Chapter 1257 - 1182
Death Cuirassiers, the place where Grush, the founder of the Holy Alliance Cuirassiers, once served.
The Norn Cuirassiers are somewhat like the Knight Order model, with their own land, even having to farm the land themselves during peacetime.
However, unlike the Border Knight Order, they are more akin to mercenaries and are much poorer.
Most of them are mainly recruited from mountain bandits.
In other words, anyone who wasn’t skilled enough has already been killed in the process of bandit suppression.
So these Cuirassiers are savage in temperament, highly skilled in riding and archery, and after a year or half a year of cavalry tactics training, they can become competent light cavalrymen.
Moreover, many second sons and illegitimate sons of Norn nobility, when they make mistakes, are often sent to the Cuirassier regiment to serve as officers.
The so-called Death Cuirassier regiment is selected from the best of the cuirassiers from various regions and sent to the border or Fat Cow Castle specifically to combat foreign enemies.
Aside from the outstanding ones in various Cuirassier regiments, many noble second sons and illegitimate sons join the Cuirassier regiment.
No wonder after the Death Cuirassier regiment was disbanded, a significant number of cuirassiers chose to become mountain bandits, since they were mountain bandits to begin with.
Since they originated as mountain bandits, the stronghold was naturally built in the style of bandits.
Double moats, spiked wooden walls, arrow towers, chevaux-de-frise, and behind the wall, there were variegated wooden houses, while in front of the wall, there were chaotic tents.
Behind the stronghold, Alexei glanced and saw a small pasture composed of mudflats at the foot of the mountain.
Looking farther away, there were gray-white poplar and deep black pine forests.
As the heavy gate fell behind, Alexei asked Gloev: "How many people are they approximately?"
"There are six or seven stronghold camps nearby, they are the largest with 1500 horsemen, the rest combined only add up to 1000."
In other words, as long as they can take these 1500 people, the remaining camps would only have the option to surrender.
The loyalty of these Death Cuirassiers to humanity is certain, and their loyalty to the Fat Cow Castle is also assured.
The only uncertain aspect is their attitude towards Alexei, the son of Duke Petrov.
But at least, they were willing to engage, and so far, there was no sign of murderous intent.
If they really intended to start killing, the soldiers of the Shadow Crow Army beside Alexei could immediately carry him away.
Otherwise, it would be a disaster for Gloev and others.
"Sit."
No formalities, no maidens, just a middle-aged cripple leading them to sit by the open campfire.
A shabby stool, a table, before Alexei and others were seated, the cripple came again.
He tossed three clay plates almost as if throwing them in front of the others.
Alexei looked down and saw a massive bear paw soaked in a rich, thick broth, with a pile of shredded sauerkraut on the side.
This is a famous dish of Bear Castle, sauerkraut bear paw.
As for what the stout man poured, it was also the renowned Bear Castle liquor, black wheat wine.
This wine is made from a diseased wheat strain, with a peculiar taste, naturally carrying a hint of herbal flavor.
However, the dining atmosphere made Gloev uneasy.
With the arrival of Alexei and the three, the cuirassiers in the camp began to come out one after another.
They wore mink hats, embroidered wolf or deer skin vests.
Some had braided beards, while others sported a Mediterranean hairstyle, the styles were varied and hilarious, their builds all burly and robust, with fierce features.
Not mentioning the scars on their bodies, the facial war paints alone were dazzling.
All of them were bearded men, yet adorned with lipstick, smoky eyes, and eyeliner galore.
Being surrounded by such a group, even someone as well-versed as Gloev found it uncomfortable.
Instead, after a brief moment of being stunned, Alexei quickly regained his composure.
It’s not that he had a big heart, it’s just that he knew many friends from Black Snake Bay in the Holy Alliance.
Strange attire and bizarre makeup didn’t impact him much psychologically.
What’s a couple of earrings? What’s some facial tattoos?
