In November, a cold snap in the north brought the Crane Territory, sandwiched between the Wild Mountains and the Lordan Mountains, into the midwinter season early.

The cold winter morning is always a white expanse, this is the dense fog of winter, it can be seen but not touched, it is the biggest enemy of winter warfare.

In order to protect against the dense fog, the garrison barracks around Crane City were brightly lit even during the day.

However, it does not play a big role.

The scuffle in the Crane Territory began on the 14th of last month, when the Twak Army's army wanted to seize the city of Crane. On the 4th of this month, after twenty days of melee, the Elven coalition was victorious.

Elven Ranger General Angaloth led the coalition forces and captured the city of Crane under siege from the other three forces.

But the next day, General Anglos regretted it ... Originally, he was stationed in the camp south of Crane City, but after his main army entered Crane City, he was quickly captured by the Twak Territory and the Duchy of Rigrock.

When General Anglos heard of this, he assembled 20,000 human soldiers that night in order to recapture the southern garrison camp and the vast mountains and forests immediately surrounding the camp, and to open a passage between the city of Crane and the plain of Suk.

However, the battle organized by the elven general was defeated by the barbarians who raided the city from the north, and the Karen and Twaks flanked them from the left and right.

Now, General Angalos needs to think about a question: should he abandon the city of Klan and organize superior forces to storm the southern garrison barracks, or should he garrison the city of Klan and wait for reinforcements from the Suk Plain?

Garrisoning Crane City is undoubtedly a safe way, after all, if Crane City is abandoned, once the other three forces seize the city, the huge army will not be able to break through, and what awaits the coalition forces will be the end of being surrounded and annihilated.

But waiting for reinforcements took a lot of time, and the troops were only enough to consume for ten days when they were stationed in Crane City. In other words, if the reinforcements in the Suker Plains do not open the southern supply line within ten days, then the battle planned by the Elven Coalition in Klan Territory will be a complete failure.

After much consideration, Onglos chose to garrison the city of Crane and wait for reinforcements.

The 'coalition' forces outside Crane City took a different approach to the elves after they held Crane City.

The barbarians, as instructed by the Kingdom of Kruria, did not attack the elves in despair, and Perus, as the spiritual leader of the former Kran Territory, had serious disagreements with his barbarian allies on this issue.

Andy Barrett, who is young and ambitious, is well aware of his own strengths, so he didn't intend to make a fortune in Crane from the start. In other words, he didn't intend to let the lives of his soldiers be wasted to storm the city.

Only the Grand Duke of Trofil of the Duchy of Rigrock has a grudge against the city of Crane because of the weakness of the principality. He hoped to capture the city of Crane and open up contact with the barbarians, and take the trade routes of the Cullen to other regions into his own hands.

The front-line command post of the Principality of Grok garrison in the town of Forest, and there was a fierce quarrel within the Principality over whether to attack Crane City first. The generals, led by the Grand Duke of Trofer, insisted on storming the city, but the local lords were unanimously opposed.

"The attitude of Andy Barrett and the barbarians in the Twak Territory is unknown, we rashly attack Crane City, what if Andy Barrett suddenly sneaks up on the flank of our garrison barracks?" "The thick padded jacket under the leather armor of Count Coridge Dana kept him straight, and he looked excited when he spoke: "What if we completely provoke the elves and they raid our rear?"

He pointed to the tip of Trofil's nose, "Because of you, we and the dwarves have torn apart our allies that have existed since time immemorial, and the people of Karen are now left to face all enemies on their own. As he spoke, he withdrew his hand and showed humility, "We should see the facts, not the illusions... The Principality could not afford any defeat at this moment. ”

"It's not a fantasy, my friend. "Most of Trofil's current Grand Duke title was obtained by Coric Dana, so he had to put up with the other party's rudeness. He shrugged generously and patiently explained, "It is precisely because of the weakness of the principality that we have to seize this opportunity. ”

"Believe me, I know better than anyone what the Duchy needs right now... I know that the strength of the Principality is not strong enough to swallow Crane City, and no one in this region can swallow Crane City alone except for elves and orcs... We can't, and Andy Barrett and the barbarians can't, but what if we join forces?"

