Riding and Slashing

Chapter 424 The Loyal Betrayer

People always have a kind of thinking inertia, and they always feel that the longer they follow them, the more trustworthy they are.

This is self-deception brought about by emotional factors. No one can escape the fog of sensibility, and Li Ang is certainly no exception.

It's like now, even though Li Ang has already guessed who Zakar's insider is, he still doesn't want to believe his own judgment...

In fact, after determining Zakar's goal, this should be easily judged - Zakar is not for looting this time, but for occupation.So, if Zakar captures the Great River City, what method will he use to defend the victory?
With those two thousand lone troops alone, even if they could steal Changhe City, they wouldn't be able to defend it.

The Great River City is the capital of the new Pendor Kingdom set by Li Ang. Even if all the other places are abandoned, Li Ang will definitely counterattack with all his strength.

Unless Castle of Valor and Fletcher have already cooperated with the Jatu people, so that the Jatu people on the grassland can drive directly into Long River City... other than that, there is no other possibility.

It was Charles, who was conspiring with Zakar.

Yes, only Charles.

He is familiar with both the border of the Jatu Grassland and the entire Changhe County, and he has stayed in Kewen Village, he also knows the ancient garrison of the Griffon Knights, and he knows the military dispatch situation of the entire New Pendor Kingdom...

He is also the only one who can mobilize the Horn to summon the Rangers, Godric's longbowmen, and the defense of Valorshield.

At the same time, only Charles has the opportunity to have close contact with Zakar.

Charles's fief was Fletcher, and after Hereward's death, he inherited Yongshield Castle and was the only lord of Yongshield County.

The Jatu people also began to act after Hereward's death.

First of all, the entire Clarion Calling Rangers were recruited to Fort Valonshield... as it should be, Hereward is the Sergeant Major of the Sentinels of the Rangers, the senior commander of all Rangers and Sentinels, they should indeed go Fort Yongshield attends the funeral, and at the same time guards against the Jatu people taking the opportunity to go south.

Then the Jatus "fighted" Charles's troops in Fletcher, which seemed natural. There were a lot of people in Fort Yongshield, and of course the Jatus would try to attack Fletcher's side.

And when this battle is fought, it is probably the time when Charles and Zakar discuss cooperation-it will not arouse suspicion, and it will allow all the military forces in the entire east to gather at the border.

So the Jatus passed through the empty Noldor Forest, then bypassed White Hart Keep and headed west, hiding in the ancient garrison of Kewen Village to ambush - this route happened to be a route with neither troops nor people. The only obstacle was Trubrun's Owl Knights, and it was precisely the Owl Knights who discovered the Jatu troops.

Then Zakar moved his tribe between Lion Lake City and Fletcher, half-truthfully pretending to attack Lion Lake City, and at the same time, he could also pose a threat to Fletcher and Fort Yongshield, forcing Li Ang to dispatch troops from Long River City for rescue. .

In this way, the hinterland of Changhe Town will be even more empty, and the Jatu people hiding in Kewen Village will have a chance to conquer Changhe City.

At the same time, this can also create an illusion for the entire New Pendor Kingdom—most people will think that the Jatu alone have no way out in Long River City, and even if they capture Long River City, they will not be able to hold it. Slowly mobilize troops to encircle and suppress.

But in fact, the Jatus will continue to enter from Fletcher. Since Charles has cooperated with the Jatus, the entire eastern region will fall into the hands of the Jatus, and they can all hold it...

In addition, as long as Charles spreads false information, the Horn Call Ranger Group is likely to step into a trap and fall into the crisis of destruction!

Li Ang, who had figured it out, felt quite uncomfortable. He didn't understand why Charles would do this?
"Zakar, Castle of Valor is about to switch defenses. I have let Count Leofric take charge of Castle of Valor. Charles can no longer cooperate with you. Your original plan must not be implemented..."

Even though he was very upset, Li Ang still had a smile on his face, as if everything was well planned.

