Tome of Blood

"Master, have you found anything?"

Looking at Charlotte who was lost in thought, Sebastian asked curiously.

Charlotte frowned and nodded slightly, but quickly shook her head again:

"No... I'm just a little strange about the significance of the rebels stationed on the banks of the Dorne River. My Castel Territory has a well-developed sea trade and many water systems. As long as the nobles, big and small, are near the sea or river, almost every family has ships..."

"The Legris family is one of the three Viscount families. It is impossible to have no fleet, and the Dorne River is the largest river in West Unite, and it is also the main waterway trade route between Northland and East Unite. Now, the upper reaches of the Dorne are in the hands of the Legris family."

"The upper reaches of the Dorne River can directly reach the East Unet Blackland, and the East Unet Blackland is a paradise for mercenaries. As far as I know, there are not many mercenary merchant ships that use the Dorne River to travel between East Unet and Castel... ..."

"The Legolis family... really don't have the means to cross the river?"

Viscount Lane-Castle explained:

"My lord, the Dorne River is too wide, and there are too many rebels. The only bridge is close to North Harbor, and the coast is heavily guarded. Even if the rebels organize a fleet, it will be very difficult to cross the river, let alone me It’s not that Steer doesn’t have a fleet, the fleet composed of various nobles has already patrolled the coastline and the mouth of the sea.”

Charlotte thought for a while and asked again:

"What about extraordinary means? As far as I know, some powerful magicians should be able to freeze rivers for a certain period of time, right? It's winter again, and the weather may be colder in a few days, and it is more suitable for frost magic. .”

"Do you think... the Legris family plans to hire high-ranking mages to cross the river by this method?"

Sebastian pondered for a moment, then said:

"Master, although there is this possibility, I'm afraid it's not great. Extraordinary power is indeed very common in wars, but if you want to cast magic that can allow thousands of people to cross the Dorne River, you need at least someone who has reached the level of Chi Yang." The archmage makes a move..."

"Moreover, maintaining such a large-scale magic is much more difficult than directly destroying a town. Even the Chi Yang Mage will consume a lot of energy. If there are other Chi Yang strongmen who interrupt the magic during this process , that loss...isn't just a star."

Viscount Lien-Castle also nodded in agreement:

"Your Excellency Sebas is right. Unless it's time to go all out, I'm afraid no Chi Yang mage is willing to cast such a large-scale magic. It will make the Chi Yang mage exhausted and fall into weakness."

"Not to mention that the Mage Association has always opposed the participation of high-level mages in secular wars, especially the wars between noble lords under the kingdom. Even if they participate, it is often high-level mages against high-level mages."

"The Legaris family does not have blazing sun professionals. Hiring a high-level mage to freeze the river... I am afraid it will be difficult."

"Unless it is a national war with a higher level and scale, or the lord himself is Chi Yang, otherwise, almost no high-ranking mage is willing to take action in a war between lords in the kingdom."

Charlotte frowned:

"Then I'm even more surprised. If you say this, unless you come directly to the North Harbor where I go to the sea, otherwise, wouldn't the Legris family have no way to reach the bank of the Dorne River? They are in the upper reaches of the river. What are they doing stationed on the shore? Or... what are they waiting for?"

"No matter from which point of view, it should be the best choice for them to go straight to Beigang? Even if they are stationed, they should be stationed downstream. Aren't they afraid that we will make dumplings from downstream?"

Baron Angus sighed:

"My lord, I'm afraid we won't be able to get around."

"Oh why?"

Charlotte was a little surprised.

Lord Angus explained:

"Because we are still separated by the enclave of the Earl of Tulip...The Earl of Tulip just separates the Viscount of Beigang from the Viscount of Legris. If we go around, we must pass through the Earl of Tulip."

"The Duchess of Boulder has announced that she will maintain a neutral position in this rebellion and refuse entry to our troops..."

Charlotte: ...

Fuck him, she almost forgot that next to the Earl of Tulip, there is a Boulder enclave like dog skin and plaster!

That bastard, the third prince, has no good intentions at all!

"The Bold family really knows how to choose an enclave... Look carefully now, this enclave almost cuts off the Castel territory on both sides of the Dorne River."

Sebastian couldn't help muttering as he looked at the Earl of Tulip, which was pressing down like a big stone on the waist of the Castel collar on the map.

Baron Angus nodded:

"Yes, that's why the successive Earls of Castel wanted to take back the Tulip Earldom from the Duke, and were even willing to exchange it with the rich land in the south. But the successive Dukes of Boulder have always expressed their refusal, Even if the Earl of Tulip is not as large as the Viscount of Beigang..."

