As dusk wore on, the battle for the city of Kuknas was finally over.

The Fire-Eye Clan and the Giant Clan had joined forces to storm the castle for ten days, and the casualties on each side were very large, and the trenches outside the castle were filled with corpses from both sides, many of whom were familiar to Fire-Eye—his people, comrades-in-arms, brothers, sons and nephews.

Despite the loss of so many relatives and friends, there is no sorrow in Huoyan's heart, his firm will has long abandoned the cowardly feeling of grief, and for the future of the people of Baidi, he can even give his life without hesitation.

Finally looking to the north, the fire eye whipped his horse heavily, letting it escape from this hellish battlefield.

Yes, hellish battlefields.

Ten days of fierce siege of the city had caused heavy casualties to the Fireeye Clan, but it also inflicted heavy casualties on the defenders under the command of Iscario in the city, and Fireeye was very confident that he could break the city in three days with his experience.

However, he did not do it.

On the tenth day after the siege began, when the offensive and defensive battles were at their most intense, the Blackwater Lord's army, which had been lurking behind the Fireeye Clan and the Giant Clan, suddenly moved south, not only cutting off Fireeye's retreat, but also encircling Fireeye together with the reinforcements who came to support Kuknas City. The back and flanks were attacked, and the defenders of the city of Kuknas also went out of the city to raid, and the fire eye suddenly fell into a crisis on all sides, and the imperial army continued to tear apart the positions of the whitelands, and in just one day, tens of thousands of troops under his command were routed, and he even had to go into battle himself.

However, even if he went into battle in person, it still didn't help.

Looking at the sunset, he sighed again as he clenched the tomahawk in his hand.

For the White Guys, the Battle of Kuknas was a humiliating and sad memory, but for Iscario's army, it was a day to remember, as they defeated the invincible White Men and brought great glory to themselves and the Empire.

However, even such a great honor could not touch Iscario's heart.

Overlooking the battlefield, although there was a smile on the face of the second prince, it was not brighter than before the war.

"Your Highness. Field Marshal Zaclyde walked up to Iscario with several generals in his hand and a box in his hand, "The enemy's chieftain, Fireeye, was defeated in a duel by Karl of the House of Faulkros, and his head is here. ”

Iscario only glanced at the box, not even interested in opening it for inspection.

"It was buried with the bodies of other soldiers who had died in battle. With a wave of his hand, he motioned for Zaclyde to remove the head of the Eye of Fire, as if disgusted by the strong smell of blood.

"Yes. Zaclyde nodded, then handed the skullbox to the general behind him.

"Now that the Fire Eye is dead, the Fire Eye Clan has almost collapsed after such a blow, and the Giant Clan has fled back to the north with only a small number of remnants. Your Highness, there is no doubt that this is a great victory, however, you do not seem to feel much joy from this victory. ”

"yes, do I look like this?" Iscario smiled at Zaclyde, "Do I look so unhappy?"

Zaclyde shook his head, his expression still as serious and stern. "It's not that you look unhappy, but it's the expression you've always had, and even a big win like this hasn't changed you in any way as usual. ”

"Is that so?" Iscario nodded, but the curvature of his mouth still didn't change, "Perhaps, the victory in front of us is indeed inspiring, but it's not time to rejoice to the fullest. ”

"That's right. Zaclyde nodded approvingly, "Although they repelled the attacks of the Fire-Eye Clan and the Giant Clan, as the vanguard, they only have 40,000 troops in their hands, and there are still more than 100,000 Baidi people eyeing them. Moreover, our casualties in this battle are already very heavy, and the number of casualties is almost twice that of the enemy, so if we continue to fight like this, I am afraid that it will be unfavorable to us. ”

"It's not just the people of Baidi, I guess I'll be called back to the imperial capital soon. ”

Zaclyde and the generals around him were stunned and didn't understand.

"Why do you say that?" Zaclyde asked cautiously, he didn't really want to talk about it, but Iscario said it in this tone and manner, it was obvious that he wanted to talk about it, and even if Zaclyde didn't answer it, Iscario would continue.

"When my father saw the victory ahead, he probably felt that the front line was solid, and then took the opportunity to let me return to the imperial capital to deal with the problems of the imperial capital. ”

"However, the situation here is not yet stable!" Before Zaclyde could speak, a general behind him could not wait to speak, "If there is no presiding over His Highness now, how should we deal with the follow-up offensive of the White Dimen? Although they have suffered a defeat, because of this, the next revenge will definitely be more fierce!"

Zaclyde turned his head and glared at the general, but didn't say a word of rebuke.

From Iscario's point of view, of course, he couldn't see Zaclyde's eyes, and he didn't pay attention to it, and continued to talk to himself.

"So, before I go, I have to arrange things at the front. Now that I'm leaving, the only ones who are qualified to lead the whole army are my brother Francisco and you Phoenix, all the hopes of the empire are in your hands, please be sure to stick to avoid the battle, the siege ability of the people of the White Land is not excellent, and the only giant clan that is good at attacking the city has also been hit hard, as long as you rely on the strong city to defend, you can ensure temporary stability. ”

Zaclyde's gaze lowered, and despite Iscario's polite words, the veteran marshal still heard the second prince's words of unease about them. Iscario only said that he and Francisco were qualified to command the whole army, but did not say that they were capable of commanding the whole army, obviously not optimistic about the situation after he left, and the strategy he set was also the most passive tactic of avoiding the battle, not to win, but to delay the time to hold on.

