Knight: Becoming King of the World

Henry found it amusing to see Claude’s matter-of-fact expression.

Claude had once vehemently opposed many of Henry’s "savage," "shameless," and "brutal" plans and ideas.

But Claude’s opposition had been futile, leaving him to simply carry out the orders while objecting to them. ’And now look at him, he’s thinking like a tyrant himself!’

’Who did he learn this from? Who turned my Claude into this?’

"Well, what do you know, Claude. That’s an excellent suggestion. John has a huge number of serfs and shepherd slaves. If we give them a chance to change their status and become Free People, they’ll naturally welcome us.

As for the major landowners, chieftains, and self-employed farmers who stand in opposition, we’ll kill a batch, capture a batch, and demote a batch. That will free up a massive amount of land, create plenty of room for upward mobility, and allow for a complete reshuffling and redistribution of wealth. Good. Your idea is very good indeed."

Seeing his idea so lavishly praised by Henry, Claude beamed with a brilliant smile.

’I can be ruthless too! It’s all for the sake of progress, after all.’

Claude had always been by Henry’s side, and through daily exposure, his mindset had transformed without him even realizing it.

He no longer perceived Henry’s "brutal" acts as cruel as he once had. Instead, through a subtle, gradual process, he had come to accept these seemingly harsh yet effective methods.

In his eyes now, was this brutality? Not in the slightest.

To be picked clean after a defeat was just a normal part of life in these chaotic times.

Those major landowners, chieftains, and self-employed farmers occupied vast tracts of land and reaped immense benefits. If their ruling lord remained the same, it was one thing, but once a new noble’s banner was raised, their old ways became an obstacle to social progress.

To establish a new order and break the deadlock, shedding blood and eliminating a group of people was a necessary step.

The fact that he hadn’t even suggested rounding up tens of thousands of people for beheading and piling their heads high was, in itself, a great mercy.

This relatively moderate approach could serve as a deterrent while avoiding pointless bloodshed and minimizing unnecessary casualties.

’They’re just being turned into serfs, what’s the big deal? As long as those who were already serfs and shepherd slaves are given enough benefits and room to advance, they will gladly support Henry. The old interest groups, in turn, will eventually be swept away by the tide.’

Claude cleared his throat and said gravely, "My lord, Roland sent a message back today. He said that while raiding a village, they encountered a Baron’s Private Army. For now, both sides are exercising extreme restraint, but a clash is inevitable."

Claude paused, a sharp glint in his eyes. "However, it’s not a major issue. A typical Baron’s Private Army is bound to have a high percentage of serfs."

Henry nodded slightly, a confident smile playing on his lips. "This is a trivial matter. The force Roland took with him may only have a few mounted infantry acting as messenger Scouts, but their combat effectiveness should not be underestimated. Those Barons’ private armies are mostly just hastily assembled rabble. How can they be a match for our elites? Using the village terrain to their advantage, crushing the enemy will be a simple task."

Hearing this, a look of agreement flashed in Claude’s eyes. The troops Roland led this time were all new recruits, but their combat strength was astonishing. Their fighting skills were on par with elites who had trained for a year or even two, and they were extremely proficient in the use of formations and tactics.

In the narrow and complex environment of a village, the Baron’s Private Army wouldn’t be able to leverage its numerical advantage. Instead, they would fall into chaos, becoming fish on the chopping block for Roland’s army to slaughter at will.

Honestly, there were times Claude couldn’t comprehend how Henry managed it. The effectiveness of his training methods was beyond imagination.

"Besides, it’s time for a small-scale engagement. This battle will also be an excellent way to demonstrate our strength to the surrounding powers.

Those who want a piece of the pie and are looking to meddle will tuck their tails between their legs and back off.

And as for those wavering nobles under John, the ones with little capacity or will to resist—once they see us ruthlessly crush those who oppose us, they will naturally submit obediently. This will solidify the foundations of our rule," Henry added.

The army continued its march along the well-trodden path across the plains. Amidst the rising dust, Claude’s gaze occasionally swept over their surroundings. Suddenly, as if remembering something, an embarrassed look crossed his face. He turned to Henry and asked hesitantly, "My lord, about... Count Ratifa’s army... what are your thoughts?"

He had wanted to ask if this wasn’t a bit inappropriate, but the words felt too blunt on the tip of his tongue, so he swallowed them back down.

To be perfectly honest, he had only just remembered. Ratifa’s new troops were also part of the army on this expedition.

The new recruits were just so obedient, even marching under Henry’s noble banner, that he had genuinely forgotten about them.

Henry seemed to have anticipated the question, merely giving a casual wave of his hand. "How can their training be considered complete if they’ve never been on a battlefield? I promised to help Ratifa train a powerful army; I made no promises about the methods or the process."

Only through the baptism of fire can an army truly become strong.

Claude pressed his lips together. Though he still had his doubts, upon seeing Henry’s resolute expression, he ultimately chose to remain silent.

’In this intricate and complex world of nobles, there were many things that a mere "steward" like him couldn’t fully comprehend.’

The soldiers, the weapons, the provisions—Ratifa had provided them all. Yet now, Henry was taking her army out on a campaign. To an outsider, this might seem improper, but in Henry’s eyes, it was likely perfectly normal.