White Island.

Currently, White Island hasn't been much developed, with only two to three hundred Saxon pirates stationed there, and virtually no elite troops.

The only troublesome thing is a small military fortress built by the Empire.

From a god's-eye view.

Duncan observed the enemy, and with just a glance, he knew this battle was secure.

Because on the entire White Island, there's only one two-star unit, marked as 'Saxon Pirate Leader', while the rest are mostly whiteboard, with only three even being one-star combat units.

"All are militias, old and weak, and even some wounded and disabled pirates?"

Swoosh.

Duncan seized the opportunity and shot an arrow, directly killing the two-star pirate leader on the battlements, and then sent Saxon pirate captives to negotiate for surrender. In less than half an hour, these Saxon pirates surrendered. They had no choice; the walls of this small military fortress were just over three meters high, about the height of a single-floor building, easy to climb over.

"Leave a hundred men to guard the captives."

Duncan decisively led the army back to Southampton, the battle went too smoothly, and by afternoon the army regrouped, ready to besiege Portsmouth's Portsmouth Fortress.

This is a military fortress refurbished by the Roman Empire in the third century, previously used to defend against Saxon pirate invasions.

"This is going to be a tough battle!..."

Duncan looked at the military fortress in front of him and decisively ordered a siege without an attack; he didn't have any siege equipment, and wasn't very confident about a direct assault.

Towns can have gates breached, but a military fortress is much more challenging.

Because this military fortress is inherently not very large, any commotion would easily be noticed, and the enemy is strongly fortified atop high walls; Duncan could easily be caught in a deadly trap if he infiltrates. The fortress is surrounded by quite a few shooting towers, so a frontal assault would come at a high cost, with many lives sacrificed up front.

Severus observed for a while, and said solemnly, "Shall we try to negotiate a surrender?"

A thousand or so men?

Can they be persuaded to surrender?

After pondering for a moment, Duncan said, "Let's wait a bit, until the main force gathers."

"Create a psychological pressure of being outnumbered by the enemy."

"Then negotiate for surrender!"

Duncan carefully observed the enemy units from a god's-eye view and found them all with three negative marks: one was 'Morale Shaken', another 'Consecutive Defeats', and the last 'Encounter with a Strong Enemy'. Those who directly faced Duncan, some showed 'Fear' and 'Ghost God' negative states, possibly the defeated soldiers who already had a psychological shadow of Duncan.

His troops gradually arrived, and even the Saxon vassal army recruited for surrender was driven to the fortress front.

These Saxon vassal troops hadn't eaten for a day and only had a full meal upon reaching Portsmouth Fortress. Most of their equipment was stripped, leaving them with only shields and weapons. The British Legion was right behind them, with a small elite supervisory squad overseeing them.

Duncan now had quite a number of captives, and it wasn't easy to simply maintain order; if a direct assault happens, he would first drive the vassal army to attack and wear down the enemy.

Were it not for his widespread fame, even with legendary status among the Germanic barbarians, integrating these captives would be difficult.

Just then.

The vassal army commander appointed by Duncan hurried over, breathing heavily, his expression full of reverence, and knelt on one knee, saying, "My lord."

"Let me go negotiate for surrender!"

You go?

Duncan looked down at the elite Saxon spearman and shield-bearer in front of him. He didn't even know this guy's name yet, under Duncan's imposing presence, the vassal army leader bit his lip and raised his head, saying, "Those stationed in the fortress are mostly Jutes."

"They might not be willing to hold out to the death."

Now with Hengist and Horsa both dead, the Jutes are without a leader, either they become subjects to the Anglo chieftain or the Saxon chieftain.

If the Jutes don't choose a side, they'll all be wiped out sooner or later.

Duncan, mounted on his horse, looked down at the person for a moment and asked solemnly, "What's your name?"

The elite Saxon spearman and shield-bearer said, "Galavin, my lord."

Duncan nodded and said, "If you can persuade a surrender, I, as the Lord of Southampton, will knight you!"

Galavin's face lit up with joy and immediately led his men to negotiate for surrender.

Duncan waited in place for a moment.

Swoosh!

A volley of sharp arrows shot from the city wall, hitting Galavin's shield directly; it seems the negotiation for surrender has failed.

Galavin retreated in embarrassment with his men.

However, the man's expression surprisingly showed a hint of joy, and he returned to Duncan's side, looked around, and said in a low voice, "My lord, it's done."

Hmm?

If Duncan hadn't seen wrongly, this guy was nearly shot by the archers, why is he suddenly saying it's done?

Galavin whispered, "My kinsmen are inside the fortress."

"Just now, when I approached the city wall, I communicated with them using secret hand signals."

"Tonight, they will definitely find an opportunity to open the gate."

So confident?

Duncan had a skeptical look on his face. He observed through the god's-eye view and actually found a few neutral targets among the enemy units, all marked as one-star units.

——Saxon Elite Spearman and Shield-bearer (One-Star) [Neutral].

Among the mass of red hostile marks, these three to five neutral marked units were very conspicuous.

