Chapter Twenty-Three: Belligerent yet Benevolent

Ounny was moved by the veteran warrior’s firm will and courage. Seeing that he was determined to make a heroic sacrifice, she ceased her attempts to dissuade him. She bowed her head slightly, placed her right fist over her left chest, and paid him the highest respect: "May the Valkyrie watch over you!"

He was a respectable warrior, battle-hardened and still standing firm on the battlefield.

"Thank you, My Lady. It is our honor to serve you!" the old warrior immediately returned the salute, his face beaming with joy.

The young soldiers beside him watched with envy; to receive such a salute from their Jarl was an incomparably glorious event. It was a feeling akin to the common folk shaking hands with a high-ranking leader in later ages—a sense of honor that no one could resist.

Ounny stood there, looking at the faces before her, her heart filled with complex emotions. She knew that war meant death; whether they were her own men or the enemy, there would be casualties in this conflict. She felt deeply responsible for every life under her command, a weight that pressed heavily on her heart and influenced every decision she made.

They were all vibrant, living lives under her charge.

But she could not turn back. It was better for others to weep than for her own people to do so. She only wanted to bring back Faeld’s remains, and for that, she would do anything. She also understood that a merciful person could never be a great general. She had done everything she could, and now she could only pray that her decisions and actions would not lead to an unforeseen catastrophe.

If one considers everything carefully, perhaps casualties can be reduced.

As time passed, the army gradually converged. The minor lords gathered by Ounny’s side, reviewing the troops about to head into battle. Ounny’s emotions began to stir. She raised her whip, her adrenaline surging, and shouted in a trembling voice: "Woden, listen to our war cry and grant us your primal power! We shall drink in your halls!"

"Woden!" the warriors responded. About five hundred of them raised their weapons, rhythmically striking their shields and shouting the name of Woden. The sound was deafening, filled with power and resolve.

Ounny felt a pang of regret; due to the disasters this year, she could not provide wine to see her warriors off. Yet, she knew that other territories would have enough liquor to celebrate this victory. It would have to wait until after the war.

She waved her hand, put on her helmet, and took the longsword handed to her. The army began to march. A group of women who had fought for the chance to join the expedition followed, driving heavy draft horses, while the scouts fanned out to gather intelligence. Light cavalry could not fight in a head-on clash; in this battle, they served only as scouts, tasked with harassment and exploiting gains. She would feel the sting of every loss if she sent cavalry to clash with infantry.

Ounny knew that scouts were the eyes and ears of an army. Without them, the force would be blind and deaf, unable to fight effectively or avoid potential dangers.

Ludwig rode forward and asked, "My Lady, what is our operational plan for the town of Stromsfors?"

Ounny gently nudged her donkey to hurry, answering concisely: "Round everyone up, bring them back to our territory, and take all the food!"

Ludwig was stunned, clearly not expecting the plan to be so simple. "That’s it? What if they return to find their territory destroyed and seek revenge?"

"The battlefield is full of variables; what could ever be simple?" Ounny countered. "As for revenge, how would they seek it? With what?"

"Uh... would they launch a surprise attack?" Ludwig scratched the beard on his chin, seemingly uncertain about his own question.

Ounny smiled and explained, "They would have to evade our scouts to do that. Besides, treasure cannot be eaten. When they return to find no food, they will collapse within two days. By then, we can simply go and collect the captives! You don't mean to tell me you can't defeat a group of exhausted Vikings who have been starving for days? Plus, their families are in our hands!"

The lords, who had been eavesdropping, were shocked. They looked at Ounny in astonishment, as if asking: Is this how war is fought? Isn't this too underhanded? It’s not very Viking; shouldn't it be a fair and honorable duel?

They imagined themselves as the enemy and instantly felt how terrifying and troublesome Ounny was. If they had gone on a Viking expedition for a month, only to return exhausted and find their families gone, their homes destroyed, and their ships’ supplies depleted, they would be helpless. Even if they knew who was responsible, when they finally went to seek revenge, they would be facing an enemy that was well-rested and fully prepared.

