Three hundred and sixtieth chapters [Lu Gao's decision]
Chapter 366 [Lu Gao’s decision]
Everyone knows what "switching" means.
For the Northwest Army, their snobbery covers half of Nulin Province, and they have been operating in the northwest for twenty years. If they "change defenses" at this time, it means leaving their own territory. If the big tree has no roots, then there is only a dead end.
.
Moreover, the Northwest Army has not listened to any orders from the empire for twenty years, and it only has the title of imperial army in name.
For Lu Gao, the commander of the Northwest Army, he also knew very well that this was the final signal from the empire.
This is a life-and-death decision. Either accept the empire's order to change defenses, or what awaits you is to be disintegrated by the empire after arriving in the north.
Or, if you refuse the empire's order to change defenses, you must be prepared for this. As long as you refuse, you will be charged with "disobedience to military orders", "treason" and other charges, and they will be suppressed in a high-sounding way, and the next step will be... war.
Over the past year, the empire has recruited new soldiers on a large scale. Then Du Wei has an army of 100,000 troops in the northwest. Governor Bohan is also actively preparing for war. The imperial guard of the imperial city has dispatched another division to march westward... all of this
Everything is already very obvious.
As for the Northwest Army, there seemed to be very few troop movements.
Lu Gao also knew very well that the reason why he had been able to threaten the empire in the past was because the empire was not sure of fighting a civil war that would damage his vitality. For the sake of stability and to maintain peace on the surface, the central government of the empire was unwilling to launch a civil war.
But now, I don’t know why, the young regent has made such a determination!
Lu Gao knew better that once the empire made up its mind to launch a civil war even if it paid a certain price, then based on the strength comparison between the two sides, the loser would definitely be himself. No matter in terms of population, military strength, war potential, etc.
He said that he was just a local warlord facing a huge empire.
When "blackmail" has lost its effect, you should make the smartest decision.
Northwest Army Watt Fortress. Northwest Army Commander's Mansion.
The hall was completely silent. Lu Gao was sitting at the top. He was short in stature, but his eyes full of oppression made the generals in the hall feel heavy in their hearts.
"Aren't you talking anymore?" Lu Gao said coldly: "The matter of life and death is now! That boy regent of the empire has made it clear that he wants our lives. Don't we all have any opinions at all?"
The generals below were all silent, no one spoke, but in their hearts, there was a trace of dissatisfaction with Lu Gao.
Life or death? What have you done! For a whole year, the empire has been deploying troops and generals. Everyone knows these things. They have also suggested that Lu Gao make a decision early, but this general, in this year, has done nothing.
As. He almost sat still, letting the empire put the noose around his neck!
Now...what else can we do now!!
Many generals thought so in their hearts and couldn't help but show it on their faces. Lu Gao saw this and secretly noted it in his heart. He slowly said: "I know that many people have some thoughts in their hearts now, but this is not the time.
When fighting, we need to unite... I think each of you is very clear. What has been our attitude towards the empire in the past few years! Then, everyone can think about it, if we are really finished, then the empire will not forgive you.
No one can be forgiven for committing the heinous crime of treason. Since we want to live, we need everyone to work together."
These words moved many people, and some immediately began to express their opinions.
Some places said that they could immediately send people to the grasslands to find large tribes that have secret relations with them. Ask them to immediately send troops to attack Desa Province, first creating a "foreign enemy invasion" chaos and disrupting the situation in the northwest, and then we
The Northwest Army could refuse to go to the north on the pretext of "foreign enemy invasion and military emergency". It could even secretly help the prairie people and inflict heavy losses on the Tulip Duke!
Lu Gao looked at the person who proposed this idea and sneered in his heart.
Prairie people? There is no need to count on prairie people at this time.
Lu Gao also received the news on the grassland. Now the major tribes on the grassland are in chaos. You fight each other, I fight you, all coveting the position of the king of the grassland, and that Saladin...
... Lu Gao just thought for a moment and guessed that the man behind Saladin must be Du Wei! The grassland people are too busy taking care of themselves now, how can they have the chance to send troops to help them?
