It has been more than half a month since Marshal Jiuzhan of the Tingxiao Empire marched into the southwest. Although he swept through a number of castles on the Malode Plain in the northeast of the Yafei Empire, he did not make any achievements when he arrived at Yiling Bernard Castle. Being personally guarded by Prince Resa really gave Jiu Zhan a headache. What made him feel even more helpless was the terrain around Yiling Bernard Fort. It is surrounded by mountains to the north and south. The mountains to the north of the castle extend all the way to the north and are directly connected to the Traledi Mountains. The mountains to the south extend to the distant sailing sea area. And this castle is stuck in the gap between the north and south mountains, like a majestic pass, tightly holding the throat of the march. Therefore, Yi Ling Bernard has another name - City of Mountains.
To the north and south are mountains that are too high to march, and only the army that breaks through this fortress, Tingxiao, can go south. Facing the solidly defended Yiling Bernard Fort, the experienced Marshal Jiuzhan was very calm. He transferred the mercenary groups with selfish motives to the Yaofan Coastline battlefield in the south, while he sat in Malode Plains, we plan to fight a protracted war here.
It felt like Marshal Ting Xiao was not worried at all that the war would drag on for a long time and that his 100,000 people would not be able to afford it. After all, he was on an expedition with labor and the supply line stretched thousands of miles. He is so confident simply because he has a thorough understanding of Yafei's internal affairs.
After receiving a letter from Fuller, the prime minister of the Yafei Empire, he began to prepare troops without hesitation. If it were anyone else, Jiu Zhan might not believe it, but Fuller and him had been secretly communicating for a long time, so naturally he didn't have the slightest suspicion. Over the years, he learned most of the Yafei Empire's secrets and military intelligence from Fuller. Fuller's letter mentioned that he would tamper with the Pillow Sword Club. By then, the king and Resa would definitely be drawn into mutual dissatisfaction, and might even turn against each other.
Regarding this speculation, Jiu Zhan and the prime minister of the Yafei Empire had the same opinion.
Jiuzhan holds a heavy army and has lived in southern Xinjiang for a long time. He and Resa have seen each other across the border for many years, and they have a general understanding of each other's strengths. He has always been curious, how could Yafei, the dominant prince, keep his emperor from being suspicious?
After all, Jiu Zhan himself often had to face impeachment from various political opponents in Tingxiao's court. Fortunately, he was the brother-in-law of King Tingxiao, so the king felt relieved about him. But how could Resa be so unsuspecting as the emperor? Over the years, he had gradually figured it out from Fowler's letters. How could he not be suspicious? This King Kelman always protects Resa, but he is afraid of him.
After roughly understanding Fuller's plan, he and Fuller carefully finalized the time to send troops. The timing of his sending troops this time was very critical. He couldn't do it too early. He had to wait until Fuller succeeded and after the assassination of the princess by the prince's second son happened. It can't be too late, because no one knows whether King Kelman will kill him and use this excuse to really kill Reza. This also involved the time it took for the news that he was leading his army south to reach Salyuhi from Maine.
Fortunately, this pillow sword meeting was organized by Fuller, and all the procedures and battle times were mentioned in the letter, so Jiu Zhan could clearly grasp the time to march to the southwest. Of course, it was not without some hiccups. The only son of a certain earl demolished the competition arena on the first day, causing all the matches of the Pillow Sword Club to be postponed for one day, but the impact was not significant.
As Jiu Zhan expected, King Kelman finally released Resa under the pressure of Tingxiao's army. Reza returned to Maine and continued to lead the army in battle. It seemed that he was still as grateful as ever, deeply grateful for the emperor's favor, and devoted himself to his work. But for such an incident, Resa would never pretend that it had never happened. This is what Jiu Zhan speculated.
I have to say that this seasoned Marshal Ting Xiao has a very good grasp of human nature. Things were indeed working out as he thought.