They shivered. Faced with such unscrupulous tactics, the enemy had no way to fight back. Even if they had the strength, they would have no place to use it.

Ounny whipped her lazy mount to keep up with the column and gave the order: "Remember, pass the word down: unless they resist, no killing the captives. They are our future subjects!"

This war would not be easy; the hypothetical enemy might still have half their army left. She was thinking about how to defeat and capture the opposing soldiers with minimal losses. Killing was easy, but capturing was hard. In truth, she was adept at the kind of annihilation warfare practiced by Bai Qi—unrestricted, using any means necessary.

Under normal circumstances, one could only take large numbers of captives by using overwhelming military force to crush the enemy. While simple and brutal, this required superior resources and numbers, which she clearly lacked.

The group marched for over twenty kilometers.

"Howl—ooo—" As night fell, the cries of coyotes echoed through the forest. Dense footsteps moved through the woods until they reached a hillside overlooking the coastal town below. Ounny and her territorial army had finally arrived at their target: the town of Stromsfors.

Looking down, the town featured a waterfall from the deep mountains, with a large stream flowing through its center and into the coastline. In terms of freshwater resources, Stromsfors was far better than Skelvick, which had only a tiny brook that struggled to provide enough irrigation. All pioneers followed one principle: settle based on freshwater sources. Therefore, it was difficult to find settlements far from water.

"Rest for two hours. Eat some dry rations. We strike when they are fast asleep!" Ounny commanded the lords beside her, who were also surveying the town.

Time ticked by. Ounny gnawed on her finger, her eyes fixed on the town as she repeatedly considered anything she might have missed.

"Ralph?" Ounny’s voice was low as she looked at the town below.

"My Lady?" Ralph responded immediately, awaiting further orders.

"Take a team, quietly move to the north of the town, and hide. If anyone tries to flee, capture them. Robert, take your men to the south. I will keep the infantry here as a reserve to prevent emergencies. We will surround it. Remember, no one is to enter the town!"

"Understood, My Lady!" Ralph replied, executing the order without hesitation.

"Ludwig? Frederick?" Ounny called out.

"My Lady? Your orders?" the two minor lords responded at once.

"That is the enemy Jarl’s castle. I want you to take your men, charge straight there without hesitation, and seize everyone inside."

"Understood, My Lady!"

"Sven? Joachim? Sigrun? Magnus?" Ounny pointed at the remaining minor lords. "Take your men and shout throughout the town that there is a riot by rebels. Tell them no one is to leave their homes; anyone seen outside is to be killed as a rebel!"

"Understood!" they replied in unison.

"Begin!" Ounny waved her hand, and everyone moved. "Remember, keep your footsteps light!"

Squads of warriors slipped away. Though they tried their best to soften their tread, Ounny’s heart remained in her throat. The subtle sounds were amplified in her ears, like the beating of drums.

"Hina?" Ounny whispered.

"My Lady?" Hina responded quickly.

"Take your team and prepare to treat the wounded!" Ounny ordered.

"Yes, My Lady!" Hina answered without hesitation.

Afterward, Ounny posed a thoughtful question: "How do you think we should lower the enemy’s resentment after the war?"

Hina fell silent, seemingly contemplating this complex issue.

Ounny encouraged her gently, "It’s all right. Think about it slowly and tell me when you have an answer. Remember, no one is born knowing everything. We all learn step by step. If you fall enough times, you will naturally learn to walk."

Ounny raised her hand, feeling the breeze brush against the back of her hand and ruffle the fine hairs. As a belligerent person, war was the passion of her life. Yet, she harbored the soul of a compassionate saint within—cruel and kind at once. This contradiction and entanglement troubled her.

"My Lady, do you have the answer?" Hina asked, curious to see Ounny looking so relaxed and comfortable.

Ounny smiled, a hint of cunning in her eyes. "Of course!"

She turned to Hina and proposed a bold idea: "What do you think about implementing a tax-exemption policy across all territories?"

Hina looked worried. "The other Jarls will never agree to that!"

"Clang, clang, clang..." Just then, the urgent tolling of an alarm bell rang out from the town below. The clamor of footsteps had alerted the enemy.