What's more... his son couldn't kill Bai Hechou, and he had completely broken up with Daxueshan. Bai Hechou was the Witch King. As long as he gave an order, which tribe on the grassland would dare to come to help him?
Sigh... It's just a pity that that guy Sebastian missed such a good opportunity! Shirakawa was seriously injured and unable to do anything. This kind of opportunity doesn't come often!!
Some generals suggested that they immediately send troops to attack the Dessa Province, use their own superior forces to concentrate their efforts to defeat Duwei's army, and then take the opportunity to occupy the Dessa Province, seize the strategic reserves hoarded by Duke Tulip, and then fight with the empire.
Fight a war of attrition.
However, not many people agree with this suggestion.
Some people also think that they should raise troops immediately, and before the empire takes action, they should immediately concentrate their forces and march eastward with all their strength, and then defeat the imperial capital as quickly as possible. As long as they can capture the imperial capital in one battle and destroy the royal family, then... they will occupy it.
In the imperial capital, there are powerful soldiers at hand, and they kidnap the imperial palace, nobles and ministers. Then, just send a message and it can spread throughout the continent.
If everything goes well, then the world will be ours! Destroy the Augustinian dynasty, and then Lu Gao can become emperor!
This plan was very bold and ambitious. It was immediately recognized by many generals, and everyone was thinking about the possibility of this plan.
If we march from Watt Fortress to the Imperial Capital, the elite cavalry will not sleep, and it will only take seven days to reach the Imperial Capital City. Moreover, the Empire's current military strength is not sufficient, and it has previously dispatched two divisions to the north to supplement the Storm Legion.
Then he dispatched another division to the east to monitor himself. So now there is only one division with 20,000 troops stationed in the imperial capital. Plus a division mobilized from the Southern Army. However, the Southern Army has always been considered the main force of the empire.
They are the weakest among the war corps, and those guys are generally not looked down upon in the Northwest Army.
There are only two divisions. With our strength, we can defeat them in one battle!
As long as we can occupy the imperial capital...then, what else is impossible?
Lu Gao didn't speak. He just listened quietly to the discussion of the following guys.
He was sneering in his heart.
He is very ambitious, but he is not blindly arrogant.
In fact, Lu Gao has always been very clear that with his strength, he threatens the imperial capital with "war". When the imperial capital is unwilling to fight a civil war, he will naturally have the upper hand. Whatever he wants, he will have it. But
If the Imperial Capital decides to go to war, it will lose its greatest support.
With the strength of the Northwest Army, it is almost impossible to surprise the imperial capital and defeat it in a single battle.
If it were an ordinary city, such as the capital of Nulin Province, or even Duwei's Loulan City, there might still be some possibility.
But the imperial capital?
Not to mention running all the way for seven days and seven nights, will there be any resistance or interception along the way...
After all, the Imperial Capital is the most powerful city in the mainland. The giant magic circle that the mainland is famous for, and the magic cannon on the city wall... are no joke.
Once the magic circle is activated, it is absolutely impossible to break through, and he can only stare outside the city. In the next few days, his army will be surrounded by the ground service king's army from all over the place, and finally be torn into pieces.
.
Attacking the imperial capital is not a smart choice. Moreover, this matter has great political significance, but the actual gain is very small.
In the past, the Imperial Capital often deployed troops to the east to defend itself from eastward raids. However, whether it was Lu Gao or the Imperial Capital, it was clear that with the strength of Lu Gao, the Imperial Capital could not be conquered by surprise.
What the imperial capital fears is that if the imperial capital is besieged by rebels, it will cause huge panic and shake the prestige of the empire.
Lu Gao was silent. None of the opinions of the generals below satisfied him.
Lu Gao Gao had no staff or advisors under his command... because he was very conceited. He believed that as a disciple of the former Witch King on the Snow Mountain, he had learned astronomy, geography, tactics and strategies, and his own wisdom would be enough for everything in the Northwest Army.
, no need for any staff.
Seeing the quarrel between these generals, Lu Gao gradually lost his patience. He coughed hard: "Okay!"