Galavin hastily said, "My lord, trust me this once!"

"I swear on my life!"

"If there is any movement tonight, my lord should immediately send someone to seize the city gate."

If it weren't for the god's-eye view, Duncan really couldn't trust him, especially since this guy was nearly shot.

But now, Duncan didn't mind waiting a while longer.

Night fell.

On the surface, Galavin appeared quite composed, but secretly he was extremely nervous, as he had bet everything on this. If there was no reaction tonight, he might end up being beheaded by Duncan to raise the flag tomorrow morning.

However, Duncan knew things were steady.

Because after nightfall, those units marked as neutral quietly gathered for a short while and then transformed into green marked units.

Soon after, they began to take action separately, and another twenty to thirty people became neutral units.

The time approached midnight.

From God's perspective, these neutral units quickly congregated, and after slaughtering a few Saxon spearsmen, they all turned into green marked units.

"Attack!"

"Seize the gate!"

As soon as these insiders started acting, Duncan immediately commanded his troops to attack. With a cavalry unit accelerating into the city, the following British Legion quickly seized control of the east gate.

Gallagher led over a dozen men to rush in and provide reinforcement, killing about ten people before joining the insiders. These Saxon spearsmen knelt on one knee to show submission.

Duncan's reputation on Great Britain was immense!

Now it was the wise who recognized the times, and he was of Roman descent. Romans have always had a tradition of recruiting barbarian mercenaries; if Duncan were a traditional Celtic lord, it might not be so easy for them to submit.

It is widely known that the empire's legitimacy lies with the Barbarians, who guard the empire's last strand of glory!

At this point, the enemy had suffered a significant defeat.

Duncan led a cavalry charge to kill a hastily assembled Saxon commander, quickly taking over a substantial portion of the military fortress.

Only then did he have the opportunity to look at Galavin and the people behind him.

Among them, surprisingly, five or six were one-star units.

This indicated that although they were not from noble warrior backgrounds, being able to train into one-star elite spearsmen meant serious effort was exerted, likely with veterans in their ancestry, equating to a certain familial heritage.

Duncan halted his horse, praised, "Very good."

"You did well, as promised, I will confer upon you the title of Knight!"

But at this moment, Galavin shook his head and directly led his people to kneel on one knee before Duncan. This barbarian elite even used a dagger to cut open his palm, swearing an oath with blood, "Master!"

"Please allow us to become a legion loyal to you!"

"In Odin's name!"

"We shall become your sword and shield! Your most faithful followers!"

Is this?

They want to be my barbarian mercenaries?!

Romans are Romans, Britons are Britons.

This point, Galavin understood well.

They weren't defeated by the weak Britons but by one of the empire's most valiant new lords. For the rebellious nature of the Barbarians, they respected Duncan the person but did not concede to the British Legion, nor did they esteem the Duke of Dingtiger.

If Lord Duncan were to command them, he could directly conquer Great Britain!

History has its inheritance.

Starting from the end of the third century AD, barbarian mercenaries have safeguarded the empire's domains, defeating one formidable enemy after another.

Their reputation isn't good, inclined to plunder and pillage, but their loyalty is not lacking either!

At least better than the Imperial Guard that followed.

According to the empire's tradition following military reforms, under an Eagle Banner Legion, there will inevitably be quite a few Barbarian mercenaries. They, Jutes, being a branch of Germanic Barbarians, why shouldn't they seize the opportunity to become Lord Duncan's barbarian mercenary legion?

Britons?

Simply defeated foes of theirs.

Galavin's aim was clear, what nonsense Duke of Dingtiger, nearly getting hacked to death by them several times.

Barbarians only praise the bravest warriors!

All they had to do was draw a clear line from the Britons, shedding the status of lowly vassal army and becoming an additional armed force under Duncan.

——Barbarian Foreign Mercenary Legion!

With this hundred-year-old tradition, Duncan, being of Roman descent, surely understood the meaning within.

"This guy is a talent!"

At this moment, Duncan also realized this point. He looked down at Galavin in front of him, contemplated for a moment, then pulled out the Oathkeeper at his waist, placed it on the opponent's shoulder, and said solemnly, "In the name of the Nordic gods!"

"I accept your allegiance!"

"Very good."

"From today, you are the commander of the foreign mercenary legion."

"I allow you to recruit reliable personnel from the captives."

With Duncan's words falling.

Galavin and the others' identities immediately transformed; they were no longer captives, nor vassal army but became the 'Barbarian Foreign Mercenary Legion!'

These people became an independent third armed force.

They had no relation to the forces on Great Britain, nor did they care about the Duke of Dingtiger and only were loyal to Duncan alone!

This gamble of Galavin's paid off.

He leapfrogged to become an army commander second only to Kvito and Clegane.

The Germanic Barbarians were truly unruly, completely looking down on the weak Britons, but allowing themselves to be loyal to an imperial lord, a greatly powerful military commander, they could easily accept.

Galavin bet everything on loyalty to Duncan.

The boomerang of history struck again, the empire's legitimacy truly rests with the Barbarians!

.........

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