"The bad news is... maybe Berig is coming sooner than imagined!" Albert took out the map and pointed at the pass on the map: "The time that Oak Pass can resist is shorter than imagined!
According to the information from the messengers on the front line, after a terrible sacrifice, more barbarian marauders have been upgraded to barbarian warriors and even chaos warriors!"
The horror of the Chaos Warriors has been mentioned before.
The deterioration of the situation made several people present frown.
"So what's the good news?" Ryan had already accepted the bad news in his heart, so he continued to ask.
"The good news is... seven thousand reinforcements from the empire are on the way, and our messenger has contacted him. We only need to hold on for three days!" Albert said quite excitedly,
The wrinkles at the corners of his eyes slowly opened.
This forty-year-old lord has not fought many wars since he succeeded to the throne. The most important military operation is to eliminate bandits and a small number of beastmen. This time, he was suddenly faced with the pressure of a large army, and he was actually very nervous.
"Then let's calculate it based on the fact that it only took Birig two hours to break through the Oak Pass." Albert motioned to Ryan.
Neither the earl nor his two knights were proficient in battle formations.
Ryan put his finger on the Oak Pass: "If Birig breaks through the Oak Pass, his next move will be to cross the Ovre River and then go straight to the city of Mjordenhaven."
"So my plan is that we send troops to the Aarhus Bridge on the Ovle River to meet them, and then snipe Birig's army first. If we can't hold on to the river, we will retreat back to the city," Lane said.
I made my own suggestion - defense in depth.
"So... Ryan, your proposal is... a field battle?" Earl Albert and his two knights looked at each other. Walnut Knight Nicklay hesitated for a while, but still said hesitantly: "I said, isn't this a bit...
Too risky?"
"Yes...Mr. Lane, I think...maybe it would be better if we rely on the city wall to defend the city? There are artillery and various defensive equipment on the city tower, which will also make people feel more at ease." Valdemar, the bamboo pole knight, also said
Oppose this opinion.
"We can't just defend the city like this!" Ryan said dissatisfied, and he told the earl and the two knights the theory he had told Estelle before.
Historically, when facing the enemy, it is the most foolish idea to rely on the city wall to defend. In defending a city, the city wall is always the second to last line of defense.
The two knights still didn't speak. It was obvious that they were unable to refute Ryan's decision, but they didn't have to cooperate.
Ryan was stunned at first, but he immediately realized that there was something wrong with the way he expressed it: "Gentlemen, I don't mean that we should fight to the death with the barbarians in the wild. What I mean is that we should rely on the Aarhus Bridge and try our best to
By delaying Birig's advance, we will definitely have to retreat behind the city wall and defend it in the end."
Ryan first put his finger on Oak Pass: "There are two hundred defenders stationed at Oak Pass. This pass has strong walls and defensive equipment. The barbarians came from afar and lacked sufficient siege weapons and sufficient numbers.
cavalry, so even if Oker Pass is attacked and broken by the barbarians, the defenders will still have the opportunity to retreat partially. These soldiers are elites who have fought with the barbarians and are an important force. We should try to support their retreat. I am right.
What? Gentlemen? Your Excellency, Count?"
The three people nodded subconsciously. The two hundred defenders were regular soldiers. If they could successfully coordinate their retreat, this force would play a decisive role in defending the city.
"After responding to the defenders of Oak Pass, we will send troops to set up defenses on the Aarhus Bridge... Listen to me, gentlemen, we will definitely not be able to defend this bridge, but we can delay it for enough time, and then... we can guard this bridge
The bridge is covered with gunpowder. If we cannot hold it, we will blow up the bridge." Ryan continued: "The barbarians abandoned a large amount of baggage and marched here. It is very troublesome for them to cross the river. Don't forget, now
At this time, the Ovle River had just begun to freeze. While the river was rushing, large pieces of broken ice were either floating on the surface of the river, or the ice layer was thinner than a piece of parchment! The barbarians either chose to build a bridge or build a ship.
, it will take a lot of time!”
Albert summed it up and finally nodded: "You are right, what we have to do now is to buy time."
