Michel VII looked at the position ahead.

After the defection of the Vitings, the Southern Coalition could not even get close to the south bank of the Lanz River, and now the Southern Army controlled the position on the south bank, with 20,000 defenders of Lanz Town behind it, and the troops of Deweide and Glamorgan were also gathering here, and when the Imperial army was assembled, the number of enemies that Michel VII would face would reach more than 80,000.

He looked coldly at the banner of the Southern Legion, and Edward, Duke of Corgas beside him, could feel the anger emanating from the prince's body.

"Wei Ting, this traitor, because he is still a soldier, I was really blind to let him be the commander of this legion in the first place!"

Duke Edward bowed his head, now the name of the Vittin was spurned in the camps of both warring parties, but it was such a treacherous and capricious villain who changed the course of this war.

"Your Highness, it won't help you to curse that traitor now, let's think about how to take Lanz Town. ”

"Do you have any good ideas, Edward?" said Michel VII, who was angry, but also at a loss as to how to take Landstown. At this time, his indecisive temperament flared up again, on the one hand, he was anxious about the critical situation, and on the other hand, he was slow to make up his mind to attack.

Duke Edward pursed his lips and looked at Landstown. He was now deeply aware of the impermanence of the world, and the Southern Alliance's understanding of the defense of Lantztown still came from the reports of Viting and the Southern Army, who were now acting as the first line of defense.

"The artillery arrangement in Lantztown is sufficient, and even if we attack the positions of the Southern Corps, there will be a large amount of artillery support on the other side of the river, and it will be extremely difficult to storm head-on. So, I think the best way for us to do this is to look for a breakthrough in other directions. ”

"Like Vitin and Dawes?" said Michel VII, pouting, disdainful of the method.

"There's too little time left for us," Duke Edward shook his head, he was not optimistic about the current situation, "The safest way is to continue to besiege Landstown, but we don't have enough time right now. ”

The prince was silent, of course he understood this, if the Viting did not defect, then they would still have some advantage, even if it was against the imperial army, Michel VII was not too worried. Although the forces of the Arles have begun to attack the Duchy of Charolalene, the desert people on the Badajoz Peninsula have also achieved great success, and now it is up to them to see who will not hold out first.

Michel VII pondered, his hand unconsciously waving his horsewhip. Originally, he had the opportunity to negotiate peace with the Empire, but because of inexplicable things, this opportunity was wasted.

"Sinjid, is there any news on Princess Katerina's whereabouts?" he asked Sinjid, who was standing behind him.

Sinjid bowed slightly, until now, the prince still had great trust in this staff. "Not yet, and none of the sentry posts we have set up have found Count Jericho or Her Royal Highness Princess Caterina, and I think they may not have fled north, after all, we have tens of thousands of troops here, and it is unlikely that they will fall into the net. ”

"Find out where they are as soon as possible!" the prince said in a slightly stern tone, but he still trusted Sinjid. In his opinion, Sinjid's previous affairs were so beautiful, and it would only be a matter of time before he caught these two people this time.

"Yes, I'll check again. Sinjid bowed again, and then withdrew.

Watching Sinjid leave, Duke Edward frowned slightly. He didn't have a good sense of this man, as a duke from an aristocratic family, he was very disgusted with such a sloppy image of Sinjid, and this person has always been eerie, which makes people feel uneasy from the bottom of their hearts. The Duke didn't quite understand why the prince trusted this man so much, and even handed over the military power to him, remembering that when Singid asked him for the command of the Pritown army, that appearance made Duke Edward feel as uncomfortable as a fly.

"Do you want to use Princess Caterina as a bargaining chip to negotiate with the Emperor?" asked Duke Edward, enduring the discomfort in his heart.

"This is probably the best way out right now. Michel VII sighed helplessly, "At this point, it is impossible to retreat like this, compared to the embarrassing escape, using the imperial princess as a bargaining chip, although it is disgraceful, but at least it can save our net worth and status." ”

Duke Edward lowered his head, after the previous negotiations broke down, it was indeed impossible for the emperor to accept Michel VII's request, but if Princess Caterina was exchanged for a dignified surrender of the southern nobles, perhaps the emperor could still consider it. It's just that the premise of this retreat is that the eldest princess must be in their hands.

