story, and then asked nervously, "Sir Leon, now, can you tell me what you want?"
"Of course, this situation is pretty much what I expected... Alina, what I want... is this army, this slave army that has gradually grown from gladiators."
The lord was also very straightforward and gave Alina an accurate answer directly.
"This... This is impossible. This army..."
Alina was obviously a little flustered. She had imagined many answers, and even wondered if Leon wanted her, but she did not expect this answer.
"I know that you plan to lead this army to solve the dilemma of the Bacchus Empire... You want to resolve the crisis in Dilingang, free General Agathon, and then join forces to kill the powerful enemy and save Siyuan City... I know. But listen to me, Alina..."
Li Ang waved his hand, signaling Alina to listen to him. "Your father can no longer gain the trust of the rebels. In fact, no noble of the Bacchus Empire can gain their trust, including you. Even if Emperor Marius personally promised, they would still worry that the Bacchus Empire would settle accounts later..."
Alina closed her eyes and nodded sadly: "I admit that you are right, but..."
"No buts... They will only believe me because I am the enemy of the Bacchus Empire, the biggest enemy. But, Alina, I will reorganize them into a strong army, and then fight against the Snake Cult together with the Bacchus Empire... until the Glorious Cross Knights control the Red Death. The rebels are the enemies of Emperor Marius himself, but the Snake Cult is our common enemy..."
Li Ang interrupted Alina again.
Alina's eyes widened suddenly.
"You... I understand... Thank you for your help, Lord Leon!"
She bowed to Li Ang sincerely and said, "Perhaps this is indeed the best solution."
Yes, Alina knew in her heart that if the rebel army was recruited, they would be retaliated sooner or later given their current hatred for the First Army of the Empire...
Especially the leading gladiators, such as Brutus and Brutus' sister Elena.
And Elena is her only friend...
A day later, Wendatil led the Noldor troops to Changhe Town.
But what was unexpected was that Amy also came with her female soldiers and insisted on going to Bucks with Leon...
Amy is not the lord's subordinate, she is the royal knight of the princess's family, and Leon can't do anything to her.
So an elite force of 800 people began to move south, starting this special journey.
