(2-in-1 chapter)

Everyone knows what it means to "change guards".

For the Northwest Army, their snobbery covers half of Nulin Province and has been operating in the Northwest for twenty years, and if they "change their defenses" at this time, they will be tantamount to leaving their own territory. If the tree has no roots, it will only be a dead end. Moreover, the Northwest Army has not listened to any orders of the empire for twenty years, but it still nominally bears the number of the emperor's [**] team.

For Lu Gao, the commander of the Northwest Army, he also knew very well that this was a last signal from the empire.

It's a fateful decision. Or, accept the empire's order to change defenses, then what awaits you is to be disintegrated by the empire after arriving in the north.

Or, to refuse the Empire's order to change the guard, which must have been prepared for the Empire as well. As long as you refuse, it will be "disobeying military orders", "treason" and other crimes, and you will be pressed down in a high-sounding manner, and the next thing is ...... War.

At the end of the year, the empire recruited new soldiers on a large scale, and then Du Wei sat on a hundred thousand troops in the northwest, and the governor of Bohan was also actively preparing for war, and the imperial royal city guard sent another division to the west...... All of this is already very obvious.

As for the Northwest Army, there seems to be very little troop movement.

Lu Gao also knew very well in his heart that he had been able to blackmail the empire all the time before, and that was because the empire was not sure to fight a civil war that would hurt his vitality. For the sake of stability, in order to maintain a semblance of peace, the empire was reluctant to start a civil war.

But now, I don't know why, the young regent actually made such a determination! Lu Gao knew better that once the empire made up its mind, even if it paid a certain price, it would start a civil war. Then the strength of the two sides is compared. It must be you who loses. In terms of population, troops, war potential, and everything else, he is nothing more than a local warlord, and he faces a vast empire.

When "coercion" has lost its effect. Then you should make the smartest decision you can make.

Northwest Army Watt Fortress. Marshal's Mansion of the Northwest Corps.

The hall was silent, and Lu Gao sat at the top, he was the most short, but the eyes full of oppressive force forced the hearts of the generals to be heavy.

"Don't you speak?" Lu Gao said coldly: "Life and death are now! Don't you have any opinions?"

The generals below were all silent, and none of them spoke, but in everyone's hearts, there was a trace of dissatisfaction with Lu Gaodi.

What did you do for a whole year, and the empire was sending troops, and everyone knew about these things. They had also advised Lu Gao to make a decision early, but this general. This year, but nothing has been done. Almost just sit still. Let the Empire put the noose around its neck!

Right now...... Now what else can we do!!

Many generals thought so in their hearts, and their faces couldn't help but show it. Lu Gao saw it in his eyes. Secretly wrote it down in his heart, and said slowly: "I know that many people have some thoughts in their hearts now, but now is not the time for infighting, we need to unite as one...... I think each of you knows very well how we have behaved towards the Empire over the years! And then you can think that if we were to be finished, the Empire would not spare any of you. No one can be forgiven for the great sin of treason. If you want to live, you need everyone to work together. ”

still touched many people with these words, and immediately some people began to express their positions.

Some places said that they could immediately send people to the grasslands to find the big tribes with whom they had secret relations, and ask them to immediately send troops to attack the province of Desar, so as to create a chaotic situation of "foreign invasion" and disturb the situation in the northwest, and then our northwest army could refuse to go to the north under the pretext that "foreign enemies invade and the military situation is urgent." You can even secretly help the steppe people and inflict a heavy blow on that Tulip Duke!

Lu Gao looked at the person who proposed this idea, and sneered in his heart.

At this time, there is no need to count on the steppe people.

The news of the grassland land, Lu Gao also received it, and now the major tribes on the grassland have become a mess, you fight me, I beat you, they are all coveting the position of the king of the grassland, and that Saladin ...... Lu Gao only thought about it for a moment, and guessed that it must be Du Wei behind that Saladin's land! The steppe people are now too busy to take care of themselves, where is the opportunity to send troops to help them?

