Chapter 384 - 266: Steppe Nobles Assemble (Part 2)

Chapter 384: Chapter 266: Steppe Nobles Assemble (Part 2)

Fass cleared his throat and said, "Count Henry is planning a major military operation, and I believe you could be a part of it."

Carlos was clearly not fully aware of Henry’s plans and seemed hesitant.

Seeing his expression, Fass immediately said, "Baron Carlos, you must know that Count Henry’s power is constantly growing. His army is invincible. If you join us, you stand to gain enormous benefits."

A flicker of interest crossed Carlos’s face; he was clearly intrigued by the mention of benefits. Seeing this, Fass was delighted.

"I need more details," Carlos said after a moment of contemplation.

"After all, if we’re to cooperate, I need to know what exactly Count Henry is planning, don’t I?"

Fass smiled. "Count Henry plans to launch a large-scale military campaign against several noble domains to the north. These nobles have long been hostile toward the Count and are trying to unite against him."

A look of surprise appeared on Carlos’s face. He was taken aback by the plan.

"A military campaign against the great northern nobles? But didn’t Count Henry just conquer Odoche and defeat Count John?"

’Does Henry still have the strength to wage another war? Hiss... How terrifying.’ Carlos couldn’t help but suck in a cold breath. ’If this continues, the grasslands might truly see the rise of a Khan.’

Fass pursed his lips and said meaningfully, "I’m sure you’ve heard about Count Henry’s methods for training troops. Besides, how could you possibly know the exact number of soldiers in the Count’s army?"

Fass knew that Carlos was already shaken by Henry’s immense power. All he needed was one final push to make the Baron fully commit to Henry’s side.

"Baron Carlos, Count Henry is always meticulous in his actions. He would never launch a war without being certain of victory.

"We are fully prepared for this military campaign. Moreover, the Count has long had a plan to wipe out all these opposing nobles in one fell swoop." Fass’s tone was firm, exuding an undeniable dominance.

Carlos was silent for a moment, apparently weighing the pros and cons. Fass waited patiently. Carlos was struggling internally, but Henry’s reputation and formidable military strength were undoubtedly a huge temptation.

Finally, Carlos looked up, his gaze fixed on Fass. "Baron Fass, what you’ve said sounds very appealing. I also understand that joining Count Henry’s camp means making enemies of the nobles who oppose him. This is no small matter. I need to think about it."

Seeing that Carlos was wavering, Fass continued, "Baron Carlos, you are a wise man. You should understand that Count Henry’s power is now unstoppable. By joining him now, you can not only preserve your own power but also gain even greater benefits.

"Those nobles who oppose Henry are merely struggling in vain. In the end, they will all be annihilated by the Count.

"But you, if you can quickly side with Count Henry at this crucial moment, will earn his great trust and generous rewards."

Carlos pondered for a moment, then nodded. "You have a point, but I still need to know more details about the distribution of spoils. After all, if I’m sending my men to war, I need something to tell them."

Fass replied immediately, "You can rest assured on that point. The specific distribution of spoils can be negotiated directly with Count Henry himself.

"Count Henry has always been fair and just. He will reward you according to your contribution. Besides, think about it: if the Count succeeds in eliminating the nobles who oppose him, the situation on the entire grassland will become much more stable, and all of us will benefit greatly from it."

"Us? Are there many others?"

"Of course! You didn’t think Count Henry was fighting alone, did you? With all due respect, those on the grassland who choose to oppose the Count are the minority."

Carlos nodded. "Alright, I agree to join Count Henry’s side and am willing to commit my troops. However, I will indeed need to discuss the specific distribution of spoils with Count Henry personally."

A satisfied smile appeared on Fass’s face. "Of course. That’s only right. I will convey your intentions to Count Henry. I’m sure he will be very pleased to have you join him."

Carlos smiled as well. ’As for the rumored threat from the Emperor... Hmph, that’s no problem at all. The Emperor can’t possibly come to the grassland himself to fight the grassland nobles, can he?’

’There are more Cavalry on the grassland than hairs on an ox. We could toy with them until they’re dead! The longer their supply lines, the more Bandits they’ll find on the grassland.’

’This is no joke!’

’The Emperor’s army is no match for the grassland nobles on our own turf. The long supply lines of their Imperial Legions are just a cash cow for our Cavalry!’

"Then it’s settled. I’ll prepare my troops for deployment as soon as possible. I hope Count Henry can give me a reply soon."

Fass nodded. "Don’t worry, I’ll arrange it quickly. Once you are ready, you can move toward Odoche immediately."

With this successful start from Carlos, Fass’s confidence grew.

He realized that as long as he found the right angle, the other nobles were not unshakeable either.

Thus, Fass quickened his pace of persuasion. Armed with Carlos’s promise and Count Henry’s formidable reputation, he began to travel between the various domains north of Autongard.

Fass’s strategy was simple: first, find the nobles whose attitudes toward Henry were ambiguous. Then, he would exploit their desire for power and wealth, as well as their awe of Henry’s immense strength, to gradually persuade them to join Henry’s camp.

As long as they were willing to send troops to support Henry, they could expect generous returns in the future distribution of spoils.

In the weeks that followed, Fass’s efficiency was staggering.

He managed to win over a Viscount or two Barons nearly every three days.

He leveraged his deep understanding of the nobles’ personalities and interests to meticulously craft his persuasion plans.

He even went so far as to use small personal favors, such as promising to help a noble solve minor troubles in their domain, or hinting at the possibility of attaining a higher status within Henry’s camp.

Fass’s methods of persuasion were varied. Sometimes he would emphasize Henry’s military might and grand future ambitions, showing the nobles the immense benefits of joining his camp.

Other times, he would hint that the nobles opposing Henry were already doomed to fail, making them understand that siding with Henry was the wise choice.

And at other times, he would exploit the conflicts between the nobles themselves, isolating some by winning over others.

Through Fass’s efforts, and without Henry himself even knowing it, the strength of Henry’s faction was expanding at a rapid pace. More and more nobles began to secretly or openly express their willingness to support him.

Some Knightly nobles even approached Fass directly, proactively offering to send troops to help.

Fass recorded the names and promises of these nobles one by one, preparing to report back to Henry.

Meanwhile, Boman’s mission was much easier.

The region south of Autongard, which he was responsible for, was already within Henry’s sphere of influence. Those nobles had long been completely won over by Henry.

Boman’s task was merely a formality, and he moved things along quickly.

Boman first sought out five of the most influential nobles in the region: Viscount Carl Yang, Viscount Muwu Zetubu, Baron Edmund Kenway, Baron Calvin Ironshield, and Baron Boras Yisuwu.

Upon learning that Henry was about to launch a new military campaign, these five men immediately and enthusiastically pledged their support, saying they had long wanted to bring their Private Armies to join Henry.

"Count Henry is our patron! His army is invincible! Following him is the only way to have a future!" Viscount Carl Yang said excitedly, his eyes gleaming with admiration for Henry.

"That’s right, we’ve been waiting for this day for a long time!" Viscount Muwu Zetubu chimed in, a look of excitement on his rugged face.

’Last time we only provided material support. This time, we have to provide manpower!’

"As soon as Count Henry gives the order, we can deploy our troops at any time!"