"I see. Zaclyde lowered his head, not showing his dissatisfaction with being slighted, "We will try our best to maintain the current situation, but this is not the way after all, the people of the White Land will not retreat easily, they just blindly stick to avoid the battle, I am afraid there is no way to repel them." ”

"I know that. Iscario turned and turned his gaze back to the battlefield, "Fortunately, there are still two dukes of Heslett and Wollaston, they are both experienced and skilled soldiers, and with their help and support, the tide of battle may turn around in the future." ”

Iscario's words once again removed Zaclyde from his experience and ability to fight, and this contempt was no longer an accidental gaffe. But Zaclyde still didn't have a seizure, just nodding silently, and pandering to it from time to time.

"So, what do you think the turnaround is?" Zaclyde finally asked, his expression calm, but his gaze at Iscario unwavering.

Iscario smiled slightly, his expression extremely confident.

"When I get back to this battlefield, things should be able to turn around. ”

Zaclyde's eyes couldn't help but stare at the beginning, he felt that what Iscario said today was a little strange, Iscario knew that he was actually sent by Harold III to spy on him, but he still said that he would be recalled by the imperial capital, which was very obvious to show his attachment to military power. Zaclyde didn't quite understand why Iscario would say that, he should have known that these words would surely reach Harold III's ears, and with his cleverness, he should have guessed how Harold III would react.

"Is that so?" Zaclyde nodded slightly, but he didn't know what was going on in his mind.

——————————————

The city of Kasyia, which had been captured by the White Di, was now the temporary residence of the High Chief Apolonia.

As the former Duke of Tiamat, Scripps VI had to bear the responsibility for the betrayal of Longxiao City by his ancestors, so on the day of the destruction of the city, he willingly was executed by Apolonia for his family. Correspondingly, Apolonia generously pardoned the sins of the rest of the Casyia and allowed them to return to the tribe.

Despite the opposition to this decision, with the support of the four chiefs, the Kasyiya returned to the tribe as a clan.

"Really? Fire-Eyed is dead. ”

Apolonia put the battle report on the table in front of her, her expression indifferent. She sat on the throne that had been specially moved into this council chamber, and a dozen clan chiefs stood before her, but Apolonia did not look at them at all.

"It looks like the people of the Empire have been preparing for the city of Kuknas for a long time. But it doesn't matter, although most of the elite of the Fireeye Clan and the Giant Clan have been lost, the situation is still in our upper hand. Ordered Deathclaw to reorganize the forward troops, and in the next battle, his clan would be the vanguard. ”

The chiefs looked at each other with a frown, and from each other's eyes, they read the same thoughts in each other's hearts as they did.

Someone wanted to speak, but when he saw Springhall, the chief of the Tiamat clan standing behind the Great Chief, he couldn't help but swallow the words back from his mouth.

Springhall, the second son of Scripps VI, the former Duke of Tiamat, and the younger brother of Scripps VII, the current Duke of Tiamat, soon after the destruction of the city of Casiye, took refuge in his father's killer and turned the Duke of Tiamat into Chief Tiamat.

"Yes, Your Majesty will go and draw up orders at once. He bent down in reply, and the etiquette was very complete, and it was because of Springhall's talent in etiquette and clerical matters that he won the blue eye of the Great Chief.

"Hmm. Apolonia squinted, her body completely embedded in the throne, as if she was quite satisfied.

"In addition, after breaking through the left flank of the Empire, prepare to march on Teturin. ”

This casually said plan made the chiefs finally unable to hold back, and they all spoke: "Great Chief, please think again, the surprise attack of the Haishan clan has failed, if we divide the imperial capital again, then it is likely to cause the hard-won advantage of the front line to be defeated, and the imperial people are likely to use this opportunity to recapture the castle we have captured......"

Apolonia opened her eyes slightly, and the light revealed in the linear pupils made everyone shudder.

They will not forget the scene when the gates of Kasyia City collapsed under the roar of this little girl.

"I have a plan, you just have to follow my orders. She turned her head to look at Springhall, "How's the situation over there?"

Springhall was unsquinting, indifferent to the chieftains' reactions, and would respond with perfect etiquette when they heard Apolonia's commands.

"The Jackdaw Clan sent information some time ago that Arnold Svann Fegraf, Duke of Cold Mountain, took control of the palace and the emperor through a coup d'état, and that his main political rival, the Auxiliary Officer, Farage, had been imprisoned, and Chief Cardinal Francis had also shown a considerable degree of obedience to Duke Cold Mountain. ”

The chiefs stared at Springhall closely, but it was not because of the coup d'état in the imperial capital, but because they were worried that this person had actually dismissed the matter of intelligence.

"Oh, the one who banished his own father?" Apolonia suddenly smiled at the corners of her mouth, "what an unexpected person." ”