"Why are you here?" Blademaster Xanthi returned to her quarters and was surprised to see Duke Fisablen drinking tea in front of the fireplace.
They were currently at Cherry Blossom Ridge. Ever since Blademaster Xanthi received Sylvia's letter and learned that she was pregnant, she rushed over from Crouchtiger Castle. She ignored Duke Fisablen's order for her to remain at the dominion and stayed by Sylvia's side. When Lorist returned, Xanthi didn't want to see him anymore and returned to her own quarters.
"I came back with Lorist," Duke Fisablen replied, "Oh, how's Sylvia doing?"
"Not bad. She'll give birth in a month or so. Now that that fellow is back, she's so happy that she doesn't even care about me anymore, "complained Xanthi unhappily.
"Hehe, you're already so old, yet you're still jealous of the younger generation?" Duke Fisablen laughed, "Come, sit beside me. It's been a long time since we were together."
Blademaster Xanthi walked over and sat down beside Duke Fisablen before burrowing into his warm embrace. Every time the two were together, Blademaster Xanthi would become like a little girl who was extremely attached to the Grand Duke.
"You must be tired from traveling so far in such a snowstorm, right?" asked Xanthi as she reached out to stroke the duke's face.
Duke Fisablen sighed. "You won't believe me if I say it, but it wasn't tiring at all. I followed Lorist all the way here from Wesstwood and traveled day and night. It only took me four days and three nights. "
"That's impossible!" Xanthi said doubtfully, "How many provinces do we have to pass through? Let me count. Weswood, Perolina, Freewood, Jigzai, Messen, Rimad, Southern, Winston, and finally The Northlands. Look, even if we traveled day and night on horseback, it would take us at least a day and night to pass through a province. There are nine provinces in total, and it's so stormy. How could it take so little time? "
"It's true. I'm not lying." Duke Fisablen lowered his head and kissed Blademaster Xanthi's face. She giggled and hid in his embrace.
"You wouldn't have guessed that we didn't come back on horseback, but on a sledge. Apart from the part of the mountain road that required a rope and a pack horse to pull them along, they actually used a sail to descend the mountain and to reach the plains. I never thought that sails could be used on land. Moreover, the stronger the snowstorm, the faster the sleigh moved. It was almost as if it was galloping at lightning speed. The scenery along the way flashed past, making it impossible for people to see clearly.
Lorist said that the Norton Family had only built two such sleds so far to test out the mobility of the snow during the winter months. The one we're in right now is one of them. But from the looks of it, it's fine for transporting small batches of goods, but the larger ones require the assistance of animals, "explained Duke Fisablen.
"That guy likes to use these crooked methods," Xanthi said.
"Unorthodox ways? Haha, you underestimate them far too much. " Duke Fisablen seemed a little depressed. "Only now do I understand that he had already shown mercy and spared my life when he attacked my house. Had it not been for the fact that he was worried that the grassland barbarians in the northeastern plains would be unstoppable after exterminating us, he would've gone straight for Crouchtiger Castle.
Don't talk about how Eastwild Province has a huge population and how the Frontier Legion is good at guerilla warfare. As long as we wait until winter, the Norton Family will definitely use the sleds to transport troops to surround the castle and take it all in one go. By then, we won't even be able to escape and can only wait to be captured. "
Xanthi widened her eyes in shock. "That can't be. You actually have such a pessimistic side? Are these sleds really that miraculous?"
"This isn't a problem with the sleds. Even though sleds are really suitable for use in the boundless plains, especially during winter when the snow covers the plains, I think of it as a concept. House Fisablen is more conservative than House Norton. There aren't many talented people in the next generation with the ability to innovate and accept new ideas.
"Also, six days ago, House Norton's Tigersoar used the snow as cover to take over Welony Pass. I saw that battle with my own eyes. He watched as Lorist led the soldiers of Tigersoar across the snowy plains like a bolt of lightning and appeared at the back of the defensive line.
