Old Ham walked out of the shack. As soon as he opened the door, a dozen skinny terriers immediately gathered around their owner, wagging their tails affectionately. They reached out to touch the terriers' heads, and then checked their bodies again.

Equipped with equipment, Old Ham started his day's work.

Five months ago, Old Ham and Boots, following Victor's order, took more than 400 people and traveled for more than 50 days to the Randall family's northern territory and established a settlement.

Victor's territory in the north is only 300 square kilometers. The York family's cavalry only patrols the north once a year, just to declare sovereignty. There are no castles, no villages, no gathering places for free people, only rampant wild beasts and

Monsters are a truly wild place.

Before setting off, Old Ham and Boots were mentally prepared for a hard struggle, but they did not expect the strength of Victor's support.

Victor recruited more than 300 followers, 10 guards, 60 alchemy militiamen and 10 alchemy auxiliaries. Among these followers, there were many tough mountain people who were good at shooting. Victor served every young and strong man.

Equipped with sophisticated vine leather armor, bows, arrows, spears and other weapons. With these equipment, more than 200 young and strong hunters can be armed at any time. Together with the guards and alchemy militia, this is a powerful army.

Victor prepared forty carts of supplies for this migration and gave Boots 3,000 gold soles. When the convoy passed through the town of Blacksburg, Boots purchased a large number of cows and goats as a source of food for the settlement.

In addition, every 6 months, Victor will send a convoy to supply the settlement.

These are only superficial supports. Victor secretly built two small fortresses in the mountains and forests of the Northern Territory, and deployed 50 alchemy militia, 10 alchemy auxiliary soldiers, 20 war mastiffs and 80 alchemy crows.

Victor invested huge manpower, material and financial resources in the Northern Territory. If all these investments were converted into currency, it would be equivalent to 200,000 gold soles.

In the eyes of other lords, the 300 square kilometers of northern territory was worthless, and it was absolutely crazy to spend huge sums of money here. But this territory was of great strategic significance to Victor.

The Northern Territory is at the northernmost end of the Centaur Hills, and further north is the sphere of influence of the Dodo Kingdom. Victor plans to build a small town here, and the name has already been decided, called Raven Town. It will become a free people's territory.

The starting point for the merchant group to go north, its function is similar to that of Pine Forest Town.

In addition, the Northern Territory is close to the mountains on the west side of the Centaur Hills. Sentries and source collection points are built in the nearby mountains and forests, which can not only monitor the movements of the Ant-Man army, but also exploit mountain forest resources. Raven Town can be used as a storage of resources.

Processing and transshipment center. Therefore, Raven Town is a border town integrating trade, military and resource distribution functions.

In Victor's plan, the construction of Raven Town can wait until three years later. But Sauron has already begun to build his territory, and Victor has to open up the northern border in advance to prevent the territory from being invaded by Sauron's men.

Kedo arranged for Boots to serve as the village chief and Old Ham as the militia captain. His requirements for them were simple: to gain a foothold in the north.

Apparently, Boots and Old Ham did a pretty good job.

Before entering the northern border, Old Ham thought he was going to have a battle with monsters first, but he found that there were no monsters here. That was because the alchemical creatures had cleared the area in advance, and there were 6 alchemical war mastiffs forming a wolf pack.

, occupying a large area of ​​territory on the periphery of the territory, forming a barrier.

Without the intrusion of monsters, Boots built a village in just three months, covering an area of ​​60,000 square meters. The village's trenches, iron oak fences, and arrow towers are all sufficient to withstand the invasion of wild beasts and monsters.

After the village was built, Boots and Old Ham discussed it and decided to raise cattle and sheep, freeing up manpower to hunt wild boars and collect wild vegetables and sweet potatoes. It took another month to fill up the village's warehouse. Even the supply fleet

Even if they don't come, these 400 people can survive the water season safely.

Old Ham was in charge of the security of the territory. He formed 3 militia squads, each consisting of 3 to 4 guards, 7 alchemy militiamen and 10 mountain hunters. These militia squads were responsible for patrolling the border, guarding and staying behind, respectively.

Work in the village. Old Ham joins a different militia team every day. Today he will be responsible for the security team that protects the villagers.

Old Ham led the militia team to the entrance of the village, and happened to bump into Boots. Behind Boots was a large group of people, carrying shovels and hoes in their hands, and also led 20 ox carts.

"What are you going to do today?" Old Ham asked curiously.

"I'm going to dig a stream reservoir." Boots said with a smile.

