novelraw Chapter 448 : The Resistance Army’s Offensive
Chapter 448 : The Resistance Army’s Offensive
Chapter 448: The Resistance Army’s Offensive
Isaac’s gaze grew deep.
He wanted to say something, but in the end, he did not open his mouth.
After a moment of silence, he only said faintly:
“Miss Gwen, it’s getting late, let us plan tomorrow’s operation.”
Gwen nodded.
Ever since the Resistance Army had set up camp in this new forest, every few days many people came to join them.
Most of them were natives of the Northlands, driven by their local lords into a life they could no longer endure. They had no choice but to rely on the Resistance Army of the White Ravens to help them reclaim justice.
Gwen was somewhat surprised to find that, whether it was in their will to fight or their hatred toward the lords and the Winter Wolves, these people surpassed the outsiders. Every one of them clamored to join the battle.
And indeed, the Resistance Army was preparing for battle.
This was Isaac’s suggestion. He had advised that the Resistance Army should remain stationed in the forest, constantly dispatching small units to harass the Winter Wolves.
First, it would tie up the Winter Wolves’ attention. Second, since the Resistance Army had many women and children, this method allowed them to concentrate their elite troops for attacks, making their efficiency much higher.
And there was one more point—this would win them popularity among the people.
The commonfolk of the Northlands had irreconcilable conflicts with the noble lords and the Winter Wolves Guard. Isaac had keenly noticed this. After consulting with Gwen, they raised the banner of resistance.
The Resistance Army had once resisted only for survival. But now, with more and more Northlanders joining, they also resisted for the sake of the people of this land, against tyranny.
Besides, the Resistance Army truly had strength, and they dared to fight. Thus, an amusing thing occurred: the Winter Wolves Guard, clearly the lords’ own guard, treated the commonfolk more cruelly than they did the Resistance Army.
It was very simple—
the commonfolk would not resist, but the Resistance Army would.
Rebellion was not so troublesome. As long as you gave those who could no longer survive a path to live—
even just a bowl of hot porridge—
there would be no shortage of people willing to give even their lives.
If even a novice like High Priest Josh could conjure up a cult from nothing, then for an expert rebel like Isaac, organizing a force was child’s play.
In truth, he had not organized much at all. The Resistance Army had only gone into towns, hanged the tax officers and the lords’ lackeys from the posts, and then people began flocking to them in an endless stream.
“Our target this time is Carven Town.” Isaac’s finger tapped against the map.
Gwen lowered her head to look. Carven Town was a little farther away. Although it was not in the same direction as the three towns where the Winter Wolves were stationed, there was nothing but plains in between.
“Wouldn’t this be a bit too risky?” Gwen hesitated. “If we go to Carven Town, we’ll need at least half a day to travel. If the Winter Wolves’ cavalry catches up with us, the Resistance Army will have no choice but to fight them on the plains.”
Light infantry fighting cavalry on the plains—
such battles were almost entirely one-sided.
The Resistance Army had firearms, but the Winter Wolves Guard were pistol cavalry!
Their muskets had no technological gap.
“You think they’ll discover us?”
“Mm… won’t they? This is their territory, after all.”
“Miss Gwen, have you recently received any intelligence from Grizzly Town?”
“Quite a lot. Lately those Winter Wolves have seized more grain. Many people are going hungry. They’ve been shrinking back inside, only occasionally sending scouts.”
“Miss Gwen, this is their territory. Why then are we able to get reports on the Winter Wolves’ garrison towns?” Isaac spoke with a half-smile.
Gwen froze for a moment, then as if realizing something, her eyes slowly widened.
“This is the so-called advantage of resistance—
we are enemies of the lords, but the people stand with us. The people tell the Resistance Army the movements of the Winter Wolves, while the Winter Wolves struggle even to leave their towns.”
Isaac’s smile brimmed with confidence.
“This is not the Winter Wolves’ territory, nor the lords’ territory—
this is our territory.”
The next day.
Suddenly, rumors spread everywhere in Grizzly Town that the Resistance Army was coming to attack. The Winter Wolves hastily sealed off the town, shut the gates, and stood ready in defense.
But the soldiers waited the whole day, and no sign of the Resistance Army appeared.
The Winter Wolves gradually relaxed. At night, they left many men holding torches to stand watch. Only when dawn broke on the second day did they breathe sighs of relief. It seemed it had only been a rumor.
No battle had taken place, which meant the Winter Wolves had not lost. And if they had not lost, that was as good as winning.
To celebrate this great victory, the Winter Wolves brought out beer to drink, mocking the cowardice of the Resistance Army—
they had not even dared to attack.
The celebration lasted until evening, when it was abruptly cut short. News arrived that Carven Town had been taken.
The messenger was someone the Resistance Army had deliberately let go. Otherwise, he would never have made it to Grizzly Town.
The Resistance Army had easily overwhelmed the guards of the town and charged straight in. Such small towns had no walls, were not strategic locations, and had few guards. They were no match at all for Resistance fighters armed with muskets.
Once inside, the Resistance Army had no difficulty in taking over the entire town. Although the Winter Wolves had not yet carried out slaughter there, the commonfolk were hardly new to the Empire’s Northlands. They knew very well what sort of people the noble lords were.
The Resistance Army’s next move made the Head Wolf gnash his teeth in fury—
and their method was indeed shameless:
They opened the granaries and distributed food to the people!
This year was not a year of disaster. But that did not mean the commonfolk could eat their fill. The nobles would never do something so “foolish.”
But what the nobles would not do, the Resistance Army would.
They hanged the tax officer and the local lord—a baron—on the square. Then they took seventy percent of the grain back to their base, and gave thirty percent to the local people.
It was not that Gwen was unwilling to give more. It was simply that the lord had hoarded too much grain. Even distributing only thirty percent was enough to fill people’s granaries. That amount would feed the commonfolk for half a year.
That grain had been meant for the Winter Wolves Guard. After Grizzly and the other three towns had been squeezed dry, the Winter Wolves had planned to move on Carven Town. Under the Head Wolf’s coordination, the local lord had prepared the food in advance.
But now, all that grain was gone.
Not only had it been stolen by the Resistance Army, they had even distributed it to the “lowly commonfolk”?
The Winter Wolves were furious to the point of bursting.
The Head Wolf immediately rallied soldiers, intending to march on Carven Town.
Although the Resistance Army had most likely withdrawn, the people there could not escape. The Resistance Army was troublesome to deal with, but the commonfolk? They could be slaughtered with ease.
Yet, since it was already nighttime, after some hesitation they decided to depart the next day.
After all, with the organizational level of this era, a cavalry raid at night might leave few able to even arrive at their destination.
But the next day, the Winter Wolves’ plan of attack was interrupted.
Early in the morning, just as the Head Wolf rose from bed, he was startled to see inside his room—
an orange-haired girl.
Lina.