When they set out, there were one hundred and twenty-one men.
When they returned, there were one hundred and six men, along with fifteen bodies of fallen warriors.
Yet the losses did not dampen the morale of the Knights' soldiers, not only because of the honor brought by victory but also due to the substantial rewards they received.
Leon understood clearly that building a disciplined and elite army couldn't rely solely on empty rhetoric to constrain soldiers—it would be nothing but a pipe dream.
Without tangible benefits as positive reinforcement, relying solely on strict military rules would only backfire over time.
Moral education and a sense of honor aren't useless, but trying to instill such ideas in the mostly illiterate soldiers at this time is premature. Warriors step onto the battlefield in this era, risking their lives fighting with swords and spears for wealth, power, and the chance to propagate...