This is cheating.

Li Ang didn't ask Fort Yongshield to switch defenses. Before leaving, he just ordered Leofric and Dalion to lead troops to Long River City to prepare for the battle.

Dalyon is at the Sava River Fort, and Leofric is at the Karen Deer Castle. It is a bit far away. It will take time to send orders and march. It is estimated that Leofric has not yet arrived at Long River City.

However, there was an expression of 'under control' on his face.

Zakar was stunned.

He looked at Li Ang's calm expression, stood up abruptly as if frightened, and looked at Li Ang with eyes full of awe: "You...how did you know? Charles... Could it be that he is..."

"How do I know... Haha... You can guess—you can first guess why Charles has the courage to cooperate with you... He is my sworn knight!"

Li Ang laughed out loud, with a complacent look on his face.

But in fact, his heart was bleeding.

hemp eggs.

Originally, he wasn't completely sure, but now he was sure, it was Charles.

"This...is actually arranged on purpose by you?!"

Zakar stared blankly at Li Ang, clenching his molars: "It's a good trick!!"

"Zakar, you should have heard that I am the Son of Prophecy... You should also know that I have helped Charles a lot, why do you think he will betray me?"

Li Ang stared at Zakar's eyes, and said with a half-smile.

In fact, Li Ang was also thinking about this question in his heart—Charles, why did you cooperate with the Jatu people?
Zakar gritted his teeth and remained silent, his eyes flickering.

The two looked at each other for a while, and Zhakar sighed and sat down opposite Li Ang again: "His acting skills are good... So, my troops have probably fallen into your trap? Can they... come back? "

"Whether they come back or not is entirely up to you, Zakar."

Li Ang smiled casually, continued to eat the mutton, and said with a smile while eating: "I am a businessman, I don't like fighting and killing people, and I have already brought you a good business. But if you don't want to I do business, then you may be able to go to Singal to buy some of them back in the future...you can choose what you want, and I will accept it."

Life is like a game of gambling. When the cards in your hand are not good, you don’t necessarily have to pass. Occasionally, you can try bluffing to steal chickens—if you have more chips than your opponent, you can stud to scare your opponent.

After all, your opponent's hand is also unlikely to be a royal straight flush.

Li Ang had to take a gamble now, otherwise he wasn't sure if Zakar would kill him here - if he couldn't swindle Zakar, then Zakar could indeed kill Li Ang, and then continue to implement his original plan.

Of course, killing Leon is not a good choice - this will lead to the three kingdoms of Sarleon, Noldor and Bacchus trying their best to encircle and suppress all Jatu people regardless of cost, and the two sides will completely turn into an endless race war. know this.

And if Zakar is bluffed, not only Li Ang's safety can be guaranteed, but also the problem of the Jatu people can be solved together.

Now, it depends on whether Zakar dares to stud...

Li Ang knew that he had a great chance of succeeding in stealing the chicken.

Because Zakar's total chips are less than Li Ang's, and Li Ang's cards look bigger.

The most important thing is that Zakar is not a fool, nor is he the kind of impulsive reckless.

If all of this was really instructed by Li Ang, and if Charles pretended to seek refuge, then most of the Jatu troops who entered Kewen Village would not be able to return, and it would be equivalent to giving Li Ang four thousand horses.

If what Li Ang said is true, then after losing these elites, it is worthwhile to fight a race war with the New Pendor Kingdom...?

Zakar really didn't dare to bet.

"Your Majesty Li Ang, I will withdraw to the grassland tomorrow, I hope you can release my people back..."

After a long silence, Zakar asked quietly: "Also, how do you plan to arrange the mutual trade zone you mentioned?"

"Five sheep for one person, three sheep for one horse, isn't the price fair? I'll give you a discount and send [-] sheep to Fletcher, and I'll release them back to your army."

