Realm of Power

On December 14, on the northwest coast covered by heavy snow, in the vast sky, white lines rolled up on the sea hit the cliffs heavily, making a thunderous rumble.

The Southwest Army outside the city of Rwanaka began to break out of camp. The soldiers moved things back and forth onto the carriages. Some soldiers looked reluctantly at the moat of the city of Rwanaka, which was still burning with raging fire amidst the falling snow. Whether it was a soldier or an officer, his eyes were full of helplessness. It was so shameless. He had never encountered such an opponent before, and he used a wall of never-extinguishing fire to block an army of 100,000 for fourteen days! The helplessness caused by the wall of fire is far less than the psychological pressure this incident has on the soldiers of the Southwest Army.

The news that the Falcon Navy defeated the Southwest Combined Fleet has spread to the Army. No one expected that the northwest coast, which has always been inconspicuous, would suddenly show such a powerful naval force.

The Southwest Combined Fleet has the Southwest Fleet and the Empire's regular fleet, with a total number of more than 70 warships. In the Southwest Army's expectation, the navy on the northwest coast is just some barbarian warships with poor technology. Facing the powerful Southwest Combined Fleet, it is not enough. Like thin grass stems and leaves blown into a typhoon, they were torn into countless pieces in an instant.

Under the powerful advancement of the navy and land forces, the barbarians on the northwest coast should have panicked and fled in panic, but the reality is so cruel. It was the Southwest Combined Fleet that was uprooted like a thin grass stalk. Not only did the northwest fleet They did not suffer any major losses, but instead launched a counterattack in the southwest sea area. The army was also in such a sorry state, or it would be an understatement to call it unbearable. A hundred thousand troops stared at a small town with less than ten thousand defense troops. For fourteen days,

Seven attacks were launched, but apart from the casualties of more than 3,000 people, there was no record to speak of. In terms of logistics, the food supply was getting less and less, and a large number of manpower had to be sent to the nearby forests for hunting every day. Only then can we barely guarantee that no one will starve to death.

The weather is getting colder and colder, and the whistling cold wind has turned into continuous rain and snow. Even an ordinary soldier of the Southwest Army knows that the so-called northward advance has become a joke, and the generals are still arguing over advance and retreat. ,

The Southwest Army did not know that in the city of Rwanaka, Lidakus was just as restless as an ant on a hot pot. He lay on the city wall every day. Observing the changes of the Southwest Army on the opposite side, "I really hope that when I wake up tomorrow morning, there will be no one outside!"

This defensive master who is regarded as a super awesome person by the outside world is actually very unsettled every day. As the fat man said, Lidaccus is a general with a somewhat wavering personality. After the initial passionate decision, Within three days, he began to regret it. It turned out that all perfect plans had fatal flaws. Just like now, the weather suddenly became worse and worse. The first two days were sunny and everything was fine. As planned, the Southwest Army was blocked from the wall of fire.

Wanted to launch an attack from the sea, but was defeated by a squadron at sea. The fight was furious, and I heard that a senior officer was injured as a result. The weather was going to be very bad later. The weather began to alternate between rain and snow. Large snowflakes and icy cold rain were like magic. They rained all night long and endlessly. The sound of the swishing sound was like rubbing against the lidaku. Lidakus's nerves, the sound of snowflakes falling and raindrops falling outside the window, made Lidakus suffer every day.

In order to maintain the wall of fire, the crude oil in the city disappeared much faster than originally expected.

"The 15-day time limit that we promised at the beginning seems to be impossible. Being able to stick to it for ten days is already the limit." After counting the few remaining crude oil, Lidakus, a former logistics minister, clearly realized this.

He has never been a very strong person, and such a tragic thing as living and dying with the city is impossible. Realizing that there was a deviation in the plan, Lidakus immediately ordered the fleet stranded at sea to dock in the port in an emergency, and occupied the equipment on the warships. Some of the incendiary bombs and Thor cannon shells were unloaded After being loaded down, these can be used as backup crude oil at critical moments. If necessary, if the situation is not good, more space can be made available to transport more soldiers back. "Everyone is prepared, once the fire wall appears If there are any signs of extinction, everyone should evacuate immediately! "

Lidakus let the entire order be conveyed to every soldier. On the fifth day, the Luwangaka people in the city withdrew from the city intermittently with the assistance of the naval squadron.

Holding on until the seventh day, a transport fleet from Normandy under the orders of Fatty arrived in Rwanaca. The transport fleet brought a large amount of crude oil. These were barrels of crude oil that were originally shipped to the northern border. The number was 1,500 barrels. , because the Slavs finally avoided the war, these strategic reserves were shipped intact back to the original place. With this batch of crude oil in the place where it is mined, the wall of fire in Rwanaka can continue to support it. But even so, if the Southwest Army continues to wait for one more day, the crude oil in Rwanaka will be burned out, leaving Their troubled and helpless wall of fire will disappear completely, and what will be known as the "unfallen Luwang Aka" in later generations will no longer exist.

