Chapter 22

'clop clop' horse's hooves are running on a dirt road. It is Vladimir and his hussars. 700 men on horses kicking up the dirt and the ground shaking. They have been riding for two hours with breaks in between.

They have passed three villages and have been told if they continue on their way they will reach Mira City to belong to a baron. After another hour, they reach the outskirts of the city.

They stop and get off to let the horses rest. While standing and looking at the city walls, Yuri came up to his side and said.

"your majesty while riding I found out the villages are less defended,"

"you're right, Yuri. They don't care about the peasants that much, plus Russia is no different in a sense. Many villages are far apart from each other, the only difference is that our people will fight back and we care about the people under us so were are quick to defend them."

"If we conquer this kingdom, we can improve their lives," Yuri says, and Vladimir replies after.

"it will be a lot of work, though. I will have to purge the nobles that don't want o act right or change the social norms,"

He scoffs and says, "I will never have nobles or divide my power with anyone,"

Vladimir got the taste of power and wealth, so why would he want to share it with anyone. Even if Konstantin acts up and thinks differently, Vladimir will quickly clean him up.

Yuri nods. After 10 minutes they get back on their horses and started moving towards the city. With Vladimir and Yuri at the front and a long rectangular column of 700 hussars moving in a neat formation, mostly in sync.

They were stopped at the city gate. The guards said Vladimir had too many men, which he complied with and said he will bring 400.

"that's still too much, sir,"

Vladimir looks at the gate guard angrily and says

"little shit, want this me to bring so little guards inside. They are for my safety and who are you to stop me. "When speaking to the guard, the guard could hear the accent and thinks Vladimir is a foreigner.

"This is Baron Berk's land and as I guard, you can only bring a few men and I'm already not charging you to enter so be grateful," The guard got arrogant after realizing it's a foreigner and it is his master's city. He thinks he can scam the foreigner and make some extra coins.

"50 gold and I'll let you enter,"

How can a guard talk to me like this? Vladimir looks at the other guards and they said nothing.

Vladimir raises his right hand and points up with his finger and swirls it with his finger. The Hussars started to turn around and leave. Before Vladimir leaves, he spits on the guard.

"if you want to be arrogant, then better have the strength to back it up," he says, then leaves. Once far away he picks out a random hussar and gives him another horse, telling him to hurry and bring the army and all of them before they leave.

The man rides off with an extra horse as fast as possible.