Not to mention...... His son was worried that he couldn't kill Baihe, and he had completely torn his face with Daxue Mountain. Bai Hechou is the witch king, as long as he gives an order, which tribe on the grassland dares to help him?

Alas...... It's just a pity that that guy from Sebasta actually missed such a good opportunity!! Bai He is seriously injured and weak, this kind of opportunity is not common!!

Other generals suggested that they immediately send troops to attack the province of Desa, concentrate on crushing Du Wei's army with the superior forces of their own side, and then take the opportunity to occupy the province of Desa, snatch the strategic reserves hoarded by Duke Tulip, and then fight a war of attrition with the empire.

However, not many people agree with such a suggestion.

There are also people who believe that they should immediately raise troops, take advantage of the fact that the empire has not yet moved, immediately concentrate their forces, go all out to the east, and then defeat the city as quickly as possible, as long as they can conquer the dìdū in one battle and destroy the royal family, when the time comes...... Occupying dìdū and having a male soldier in his hand, he hijacked the royal palace nobles and ministers of the empire, and then, as long as he sent a message, it could be spread all over the continent.

If all goes well, then the world is ours! Destroy the Augustinian dynasty, and then Lu Gao can become emperor!

The plan is bold and ambitious. It was immediately recognized by many generals, and everyone pondered the possibility of this plan.

From the Watt fortress to Dìdū, if it was a fast horse march, Jīng Rui's cavalry did not sleep, and it only took seven days to reach the city of Dìdū. Moreover, the empire's current strength is not sufficient, and two divisions were previously dispatched north to replenish the Storm Legion, and then another division was sent east to monitor itself. Then now stationed in Dìdū, there is only one division with 20,000 troops. Plus a division mobilized from the Southern Army - but. The Southern Army has always been considered the weakest of the Imperial Main Battle Corps, and the Northwest Army generally doesn't look down on those guys.

It's just two divisions, and with our strength, we can completely crush them in one battle!

As long as you can occupy the dìdū...... So. What else is impossible?

Lu Gao never spoke. Just quietly listening to the discussion of these guys below.

He sneered inwardly.

He's ambitious, but he's not arrogant.

In fact, all along, Lu Gao knew a little bit very well, with his strength. Threatening dìdū with "war", when dìdū is unwilling to fight a civil war, he naturally has the upper hand and has whatever he wants. But if the dìdū side made up its mind to fight, then he would lose his greatest support.

With the strength of the Northwest Army, it is almost impossible to make a surprise attack and fight a battle.

If it's a general city. For example, the capital of Nulin Province, and even the city of Loulan in Duwei. Maybe it's a little bit more likely.

Can dìdū?

Not to mention the seven days and seven nights of galloping all the way, will there be resistance and interception on the way......

After all, dìdū is the first male city in the mainland. The giant magic array that the continent is known for. There are also magic cannons on the city walls...... It's no joke.

Once the magic array is activated, it is absolutely impossible to break. I can only stare outside the city. In the next few days, his army will be surrounded by the troops of the Ground Attendant King who have flocked to all over the country, and finally be torn to pieces.

Attacking dìdū was not a smart choice, and the political significance of this matter was relatively large, but the actual gain was very small.

In the past, dìdū also often deployed troops to the east to defend himself against his own eastward raids. However, whether it is Lu Gao or dìdū, it is very clear that with the strength of Lu Gaodi, it is impossible to raid and conquer dìdū.

What Dìdū feared was that if Dìdū was besieged by the rebels, it would cause a great panic and shake the prestige of the Empire.

Lu Gao was silent, and none of the opinions of the generals below were satisfactory to him.

Lu Gao did not have a staff or adviser...... Because he is very conceited, he thinks that as a disciple of the Witch King on the Great Snow Mountain, he has learned astronomy, geography, tactics and strategies, everything in the Northwest Army, his own wisdom is enough, and he does not need any staff.

