"Oh, Loren and Charlotte, so fast!"

Inside the tent, which was not very spacious, a long table took up a third of the space, and in front of the tent gate sat a smiling Brandon, flanked by Dresis, the deputy commander of Broken Mountains, and Salica Jonah, the Grand Duke of Boe.

Loren and Charlotte, who walked into the tent, occupied the last part of the long table.

His Royal Highness the prince propped his elbows on the table, clapped his palms gently, and the corners of his mouth were filled with an innocent and bright smile.

"Okay, okay, so everyone is here - let's talk together with one heart and one mind, and let's discuss what to do next!"

Feeling happy?

Glancing at the cold-faced Drexis, and the unflinching Archduke of the Scimitar on the other side, the black-haired wizard with twitching eyes didn't notice that the atmosphere in the tent had anything to do with the two words.

It stands to reason that at this time everyone present should get up, ask for instructions or actively speak, participate in the discussion, and finally let the leader who makes the decision - why Loren would know, because Byrne's round table council is the model.

But right now, there's a deathly silence, and-for-tat sides... Obviously, there is no such thing as a "lively and active discussion".

There would be nothing more than a common interest here, or a choice at the bottom, and the knights and low-ranking soldiers might be willing to do so because of Brandon's generous statements and agitation, but they would not.

If Salica is still willing to work with Brandon when necessary because of her "friendship over the past few years", then Drexis really has no choice - he probably resents Brandon more than he has a good feeling.

The cold field lasted for a full minute, and Brandon beckoned to the night watchman behind him as if he hadn't noticed anything: "Come, Edward, you explain the current situation first, and share any latest information by the way!"

"Yes. ”

Edward, the night watchman with a slight bow, stepped out from behind His Royal Highness, glanced casually at the black-haired wizard, and unfolded a map on the long table in the center.

"First of all, there is the Ebolden defence, which has already been breached. ”

Drawing the bayonet sword at his waist, Edward pointed the tip of the sword upstream of the Jewel River Erd: "Judging from the information just sent back, although the enemy has broken through the defensive line, it has not completely defeated the legions guarding the border. ”

"Along the line of the River of Jewels, the Ellermont legion, with the Grand Duke of Ellemont Ully Wirtz, was in pursuit of the Azorean elves moving south, while at the rear of the battle line, the Imperial War Minister Severin de Salion, with the assistance of the dragons, did everything possible to gather the scattered forces and reorganize the army. ”

"According to the known information, the only threat to the imperial capital of Golovin is the 30,000 vanguard of the Azorean elves, who are marching south along the river of jewels, while the rest of the army is entangled with the light infantry corps of Elemon, or is firmly held back in Ebolden by the lines organized by Lord Sevelin de Salion, and is not a threat to us for a short time. ”

"But... Just for a short time. Edward slowly raised his gaze: "Intelligence from the port of Ebolden, a brand new Azorean elven fleet has passed through the Misty Sea and landed on Ebolden. ”

"Troops, unknown, equipment, unknown, whether there are follow-up reinforcements... Unknown. The night watchman said coldly:

"All we know is that they are coming, and they are still arriving at our ports and shores from afar—Ebolden, Misty Moon Court, and soon a large number of Azorean elves will land to replenish their army with more troops and resources. ”

"As soon as the enemy increases, the Ebolden line will crumble, and the 30,000 troops of Lord Severin de Salion will retreat into the hinterland of East Sackland, or go south to join the Grand Duke of Ellemont;"

"What awaits them will be 30,000 elite Azorean elven vanguards, as well as tens of thousands of elven armies arriving in the rear - their only option is to break through into the defensive circle of the imperial capital Golovin as soon as possible. ”

"If this is the case, then we will be the last mobile force in the empire that can move freely and have decent strength, and our deployment and plans will be directly related to whether the imperial capital Golovin can still receive reinforcements from the outside line. ”

"Then let them come. ”

Drex's face was cold, and his eyes narrowed into a slit: "We'll make these long ears regret it - the head of the Eagle King is only the first, and sooner or later there will be thousands of heads that will become sacrifices to the dead Imperial soldiers." ”

"Save it, you better save your life first and be realistic. Salika, on the other side, said unceremoniously, a pair of boots on the table, the soles of which were facing the door of Drexis:

"It was Loren who killed the Eagle King, and it was Loren who defeated the monster invasion, and if it weren't for him, let alone the Broken Mountain Fortress, it's hard to say if we would be able to sit here. ”

"You ——?!"