He stood up and looked at these generals. He was very disappointed. These guys all lacked a sense of the overall situation...well, except for one person.
Lu Gao glanced at Gu Hua Duoluo, this calm and silent middle-aged man. This was the general whom Lu Gao valued and trusted most.
Although his martial arts skills were not the best among the generals, some people even mocked him behind his back for not being brave enough. However, they still could not shake Guhuataro's status in Lu Gao's heart.
"Gu Hua Duo Luo, you stay, everyone else should disperse." Lu Gao made a decision, but he felt that he needed to stabilize his military morale, so he deliberately laughed a few times, and then faced his generals
, laughed loudly and said: "Okay! You don't have to worry too much... Huh, that regent is just a little kid! His father, Augustine VI, can't do anything to us, why can't we take care of a little kid!
Hmph... don't worry, everyone, even though he is making such a big fuss now, he must be under a lot of pressure. I think he may not dare to really start a fight. Even if a fight starts, once he suffers a loss, I'm afraid he will
I can’t stand it any longer. Young people like this are all impatient and unstable, and as long as their spirit is knocked away, they will immediately soften. We have been in the northwest for so many years, who have we ever been afraid of?"
These words were spoken boldly and heartily. After hearing this, the generals couldn't help but regain some confidence in their commander-in-chief.
Later, when everyone left, Lu Gao faced Gu Hua Duoluo who was standing below, and a hint of worry appeared on his face.
"Okay, Guhuatara, there is no one else now. Tell me what you think."
"Sir." The middle-aged man looked at his commander steadily, and then he asked a strange question: "Do you think we have a chance of winning this time?"
"..." Lu Gao stared at this most trusted subordinate. Then he told the truth: "It's very small."
"I think it's very small too." Guhuataro nodded, he bowed slightly, and then whispered: "It's not that the empire can't defeat us all the time. It's that the empire doesn't dare to fight, and doesn't want to fight.
It's just determination. But now, they are determined, and we have lost our support. Once the war starts, with all due respect... No matter what the process is, maybe with the bravery of the soldiers, or with the wisdom of you, the commander-in-chief, we can achieve something
Victory, but... in the final outcome, we must fail. The only difference is just whether we persist longer or shorter. That's all."
"And what do you think?"
Guhuataro closed his mouth, as if he didn't dare to speak.
"Go ahead. Guhuataro, since I left you alone, I just want to hear your true thoughts." Lu Gao said calmly.
"Leave aside the victory or defeat." Guhuaduoluo shook his head: "Let me ask you, general, what are your expectations? What is the ultimate goal? Is it to seize the kingdom of the Thorn Flower family? Seize the world? Seize the throne? Or do you just want to?
Make a big fuss? Or are you willing to compromise in order to save your life? I think before making any choice, I need to know what your goal is, General."
Lu Gao's eyes were serious: "Oh?"
"Of course. If you decide to seize the world and seize the kingdom of the Thorn Flower family, then I know that this is impossible, but in order to repay your kindness, General, I will do my best to do it until I
Although I think this goal is impossible to achieve. If your goal is just to make a big fuss, then I think sending the army eastward and then besieging the emperor is a good way. Even if the army is defeated in the end, it can still be considered a big fuss.
Yes, let the mainland remember our names forever! If... you feel that you have to compromise to save your life, then I am willing to follow you to the death, even if you decide to throw the entire Northwest Army into a pit of fire."
Lu Gao was silent.
"Look, you haven't thought about it yourself, so how can I answer your question?" Gu Huaduoluo sighed, and then he actually reached out and picked up the military official document on Lu Gao's table, and then
Tearing him into pieces, he finally knelt down on one knee facing Lu Gao: "Sir, my life is yours. Over the years, you have known my secrets, but you have always kept me by your side. Trust me and use me. Even if
My colleagues have some opinions and rejection of me, but your trust in me has never changed. I have nothing to repay you, only my life. No matter what choice you make, I, Guhuataro, swear
, I will stand by your side until I die."
