Volume Two: The Iron-Blooded Baron Chapter 149: The Siege of Norlandburg (23)

Balin’s soldiers began to weep softly. Already burdened by the shame of defeat, they felt wronged and anxious—wronged because they had been caught off guard by the pirates’ ambush, and anxious about the lord’s punishment for their reconnaissance unit. After all, losing half their men in a crushing defeat meant that, no matter where, a commander would face execution.

They never expected Beryon to be so magnanimous. Not only did he refrain from punishing them, but he also took full responsibility himself, admitting his own misjudgment had led to the disaster and boldly shouldering the blame for the defeat.

At that moment, Balin, having stopped sobbing, dropped to one knee. The other reconnaissance soldiers followed suit, kneeling beside their captain.

Balin’s hoarse voice rang out: “My lord, Balin and my brothers in the reconnaissance unit thank you for your trust. From this day forward until the battle’s end, each of us will bring down at least three heads of those Dragba pirates to show our gratitude for your forgiveness!”

After speaking, Balin shouted loudly, “Brothers! Can you do it?”

“Yes!” the reconnaissance soldiers answered in unison.

Beryon stepped forward, helping Balin to his feet and encouraging the others to rise as well. Then, with a loud voice, he said, “Good! I believe in you! The men of Norlandburg are men of courage. I know you won’t lose hope after a single defeat. You will make a great impact!”

“Hoar! Hoar! Hoar!” Balin and the reconnaissance warriors roared, their voices filled with determination and fighting spirit. Deeply moved, each of them resolved to prove their worth by taking down enough pirates to honor their unit.

Nearby, Mark, Bess, Eomer, Bran, and Hack watched, their admiration for this young lord growing stronger.

Everyone had expected Beryon to be furious and punish Balin, but to their surprise, when Beryon sent Hack to call them over, he instructed him to assure Balin and his men that this was not a summons for punishment—they need not worry.

When Balin’s group arrived, Beryon showed great concern and voluntarily accepted responsibility for the defeat. This deeply touched Balin—especially as the commander responsible for such heavy losses, he was not only forgiven but also allowed to retain his position leading the reconnaissance unit. Such trust was immense.

From that day forward, Balin and his men became fiercely loyal to Beryon. Their loyalty grew stronger, and they vowed to work harder to achieve even greater merits, determined not to betray their lord’s faith.

This was exactly what Beryon desired. Punishing one man or a single unit is easy, but winning the hearts of many, earning their loyalty, and inspiring them to work harder—that is much more difficult. Simple punishment or praise was not enough.

To make people truly committed, one must exchange sincerity for sincerity. When you treat others with genuine care, most will respond in kind. To encourage more effort, you must recognize their value and acknowledge their achievements.

When people feel their contributions are appreciated, they naturally want to continue working hard. Moreover, forgiving their mistakes and shouldering responsibility for them only deepens their loyalty. Commanding with a balance of firmness and compassion, winning hearts is the essence of leadership.

Beryon’s decision not to punish Balin also considered Barret’s position. Barret was the city’s chief defender and held a crucial role in Beryon’s overall strategy. If Barret learned his own brother had been punished for defeat, even if it did not breed resentment, it would surely unsettle him and make him anxious about his own circumstances.

Furthermore, although Balin’s unit suffered a heavy loss, it was but a small setback within the greater defense of Norlandburg. As long as the invading enemy was wiped out, and even if a dozen more warriors fell, Beryon could accept it.

This was not a lack of humanity. Rather, once the pirates were defeated, the tide of battle would turn, saving countless innocent lives. Leaders must discern the greater good clearly—not let momentary compassion blind them to the wider picture. Beryon was increasingly moved by the truth behind the saying: “Mercy does not command armies.”

After some further conversation, Beryon invited Balin and his men to sit. Jennifer, Hack’s mother, brought out delicious food, steaming and fragrant, causing the surviving reconnaissance soldiers—now freed from their worries—to salivate in anticipation.

Once everyone was seated, Beryon and the notable warriors Mark, Bess, and Eomer personally poured wine for the soldiers. The men, who had only moments before been eagerly eyeing the food, felt honored and overwhelmed.

Raising his glass, Beryon said, “This first cup is for the brave warriors who fell tonight. May their souls enter paradise, forever protected by the blessings of the Fire God. Rest in peace, heroes.”

He then poured the wine onto the ground, and others followed suit.

Refilling their glasses, Beryon raised his cup again. “This second cup honors the surviving warriors of Norlandburg’s infantry reconnaissance unit. You are all remarkable! I am proud that Norlandburg has heroes like you. Come, brothers, let us drink together!”

“To victory!” the soldiers shouted, draining their cups.

After filling the third cup, Beryon smiled warmly and chuckled softly. “This third cup is an early celebration. A toast to our total annihilation of these filthy Dragba dogs. Norlandburg will never let invaders of our homeland escape unscathed!”

“Kill them all!”

“Leave none alive!”

“Cut them into pieces and feed them to the fish in the forest lake!”

Hearing their cries, Beryon laughed heartily. Others joined in the laughter. Amid the joyful clamor, Beryon drained his cup once more, and the others followed suit.

As the feast continued, many reconnaissance soldiers tasted Jennifer’s cooking for the first time. They were stunned. Raised as farmers and apprentices, they had never eaten such fine food. They nearly fought over it, but luckily Beryon had anticipated this and had Jennifer prepare plenty. The survivors ate heartily, feeling deeply satisfied.

Amid the revelry, Balin turned to Beryon with a question that had troubled him all night. “My lord, how did you know there was an ambush? And how did you arrange for the cavalry to support us?”