Unlike the frequent setbacks in the north, the turmoil caused by Sauron in the south succeeded in almost exhausting human potential.
After decades of war, the people of Rohan and Gondor have reached extreme poverty. Except for a few strong fortresses, there is almost no place in the human world that is not affected by war.
Edoras was once even captured by the charioteers. King Théoden relied on the strength of Helm's Deep to persist for three years. Finally, in an extremely cold winter, he successfully counterattacked and besieged Rohirrim. It took three years for the charioteers to drive out Siamt and recapture Edoras.
But even so, after decades of war, the population of the Rohirrim was cut in half from the millions before the war, to less than half.
Moreover, the Rohirrim have lost almost all their pastures and horses. The once horseback nation may not even be able to gather two thousand knights now.
And Gondor wasn't much better.
Under the rule of Denethor II, the descendants of the once glorious and noble Númenóreans lost almost all the territory east of the Pelennor Fields.
The originally beautiful and fertile Ithilien was almost burned to the ground! Kyle Andros was breached! The port of Pelagil was plundered! There is no trace of human activity in Gondor east of the Anduin.
Abandoned skeletons can be seen everywhere in the wild, farmland has been burned, orchards have been abandoned, and forests have been cleared. Minas Tirith was swarmed with fleeing people.
If it weren't for the royal family's strict implementation of wartime arrangements, the Holy White City would have been unable to hold on long ago.
In fact, after persisting for many years, even Aragorn could hardly continue. Although his heart is still tenacious, he fights bravely and decisively. But as time went by, fewer and fewer people followed him.
In the end, there were only more than 300 warriors left by Aragorn's side. Although they are all very loyal and brave, their number is too small compared to the barbarians who almost attack with all their tribes.
Aragorn led them through the wilderness of Ithilien, attacking the enemy's logistics lines and sneak attacks on their camps. Wherever they went, the enemies from the Harad region became panicked and panicked.
But as the once rich and beautiful Ithilien became increasingly desolate and uninhabited, there were fewer places for them to get supplies and cover.
Finally, in the autumn when the grass and trees are withered and yellow. Aragorn gathered them together.
"My brothers and sisters, our spies intercepted a message that a new enemy legion is coming from the south. They are traveling day and night, driving behemoths and siege engines, preparing to attack Osgiliath!"
At that time, Aragorn was wearing a dark gray dress and trousers, a pair of long black boots, and the royal sword of Arno on his waist. The originally tall and strong body became slightly stooped, the lean face had a sloppy beard, and the eyes were sharp and dangerous.
"Many people have defected to them. As far as I know, there are the pirates of Umbar! Those despicable but untrustworthy guys started a rebellion again half a century after surrendering to Gondor! They thought that Gondor's strength would After all, the walls of Minas Tirith have been destroyed! But we will use the swords and crossbows in our hands to tell them that Gondor will never surrender!"
At that time, many of the people listening to him were holding spears with broad and bright spearheads; some had large bows hung on their backs, the bows were almost as tall as a man, and the huge quivers contained long green-feathered arrows; Swords were hung all over his sides, and he was dressed in different shades of green and brown, as if to make it harder to see him while walking around in the glades of Ithilien.
Including Aragorn, they all wore green gauntlets, covered their heads with hoods, and wore green masks. Only their eyes were exposed, which were very bright and sharp.
They listened quietly, courage and unyielding spreading in their hearts. "Gondor will never surrender!" they shouted.
"As far as I know, the royal family's Boromir is stationed in Osgilias. They don't know that the enemy's main army is about to move north to attack the once glorious and magnificent ruins. Therefore, we must rush ahead of the enemy and send Go and warn Gondor, warn our people!"
"And the remaining people will follow me to delay the enemy's advance as much as possible!" Aragorn pulled out the royal sword of Arno, which was like a puddle of autumn water, and stood it on his chest: "In the name of Gondor! Fight to the death. !”
Everyone drew their swords, raised their spears, and shouted passionately: "In the name of Gondor!"
"Fight to the death!"
Therefore, this heroic commando behind enemy lines led by Aragon sent a messenger to Osgiliath to warn Crown Prince Boromir, and rushed to the south of Ithilien to delay the enemy.
They ambushed a group of enemies between the intersection and the mountains in the south.
At that time, Aragorn and the others were lurking on the hillside, under the shade of woods or bushes, or crawling among the grass and bushes - they were wearing brown and green clothes, and their figures were almost unrecognizable.
Some of the enemies acted alone, while others marched in long lines, always walking in the center of the road, slowly and leisurely as if on an outing.
In fact, at that time, many of their enemies did not believe that such Gondor would have the strength to resist them. So at that time, the discipline of this team was not very strict. Their ranks were extremely long, and none of them belonged to anyone.
The last ones were the enemies from the Harad region. Their skin color is mostly black and they are painted with various colorful war markings.
Some of them were driving several behemoths. They were as big as a house, or rather a moving gray hill. They were mammoths, Turka and Nahar had seen them when they were chasing Smaug.
The legs of these giant beasts are as thick as trees, their huge ears are spread out like sails, their proboscis is raised like a giant python about to attack, and their little red eyes are full of violent color. The long teeth that were upturned like horns were covered with gold hoops, dripping with blood. The scarlet and gold tapestry on her body had been torn to pieces and was fluttering in the wind. On his arched back was a wooden creation that looked like a war tower, on which sat several proud and careless Siutin people.
Aragorn and the others patiently and secretly ambush at both ends of the valley. When most of them entered the long and narrow mountain road, Aragorn immediately asked someone to blow a mighty horn.
"Woooooo~~"
When the horn of Gondor sounded throughout the valley, the enemy panicked and realized that he had been ambushed.
The commando soldiers lifted off their cloaks and drew their huge longbows. The arrows flew over a distance of tens of meters and hit the enemies sitting on the mammoths.
And when Aragorn's uncanny arrow hit the huge eye of a mammoth, the giant beast immediately ran blindly and furiously. Most of the enemies in the mountain road were either trampled flat by it or had their bones and tendons broken by the impact. And when it accidentally bumped into another mammoth, the two mountain-like bodies fell down with a roar.
And when Aragorn and his men all fired their bows and arrows, the commando warriors shouted "Gondor! Gondor!" and rushed down the hillside.
Suddenly, the two sides broke out into a fight, with the clang of steel hitting each other, the clang of swords striking iron helmets, and the dull sound of blades striking shields. Wails and frantic shouts seemed to come from a distant cave. Come to normal.
Blood stained the valley red.
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