While Duke Wyen and Count Karl were fighting, André had finally gathered his troops. They set off from Tuis Valley and headed straight for the fortress.
There were three hundred and seventy cavalrymen, four hundred barbarian warriors in heavy armor, two hundred and fifty longbowmen recruited from the surrounding areas, and the mercenaries from the Sandstorm Mercenary Group. All in all, there were about a thousand of them.
Although there were not many of them, they were well-trained and well-equipped. Most of them had seen blood before, so they were definitely not a militia that was put together at the last minute.
Especially the cavalrymen and barbarian warriors, they were the best of the best.
The former had undergone several months of arduous training. Basically, all of them were Warriors with professions. Furthermore, they were equipped with sturdy breastplates, fully enclosed helmets, lances, scimitars, composite bows, and four quivers with a total of eighty arrows. Not only could they shoot at the enemy with their bows from afar, they could also launch a charge and use the powerful charging force of their warhorses to tear apart the enemy's formation.
The latter were not bad either. Normal barbarians were excellent warriors when they reached adulthood. They were strong, had good endurance, and had terrifying violent abilities. Once they entered a chaotic battle, they could defeat the enemy within a few minutes.
They were equipped with heavy half-body armor and horned helmets. Their weapons were relatively messy. Some had war hammers, some had axes, and some had broadswords.
The only thing they had in common was that they all had a row of throwing axes hanging from their waists. Before they charged into the battlefield, the enemy would first taste at least two waves of axes raining down from the sky. As for the other hand, they held a combat shield, mainly used to block arrows flying from afar.
Although the barbarians lost their natural ability to move quickly after putting on their heavy armor, they were still as fast as any elite soldiers.
Watching the mighty army pass by, André asked Uruz, who was following behind him, without looking back, "How is it? Are you ready to be the commander of this army?
You must know that they are very proud. If you can't bring them a glorious victory, I'm afraid they won't listen to your command. "
"Of course, I've been ready for a long time. It's my honor to be the commander of such an elite private army." Uruz's eyes were filled with enthusiasm and anticipation.
Ever since he swore his loyalty, he had been waiting silently. Today, he finally had the chance to prove his worth. How could he not be nervous and excited?
"Very good!
I like confident people. As long as you can achieve your goals in the upcoming war, I will confer you the title of a knight and give you the fortress at the edge of the forest as well as the land within ten kilometers of it as your fief. In this way, you can bring your clansmen over and settle them down. It doesn't matter whether they are farming or grazing. "
André had never been a stingy person, especially when it came to those capable talents. He had always been generous, not to mention that it was just a fortress built in two months and ten kilometers of undeveloped wasteland.
However, in Uruz's eyes, this action was seen as a sign of respect and appreciation. He was so excited that he almost shed tears. He hurriedly took a deep breath and promised, "Thank you for your generosity!
In the name of the great Desert God, Akamala!
I swear that I will be loyal to you and your family forever, and I will never betray you! "
To him, who had lost his home, owning a piece of land was more important than any money, wealth, or beautiful women.
Because with this piece of land, he could let his clansmen who were forced to wander around have a home. They could live a peaceful life and then reproduce.
One had to know that in the Great Kamla Desert, an oasis with a radius of ten kilometers was enough to trigger a fierce war between dozens of clans.
However, Uruz only needed to offer his loyalty and ability to obtain it easily. It was so easy that he felt like he was in a dream.
André was obviously satisfied with his reaction. He smiled and waved his hand, "Hehe, don't be in a hurry to thank me. Don't forget the conditions. You need to achieve your goals first.
Remember, I won't be personally involved in this war. If you meet a difficult opponent, seek help from my followers. "
"Understood!
I won't disappoint you. After all, this is where my value lies! "
After saying this resolutely, Uruz thumped his chest hard. He quickly turned his horse around and galloped to the side of the mercenary band, excitedly sharing this important news with his clansmen.
In just a few minutes, the entire Sandstorm Mercenary Band was roaring with excitement. Some of them even knelt down to pay their respects to André.
One could foresee that in the coming battle, they would definitely fight with their lives on the line, even if it meant sacrificing themselves.
Those who had never lived in the desert would never understand how precious a piece of land that could be used for farming and grazing was. They would never understand the price they were willing to pay to obtain such a piece of land.
Necromancer Mante stared coldly at the excited mercenary band and silently came up behind André. He smiled and said, "My evil master, your grasp of the human heart is simply amazing!
Look at these poor fellows. They've actually been blinded by a piece of barren land. They don't know that it's just a carrot tied to a stick, used to make donkeys and horses run with all their might until they die of exhaustion. "
"No, Mante. You have to understand that value is different in everyone's heart.
Some people think that gold and jewels are the most valuable, because they can be used to buy any commodity in the world, including family and love.
Some people think that power is the most valuable thing in the world, because once you have power, you can control the life and death of others. You can rob them of their wealth and force others to like you and love you.
To these homeless people, a piece of land that they can live on, a warm home, and a stable life are all treasures that can't be bought with any amount of money or power.
Therefore, I'm not trying to deceive them with a piece of barren land. Instead, I'm giving them what they want the most.
In the interactions between people, giving an appropriate gift at the right time or giving an appropriate promise can often produce unexpected results.
Therefore, when you decide to rope in a target, it's best to first understand their personality, preferences, and troubles. That way, you can be like me, using something that seems cheap to gain loyalty and gratitude. "
André's eyes emitted a deep light as he spoke, as if sucking people in.
Without a doubt, he was now a qualified leader. Moreover, he was proficient in using tactics to improve the loyalty of his subordinates. It wouldn't be long before he would be able to play the game of power like a fish in water, and play everyone in the palm of his hand …