Green Monster Epic

Chapter 1142: The Decision

Alan raced all the way, arriving in less than two days at the northern front line that formed a strategic alliance with the Cold Wind Ridge Guardians—the location of Grimwind Fortress.

The fortress was situated between two peaks several dozen meters high and connected to them, resembling a massive shield inserted horizontally into the ground, cutting off the path from the southern elves to the north.

Atop each peak, a mage tower stood tall, allowing for a distant view of the movements of the northern elves while also extending the range of the mage towers by over a hundred meters, maximizing their effectiveness.

However, the outer edges of the hills had been hewn into straight city walls by the warriors of the North, the granite stone of the mountain itself seamlessly integrated.

After being re-coated and modified by the Drow using some secret material, its sturdiness was no less than the defensive power of the outer city walls of Nasir Fortress.

At this moment, banners fluttered above Grimwind Fortress, and heads crowded together, creating a solemn and imposing scene.

Before even approaching the fortress, several powerful auras rose, and then black dots rapidly flew from within the fortress toward the direction where Alan and the others were.

"Your Excellency!!"

"Chieftain!!!!"

The commanders of the legions stationed at the fortress arrived, and when they saw Alan, their expressions relaxed slightly, as if they had seen their backbone.

If it hadn't been for Alan's strong advocacy, there wouldn't be the ten regular legions of the Northern Alliance as they were today, let alone the current Grimwind Fortress.

For these legion commanders, Alan's existence had been their greatest support and steadfast advocate from the beginning.

Moreover, Alan's legendary life itself was the object of yearning and admiration for the vast majority of natives in the North.

"How is the situation in the north now?"

Alan was not familiar with the several legendary commanders; he didn't even remember some of their names.

However, he didn't have time to interact with them one by one, and instead went straight to the point, asking about the things he was most concerned about.

"The main force of the elven legions has already broken through Snow Eagle Fortress, Frozen Earth Stronghold, and other important strongholds of the dwarven kingdom in the Wind and Snow Highlands, and is probably less than 500 miles away from Meltsteel Royal City."

"The speed of the Blood Fury Fortress and other southern dwarven legions returning for aid is indeed slower than the elven army.

The vanguard legions that set out first will probably need about a week to reach the Chagori Hills where Meltsteel City is located."

"Now that the dwarven kingdom has passed through the initial shock and turmoil, it has also issued a conscription order and should be able to assemble a sizable home guard before the elven army presses on the royal city…"

"…However, we are worried that the elven army will dispatch an elite force to set up an ambush at a must-pass location on the route of the dwarven southern reinforcements.

If the dwarven commander is too eager to hurry and neglects this danger, their returning troops may suffer heavy losses."

"…To make the worst-case scenario, if the dwarven army is besieged and reinforcements are attacked, then the elven kingdom is highly likely to occupy Meltsteel City, the capital of the dwarven kingdom, which will be a very heavy blow to the dwarven kingdom!!"

The several legendary commanders of the North, now dedicated to the army, have perhaps changed the most in their military strategy in addition to improving their own strength.

Facing Alan's inquiry, they not only informed Alan of the latest intelligence, but also stated their judgment on the future direction of the war.

"What can we do?"

Alan asked again concisely.

"…Uh…"

The legion commanders looked at each other, and then paused.

It wasn't until Nelson, the legendary commander of the Great Earth Spirit from Greenwild, mustered his courage to face Alan's gaze and solemnly replied: "Then we need to know to what extent Your Excellency, or rather the North, will participate in this war."

"…"

Alan frowned slightly, obviously still hesitating in his heart about the extent to which the North should get involved in this war.

However, he then tentatively asked: "What if we only help the dwarven kingdom get through this crisis and buy them time for their defense?"

"That depends on your determination, and it should be the most difficult!!"

Nelson's words were powerful and sonorous, and then he gave the judgment they had discussed for several days: "Even if our current Northern Alliance army is stationed before Thornsburg Fortress, making an offensive posture, the main force of the elven kingdom attacking the Wind and Snow Highlands is unlikely to hesitate to move eastward in any way, and will still advance at full speed."

"If we directly launch an attack on Thornsburg, it may put pressure on the elven kingdom's royal family, but the impact on the northern front will be limited.

The opposing commander is unlikely to turn his guns to deal with us just because of our pressure, and we don't have such a powerful strength that requires the elves to treat us with caution."

"Unless we send an elite squad carrying a Flesh Altar day and night, choose a must-pass location on the route of the elven army as an ambush location, and mobilize all five legions stationed in our Grimwind Fortress.

