Chapter 57: Attack
Perhaps it was because he saw those goods as belonging to himself, but Ormando took his role incredibly seriously, patrolling constantly every day on his horse.
Seeing this, Chen Heng only smiled but did not say anything about it.
They continued onwards.
This world's paths were quite difficult to traverse—this was incredibly evident.
In modern society, good paths were like veins and arteries that could greatly increase the speed that goods flowed, reducing obstructions for trade and boosting the economy.
However, for rulers of this world, while building good paths might not necessarily bring them many benefits, it could instead increase the danger they faced.
A good path meant that the time that it took enemies to attack greatly decreased, increasing the danger one would have to face.
These rulers did not understand economics and trade much, but they were very sensitive to military threats.
As such, let alone building paths, some rulers would even destroy paths to make it difficult for enemies to attack.
Given this, it could be imagined what the paths in this world were like.
Even though it was not a great distance, Chen Heng and the others had traveled for three or four days before finally getting close.
"We're nearly there…"
Walking on the path, Baron Kaisen said, "I walked this path when I was young. Soon, we'll be at Baron Myler's territory.
"If nothing out of the ordinary happens, we should be able to arrive within a few hours," Baron Kaisen said with a smile.
"Baron Myler sent word that he will bring people to receive us and bring us to his residence," a young man said nearby.
"That's good." Chen Heng's gaze was calm as he smiled and nodded.
He was riding on a horse, and just as he was about to say something, he paused and instinctively looked over in a certain direction.
With his sharp senses, he could sense some abnormalities in the distance.
"Are they here?"
Sensing this, his expression did not change as he thought to himself.
Following this, the procession continued onwards.
Perhaps it was because they were close to their destination, but everyone began to move faster, wanting to quickly arrive and rest.
However, something that they did not want to see ended up happening.
On a small path, shouts sounded from the distance, accompanied by a wave of arrows.
As Chen Heng watched on, many people wearing leather armor came out of the thickets and rushed at them.
"Those are… bandits?"
Looking at the figures, Baron Kaisen's expression fell, "So many of them?"
The figures were incredibly dense, and it seemed that there were around 300-400 people.
Even though 300-400 did not sound like a large figure, in actuality, in areas like this, it was quite a large force.
Based on what Chen Heng knew, even though the surrounding rulers had their own forces, they did not have too many people.
For a ruler to have 300-400 people, that would already count as quite a powerful force.
For example, Baron Kaisen only had a force of around 200 guards.
Of course, most of the guards were hardened warriors, and they were not people ordinary people could compare to.
These bandits were dressed in leather armor and even had crossbows; they did not seem like ordinary fodder.
For this trip, Baron Kaisen had brought half his guards with him, which was around 100 people.
Even adding on the laborers helping transport the goods, they had fewer than 200 people.
Adding on the fact that they had been traveling for quite a while and had used up much of their stamina, and that the enemy had been waiting here for them, the gap between them was even greater.
Baron Kaisen's face was ashen. Now that things had come to this, he had no other choice.
Riding on his horse, he drew his sword and led his guards to charge forwards.
After a few moments, the two sides clashed.
The two different forces collided, turning this area into a battlefield.
Shouts and sounds of killing filled the region, and pained cries occasionally sounded out.
Looking at this scene, Chen Heng's gaze was calm, and he silently glanced to the side.
At the front, Ormando was also fighting with some bandits.
Of course, it was not because he was valiant but because he had been forced into this situation.
Before, he had been riding at the outside of the group, and when those bandits had charged over, he had wanted to turn and run but it had been too late.
Currently, he was riding on his horse and facing off against a bandit also on a horse; neither of them could deal with the other for now.
Even though Ormando looked a bit washed up, he had trained with the guards before and had his foundation. Adding on his good horsemanship, he could hang on for the time being.
However, that was all.
As for the bandits, from how Chen Heng saw it, they were quite ordinary as well.
Perhaps to an ordinary ruler like Baron Kaisen they were elites, but to Chen Heng, they were not a big deal.
Riding on his horse next to Baron Kaisen, Chen Heng's gaze was calm and he silently raised his hand.
Next to him, his subordinate immediately understood and raised a small banner.
On the banner was Chen Heng's family's crest.
Immediately, the Blackfur slaves hiding behind the carriages excitedly rushed into one of the carriages, taking out their weapons.
With the guards blocking off the bandits, they were able to quickly take out their weapons and rush forwards.
In order to prepare against such an event, Chen Heng had everyone put on leather armor, so this saved them much time.
This was the case for Baron Kaisen's guards as well.
At present, there were only two people who were not wearing armor: Baron Kaisen and Ormando.
For Baron Kaisen, it was because his body was skinny and relatively weak. He was not suited to even wear light armor, so he did not wear any.
As for Ormando, it was because he was disdainful of Chen Heng.
He had always disliked Chen Heng and looked down on him, so he did not take Chen Heng's advice.
They were about to reach Baron Myler's territory, so what was the point of putting on that heavy and uncomfortable armor?
When he had said this, Chen Heng only smiled and did not say anything else.
Chen Heng wondered if he was regretting it now.
At that moment, he raised his head and looked ahead before drawing his sword, raising it up, and charging forwards.