Seeing the quarrel of these generals, Lu Gao gradually lost his patience, and he coughed vigorously: "Okay!"

He stood up and looked at these generals, he was disappointed in his heart, these guys, they are all things that lack the overall situation...... Well, except for one person.

Lu Gao glanced at Guvadoro. This calm and silent middle-aged man. This is one of the most respected and trusted generals of Lu Gao.

Although his martial arts skills are not the best among the generals, some people even mock him for not being brave enough. However, it still could not shake the position of Guhuadoro in Lu Gao's heart.

"Guvadoro, you stay, and the others disperse. Lu Gao made a decision, but he felt that he needed to stabilize the morale of the army, so he deliberately laughed a few times, and then laughed loudly at his generals: "Okay! You don't have to worry too much...... Hmph, that regent is just a little hairy child! His son Augustine VI can't do anything with us, can't we still take care of a little hairy child! Hmph...... Don't worry, don't look at him making such a big fuss now, but he must also be under a lot of pressure. I don't think he will dare to really fight, and even if he does, once he suffers losses, I'm afraid he won't be able to bear it. This kind of young man is frizzy and unstable, and as long as he knocks out his sharpness, he will immediately soften. We have been in the northwest for so many years, who have we been afraid of!"

These words were heroic and hearty, and when the generals heard this, they couldn't help but regain some confidence in their commander.

Then, after everyone had left, Lu Gao looked at Guhuadoro, who was standing below, and his face showed a faint trace of worry.

"Alright, Guvadoro, there's no one else now. Let me know what you think. ”

"Your Excellency. The middle-aged man looked at his commander steadily, and then he asked a strange question: "Do you think we have a chance of winning this time?"

"......" Lu Gao stared at his most trusted subordinate, and then he told the truth: "It's small. ”

"I think it's small, too. Guvadora nodded, and he bowed slightly. Then he whispered: "All along, the empire is not unable to defeat us. It's that the empire doesn't dare to fight, doesn't want to fight, and can't make up its mind. But now, they're relenting. We've lost our grip. Once the war began. IMHO...... Regardless of the process, perhaps with the bravery of the soldiers, or with the wisdom of the commanders, we can achieve some victories, but ...... The final ending. We are bound to fail. The only difference is that the persistence is long, or short. That's all. ”

"And what do you think?"

Guvadora closed his mouth, as if he didn't dare to speak.

"Say, Guvadoro, since I have left you alone, I want to hear your true thoughts. Lu Gao said lightly.

"Winners and losers aside. Guhuadoro shook his head: "Let me ask you, General, what is your expectation in your heart? What is the ultimate goal? Is it to seize the country of the Thorn Flower Family, to seize the world, to seize the throne, or do you just want to make a big fuss? Or are you willing to compromise in order to save your life? Before I make any choices, I need to know what your goals are, General. ”

Lu Gao's eyes were serious: "Oh?"

"Of course. If you decide to take over the world and seize the country of the Thorn Flower family. Then I know that this is an unlikely thing, but I want to repay you for your kindness, General. I will definitely do my best to do it. Until I die, even though I don't think it's possible. If your goal is just to make a big fuss, then I think it's going east. And then the siege dìdū is a good method, even if the army is defeated in the end, but it can be regarded as vigorous, so that the mainland will always remember our name......! If you feel that you have to compromise to save your life, then I am willing to follow you to the death, even if you decide to throw the entire Northwest Army into the fire pit. ”

Lu Gao was silent.

"You see, you haven't thought it through yourself, so how can I answer your question?" Gu Huadoro sighed, and then he actually reached out and picked up the military document on Lu Gao's desk, then tore it into pieces, and finally knelt down on one knee in front of Lu Gao: "My lord, my life is yours, all these years, you know my secrets, but you have always kept me by your side, trusted me, and reused me. Even though my colleagues have some opinions and exclusions from me, your trust in me has never changed. I have nothing to give back to you, only my life, and whatever choice you make, I swear by Guvadora that I will be by your side until I breathe. ”

This steady middle-aged man, at this moment, actually revealed a little crazy in his eyes, he looked at Lu Gao, and actually smiled, then stood up, turned around and walked out of the hall.

