When Lauri saw Hammond waiting with the deputy commander of the Beitang Defensive Line, a hint of confusion appeared on his face, but he still accepted the head of the commander of the Beitang Defensive Line.
The troops behind him also began to equip themselves and clear out the largest stronghold within the Beitang Defensive Line.
Although there were still many strongholds that had not surrendered, those strongholds were not truly determined to resist to the end; they just wanted to increase their bargaining power.
Lauri did not intend to indulge these people raised by Fang Ge, and once the surrounding strongholds were cleared, those remaining who refused to surrender would be bombarded with cannons.
“You’re not the type to play tricks like this.”
On the way back in triumph, Lauri and Hammond started a conversation.
“Still trying to give the credit to me, I thought you were the kind of rigid knight who knows the code of chivalry by heart.”
“I just don’t like dealing with those nobles.”
Hammond glanced back at the brothers joking and cursing behind him and said, “I don’t like it when it proves I’m naive to human nature.”
“Hahahahaha.”
Lauri laughed uncontrollably as if he had seen something amusing, casually tossing that head back to Hammond.
Hammond hurriedly caught that head in a fluster.
“We don’t do things like that here; your credit is yours, and nobody can take it away.”
“However, I truly didn’t expect you to have such thoughts. The rigid knight has become human again here, and now the Lord Governor will be lecturing me again, saying I, this soldier, have corrupted another person.”
Hammond realized that his actions were indeed too deliberate upon hearing Lauri’s words and scratched the back of his head, saying, “After all, we are surrendered troops. I can be unconcerned, but I must think for the brothers.”
“Moreover, I don’t want to huddle in an inconspicuous spot, being a guard and wasting my days just because I’m unsympathetic.”
Hammond looked at Lauri’s soldiers and continued, “I want to contribute to the Northern Border. I have the ability and the mission to do so.”
The seemingly unbreakable defensive line fell just like that. Though some smaller strongholds still held out, they could no longer stop the march of Graywhite Territory; the entire defensive line had lost its function.
After reviewing the battle reports, Lind organized the next steps. Since the Beitang Defensive Line was already passable, there was no need to take a detour around the Giant God Mountain Range like before.
After discussing with Lena, Lind prepared to use Black Iron City as a launching pad for a full-scale attack.
“Don’t rush to incorporate those soldiers; let them farm first.”
Lind said to Lena.
The other parts of the Northern Border were devastated by Fang Ge, with a large amount of land lying fallow. Lind truly did not want these lower-quality soldiers to affect his army’s quality.
Lind would rather recruit some local serfs or free people than use these old veterans from Fang Ge on a large scale.
Upon hearing this decision, Lena felt a bit heartbroken; after all, these soldiers were nominally still Lars’s soldiers. However, she also understood Lind’s general idea.
“They can accompany the army into battle first, and once a territory is captured, let them help the remaining locals farm, allocate land to them, and allow them to settle there.”
“Mm, that works.”
Lind nodded, approving of Lena’s decision. As long as it involved military matters, her thinking remained clear.
In this world, there was no such thing as retirement from the army; there was even a local folk song about a person who, after joining the army, ended up muddled in other regions, mistakenly married and had children, and eventually became part of that place.
Lena’s decision was merely to break apart the soldiers conscripted by Fang Ge and redistribute them across the Northern Border.
Afterward, Lind helped Lena refine this policy. The army certainly did not need to secure a place before settling down and assigning land; they could move on to the next target afterward.
Some powers should be removed from the military. This was not about suppressing the army but allowing it to grow in a healthier way.
The redistribution of land and governance should be left to the civilian officials. Luckily, the earliest batch of nobles had completely pledged allegiance, though few in number, they were usable and all competent.
After their discussion, Lena took the documents to the army.
“What a loving couple.”
Tia yawned as she lay on the sofa.
“Still promoting her position within the army, aren’t you afraid of what might happen in the future? Or are you scared of what might happen?”
“There are already many Lars’s people in the army; what Lena is doing is quite appropriate.”
Lind did not directly answer Tia’s question, simply providing a brief explanation.
Tia did not press further and instead said, “Since that defensive line has already fallen, can the scouts in the mountains come back now?”
“Mm, thank you. I will pay more.”
“Seems like selling weapons has earned you quite a bit.”
Tia got up, stretched, and began flipping through a thick book beside her.
This elven lord was increasingly trending toward being a neet, living a more and more leisurely life and becoming increasingly reluctant to go out.
Moreover, she liked to snack while reading, and when she opened a book, her hand instinctively reached for the snack box beside her.
Elves seemed to never gain weight no matter how much they ate; at least Tia still maintained her figure well.
“Are you reading a knight novel again?”
“No, I’m reading your human history.”
Tia turned to the page where she had last left her bookmark and began chatting with Lind while reading.
“I think you humans are truly a warlike race. Since the beginning of recorded history, you humans have been fighting. The peaceful years for you humans are comparable to the years we elves have been at war; the Demon Clan seems pure and kind in comparison to you humans.”
“Plus, from what I’ve seen of humanity’s history up until now, I think you can win.”
This elven lord had indeed learned to draw lessons from history. At least that elven queen would not say she raised her daughter poorly, but even though this elven lord had spent a long time in Graywhite Territory, it was just a small interlude in her long life.
“So you went to ask Queen Elven Lady and those Druids to help me, and you even had some scouts at my disposal, huh?”
“Don’t misunderstand; it’s not for you. I made you pay more for that.”
Tia’s gaze shifted from the book to Lind, seemingly telling him not to get carried away.
Lind also sat down and began pulling out stationery to prepare a reply to the queen of the Royal Capital, along with the upcoming regulations, considering he would need to make a trip to Black Iron City soon, completely unaware of Tia’s gaze.
However, Lind continued chatting with Tia: “Did you know? Although the probability is very low, some demi-humans can have offspring with humans, just like you elves.”
“Ah? Oh, I know this.”
Tia, who had no particular thoughts on the topic, became flustered after hearing Lind’s words. She buried her head in her book and stopped snacking, instead secretly watching Lind.
“The offspring, half-elves, possess the lifespan of elves but cannot reproduce, whether male or female, regardless of whether they are with elves or humans.”
Lind rubbed his chin, contemplating. Although in various fantasy worlds strange beings with reproductive isolation were not uncommon, it seemed that this world still adhered to reproductive barriers. At least, there were no bizarre magical beasts, and the Druids also had a concept of reproductive isolation.
“So, do you think the differences between humans and elves, or between humans and other demi-humans, might be less than we think?”
Lind finally looked up and gave Tia an up-and-down assessment. Seeing her clear gaze, which even carried a hint of academic interest, Tia realized that she may have been overthinking things.
“Alright, my grades in Druid courses have always been mediocre; you should discuss this with our Grand Druid.”
Tia became a bit irritated and, like a deflated balloon, set down her book, lamenting that it seemed she had been reading too many knight novels recently and her mind was filled with a jumble of thoughts; she needed to find a way to quit those knight novels.