"I agree! I will personally lead the soldiers to the Aarhus Bridge to set up defenses!" Walnut Knight Nikolai spoke, and this thirty-year-old kingdom knight stood up.
"Then I will be responsible for the defense in the city. When you retreat, I will lead the army to respond immediately." Valdemar, the bamboo pole knight, nodded.
"In that case, Mr. Nikolai and I will go to Aarhus Bridge to set up defenses." Ryan saw that Albert did not intend to leave the city, so he took the initiative to take over the job.
"I will dispatch 500 soldiers to you. The 200 standing army and 300 voluntary soldiers will all be under your command. As for the safety of the city, you don't have to worry." Albert's eyes also became fierce: "
I have a bodyguard, and this time, I must stop these damn barbarians from coming back!"
"clear!"
Everyone ran to other places, and it was agreed that everyone would gather at the military camp in three hours. It would take time to deploy troops and food.
Ryan walked towards a hut in the town.
As the season deepens into winter, the weather becomes colder and colder. Both sides of the road are crowded with victims. Many people are huddled in cold corners and shivering. The houses are also crowded with people. Ryan can see many figures from the windows.
After discussing with Albert, he got a very bad news - there are no legendary level experts among the city's defenders and nobles. The two kingdom knights are both elite level, and they can become kingdom knights.
The basic reason is that they are a family of knights.
These two guys are not very strong, one is an elite ranger and the other is an elite warrior.
But the Crushing Bear is a legendary high-level barbarian chief! A Chaos Warrior blessed by the Blood God!
He came to a long house and knocked on the door.
"Hello! Excuse me?" A young man opened the door.
It was Ike, and the expression on his face became subtle when he saw Ryan standing at the door.
"Son of Ged, now it's your turn to repay my favor and come with me to fight." He answered with a cold and frosty voice.
………………
Three hours later.
An army of five hundred people, led by Ryan and others, left the city.
This army consisted of two hundred shield-bearing halberdiers, one hundred great swordsmen, and two hundred crossbowmen. In addition, there were a dozen cavalry.
Albert trusted Lane so much that he put all his main forces in Lane's hands, and ordered that Nikolai also be under Lane's control.
This is the role of reputation. If Ryan's reputation is at the national level, then Nikolai's reputation is at most the village level. Ryan is a White Wolf Knight within the White Wolf Knights. Walnut... there is no knighthood.
"Hello, Mr. Lane, I am Lops!" A knight wielding a halberd emerged from behind: "I have heard of your name for a long time, and I feel honored to be able to fight alongside you."
"I remember you are... the son of Lord Mosheen? We have met before." Ryan said strangely. He recognized this young man. He is the son of Lord Mosheen, Hyde. 'Zi Zi' Hyde has many children. Lopu
Si is considered a capable one among them, but why is he here now?
"Yes, we have met. I am now a wandering knight. I am very honored to meet you." Lops is a young man with a blond haircut and a childish look on his face. He has a delicate face and a handsome face.
There are still some pockmarks on his face. He is wearing a full set of plate armor and a kite helmet. He seems to have grown some beard on his mouth to look mature. Judging from his appearance, he should be about the same age as Ryan.
"Wandering knight? What made you choose to wander?" Ryan asked casually: "Did you sleep with your father's maid? Were you kicked out?"
It was another cloudy day. Ever since he set out, the weather in Nord has been very bad. The mood of this unit was also the same as the current weather, and everyone's face was full of clouds.
The morale of the soldiers was low, and the faces of the officers were not good-looking.
"I chose it myself." Lops forced a smile: "After witnessing an unfair trial, I felt that there was nothing good to do in the family. It was not my turn to inherit my father's title, so I decided
Come out and wander."
"...Same." Ryan nodded. There are various reasons for the emergence of wandering knights. The adoption of the eldest son inheritance system is the common inheritance law in the mainland. In this case, only the eldest son of the nobles can inherit the title.
The other children received at most a small fief.
In this case, many noble children will become wandering knights.
After saying that, he looked at Ike who was riding behind him with a face of shame.
