Chapter 51

Chapter 51 The First Battle of the TerritoryTime passed like the slag pit outside the forge—gradually filled, emptied, and cleared away—until three days went by. Several rounds of slag were removed, marking the passage of multiple three-day periods. Finally, the pit no longer received new waste, and cheers erupted from inside the forge.

“Hurry! Go notify the lord! We’ve completed the 500 sets of breastplates and helmets!”

Immediately, a fourteen-year-old blacksmith apprentice dashed out of the forge and ran towards the lord’s castle.

“Are they finished?”

Upon receiving the report, Richard calmly stopped his practice. With the title of “Heaven’s Mandate”, his strength was rapidly increasing, but he never neglected his daily training.

For him, the system was only a tool to assist; as strong as that tool might be, he couldn’t afford to slack off. A solid habit of self-discipline was what truly belonged to him.

“Let’s go, have a look!”

With that, Richard led his men out of the castle.

In the forge, Richard inspected the rows of breastplates and helmets neatly stacked in the storage area, nodding to himself. He took a few pieces, knocked on them with his knuckles, and judged their quality by the sound.

He sighed lightly. “Barely passable.”

The blacksmiths beside him, upon seeing his sigh, broke out in a cold sweat and immediately dropped to their knees.

Richard glanced at them. “Stand up. The items are passable, just barely. But that’s not your fault; it’s the limitations of the current smelting techniques.”

The blacksmiths let out a sigh of relief.

Richard then instructed to have the armor delivered to the militia training camp.

“Also, send over 500 spears that were crafted earlier.” seaʀᴄh thё Novёlƒire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

“Yes, sir!”

…

At the militia training camp, everyone was going through their usual drills.

“Stay sharp! The lord has scheduled the attack on the swamp witch for the next few days! The more you sweat during training, the less blood you’ll spill on the battlefield!

“If I catch anyone slacking or not keeping up, don’t expect any recognition when we report merits!”

Charles, leading the drills, shouted orders while directing the troops, and Helen patrolled around them, her sharp eyes making everyone straighten up.

At that moment, the sound of approaching hooves echoed in the distance. Everyone knew instantly that the lord had arrived, and their training efforts doubled. Only the lord traveled with such an entourage.

Richard dismounted and gave orders.

“Charles, assemble the men!”

“Yes, sir!” Charles immediately barked, “Attention! Form ranks! March!”

After a few commands, Charles reported, “My lord, the men are assembled!”

Under his direction, the soldiers lined up neatly before Richard, with Helen standing tall at one side.

Richard looked at the group and nodded in approval, smiling.

“Good. You’re looking sharp. Seems the past two months of training haven’t gone to waste.”

Upon hearing this casual praise, the troops straightened even more, feeling a surge of pride.

To them, Richard was like a god, and his approval was everything.

“I mentioned before that the beginning of this month would mark our attack on the swamp witch. In my domain, no foreign power is allowed to exist, not even a witch!”

“And you are the weapons I wield to protect the people and deter threats!”

As Richard finished, Helen led the troops in a resounding chant:

“Swear allegiance to the Lord until death!”

“Swear allegiance to the Lord until death!”

Their voices echoed like thunder, startling birds into flight and causing farmers in nearby fields to turn their heads.

Once the chanting subsided, Richard continued:

“Today, I’ll be distributing these armors and weapons to you. You’ll have one day to familiarize yourselves with the equipment, rest for the night, and then we march tomorrow!

“Understood?”

“Yes, sir!”

The soldiers were roused with excitement, their eyes nearly bulging with eagerness at the prospect of receiving the new gear.

“I’ll ask you once more: Are you afraid to fight the witch?”

“Not afraid! Not afraid! Not afraid!”

“Good! Then prepare for battle!”

“The direction my whip points is where we strike!”

Yet despite their fervor, the soldiers remained perfectly still, a testament to their discipline and rigorous training.

These troops had already seen combat, having fought alongside Richard and survived countless battles against tree spirits in the forest. Their fear and hesitation had long since been replaced with hardened resolve, and they now formed a battle-ready spear infantry unit of 500 men.

Richard, fully aware of their readiness, knew that one day was enough for them to adjust to the new equipment. Their main task would be getting used to the weight and feel of the armor, which posed no challenge given their current strength.

“Charles, take your men and march around the territory. Show them to the people!”

“Yes, sir!”

The troops set off immediately. Richard wanted his citizens to see the might of their army, boosting their confidence.

Everywhere the soldiers marched, people were filled with excitement.

“Look at how powerful our army is! We’ll be even safer now!”

“I saw my husband! He’s in the middle, holding a spear. He looks so strong!”

“My son is in there too; I found him!”

“That’s my neighbor over there! He’s changed so much!”

The enthusiasm spread throughout the crowd.

[From bronze to iron, you have demonstrated exceptional leadership, forging a combat-ready force. Facing the threat of the swamp witch, you have planned carefully and chosen not to retreat.].[In your strategic vision, a new campaign awaits you. Make sure to complete your preparations quickly, for the enemy won’t wait forever!].