PS: Sorry, LGD, you can do it! CNDOTA，BESTDOTA！
Just as Laing's army was retreating towards Ferdov, the capital of Weissen, White Tower City had also fallen. The strongest stronghold in the south of Weissen was once expected to be able to hold on for long enough for Nur to complete its defense and for the main forces of Weissen to return to Ferdov in time.
In fact, the defenders had done their best. They had armed the city to the teeth. The three musket battalions and dozens of cannons were enough to defend against most of the enemy's attacks. The Kurgan people immediately came to the conclusion that they would need a large number of troops to take down the city in a short period of time.
Tarim Khan couldn't tolerate such an outcome. He was racing against time even more than the Empire. Very few people knew that the reason why Emperor Karl-franz couldn't extricate himself from the war in Hawk territory was because of Tarim Khan's prayer to his loving father, Tarim Khan. His loving father had promised his beloved son, Tarim Khan, to send troops to delay the Emperor's army.
But instead, Nurgle's patience was running out. Nurgle's love and expectations for Tarim Khan were increasing day by day, forcing Tarim Khan to speed up his march.
Facing the strong defense of the city, Tarim Khan called for the Chaos Dwarves. If the agreement between him and the Chaos Dwarves didn't work, then what was the value of the agreement?
"City walls?" Draz the Gray Prophet carefully surveyed the city's defense. He let out a mocking laugh. "Why do I feel like this is a pile of sand piled up by a child on a plain? We will help you solve all of this, but this is because of the agreement. I'll say it again, this is because of the agreement! "
Just like that, the Chaos Dwarves sent out powerful war machines. Dozens of Chaos Dwarves' mortars, mortar cannons, lava cannons, and hell cannons opened fire together. Tarim Khan rode on the Toad Dragon and soared into the sky with a huge battle axe in his hand, boosting the morale of the Kurgan army.
The siege began. The war machines made of black armor and brass rumbled into action. Under the colorful sky, the Empire's army breathed in fear. At the same time, the cannoneers also activated their siege weapons and fired back at the enemy resolutely. The entire land trembled like an injured animal. The human bodies and cannons exploded into pieces and were thrown into the sky in flames. Waves of fear came one after another. With the boost from the Demonic Power, the power of the Chaos Dwarves' cannon fire was much higher than that of the White Tower City's cannons. After the artillery battle, the walls and towers of the White Tower City exploded one after another under the attack of the Chaos Dwarves' siege weapons. The defenders were drowned in the flames of hell.
Then, Doegan's cavalry army and Tarim Khan's rotten knights began to charge. They attacked the city through the gaps in the walls and the shattered gates. The battle of the cavalry was simple but cruel. The Empire's cavalry could not be compared to the Kurgan cavalry. They were immediately drowned in the torrent of the Chaos army. The Empire's militia were scared out of their wits. Their morale collapsed as they threw down their weapons and turned to flee. The Plague Ogres and Chaos Giants climbed up the walls and smashed the fleeing musketeers and Empire's soldiers to death before swallowing them into their stomachs.
The war ended quickly, and the White Tower City was finally burned to the ground.
Tarim Khan was very satisfied with the victory. He immediately ordered the army to continue to attack Ferdov, followed by Nur.
"Nur! Ludwig's city! It will fall! "
On the third day after the fall of the White Tower City, Laing and the others also retreated to Ferdov.
The gates of Ferdov were opened, and the residents were gradually evacuated. There were not many residents left, and the streets were very empty. However, under the strict orders of Emilia, the city was prepared with supplies. The tired cavalry settled down in the city one after another, but the footsteps of the Chaos army followed closely behind them and were rolling towards Ferdov.
"We can only rest in this city for two days at most. After that, we must return to Nur immediately." Laing turned over and dismounted, then carried his wife Suria down from the horse. "In less than five days, the Chaos army will reach Ferdov."
"I hope our efforts are useful." Suria's face was very tired. The female knight was now in the middle of the legendary level, but this strength was not enough to fully control her divine equipment. As soon as she landed, she felt her body go soft and leaned into her husband's arms, panting softly.
After severely damaging the transport team of the Chaos dwarves, Laing and the others launched an ambush at Gauntlet and defeated the vanguard of the Chaos army led by the Chaos dragon knight Auerbach Poison Gut. After this battle, Tarim Khan's advance had to be slowed down, but Laing's army had also reached its limit.
"Our efforts will be useful." Kalad was very energetic. After he dismounted, he looked at the city in a daze. "At least we have done our duty. We have saved thousands of people."
"Ah, that was a good fight!" Reppu the Blackheart was also very tired. This mercenary baron was in a very sorry state. There were many gray marks on his bald head, which were strange shapes formed by sweat, dust, and the sun of Weissenland.
