Tome of Blood

On January 17, 1446 in the sacred calendar, the Castel family declared war on the Bold family in the name of independence and recovery of legal territory.

On January 18, the Bold family also declared war on Castel on the grounds of quelling the rebellion and legally stripping them of their titles.

The Castle-Bold War officially broke out.

At the same time, the third prince Philip, as the Duke of Bold, assured the nobles of the Northland that the counter-rebellion was only aimed at the Castel family.

As long as the northern nobles remain neutral, the spread of war can be avoided, and titles and territories can also be preserved.

And those who swear allegiance to Boulder can get many preferential conditions including reducing the tax of vassal contracts.

The Boulder-Violet Allied Forces, which had reached the border between Violet and Castel, marched into the territory of Castel in mighty force after declaring war.

At the same time, the Principality United Fleet, consisting of five heavy Carrick three-masted warships, twelve brigantines, twenty-three galleys, and a total of thirty-eight warships loaded with stone-shooting guns, They also sailed away from the northernmost port of Violet, and headed towards Beigang along the Xingyue Strait.

On land, after the coalition forces of the two duchies entered Castel, they were in a state of turmoil all the way.

Except for several northern baronial families, including the Valais family, who used their castles as their stronghold to resist for a while, the coalition forces encountered almost no other effective resistance along the way.

Wherever they went, the nobles of the Northland almost all declared their neutrality after seeing the mighty army, or simply surrendered directly.

However, the coalition forces of the two duchies did not stop at the villages, towns and castles they passed.

After leaving some soldiers and noble officers as temporary controllers to ensure the normal operation of the supply line, the main force continued to move north aggressively, heading straight for Beigang, the direct territory of Castel.

On the other hand, unlike the army that was in a state of turmoil all the way, Polder Violet's navy encountered some troubles.

After entering the Xingyue Strait, the United Fleet was ambushed by the Castel Fleet headed by the Roman-Fore family...

...

Xingyue Strait, Zeen Island waters.

Roaring artillery fire resounded across the sky, and dozens of warships were divided into two camps, swimming and firing along the north and south directions.

Bursts of white smoke spread and rise along the hull, and magic-breaking stone bullets were fired from the muzzle of the stone-shooting cannon on the side of the ship.

From time to time, a faint light can be seen above the battleship, which is the magic shield activated by the accompanying mage on the ship.

However, the effect of the magic shield is obviously limited.

After the initial engagement ran out of mana, the fleets of both sides went into undefended hot battle mode.

From time to time, after a series of bombardments, warships were either hit by the gunpowder magazine and ignited a fire, or their masts were directly crushed and lost their mobility, or they were sieved, and they were shot down one after another. Slowly sank amidst the roar.

"Full right rudder! Full right rudder!"

"Reload ammunition! The other side is about to turn around!"

"Fire!"

On board the "Black Order", the flagship of the Roman-Fore family.

The first mate who was a pirate commanded the crew, roaring and giving the order to attack.

At the bow of the ship, the commander-in-chief of the fleet, Viscount Romain Fore, held a binoculars and watched the battle on the sea with a solemn expression.

The roaring cannons sounded one after another, and from time to time, ships could be seen being destroyed and sunk amidst a series of gunfire, and the entire sea surface was gradually shrouded in white smoke of gunpowder.

And if you look carefully, you will see that most of the sunk warships fly flags that belong to the Principality of Violet and the Principality of Boulder.

It is different from the principality's combined fleet with powerful firepower.

Although the number of ships in the Castel fleet is small, only three Carrick three-masted warships and eighteen galleys, but because of the integration of many elves' shipbuilding technologies, they are far faster and more flexible than others. Higher than the combined fleet of the two duchies.

The gunfire of the principality's battleships often misses, but as long as Castel's fleet seizes the opportunity, it can always cause damage to the combined fleet.

However, although the results of his own fleet were more fruitful, Viscount Roman-Fore's face was extremely serious.

"Captain! The Hyacinth has been sunk! The White Oak and the Rhododendron have sent semaphores, and the ammunition is almost out!"

The standard-bearer on the ship shouted at him.

After hearing what the other party said, the old Viscount secretly sighed.

Although the Castel fleet is known for its speed and agility, its number is too small and its ammunition is limited.

Although the fleet of the Roman-Fore family is strong, they are originally pirates, and they are not suitable for such head-to-head naval battles.

In the final analysis, Castres is an earldom after all, and there was no need for it in the past, nor did it build a large-scale regular naval fleet.

Facing the joint fleet of the two duchies, this ambush was impossible to win.

"Send semaphore to each battleship, retreat."

Glancing at the direction of the United Fleet, the old Viscount finally ordered.

...

The ambush on the sea lasted only half a day.

After sinking a Carrick three-masted warship, two brigantines, and three galleys in the combined fleet of the Principality, and at the same time paying the price of sinking four galleys, the fleet led by the Roman-Foer family arrived in time. Leaving the battle, relying on the advantage of speed to retreat in the direction of Beigang.

The United Fleet, whose strength has not been severely damaged, also continued to move forward, also heading in the direction of Beigang.

...

North Port, Earl's Court.

In the chamber where the council of the nobles of the territory was convened.

The news of the naval battle has not yet been returned, but news of the battle on the road has been transmitted to Beigang one after another.

Charlotte, who led the main force of the army back to Northport, fell into deep thought as he watched the battle reports from the south.

In the hall, the nobles who participated in the counter-insurgency had already blown up.

"Shame! This is a shame to the Northland! Lord Earl, these southern nobles are really stupid. People like the third prince still believe the promises made by them. They are simply suicidal!"

A northern nobleman waved his fist angrily.

"Your Excellency, your family's territory is in the middle of the country, and the flames of war have not reached your family's territory. Naturally, you are easy to say. Bold and Violet have sent a full 50,000 troops, and 30,000 are standing. Such a powerful army, you let the south How can the various families resist?"

A nobleman whose family was obviously in the south retorted.

"Even if you can't resist, won't you evacuate temporarily? Why surrender?"

"Evacuate? Do you mean to ask our family to give up their territory and people?"

"Didn't you do the same thing during the Star-Moon War? At that time, there were even a lot of nobles who fought for the kingdom to the last moment. How did you come back alive?"

"Aren't I fighting for Castel now? The family is far away in the south. I don't know what happened there. After the war is over, I will deal with the rebels. But now, shouldn't we discuss how to Can we defeat the enemy?"

In the hall, the nobles were arguing, like a vegetable market.

Staying up late _(:з」∠)_