Chaos is the Stepping Stone

"Relax your shoulders! Don't let your rifle tips tremble! Charging isn't about brute force, it's about the teamwork of you idiots! One more time!"

When Tancred pushed open the wooden gate of the camp, the camp was bustling with activity. Over at the cavalry station, Old John was on horseback, shouting orders in a gruff voice.

He wiped his brow, spotted Tanker in the distance, and grinned: "Little Tanker, you're back! With those old guys back, our cavalry finally looks presentable!"

Tankred nodded in acknowledgment, then turned his gaze to the other side.

The recruits were excitedly fiddling with the newly arrived Milanese crossbows, surrounding Henry and the caravan guards. Henry was teaching them how to cock them: "Step here, use your waist! This thing can pierce chainmail with one arrow. Master it, and you'll be killers on the battlefield!"

Tancred felt much more at ease seeing all this. The mercenary group now had more than twenty members, and with the division into squads, their efficiency had greatly increased, and everything was thriving.

Bashir suddenly appeared out of nowhere, a signature sly grin on his face, a parchment-bound ledger clutched in his hand. "Sir! You're finally back! Heh heh, I haven't been idle either. With your fifty gold coins arriving, the funds for the brewery and the barber's tent are finally in place!"

He opened the account book, his eyes narrowing into slits with excitement:

"Sir, the barber's tent has been open for a month! The mercenaries love coming here for trims and shaves. Those roughnecks in our camp finally know what it means to be respectable. We've made a good twenty silver coins this month! With the New Year approaching, I expect even more mercenaries will come to Aversa to set up camp, and business will be even better then."

"Oh, by the way, the winery is up and running again. Cassignano's wines are selling like hotcakes; quite a few taverns have already placed orders, and we'll earn at least fifty silver coins next month!!"

Tancred patted him on the shoulder: "Good job, Bashir. Keep an eye on things, don't let those taverns default on their bills."

Anna arrived unnoticed, now fully adapted to camp life. She wore a well-fitting soft leather armor, a leather belt cinching her waist and accentuating her curves. Beneath the armor was a linen shirt, the collar slightly open, revealing her fair collarbone. The early winter chill had prompted her to drape a wool cloak over her shoulders. Her long, light brown hair was casually tied in a ponytail, a few strands falling across her face. Her figure was naturally well-proportioned, with a slender yet strong waist, full breasts, and rounded hips; the curves of her body moved with a graceful gait, drawing furtive glances from several new recruits in the camp.

"Sir, your investment acumen is truly remarkable. The villagers have made a lot of money from the distillery, and everyone is very grateful to you! The elder even asked me to pass on a message: next time you return, the whole village will treat you to drinks!"

She winked playfully, her light brown eyes as clear as autumn water, carrying a hint of teasing.

Tankred felt a surge of warmth in his heart when he saw her like this.

Oh? Since the villagers are so grateful to me, should I give them a proper "thank you" tonight?

Extra practice!

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「叮！你完成了一场艰苦的战斗，耐力+3（35→38），长杆兵器熟练度+3（60→63），个人经验+3，当前等级Lv7（73/1000）」

「叮！你又完成了一场艰苦的战斗，耐力+2（38→40），个人经验+2，当前等级Lv7（75/1000）」

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day to day.

The mercenary group was well-trained and its business was booming.

Under Old John's iron fist, the cavalry's lance charges were beginning to take shape. The infantry, led by Henry, were firing increasingly accurate crossbow volleys. With stable incomes from the barber's tent and the brewery, Tancred felt everything was going well.

He did not succumb to complacency; ever since Mefino returned, he had been pondering the situation in southern Italy.

At that banquet, he used his expertise to observe the quarrel between the four Otwell brothers, and it seemed that the rift between them had widened.

At the subsequent banquet, he began to subtly and overtly probe for information from the Norman nobles. Through his proactive approach to conversation and his ability to read their expressions, he successfully won the favor of some of them and also uncovered some news.

Judging from the current situation, Drogo and Humphrey seem to be on the same side, advocating a steady and cautious approach to maintain the balance between the Normans and the Byzantines and the Papacy. Drogo now trusts Humphrey implicitly, entrusting his personal guard to his younger brother.

Robert and Roger, on the other hand, were ambitious and wanted to continue expanding, even at the cost of war.

So, while the Mefino Conference appeared to be a periodic gathering of the twelve Norman lords, its main purpose was actually to reconcile the conflicts among the Autel brothers.

But as for the final result...

The conflict between the two sides touched upon fundamental interests; it couldn't be resolved simply by holding a meeting. As more and more Normans poured into southern Italy, the Norman lords' lands were no longer enough to go around!

A count's domain can only be granted a few knights at most; you can't expect the lords to hand over their cities and castles, can you?

But what about the young people who have just arrived in Normandy?

We couldn't get land in Normandy, and now we've come all the way to southern Italy, and we still can't get land.

Then this trip to Italy was for nothing.

Considering the Byzantines, who are outwardly strong but inwardly weak, and the Lombards, who are in dire straits, it is no wonder that Robert Giscard's views have become so popular.

Tancred couldn't help but recall the rumors circulating among the lords about the outcome of the meeting:

"Both sides had a frank conversation, exchanged views fully, and enhanced mutual understanding."

"The talks were beneficial."

Both sides held reservations about each other's opinions, respected each other's views and ideas, and reserved the right to take further action.

In plain terms:

"The two sides had significant differences and were unable to communicate. Each side presented their own arguments, and they couldn't reach an agreement, resulting in heated disputes."

"The goals of both sides are currently far apart, but of course, it would be great if we could sit down and talk."

"Both sides have refused to reach an agreement and may retaliate more violently!"

It looks like things are about to get chaotic in southern Italy!

Tankred stood on a high point in the camp, gazing at the distant horizon, and muttered to himself.

However, chaos is a ladder!

As a veteran CK3 player, he knew all too well. The infighting within the Autel family presented a golden opportunity for smaller factions to rise. Count Richard, though independent, had limited power. Giscard had great ambitions, but also many enemies.

Tancred touched the cross on his chest: "It's time for us in Conteville to get a piece of the pie!"

One day, however, the sound of galloping hooves came from outside the camp. A messenger from the Earl rode up, shouting, "Commander Tancred! The Earl has urgent business with you at the castle!"