Chapter 436: Moonstone

Looking at the back of Earl Churchwick riding away with two attendants, Archduke Fisabrun finally spoke: "Just refuse their request, okay?"

Lorist sneered, "Alright, don't pretend to me. Isn't it www.biquge.info reason why you called me here in such a hurry because you were embarrassed to refuse? You yourself know in your heart that this Earl Churchwick has nominally come to inquire about our views on the demands of the four Grand Dukes of the Middle Continent for peace, and to ask us to speak for them. In fact, I just want to find out if we are also facing the difficulty of shortage of armaments and materials, to find out our reality and see if His Royal Highness is determined to fight them to the end. ”

Fisabrun shook his head with a smile, and did not deny Lorlist's statement: "You know, I arranged for Earl Churchwick to be in your camp and set up a banquet for hospitality. Faced with those dishes cooked with Warcraft meat, he was taken aback, saying that it was too extravagant to go. When I told him that these were just ordinary meats, and even the soldiers could eat them, he didn't believe it, but then I took him around the camp, and when I saw the soldiers smoking jerky, he was speechless, and then he urgently asked me to say yes to His Majesty for them, and I couldn't refuse, so I came to you. ”

"It's clear that their supply of armaments is a little tight, and perhaps they have begun to supply them in limited quantities. Lorlist, of course, understood the meaning of the words of the Grand Duke of Fisabrun: "So the 400,000 troops spoken of by Earl Churchwick may be true, but it must be false to be able to eat food and grass for four or five years, otherwise he would not be flattered by the abundance of dishes." As for his statement that he has received strong support from the business alliance, I suspect that it is also false, otherwise they would not have put forward the conditions to take the initiative to sue for peace. ”

"But the conditions they put forward are too insincere, how can they expect the Second Highness to agree to such conditions? The first is to restore the pre-war situation of the Four Central Duchies is to make the Second Highness withdraw from the eight provinces that have already occupied, which is simply impossible. Grand Duke Fisabrun retorted: "I think that their desire for peace is only an excuse, and the greatest possibility is that you have made too much noise on the other side of the river to arouse their fears." If we really build a road on the Demon Plains and point to the province of Dramar, it will indeed hit their defensive weakness. Even though they received great assistance from the Commercial Alliance, they still didn't know how many garrisons they needed to deploy to defend the Nibaraku River along the river in Drama Province, so they sent people to find out the truth. ”

"Perhaps. Lorist pondered, "I think the four Grand Dukes of the Central Region may think of us the same way they do. If they run out of armaments, they may well assume that we are in the same predicament as them. Although there are 100,000 fewer men than them, our territory is far away, and it is difficult to transport supplies and supplies. They considered the eight provinces of the three principalities to be newly occupied and could not be used by us for two or three years, and did not know that His Majesty had cleared up and effectively administered the eight provinces.

Moreover, you have recruited a large number of craftsmen to build ships in the upper reaches of the Nibaraku River, and I have made a big deal of saying that you will build roads in the Demon Plains. According to the general view, we simply cannot provide such a large supply of food and grass. It is likely that the four Grand Dukes in the middle of the country thought we were bluffing, and sent Earl Churchwick to investigate. That's why the Earl of Churchwick, seeing that we were well supplied, hastened to change his tune and ask us to help them make peace.

It is a pity that the conditions put forward by the four Grand Dukes in the central part of the country are that they think that we are in the same situation as them, and that we are facing a shortage of armaments, logistics and materials, and regard themselves as opponents on an equal footing with us. In addition, these conditions are just sky-high prices, and if we really want to talk about it, we can pay it back on the spot. It was just to test whether we really wanted to make peace, so I rejected them......"

Grand Duke Fisabrun nodded: "Your inference is very reasonable, but I think it is better to drag them down, we can talk and fight, and then find out from their envoys whether the situation inside the Duchy of Handla can still be sustained......"

"There's no need for that. Lorist vetoed Archduke Fisabrun's suggestion: "Since Earl Churchwick has discovered that our logistical supply is more adequate than theirs, and we have resolutely rejected their request to help them sue for peace with His Majesty, then as soon as Earl Churchwick returns to report, the four Grand Dukes in the middle will be in a dilemma,

Continuing to form new legions to defend the river will only make their armament supply more strained, and if they don't, we are afraid that we will actually cross the river and attack the hinterland of Drama Province. And my firm refusal of Earl Churchwick's request for us to help them to sue for peace with His Majesty will make them understand His Majesty's determination to destroy the Four Central Duchy. Therefore, the next time they send an envoy, the conditions will be very lenient and their attitude will be more humble. ”

Grand Duke Fisabrun was stunned: "Do you think they will send another envoy to sue for peace?"

