Chapter 69: Unexpected Situation
Lily considered herself to be a rather diligent person.
Because she knew that her older brother was not a clever man.
Although he carried a kind of superiority unique to nobles, he was sincere in dealing with others and meticulous in his actions.
He would always strive to find better solutions, even though most of the time his efforts amounted to nothing. Still, anyone who had observed his conduct would never deny the kindness in his heart.
However, Giggs Bole was by no means what nobles would call “intelligent.”
Lily still remembered her father’s evaluation of her brother, “Slightly better than that wild boar from the Baron of Eastern Mountain Territory’s household.”
Nevertheless, ever since that heartfelt conversation with her father, Lily had clearly understood her role: to make up for her brother’s shortcomings and help him manage White Mountain Territory.
Even if this generation was beyond hope, perhaps the next might produce a slightly more “normal” heir?
Therefore, when both her father and brother were absent from White Mountain City, Lily knew that the only person capable of managing its affairs was herself.
At times like these, she felt extremely grateful that her father had not chosen a power-hungry or troublemaking wife for her brother.
Otherwise, just dealing with Sherry alone would have consumed much of her energy, after all, in most territories, it was customary that the wife of the heir held greater authority in administrative matters.
Fortunately, White Mountain Territory was an exception.
Lily finished reviewing the last document on her desk. After some thought, she wrote down her suggestions and signed her name.
White Mountain City, or rather, the current White Mountain Territory, was going through a very difficult time.
The territory’s finances had barely been balanced even before, and because of their involvement in the war with Red River Territory, they had not dared to recruit many soldiers anew.
Even the subsequent training had already been halted. Then, over two months ago, all neighboring territories ceased trade, cutting off White Mountain Territory’s main economic source almost instantly.
If it weren’t for Sherry’s father being a wealthy merchant propped up by Baron Ster, and the assets seized after killing a number of wealthy merchants in White Mountain City, they wouldn’t have been able to maintain even the city’s basic operations, let alone the functioning of the entire White Mountain Territory.
Even so, Lily still had to face the toughest issue of all.
Food.
White Mountain City had a large population, but due to the territory’s unique geography, over half of its food supply came through transportation from Red River Territory.
However, the merchant guilds from Red River had not entered White Mountain Territory in two months. As a result, prices of food and meat in the city had begun to rise to varying degrees.
Lily glanced at the sky outside the window and let out a soft sigh.
At this time in the past, she would have been preparing to enjoy her afternoon tea.
But now, she hadn’t had afternoon tea for a whole month, White Mountain City had stopped selling pastries a month and a half ago, and white bread had been unavailable for sale for an entire month. The market now mostly offered black bread, bran bread, and mixed grain flatbreads.
“Lily!” A startled shout was accompanied by hurried footsteps.
Lily recognized Sherry’s voice.
“Sherry, is there news?” she asked urgently as Sherry burst into the office that symbolized the lord’s authority.
Sherry, wife of Giggs, was the daughter of a middle-class family in White Mountain City.
Her father had previously been in the medicinal herb trade, traveling to villages in White Mountain Territory to acquire herbs, then selling them to other merchant guilds and physicians in the city.
Though the work was laborious, it was quite profitable. After marrying Giggs, her family’s status rose significantly, and they were officially registered as a mid-sized merchant guild involved in various businesses.
A month ago, as the food situation grew more dire, Lily had instructed Sherry to have her father send a trade caravan to Gem Territory and Red River Territory to procure food.
This mission also carried a secret task, delivering a letter from the Bole Family to the Kasein Family.
So, seeing Sherry rush in so frantically, Lily looked hopeful as she asked.
“No!”
Sherry’s first word immediately filled Lily with deep disappointment.
But her next words filled Lily with panic.
“Many villagers from Plain Village have arrived! They brought news of war!”
“What!?” Lily asked quickly, “Is this true?”
“I—I don’t know,” Sherry replied, clearly distressed, “but the whole of White Mountain City is saying it. War has already broken out.”
If what had come before only left Lily slightly alarmed and stunned, then this news truly made her vision go dark.
She knew that all the efforts she had made for over a month to control food prices had just completely collapsed.
But beyond all of that, she was most worried about her father and Yam’s father.
……
Ion looked up at the sky.