If we pay a huge price, or even have all five legions annihilated, we should be able to delay the elven army's advance."

"…"

Alan didn't expect Nelson and the others to give him such an answer.

He originally thought that the North had become strong enough to at least make the elves look at them differently and pay attention to them, but now Nelson's words completely shattered Alan's inner fantasies.

"Of course, we can also persuade the Drow to send troops together.

They should have similar means to the Flesh Altar, but we don't think the Drow Matrons would be willing to sacrifice their own interests for the sake of the dwarven kingdom's safety."

Nelson paused briefly, and when he saw that Alan didn't speak, he added again.

"Then what do you think we can do now?"

Alan was more certain of the judgment of professionals, and then he asked Nelson again.

"If we only consider the safety of the North, then our current state is not bad.

No matter how powerful the elven kingdom is, they will not be so irrational as to launch a two-front war."

"We can have enough time to think about and prepare for the situation after the elves break through the dwarven kingdom's capital, whether it is expanding the size of the alliance army or building powerful defensive fortifications."

"Of course, if Your Excellency wants to give the dwarven kingdom an explanation and put pressure on the elven kingdom, we can also launch a northern mobilization now and advance the battle line to the vicinity of the Thornsburg border!!"

"As long as we don't actively shoot the first arrow, then the elves will definitely not rashly launch an offensive against us, and at most will transfer more troops from their homeland to take precautions.

When the war with the dwarves comes to an end, they will not have any excuses to attack our North because of our normal troop movements!!"

Nelson first said the choice that most natives in the North wanted most, and his eyes quietly observed Alan's expression.

Feeling that the other party was not satisfied with this, he then opened his mouth again: "Of course, in our opinion, the best choice is to immediately mobilize the various tribes in the North, form a main force of more than a million troops, and persuade the Drow to join forces to take advantage of the current emptiness in the elven kingdom and directly counterattack into the elven kingdom's homeland."

"As long as we can seize the opportunity to push the border line to the area where the Southern Hengduan Mountain Range of the elven kingdom is located, and then build a defensive line based on this, then our North will have a sufficiently large buffer zone to calmly respond to the future attacks of the elves."

Obviously, Nelson and the others already possessed the essence of a qualified soldier, which was the desire for war and military achievements.

Because for them, if they wanted to be promoted and obtain greater authority, everything had to be obtained through war.

Alan keenly noticed Nelson's inclination and couldn't help but question: "Okay, even if we occupy the vast territory of the elves, then who can take on the task of protecting the occupied elven lands??

Or rather, which force in the wilderness can ensure that these lands will not be recaptured by the elves?"

"Chieftain, isn't this a major driving force for your wilderness reform?"

Nelson and the others must have already discussed the relevant issues, and they had an answer in their hearts when faced with Alan's question: "After nearly a hundred years of reproduction and development, many wilderness tribes have population sizes and the number of powerhouses close to becoming the baseline for formal members of the alliance, and there are more than a hundred quasi-formal members with a population scale of more than 50,000."

"Instead of letting them compete for resources with the nearby other formal members of the alliance and drag each other down, it is better to allow them to join the alliance and let them move their entire tribe to the plains in the southern part of the elven kingdom to survive."

"The land here is more fertile, the resources are more abundant, and there are no other powerful tribes to check and influence them.

As long as those newly rising tribal leaders have great ambitions, someone will definitely be tempted!!"

"As long as there are enough wilderness tribes living on this land, then they can become a powerful force to resist the elven counterattack."

"At the same time, our North will also gain these reinforcements and become a more powerful camp force in the alliance!!"

"…"

The blueprint described by Nelson made Alan somewhat tempted, but he also knew the huge risks involved.

If he really occupied the vast lands of several provinces in the southern part of the elven kingdom, it would mean completely falling out with the elves.

If the other party turned their guns and aimed all their power at himself and the North, then could they withstand the crushing power of a powerful civilization?

Alan had no confidence in his heart at all.

"Cough!!"

"Compile the latest intelligence, as well as your various deductions about this war, and then give it to me to take a look at!!"

"It's best to be more detailed!!"

He had just arrived and couldn't possibly make such an important decision based on Nelson's few words.

After forcibly suppressing the chaotic emotions in his mind, when Alan refocused his gaze on the other party's firm face, his eyes had become calm and clear.

"Understood!!"

Nelson and the other commanders felt a slight disappointment in their hearts, but then raised their heads and responded loudly.