Mesta, the capital of County Moore.

The smoke of gunfire filled the air, and fires broke out in many parts of the city. Above the tower, the wolf smoke of the beacon tower soared into the sky, and the huge pillar of smoke rushed straight into the sky! This black wolf smoke has been in the sky for three days. The fighting on the city walls has gradually subsided. There were cries of crying fathers and mothers everywhere, and the living soldiers all looked desperate, some of the injured were rolling in pain in the corner, and the others who were not injured were also terrified.

Although Meesta City is the capital of Mor County and the largest city in Mor County, it is different from Denzel City, after all, Denzel City is a frontier military lock, and it has always been the location of the garrison.

However, although Mesta City is the capital, the city walls are much shorter than Denzel City! Moreover, the emperor has not repaired the city walls for many years, and many places have long been damaged.

At this moment, he had just experienced the baptism of war, and the not majestic city defense was already crumbling! Krinthia stood on the city wall, and the forty-six-year-old county magistrate of Moore, although he was a civil official, was now dressed in a military uniform, and the armor he was wearing pressed against his slightly weak body, which seemed to be a little overwhelmed.

But the forty-six-year-old county guard, with a look on his face, still stood straight, barely wielding his long sword in his hand, desperately urging the already frightened soldiers around him, Klinthia ran back and forth a few steps, kicked and beat a few soldiers who were cowering in the corner, and shouted: "Hold on! Keep going!

Although there are some sharp and weak voices, they show a bit of majestic taste at this moment.

Under the forced urging of the county keeper, the already collapsed defenders reluctantly regrouped. There were less than 200 people left on the city wall, and although they could barely repel the two sieges of the Odin, Krinthia knew in her heart that the city could not be defended! The city of Mesta was backed by a mountain on one side, flat plains on three sides, and the surrounding fertile soil was fertile for hundreds of miles.

On the wilderness outside the city, the banner of the Red Snow Army is fluttering, the huge military camp has been set up, the Odin warriors have been besieging the city for three days, day and night of clamor and shouting and killing, the earth-shattering roar and urging horn, little by little, the last glimmer of hope in the hearts of the imperial defenders on the city wall has been destroyed! Standing on the city wall and looking at it, the dense Odin military camp outside the city has already surrounded the city of Mesta.

And Krinthia knew better in her heart that she could hold the city for three days, not because of how well she defended, let alone because of the courage of the soldiers. The real reason is that "these Odin people didn't bother to attack the city at all! Manninger's Red Snow Army and Ballast: Hurry, abandon Denzel City without attacking, and go all the way south, the biggest target is naturally Mesta! This capital of Mor County is where the wealth of the whole county of Mor County lies! There are countless merchants in the city, and they hoard grain, taxes, and wealth! There are tens of thousands of people! But when Manninger's army came, they only surrounded the city outside the city, but they did not attack the city immediately, but they divided the teams to spread out outside the city, searching from road to road, village by village! The Red Snow Army, which had exhausted all the food and had fallen to the slaughter of their mounts, did not immediately attack the rich city that made them blush, but divided almost half of their forces to spread out in the surrounding nearby villages to collect food as quickly as possible, while Manninger led the remaining part of his troops to continue to besiege the city of Mesta, in order to prevent the defenders from breaking through and escaping.

His strategy was successful.

As early as after Green in Denzel City got the news that the Odin people were heading south, Green had already sent someone to Mysta City to report the news. Even the messenger brought Green's suggestion: "Scorched earth on your own!" However, Krinthia rejected Green's suggestion. After all, he was the county warden of County Moore, and he was also a civilian official, after all, he did not have the ruthlessness of Greene! He hesitated again and again, and really couldn't make such a ruthless strategy as scorching the earth on his own, so he just ordered to concentrate all the garrisons in the city and prepare for war with all his might.

But even though Manninger's army was delayed in Denzel for a few days, after all, tens of thousands of troops were complete, and once they came to the city of Mesta, Krinthia immediately understood that she could not hold it! There was only one battalion of garrison in the city, and although the armament was relatively neat, even if you added some young men and women who had been temporarily mobilized in the city, and even Klinthia and some rich officials in the city had sent all their servants to the city, it still looked like they were sparse, but there were only more than a thousand people. The Odin people were busy dividing their armies to search everywhere, and in three days, the Odin's squad was crisscrossing the countryside, and at night, when Krinthia stood on the city wall, she could see the distance outside the city, and the direction of many villages and towns was faintly blazing! These Odin people were like locusts raging, and for three days, you could see the small troops of Odin who were looting everywhere, pulling cattle carts, and returning with a full load to regroup into the camp outside the city.