This may be the choice of fate. After the unfavorable situation in the first battle, the Southwest Army finally gave up and continued to besiege Rwangaka. The path of advance and retreat of the 100,000-strong army began to become confused.

The first battle was unfavorable. Although no major losses were suffered, the logistics supplies were almost paralyzed. The soldiers were hungry, faltering, and the military appearance was not in good shape. Coupled with low morale, many Southwest Army generals had retreated.

"Our army is no longer able to advance north, so it is better to withdraw to the southwest and wait for the opportunity!" At the military meeting, some generals expressed their intention to retreat, while other generals asked to continue advancing north. If you encounter setbacks, choose panic If we retreat, such a thing will only become the butt of ridicule. Although the logistics have been cut off, the main force of our army has not suffered losses. We can fully adopt the method of supporting war with war and continue to advance northward, and from Rwangaka to Oa Check, it’s less than five days away…”

"By five days, you mean crossing directly from the Akodedu Corridor in the Principality of Denia!"

The general who supported the retreat retorted with disdain, "That's what happened in Rugao. Before we encountered the Falcon Army, we had to fight a hundred thousand Denian troops! Do you want to cover the ten-day journey with the corpses of soldiers?"

"Even if it is covered with corpses, it is better than being called a coward! Regardless of the dangers of mountains and seas of fire, it is the duty of a soldier to move forward bravely." The general who asked for the northward advance was much more powerful than the general who supported the retreat. At the meeting, The generals argued at the top of their lungs. If it weren't for Algernonkaja, they would have fought.

"That's enough, look at what you look like now. How are you different from a group of scolding shrews? Is this still the so-called elite Southwest Army?" Algernonkaja finally stood up impatiently. The generals stopped arguing and all Looking at the commander-in-chief who had an uncertain face,

"I have decided!" Algernonkaja glanced at everyone's faces, took a deep breath with a solemn expression, and said after a pause in his voice, "This battle has failed. In the absence of supplies, we will continue to advance north. Just making fun of the lives of hundreds of thousands of troops, so starting from the afternoon, each legion will retreat to the southwest according to the original route. Because I am the overall person in charge of this battle, so regarding the issue of Atwood, I will personally go to the imperial capital to report The Imperial Military Affairs Ministry explained it!”

As Algernonkaja finished announcing the order, the venue fell into silence. Whether they were those who requested retreat or those who insisted on advancing north, a trace of shame flashed across everyone's faces. Outside the military tent, heavy snow fell and filled the sky and earth, almost visible. No direction

"Okay, this matter has been decided." Algernonkaja pressed his hands on the table with a stern face. At this moment, an attendant ran in from the outside with an eager look and asked Algernonkaja. Said in a low voice

"Lord General, Duke Francis of Bangor has sent a secret letter!"

"Secret letter?" Algernonkaja frowned slightly. During the Northwest Rebellion, he had rejected Francis's request to rescue Bangor. Did this guy write a letter specifically to laugh at me now?

"That's it!" The attendant took out a letter from his sleeve. The cover was blue for nobles. On the outside was a red paint seal fused with silver. On it were the abbreviations of Duke Francis, Lord of Bangor.

"It looks very formal, it doesn't look like a letter meant to ridicule!" Algernonkaya hesitated, took the letter from the attendant, opened the red paint with his fingers, and looked at After scanning, he suddenly became a little condensed, even his breathing became a little heavier, and his eyes gleamed.

"Where is the messenger?" Algernonkaja asked in a low voice impatiently. "Waiting outside!" The attendant responded in a low voice, "Take him to my military tent!" "Algernonkaja ordered with a look of joy. There is really no end to the road. Denia and Rosende blocked the road to Ohacha, but Bangor, who is located further away, took the initiative. Contact yourself,

In this unexpected letter, Francis expressed his willingness to assist the Southwest Army in passing through his territory. He also pointed out that the Falcon Army's food station was in the Biye Valley on the border between Bangor and Ohacha, although this was on the route. It is twice as far as traveling directly through the Principality of Denia, but it is precisely this that can achieve an unexpected effect.

Holding the letter in his hand, the sadness on Algernonkaya's face swept away.

The grudge between Bangor and the Falcon Army is well known, so it is normal for him to stab him in the back. However, the Falcon Army must not have expected that he would suddenly kill him after putting on a retreat posture. "The commanders of the second, fifth, sixth, and seventh regiments will stay, and the others can disperse!" Algernonkajia swept away the decadence just now, and waved to the others in a high-spirited manner, Vekia Falcon, the battle in the northwest has just begun! (To be continued...)