Laurist was very tired. First, he killed his way to the top of the hill. Then, he killed the archers and ballistae of the Sentinels. Finally, he killed five Silver-tier knights. He was completely exhausted. That was why he had Padt command the spearmen to force the enemy to take over the position.
Although he was extremely tired, Laurist still forced himself to wait in the large tent. There were still some matters that needed to be taken care of, especially the mountain that Ell had fallen into. They had yet to find him, which made Laurist even more worried.
His clothes were soaked in blood, and they were half-dried by the wind. They were sticky and uncomfortable. Once he returned to the new tent at the foot of the mountain, Laurist tore off all his clothes and draped a battle robe over his bare upper body as he waited anxiously for news.
Yuri, Terman, and Bodefinger walked into the tent.
"My lord, the enemy's five thousand reinforcements were completely wiped out. The survivors captured two to three thousand captives. The Gold-tier knight leading them was killed by Lord Bodbinger," Yuri reported.
"Bodbinger, well done," Laurist praised.
Bodbinger smiled and shook his head, "It was an unfair victory. If that Gold-tier knight hadn't been hit by three arrows, I'm afraid he would still be fighting me."
Laurist nodded, "Are there many casualties? “
Terman took a step forward, "We lost seven Silver-tier knights, and a few hundred others …"
There was a moment of silence in the tent.
After a long time, Laurist let out a long sigh. "Collect their bodies and cremate them. Bring them back. Their final resting place is the Tomb of Heroes in the family territory. That is the resting place of the warriors who sacrificed their lives for the family …"
"Yes, my lord," Terman replied solemnly.
Yuri asked hesitantly, "My lord, I heard that Aire …"
"He fell to the bottom of the hill. We're already looking for him. It's almost daybreak, and we should have news soon. Bread Hill isn't a mountain, it's only that high. Don't worry, Aire will be fine … "Laurist comforted Yuri and himself.
"Right, Yuri, your task is very important. The road to Vanades City must be completely sealed and blocked. You must not let news from here spread. Remember what I said last time. Turning the enemy blind and deaf depends on the performance of your light cavalry scouts. " Laurist patted Yuri's shoulder, "Don't worry, I'll let you know when I have news of Aire. Trust me, he'll be fine …"
"I understand, Master. Rest assured, we light cavalry scouts will definitely complete our mission." Yuri stood at attention and replied in a serious manner.
"Borg, I'll leave the rest of the plan to you. Let's see if we can impersonate the Guardians and launch a sneak attack on Venados City. If everything goes smoothly, we can head straight for Sith Castle after sealing off Vanades City. Only by occupying Sith Castle will we be able to trap the Madras Sea Legion in Cedargrad Province. That way, we won't have to worry about being intercepted by the Sea Legion. "
"If the plan doesn't go smoothly …" Laurist furrowed his brows and pondered for a moment, "We must take Vanades City. That way, we can prevent our carriages and refugees from being blocked in Yungesandra Province. Yuri's light cavalry scouts are going to lock down the entire city. Borg, you will command the Iron Spearmen and Cavalry Archers to distract the city guards and feint attacks. Once the Heavy Armoured Division and the War Chariots arrive, we will be able to take down the city.
If the sneak attack on Sith Castle doesn't go smoothly, let Ross lead two cavalry units to confront the castle. Even if the Sea Legion comes, they won't dare to fight us in the open. Otherwise, I'd like to see how a unit that specializes in fighting on foot and in water can fight against our family's cavalry … "
Laurist's plan was to immediately command the family's armed forces to take down Vanades City and Sith Castle after taking over Sith Castle. This was to ensure that the carriages and refugees would be unobstructed on their journey north.
The troops that were about to set off were Yuri's light cavalry scouts, Peter's cavalry archers, and Rod Wales' three large units of spearmen, all under Bodefinger's command. As for Bodefinger's heavy armoured troops and Dolus's chariots, they would follow behind.
Laurist was left with Terman's knights and the main camp's guards. They had to stay here for a few days to assist the second prince in besieging Fort Lejidana and cutting off the water supply. Fatso Shi was in charge of leading the carriages and the refugees north under the escort of Freya and Malek's garrison troops along the empty space below Bread Hill.
"That's all for now. Be careful, and have a safe journey," Laurist said.
"Yes, thank you, my lord." Bodefinger and Yuri bowed and retreated. They were about to set off.
"Let's go ahead and take a look. Why haven't we found him yet?" Laurist asked Terman anxiously.
Not long after they left the tent, a guard ran over hurriedly, "My lord, we found him. Sir Aire is still alive …"
Rule was dead, with a huge crossbow bolt sticking out of his chest.
Aire was lucky. He wasn't hurt by the bolt, but was knocked down the hill by Ruhr. He didn't realize the danger at the time. He was two steps away from the top of the hill when Ruhr suddenly crashed into him. He wanted to grab Ruhr, but both of them were sent flying by the bolt. Falling from a height of forty to fifty meters, he hurriedly used his Combat Aura to protect his body. He first fell into a tree, then landed on the ground. He was in a daze, and his internal organs were severely injured. His life was saved, but he would have to lie in bed for another three to four months.