"So what to do now? If we just stand still, we may not be able to wait for the time to negotiate, and the dukes and counts will be eager to demand that you surrender to the Emperor. ”

"You're right, you can only fight. Michel VII gritted his teeth, although a war was inevitable, but how to fight, he was still hesitating, "Which army do you think can be the main vanguard?"

The Duke hesitated slightly, Michel VII's main force of Pritown could not be the first to fight, and the prince was probably not willing to let his own descendants bear the casualties of the first round. After the death of Duke Roy, the most well-armed of the coalition forces were now the troops of Takogas. Edward raised his eyes slightly, the prince was looking at him with expectant eyes, and the duke sighed helplessly in his heart, obviously Michel VII's question had already been answered.

"Let me be the main force, let the Duke of Pois, and the Count of Carson serve as the left and right flanks, and ask you to provide us with artillery support. ”

Michel VII slapped his hand Duke Edward's shoulder. "Only you can be relied upon at this time, Edward, please. ”

"I'll do my best. Although the prince's eyes looked really grateful to him, but Edward was grateful at this time, but he couldn't be moved, in his eyes, even if they defeated the Southern Army and captured the position on the south bank, the predicament they faced would not change much, as long as the reinforcements from Deweide and Glamorgan arrived, what they had so hard to get would be lost immediately.

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"Your Excellency, Marshal. Viscount Jericho walked into Marshal Rudolph's command post, which had been used as a makeshift requisitioned house, "and the enemy began to assemble, as if to attack the positions on the south bank. ”

The marshal immediately put down the map, picked up the binoculars and walked to the window. Through the lenses, he could clearly see the enemy's black formation, as well as the flag of the Duke of Kogas at the front.

"It looks like the Kogas troops are the main force. Marshal Rudolph put down his binoculars and turned his head to look at Viscount Jericho, "Who is leading the troops of the Kogas?"

"The troops were led by the Duke of Kogas himself. ”

"Hmph, did Edward himself go into battle?" Marshal Rudolph snorted coldly, his eyes full of disdain, "That Edward, I used to think that this kid was a character, but now he has ended here." Issel must be ready to fight, right?" the marshal looked at Viscount Jericho, normally, a commander like Viscount Jericho would not have come to report these things in person, and there must have been some other reason for his arrival.

"Yes, Munster's troops have been mobilized, and I have the artillery units ready to open fire as soon as the enemy is within range. Although he was stared at by the old marshal, Viscount Jericho did not show a trace of panic. Unlike Baron O'Brien, he was not a member of the military system, so there was no need to be too afraid of Marshal Rudolph.

Looking at Viscount Jericho's calm face, the marshal was very satisfied with this junior, although he was not an orthodox military background like Baron O'Brien, but Viscount Jericho liked an old soldier like Rudolph even more. In Viscount Jericho's body, the marshal could smell the smell of iron and blood, which immediately made the old marshal have a good impression of Viscount Jericho, just like General Sissel at the beginning, in the eyes of these old men, Viscount Jericho has more of the backbone of their generation.

"Relax, Ernest. Marshal Rudolph patted Viscount Jericho on the shoulder and slowly walked back to the table, "To me, what do you have to say, I am not your superior, so just treat me as your elder, like Wood." The old marshal looked kindly at Viscount Jericho, who, of course, had seen old Winston as a man of that generation, and was equally attracted by the charm of the previous earl. It's just that his contact with the previous earl is not so deep, and the degree of closeness to the Jericho family is not as close as Wood, so he has been in the imperial capital for so many years, and he has not met the son of this former friend a few times.

Viscount Jericho's expression was still serious, and he was not relieved by the kindness shown by the old marshal. "I want you to make it clear if we need to support the Southern Legion in Viting right away?"