This steady middle-aged man actually showed a hint of madness in his eyes at this moment. He actually smiled at Lu Gao, then stood up, turned around and walked out of the hall.
"My... choice." Lu Gao frowned and thought carefully for a while.
Then he suddenly laughed.
"Prince Chen, if you want to play, then I, Chishui Duan, will play a big game with you!"
After saying that, he grabbed the pen on the table, quickly wrote an official document, loudly called his soldiers to come in, and then asked someone to send this thing out quickly.
This is an official document, and the content on it is very simple.
"Lu Gao, the commander of the Northwest Army, has been ordered to prepare for a defense change immediately!"
He actually accepted the order to change defense?!
After throwing away the pen, Di Lugao strode into the inner hall, then waved away his entourage, and directly entered the secret passage in the inner hall, all the way down to the underground tunnel. As soon as he entered the tunnel, he heard
There was a wild beast-like roar coming from inside, the sound was shrill and sharp, full of despair and anger.
At the end of the tunnel, there was a square stone room. Lu Gao stood at the door. The door of this room was an iron fence. As soon as he stood at the door, he saw a black figure in the stone house, shouting and moving towards it.
He rushed over fiercely.
boom!
This figure hit the iron fence hard, making the whole room buzz. Then I saw the man inside. His hair was disheveled, his strong body was covered in blood, and he didn't know how many tiny scars he had.
, but on his face, underneath the blood stains, was a pale and handsome face.
Sebastian, this is the Major General of the Northwest Army, Sebastian!
Sebastian's eyes were like a blood-devouring beast. He grabbed the iron fence door with both hands and shook it vigorously. The iron fence made a clicking sound, and the major general said in his mouth
Without any words left, he roared like a wild beast. There was no clarity in his eyes, and he was completely murderous and ferocious like a wild beast.
Lu Gao stood outside the door, with deep sadness in his eyes. Looking at his only son, Lu Gao raised his hand through the iron fence, as if to touch his son's head...
Suddenly, with a roar, a ball of fire shot out from his palm and hit Sebastian on the head. Sebastian immediately screamed in pain like a wounded beast and rolled back.
He walked out, rolled on the ground a few times, and then got up. His eyes were trembling, and he didn't dare to step forward. He lay on the ground and looked at the door from a distance.
"Poor son." Lu Gao sighed: "How can you still look like my son now! You have turned into a beast! A beast without human reason... I should really kill you.
right."
Since the last attempt to kill Bai Hechou and the Pope failed, Sebastian was seriously injured by the "Aragorn" who awakened by "coincidence". He managed to recover from his injuries with the help of his "Perfect Body" and hurriedly escaped.
Northwest Army.
But what kind of strength is the "awakened" Aragorn? Being able to withstand a single blow from him without dying is already considered a miraculous achievement of Sebastian's "perfect body". However, his "perfect body" with fatal flaws, uses
If you transition, you will lose your mind.
After barely recovering from his injuries and returning to the Northwest Army, the side effects of the Perfect Body immediately broke out. Moreover, because of the treatment of Aragorn's injuries, the use of the Perfect Body has exceeded any previous limit.
Sebastian was so mad this time that even Lu Gao's Snow Mountain spell couldn't calm him down.
He turned into a beast full of bloodthirsty and destructive desires!! No humanity left at all, and he completely became a bloodthirsty beast!
As a last resort, Lu Gao could only lock his son in this stone house, and he used the witchcraft of the Snowy Mountains to arrange a formation around the house, making it impossible for Sebastian to perform his magic in this house.
Otherwise, how can a stone house contain Sebastian, who has level nine strength?
At this moment, Sebastian has been imprisoned in this stone house for more than a year. He has not seen the light of day all year round, and all he has left is howling like a wild beast every day.
On the stone wall, he scratched traces with his fingernails. All ten of his fingernails were lifted up and blood flowed, but he seemed to feel no pain at all.
Lu Gao just stood outside the door, quietly looking at his only son, his only flesh and blood.
Although there was hatred on his face, there was deep sadness in his eyes.