Mobilise for war

Gothingen Castle.

Eighty knights from the territory stood in the hall, along with about twenty heavily wounded knights from the inner court, and Conosa, Damian, Joan, and Amelia, making a total of 104 knights in Gothingen.

Some might ask, aren't there over a hundred knight families residing in Gothingen County? Why only 80 knights?

The answer to this question is simple.

The feudal obligations of Gothingen County initially only required 80 knights. The additional twenty or so families naturally emerged during the subsequent process of clearing forests and reclaiming marshes. They served other knights of the same rank or higher barons but were not obligated to Countess Conosa.

Like the inner court knights, the knights in their territory did not pledge allegiance to Conosa and had no feudal contract with her.

Without feudal obligations, there formed a strange relationship of 'my vassal's vassal is not my vassal.'

Even though everyone knew there were plenty of extra knights in the territory, the feudal obligations couldn't be easily changed.

This is akin to Schmalen's attempt to centralize land redistribution, both are taboos that concern life and death. After William the Conqueror landed in England, in his writing "Domesday Book," the Domesday Judgment refers to his thorough examination of the territory, akin to the judgment day that was being circulated at the time.

So, the number of troops a territory can muster doesn't depend on how wealthy it is, but on its feudal obligations.

This is also why many regions, although very wealthy, couldn't mobilize a significant fighting force. Because initially, when feudal obligations were divided, the lord might have demanded very few. This resulted in the lord facing prolonged opposition when they tried to increase military power, ultimately leading to the demise of prosperous households.

Money means nothing without soldiers.

Wearing solemn black robes and light makeup, Conosa quietly wiped away the sweat in her hands. She nervously watched the robust Damian, along with Joan and Amelia by his side. This small family was her loyal supporters.

As for the other three barons, each commanding over a dozen knights, and the many scheming knights, Conosa couldn't easily trust them.

Only half of the newly formed inner court knights would go on the expedition, while the other half, along with dozens of militia left by Damian, would jointly defend Gothingen Castle.

Conosa didn't understand military matters and had no combat capabilities, so of course, she wouldn't go on the expedition.

But this sparked controversy. Many knights believed that the command should be entrusted to Baron Kenan, who was older and more prestigious, or to the skilled swordsman, Knight Wagner.

Damian?

Just a lucky guy. Besides a group of old farmers, who else would support him?

However, when the council convened, these ordinary knights discovered that there were over thirty knights standing beside Damian, from his own family, Marianne's family, the inner court knights, and even three squads of knights and attendants sent by the Gothingen monastery according to feudal obligations, all expressing willingness to cooperate under Damian's command.

Although the monastery belonged to God's territory, it also had to follow earthly principles. Therefore, some monasteries that had been interfered with by nobles for a long time would provide feudal obligations to the local lords. This was also a recurrent problem that the Church sternly condemned but never managed to change.

"I've brought 120 peasant spearmen, 80 peasant archers, 40 forest hunters, 40 crusader longbowmen, 80 peasant mounted archers, and 40 great axemen. I'm confident that with my four hundred soldiers, thirty knights, and hundreds of retainers, sergeants, and peasant soldiers, we can crush Schmalen's ragtag army. If any of you gentlemen think I'm not up to the task, I'm willing to settle it with swords."

Damian, bolstered by personal skills and armed with strength, stood in the hall. Despite his average chainmail, his tall and sturdy stature didn't deter him from intimidating a group of competitors.

Baron Kenan, around fifty years old, was the most prestigious among the three barons.

He gripped his sword tightly, but seeing Damian's robust figure, he could only begrudgingly admit his own aging.

Meanwhile, another knight of considerable fame, Wagner, had drawn his sword and stood before Damian. "Though I know your army is formidable, Damian, I wish to challenge you," the Wagner knight declared.

Despite having participated in markets and experienced two wars, the Wagner knight had acknowledged Damian's abilities, yet as a knight, he couldn't swallow his pride.

Damian, raised in a monastery, couldn't possibly excel in swordsmanship more than an average knight, could he? However, Damian disappointed Wagner.

The skills of a warrior made Damian's swordsmanship fierce and swift, slashing horizontally, stabbing, and thrusting, each move aimed solely at injuring the enemy.

In the early to mid-medieval period, swordsmanship hadn't developed to the point where everyone could learn it. Wagner's swordsmanship was nothing more than common knightly swordplay, wielding a long sword and fighting fiercely.

The two engaged in fierce combat in the middle of the arena, but it wasn't long before many noticed that the Wagner knight was at a disadvantage.

Clink!

Damian seized the opportunity, suddenly thrusting upward with force, sending Wagner's sword flying several meters away.

"What?!" As Wagner attempted to retrieve his sword, Damian had already pointed his sword at his throat.

After a moment of stunned silence, he finally sighed, "…you win, my skills are inferior."

The challenger retreated, and Damian officially received Conosa's appointment: "I, Conosa von Nosnberg, appoint Damian Bovendon as the commander of this expedition. I hope you can use my sword to bring back glory and victory."

With that, Conosa removed the sword from her waist and presented it to Damian. Damian accepted the sword, smiling softly as he whispered, "I remember, the Count's original intention was for a commander, are you implying…"

Conosa didn't expect Damian to joke even in such a public setting. She stomped her foot and glared at the infuriating man, "First, bring back Schmalen, then I can promote you, perhaps to a baron or something."

In the medieval era, although each country had various titles, they generally fell into the categories of knight, baron, count, and king, which formed a relatively clear promotion path.

Moreover, these titles had their meanings. For example, count originally meant commander, originating from the Roman Empire period; duke meant governor, also from the Roman Empire. Others like marquess, duke, etc., were essentially equivalent to count.

Damian nodded with a smile, then stood up to address the other knights, "Knights, it's time for us to fight to defend our homeland!"

With the commander established, the knights had no other thoughts; they raised their swords and shields, shouting, "God bless us!"

Then, the squires pushed open the gates, and hundreds of knights and soldiers from various territories, along with militiamen wearing armor and carrying swords, raised their weapons and shouted loudly, "God bless us!"

Damian then had his servants bring out a hundred gold coins he had prepared.

"As the commander, I am willing to offer a hundred gold coins to reward the bravest among us in killing the enemy! Fight bravely!"

Instantly, there was a stir in the square.