"What am I?!" The archduke of the scimitar glared back directly, her vicious gaze was like a she-wolf on the grassland: "Tell you that I'm just so unkind - don't think that we are comrades in arms in a battle, I am the Grand Duke of the Boe, the Boi are this temper, don't think of us as the good babies of Lothair!"

"Speaking of Lothair......"

Before the two sides could fight, Edward immediately took the opportunity to change the subject: "The Lothair Legion led by Archduke Leven Fried has officially started a war with the elves on the Deepenburg front. ”

However, the tide of the war was very unfavorable for Lothair - the Azorean elves drove a large number of ogres into Lothair's territory, causing a lot of damage and casualties, and Lothair had to devote more valuable troops to the rear line to maintain order and stability. ”

"Because of the relatively closed territory and the fragmented borders of the territory, the Grand Duke of Lothair has been fighting alone so far. Edward said in a deep voice:

"If we can't save the imperial capital of Golovin from the Azorean elves, open the line of communication between West Sacland-Eberden-Lothair, and reinforce Archduke Rubén Fleet, then the fall of Lothair is almost inevitable!"

As the words fell, the atmosphere at the long table finally changed from dead silence to a little heavy.

Brandon smiled casually, as if he was very satisfied with everyone's nervousness—after all, only by making everyone nervous could he, the unpopular crown prince and the next generation of emperors, have a place to speak.

It is only at the most critical moment that people want to get a "Dragon Rider Emperor", and even don't care if he is a ridiculous tyrant or not.

"Alright, enough bad news. ”

Salika Jonah crossed her shoulders and swept her eyes to the Night's Watch, "Tell me some good news, don't make a fuss as if the empire is about to end." ”

Dresis on the other side snorted coldly, but didn't quarrel with the Archduke of the Scimitar anymore.

"The biggest good news at the moment is that the imperial capital has not yet fallen. ”

Edward's expression was still indifferent, and he said lightly: "The army of 80,000 Baines has passed through the mountains of Elems and entered the hinterland of the imperial capital in West Sacland. ”

"Judging from the sequence and all possible obstacles, it is enough to enter the imperial capital of Golovin before the elves officially attack, and complete the defensive deployment of the imperial capital;"

"All of this is thanks to the decision of the Countess Charlotte Turin. ”

As the words fell, the night watchman bowed slightly towards the countess of the Red Blood Castle opposite, and the eyes of the present also turned to the direction he was facing.

"There is no need to praise it so badly, it is just the duty of a courtier who is loyal to the empire. ”

Facing everyone's gaze, Charlotte, who was neither humble nor arrogant, puffed up her proud chest, and turned to Brandon, who was sitting in front of her, with a smile:

"Trust in His Royal Highness the Prince of East Sackland's courage and determination is the most important factor in Byrne's determination to never break his oath or betray his friends. ”

Trust in my bravery and determination... Brandon, who could still laugh just now, didn't even dare to look directly at Charlotte's piercing gaze with slightly trembling eyes.

What, if I dare to hesitate for a little longer, you will definitely cut off my logistics supplies and go north directly, right?

From the first meeting, Charlotte seems to have become Brandon's natural enemy, and every time she meets her, she will leave some "very bad" memories.

"The 80,000 Byrne legions, plus the reinforcements that followed—the news from the south that Byrne was still recruiting new soldiers, and the armies of Arles and Ellemont were also gathering and marching—was enough to form an absolute advantage over the Azorean elves besieging the imperial capital. ”

"And, of course, the 20,000 hussars from Boi have now crossed the East Sacland border and are advancing in the direction of the Jewel River. ”

"Not only will we be able to lift the enemy's siege of the imperial capital, but we will even be able to provide reinforcements to Lothair to relieve the pressure from the western battlefield, and then use the abundant resources of the imperial capital of Golovin to regain a foothold, establish an Ebolden defensive line, and gradually push the battlefield to the north. ”

"Once the enemy's offensive momentum is contained, then the situation of this war will return to the plan planned by His Majesty Conod during his lifetime - in the territory of Eberden, gather the forces of the whole empire, and stand in the final decisive battle with the Azorean elves!"