The Old Guard had also suffered a great loss this time. The newly formed old guard only had a scale of about eight hundred people, which was still more than seven hundred people short of Laing's ideal of fifteen hundred people. And this time, more than a hundred old guards had fallen forever on the land of Weissenland.
Without sacrifice, there would be no victory. This was the most important principle that Landurion had taught Laing. He expressed his regret, but he did not regret it.
It was already afternoon when they arrived at Ferdov. Laing arranged for everyone to rest, and he and Suria went into the guest room of Ferdov's castle to rest.
After a short rest, it was already night time. At this time, Laing and Suria received news that the old Marquis of Weissenland, Orgel Hawk, had led an army of about five thousand people to Ferdov.
In the great hall of the castle, Leon met Marquis Ogle Hawke.
The old Marquis was very old, and his hair was white. Because he had rushed back from the Black Fire Pass in a hurry, there was a sour and sweaty smell on his body. His eye sockets were deep, and he looked haggard.
Laing, Suria, Kalad, and the others came into the castle hall. Orgel Hawk saw them coming in, but he did not stand up from his seat. He looked very tired. He just raised his hand and signaled a younger man to come up and greet them. "This is my son, Mario Hawk."
"Hello, Mr. Laing, Mrs. Suria, Mr. Kalad." This was a knight who looked about 30 years old. He had long brown hair and was slightly fat, but his body was full of muscles. When he saw Laing and the others, he stuck out his chest and clenched the long sword at his waist. He was neither humble nor arrogant as he greeted Laing and the others.
Kalad was a little confused. The Grail knight thought to himself, What kind of trick is this? The old Marquis did not introduce himself or ask about the situation of the battle. Instead, he introduced his son.
He turned to look at Laing and Suria, but found that Laing did not look anxious at all. He greeted the old Marquis' son, Mario, very gently. Suria looked at the old Marquis with a complicated look. It was a look of pity and admiration.
After a while, Laing said to the old Marquis, "Our attack has slowed down the pace of the Army of Chaos, but they are still following us closely. In five days at most, the Army of Chaos will arrive at Ferdov."
"… I understand." Ogle's eyes were very cloudy. Because of the long journey and lack of sleep, the dark circles under his eyes were very obvious. "I brought back 10,000 people from the Black Fire Pass. There are still 5,000 people left there for the time being."
"You didn't bring all of them back?" Laing raised his glass and looked at the old Marquis. "At this time, you should bring all of them back."
"Yes, I should." Ogle Hawk nodded, but then shook his head. "But I didn't."
"…" Laing narrowed his eyes. He opened his mouth but did not say anything.
The castle hall fell into a strange atmosphere. Both sides seemed to have something to say, but no one spoke. The old Marquis narrowed his eyes and seemed to be thinking about something. Laing and the others could only keep silent.
Why did the old Marquis leave 5,000 people at the Black Fire Pass? Why did he introduce his son to Laing first? Why did neither side speak?
Kalade was full of questions. He could only look at Pfitzman, the leader of the Knights of the Burning Sun, with a puzzled look. Pfitzman just shook his head slightly and did not speak.
After a while, Kalade had to take the initiative to speak. "Lord Hawk, Ferdov belongs to you. Do you have any battle plan?"
"Battle plan?" Kalade's words broke the silence in the room. The old Marquis said coldly, "What battle plan can I have? Or rather, why should I tell you my battle plan? Foreigners? "
"We came from afar to help you!" Anger and confusion filled Kalade's chest. He almost stood up. "At least tell us what to do next."
"… You will retreat tomorrow. Retreat to Nur. This is my battle plan." The old Marquis looked up and stared at Kalade. "This is what you want to know. I've told you the battle plan now, Knight of the Holy Grail. Are you satisfied?"
"Aren't you going to retreat to Nur with us?" Laing asked. He took out a letter.
The letter was written by Emilia herself. The Empire's Countess told the old Marquis that Ferdov could not be defended. Even though the city was the capital of Wesen, it was still impossible to stop the Chaos army. She asked Ogger to return to Nur immediately. Only by returning to Nur and relying on the city's defense could they win the war.
Ogger took the letter and read it. "Okay, you will cover the last batch of refugees to retreat from Ferdov tomorrow. I will be the last to leave."
"Okay."
… I'll be the first to leave …
The next day, Laing and the others, who had rested for the night, escorted the last batch of refugees to retreat. Thousands of refugees from Ferdov passed through the Ferdov Bridge fortress. It was late autumn, and the wide waters of the Wesen River were surging. Due to the corruption of the upper stream, the water was muddy and foamy.