I'm sure that the Handra Red Dragon Army guarding the mountain pass would never expect an enemy to appear behind them in such a snowstorm. "Due to the multiple blizzards, the whole mountain area was covered in snow. Even the normally difficult to scale mountains were smoothed out with the help of the skis, allowing Lorist to launch a surprise attack.
"Reddragon was crushed. They didn't even know how the enemy appeared. The near hundred catapults at the pass fell into our hands unscathed. Only a few managed to escape. The defensive line we've been at a stalemate for eight months was conquered just like that. Tigersoar's casualties were few and far between. I finally believe Lorist's words. He said winter doesn't affect his forces at all. On the contrary, the stronger the snowstorm, the more it helps them. "
"Then you can also train House Fisablen's forces for winter training! You should be able to do what he did, "consoled Xanthi.
Fisablen smiled bitterly. "I told you, it's a matter of concept. I've observed Tigersoar's soldiers' equipment and actions when they carry out their orders. This isn't something that can be done with a short period of training. It takes years of winter training.
Every soldier was wearing a special warm and cold suit. They knew how to not get lost in a snowstorm, how to camouflage and hide in the snow. They even knew how to avoid snow blindness and how to maintain their physical strength and body temperature.
I can't believe Lorist spent so much money on their forces. I also asked them and they said that it's not just Tigersoar's soldiers who have to go through the winter training. All of their forces have to go through the same training. "
Duke Fisablen sighed. "I've always thought highly of myself and dreamed of creating a legendary era for House Fisablen. But now, I realize I'm nothing compared to Lorist. I'm not his match, be it in terms of personal strength or military might. It's not that I'm disheartened, but the difference is too great.
It's really unfortunate for a neighbor like that to appear next to the dominion. The only thing that makes me happy is that the kid married my granddaughter and became my junior. As long as he behaves himself, I won't have to worry about the house's demise without me around. For Sylvia's sake, the kid will definitely lend us a hand. "
… …
On the 11th day of the 1st month, Year 1783, the matriarch of House Norton, Duke of The Northlands, Norton Lorist's wife, Sylvia, gave birth to a chubby child at Cherry Blossom Ridge. Lorist named him Anderbael, meaning "Peaceful Bear" in ancient elvish.
After the rainy season, Auguslo's messengers rushed to The Northlands one after another on horseback. Their mission was to urge Lorist to return to the frontlines at Wesstwood. Duke Fisablen left after the rainy season ended. After all, the conquest of Welony Pass at the end of the year had opened the gates to Handra. It was unknown whether the four central guilds would be driven to desperate measures and launch a counterattack after the new year to retake the pass. Duke Fisablen hurried back because he was worried the situation would change. Lorist, on the other hand, used the excuse of having to accompany Sylvia and his son to delay his return.
It wasn't until the 5th month that Lorist finally packed up and returned to the frontlines. The Second Highness was so frustrated that the letters he sent to Lorist became more and more hurried. Had it not been for the fact that he had to maintain his image as a king, Lorist suspected that the Second Highness would've cursed him out in his letters.
As expected, the situation at the frontlines was a mess. The conquest of Welony Pass was a pleasant surprise for Auguslo. By the time he received the report, Lorist had already returned to the dominion. As Sylvia wanted to give birth, there was nothing Auguslo could do. When Auguslo rushed to the frontlines despite the snowstorm, he quickly found out that Tigersoar's contribution was due to the skis he valued so much in the past.
Back at Egret Swamp, the second highness had seen Lorist use skis to travel on the snowy ground with ease. He had also learned how to use and make skis. But he forgot the most important thing. When he went back and wanted to form a surprise attack team that used skis in winter, he realized that he needed to equip all the members of this team with expensive warm and winter clothes.
The reason why Lorist was able to equip every soldier of his forces with warm winter clothing was thanks to the magical beast wave that wiped out millions of magical beasts. Due to the large number of furs he obtained and the lack of a way to sell them in bulk, he decided to use the furs to equip his forces with winter outfits.