Laurist was still conscious when he saw Aire. His face was pale, and he smiled bitterly, "Why am I so unlucky? It took me more than three months to recover from the battle at Greenfield Plains, and now I have to rest for another three to four months … Sigh …"
Laurist heaved a sigh of relief and smiled, "You always get injured in battles. Haha, alright, rest well. Don't worry about anything else, I'll take care of it."
Aire's injuries were internal organs that had been displaced, so he needed to rest and recuperate. Both carriages and mounts were forbidden. Laurist had no choice but to have his men carry him back to Nardegarth City and find a house for him to rest. He also ordered a few guards to stay behind and take care of Aire. When Aire recovered, he would return to the north with them.
After making arrangements for Aire, Laurist returned to the camp and ordered Redi to prepare a bucket of water for him to bathe and wash the dried bloodstains off his body and hair.
Then, Laurist leaned against the bathtub and fell asleep …
He slept soundly, and when he woke up, it was already the morning of the next day.
Laurist found himself lying on the bed, and knew that Redi and the others must have moved him over. He stretched and called out to Redi, who came in from outside, "My lord, you're awake. Yesterday afternoon, the second prince waited for you until night time, but he left when he saw that you were still sleeping. I think he'll come back later … "
Just as Laurist was trying his best to fill his stomach, the second prince came as expected. He was very happy to see Laurist awake, and rejected Laurist's invitation to have a meal together. He only ordered a glass of wine and patiently waited for Laurist to finish his breakfast.
Actually, the second prince did not have anything important to discuss with Laurist. He had only heard that Laurist had single-handedly killed an entire platoon of Iron Guards stationed there and was amazed. As a 2-Star Gold Warrior, the second prince could naturally sense Laurist's Iron-ranked Warrior Energy. He only valued Laurist's outstanding strategic planning and arrangements, and had always been dismissive of Laurist's Warrior Energy.
Although he was envious of the number and abilities of Laurist's Gold and Silver Knights, the second prince only thought that it was because Laurist knew how to win over people's hearts that they followed him so wholeheartedly. Now that he sensed Laurist's Iron-ranked Warrior Energy, the second prince believed that it was possible for Laurist to lead the charge, but it was impossible for him to single-handedly kill his way up the mountain. He suspected that it was a fabricated rumor to create an impression that Laurist, the new head of the Norton Family, was wise and powerful.
After breakfast, Laurist and the second prince once again went to Bread Hill. Looking down, it was a scene of busy labor. Countless peasants were digging trenches and building walls outside the 300 meter range of the ballistae of Liedana Fortress. An encirclement was gradually taking shape with the Liedana Fortress as the center.
"Tomorrow, tomorrow we can set off up the mountain to cut off the water supply to the fortress," the second prince said excitedly.
"It's so lively down there. Didn't the Iron Guards in the fortress come out to harass us?" Laurist asked.
"They came out once yesterday afternoon, but they were shot back by our ballistae and longbowmen. We lost two to three hundred men. Seeing that we are prepared, they are prepared to defend the fortress to the death. Let's see what they can do when the water supply is cut off. "The second prince laughed.
In the evening, Laurist received an urgent report from Bodefinger. The city of Vanades had been taken. Bodefinger had already sealed off the city, allowing people to enter but not leave. He was now leading his men to attack Sith Castle, preparing to use the same trick again. They would pretend to be merchants passing through and seize the city gate. He believed that a company of guards at Sith Castle would not be able to withstand the fierce attack of two companies of Iron Pikemen.
Laurist asked around and found that the Heavy Armor Division and the caravan had already set off for Vanades this morning. They would probably arrive tomorrow evening, so he was relieved. When the defense line surrounding Liedana Fortress was completed tomorrow, the caravan and the hundred thousand refugees would be able to return north to the family's territory.
In the afternoon of the second day, the second prince personally led two Gold Knights, more than ten Silver Knights, and a company of longbowmen to the foothills of Liedana Mountain. After making a circle, they found the waterfall pool that provided water for the Liedana Fortress on the hillside below. They used their Combat Aura to control their swords to open another hole in the pool to drain the water. Then, they found a hidden pipe that was buried into the water and blocked the water entrance. Only then did they bring a Gold Knight down the mountain. The rest of the soldiers were left behind to block the Iron Guards from climbing up the mountain and attempting to break through.
On the third day, Fatty Shi began to lead the caravan and the refugees through the border to the north. When the Sentinels of the fortress of Liechtena saw the waggons and the refugees making a wide circuit along the open space under Loaf Hill, and taking the road to Vanades, they realized that their attempt to keep the waggons and the refugees at the frontier had failed, but they did not yet realize that they were in a desperate situation.
On the fourth day, the Iron Guards in Liedana Fortress realized that the water supply had been cut off. When they sent people up the mountain to check, they were attacked by the longbowmen guarding the mountain. Only then did they realize that all the routes of retreat had been cut off, and the fortress could not hold on for long.