"My ...... Choose. Lu Gao frowned and thought about it carefully

Then he suddenly laughed.

"Prince Chen, if you want to play, then I will accompany you to play a big game!"

After speaking, he grabbed the pen on the table, and then quickly wrote down an official document, loudly called his personal soldiers in, and then asked people to send this thing out quickly.

This is an official document, and the content on it is also very simple.

"Lu Gao, the commander of the Northwest Army, was ordered, that is, to immediately prepare for the change of guard!"

He, actually accepted the order to change guards?!, Lu Gao, strode into the inner hall, then waved off his entourage, directly entered the secret passage in the inner hall, all the way down, came to the underground tunnel, just walked into the tunnel, he heard a beast-like roar from inside, the voice was poignant and sharp, full of despair and anger.

At the end of the tunnel, there was a square stone room, Lu Gao stood at the door, the door of this room was an iron fence, he just stood at the door, he saw a black figure in the stone house, and rushed towards this place fiercely.

Rumble!

The figure slammed into the iron fence, buzzing the whole room, and then saw the person inside, with his hair scattered, his sturdy body covered in blood, and he didn't know how many slight scars there were, but his face, under the blood, was a pale and handsome face.

Sebasta, this is the major general of the Northwest Army, Sebasta!

Sebasta's eyes were like blood-devouring beasts, his hands gripped the iron fence door hard, shaking vigorously, the iron fence made a clicking sound, and the young general's mouth was speechless, he roared like a beast. There was no clarity in his eyes, and he was completely murderous and beast-like.

Lu Gao stood outside the door, his eyes showed deep sadness, looking at his only son, but Lu Gao raised his hand, through the iron fence, as if to touch his son's head......

Suddenly, with a snort, a ball of fire came out of his palm, and hit Sebasta's head, and Sebasta immediately screamed in pain like a wounded beast, and the whole person rolled backwards, rolling on the ground a few times, before getting up, but his eyes trembled, and he didn't dare to step forward, lying on the ground, looking out of the door from afar.

"Poor son. Lu Gao sighed: "Where do you still have the slightest appearance of my son now! You have become a beast at all! A beast that has no one to understand...... I should have killed you. ”

Since the last attempt to kill Bai Hechou and the Pope failed, and was finally seriously injured by the "Aragorn" awakened under the "coincidence", Sebasta, who barely recovered from his injuries with his "perfect body", and quickly fled back to the Northwest Army.

But what kind of strength is the "awakened" Aragorn? Being able to take a single blow from him without dying is already a miracle of Sebasta's "perfect body". However, his "perfect body", which has a fatal flaw, will lose his mind if he uses transitions.

And barely recovered from his injuries and returned to the Northwest Army, and the side effects of the perfect body immediately broke out. Moreover, because of the treatment of Aragorn's wounds, the use of Perfect Body has exceeded the boundaries of any previous time.

Saibasta was crazy this time, and even Lu Gao's Great Snow Mountain spell couldn't appease him.

He became a beast full of murderous and destructive hopes!!!

As a last resort, Lu Gao could only lock up his son in this stone house, and he used the witchcraft of the Great Snow Mountain to arrange a formation around this house, so that Sebasta could not use his powerful fighting spirit and martial arts in this house, otherwise, a stone house, where could it lock up Sebasta, who had ninth-level strength?

At this moment, Sebasta has been locked up in this stone house for more than a year, and he has not seen the sky all the year round, and every rì is only a wail like a beast.

On the stone wall, he scratched one by one with his fingernails, and his ten fingers, all the nails were lifted, and the blood flowed, but he didn't seem to feel the pain at all, Lu Gao just stood outside the door, quietly looking at his only son, the only bone and blood.

Although his face was hateful, there was deep sadness in his eyes.