"Your Highness. Viscount Perlux-Cather's voice was loud, "Andy Barrett has clearly rejected our invitation, and the attitude of the barbarians is not clear, only Count Pelus has a strong interest in Crane City, but the power in the hands of Count Pelus is limited. ”

Coric Dana added: "Until the barbarians have not taken a stand, Perus will not dare to attack Crane City alone. ”

"I've always been convinced that as long as we take the lead in attacking, Andy Barrett and the barbarians will certainly not sit idly by. The Grand Duke of Trofell spoke with a strong sense of confidence, "No one can give up the fat of his mouth... I am well aware of the opportunities and risks of Crane City, and perhaps my rash move will put the Principality in a situation from which it will never recover, but I am even more aware that if I do not take this step, the Principality is also in great danger. ”

"We have captured Château and Montella in the Territory of Crane... That's enough, Your Highness. Viscount Pelux-Kaiser couldn't help but interrupt, he couldn't understand why the ruler in front of him, who was almost fifty years old, could be as impulsive and competitive as a young man.

"From the moment our army stepped into the fort of Montella, we were doomed to never turn back. Trofil's patience was being worn out, and his voice took on a hint of the ruler's domineering, "We need Crane City, we need to tie the Tkava Collar and the barbarians to our chariots. ”

"What's your plan?" asked Coritsch-Dana suddenly.

Trofil's eyes lit up in the firelight and he looked at Coric Dana, "Some time ago, the Count of Peruth and Andy Barrett created a common trade zone in Sharptown that is worth learning from. His piercing eyes swept over the two High Lords, "Why can't we create a larger common trade zone in Crane City?"

"The trading area of Sharptown is now Andy Barrett's garrison camp. Pelux-Cather shrugged, "Absolute neutrality became a joke... Moreover, the establishment of the trade area of Sharp Town at that time was due to the needs of the old empire and the elves for war, as well as the acquiescence of the orcs. ”

"I'm sure the barbarians aren't like Banson Town, and Andy Barrett won't want to give up the vast expanse of fertile grasslands west of Sharptown. Trofell said, "And the only way to secure benefits is to seize the city of Crane!"

"But the problem now is that neither Andy Barrett nor the Barbarians agree with our idea of besieging Crane City. ”

"If Andy Barrett is so good at talking to the barbarians, it won't be the turn of the elves to take Crane City first. ”

"Your thoughts are too simple, Your Highness. ”

"Our logistics are now entirely dependent on the barbarians, or Pedy Reagan of the Crewe Territory, and if the Crewe Territory cuts off our logistical supplies after the war begins, our entire principality will be in a passive position. ”

The opposition of the lords was strong, and Marshal Yfri Fitzgero looked at the Archduke of Trofil, whose anger was rising, and stood up hard, "Guys, we should think differently..."

The old marshal spoke in a loud voice, but very slowly, "Why didn't Andy Barrett and the barbarians agree to our request to join forces to storm Crane City?" he asked himself, "because they don't care about Crane City, and they don't want to face the elves and orcs directly." ”

"Why don't they care about Klan City, because they can!" Ivry Fitzgero looked helpless, "but we can't care, we lost our dwarven allies some time ago because of a wrong war, and the Duchy relied on the orcs to achieve its independence, but now that our army has entered the Klan territory, it means that we have ended the fragile alliance with the orcs." ”

"We are isolated and surrounded by enemies!" Ivry Fitzgero said, looking around, "we have made many wrong choices in the last two years or so, and these choices have put the Principality in the precarious situation it is now... In the face of such a situation, whether we live or die depends on this war, and whether we can gain a foothold in the city of Crane!"

"So, the question we should discuss now is not whether to storm Crane City, but how to attack it!" the old marshal looked at the two high lords who were about to speak, "I know very well that with the current strength of the principality, we simply do not have the ability to challenge the orcs and elves alone, and it is precisely because we do not have such ability that we must seize this opportunity, because for us, the opportunity to capture Crane is very rare." ”

Ivry Fitzgero has a talent for oratory, and although he speaks slowly, it is easy to influence others to think according to his train of thought, and some of the lords are about to be persuaded by him, and the two lords are also deep in thought because of his words.