There were also many villagers and farmers from the surrounding villages, who were also driven in front of the iron hoof and sword of the Odin, and served as coolies, cutting down the woods, making ordnance for the Odin, digging trenches, and building camps......

Outside the city, a miserable cry could be heard at night.

The three sieges of the Odin are just for show, and before waiting for all the small forces to come back, the Odin will not really attack the city, it is just to maintain the momentum of oppression in the city.

But even though it was only three pretended sieges, there were less than 300 of the more than 1,000 soldiers on the city who had been put together on a makeshift basis! And the people who were alive were obviously already in a panic! Krinthia was not Char, nor was Green.

He didn't have personal martial arts, nor did he have a strategy to boost morale in battle. He just ordered to collect the taxes collected from the spring in the city treasury, and carried more than ten boxes of ruthenium coins to pile up under the city, and collected the young people in the city with heavy rewards.

At first, there was some effect, and many people signed up for the heavy reward. But after the Odin people attacked the city three times, seeing that the first batch of people who went to the city had died, the rest of the people were terrified, even if there were mountains of coins under the city, there were few registrations.

The Odin people outside the city were not in a hurry to attack the city, but they just made noise every day, and then raged around it.

Standing on the city wall at this moment, Clincia was exhausted, although under the protection of several guards around him, he was not injured, but the shock in his heart made his mind almost blank.

Just now, when the Odin people were attacking the city, a stray arrow almost killed him, if it wasn't for a loyal guard around him hurriedly pushing him away, he would have been shot through by an arrow! But that loyal guard, but an arrow pierced the heart, nailed alive on the city tower Odin people are savage, the bow and arrow actually have such power, which makes the living people even more frightened.

In the evening, the camp of the Odin people was filled with countless smokes, and in the distance, a group of Odin people returned with a full load, and many farmers and villagers who drove the captives cried and cried......

Krinthia's lips had already been bitten, and it took great perseverance to forcibly suppress the anger in her heart.

“...... Adult ......"

A slight voice behind him, Krinthia turned around, and saw that the person who spoke was the tax collector in the county guard of the city, and the person was also pale, if he hadn't forcibly stomped on the wall, he was afraid that he would have already sittened.

“...... Adults Odin may ......"

"Maybe what?" said Krinthia's voice hoarsely.

"Perhaps, they won't attack the city tomorrow. The official's face was miserable: "I see that in the past few days, the teams they sent out have returned, even if they collect food, they have almost collected it, looking at the fires on all sides, I am afraid that the nearby villages are all caught in the flames of war." I heard that they did not attack the city of Denzel...... Maybe once you have enough food, you will go south directly......"

Krinthia shook her head: "No, they will definitely attack the city and will not let us go." ”

The county guard's expression was miserable, and he smiled bitterly: "Although I don't understand military strategy, I still understand the reason that the army needs food and grass supplies." They didn't attack Denzel because that guy Green was ruthless enough to burn all the land and food in the village outside the city!

But we're different...... Look outside, what has become of these Odin's killing and wreaking havoc in the past three days! We are now a piece of fat, how can they not bite! The reason why they didn't bite a few days ago is because they must first recover their vitality, and our piece of fat has been trapped to death by them anyway, and we can't run away if we are thrown into the loop. ”

After a pause, Krinthia lowered her voice and said: "Moreover, I am the county guard! I know very well in my heart that the Odin people must attack our city! A few days ago, the spring tax grain was collected, so these days, in the villages and towns, everyone's family does not have much food. Even if all these Odin people were looted, how many days would their tens of thousands of troops be able to sustain themselves on these looted things? But we are different! The city now reserves the tax grain of the whole county that has just been collected! If it falls into their hands, it will be enough for this Odin army to consume more than two months! How can they let us go?" Speaking of this, Krinthia smiled miserably: "Even in order to snatch these supplies, they will never abandon us to go south." ”

The county guard sighed softly: "It's a pity, I'm too pedantic, I haven't been ruthless for a long time, and I haven't learned from Grimm's scorched earth strategy...... Alas, in fact, even if you learn Grimm, it is useless, the Odin people have gone south, they have already abandoned the city of Denzel, and when they come to us, they have been cornered, and they will grab food to attack the city no matter what......"

The tax collector said angrily, "It's all that Green! If he hadn't messed around, the Odin wouldn't have abandoned them and come to us so quickly!

"Shut up!" Klinthia shouted and said angrily: "What are these words! Denzel City is the location of the military capital of a county! Keeping them is far more valuable than keeping us! As long as Denzel City is still there, the garrison of our county will still be there! It is a nail pierced in the back of Odin! Green's approach, instead of hating him, I am grateful to him! I only hate myself for being too pedantic and not having the courage to make a decision on the spot...... If I had that courage, the Odin wouldn't even be able to grab the food they have now!"