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At this time, smoke and dust were billowing in front of Yiling Bernard Castle, and a golden vulture flag with a red background was flying. It was because Marshal Jiu Zhan of the Tingxiao Empire came with five thousand elite cavalry to knock on the pass again and call for battle.
The soldiers on the wall of Yiling Bernard were accustomed to this scene, and all the soldiers entered the defensive state in an orderly manner. The drums should be beaten, the bows should be bent and arrows should be bent, and the springs of more than a dozen defensive crossbows on the city wall have been tightened, and the cables of dozens of trebuchets in the city have also been tightened. But everyone knows that Tingxiao people will not really fight. After all, no general would dare to attack the city with just his cavalry.
Moreover, these Tingxiao cavalry were outside the range of crossbows and trebuchets. They were obviously just here to provoke, trying to trick the defenders in the city into a decisive battle on the plains.
Prince Resa stood at the top of the city and took a cold look. Without hesitation, he immediately ordered, "Prepare your horses, order an army of five thousand, and follow me out of the city."
The deputy general didn't hesitate at all after hearing this, and went down to the city to select his troops.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" The war drums beat louder and louder on the city walls. Prince Resa led five thousand cavalrymen in Xuanqing armor to rush out of the city gate and headed straight for the Tingxiao cavalry outside the city. The soldiers guarding the city couldn't help but look up, their faces filled with excitement. In their opinion, it was impossible for their prince to lose to Tingxiao's bullshit marshal.
In fact, this is not the first confrontation between Jiu Zhan and Resa. The first thing Ressa did after rushing back to Maine was to organize heavy troops to defend Fort Yiling Bernard. At that time, Jiu Zhan led his army to the city. When he saw Resa's brown gun and fire flags all over the city, he did not rush to attack the city and retreated wisely. The flag of Ressa's elite regiment is a lion's head flag with a purple background and white gold. As soon as Prince Ressa arrives in the army, the Maine soldiers will add a gunfire flag with a brown background next to the original flag, and this gunfire flag is usually It will be a bit taller than the platinum lion head flag.
Although there was no forceful attack, Jiu Zhan led 20,000 people to call for Resa in public the next day. The prince did not hesitate and personally led 10,000 troops out of the city to fight. The two sides fought from early morning to noon. Tingxiao's side lost more than 3,000 people, and Yafei's side lost more than 2,000 people. This first confrontation should be regarded as a small victory for Prince Resa.
In fact, for the current war situation, there is no need for Prince Resa to engage in the battle. It is best to just sit in a deep ditch and high fort and wait for the people of Tingxiao to be unable to sit still, and then make a final decision. However, the court of the Yafei Empire does not allow it. He does. After all, after the Gafo incident, the relationship between Reza and the king had dropped to a freezing point. King Kelman's army will arrive soon. If the prince doesn't show his attitude, his majesty may become suspicious.
A few days later, Marshal Jiuzhan led two thousand light cavalry around the city to watch the city's defense. Ressa led five thousand troops out of the city to pursue them. This time, the result was unexpected. Jiuzhan's two thousand light cavalry actually escaped from Prince Resa's fierce pursuit. After counting the battle losses, it was found that the Tingxiao people had replaced more than 800 cavalry from Resa's regiment when they only paid 400 cavalry. .
After several small-scale confrontations, both sides won each other.
Judging from the several battles between Jiu Zhan and Resa, it can be said that they are rivals and equals. I don't know if today's cavalry charge of five thousand versus five thousand can make the two of them compete.
"Ding!" The Baize sword in Resa's hand met Jiu Zhan's Zhu Yan.
"Resa, have you figured it out?" Jiu Zhan said in a volume that only the two of him could hear, "Kelman's army is coming soon. I don't have time to act with you here."
Resa was silent.
The two fought against each other with their swords, refusing to give in to each other. They fought for a few more moves, but no one was hurt.