"That's what that kid Isel told you to ask. The marshal laughed, and he could see this trick at a glance. The current situation of the Southern Army is very embarrassing, when the Weiting was under the command of Michel VII, he was not a descendant, and on the side of the Empire, he was not even a ragtag army, it can be said that no one hurts the child, Marshal Rudolph deliberately left his defense area in the original South Bank position, the purpose is to let the Southern Army as cannon fodder, to bear the first round of casualties, weaken the strength of Weiting. After all, although the number of the southern army of the Weiting is a little smaller after a civil fighting, it is a force that the Weiting can really control, which is too dazzling for Marshal Rudolph.

"Just tell him to wait, but your artillery unit might as well give some more fire support to the south bank, or that guy from Viting will complain." ”

"Yes. Viscount Jericho nodded, Marshal Rudolph's intention was obvious, he wanted to weaken the Viting, but he couldn't let the Southern Legion be completely wiped out, and now the empire still needs the combat effectiveness of this legion.

After saluting the marshal, Viscount Jericho was about to turn and leave.

"Wait a minute," the old marshal called out to Viscount Jericho, "anyway, the fight hasn't started yet, you can stay here and talk to me, the Southerners are coming, and there is no Weiting to stand in our way." ”

Viscount Jericho hesitated, but stopped.

"Alas—Ernest, tell me what Fort Midnight looks like. I've been to many places in my life, but I've been to war, and a quiet and peaceful place like Midnight Fort has nothing to do with me. ”

Viscount Jericho lowered his eyes, he actually didn't want to talk about this topic, but it was Marshal Rudolph who had no choice but to say it, and he couldn't disobey his request. "I've been out of there for years, and I don't remember much of what Midnight Fort looked like. ”

The old marshal shook his head, he certainly wouldn't believe Viscount Jericho's obvious excuse. "I always remember something, and the hardest thing for a person to forget is when I was a child, even if my childhood memories are not good, it is difficult to forget. The marshal's face showed a look of remembrance, "I still remember the scene when your father came to Deweide. At that time, Reinhard was still a little ghost with a snot in tow, and when I took him out, I would be mistaken for father and son. How many years have passed now, and every time I see him, I remember what he was like when he was a child, and I don't even feel like this when I look at my son. ”

Viscount Jericho's gaze rested on the floor, and it was true that he still remembered Midnight Castle vividly, but he would rather he could forget it himself.

Seeing that Viscount Jericho did not speak, Marshal Rudolph let out a long sigh. He had also heard of the father-son conflict in the Jericho family, but because he had little contact with Ernest, it was not until today that he had the most intuitive feeling of the grievance that had been entangled for nearly twenty years. "It should be a good place—" he looked up at the ceiling, "otherwise Michelle, why would he want Midnight Castle so much?"

"The scenery is beautiful. Viscount Jericho finally spoke, "The mountains and rivers are beautiful, and we can't find a place like this, even Karin Castle doesn't have the elegance of Midnight Castle. However, it was dead there, and although it looked vibrant, it was already rotting and growing. ”

Marshal Rudolph was stunned for a moment, as a soldier, he had seen many disgusting scenes, so it was easy for him to follow Ernest's description to imagine the scene. But Viscount Jericho's description of Fort Midnight surprised him. "Why do you say that?" he said, looking at Viscount Jericho, trying to find the answer in those resolute but slightly sad eyes.

Viscount Jericho shook his head and did not answer.

"Forget it. Seeing that Viscount Jericho didn't want to answer, Marshal Rudolph didn't force it, "You can go back to the position first." I don't think Weiting can last half a day, and when the critical time comes, you can go and rescue him. ”

"Yes. ”

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Henry walked into the command post of the Vittin with a telegram in his hand that had just been sent from the North Shore. "Legion Commander...... No, division commander, marshal he told us to continue to hold out, and he would not support us until the enemy sent the main forces. ”

Wei Ting was not surprised by this news at all, he knew very well that Marshal Rudolph would definitely want to take advantage of this opportunity to weaken his strength, which he already knew when he received the order to garrison the south bank.

