Who could have thought?

After Clegane was knighted, the first to rise and soar would actually be a defeated captive of theirs.

That was the Barbarian Foreign Legion after all!

Anyone with a little knowledge of the empire's history knows that they are a truly regular army. Some of the lords within the empire, who wielded their forces with arrogance, depended on the Barbarian Foreign Legion to ascend. Moreover, the Barbarian Foreign Legion only pledges loyalty to one person, ignoring everyone else. Even if they later proclaim themselves king, the Barbarian Foreign Legion remains a loyal force.

The rebellion of the Gaul Empire in the third century was supported by the barbarian armies.

Galavin is a smart person.

When Duncan left his troops to garrison Portchester Castle, he began reorganizing the Barbarian Foreign Legion.

With this wave of epic victory, Duncan captured about three thousand troops from the Barbarian Race, mostly ordinary infantry. Galavin could have recruited many to form the Barbarian Foreign Legion, but he stopped after recruiting about five hundred people.

The reason is simple.

Duncan currently has three armies. The first tier is his foundational force, the Exile Legion, numbering about six to seven hundred. The second tier is the Duke of Dingtiger's forces, numerically superior, with a mélange of British mixed legions, auxiliary troops, and militias totaling two to three thousand people. The third tier is the Barbarian Foreign Legion assembled by Galavin.

Galavin didn't want and dared not let his Barbarian Foreign Legion outnumber the Exile Legion.

"This guy is a talent worthy of special cultivation."

Duncan indeed felt like he had discovered a treasure, and it seems Galavin had received a good education, likely due to his family background.

How should one describe this feeling?

Once, while playing the Total War series, the family had no outstanding generals, and a rebellion was being crushed by a commandless force. After the battle, suddenly a prompt announced the discovery of a wild general with two or three stars in leadership ability.

Galavin's strength is average, but his courage far exceeds others.

Now, Duncan's directly controlled troops number over twelve hundred, and nominally, the Duke of Dingtiger's army is still loyal to him. If a real conflict arises, most are likely to side with Duncan.

There's no choice. Duncan's martial prowess, legendary status, and renown are well-spread; those soldiers know who to follow!

However, Duncan originally leveraged the power of the Duke of Dingtiger. As long as the Duke knows how to act appropriately, Duncan won't trouble him. After all, he's just a duke of Great Britain, with a territory of one or two counties. Duncan can grant him one.

Duncan has a lot to handle next, but luckily, with the assistance of the Crow Queen Triss, Anya, and Severus, the seized territories have finally been stabilized.

"It feels like I can't blindly expand for now."

"I've risen to power too quickly, and the conquered areas haven't been fully assimilated, especially these Saxon captives, who remain a burden unless thoroughly assimilated."

As a lord, Duncan needs to manage his domain, appoint officials, prepare provisions, reclaim wasteland, etc. The management methods of the Saxon pirates were very crude and brutal: the land was rewarded to the army, and the captured Britons were turned into slaves for cultivation.

But Duncan cannot do this; he must fully incorporate the territories of Devon, Dorset, and Hampshire.

"This war isn't over just because the Saxons are defeated."

"Even if I drive back the Anglo-Saxons and reclaim all of Great Britain, I still have to face their near-century-long coastal raids."

"Their base is in Germania; the more territory I conquer, the more places I need to defend."

As it's often said.

Conquering is easy, but defending is a headache.

The entire Great Britain is goddamn coastline. A Saxon pirate ship could land anywhere. If they pillage a town or village and flee, Duncan would be utterly exhausted.

"Building high walls, amassing provisions, delaying kingship."

Duncan immediately remembered a saying from the Ming Dynasty. His most important task now is to assimilate the Saxon captives, reorganize the Barbarian Foreign Legion, and then migrate more exiles to Great Britain, thus stabilizing his foundation further.

Suddenly, a hurried sound of footsteps could be heard.

Outside the tent, the figures of Anya and Severus appeared simultaneously. The two exchanged glances, seemingly both with important matters at hand.

Severus was the first to speak: "The envoy from the Kingdom of Kent has arrived!"

"They want to negotiate peace!"

Negotiate peace?

Have they been scared?

Duncan exchanged a glance with the Crow Queen Triss and then looked at Anya before him, asking, "What happened?"

Anya was pondering what Severus had just said. After a moment's hesitation, she replied, "The Duke of Dingtiger's condition has worsened."

"It's said he can no longer get out of bed or speak!"

What?!

Wasn't it just two days ago that he personally killed a couple of castle guards with his sword?

How did his condition suddenly worsen today?

Severus had clearly checked his wounds. They were not life-threatening, and with proper medication and rest for one or two months, he would be fine.

Duncan and Triss looked at each other, both turning their gaze to Anya in front of them.

No way!

You two exchanged a glance, and then stared at me, why?

Feeling a bit aggrieved, Anya softly said, "It wasn't me."

"Even though I bribed his guards planning to eliminate him one day if he disobeys, it's impossible to be now."

After all, we've only been on Great Britain for less than a month and haven't even gained a firm foothold yet, so there's no rush to eliminate the Duke of Dingtiger, and it would easily arouse suspicion.

Duncan's expression was serious. He exchanged a look with Crow Queen Triss and whispered, "Merlin?"

Crow Queen Triss was silent and softly said, "It's possible."

"I've heard the Duchess has been imprisoned."