He had a friend from Black Snake Bay named Plain, who had three piercings in his nose and even tattooed a hurry-up symbol on his forehead.
Seeing everyone surrounding him without speaking, he maintained a calm demeanor, as if ordering at a restaurant: "Your leader, Lord Petro Bagri, hasn’t arrived yet?"
The fierce expressions of several burly men were momentarily halted, seemingly unprepared for this child with no hair on his lips to exhibit such behavior.
They exchanged glances for a moment, and then a woman in her forties spoke: "The Lord Bagri is out hunting, will be back later, he instructed us to entertain you well."
This curly-haired woman intentionally emphasized the word "entertain."
Under the firelight, Alexei’s face was somewhat obscure: "Since it’s Lord Bagri’s directive, as they say, what elders bestow cannot be declined, so I will receive it with gratitude."
He cut a piece of bear paw meat with a knife and could see the pink flesh and blood threads inside.
The mild acidity of the sauerkraut and the fermentation aroma, mixed with the spicy aroma of the prickly ash, coated in greasy and meaty flavors lingered between the lips and teeth.
However, Alexei tried a bite and put down the knife.
In fact, just from tasting this bite, based on the knowledge he gained from Saint Danji Military Academy in intelligence science, he could analyze a lot.
Given that they have bear paw, in addition to this sparsely populated area teeming with animals, their meat supply is likely ample.
But bear paw is also a rare delicacy, not something they would offer to an enemy or someone insignificant.
In other words, in the eyes of these Death Cuirassiers, Alexei was worth receiving this gift.
Therefore, this move was likely to save face.
But he tasted it and found the flavor noticeably bland, meaning they lacked salt, and severely so.
To the point where they couldn’t even provide enough salt for a dish meant to save face.
Their lives must be sufficient in sustenance but lacking in essentials such as medicine and salt.
Not to mention the need for normal everyday goods, or they wouldn’t be relentlessly looting caravans.
With a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth, Alexei took out a glass bottle from his waist and sprinkled it on the bear paw.
It didn’t take much, and a fragrant aroma instantly filled the air.
Almost within a moment, the attention of the burly men, which was previously a bit bored, refocused.
"This is the Holy Alliance’s new bottled seasoning, called Madlan’s Eleven Spices, made from black pepper, cinnamon, cloves, Dragon Blood pepper, and other spices."
He deliberately cut open the bear paw, revealing the tender meat inside, with the heat pulling the aroma of the eleven spices, rapidly circulating within the wooden house.
Before long, there were incessant sounds of swallowing and stomachs rumbling.
Alexei stifled a laugh, continued: "Don’t be deceived by its small size, it’s made with concentrated chicken soup, expands with water, adding more aroma, a little can enhance a lot of flavor."
At this point, he had already cut the bear paw into many pieces, paused for about three seconds, and surveyed the surroundings.
He put down the knife and said with a smile: "I almost forgot, you haven’t eaten yet, have you? How about trying some as well, to verify my statement."
At first, just one tall, skinny guy came over, Alexei gave him a piece, soon followed by more cuirassiers stepping forward.
They were fearless by nature, temporarily constrained by rules, yet couldn’t be always bound.
Even though Mr. Kutuyov strictly ordered them to let Alexei eat the bear paw, who wouldn’t want to taste such delicacy?
Especially since this little Prince generously sprinkled the bear paw with plenty of spices and salt, the taste, tsk tsk.
One bite after another, one serving of bear paw was quickly divided up.
These Death Cuirassiers, finishing off Alexei’s lunch, felt somewhat embarrassed and even more worried about explaining to Mr. Kutuyov.
They rummaged around, bringing out dried meat and black wheat wine from their tents.
The next moment, Gloev pulled out a jar of high-proof Holy Alliance alcohol from his backpack.
By the time Petro Bagri returned to the camp, the sight that greeted him was Alexei and his good brothers, holding wine bottles, chewing beef, dancing around the campfire.
"What are you all doing?!"