The Lord Of Blood Hill

Chapter 578: The War Situation Changes

At this point, Lumir realizes something is wrong. Acting first and reporting afterward, it directly withdraws the troops outside Peace Haven's western defense line.The four legions that have finished resting, with the Water Fairy Knights and the Lake Sword Legion as their spearhead, head south all the way and charge straight toward Ironwood Fort.

After learning of this, Grand Duke Kolen flies into a rage and curses those cowardly merchant nobles over there.

Then Grand Duke Kolen finds Prince Kullen. "Your Highness, we must pull back a little."

"The alliance encircling Peace Haven has essentially collapsed."

"Ogiro's withdrawal allows Henwell to transfer four elite legions from the eastern line to support this side."

"Now Lumir has also retreated, leaving only us facing Henwell's seven elite legions."

"With just our current seven legions, it will be difficult even to withstand Henwell's attack."

Prince Kullen says, "Your Excellency Duke, do not worry. I notified my father long ago. Reinforcements will soon arrive."

Kullen does not explain which reinforcement force it is.

Five days later, the reinforcements suddenly arrive at the kingdom's Southeast Military Governor's Office.

At the head is the kingdom's Golden Guard Knights. With them are the Golden Blade Legion and the Third Guard Legion, two ace forces.

In addition, three regular legions arrive at Peace Haven's western front.

Count Roderick, the former southeast military governor who received orders, also brings his Red Tarantula Legion here.

When Duke Kolen sees Roderick, he frowns and asks, "Why are you here?"

Roderick sighs. "Sigh. I do not want to fight Henwell either, but this is His Majesty's order. I can only bring my legion to support the front."

"From the look of it, the destruction of the Night Falcon Knights has still angered His Majesty. The kingdom is determined to eliminate this threat."

Duke Kolen sneers. "Heh... has your brain rusted? Have you still not understood?"

Seeing that Roderick still does not understand, Duke Kolen can only explain to this most outstanding student of his.

"Why do you say the kingdom has made up its mind to deal with Peace Haven?"

Roderick says as if it is only natural, "There are now four ace legions of the kingdom here, as well as the Golden Guard Knights and nine regular legions."

"Counting my private legion, Your Excellency Duke's legion, and the two legions of the Southern Noble Council, this is more than two hundred thousand elite troops."

"That is already one-third of the kingdom's elite army."

"Counting the noble troops and garrison troops arriving later, nearly four hundred thousand soldiers will gather here."

"No matter how capable Henwell's troops are, they cannot withstand an attack from this kind of military power."

Duke Kolen does not refute him. Instead, he asks another question.

"Roderick, you have always guarded against Peace Haven. You understand Henwell's army best."

"Henwell has deployed seven regular legions here, nearly one hundred thousand elite troops, along with twenty thousand fortress garrison troops."

"In your view, what price would we have to pay to break through this fortress defense line?"

Only after a long while does Roderick speak. "We would suffer very heavy losses."

"Would those losses exceed Golden Capital's estimates?"

Roderick shakes his head. "More than that. The casualties would far exceed what they can psychologically bear."

Grand Duke Kolen continues asking, "Then what can we gain? Merely taking back this small piece of territory?"

Roderick does not know how to answer. He wants to say that they would also gain Henwell as an enemy who will never rest until one side dies.

Grand Duke Kolen scoffs. "Nearly one-third of the kingdom's elite troops."

"An army of four hundred thousand. You think all this is for Peace Haven? Have you still not understood?"

"Let me ask you, Roderick. When did you receive the order to support the front?"

Roderick says, "Five days ago."

"By what method? Beacon smoke? Or an extraordinary alert?"

Roderick says, "A regular message delivered by the royal guard courier."

"Then according to the timing, this order must have left Golden Capital half a month ago."

"And at that time, Ogiro had not yet withdrawn from the eastern line, and Lumir had not decided to retreat."

"Why would the kingdom organize such a massive force?"

"This is a joint operation. Why would the kingdom prepare to take such a loss and bear Peace Haven's desperate counterattack alone?"

Roderick seems to understand something. "Your Excellency Duke, are you saying this was planned by Golden Capital long ago?"

"From the very beginning, our target was not Peace Haven? All the military operations were only meant to use this opportunity to gather troops and move south?"

Grand Duke Kolen glares at him. "Have you gone stupid? Of course the kingdom's initial target was Peace Haven."

"Even if this were a scheme, no one would sacrifice the Night Falcon Knights for it."

"This is because after the Battle of Blood and Fire, Golden Capital reached a certain level of cooperation with Henwell. As for how Henwell did it, I still cannot figure it out."

Grand Duke Kolen looks south. "The only thing certain is that our next target is not Peace Haven, but Lumir."

"Since what is being mobilized is a nation-crushing army, it must be aimed at a country-level power."

"Go and prepare."

"I think next, we will turn our direction and enter the territory of our former ally."

Roderick looks shocked. "How could this be? Is the kingdom just going to watch Henwell grow stronger?"

"If we miss this chance, it will be very difficult for us to destroy Peace Haven."

Duke Kolen says faintly, "But if we miss this chance, it will be very difficult for us to have such favorable conditions to interfere in Lumir."

Roderick still finds it difficult to accept this sudden change. Duke Kolen pats him on the shoulder.

"Roderick, the continent is about to change. A new order is about to form. We need to be prepared."

Roderick feels that his mind is not quite enough to keep up. Halfway out, he turns back and asks, "Your Excellency Duke, what excuse do we have to attack Lumir?"

Duke Kolen says irritably, "Reason? I think Golden Capital has already prepared that. It is not something we need to worry about."

"An army of four hundred thousand is the reason. What other reason do we need? Any reason will do."

"We can hold them accountable for their sudden retreat."

"Or as allies, we can assist them in resisting the attacks of Peace Haven and Ogiro."

"These are all reasons."

"But they are also not reasons."

"In the end, steel will speak. What we need to do is seize this opportunity and fight for the greatest benefit for ourselves."

At the military meeting the next night, Prince Kullen calls on Roderick by name.

"Count, you understand Peace Haven best."

"In your view, if we gather this many troops and attack Peace Haven alone, can we succeed?"

Roderick now knows how to answer. "Peace Haven will certainly be destroyed. But we will also suffer enormous losses, losses so great we will find them unacceptable."

Prince Kullen seems displeased and waves for him to withdraw, but there is already approval in his eyes.