This is instability from the rear. Merlin has always hoped King Uther annexes the Duke of Dingtiger so that the Britons could unify under the Dragon Head Banner. His secret intervention is highly suspicious since the Duke of Dingtiger, who knows the truth, would never allow King Arthur to be born smoothly.

Are you kidding me? King Uther, under the illusion technique of the wizard, turned into his appearance, slept with his wife, and even got her pregnant. How could this offspring survive?

The Duke of Dingtiger imprisoned the Duchess, then suddenly, his condition worsened. It's definitely related to Merlin.

Crow Queen - Triss looked at Duncan, her expression firm: "What do you plan to do?"

She was making her stance clear.

What she meant was that if they faced Merlin, she could go all out.

Seemingly worried that Duncan might doubt her strength, Crow Queen - Triss also softly said: "Other members of the witch gathering will arrive soon, we need not fear his spells."

Merlin is probably the most powerful spellcaster of the current era.

Duncan pondered for a moment and shook his head: "Not urgent."

"First, deal with the Kent Kingdom's peace proposal."

When he said this, it actually showed he had the thought of negotiation. Duncan feared King Uther might suddenly attack him from behind.

Severus nodded and said: "The envoy from the Kent Kingdom wishes for negotiations, but not with the Duke of Dingtiger."

"They specifically want to sign a peace treaty with you."

Speaking of this, Severus paused and continued: "According to Roman tradition."

As though worried Duncan might not understand, Anya explained: "Negotiations, paying tribute, signing peace treaties, usually have a deadline."

"They likely want to focus on repelling the Picts first, buying time to unite other Saxon chieftains."

"We should be able to make them bleed heavily this time!"

Understood.

It's similar to the peace treaties in the Total War series, Roman tradition implies giving money and land, since the empire always respects money rather than people.

Anya is an expert in this area.

She walked to a simple map, speaking solemnly: "They are so eager to negotiate, probably not stable internally either."

"Do you want money or land?"

Duncan asked humbly: "What about wanting money? What about wanting land?"

Anya, at this moment, seemed quite commanding, after all, it's her specialty, this beautiful Roman noblewoman smiled charmingly: "Wanting money, I can make them bleed heavily once."

"After all, Saxon pirates have plundered Great Britain for so many years, their wealth must be very rich."

"If wanting land."

"Requires you to lead your troops to cooperate, immediately take people to attack Wiltshire."

"Their forces likely are not sufficient to hold this land, by that time we can directly seize Wiltshire too on the negotiation table!"

"Of course."

"Doing so would mean only asking for a symbolic tribute of ten to twenty thousand gold coins."

By seizing Wiltshire, Duncan would nearly conquer the entire lower left region of Great Britain, further upward would be advancing into Wales, almost linking with King Uther's kingdom.

Severus then said solemnly: "Wiltshire's strategic position is favorable."

"After taking it, this small peninsula will be our territory."

Looking at the map, Duncan decisively said: "Want land. Money can be obtained from them later!"

No sooner said than done.

Duncan immediately ordered his army to strike, while Anya handled the Kent Kingdom's envoys, she's adept at Enchantment Control Magic, able to probe the enemy's limits unknowingly.

Crow Queen - Triss returned to Cornwall.

Duncan said solemnly: "Try not to confront Merlin head-on for now; wait until I'm back after resolving matters here."

"If possible, try to protect Duke of Dingtiger's life."

"Have him hold out till I return."

If the Duke of Dingtiger truly dies, Duncan would formally inherit everything here.

Those noble knights of the guards swore allegiance to the Duke of Dingtiger.

Crow Queen - Triss nodded: "I understand."

"Don't worry."

"The other founders of the witch gathering will arrive soon. Merlin wouldn't dare act recklessly."

Without utilizing divine spirit power, Triss estimates she would be slightly disadvantaged.

The opponent is, after all, the only Legendary Wizard on Great Britain.

Severus set off with his troops, Kvito commanded the British Legion afterward, Duncan stayed in Southampton, this time no need for a frontal assault, just encircle them and find a way to seize it from the negotiation table.

Duncan assigned elite Gaul Warriors to Anya, letting her exert pressure on the opponent.

As for himself, he focused on reorganizing the Barbarian Race foreign legion, directly having these Barbarian mercenaries swear allegiance to him, retaining those with combat ability, those without becoming labor.

Time passed quickly.

Severus reported good news from his side, the enemy actually abandoned the city and fled directly.

Soon, Anya also brought back good news, Kent Kingdom was willing to relinquish ownership of this land, simultaneously pledging loyalty, paying a tribute of twenty thousand gold coins, signing a short-term peace treaty between both parties.

It's said reports arrived from the north, the legendary Black Sword Warrior of the Picts appeared, those northern barbarians threw hundreds of salted heads before battle, heads fell like rain, frightening the Saxon soldiers greatly.

However, the news brought back by Crow Queen - Triss was not so good, the Duke of Dingtiger was poisoned, his wounds rotted completely, investigation revealed the families of innocent murdered guards sought revenge, directly where poison on the medicine during changing.

King Uther disguised as Duke of Dingtiger and sneaked in, the guards had no idea, believing the Duke had returned, then killed for venting anger.

One of the killed guards' lovers was the maid serving the Duke of Dingtiger.

This whole thing was too coincidental, too self-explanatory, which made people feel it was Merlin causing trouble!

.........

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