"Your Majesty, I have something to say......"

When Leon and Emperor Marius were about to raise their glasses to settle the matter of retreating, Alina suddenly spoke: "Your Majesty Leon, you can't withdraw your troops. ”

Both turned their heads to look at Alina with a look of surprise on their faces.

"Alina, what are you talking about? Don't you see yourself as a Bacchus......"

Agathon looked surprised.

Li Ang thought about it and suddenly smiled: "Indeed, I can't retreat from the army......"

Emperor Marius seemed to realize something, and he waved his hand lightly: "Everyone else, go outside...... Keep an eye on the tent and don't let anyone get close. ”

He drove out all the guards in the tent.

Only Emperor Marius, Leon, Alina, Agathon, and Risardiran remained in the tent.

"Luciana, do you have any good plans?"

After confirming that there was no one else in the military tent, Emperor Marius asked.

"I do have a plan......"

Alina began to explain: "His Majesty Leon can't retreat because it's unreasonable—just won a big victory, and it's a good time to take advantage of the victory to pursue, so retreat at this time?" All the lords of the entire New Pander Kingdom will not be happy, and they were still discussing with great interest how to attack Bozhi City last night......"

"Moreover, withdrawing troops when they should not be withdrawn, and armistice when they should not be armistic, this will make the real enemy perceive, and the enemy will judge in advance and prepare...... We should not let our real enemies see our intentions. ”

"Therefore, the kingdom of Neopander and the Bacchus empire must still be hostile countries, and the war between the two countries must continue, and it is even better to fight more and more fiercely...... Only then will the real enemy all jump out. ”

"Since the Serpent Cult deliberately prompted the Celestial Cult to set fire to the Noldor Forest and trigger a full-scale war between the two countries, and at the same time stir up trouble in the Imperial Harbor, then their intention is obvious - they want to take advantage of the war between the two countries to find the Abyss Gate in Lake Aylaclay, try to break the seal of Kavala, and jump out to pick up the benefits after the two countries lose resources and troops in the great war."

"Then, if nothing else, the Serpent Cult must have begun to march towards the Noldor Forest by now - His Majesty Marius said that the enemy of Emperor Lingang had already sent troops north, and it was estimated that they were planning to go to Lake Ellacle."

"Being able to judge the enemy's movements makes it easier to destroy the enemy......"

"Therefore, His Majesty Leon should continue to lead his troops 'to pursue the victory and attack all the way into the hinterland of the empire', while His Majesty Marius will 'retreat all the way'...... Retreat all the way to the south of the empire. ”

"Of course, in fact, how the two Majesties secretly deploy troops, I am not good at the implementation of these specific tactics......"

"Anyway, this battle is going to get worse and worse—or at least it looks like it's getting worse and worse, so that the Serpent Cult thinks that the war between the two countries will continue forever...... Until all the enemies jump out, including the hidden enemies within the empire...... Let the enemy appear in the light, and then the two countries will work together to destroy them in one fell swoop! ”

Alina finished her plan, then looked at the two kings with cups, waiting for the two big guys to make a decision.

"Count for ......"

Emperor Marius put down his glass, nodded and praised, "Good plan...... It really should be. ”

"So, let's synchronize the strategic ......"

Li Ang also put down his wine glass, dipped his fingers in some wine and drew a map on the table: "In other words, Your Majesty Marius, you want to make the appearance of retreating for hundreds of miles, but in fact, you will organize the army all the way south and transfer most of the army to the emperor's port...... And I 'took advantage of the victory' and continued to 'attack' into the territory of Bacchus...... But in reality I will move my troops to Wolfyn and Ameraburg respectively to intercept the enemy who are trying to reach Lake Aylaclay, and continue to march south to encircle the enemy in Tilingang. Eventually, we could completely wipe out all the enemies north of the port of Tilin, roughly the location of the village of Buyurin. ”

"Okay, that's it."

Marius nodded: "I will drive all the enemies out of the port of Dilin, drive them north, and make sure that they cannot leave by sea." It's up to you to intercept and completely destroy them, and the city's stock of food will be used as your military rations - that is, you'll have to 'chase all the way to the city'......"

Li Ang also nodded in understanding, and an old man and a young general held their hands together.

Two rival nations, which had just tried their best to kill and live, decided on this cooperation plan in a way that seemed rather hasty.

"But...... What should we say to the fighters about this meeting, or the outcome of our peace talks? This plan must not be told to anyone, and if nothing else, there are likely to be Serpent Cult spies among our soldiers on both sides......"

Leon stood up and asked Emperor Marius with some hesitation.

"Let's just say that I was going to make peace after the defeat, but our talks fell apart—why should you make peace with me when you have just won a great victory? Chasing after victory is your best choice......"

Marius said something humiliating calmly.