"With more than 200 people, you still want to dig streams and reservoirs? If there is a heavy rain, the work will have to stop! I think it's okay. How about letting everyone practice archery? You can also catch wild boars."

"Why can't we dig? If there are less people, dig smaller! I'm going to dig a 20-acre reservoir. After a few rains, we won't have to go to the mountains to fetch water." Boots said with a glare.

"Twenty acres? That's a reservoir, right?" Old Ham unceremoniously exposed Boots.

Butz's face turned red, he held his neck and shouted: "The reservoir is just a reservoir. At least we can grow some vegetables."

"Why grow vegetables? Just herd sheep." Old Ham curled his lips disapprovingly.

Just as the prairie militia captain and the farmer village chief were arguing with each other about whether to herd sheep or grow vegetables, an alchemist militia ran over and said: "Captain Ham, a team of men is coming towards us!"

"What's the specific situation?" Old Ham asked seriously.

"From the information transmitted by the Dust Falcon, there are 27 people coming from the northeast, 40 kilometers away from the village. They are most likely a knight team, and they are coming for us." The alchemist militia replied.

Old Ham and Boots looked at each other in shock, and the villagers also became commotion. Victor once told them that the biggest threat to the Northern Territory was not monsters and beasts but knights from rival families. Today, Victor's worry is still

happened.

"Are you sure you are a knight?" Old Ham pulled the alchemist militia aside and asked in a low voice. He did not believe that the Dust Falcon had the ability to identify knights.

Of course, the dust falcon cannot tell the difference between knights and ordinary people, but this team ignored the intimidation of the alchemy war mastiff and passed directly through the war mastiff's territory. It must be the knight team. They did not hunt down the alchemy war mastiff that looked like a dire wolf.

The mastiff does not go back the same way, but continues to move forward. Its purpose is self-evident.

The alchemist militia would not explain the specific reason to Old Ham, but just nodded.

Old Ham didn't ask any questions and turned around and left. These powerful soldiers had many secret methods, but they were trustworthy and that was enough.

"Follow the rules. I will take people out to intercept. You organize the villagers and prepare to retreat. If we fail to stop you, you will enter the mountain immediately. I will leave you 10 elite militiamen and 7 guards. They know that the mountain stronghold built by the adults is there.

That." Old Ham said to Boots.

In response to the current situation, Victor designed a set of plans. Old Ham led the alchemy militia and annihilated the rival family's knight squad in the wild, while Boots led the villagers to prepare to evacuate into the mountains for refuge. The village's fence could not stop them.

Withstanding the impact of the knights, intercepting the knight squad in the wild can give the villagers time to escape, but these elite soldiers and Old Ham are probably in danger.

Thinking of this, Boots couldn't bear it. He said to Old Ham: "Viscount Sauron's territory is in the east. These people came from the northeast. They may not be the knights of the Sauron family!"

"Don't put your life in the hands of strangers. There are no priests in the village, no matter which family they are knights, even if we are slaughtered, no one will know." Old Ham said in a hoarse voice: "As long as they are knights of that family.

If they are willing to turn back, it will be fine. If they don’t listen, I can’t bring shame to the Randall family!”

"You're right! You guys...be careful," Boots said softly.

The alarm bell has been sounded. The unknown enemy is less than 40 kilometers away from here. If the knight team is marching at the same speed, it will take up to 3 hours to appear at the entrance of the village. Time is running out.

The villagers took action quickly. The young men put on thick rattan leather armor, picked up spears and bows, and the women and children gathered the supplies they could take away. Old Ham mounted his war horse, together with 3 guards and 50 alchemy militiamen, from

The village gate roared out.

More than an hour later, Old Ham finally saw the team.

These more than 20 cavalrymen were well-equipped and moved vigorously. The leading cavalryman wore exquisite armor, and there were 5 cavalrymen in scale armor beside him. Old Ham's heart sank, 1 knight, 5 cavalrymen

Apprentice knights, 21 elite cavalry, this is indeed a standard knight squad.

"This is the territory of the Randall family, and we are the guards of Viscount Randall. Sir knight across the way, please explain your purpose!" Old Ham shouted loudly.

The knight ignored Old Ham and shouted to his left and right: "Dismount! Raise your shield! Kill all these bandits!"

"Shoot!" Old Ham roared in response: "Destroy them!"

Less than ten breaths after the two sides came into contact, the battle broke out.