Auguslo, on the other hand, didn't have the furs. He realized it would be a huge financial burden to equip every soldier with winter outfits. Therefore, for the sake of their wallet, this winter surprise attack team that was prepared to be formed came to nothing …
Auguslo was quite envious of Tigersoar's equipment. However, he knew Lorist was rich. He really wanted to let Tigersoar continue to attack and expand their gains during winter. However, Loze rejected his suggestion, even though he was the king. Lorist's orders were to defend Welony Pass to prevent the enemy from launching a counterattack that would waste all their efforts. Not to mention, using skis can only catch the enemy off guard. Now that the enemy knows about it, they'll be prepared. Attacking again will only result in more losses.
What nonsense. Even if the enemy is prepared, what can they do to you? It's impossible for them to stay in the trenches and wait for you to attack. Otherwise, a bunch of them would freeze to death before the battle even started. Who would have such perfect thermal and cold-proof clothing like yours? Who could come and go as they please in the snow and cold weather like you guys? It was too bad Tigersoar wasn't directly under his command. Instead, it was House Norton's. It was perfectly justified for Loze to reject his orders.
Auguslo returned with a stomach full of anger. He swore to himself that he would form a winter assault unit even if he had to spend the last of his gold coins. But now, he could only watch as the opportunity was wasted. That was why he kept sending messengers to urge Lorist to return to the frontlines after the rainy season. Why are you still in the dominion when your child is born? Hurry up and come back!
Conquering Welony Pass meant that more than half of Westhwood was under the Andinaq Kingdom's military's control. Handra, on the other hand, had lost Cloudsnap Mountains and had no choice but to retreat more than 100 kilometers. Fortunately, there were a few low mountains there that were once the first prince's line of defense against the four central duchies. The few legions that retreated there set up a second line of defense based on what they had left behind.
Currently, there were six legions at the frontlines. The four central dukes had deployed almost all their forces at the second line of defense. Forund's first and second garrison legions, Handra's Whitedragon, Blackdragon, and the defeated Reddragon had all retreated to Deramar to rest and replenish. There was also Farkel's Greenforest and Bloodspear. As for Duke Shabaj's division, it was stationed along the banks of Nibalaku River to prevent the enemy from going downstream.
Perhaps because he was agitated by Tigersoar's conquest of Welony Pass, by the time Lorist rushed to the frontlines, Auguslo had already ordered Whitelion and Duke Fisablen's reserve legion to attack the second line of defense a few times. However, Auguslo didn't manage to breach the defense despite the desperate resistance of the defenders. Instead, he suffered heavy casualties. Even the reserve legion lost close to three thousand barbarians.
"Locke, the line of defense in front of us is a straight line. As long as we break even a little bit, the entire line will crumble. I believe in Tigersoar's offensive capabilities. I hope you can bear the burden, "said Auguslo during the meeting.
After taking a closer look at the map, Lorist shook his head and said, "I refuse, Your Majesty."
"Why?" Auguslo's expression darkened.
"It's simple. I led Tigersoar to attack Welony Pass during winter to put more pressure on Handra's defenses. The four dukes of the central dukes will soon crumble from lack of supplies. "Look at the first line of defense. They already have six legions, so they will have to form new ones to defend further. At the same time, they will have to station more forces along the river to prevent us from launching a surprise attack.
"We can only imagine how many soldiers Handra will need to complete their defenses. They only have two provinces left, so they can't afford it. As long as we maintain the spearhead of the attack, Handra will have no choice but to reinforce their defenses until they can't. Since that's the case, why should we waste our forces to attack this line of defense and get entangled with them? "
"But our offense can put more pressure on their defense! If we can win by attacking, we'll only cause them to crumble even faster! "retorted Auguslo.
"Perhaps, but that will cause us to suffer even more casualties. I don't think there's any point in making unnecessary sacrifices when victory is just around the corner," said Lorist.
At that moment, a voice outside the tent interrupted their argument. "Your Majesty, Duke Handra has sent an envoy to request an audience."
......
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