Seeing this, Grand Duke Trofil hurriedly said: "The elven alliance army led by Crane has been surrounded, and when Shikan-Silver Axe evacuated Crane City, the entire city was emptied, and according to intelligence, the supplies they carry with the army will not exceed half a month at most. ”

"Now for the Elven Alliance, there are two paths to choose from... Either gather heavy forces to open up the supply line south of the city, then wait for reinforcements on the Suk Plain. Trofil pointed to the messy papers on his desk, "Based on the reports of the scouts in the past few days, the elven coalition forces in the city have not moved, so I assume that they will wait for reinforcements from the Suke Plains. ”

"Andy Barrett won't assist us in attacking Crane City, but they will certainly spare no effort to hold off elven reinforcements. "When the war in the south starts, we can contact Count Peruth, he will be happy to help us contain the elven coalition forces north of Crane City, and if the elves are too strong in Crane territory, the barbarians will not sit idly by." ”

"Sounds good. Coritsch-Dyner nodded, "But what if the Elven Alliance sends Felds to attack our rear and force us to come back?"

"Viscount Palek-Anto promised to help us hold out for a month. ”

"What about a month from now?"

"The southern territories of the Principality are not as important as Crane City..."

"You swore to defend the territorial integrity of the Duchy, Your Highness!" Viscount Pelux-Cather looked agitated.

Trofil was about to explain, when Coric Dana suddenly stood in front of Pelux Cather, interrupted the conversation between the two, looked at Trofil and said, "It seems that you are going to capture Crane City at any cost?"

"Of course, that's the only way out for us. ”

Coric Dana nodded and looked sideways at people like Pelux Cather, "There is no point in arguing like this, even if we quarrel for a month, we may not be able to convince each other." ”

Pelux Kaiser was stunned, and Coric Dyner looked at Trofeld again, "Since you want to fight this war, then plan according to your ideas, if it fails... It's just a big deal to have a war to destroy the country. ”

"Thank you, Count Coritsch!" Trofil's voice was very loud at the moment.

"Obey your orders, Your Highness. Pelux-Cather could only suppress the dissent in his heart at this time.

"Good!" Trofil looked delighted, and with a wave of his hand, he began his speech and plan deployment.

Half an hour later, the meeting officially ended.

As soon as Pelux-Kaiser stepped out of the command post, his adjutant Knight Merlot leaned forward and whispered in his ear: "Zach Liber has sent a report that a large number of ghouls have been found in the northwest region of Fort Vinteson and the area bordering the dwarves, and he suspects..."

"What does he want?" Perlux interrupted impatiently.

"He's going to want a soldier of the corps..."

Pelux interrupted coldly, "Let him figure it out by himself, I can't tell a guy here." ”

...

1217 Continental Calendar, November 10,

After receiving a letter for help from Angros in the city of Klan, the elven ranger troops stationed in the two outposts on the Suker Plains canceled the plan to disband the forces of the alliance of the city-states of Kwyn Town, and forced the elite of the two legions of the Grand Duchy of Suluk assembled in Tyre to march in the direction of Klan City.

On 13 November, the vanguard of the city-state alliance reached the front line and encountered Twak's army in an unnamed hilly area south of Klan City, where the two sides retreated after a day of fighting.

On 16 November, the two elven outpost ranger armies and the main army of Kwyn Town arrived at the front.

In the afternoon of the same day, when the elven coalition forces in Crane City were originally trying to break through, the hoplites of the two legions of the Principality of Rigrock stationed in Bivest Town suddenly advanced on all fronts, straight to the west wall of Billland City.

The next morning, more than 10,000 men of Perus's troops, stationed in the north of the city, stormed the defense line of the northern wall of the city under the cover of thick fog.

On the third day, the fourteenth day of the siege of the Elven coalition of Klan City, when the battle in the southern part of Klan City was in a stalemate, the barbarian army, which had been hinted at by the Kingdom of Kruria, joined the melee and began to attack the northern defense area of Klan City.

On 20 November, the elven coalition besieged in Crane City was exhausted, and the soldiers of the city-state alliance began to flee on a large scale.

When Andy Barrett of Twak received the news, he seized the opportunity and immediately sent a regiment of armed troops from the garrison camp of Sharp Town to the city of Crane, and signed a series of provisional treaties with the Duchy of Rigrock in half a day.

On the night of the 21st, under the secret orders of Andy Barrett, the legions, which had just been supported to the front, suddenly launched an attack on the eastern walls of the city of Crane under the cover of night and dense fog.

An hour later, the barbarians and the armies of the Duchy of Rigrock joined the siege.