The tax collector sighed; My lord, it's too late to say anything...... It seems that our city may not be able to hold out until dark tomorrow......"

"Tomorrow it's dark?" Clincia sneered, "Tomorrow morning, the Odin will be able to break the city."

The tax collector was about to speak, but suddenly he heard a shout from the city behind him: "The treasury is on fire!"

Looking back, in the depths of the city, there was a fire in the distance, as if it was the direction of the treasury! My lord! The treasury is on fire! Oh no! Our reserves are all there! Could it be that the Odin have a spy in the city?!"

He was about to go down to the city anxiously, but Krinthia grabbed him! Seeing the absolute look on the county guard's face, his eyes flashed, and his face was obviously weak, but at this moment he had a somewhat hideous appearance.

"Don't go, it's not an Odin spy...... I sent some of my guards to do it!"

Krinthia's eyes were like blades, and she also looked back at the fires in the city. The treasury in the city is the tax reserve of the whole county, and once it burns, the fire will spread so loudly that almost half of the sky will be red! The thick smoke will rise straight up, and it will make people tremble to see! The tax collector was stunned for a moment, but when he saw Krinthia's expression, his heart suddenly brightened! At that moment, he whispered: "My lord?!"

"Hmph. Krinthia bit her lip and let the blood flow, but sneered: "If you don't burn it, will you wait for the city to be broken and left for the Odin people to eat!"

As he spoke, he suddenly roared, raised his hands high, and looked up at the sky! "I hate! I hate! I hate the traitors in the empire! I hate the decline of the country! I have been in Byzantium for thousands of years, have I really come to the end of the road!! God! You are blind!!"

In the camp of the Odin people outside the city, Manninger was eating dinner, when one of his generals came in and asked for an order: "Patriarch, let us attack the city early tomorrow morning! The warriors are full and rested! The defenders of this Mesta city are too weak, these Byzantine sheep, I can break the city gate in an hour at most!"

Manninger smiled lightly: "Of course, this piece of fat should also be ticked!"

He was laughing when he heard someone outside rushing in anxiously, and as soon as it was the leader of his own guard, he knelt down in front of him: "Patriarch!

Manninger's expression changed suddenly, and he strode out, and when he looked up, he saw the direction of the city of Mesta, and the city was full of red light......

Manninger only glanced at it, immediately shouted and stomped his feet, and immediately turned his head and shouted: "Order! Attack the city immediately! Quickly! Let the warriors attack the city at once! At all costs, you must rush in as soon as possible! Hurry!! The siege of the Odin people is indeed fast, and the general who boasted to Manninger did not lie, in an hour, the city gate was breached, and the Odin people drove straight into the city, and there was almost no decent resistance, but when they rushed to the warehouse, they reluctantly stopped.

Where the storehouse was, the whole street turned into a sea of fire! The fire was all over the sky, where could the man put it out?! Although Manninger had ordered his men to fight to extinguish the fire, such a large fire, even if the Odin people tried their best, could not control it.

The fire burned until the next morning, and there was no sign of extinguishing it! The Odin tried their best, but could not get much food.

But at dawn, in the big tent of Genninger, several Odin warriors pushed a man in.

"Patriarch, this guy led people to fight to the death near the fire, and in the end all the people around him died, but he suddenly shouted that he was the county guard, and he wanted to see our general. Hmph, we saw that he seemed to be a leader, so we captured him alive and offered it to you. ”

Manninger looked at the man in front of him, his body was in tatters, there was blood everywhere, his armor had been taken off, but his robe was black and red, and his hair was charred in many places. It's just that with Manninger's eyes, he can see at a glance that this person is not a martial artist at all.

His heart moved, and he stood up and walked to the front: "Who are you?"

This person was naturally Krinthia, and he raised his head and stared at Manninger proudly: "Byzantine Empire Mor County Warden Archon, Krinthia!"

"Sure enough, it's you. Manninger's expression was not stern, but he was a little polite: "I am the patriarch of the Odin Bashak clan, and the commander of the Red Snow Army, Manninger." Your Excellency Clinthia, why did you see me when the army was defeated?"

"Hmph, look at what the enemy chieftains who dare to invade my territory look like. Krinthia sneered.

Manninger's face remained unchanged: "You ordered my grain to be burned, right?"

Klinthia was furious and scolded: "Bastard thief!!!What your food!!It's all owned by my Byzantine Empire!When did it become yours!!What a robber's speech!!"

