Astartes of the Bear School

Chapter 1387 1359. Secret Meeting

Demavi, the King of Aedirn, half-lying on a bearskin-covered chair, stared at the wine glass on his stomach with dark circles under his eyes.

Foltest, the ruler of Temeria, Pontar, Mahakam, and Soden, who had recently become the senior protector of Brug, turned his head to the window, leaving a noble silhouette exactly the same as the one printed on the Oren coin.

Across the table was Henselt, the King of Kaedwen, who had a big beard like a bandit, and his small eyes, which were slit by the cheek flesh, secretly scanned the others.

Mivi, the Queen of Lyria and Rivia. She fiddled with the huge ruby ​​necklace on her towering chest, and her plump and beautiful lips curled from time to time.

"We can't make another mistake."

Seeing that no one spoke, Vizimir's face was normal, but he just repeated his point of view in a tone.

"We are not qualified to make mistakes now. We have to learn from the experience of our ancestors. When our ancestors landed five hundred years ago, the elves were like ostriches with their heads buried in the sand. They refused to face the threat because of resistance to change and fear."

"Every time our ancestors took a step forward and occupied a little, they comforted themselves by saying, 'This must be the last time.' They retreated again and again. Then, we became kings."

"And now." Vizmir's face, which was older than a few years ago, looked at the kings one by one, "We have become the elves of that year."

"I have heard more than once that someone in my court said, 'The black men will stop on the south bank of the Yaruga River' and 'They don't want to fight anymore.' I believe there must be such voices in your courts."

"So I have to repeat it again: Don't make the same mistake as the elves."

Foltest still didn't look back.

Looking out from this window in the Haji Fortress, you can see the turbulent Pontar Rapids.

And he clearly remembered that half a year ago, this turbulent torrent, which was so fast that it frightened people, had been blocked at a location closer to the downstream.

In the end, the river itself accumulated water for three days, and under the explosion spell of Triss Merigold, it blasted the river channel open. Let this major artery of the northern river transportation flow again.

The blockage point at that time was close to the pioneering territory of Temeria - Floating Harbor.

According to the information of his loyal intelligence personnel, the huge amount of broken rocks and giant trees that blocked the river channel were smashed down from the mountain by something!

And it was a coincidence that it happened to be the time when a demon hunter, at his invitation, went to deal with the abnormal situation in the Pontar Valley.

Foltest still remembers the expression on the face of the intelligence personnel who submitted the report to him.

'He must be scared. '

This was the first reaction of the King of Temeria at that time.

That experienced spy who could live comfortably in the dark and sinister intelligence community. What traces of something did he see during his investigation that frightened him so much?

Foltest looked out the window and said nothing, but someone didn't want to keep the conversation quiet.

"Don't compare us to elves, Vizimir, it's an insult." Henselt's bandit beard trembled. "The elves don't know how to fight. They didn't teach our ancestors a lesson at Sodden."

"They can only retreat weakly and abandon cities one after another."

"But we defeated the black men!"

"Remember how Emperor Emhyr purged his troops after Nilfgaard's defeat? There were eight formal large-scale executions, and countless informal or small ones!"

"In order to maintain his prestige after the defeat and distance himself from the defeat, he suddenly became the one who opposed the troops from the beginning!"

"He really didn't feel sorry when he started the fight. The commander was almost killed!"

Henselt sighed when talking about the purge after Nilfgaard's defeat, but then laughed.

"So, how can he send troops now? The commander was killed, who will lead his army? Could it be those non-commissioned officers?"

"No, it won't be the non-commissioned officers." Demave of Aedirn interrupted the conversation coldly. "The army will be led by young officers in their prime."

"Remember Nilfgaard's military school system? This system has been stable for several years now. Now is the time for talents to emerge."

"We have all heard the names and achievements of those young people."

"They crushed the uprisings of Metina and Nasser, and quickly suppressed the rebellion of Ebin. They killed them so cleanly, much more decisively than the old man."

