OBS Chapter 213 The Heir War
Chapter 213 The Heir War
Spring 1449, Milo Territory, Milo City
As the capital of Milo Territory, the historic city of Milo has welcomed successive generations of heirs and also seen off successive generations of dying earls.
As the plague gradually spread, most of Midland's territory was hit by plagues of varying degrees, and the hardest hit was the originally densely populated central part of the kingdom.
The Milo Territory was inevitably swept into the vortex of the plague. The arrival of the plague forced the local villagers to flee to other territories. One village and town after another turned into a dead place. In this environment, the sky became gray and the earth became barren. Only the crows circling in the sky and the rats hiding in the cracks were left, looking for corpses to fill their stomachs.
Just like this territory, in the city of Milo, the residents hid in their homes in fear. Those who were able to run away had already fled to other places at the beginning of the plague. The only ones left were the old, weak and sick who were struggling to survive.
As agriculture and commerce were destroyed, the prices of food and daily necessities had reached a point where they could not afford them. All they could do now was to stay at home and hope that the God of Light would bless them and help them survive the plague and hunger.
In the castle, which symbolizes the power of the earl, servants walked in the corridor with a hurried pace, and whispers could be heard from time to time. Their nervous expressions seemed to indicate that something bad was about to happen.
In the Earl's bedroom, many people in gorgeous clothes were gathering around a large bed in the middle, and lying on it was the current ruler of Milo Territory - Earl Milo.
At this time, Count Milo had long lost his previous spirit. His originally slightly fat body had become emaciated after suffering from the illness. His previously smooth hair had become as dry as weeds. It was obvious that he could not hold on any longer.
"Count Milo, Count Milo."
When the bishop who was presiding beside the bed saw that everyone had arrived, he called out to Count Milo while shaking his body with his wrist as if it would fall apart at any time.
After a while, Count Milo, who was lying on the bed, opened his eyes with difficulty and looked at the people around him with his remaining spirit. These people were his most trusted relatives, friends, and vassals.
Count Milo read it carefully several times and asked the person next to him:
"John... he didn't come?"
"Earl John went to Grant Island to exterminate the pagans. He may still be on the island." The bishop explained.
"Is that so?" Thinking back to that young figure, a trace of regret and sorrow flashed across Count Milo's eyes.
"It doesn't matter. Even if he leaves now, I will be dead by the time I get here." Count Milo laughed at himself and said to the bishop:
"Then let's get started."
The bishop nodded slightly, and ordered his servant to bring a basin of holy water. After soaking his hands in the basin, the bishop placed his wet hands on Count Milo's forehead as the prayer song was being sung nearby, and said:
"Is there anything you would like to confess to the Lord?"
After hearing this, Count Milo said with difficulty:
"I confess that I did not complete my father's mission to make the territory prosperous and wealthy at the end of my life; I confess that I did not do my best to spread the Lord's faith. I confess..."
Having said this, Count Milo looked to the side, and in his field of vision, his own child, Little Milo, was wiping tears while looking at his father who was about to ascend to heaven. Looking at his red and swollen eyes and tear-stained cheeks, a tear burst out of Count Milo's eyes.
"I regret that I didn't spend more time with my children when I was alive, and now my children are separated from me forever."
"Father!"
When hearing this, Xiaomilo could no longer control his emotions, and he threw himself on his father's bed and burst into tears.
Looking at the mature yet childish Milo in front of him, Count Milo stretched out his dry arm and placed it on Milo's head, stroking him and saying:
"Be good, Daddy is going to heaven soon... In the days ahead, you must protect Mommy and your brothers and sisters. Listen to Daddy, stop crying, and stand up straight like a man. In the future, you will be the Earl of Midland."
After entrusting all the instructions, Count Milo closed his eyes and lay flat on the bed. The words he had just said had drained all his energy. After a moment of clarity, he felt a force moving his soul out of his body, and at the same time, the things in front of his eyes gradually became blurred.
"Am I going to die?"
Count Milo thought so, and then his consciousness disappeared in darkness.
After a while, the bishop placed his hands on Count Milo's nose and chest, and after confirming that there was no breathing or heartbeat, he announced to everyone:
"Count Milo has passed away. The heir to his territory will be handed over to his eldest son in accordance with the law and his own will."
When they heard the sad news, everyone couldn't help but cry, and the old vassals who had followed Count Milo for decades cried even more sadly.
Just as sadness and crying enveloped the city of Milo, not far away, an army was rushing towards the city.
The leader was wearing fairly decent armor and riding on a black warhorse, and his exposed face looked somewhat similar to the dead Count Milo.
"Guys, cheer up, we'll be at Milo City soon. Once we get there, you can take all the treasures in the city." The man shouted and cheered in his heart.
"Damn, that stupid brother is finally dead." The man thought to himself. Originally, he was the second heir in the Milo family, but because of the damn law of primogeniture in his opinion, no matter how well he performed, he eventually missed out on the title and the territory. He could only lead a small remote territory with his other brothers and live like a farmer.
