But the problem with equipment is that once it’s gone, it’s gone; it has long been moved to other places through various channels, and quite a bit has ended up in the Mountains.

This means the Barbarian warriors have replaced their gear with that originally belonging to Bastia’s soldiers; at a glance, they appear better equipped, who truly are the Count’s soldiers?

And what about the Serf soldiers?

Holding onto scraps that should have been thrown in the trash years ago, the spearheads of their spears have rusted nearly into scrap iron, and the shafts have long since been infested by bugs.

As for the remaining Crossbows that can be found, hardly any are usable; they break upon pulling, and arrows, being even more consumable, are in dire shortage.

Fortunately, the count has maintained a fairly active military to guard against the Barbarian Tribes for years; this part of the equipment wasn’t overly tampered with and retains most of its combat strength.

But the equipment deficit for new recruits is massive, and everyone knows what the blacksmiths’ production capacity is, outstanding only as craftsmen.

No matter how tirelessly they hammer, it would take at least a year and a half to make up for it.

"Then let them feel what it’s like to have no weapons."

The Count fiercely shouted this, sending those conscripted men without equipment to clash with the Barbarians; they wouldn’t even qualify as cannon fodder, just being sent to die.

Because even if there were weapons and armor, they should prioritize equipping the conscripted soldiers.

To alleviate this issue, the Count directly required soldiers to bring their own equipment.

Bringing their own rations was already absurd enough, causing equipment prices within Bastia to skyrocket, where an ordinary person couldn’t afford much even if they spent everything they had, though a wooden stick and shield were still possible.

Yet, despite this, the situation in the battle reports remained bleak.

The entire fiefdom is drenched in blood, with families losing their loved ones screaming every day, but alas, no one listens.

The Serf soldiers summoned by the Count certainly weren’t given the treatment of professional Hamlet soldiers; food and equipment had to be brought by themselves, leaving much to be imagined.

No weapons, no pay, not even a full meal, let alone meat.

Without regular training, burdened by strenuous labor, when the well-fed and well-equipped Barbarian warriors rushed over, they had to drag their frail, fatigued bodies, fighting under conditions of inadequate weaponry and equipment.

How could the death toll not be high?

Expecting compensation for the dead?

If you lowly peasants are delaying the battle and letting the Barbarians invade, you should be thankful the Count isn’t charging you.

Yet interestingly, it hasn’t collapsed; Bastia is still firmly under the Count’s control. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Due to the blockage of information, few know the exact casualties; even the frontline soldiers are unclear, not to mention the peasants.

Additionally, public opinion is being manipulated, with the Barbarian tribes being portrayed as evil, creating a terrifying enemy to unite themselves, making the Count defending against the Barbarian attacks seem heroic.

Once such frenzied agitation is stirred up, all opposing voices are suppressed.

Of course, those caught being corrupt did allow the public to vent a bit of anger.

It’s not that the Count can’t win; it’s these people’s fault.

The Count is good.

The Bureaucrat is bad.

The fundamental truth is that this has been the norm for thousands of years, with people submitting to such rule; cruelty and despair are the basis of this world.

The treatment at Hamlet was entirely misaligned with the era, upheld by Lance’s personal charm and Gold Coin.

Yet, there’s no choice; to combat demons and monsters, they need these elite soldiers willing to fight to the death without concerns.

If Bastia’s Count managed the army this way, encountering monsters would have them scattering immediately.

Barton’s past failure is the best proof, as troops from Totnes equipped with the most advanced artillery still collapsed at the first touch.

Though few understand Lance, even if they do, no one seems willing to follow him.

For these Noble Lords, deaths merely lead to more conscription; countless deaths eventually yield enough elite soldiers.

The Count envisions this, signing yet another conscription document, pushing those unprepared young men onto the battlefield.

Years of peace have led to the current situation, with Bastia’s Count reigniting the war, likely hoping to reshape Bastia’s military strength through great conflict, while simultaneously diminishing the Mountain Barbarian Tribe’s gains over the years.

If Bruce wishes to grasp control over Bastia, he must first seize control over those Knights; it works while he’s present, but if absent, they likely won’t obey.

Now forcing them to the battlefield, meanwhile gaining merit for his son, also serves to eliminate some of the already outdated fief knights through warfare.

If there’s still courage, it’s useful, but if those Knights retire, it’s best; drag the sons up after the fathers die as survivors qualify to inherit the fiefs.

Currently, Bastia’s fiefdom is a one man one pit situation; if they don’t die, how can Bruce’s trusted followers gain fiefs? Victory in war demands rewards, or who’d risk their lives to fight?

If followers cannot command sufficient fiefs, Bastia’s Nobility may not heed his words.

The Count’s ambition is larger than what Bastia can accommodate.

Bastia is largely mountainous, with food greatly limiting him; in contrast, Hamlet is a vast plain with fertile soil and a coast.

This poses a fatal temptation to him, seizing Hamlet while watching the Emperor and the Rebels weaken each other to death, leading him to stake a claim within the Empire, should he not become Emperor at all.