"Tch, I thought you were a person, but I didn't expect you to be coy and showless." Jiu Zhan said disdainfully.
"It's not difficult to kill him. What I want to know is, what do you want?" Resa asked, staring at Jiu Zhan.
"Then what do you want?" Jiu Zhan sneered.
"I don't want much. I just need to plant my flags of fire all over the Yafei Empire." Resa said solemnly.
"You have a big appetite. Then if I want to achieve immortality, I will also give you a city with mountains." Jiu Zhan twitched the corner of his mouth.
"I can accomplish your merits. You want this fortress, you are delusional." Resa said coldly.
"You have to understand who is begging whom now." Jiu Zhan's face also darkened.
"Haha, you don't think I need your help to make things happen, do you?" Resa laughed.
"Kelman brought 100,000 people here. I don't believe I can survive without you." Jiu Zhan didn't give in, but he was secretly wondering where Resa's confidence came from. Reza only has 70,000 elites in his hands. Even if he can defeat Kelman's 100,000 troops, will he still be able to compete with him?
"Then you can try." Resa thrust out another sword in his hand, and a white light suddenly appeared, "But let me tell you a news, there are many people around your Majesty who want to steal military glory, and I can wait until you are finished fighting before taking action. You may have become an immortal by then, but I can assure you that you will definitely not be able to return to Tingxiao with your life."
Jiu Zhan blocked it with his horizontal sword, and Zhu Yanli glowed with red light. He smiled calmly and said: "Then I will withdraw the troops and return to the border first, and let's see who is better between you and Kelman. Is that okay?"
"You mobilized an army to go south, but more than 100,000 people followed you and returned empty-handed? If you can explain it when you go back, then you can withdraw your troops today." Resa also laughed.
"Don't be complacent. I am just an embarrassment when I return empty-handed. Now that Kelman is here, your life will not be easy. He will definitely force you to regicide and rebel. If you really kill him by then, I won't believe that you are like this." Can your rebellion make the entire Yafei Empire listen to you?" Jiu Zhan pointed out Resa's key point, "By then everyone will be able to support themselves and stand on their own. I'll see how you end up doing this."
Both of them knew where the other's sore feet were, and for a while no one had the upper hand.
"Okay, what do you want to do?" Resa looked at Jiu Zhan with interest, "You're not here today just to see whose cavalry is more powerful, are you?"
"Since the people around Kelman are inciting him to fight me, I can give him this opportunity. When his army reaches the pass, I will personally write a letter of challenge and invite him to fight ten days later, that is, February 15th. Malode Plains. It’ll be up to you what you do when the time comes.” Jiu Zhan was quite happy, “I’m just afraid that you’ll hide it when the time comes.”
"It's up to you how you want to fight. Originally, some people were hiding in Salyuhi, maybe I couldn't do anything about it, but now they are rushing to come to me to die, so I have to give them a ride." At this point, Resa's eyebrows suddenly turned red. Frost.
"It seems that Mr. Ling's matter is not a rumor." Jiu Zhan glanced at Resa.
"Humph." The prince said coldly.
Bai Ze and Zhu Yan were entangled in their hands again.
"Hey, I just said that people have already arrived." Jiu Zhan glanced at the top of Yiling Bernard Castle from a distance, "It seems that my visit is quite coincidental."
Resa turned around and saw a crowd of people on the city wall. The flag with a gold lion's head on a black background was already waving.
Seeing that Kelman's army had arrived, Jiu Zhan did not dare to fight, and decisively retreated to the camp on the Malode Plain. Both sides lost nearly a thousand riders in this battle, and it could be said that there was no winner.
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"Fei Lie, look at this Yiling Bernard Castle. No wonder it is called a city with mountains. It is really the most important pass in the empire." Kelman stood at the top of the city and looked at the mountains to the north and south, and then looked at the city wall. Towering, with endless watchtowers and numerous arrow towers, I couldn't help but sigh.