At this point, Edward's expression finally changed slightly, and his tone became a little heavier: "This will not be a war that can be ended by one or two battles, but it will be able to determine the victory and defeat in a very short period of time due to the change in strength." ”

"If we win, the Azorean elves will have no way to retreat, and we will completely annihilate them on the territory of Eberden, and the next empire will spend ten, twenty, or even thirty years to rebuild the ocean-going fleet, and it will be up to us to decide whether it will be war or peace. ”

"If you lose... There's nothing more to talk about then. ”

Loren bowed slightly.

That's right, if it really comes to that point, the empire that has lost all its elite strength, let alone resist, I am afraid that even the foundation of power to maintain its rule will be exhausted, what else can we talk about?

At the long table, where the atmosphere was somewhat depressing, everyone had different expressions.

Salika Jonah, who was hugging her shoulders, had a cold face, as if she didn't expect the empire to still have the strength to fight - she almost thought that the empire was going to be finished after two emperors died in a row.

If it weren't for this, the Lord of the Dignified Boi would not have been so unkind to Drexis.

The silent Dressis pursed his head down, his eyes glancing at the black-haired wizard beside him, Byrne's strength and wealth far exceeded his imagination.

Even in the "Black Duke Era", 100,000 legions were already the limit of the thirteen lords of Byrne, and even the empire had to bear considerable expenses to maintain such a large number of troops.

But judging from the news just released by Edward, the night watchman, it seems that this is not the limit of their power - they have already been dispatched, and the principality can still effectively search for financial, manpower and material resources to continue to recruit troops.

It's only been a few years since Loren inherited the title, and Byrne's strength has swelled to such a terrifying level?

Judging by the current situation, I really don't know whether to say it is good or bad.

"To sum up... That's all we've been able to gather so far. Edward silently withdrew his sword from his waist and looked up at the dukes: "If there is anything else you want to ask, please ......"

"Stop talking nonsense. ”

The archduke raised her gaze and interrupted unceremoniously: "Say, what do you want us to do?"

"Since you can talk about it here, it means that there is already a detailed deployment, right? Little Agent?"

Edward's expression was as stiff as ever, and he stood up straight and looked at everyone present:

"Before starting a decisive battle with the enemy, we need to gather as many forces as possible and weaken the enemy's power at the same time, so... Salika Jonah, Grand Duke of Boi. ”

The indifferent pupils turned to the Archduke of Scimitar with a defiant face: "Please immediately lead the elite under your command to the western border of East Sackland to receive 20,000 Boi hussars, and then rush to the border of the Gem River at full speed." ”

"The Byrne Legion should have been stationed in the Imperial Capital now, and your mission is to harass the elven rear line as much as possible, to buy time for the Elem Legion and Lord Severin de Salion, and at the same time try to establish contact with them and cooperate with the Byrne Legion in the Imperial Capital on the periphery to defend the Imperial Capital. ”

Salika didn't speak, just hugged her shoulders and tilted her head to show that she knew.

"Then there's the deputy commander of the Broken Mountain Fortress, Lord Ernst Dresis. ”

Edward, who was a little helpless, turned his gaze to Emperor Connad's most trusted lieutenant during his lifetime: "The rebellion in East Sacland has been basically quelled, but the turmoil still exists, and we need an experienced commander to sit in the rear and ensure the stability of the situation in East Sackland when the army moves south." ”

"We therefore entrust East Sackland to you, including full administrative and military powers, and you can requisition troops or warehouses anywhere with the authority of the Prince of East Sacland to ensure that the stability of East Sackland is not affected. ”

The expressionless Drexis nodded, but there was no response.

He knew that his status as a close confidant of Emperor Conrad could not be fully trusted by Brandon, and the work of being arranged to maintain the situation in the rear was basically expected by him.

"Last ......" Edward slowly raised his head and looked at the black-haired wizard and the countess of the Red Blood Castle opposite:

"It's the Byrne part. ”