Two Funiu militiamen rushed towards the knight. The charging distance of more than ten meters made their strength reach its peak. Two heavy long swords made of fine iron slashed down with unstoppable momentum.

"Huh."

The knight was a little surprised. He just didn't find an evenly matched opponent among the enemies. The two warriors did not have coordinated physical characteristics, but their strength was enough to rival him. This sign showed that they were both ferocious warriors.

Although the ferocious warriors are far more powerful than ordinary people, they are still no match for the knight. The knight was just surprised to meet two ferocious warriors at once.

Facing two ferocious warriors, the knight remained frightened. The adamantine long sword changed from blocking to teasing. The blade of the sword stuck to the side of the long sword's blade, drawing the opponent's weapon back. He turned his body and slid forward.

The shield in his left hand was raised upwards, and it happened to be placed on the handle of another large sword. His strength suddenly exploded and he swung the sword away. In just a moment, the knight defused the opponent's attack and cut into the inner circle.

The knight used a standard thrust, and the sharp adamantine sword pierced the ferocious warrior's chest. He was about to pull out his sword to kill another ferocious warrior, but saw a pair of indifferent eyes. The ferocious warrior ignored it.

The long sword pierced the chest, took a step forward, and tightly clamped the knight's arm.

This moment of stagnation determined the knight's fate. From the bushes on the hillside, a stream of light shot out, and a crossbow bolt made of fine iron penetrated through the knight's side shoulder, bringing with it a cloud of blood, and then shot out from his armpit.

Wear it out.

"Military heavy crossbow! The knights of the Randall family are firing hidden arrows! Despicable!"

As soon as this thought came to the knight's mind, another ferocious warrior stabbed him in the chest with a long fine iron sword. The blade directly pierced the breastplate and penetrated into the chest and abdomen. The huge force lifted the knight into the air.

"ah!"

The knight let out a wild roar, his fighting spirit running rapidly, and kicked away the ferocious warrior wrapped around him. The long sword was pulled out from his chest and turned into a sword to cut off the head of another ferocious warrior. Blood was like a fountain.

Usually sprayed from the neck cavity. Then, another crossbow bolt penetrated into the knight's head.

"mean....."

The knight's consciousness gradually fell into darkness, and even to his death he did not understand what he was facing.

The Thorium heavy crossbow can penetrate the Ant-Man leader with 30 points of health, but it cannot effectively kill the knight. A penetrating wound has little impact on the knight. Unless he is shot in the heart or head, the knight will quickly leave the battlefield with the crossbow bolt.

, it won't take long for them to recover. If you want to hit the knight's vital point face to face, only Victor or the wind knight can do it.

The Funiu militiamen would not be killed by the knights upon contact. In fact, the Funiu militiamen wearing Thorium Ant-Man armor could tangle with the knights. The Funiu militiamen deliberately sacrificed themselves just to create opportunities for the monkey militia.

, if the knight had seen the monkey militia armed with heavy crossbows, the situation would have been different.

Before the battle, the Alchemy Crow had exposed the whereabouts of the knights' team. This was an ambush. Four monkey militiamen sneaked into the bushes in advance and shot the knights like they shot ferocious bears.

Old Ham was a little excited, but more sad. This battle proved that the knight was not invincible, but the price was the sacrifice of two companions. Old Ham experienced many battles and witnessed many sacrifices, but the meaning of it was

It's completely different. The sacrifices in the past were to allow more people to escape, but this time the sacrifices were for victory.

The battle is over, the enemy's entire army has been wiped out, only one person was captured, while 2 people on Old Ham's side were wounded and 3 were killed.

Old Ham walked to the prisoner. He was a trainee knight who was being firmly pinned to the ground by several militiamen. If it were not for capturing him alive, another monkey militiaman would not have died in the battle.

"I demand treatment consistent with my status." The trainee knight struggled to say.

"Where is your identity? Why did you attack us?"

"I am a trainee knight of the Erikson family. Under the order of the Duke, I am to clear out the free settlements here."

Old Ham was stunned. Duke Ericson was the lord of the Dodo Kingdom in the north, and his sphere of influence bordered the northern territory. However, Victor had already sent a note to the surrounding lords through the church. Duke Ericson

It is impossible not to know that they are villagers of the Randall family.

"Why did Duke Ericson attack the territory of our Randall family?"

"I don't know." The trainee knight shook his head.

Old Ham sighed and ordered: "Kill him if he can't be left alive!" The alchemist militiamen killed the trainee knight without hesitation.
Chapter completed!