"Yes, the prince's hard work has yielded great results." Earl Philip responded.
Although Yuan Kang, who was standing aside, was not convinced, he was not stupid enough to say something that would ruin the scene at this time, so he could only accept it awkwardly.
While several people were chatting and laughing, Prince Reza had already led his army back to the city.
Reza did not dare to neglect and ran all the way up the tower. In his haste, he almost tripped over the stone steps. Fortunately, Count Felie beside him had quick eyesight and quick hands to catch him.
The prince apologized, bowed and sighed, "Your Majesty is laughing at me. At this age, my body is no longer useful. I have just been plundering for a while, and my legs and feet are no longer so nimble."
"The prince is exempt from the gift." Kelman said with a smile, "I remember that the prince is as old as me. If he laments his age like this, doesn't he mean that he is old and no longer useful?"
"Your Majesty, how dare I..." Resa knelt down again anxiously after hearing what Kelman said.
"Get up, I'm just joking." Kelman said, "But Prince, at your age, you still fight in battle yourself. You are indeed brave and brave. You are truly a role model in our army."
"Your Majesty, you are so complimentary. This Tingxiao man is so arrogant and arrogant. If I don't go to the city to fight for a while, I'm afraid my morale will drop." Resa said.
"Hey, where is your eldest son Ayton? Why doesn't he see anyone else? Where did he go if he didn't take care of his father's worries?" Kelman couldn't help but ask.
Resa took a step forward and said softly: "To be honest with you, your majesty, spring is coming, and there are quite a lot of movements in the mountains. Ayton was sent by me to suppress those restless monsters."
Kelman nodded, and then asked: "How many times have you fought with the marshal of Tingxiao? What do you think of him? What is the combat effectiveness of Tingxiao's soldiers?"
"Actually, Jiu Zhan has been training soldiers and horses in the past few years, and the veteran has heard a little bit about it. After several battles, he found that this person does have some skills. Tingxiao's soldiers and horses are accompanied by infantry and cavalry, as well as martial arts and The mage's cooperation from both near and far is quite methodical." Resa said, "In the few battles I fought with him, I didn't take any big advantage."
"Oh? Is your Resa elite corps on par with this Jiu Zhan?" Kelman asked curiously, "Your corps is one of the best equipped in the empire."
"I am ashamed, old minister." Resa lowered his head and said.
"Prince, you don't have to blame yourself. Your Majesty will definitely defeat these daring Tingxiao people when he comes in person." Yuan Yasuo spoke at this time. What he said was very interesting. He was obviously eager to seek military success, but he was using His Majesty's name.
"Your Majesty is here in person. It's natural that horses will trample on enemy invaders. It's nothing to worry about." Resa responded calmly.
But Kelman was silent and glanced at Earl Philip who was silent beside him. Fei Lie also understood what Kelman was thinking. These two people are all aware of Resa's ability to lead the army. If they can be on par with Resa, they are naturally very powerful figures.
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In the secret room of a tower in Yilingberna Castle.
"Prince, have you promised that Jiuzhan?" Bishop Herod looked at Prince Reza and asked.
"What's the point of saying yes or no? From the moment Kelman let me go back to Maine, he should have thought that I am not the kind of person who is easy to get along with." Ressa said coldly.
"Prince, have you thought about it? This is a big deal." Herod said with a frown.
"Have you thought about it? I saw Gafo's expression of pain, and at that moment, I thought about it." Resa looked cold.
"But it was not His Majesty's intention that the Second Young Master was assassinated like that..." Herod glanced at Resa.
"But Kelman, he had the idea of killing me, didn't he?" Reza turned to stare at Herod, a pair of green eyes gleaming, "Since he has such an idea, I have to do the opposite. . Besides, do you think he came to Maine this time just to fight off the Tingxiao people?"
"That's right." Herod nodded and said, "In addition to dealing with the people of Tingxiao this time, your Majesty also has other thoughts."