"Previously, those older generals blocked the way for young people to be promoted. They could only be accumulated in the middle and lower levels of the army, accumulating experience and knowledge, and resentment of being frustrated."

"For the opportunity now, those young people have been waiting for a long time like wolves and tigers."

"Compared with merit and wealth, how can the blood and tears of those annoying old predecessors possibly calm down the young people?"

"It's better if they can't be calmed down." Henselt grinned. "The military academy system is indeed good. I'm also setting up a small-scale one to try it out."

"But talent is talent. No matter how many talents he has, can he create military supplies and materials out of thin air?"

Henselt's stubby fingers moved his beer glass on the wooden table, but he didn't drink it, just grinned.

"Where do they get the boats and footholds to cross the Yaruga River?"

"The military fortresses on the Yaruga River are all on our side. Do they dare to launch their ships? Do they dare to land after launching?"

"Don't you want the flank? Don't you care about the logistics supply line?"

"How about crossing the sea? Haha, King Bran of the Skellige Islands is going crazy wanting to avenge his brother Ester Tursek! The Nilfgaardians can't even protect their own coastline now. They are about to be pierced by the Skellige longships. Do they still dare to go to the sea?"

When he said "pierced", Henselt smiled and made a very obscene gesture, obviously describing the longship as something else.

"It's better for those young officers not to be intimidated." Henselt sneered. "In this way, when they cross the river without thinking, we can easily repeat the Battle of Sodden Mountain."

"But don't worry, they won't cross the river."

At the end, Henselt waved his hand with a dull look, as if he felt it was a pity.

"But if so," Queen Miwei ignored Henselt's obscene gesture just now and suddenly spoke.

"If the men in black really won't cross the Yaruga River, and they are indeed patient enough to wait, then who will benefit more from the situation? Who can drag it out? Who can't hold on?"

"Absolutely correct." Vizmir agreed immediately, "Mi Wei is still as sharp as ever!"

The oldest king among the four northern countries paced and walked to the side of the table next to Mi Wei's seat. Use your position to show your attitude.

He went on to say, "Emhyr has plenty of time. Don't you understand the situation?"

"Two years ago, the Nilfgaardians loosened a stone on the hillside and are now waiting for the landslide!"

"Two years ago, that 'small stone' was simply unshakable to many people, but now it has rolled down! This completely inspired the spirits of those guys."

"From the Gray Mountain to the Cape of Brimwud, there are non-human guerrillas everywhere! If we wait any longer, the free elves of Dol Bretanna will also have something to say! The Dwarf Autonomous Region of Mahakam will definitely be ready to move, and the dryads of Brokilon will become more and more presumptuous!"

Vizmir slammed his fist on the table.

"The Nilfgaardians are fanning the flames while waiting for us to become increasingly stretched!"

"The Scoia'tael," Henselt admitted, "is indeed a big problem. They disrupt trade and transportation, and hinder farmers from working. Damn inhuman bastards!"

"If the Scoia'tael want war, we will give them war." Now, Foltest, who had been standing by the window, also spoke up. "I have always advocated peace, but that does not mean abandoning the use of force."

"I hereby make a promise: I will wipe out the Scoia'tael in Temeria within six months."

"When my ancestors fought against the elves, too much blood had been shed in that land. In my opinion, it was a tragedy. But since they are still looking for trouble at this critical moment, the tragedy will have to happen again."

To be fair, Foltest's statement made others feel relieved.

Because his attitude towards non-human races is indeed quite moderate, as can be seen from the dwarf autonomy of Mahakam.

He is not like Kaedwen or Aedirn, who directly discriminate against non-human races in policy.

Discrimination in Temeria is mostly a problem of folk customs and prejudices, rather than a policy problem.

But after Foltest expressed his opinion, Demave laughed softly.

"Yes, Foltest. As long as you give the order, your loyal army and Blue Guards will attack the Scoia'tael or non-human races without hesitation."

King Aedirn said easily.

But then, he finally sat up from his lazy half-lying posture on the chair, lowered his face and asked in a shocking voice.

"But the question is. Will your army and your Blue Guards attack humans?!"