Viscount Leon-Castle sighed:

"This is also normal. After all, the Duke of Bold relies on the Earl of Tulip to check and balance our Castel. The Earl of Tulip is the military fortress of the Duke of Bold in the north."

"For so many years, the neighboring lords in the kingdom have been afraid to do anything to Castel. It is also because the Bold family has a standing army stationed in the Earl of Tulip. As long as the Earl is still a vassal of Bold, the Bold family Just never let go."

Hearing this, Charlotte's heart moved:

"Wait... What are you talking about? The Bold family has a standing army stationed in the Earl of Tulip?"

The old Viscount nodded:

"Yes, my lord count."

"How many people are there in this standing army? Are they all extraordinary? What about the equipment?"

The old Viscount thought for a while and said:

"If I remember correctly, it should be 3,000 people, or maybe a little more. I don't know the extraordinary ratio, but it should not be low. As for the equipment... the former Duke of Boulder once served as the military chief of the kingdom, It is said that he has obtained the standard armor of many kingdoms..."

After hearing what the old Viscount said, Charlotte frowned even deeper.

She looked carefully at Castel's map, and the more she looked at it, the more she felt that the Earl of Tulip inlaid in the middle of Castel's collar looked dazzling.

The territory of Castel, which was supposed to be a perfect isosceles obtuse triangle, is incomplete because of the Boulder enclave in the middle, which can really kill obsessive-compulsive disorder.

"Sebas, is there any other news from the south recently?"

After thinking about it, Charlotte asked.

"Are you referring to the Principality of Boulder? Apart from announcing the maintenance of neutrality in the Castel rebellion and refusing the entry of troops from both sides, there is no other news from Boulder for the time being."

Sebas said.

"What about the other duke nobles? Have you sworn allegiance to the new duke?"

"This...is not clear, but it is said that apart from us, most of the duke's nobles participated in the new duke's inauguration ceremony."

After hearing Sebastian's words, Charlotte nodded slightly.

The third prince can be regarded as one of the most popular successors to the New Moon Throne, and it is normal for the nobles of the principality who want to advance further in the kingdom to curry favor with him first.

After continuing to look at the map of the Earl's Territory for a while, Charlotte said:

"The main force of the coalition forces don't need to rush out, let's train on the spot first, Beigang is full of supplies, and the logistical pressure is not too great."

"Since 3,000 people can hold the front line, let's send 3,000 people to defend the Dorne River first. Oh, no, just to be on the safe side, 5,000 people. Your Excellency, Viscount, please recommend other capable commanders to lead the troops. Defense, as for Baron Angus, stay at Beigang."

"The main force stays in Beigang?"

Viscount Lien-Castel was stunned for a moment, then hesitated and said:

"My lord, are you sure? We shouldn't delay this rebellion for too long..."

"Although the Earl of Tulip blocked our route to the north, it also blocked the rebels' route to the south along the coastline. Although Beigang seems to be closer to the front line, it is actually the safest. There is no need to leave so many troops for defense. "

"Safe? Oh, that's not necessarily the case."

Charlotte smiled and shook her head slightly.

Seeing Charlotte's pointed expression, the old Viscount's eyes twitched.

As if thinking of something, his expression changed slightly:

"Master Earl, do you doubt that... the Duke will do anything to us?"

After hearing what the old Viscount said, the nobles in the meeting hall changed their faces:

"Duke? Duke of Bold?"

"The lord intervenes in the vassal's civil war?"

"Is this...impossible?"

Even Sebastian was surprised:

"Master, this...shouldn't be the case, right? Even if the third prince wants to obtain the Castel collar, it needs to be done by a famous teacher... Otherwise, who would dare to support him to fight for the throne in the future?"

Charlotte sighed:

"If you want to find an excuse, you can always find it. No matter what, we must guard against that ambitious guy."

After listening to Charlotte's words, Sebastian fell into deep thought, and Viscount Leon-Castle nodded after pondering for a moment and said:

"Lord Earl, I understand. If this is the case... I recommend Baron Sharon to defend the banks of the Dorne River."

Charlotte looked at Baron Angus again, and Baron Angus also nodded:

"Lord Earl, Baron Sharon is also an excellent commander, and I also think he is qualified for this job."

"Then it's settled. Although it's true that this rebellion should not be delayed for too long, enough time must be left to train the coalition forces. Moreover, we must be on guard against our neighbors."

Charlotte said.