Chapter 74: Post-War Reconstruction

As June arrived, Gwyneth finally received news from the directly governed territories of the Duke of the North. Ever since the Hafdan invasion, the Duke's affluent territories in the North had been the main battleground for the northern invasions, with major conflicts erupting there annually, and this year was no exception. However, this year's invasion was different in scale and intensity, as the Hafdan deployed more forces than before. They not only sent troops over the western mountains into the Anen River Valley, plundering resources and harassing local military forces to prevent the Earl's reinforcements from reaching the main eastern battlefield, but the pressure on this main front was also significantly greater than in previous years.

According to past experiences, the nominal leader of the Hafdan, Helming, would mobilize about twenty thousand soldiers into the North each year to plunder food and alleviate the shortage of resources in the North, while also seizing any wealth within their reach. The issue this year, however, was that Helming brought more than double the usual number of troops, estimated to be around fifty thousand. This was a terrifying scale, not to mention an additional eight thousand soldiers in the Anen River Valley, totaling almost sixty thousand, nearly triple the number in previous years.

Frankly, the Duke's subjects had grown accustomed to the annual raids, but the enormity of this year's invasion was beyond comprehension, baffling everyone including the Duke and the regent. Where did all these extra Hafdan come from? They couldn't have just appeared out of thin air. The only plausible explanation was that Helming had expanded his rule in the North, recruiting more people for his southern campaigns than in previous years.

Unfortunately, due to objective limitations, the Duke and the regent had always struggled to clarify the distribution of northern forces or to track their strength and strategic changes in real-time, preventing them from formulating effective countermeasures. This had become a constant source of anxiety for the ruling authorities.

The Hafdan would appear suddenly each year, raid, and then retreat regardless of the battle's outcome, always managing to steal something. The most troublesome aspect was that the Duke's forces couldn't pursue them due to certain unspoken reasons. Once the northern army left their territory, they would lose their greatest advantage, and on unfamiliar battlefields, in enemy territory, it was risky to assume any upper hand.

This situation forced the Duke into a passive defensive role, engaging in an annual war of attrition, hindering the North's development. After all, the people barely managed to rebuild their homeland each year before the Hafdan arrived, destroying everything, and forcing them to start over again. It was unbearable.

The Duke even had a few wild ideas, like building a high wall to block all the passes in the Arctic Mountains, creating a permanent barrier against the Hafdan. But he quickly dismissed the idea. The Duke's domain spanned over ten thousand square kilometers with a population of only seven to eight hundred thousand, much of which was under the control of his vassals. How could he, a single Duke, undertake such a monumental task?

Moreover, for various reasons, the Duke of the North often stayed away from his domain, entrusting everything to his younger brother, born of the same mother, to manage as regent.

Thus, from the regent's perspective, there was no need for grand plans like building walls. Simply driving off the Hafdan yearly sufficed. However, this year's war had escalated far beyond a local conflict and was no longer something a Duke or his regent could handle alone. Without support from the kingdom, the local standing army of two to three thousand, plus the hastily assembled twenty to thirty thousand conscripts, stood no chance against the Hafdan's force of over fifty thousand.

If the Hafdan maintained this level of invasion, the entire northern territory could fall within a few years. And what if the Hafdan brought even more troops next year, say a hundred thousand? The possibility of castles overthrown, lands occupied, people enslaved, and the North permanently held by the Hafdan seemed inevitable.

To avoid this, many decisive actions were necessary. Besides seeking aid from the kingdom, the local people had to be resilient. This year's taxes had to be collected at all costs.

"The blame for the hardships will fall on me," sighed Serles Belros, the Duke's regent of the North.

...

Gwyneth looked over her ravaged lands with a heavy heart. The Hafdan had almost completely destroyed the Targas territory, including the villagers' homes and her own estate, reduced to ruins. Although reconstruction had begun and the people were gradually leaving her castle, it was uncertain how long it would take for normalcy to return.

Thankfully, the most valuable asset of the territory, the wheat fields, was saved from the Hafdan after much effort. Some fields were damaged, causing distress among the affected farmers, but it wasn't their fault. Gwyneth promised future tax relief to ease their concerns.

Such leniency was necessary. After all, even pig farming requires a scientific approach, let alone governing people. Harsh policies aren't always the solution; sometimes, a show of kindness is essential.

With these thoughts, Gwyneth gazed at the tranquil sky and the crows flying overhead, feeling something was amiss. Perhaps it was her intuition or the last of the Hafdan finally leaving the North, but a familiar alert sound eventually came.

"Ding!"

"Outstanding performance in resisting the invasion of the northern barbarians and leading your troops against the enemy has increased your prestige and honor among your subjects."

"Gain 5000 governance points."

Gwyneth almost gasped out loud.

5000 points?!

Looking at the real numbers on the governance panel, she exhaled deeply. Despite the heavy losses to her territory, with 303 dead in battle, many of them trained elites, Gwyneth hadn't gained nothing. She not only saved the farmlands but also secured a third of Windermere City's population, mostly craftsmen, who would undoubtedly prove valuable in the future.

Moreover, Gwyneth now had 5000 governance points in hand.

She eagerly opened the panel, curious to see if there was anything new to exchange.