Fortunately, there is always a way out. The arrival of this plague not only killed many nobles and their heirs, but also gave ambitious people in other places an opportunity to reshuffle. At the beginning of the epidemic, he heard about successful cases of seizing power by force in other territories. After learning that his brother was critically ill, he immediately gathered the remaining villagers in his territory for military training. At the same time, he bribed and persuaded the bandit leaders hiding in the dense forests around him, so that he, the leader of only one knight territory, expanded his forces to 500 people and dozens of cavalry in a short period of time.
Looking at the army with various flags behind him, the rebel leader was in high spirits. Due to the plague along the way, the various territories had suffered serious manpower loss. This team had not encountered any obstruction or resistance since they set out. On the contrary, they obtained some spoils by robbing the unprotected villages along the way. The continuous victories made him more and more proud. Looking at the looming outline of the city in the distance, it seemed as if he would soon become the master of this territory.
"Sir, look, is there anyone coming over there?" At this time, an attendant in the territory suddenly called him. The rebel leader looked in the direction the attendant said, and saw a team suddenly coming over from a distance. Although he could not see the overall appearance of the team clearly, the bright light reflected from the armor on the opposite side reminded him that this was an armed gang.
Out of caution, he ordered the team to stop. When the team approached, the rebel leader could see the full picture of the opposite side. It was a team wearing all black armor. According to his estimation, the specific number was about one hundred people.
"Black Watch." The rebel leader was of course aware of the identity of this team. This mercenary group was the most popular in recent years. Not only did they have sophisticated weapons and equipment and tens of thousands of soldiers, they also had Earl John as their backer. Even the nobles did not dare to mess with them.
But now the world has changed. Looking at the team of several hundred people behind him, the rebel leader felt that he had a chance to try to defeat them and take away their weapons. After all, in troubled times, the most precious thing is not food, but a weapon that can snatch food from others.
The Black Watch mercenary team on the opposite side gradually stopped about a hundred meters away when they saw this chaotically equipped army. The two sides confronted each other on the plain.
As time went by, the rebel leader became a little impatient. After all, if the time was up, there was a chance that someone else might have taken the title first.
"Cavalry, charge! The infantry behind will hold the line!" Seeing that the opposite side did not take any action, the rebel leader took the initiative and led the cavalry to rush towards the opposite side.
In his expectation, it was impossible for the enemy to form a formation in such a short time. As long as the cavalry killed their troops, the infantry behind them would rush forward and force them to fight on their own. At that time, it would only be a matter of time to annihilate them.
During the charge of the cavalry, the Black Watch on the opposite side made some movement. A dozen musketeers walked out of the team. They were holding muskets and lined up in two rows under the command of the officer. After pointing the muzzles at the cavalry in front, the officer immediately shouted:
"First row, fire!"
In an instant, white smoke came out of the muzzles of a row of guns, and the man saw in disbelief that the cavalry in the front row of him suddenly rolled on the ground with their horses, causing the cavalry behind him to be so scared that they immediately pulled the reins to force the horses to slow down.
"Second row, fire!"
Accompanied by another shout and gunshot, several more cavalrymen on the opposite side fell off their horses. The continued losses made these cavalrymen gradually panic, resulting in no one charging forward after two gunshots.
"What are you looking at? Keep going!"
Looking at the corpses of soldiers and horses in front of him, the rebel leader was furious. He waved his knight's sword and shouted at everyone. This action immediately made the musketeers on the opposite side understand the location of the enemy leader.
After the reloading was completed again, the musketeers, under the command of the officers, all pointed their guns at the rebel leader on the opposite side. At the officer's order again, the two rows of muskets fired at the same time. More than a dozen lead bullets were shot from the direction of the mercenary group, targeting the rebel leader.
At this time, the rebel leader was still encouraging his soldiers to continue charging forward, completely ignoring the lead bullets shot from behind. Just as he was chatting excitedly, he suddenly felt a sharp pain, and then the warhorse under his crotch fell down with a mournful cry.
Everyone rushed over upon seeing this, only to find that their master was looking up at the sky with eyes wide open and a look of horror on his face, and there were several bleeding holes on his back.
"They're coming to kill us!"
At this time, a bandit exclaimed, and saw the Black Watch mercenaries on the opposite side holding spears and halberds, forming a formation and killing them, while the musketeers walked in the front of the team and pointed the black muzzles of their guns at them.
After witnessing the power of the musket, the remaining bandits were no longer restrained by their respective leaders. Driven by instinct, the team of 500 people immediately fled in all directions, leaving only corpses and weapons on the ground.
The Black Watch mercenaries inadvertently helped Milo win a war of succession. Outside Milo's territory, countless wars of succession are being staged in this plague-ravaged territory. No matter whether it is the Kingdom of Mitland or the Yoda Empire, no one on this continent can escape the doomed disaster.