Chapter 456

High-speed text premiere

Mobile synchronous reading

This chapter is a bonus update for the "Dreaming Back to Ancient Jiangnan" reward. Fastest update┏Ⅹ④③⑨⑨┛

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Tulip Castle.

The meeting was held solemnly, with a huge thick parchment map spread on the wall. Black ink lines outlined a simple sea map.

This map is quite interesting.

If the top left corner and the bottom right corner are taken as the central axis, the left side has a yellowish-brown background, representing the continent; the right side has a light blue background, representing the sea.

On the sea, there are islands distributed one by one, representing the Sapphire Duchy, with Iron Hoof Island closest to the central axis of the map.

Taking the top right corner and the bottom left corner as the central axis, the continent is divided into two by a red line. The upper part of the continent is the territory of the Kingdom of Steel Ridge, and the lower part is the territory of the Kingdom of the Eagle.

Along this central axis, Iron Hoof Island is also divided into two, meaning the distance from Iron Hoof Island to the land of both kingdoms is the same.

Both are six days' voyage.

Of course, to be precise, it actually takes six and a half days to reach the Kingdom of Steel Ridge, as it slightly deviates from the central axis. It can be roughly estimated that the distance from Iron Hoof Island to the coastline of the Kingdom of the Eagle is about 1,200 kilometers, equivalent to the distance from Beijing to Shanghai.

Approximately equivalent to the width of nine Taiwan Straits.

"In previous years, our attacks on the hinterland of the Kingdom of the Eagle mainly focused on the four coastlines of Sardine Bay, Yellow Mud Coast, Roaring Estuary, and Dense Corridor. This year, we will cooperate with the knight order of the Kingdom of Steel Ridge to attack the area around Sardine Bay. Its surroundings include the four major cities of Snake Fang City, Ambition City, Cold Current City, and Dragon Fall City."

Captain Mickey stood in front of the map, explaining: "These four major cities belong to the territories of four Marquises. Our knight order cannot conquer these major cities and castles, but the vast flatlands around them are all pastures for warhorses. We can take away all the resources we can."

"What area does our Coral Island mainly attack?" inquired Viscount Yunas.

"We mainly attack the area around Snake Fang City. This area is less developed and has been raided many times in previous years. The nobles of the Kingdom of the Eagle find it difficult to develop their territories here, so the resources are relatively scarce. However, the Duke will compensate us in terms of military achievements," the Earl explained from his seat.

The Sapphire Duchy attacks the coastline of the Kingdom of the Eagle's hinterland every year.

But the direction of the attack varies each year, sometimes from Sardine Bay, sometimes from the Roaring Estuary, and sometimes even landing at an unnamed coastline.

As a feudal state.

The defense of these territories is naturally left to the local lords, and without unified military action, they are easily plundered by the knight order of the Sapphire Duchy.

The lords along the border sea are the poorest nobles of the Kingdom of the Eagle.

However, after years of warfare, each territory has a powerful knight order, making them tough to crack. Their territories are larger and mostly in the form of enclaves, meaning these lords also have territories inland, hence the development around the coastline is relatively backward.

Sardine Bay has not been raided for several years.

This time, the Sapphire Duchy will start from Sardine Bay. The knight order of Coral Island is assigned to mainly attack the area around Snake Fang City. As for the specific method of attack, it will be discussed after reaching the mainland—war is not a play, there are no rehearsals here.

"There is good news and bad news, which do you want to hear first?"

The Earl smiled and, without waiting for his followers to respond, said, "Alright, actually, the two are connected. Cockscomb City will gather a knight order to join us in attacking the hinterland of the Kingdom of the Eagle."

Cockscomb City is a major city of the Kingdom of Steel Ridge, the fief of a Marquis.

With such a fresh force joining, the battle to attack the hinterland is more assured, but with an additional Marquis, it means more sharers of military achievements and resources.

Indeed, it was a mix of good and bad news.

Liszt didn't mind it at all.

He looked at the map and began to imagine how he would plunder resources—he was different from previous knights, not strong in charging but extremely fast in dismantling castles. In past campaigns, the focus was mainly on raids, rarely on sieging castles, only competing for mineral resources.

However, with the help of the Blizzard Beast, the benefits of dismantling castles far exceeded those of raiding for minerals.

Moreover, his task had already been assigned: to lead a Coral Island Knights unit, cooperating with the Earl, to focus on attacking the large and small castles around Snake Fang City. The Earl also knew how to maximize benefits; with Hiddleston and the eight intermediate magical beasts as reinforcements, it would be foolish not to utilize them.

...

After the meeting.

The followers left Tulip Castle one after another, returning to their respective territories to prepare their armies, waiting to set off for Bullhorn City on October 6th—this major city on Iron Hoof Island was still the starting point for the Sapphire Duchy's campaign and the expedition of the Knights.

In Flower Town.

Liszt spent a whole day laying out the construction plans for his territory. He then spent the night communicating with the housekeeper Carter about the various tasks of the castle and ensuring enough food was packed.

The next day, he instructed Cris Truth to take over his transactions with Elkson.

Then he bid farewell to Acheronides, reminding her to supervise the construction of the mangrove forest, collect black clam pearls, search for spirit bugs in the sea, and raise the small green-headed ducks.

"Brother, how long will you be away for this war?" Acheronides was reluctant to see Liszt leave; she had once lived alone in the sea.

But now she had grown accustomed to having someone by her side.

"Shortly over a month, or up to two or three months, but I believe I will be back before the New Year."

The small mermaid clenched her fist: "Yes, Acheronides will diligently practice magic, help with brother's work, and rest at the seaside villa every day, waiting for brother to return. When brother comes back, Acheronides will surely be stronger, and no sea monster will be able to defeat Acheronides in the sea!"

"I believe that." Liszt hugged Acheronides; her magical talent was undeniable.

...

On the morning of October 8th.

Liszt was fully armored, leading the Black Horse Island Knights squad, ready to depart from Flower Town.

He gave his final instructions to Gort, who came to see him off: "Advisor Gort, the construction of the territory is shared by Isaiah and Blair, but you must coordinate and command from a global perspective. Pay special attention to the accumulation of food, do not spare the expense of gold coins, I will send a large number of serfs, at least ten thousand, their winter food must not be short."

"Please rest assured, I will always remember."

"The management and arrangement of the new serfs should also be planned in advance. If you encounter any problems, you can directly seek help from Sir Levis at Tulip Castle."

"I understand, my lord."

Thus.

Everything that needed to be explained was clear, and all arrangements were made, Liszt no longer lingered. Under the farewell of the territory's officials and servants, he galloped away in the dim light of the dawn. The knights' squad's hooves raised dust as they rode off into the distance.