His words made the surrounding Odin warriors furious, and they were immediately kicked twice, but Manninger waved his hand to let others dodge, standing in front of Klinthia and smiling faintly: "Okay, it doesn't matter who it is, it's all burned now anyway." Hmph......"

He pondered for a while, and then spoke: "Crinthia, I know your name, Mo has been a county warden in Moore County for seven years, right? In the two wars between your country and us, you were the consul of Moore County, and you were responsible for assisting in the preparation of ordnance and food. In this way, the first two times your country defeated our army, you can be regarded as a great credit. Hey. ”

"Hmph!" Krinthia sneered: "It's a pity that I didn't do well enough to help my country kill more Odin thieves!"

Manninger sighed: "You Byzantines, you just like to talk about it. I don't quarrel with you, I just ask you, you have worked in County More for seven years, and I heard that you have governed County More very well, and County is rich and fertile, all of which are due to you. It's a pity that you haven't moved for seven years and haven't been promoted, which shows that your Byzantine Empire is incompetent, and such talents will not be used. I think you're a capable guy, since the Byzantine Empire is incompetent, why don't you help me! This Mor County is my territory after the war, why don't you help me govern this place, I think ......"

When he said this, he saw that Corinthia just looked at him and sneered, and Manninger knew in his heart: "What, don't you want to?"

"What do you say?" Clinthia rolled her eyelids.

“...... All right. Manninger sighed, "If you were the kind of person who would surrender, you wouldn't know the food in the city." But...... Why do you want to refuse? The Byzantine Empire can't use you, but I can reuse you! The Byzantine Empire doesn't know anyone, so why should you be loyal to these fools?"

Krinthia shook her head: "There's no why. The empire has been established for a thousand years, and when the country is in trouble, how can there not be one or two loyal people who are going to die! Hmph, Your Excellency, please kill me. ”

Manninger's expression was a little complicated, and when he looked at Clinthia, there was a hint of respect in his eyes: "Do you have any other requirements?"

Klinthia laughed: "Thirsty, the bowl of water comes." ”

Manninger waved his hand, and immediately someone brought a bowl of water, and Clinthia drank it all, and sighed: "Cool! After putting the fire all night, my mouth is dry, and this water is refreshing! I never thought that drinking water would be so pleasant!"

He threw the bowl and looked up at Manninger: "Thank you!

"Why?" Manninger sighed, "Your Excellency makes me respect, even if you want to die, I will keep your whole body." ”

"No, hang my head!" Clincia smiled proudly, "My head hangs on the wall, for I want to see with my own eyes you Odinians to come...... Whoever fights in, will be defeated! Don't you dare!"

Manninger was stunned for a moment, laughed, showed a hint of anger on his face, and waved his hand and shouted: "Go! cut him off, and his head will hang above the gate of Mesta!"

Several Odin people rushed over like wolves, and Krinthia smiled heroically, without fear, turned around, held her head high, and strode out! After Klinthia went out, Ganninger turned around and walked back a few steps, sat down heavily, and the evil aura on his face was retracted, but gradually revealed a trace of complexity and emotion.

In a few moments, someone came to report that Krinthia had been decapitated and her head hung above the city gates.

He...... Did you have any words before you died?"

The person who replied whispered, "No...... It's just that when he cut off his head, his eyes were round. ”

Manninger looked cold and waved his hand: "Got it, let's get out." ”

After a while, the patriarch of the Bashak tribe sat alone in the tent, but suddenly sighed softly.

...... The country has been founded for a thousand years, and when the country is in calamity, how can there not be one or two loyal people who go to die!" He savored this sentence and sighed in a low voice: "Well said! Hmph...... This road to the south is probably not as simple as thought. ”

A few years later, Osie, a disciple of the wise man of the Empire, wrote an article describing the war of Odin's invasion, and in an article entitled "The Afterglow of the Last Dynasty", she wrote about the first important city conquered by the Odins during this invasion:

“...... The Red Snow Army in the city of Kmeista, the Imperial County Guard, Lord Clinthia, burned all the food in the city, was captured in battle, the enemy chieftain surrendered, Lord Krinthia refused, and died generously, and his head was hung on the city gate for ten days. After seven years in power, the people of Morshire were deeply moved to tears. At that time, in the spring, the grass grows and the eagle flies, the head of the adult hangs on the tower of the city, there are birds pecking, the people in the city please take the head and bury it, the enemy does not allow it, so the people in the city spontaneously stay under the city, day and night, shoot the birds with a slingshot, do not peck at the head of the adult, do not disperse for several days. Later generations wept when they heard it. ”