"This ...... Your Majesty, you can't say that, can you? ”

Agathon looked at Emperor Marius with some hesitation: "Your Majesty, I have understood this plan, and I must not disclose it to any soldiers." But...... If you are defeated and sue for peace, you will still 'retreat hundreds of miles all the way', and His Majesty Li Ang will 'attack the city of Bozhi and rob the grain reserves'...... Then it will be difficult for us to explain to the domestic military and civilians! The morale of the army will be very low, and people will think that you are completely defeated......"

"Defeated? I was already defeated, so what's wrong with admitting that? This time, I was defeated and sued for peace, and finally exchanged the grain stored in Bozhi City for the withdrawal of the New Pander Kingdom...... That's true. If we had continued to fight, the result would have been the same - the only difference was that many more people would die on both sides, and then the Serpent Cult would have taken advantage of it. ”

Emperor Marius glanced at Agathon and sighed, "Agathon, what are you worried about?" ”

"Your Majesty, your body ...... And this plan will cause a huge stain on your reputation......"

Agathon was clearly wrestled with the outcome.

This would indeed have an impact on Marius's reputation, or at least on people's perception of his military capabilities—outsiders would not know about the partnership, and it would be impossible for anyone else to tell it.

One will only know that 'Emperor Marius himself led the army, with a larger number of troops, but he continued to lose his troops, and was defeated by the attack of Leon, and retreated for hundreds of miles, unable to organize any decent resistance'......

"I'm dying, what do you care about reputation? I only care if I can preserve the vitality of the Empire, I only care if I can kill the Snake Worshipper...... Agathon, the emperor who can make the people live and work in peace and contentment, I am just a tinker, I only hope that I can mend this pot again before I die—this is my fate. ”

Emperor Marius handed the helmet in his arms to Alina behind him, propped himself up and began to chase people away: "Okay, that's it, this time I plan to be dictatorial...... Agathon, send Leon back, Luciana and I still have something to say. ”

Marius is Alina's father-in-law, and in these years, the father-in-law is equal to his father, and the father and daughter of the family want to talk, of course, outsiders can't mix with each other.

Leon and Agathon withdrew from the tent.

On the way back to see Leon back, Agathon had been preoccupied and his face was full of anxiety.

"Your Majesty Leon......"

After sending Leon outside the camp of the Bacchus army, Agathon stopped and asked Leon a strange question: "What if...... If His Majesty Marius had passed away...... What will you do with the Bacchus Empire? ”

After all, Agathon was a general who had followed Emperor Marius for twenty years, he knew Emperor Marius, and he also knew that Emperor Marius was going to exchange his life for the resolute resistance of all the Bacchus to the Serpent Worship.

He had not only feared about the life and reputation of Emperor Marius.

He was also worried about what would happen to the Bacchus Empire after the death of Emperor Marius......

He believed that Marius and Leon would definitely be able to join forces to destroy the Snake Cult, but what about after solving the Snake Cult?

After that, who else in the Bacchus Empire could face an opponent like Leon?

Leon was silent for a while, and then asked Agathon: "Without His Majesty's empire, is it still the empire in your heart?" ”

“…… I don't know ......."

Agathon thought for a long time, and finally shook his head.

"Agathon, the empire where people can live and work in peace is the empire that His Majesty Marius wants. If you are unable to do this after the death of His Majesty Marius, then I will help His Majesty Marius to fulfill this wish. ”

Leon patted Agathon on the shoulder: "That's my answer. ”

Agathon stood silently, looking up at the sky.

The drizzle from the sky soaked his eyes.

……

On August 8, 358 Pander, the Battle of Seren broke out.

His Majesty Marius Gaius, Emperor of the Bacchus Empire, invited His Majesty Leon Griffin, King of the New Pande, to fight a decisive battle in the manner of an ancient gentleman's war.

On August 9 of the following year, His Majesty Li Ang, King of the Neopander Kingdom, personally led the cavalry to charge into the Bacchus army formation, and the morale of the Neopander Kingdom was greatly boosted, and the Bacchus Empire was defeated with inferior troops.

On the 10th, His Majesty Marius, Emperor of the Bacchus Empire, sued for peace with the kingdom of Neupender after his defeat.

His Majesty Leon, King of the New Pande Kingdom, courtesyly attended the peace talks, expressed his condolences to the seriously ill Emperor Marius, but rejected the offer for peace.

It is said that Emperor Marius tried to get a large amount of grain in exchange for His Majesty Leon to withdraw his troops, but His Majesty Leon said that "I can fetch the grain myself" and then got up and left.

But what was special about this peace negotiation was that the two kings negotiated in the military camp of Emperor Marius, who at that time was seriously ill and had difficulty moving.

His Majesty Li Ang of the New Pander Kingdom took only a few retinues with him, and then went deep into the enemy camp to meet the enemy emperor, which can be described as a brave and brave man.

