Knight: Becoming King of the World

"Henry, your performance in battle has been astonishing. I knew you would win, but I never expected such a resounding success."

Soslan said amiably, holding the battle report Henry had just submitted. "You are destined to be a rising star of the Empire. I have a feeling the King will grant you a higher title for your military merits."

Henry smiled and humbly replied that he had only fulfilled his duty as a Vassal to the great King. As one of the King’s students, he could not bring shame upon the headmaster.

"However, your request for more elite soldiers... that will be difficult."

Henry’s expression remained unchanged. He asked, "Legion Commander, my abilities are beyond question. Why can’t I be given temporary command of more soldiers?"

Soslan frowned, rising to point at a map. "In the northeastern Tianyin Plains, the Seventh and Eleventh Legions are completely encircled by the Half-Beastmen’s main elite force."

"The enemy has ample forces, and the Half-Beastmen know this terrain far better than we do. Our legions are trapped in a narrow area."

"Their supply lines have been cut for over a month. A message by pigeon said their reserves are nearly exhausted. The situation is critical."

Legion Commander Soslan stared at the map with a grim expression. Henry also nodded slightly, taking in the situation. A decisive battle was imminent, and a difficult decision had to be made.

"Over the past two days, we’ve opened up fourteen separate skirmishes just to divert the Half-Beastmen’s attention, with mixed results. We can’t wait any longer. We have to commit our elite soldiers to the main front for a decisive, final battle!" Legion Commander Soslan declared firmly.

"Legion Commander, forgive my bluntness. If, in addition to my current forces, you give me one battalion of five hundred Heavy Armor Soldiers and fifty standard Armored Cavalry, I can tear a massive gap in their flank. This will allow the Seventh and Eleventh Legions to join us in encircling the Half-Beastmen."

Legion Commander Soslan looked up, his gaze sharp as it fell on Henry. "I understand your thinking, but Legion Commander Mirene and I cannot afford to gamble. Only a breakthrough on the main front can turn the tide of this war."

Henry understood Soslan’s concerns. This time, they would be facing the true elites of the Half-Beastmen: Heavy-Armored Centaurs, Heavy-Armored Minotaurs, Heavy-Armored Tiger People, and more.

Henry stepped forward and slammed his fist on the table. "I don’t need anything else! Just give me another five hundred men—five hundred Heavy Axe Soldiers—and a thousand serfs or cotton-robed Auxiliary Soldiers. I swear I can break the Half-Beastmen’s flank!"

Soslan took a deep breath and closed his eyes, lost in thought. Henry waited patiently.

Soslan opened his eyes, his expression conflicted. From a cylindrical container, he drew out an iron tablet engraved with a series of numbers.

"This battalion is yours to command. Go. Your mission is to assault and break through the left flank, opening a path to the Seventh and Eleventh Legions."

Five hundred Heavy Armor Axe Soldiers were worth two thousand serfs. Soslan felt conflicted making this decision.

Henry’s accomplishments were indeed dazzling, but they weren’t enough on their own. Soslan agreed to the request largely because of Henry and Fass’s status as students of the King.

News that Henry had received five hundred Heavy Armor Axe Soldiers spread like wildfire through the nobles’ Private Army encampment. The nobles resumed their favorite pastime—being green with envy over the students from the Royal Capital Knight Academy.

After taking command of the unit, Henry decided to throw a great feast for all the soldiers under his command to boost their morale.

Henry’s own Private Army was included, of course. ’They’ve pledged their loyalty to me,’ he thought, ’so it’s only right they get a grand meal before we go into battle.’

Henry summoned Claude and ordered the quartermasters to prepare a massive quantity of roasted pork ribs and beer, telling him to let the soldiers enjoy this brief moment of respite tonight.

When Fass woke up and heard the news, he immediately offered up a thousand Dinars of his own, buying over fifteen hundred pounds of mutton from the Legion’s Quartermaster.

The Quartermaster told him flat out that he couldn’t buy anything else; his purchasing limit as a noble attached to the army was already maxed out.

As evening fell, soldiers in Henry’s camp gathered in small groups around bonfires. They held large chunks of roasted meat, their faces beaming with satisfaction.

Fat from the roasting meat sizzled as it dripped into the flames, sending up puffs of white smoke and spreading the rich aroma. The soldiers tore into the meat with gusto.

They chewed the delicious morsels and gulped down beer, the sweet notes of the ale lingering on their tongues.

In addition to the roasted meat, large cauldrons of stew bubbled away. Not-so-fresh vegetables and large chunks of meat floated in the steaming, fragrant broth.

The soldiers scooped up the stew with spoons, blew on it to cool it, and then carefully brought it to their lips.

The staple food was rice buns, which were somewhat like the steamed buns from Henry’s former world and considered a luxury for the city’s Free People. A single rice bun sold for twenty-one Su in the cities, a fifth of a monthly salary for most Workshop laborers.

Though tomorrow’s battle was fraught with danger, tonight, they chose to indulge in this fleeting moment of peace and merriment.

Even the serfs benefited from the feast, getting to eat some meat and rice buns and even managing a few sips of beer.

The fields of bonfires and the delicious stew made the soldiers feel a summer-like warmth in the dead of winter. ’Heavens, this must be the best night of our lives,’ they thought. ’If only this moment could last forever.’

As the atmosphere grew more lively, Henry, who had been drinking with his officers, found a few wooden crates and climbed on top of them. The officers quickly got to their feet, calling for the soldiers to turn their attention toward him.

Facing the sea of soldiers before him, Henry raised his cup. Not caring if those in the back could hear, he bellowed, "Warriors! Bravest Warriors of the Empire!"

Henry’s voice echoed through the camp. "We are about to face a decisive battle! A battle for honor, for our lives, and for the very safety of the Empire!"

"Our brothers, the Seventh and Eleventh Legions, are besieged by those Alien Races! They need our help! And we, as the King’s loyal Warriors, as guardians of the Empire, must save them! We must defeat those savage Half-Beastmen!"

The soldiers stopped what they were doing and turned to look at Henry. Led by the men of his own Private Army, they began to rise to their feet.

"I know many of you are exhausted, but trust me when I say this will be our moment of glory!"

"We won’t just break the enemy’s lines—we will shatter them completely! We will make them understand that the Warriors of our Empire are invincible!"

"Victory to the Legion! Long live the Empire!"

"Victory to the Legion! Long live the Empire!"

Henry looked out at the invigorated soldiers and continued, "Tonight, we enjoy this brief peace! Tomorrow, we will meet our fated battle with spirits soaring! For the King, for the Empire, and for our families, we will fight side by side, until the very end!"

"Now, let us raise our cups! To the coming victory!"