Lorist nodded: "It should be, they have no choice." While you still have the capital on hand now, you can bargain with Your Majesty, otherwise if you persist, you will have to choose between perdil or escape. If they know each other, we can say a few words for them, after all, we don't have that much time to stay here for a few years and keep them at a stalemate. ”

"Why, didn't you say they were undersupplied? Said Grand Duke Fisabrun.

"No......" Lorist smiled bitterly: "I miscalculated one thing, the four Grand Dukes in the middle of the country have more wealth in their hands than we imagined. Didn't you hear from Earl Churchwick that they were willing to give His Majesty a gift of two million goldfords, and that if we help them, we will each receive a sum of five hundred thousand goldfords.

I reckon the three million Kingford is only a third or a quarter of their wealth, otherwise they wouldn't have made such an offer. If they choose to flee, this wealth is enough for them to spend a few lifetimes in the Business Alliance, and if they choose to fight to the end, the three million can buy enough food and grass and other military materials from the Business Alliance for their 400,000 army to hold on for another year or two......

As long as His Majesty can destroy the four principalities in the central region, it doesn't matter if he can spend another two or three years, and now the five provinces of the Duchy of Volendor and the Duchy of Fakel under his jurisdiction have cleared the forces of the nobles of the territories who followed the two Grand Dukes and implemented effective administration. And the three provinces of the Principality of Sabaji are also recovering, and everything is on track. So it doesn't matter how long it takes, Your Majesty, but are we really going to stay here for two or three years?"

Grand Duke Fisabrun was dumbfounded, Lorist was very unwilling to say this, and promised His Royal Highness the Second Highness to help him conquer the Four Duchy in the Middle Regions, and it didn't matter if it took about a year, but if he really wanted to fight for two or three years compared to the post-war reward promised by His Royal Highness the Second Highness, it was really a loss. Keeping promises is a noble virtue, and Lorist can't afford to slip away halfway.

Seeing that the three principalities are gone, and there is only one Duchy of Handra left to survive here, Lorist is definitely not willing to waste these years on conquest, and it is better to be able to collect troops and return to the family territory as soon as possible than to stay here. It would be great if the four Grand Dukes in the middle of the country could surrender to His Royal Highness, and everyone would have a step down.

"By the way, what is Celivia's due date?" said Grand Duke Fisabrun, changing the subject.

"I guess it's around January of the new year. Lorist replied.

"When will you go back?" asked Archduke Fisabrun.

"December. Lorist gritted his teeth: "Before leaving, I will take a defensive position and put some pressure on those four old bastards, forcing them to send an emissary to negotiate with His Majesty about surrender sooner." Otherwise, I'm really welcome......"

To tell the truth, Lorist promised His Royal Highness to conquer the four principalities in the middle of the country, and he really didn't give full play to the combat effectiveness of the family army, but everything was focused on avoiding casualties, and then taking advantage of it by the way. The main reason is that he thinks that it is a very loss-making thing to sacrifice his family's armed forces and lose strength for the cause of unifying the empire of His Royal Highness, and everyone will have it. Just look at the old fox of Grand Duke Fisabrun, if there is danger, let the reserve corps do it, anyway, the grass barbarian cavalry has to be replenished on the steppe as many as they died, and the third frontier ranger regiment has been staying behind to watch the show.

"But, isn't December winter, and it's snowing and freezing bones, how can you still attack the defensive position?"

Lorist rolled his eyes, "Alright, don't pretend, old fellow." Didn't your Third Frontier Ranger Regiment be forced to surrender by us in the winter? To tell you the truth, winter or not winter doesn't have any effect on our Norton forces, but it's a good time for us to show our skills. Then you will be able to see for yourself how we have overcome our defensive positions. ”

Grand Duke Fisabrun smiled a little embarrassedly: "Well, I'll see it then." But aren't you worried about missing the trip? Celivia is giving birth for the first time, and I'm worried that she'll be in danger if you're not with her. ”

"Don't worry, I've already written to her to tell her that I'll be there before the birth. With a few heavy snowfalls, we can get back in three or four days at most with a snow plow, five or six days faster than we can travel day and night on horseback. ”

"Well, can I go back with you then?" I know that Celevia has misunderstood me, but after all, she is my own granddaughter, and I would like to meet her first child......" Archduke Fisabrun bowed his head and asked with some embarrassment.