The hottest midday of midsummer in White Mountain Territory had passed, and the sun was gradually shifting westward.
The soldiers following behind Ion were already quite exhausted.
Especially those rescued from Mountain Ridge Village.
They had undergone nearly a full day and night of battle, and by now, nearly everyone’s mental and physical states had reached their limits.
The veterans were better off; having experienced several battles, they knew how to regulate their condition.
As for the newly recruited soldiers who had yet to learn such control, they had already died in battle.
Those who survived had naturally learned how to adapt. But the villagers of Mountain Ridge Village were different.
Even if they were still holding on through sheer willpower, fatigue, hunger, and thirst had nearly broken their bodies.
But Ion did not dare to let them rest yet.
Because the surrounding environment was not safe.
If he allowed them to rest now, the veterans might still manage, but the villagers would definitely not be able to get up again.
And he had no time to allow them sufficient rest. So he could only press on with them, at least until nightfall before considering rest.
“Milord, what are you looking at?” The veteran who had been following Ion from the start still seemed relatively alert. Seeing Ion continuously gazing at the sky, he asked curiously.
“By that time, the villagers from Plain Village should have reached White Mountain City.”
“They began evacuating last night. Even if they were carrying supplies and moving slowly, as long as they didn’t stop to rest midway, they should be arriving at White Mountain City about now.” The veteran estimated the distance between Plain Village and White Mountain City, then said, “At the very least, some of them must have arrived.”
“Let’s hope they don’t cause chaos in the entire White Mountain City.” Ion sighed.
“By distance, Old Mountain Village should only receive news of the war by tomorrow. Fisher Village will take about two more days.”
Old Mountain Village was the poorest among the five villages of White Mountain Territory and had the fewest able-bodied adults.
However, Old Mountain Village bordered several mountains in White Mountain Territory and was rich in medicinal herbs.
It had once been the primary herb supply source for Sherry’s family. But collecting herbs required experience and skill, and the process was difficult. Therefore, the young and strong in Old Mountain Village were unwilling to stay, which was why it lacked able-bodied adults.
This was also the reason the village had never formed a militia.
Ion had someone deliver the news of White Mountain Territory’s invasion to Old Mountain Village, instructing its villagers to evacuate to White Mountain City, merely fulfilling his duty as the lord of the fief.
What truly mattered, however, was Fisher Village.
Ion suspected that once the villagers of Plain Village brought back news of the war, there would be a new wave of unrest in White Mountain City.
While he wasn’t too worried about Lily’s safety, his daughter-in-law was capable, currently, all the Bloodline Knights in the territory had been reassigned, and the troops had been withdrawn.
Lily only had a dozen guards at her side, far from enough to maintain order in White Mountain City.
This was why he had ordered someone to notify Fisher Village, instructing its residents to also evacuate to White Mountain City.
He believed that Lily, with her intelligence, would understand the purpose behind bringing the people of Fisher Village into the city.
Because this village was the only one in White Mountain Territory that remained far from the war and had preserved its strength completely.
Once the conscription order was issued, Fisher Village could field at least two hundred villagers with fairly adequate training to form a militia.
These people only needed to shed a little blood to immediately transform into combat-ready soldiers.
Moreover, due to the reputation of the Soderbell Family, the residents of Fisher Village were far more reliable than those of White Mountain City.
So, essentially, the villagers of Fisher Village were Lily’s natural military force, Ion and Yam had served as militia instructors in Fisher Village one after the other, and Akar had once been the fief lord of Fisher Village. Therefore, as Yam’s wife, Lily naturally had an easier time gaining the trust and support of Fisher Village’s residents.
“If only Knight Commander Ken could return to White Mountain City soon,” said the veteran beside Ion.
In terms of distance, if White Mountain City had already received the news, then Ken Andar, the chief Knight Commander of the Bole Family, should also have been informed.
However, Ion could not be certain whether Ken could safely withdraw.
He could only hope that Ken, like himself, had noticed signs of the enemy in advance.
“Watch out!”
Just as Ion was still deep in thought, he suddenly heard a faint sound.
The next moment, he swiftly drew his sword and intercepted an arrow that was flying toward him.
“Enemy attack!”
The veteran beside Ion had barely shouted out when a sharp arrow pierced through his throat, turning his shout into a gurgling gasp.