The refugees looked sad as they slowly crossed the bridge. The long line stretched for a few kilometers. Laing and the others stood at the end of the bridge and watched the refugees retreat.
"This is the last wave of refugees." Pfitzman, the leader of the Flaming Sun Knights, reached for the sword at his waist and looked in the direction of Nur. "I guess the Nur is full."
"They have lost everything, but at least they are still alive." Laing nodded. He looked at the gloomy autumn sky and said, "If they survive, they will lose their land. If they survive, they will lose their land. If they survive, they will lose their land. As long as they are alive, there is hope."
The refugees moved very slowly. Laing and the others waited patiently from morning until noon. The last batch of refugees disappeared at the other end of the Ferdov Bridge towards Nur. Then, it was the five-thousand-strong army of Wesen. They would go to Nur and build a new line of defense under the great city's walls.
"Let's retreat too." Blackheart Laing rode up on his horse. The mercenary baron saw that the refugees were finally evacuated. He could not wait to say, "Sir Laing, the refugees are all gone!"
"Yes." Laing led the three-thousand-strong army across the bridge.
The old marquis of Wesen had a cold expression on his face. He rode on his horse and said to his son, "Mario, you go too. Send Duke Laing off for me. Tell him that on behalf of all the people of Wesen, the people of Saul, the people of Ferdov, and the Hocke family, I am eternally grateful to him for his contribution and help."
"Yes, sir!" Mario, Ogle's son, did not suspect anything. He rode his horse and rushed across the bridge. Just as he reached Laing's side, he heard the sound of heavy cannons behind him before he could say anything.
Boom!
The bridge, which had hundreds of years of history, was completely blown apart by the power of the cannons. The broken pieces of the bridge fell into the water and into the Wesen River, splashing water everywhere.
"Father?" Mario turned around in disbelief. He shouted across the rushing water of the Wesen River, "Father! Are you crazy? "
"I am not crazy, Mario." The old marquis' face was still cold. He painfully closed his eyes and said, "Send my regards to the Countess."
Laing and the others had already understood what Ogle was planning to do. Suria sighed softly and rode to Laing's side. "This is his choice."
"No! Father! "Mario was so anxious that he whipped his horse and ran back and forth at the cliff of the broken bridge." Come here quickly! This is the order of the Countess. You are the marquis of Wesen. The Nur cannot live without you! "
"From today onwards, you are the marquis of Wesen, Mario." Old Marquis Ogle said coldly from the other side, "Mario, this is the last lesson I am going to teach you as a father."
"Protecting the country is the duty of a soldier. Ferdov is the land where I was born and raised. I will never give up this city and this land."
"Tell the Countess that I, Ogle Hawk, will be loyal to my duty. For myself, for the Countess, and for the Empire, the future belongs to you, Mario!" The old marquis sighed softly. "My son, I am the setting sun, and you will be the rising sun tomorrow. The reconstruction of Ferdov needs you. The Nur needs you."
"No …" The old marquis' son could not accept this fact. Tears flowed down his cheeks. "No! Father, if this is the case, I would rather die with you! "
"What do you mean by this?! What do you mean by your eyes? "The old marquis shouted sternly." Mario, what are those two lines of tears of yours? You are already in your thirties. Do you still think you can defeat Chaos with your tears?! "
The marquis' son was stunned. He looked at his father and could not stop his tears. He could only desperately wipe his tears with his hands. He used the loudest voice he had ever used in his life and shouted, "I understand, father! I wish you victory! May Charlemagne bless you! "
Kalad looked at this scene. It was as if he saw his own yesterday.
The Holy Grail Knight of the Sanctuary knew that the marquis' son in front of him had truly grown up from today onwards.
Just like when he lost Ulysses.
"May Charlemagne bless you too, my son! Let's go! " Ogle took a last long look at his son, then turned around and left with his guards. They disappeared on the other side of the bridge.
Just like this, three days later, Ferdov welcomed Tarim Khan and his army of Chaos. Old Marquis Weeson, Ogle led five thousand defenders and fought desperately until the entire army was killed. He also died in battle at the gate of the castle.
The efforts of Ogle and the defenders of Ferdov under his command bought the most precious time for Nur. Their tenacity also brought great losses to the army of Chaos. Tarim Khan was forced to stay in Ferdov to let his heavily damaged army rest and reorganize. He also gave the Chaos Dwarves enough time to repair the war machines.
When he was ready to march again, Nur, one of the greatest cities of the old world, the city that belonged to Ludwig the Savior, the southern strategic town of the Empire, had already made all the preparations for this war. The return of Laing and the others brought all the information about the evil war machines of the Chaos Army and the Chaos Sorcerers. Nur War Council had formulated an extremely detailed battle plan for this.
The judgment of fate was about to arrive.
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