Lorist was stunned for a moment, and then felt a little funny: "Okay, you can go if you want, and we can go back together then." ”

Grand Duke Fisabrun was overjoyed: "Well, thank you then, Your Highness Grand Duke Norton." ”

Lorist looked at him and sighed: "In private, you can call me Lorlist, you are Celevia's own grandfather, my elder, there is no need to call me so formal......"

"Well, thank you then, Lorist. "Grand Duke Fisabrun is as good as he is.

"You're welcome. By the way, this is the harvest on the Demon Plain, and you can get a third of it according to the agreement. Remembering something, Lorist pulled out a small leather bag beside him and threw it to him.

"What is this?" said Archduke Fisabrun, who opened the bag and poured out a dozen or so oval-shaped pebbles that were as warm as jade and white.

Grand Duke Fisabrun was taken aback: "Moonstone?"

This is a well-known gemstone on the continent of Gelinthia, and some scholars believe that it should be fluorescent, and that it should be a variant of jade. That is, the jade falls on the beach of the stream and is washed by the stream to form the appearance of pebbles, and at the same time is illuminated by the moonlight for hundreds of years or even thousands of years, the silver moonlight gradually makes the jade become crystal clear, and every night by the silver moonlight, these jade will glow white fluorescence, as bright as a star.

It is said that there is a very famous palace in the Romon Empire, the southernmost part of the Galinthia continent, the palace is inlaid with a circle of moonstones around the zenith, and every night as long as a candle is lit in the middle of the palace, those moonstones will reflect the light of the candle flame and emit white fluorescence, making the whole palace as bright as day. The palace was also named the Palace of the Bright Moon.

The value of the moon stone also varies greatly due to the brightness of the white fluorescence it emits, with a high value of thousands to 10,000 gold merits, and a low value of a dozen gold coins. Moonstones on the market are commonly found to be worth about 100 to 1,000. The dozen or so moonstones in this small bag that Lorist threw to the Grand Duke of Fisabrun were all of the highest grade, and each one was worth more than a thousand gold merits.

"Where did it come from?" asked Archduke Fisabrun, playing with the moonstone in his hand.

Lorist turned his head in the direction of the Demon Plains and gestured: "Your grass barbarian cavalry is very lucky, chasing a group of Horned Demon Antelopes over there and discovering a large stream. During the day, there is nothing unusual, but at night the entire stream is silvery bright. They thought that a miracle had occurred, and they dismounted and kowtowed.

When I received their report, I knew that they had found a treasure of moonstones, so I mined nearly a thousand moonstones, and the estimated value should be six or seven hundred thousand gold fords. Don't worry, with one-third of you, since I have signed the cooperation agreement, I will abide by it, don't worry about me monopolizing. These are the best batch of moonstones, and I'll give you a third of them as well. As for the barbarian cavalry who found the brook, I have rewarded them on your behalf, five gold fords each. ”

Grand Duke Fisabrun was speechless, this is a matter of knowledge, the grass cavalry found the moonlight stone creek beach, they thought it was a miracle and did not dare to offend, and knelt on the ground and kowtowed. And Lorist received the report and knew that he had found a treasure, collected nearly a thousand moonstones, and made a lot of money, no wonder this guy stayed in the Demon Plains to hunt and refused to come back.

After thinking about it, Grand Duke Fisabrun put the moonstone in his hand back into a small bag and handed it to Lorist: "It's better for you, when Celevia gives birth to a child, you can use these moonstones to decorate the house for her, so that you don't need too much open fire at night so as not to cause a fire......

Lorist didn't see anything else, took it and put it back in his original pocket: "Okay, then I'll take you too." ”

......

On December 21, 1782, the Norton family's armed Flying Tiger Legion attacked the defensive position of the Veronny Pass under the cover of snowflakes, and defeated the Red Dragon Legion of the Duchy of Handla in one fell swoop. Most of the casualties of the Red Light Legion were lost, and the remaining troops retreated to the second defensive position before they were spared, only to find that there were no ten or four soldiers who had retreated. Rush to the rear for help.

At the same time, due to the capture of the Veronny Pass, the defensive positions on both flanks were threatened by surprise attacks, and the First Garrison of the Duchy of Forendor and the Green Forest Legion of the Duchy of Fakel had to abandon their positions and retreat, freezing to death and frostbite countless times on the way. In order to carry out the order of the Grand Duke of Faker, the Green Forest Army looted more than ten villages and towns along the way and set fire to them, killing more than 30,000 people of the Duchy of Handra, and laying the prelude to the fire of the Grand Duke of Handra and the Grand Duke of Farkel......

......