On the fifth day, the Iron Guards in Liedana Fortress sent out two companies of more than five thousand people to launch three tentative attacks on the defensive position that surrounded them. All of them were badly wounded by the Royal Guards of the Andinac Kingdom, and had no choice but to retreat back to the fortress.
That afternoon, Lollister received news from Boddfinger that the surprise attack on Sith Castle had been successful. Now, three companies of Iron Lancers and a company of Cavalry Archers had entered Sith Castle, and the gates of the province of Sydgerad were locked.
Lollister was overjoyed. There was nothing to worry about in the north …
On the sixth night, the Iron Guards of Liedana Fortress were all mobilized and launched a night attack on the defensive line. They concentrated all their strength on a point in the north, trying to break through.
Defending the northern position were two companies of the Royal Guards newly formed by the second prince. They did not expect the Iron Guards to fight so crazily, almost using human lives to fill in a way out. With the Iron Guards pouring in their troops without hesitation, all the captains and platoon leaders of the two companies of the Royal Guards died in battle. Of the two company captains, one was dead, and the other was injured. The remaining recruits finally collapsed, and the defensive position was torn open by the Iron Guards …
Just as the Iron Guards were overjoyed at the prospect of breaking through, Terman, who had just arrived under Lollister's orders, led a group of knights and struck them head-on. Using knights to attack these infantrymen without formations or long-range weapons on a flat open ground was simply a massacre. Of the nearly ten thousand Iron Guards who attacked, less than three thousand returned to the fortress, and most of them were injured.
On the seventh day of the siege of Liedana Fortress, the fortress was deathly silent. The second prince and Lollister were busy cleaning up the battlefield, healing the wounded and the dying. Night attacks in the era of cold weapons were the most brutal and tragic. The Iron Guards who attacked left nearly five thousand corpses on the battlefield, and hundreds of wounded soldiers.
Of the five thousand soldiers of the two companies of the Royal Guards defending the position, less than a thousand survived. All the officers had died in battle, including several knights and students who had left the carriages to seek refuge with the second prince. Terman cried bitterly. Two of the old students who died were elite members of the Dawn Academy Swordsmanship Club. They were Terman's old friends and subordinates.
On the eighth day, the remaining three thousand or so Guardian Legion soldiers in the fortress finally opened the gate of the fortress and sent a messenger with a white flag. The messenger staggered to the second prince, and with his parched mouth only knew how to say, "Water, water, water …"
The second prince's men successfully occupied Liedana Fortress, but the funny thing was that the two thousand men who went to the fortress each carried a wooden bucket into the fortress. The bucket was filled with fresh water from Egret Lake.
…
On the 24th day of the tenth month of the 1767 Galinthea general calendar, the remaining members of the Iron Guards of the Duchy of Madras, which was known for having the best defense in the world, raised the white flag and surrendered to the second prince of the Andinac Kingdom, Ogseiro. At this point, the siege of Liedana Fortress, which lasted less than ten days, ended. The Iron Guards were completely wiped out, and Liedana Fortress fell into the second prince's control.
The short duration of the siege (including the confrontation, it was only twelve days), the huge results (the defenders were completely wiped out), and the light casualties (the attackers suffered less than five thousand casualties) shocked the countries of the continent. The second prince, Ogseiro, also became a rising military star in Galinthea because of this battle.
The cause of this battle was a convoy of nobles from the Andinac Royal Family's fief who wanted to return to their family's territory in the North with a large number of refugees. However, they were blocked by the Guardian Legion sent by the Madras Grand Duke. The Guardian Legion refused to allow the convoy and the refugees to enter the Duchy. The Second Prince resolutely destroyed the Guardian Legion, clearing the way for the convoy and the refugees to return.
The process: The second prince first sent the 30,000 Royal Guards to the border to confront the Iron Guards. He secretly built a pontoon bridge and ordered the reformed White Lion Legion to sneak across Egret Lake. He launched a surprise attack on the camp of the Iron Guards, leaving Liedana Fortress alone. He then took the opportunity to order the Royal Guards to besiege the fortress and build a defense line. Finally, he cut off the water source of the fortress and forced the Iron Guards, who were known for having the best defense in the world, to take the initiative to attack the defense line and finally annihilate them.
At the same time, His Royal Highness ordered the White Lion Legion to launch a surprise attack on the city of Vanades and Sith Castle, trapping the main force of the Madras Principality, the Sea Mountain Legion, in Sidrgrad Province. This laid a good foundation for the Andinac Kingdom to annex the Madras Principality's Yungesandra Province.
In the writings of various military experts of the continent, this battle was known as the Miracle of Egret Lake.
Note: Because Buckingham specially ordered the Norton Family's armed forces to change into the standard equipment of the White Lion Legion, in the eyes of military experts of the various countries, the Norton Family's armed forces became the reformed White Lion Legion of the Andinac Kingdom.
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