"Let Dawes hold on to the front. He said to the chief of staff, "I will send the 72nd Division to flank the army of Poison and the army of Casson, so that he must hold back the offensive of the Kogas." ”

The Chief of Staff nodded, and turned to let the herald go to Dawes's command post to relay the order.

"Divisional Commander......" Henry looked at Wei Ting hesitantly, opened his mouth, but failed to answer the following words.

"What's wrong?" Wei Ting looked back at Henry, his expression was serious, even a little impatient, in the current situation, he didn't care about the feelings of this wife and nephew.

Henry had previously been sent by the Vitin to Deweide to express his allegiance to the Emperor on his behalf. In front of the emperor and his ministers, young Henry was like a sheep, and could only tremble. He knew very well that his uncle's actions this time would be laughed at by the world, but after all, he was only a half-soldier, although he was educated as a soldier in a military school, but he did not have the atmosphere of a military family that he had cultivated since childhood. Although Henry's father was one of Prince Michel's important patrons, such a grant was certainly not for the sake of ideals, it was originally an investment for the sake of a return. While Michel VII was collecting high war taxes in the South, the Henry family was privileged to be exempt from these taxes, allowing them to make a fortune while their rivals were dying. On the other hand, as long as there is enough profit in return, they are not impossible to defect to the empire, so Henry does not have too much prejudice against Weiting's approach, although he still disagrees with it in his heart, but he does not despise Weiting's repetition like outsiders.

"Why don't we just retreat to the north bank?" After experiencing this period of war education, he now began to think about things with the thinking of Weiting, "When we attacked Lanz Town before, didn't the north bank directly abandon the south bank, why don't we simply give up here and rely on the Lanz River to fight, we won't have too many casualties." ”

Wei Ting sighed, he didn't want to go to the safety of the North Shore. "We must stay here," he said, looking earnestly at Henry, "if we force our way to the north shore, then our enemy will be not just 60,000, but 80,000 men in front and behind." ”

Henry pursed his lips and lowered his head to stop talking.

"Division commander. The chief of staff hurriedly ran to Viting's side, "Dawes asked us for reinforcements immediately, the Kogas army's offensive is very fierce, and the first line of defense has been broken!"

"What!" Wei Ting was taken aback, it had only been half an hour since the start of the battle, and Dawes had already lost the frontline position, "Dawes that bastard! He is really 'Pannonia's Midletus', and he can't help him!" Now Wei Ting no longer believes that Dawes's previous defeat was bad luck, this guy will quickly rout every time he fights a key battle, I really don't know how he became the commander of the division.

The chief of staff crooked his mouth, looking like he had a toothache. Although he was an Amanac-born Orc, he also knew the saying "Midletus of Pannonia". King Midletus No. Gion I of Pannonia was the son of Cader II, the younger brother of Midletus II, who married Archduchess of Pécs of Pannonia and wrested the throne from Salamon the Iron by virtue of the power of the kingdom of Deherbas, in which one of the most famous battles fought by the Duke of Dungar, the Battle of Kausau. When the throne passed to Middleletus, the son of Kadr, the king of the same name as the two generations of Dehrbasmin, was a scumbag, and the Gyan family helped him stabilize the throne several times, but he eventually lost the crown.

"There's no way around it. Wei Ting gritted his teeth, although he was reluctant, but now he could no longer retain his strength, "Let the cavalry go out and prepare to attack the enemy's artillery positions." ”

"But division commander, the enemy's main force hasn't moved yet!" The chief of staff was shocked, and letting the cavalry attack now was completely sending sheep into the tiger's mouth, "Let's wait a little longer, maybe there will be a turnaround......

"How can there be a turnaround!" Wei Ting interrupted the chief of staff loudly, "If we don't save ourselves now, who else can save us?" I know this is sending our cavalry to their deaths, but if we don't, how can that old bastard Rudolph support us!"

The chief of staff was silent, he now understood the intention of Weiting, since Marshal Rudolph wanted to wear down Weiting's strength, then they were simply destined to consume their strength, the long pain is better than the short pain, their own descendants have been lost, and Rudolph should be satisfied.