"Everything should have been arranged at Liqiu Camp, right?" Resa then asked.
"Everything has been arranged, and since the eldest son is going in person, there should be no problem." Herod nodded.
"Where is Master Feiyue? Where is she?"
"I was in New York City a few days ago, and I said I was going to come over with the third lady. It should be here in the next two days." Herod replied.
Reza nodded, then glanced at Herod, "And where are your Guangzheng Temple guards and mages? Have they all been assembled?"
"Don't worry, Prince. Since I chose to work with you a few years ago, I will naturally do my best. All the palace guards and mages, a total of 6,000 people, have been assembled and are just waiting for your order, Prince." Herod Said in a deep voice.
"Yes. First, station yourself in the camp twenty miles west of the city. Don't let Kelman notice any movement. These church elites, one in a hundred, will be needed in a few days."
"Okay, I'll make arrangements right away." Herod took the order and went out, curling his lips as he turned his back.
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At this time, in the luxurious room on the third floor of the main tower, King Kelman frowned and looked out the window at the high city and deep, indestructible Yiling Bernard Castle, and he couldn't help but sigh again. At this time, there were only two people in the room, the king and Earl Philip.
"This Resa is really a talent. He has marched all the way to Fengtie Castle, New Yin City, and this city with mountains - Yiling Bernard. In less than ten years, he has watched this earth-shaking transformation. Such changes, I can’t help but praise him.” Kelman said sharply.
Earl Felie hesitated after hearing this. After pondering for a moment, he looked at Kelman and asked, "Your Majesty, are you thinking of how to kill him?"
"Ha, you old guy understands me best." Kelman laughed.
"I believe your majesty should have seen the magnificence of Resa's elite corps. Although we came with more than 100,000 people, it would be unwise to have an internal fight with Resa. I think the most important thing at the moment is to think first. Think about how to drive away those Tingxiao people." Fei Lie reminded.
"The truth is this. Resa should wait until he finishes defeating the Tingxiao people before dealing with it." Kelman sighed, "I didn't expect that the marshal of Tingxiao could actually fight twice, and he could fight on par with Resa. .”
"Yes, Your Majesty, so don't be careless in this battle. I have just sent people to investigate. This guy is camped in Malode Plain. This is a posture that wants us to fight to the death." Fei Lie said.
"His follow-up supplies stretch for thousands of miles, and he will definitely not be able to fight a war of attrition, so he has to ask us for a decisive battle. Does he have any other ideas?" Kelman said with a smile, "But the guild will give him this opportunity. If he really Hiding in this city with mountains and consuming him to death, wouldn’t it make the world laugh at him for being lonely and cowardly?”
Although Earl Philip always felt that holding on to the pass and waiting for the enemy to be in chaos was the best strategy, he found that His Majesty seemed to have fallen into an indescribable fanaticism and would not pay attention to his opinions, so he did not say much. I don't know if this enthusiasm is due to listening to the words of the god-like Master Toyama, or being instigated by Yuanyasu and others, or being stimulated by Prince Reza today.
He also couldn't guess whether Prince Resa's words "I'm no longer useful as I get older" were unintentional or intentional.
"By the way, has Master Piro's residence been arranged properly?" Kelman suddenly asked.
"It's arranged upstairs. Your Majesty will be able to see the old man when you walk up." Fei Lie knew that His Majesty had something to talk to Master Piro, so he wisely withdrew.
It was night, on the Fuxing Tower of Salyuhi Palace, Master Toyama looked at the scene in the night sky. He was so frightened that he fell to the ground. He didn't even notice that the crystal ball that was as important as his own life rolled to the ground.
I could only hear him murmuring incessantly: "The excitement is high, the heart is in danger, it is a sign of great misfortune, it is a sign of great misfortune... Your Majesty, where is Your Majesty..."
The palace attendants in the palace only thought that this disheveled god/stick was crazy, and no one took him seriously.