However, Emperor Marius did not detain and murder His Majesty Li Ang when the situation was unfavorable after the defeat, which can be described as a model of a gentleman.

Both emperors were admirable heroes of the time, and the Battle of Seren and the unsuccessful peace negotiations between the two emperors were true examples of nobility and will be remembered by all nations.

- This is a topic that is circulating in the mouths of the taverns and nobles of the Pande Continent.

If nothing else, historians from various countries will also record the event according to this version.

History is a little girl who dresses up at will, and the history of two emperors is even more so.

At the beginning, Ulrike was also 'alone in the face of a strong enemy and died heroically' in the historical records - the epitaph is also engraved like this.

Historical sources probably record that after Leon won a great victory in the Battle of Seren, he led his army to continue southward, and he was invincible all the way, and attacked the cultural center of the Bacchus Empire.

Historical records also record that the governor of Justes, who had just been released by Leon, was unable to prevent Leon from taking away the food stored in Bozhi City, and it was only because of the existence of the Radiant Knights that Leon did not capture Bozhi City. However, Emperor Marius was unable to organize an effective counterattack, and could only continue to retreat south, and the entire eastern part of Bacchus was exposed to the iron hooves of the kingdom of Neupende.

As for the treason of Limusk, lord of Wolfinburg, defected to Novopande; The defeat and death of Gauls, the lord of Amera's fort, and the occupation of the castle by the Noldor elves, these are all normal and trivial things, not worth mentioning......

……

Ten days later.

August 20, 358 Pander.

Leon had already arrived at Fort Amera with his troops.

Alina was no longer with Leon at this time - she remained with Emperor Marius.

It was inevitable that she would spend his last days with her stepfather.

The troops that Leon brought to Fort Amera numbered about 2,000 men, including the Second Legion of New Pander and his Noldor Guard, which consisted of the Silver Hand and the Freikorn.

The rest of the troops were all sent to various places.

The reason why the Silver Hand is classified as the Second Legion is because the First Legion of New Pander is actually the original non-commissioned officer unit and the dart divisions in the Long River Express - this is the earliest team, and Leon's legion number is only based on the time of the formation of the unit......

The strength of the First Army has also been expanded to 2,000 men, mainly because the manpower of the Long River Express has been growing.

The other troops did not have such a number, because those were not directly subordinate to Leon.

The Horn Summoning Ranger has returned to Rivertown, and Ralph has been reappointed by Leon as the military officer of River, responsible for the defense of the eastern region.

Count Leofrick became Lord of Karen Deer Castle, and his troops also remained in Karen Deer Fort as a garrison.

Fawsette returned to Lionlake City with heavy cavalry, tasked with guarding the north and keeping a close eye on the outcome of the Raven Realm's siblings' battle for the throne.

Rymouske, lord of Wolfenburg, was transferred to Emer and granted the title of baron, subject to Leofric's moderation - the adversarial would definitely be transferred, and Rimusk knew this. But Leon is quite kind, Yimer is very close to Wolfin, and Yimer is a big town, and Limousk has not suffered at all.

As for Warwin Castle, Leon made Islandil a lord, that is, he assigned Warwin to the Duchy of Noldor.

Israndeil is not Leon's direct subordinate - he is loyal to Wendy. Although Leon is the object of Wendy's allegiance, he directly appoints Israndil by bypassing Wendy, which is actually not quite in line with the process.

However, no one expressed any opinion on this, and everyone acquiesced that Wendy was Leon's......

Also part of the Duchy of Noldor was the Fort of Amela, which was given to Risadilan.

Of course, Rissadiran himself would not be stationed at Ameraburg, and his position would still be that of Lyon's Captain.

At present, the Duchy of Noldor already has four outlying castles - White Hart Fort, Shield Wind Fort, Wolwen Fort, and Amella Fort. These castles are on the outskirts of the Noldor Forest, bordering the Duchy of the Noldor.

"Your Majesty, news has arrived from Her Majesty Wendy, who has patrolled through the forest with the troops of Aldalian and Vendatier, and will be able to reach Fort Amera tomorrow. So far, they have not found traces of the enemy in the forest. ”

Risadilan was reporting to Leon the military situation.

"In other words, the enemy should not have been able to enter the Noldor Forest yet. I guess the road on the side of Fidenne is not very easy to walk......"

Leon nodded: "Send an order to Israndil, assemble at Pavron, and prepare to fight south." ”

In this battle, Leon is ready to use the Noldor Elves as the main force - because the enemy is the Serpent Cult.

On the one hand, there will definitely be no spies of the Serpent Cult in the Noldor Elves.

On the other hand, Alina had received news from Dilingang three days ago that there seemed to be some 'devoured' among the enemy, most likely covered in poison, and the losses with regular troops would be great.

(End of chapter)