Ike Albrecht is the legal illegitimate son of Baron Albrecht of the Empire's Volrich Territory. His father is the captain of the fifth company of the White Wolf Knights, Baron "Hooked" Ged Albrecht.
What is a legitimate illegitimate child?
Illegitimate children are a symbol of shame for nobles. Such bastards are usually kicked out. If a noble dares to bring home an illegitimate child born to a lowly peasant/peasant girl, then the noble lady’s abuse of these illegitimate children will be punished by imperial law.
protection of.
However, there are two situations where illegitimate children will not be regarded as a symbol of shame.
The first is that the parents of the illegitimate child are both nobles or figures respected by human society. In this case, the illegitimate child will not be considered lowly. For example, the founding emperor of the new empire, Ludwig, and the original speaker of the Gloria Council, Saint
The relationship between the domain witch Margarita is that of lovers, and no one would consider the illegitimate child they gave birth to as lowly.
The second type is that the illegitimate child comes from the maid of a noble lady, or the female courtier in the noble court. In this case, the illegitimate child does not have the right to inherit, but his heir status is also recognized by society.
The above two identities of illegitimate children will be "legalized".
Ike is the second type.
So why did Ike dare to beg him like this? Why did Ike disrespect Ryan and didn't say anything during the trip?
The real reason is that the "fighting side by side" friendship that Ike talks about does not refer to the friendship between Ike and him, but the friendship that Ryan once had with his father, the White Wolf Knight Baron Ged Albrecht.
They fought side by side to destroy the Beastmen warband on the banks of the Ovre River.
So in fact, Ryan was giving face to his father. Ryan knew the reason, and Ike also knew it. Ryan did not reveal it because he was concerned about Ged's reputation, which made the wandering knight feel ashamed.
He has done too many desperate things for survival and reputation.
After Ryan found Ike, he found out that the group of wandering knights knew that the barbarians were coming, so they pooled their money and took a boat out to sea overnight. They didn't know where those people went. Only Ike stayed because he carried this surname.
, if he runs away in front of Ryan in this situation, his family will be shamed by him.
From this we can see how heavy the pressure is on this wandering knight.
Baron Ged never mentioned his son in front of Ryan, and it was obvious that he did not like this illegitimate son.
Thinking of this, Ryan sneered, what right did he have to think about others?
Who do you think you are?
A time-traveling Chinese person?
A wild child with incredible talent?
"Bald" Norman's beloved adopted son?
Godfather Ivan’s proud godson?
Or the Emperor's... illegitimate son?
"Mr. Lane! We have arrived at Moon Lake." The sergeant major responsible for leading the team reminded him in a low voice when he saw that Lane was distracted.
Ryan finally came to his senses, and what appeared in front of Ryan was ruins.
A quiet lake appeared in front of Ryan's eyes. The lake covered with thin ice extended to an invisible distance. The cloudy weather was like a thick curtain, completely covering the sky. The lake was as clean as jade.
The surface is like a mirror, reflecting the white light between heaven and earth.
For a moment, Ryan had the illusion that the sky and the ground seemed to be upside down.
Surrounding the Lake of the Moon, large expanses of forest and building ruins appeared before everyone's eyes. The buildings here were all built using large pieces of white stone, and all had spires. However, due to the ravages of time, most of these buildings collapsed and became abnormal.
Thick trees continue to encroach on the original building complex.
This place also had a glorious past and history. According to the information Ryan knows, this place was once one of the strongholds and settlements before the elves withdrew from the mainland. It also had a glorious history and prosperity. It is said that during the Great Disaster,
In the previous human wizarding empire, there used to be many human wizard apprentices learning magic from the elves here.
Later, when the elves retreated from the old world, this city was completely abandoned. Since this was once a place for studying magic, the chaotic magical energy and frequent energy tides made it more likely to become uninhabitable. After thousands of years of continuous visits by adventurers,
, the treasures and wealth that may have been left here have been excavated. Except for the occasional few spellcasters who come here like a pilgrimage, this place is usually completely silent.
"We will camp here tonight! We can reach Aarhus Bridge tomorrow."