Li Ang ate the meat without raising his head—mainly because he was afraid that Zakar would see his expression of success in stealing the chicken: "As for the mutual trade zone, I will make a list of goods for you, and then we will go to Fletcher to set prices together. Guaranteed prices are very cheap, will not let you suffer."

…………

Early the next morning, Zakar began to withdraw troops.

Li Ang also led his men on the way back to Changhe City. Of course, in name, he wanted to 'hurry back quickly to prepare for the mutual trade zone, so as to avoid unnecessary friction between the soldiers of both sides'...

However, there were a lot of people missing on the way back...

Raphael and the few horn rangers he brought were not in the team, nor was Sigismund.

This time Raphael, the interpreter, was not useful, so he got another task again——before the Jatus reached Fletcher, galloped to the Fort of Yongshield, and let the horn summon the ranger group to take over the brave Shield Fort, and capture Charles back.

Li Ang really wanted to know why Charles was collaborating with the enemy - when he still had the system, Charles was once marked as 'favorability 100' by the system, and he would betray and collaborate with the enemy if he was full of favorability?Li Ang was a little puzzled.

Only Sigismund really went to Fletcher to prepare for the mutual trade zone.

On the way back, Li Ang was in a hurry.

Because he still has to rush to block the two thousand Jatu people hiding in Kewen Village.

For things like bluffing, once the bluff is successful, it should be made real immediately-in fact, this is the difference between a low-level charlatan and an empty-handed white wolf.

Scams are used to gain time and space, and lies should serve the truth instead of deception for the sake of deception.

Only by grasping the opportunity of fraud and turning the false things into real things will we get real results.

In order to return to Changhe City quickly, Li Ang flew his horse and galloped to the south after getting out of the sight of the Jatu people - the south is the big lake behind Changhe City, Changhe Lake.

A few brothers with the best water skills put together a simple raft by the lake, and it only took half a day to row across the long river and lake dozens of miles wide.

This is the fastest way to return to Long River City from the northern wilderness, but it is also the most tiring way-the improvised rafts and oars are not easy to control, and the arms of several brothers are almost broken, which can be regarded as non-combat attrition.

Li Ang rushed back in time, at this time Darion and Leofric just returned to the Great River City.

The Griffon Knights have all the cavalry, and they have a lot of horses - they have seized a lot from the Snake Worship Cult, and now they have one man and two horses, and the marching speed is relatively fast.Although the Sava River Fort was farther away than the Karen Buck Castle, they arrived at about the same time as Leofrick's troops.

Leofric was immediately appointed by Li Ang as the Governor of Yongdun County and Chief of Eastern Military Affairs, and led the troops to Fort Yongdun again.

And the Griffon Knights will work with the Silver Hand to take down the two thousand Jatus in Kewen Village.

……

At this time, Fort Yongshield.

When Raphael Pegasus rushed back to Fort Valor, the Horn Called Rangers were no longer here.

Ralph wasn't there either.

The defenders of Fort Valiant are all Charles's men.

Since the Jatus had already entered the country, Charles ordered the Horn Call Rangers and Sentinels to disperse into several teams on the grounds of 'to ensure that there is no danger in the jurisdiction of Long River City', and sent them to Ermine, Long River City, and Maiden respectively. Fragrant collar area.

Charles currently has a high authority to summon the Rangers in the Horn - everyone regards him as the heir to Earl Oden.

The Sentinels in Long River Town had already obeyed his command, and the rangers would not reject his arrangement. Ralph also trusted him, even Godric who stayed in Long River City trusted him—if it hadn’t been confirmed that Charlie Si is cooperating with the Jatu people, and Li Ang also trusts him very much.

Charles was the first knight under Leon who had a fief, and from the very beginning, Charles had complete autonomy in his fief. Li Ang did not impose any restrictions on Charles' fief, and he could Seeking Li Ang's help - this is the highest level of trust.

And Charles's performance in the past few years has always been worthy of this trust.

He has always been upright and low-key, never causing trouble, and never afraid of trouble.

He once faced the army of the three prophets without changing his face, and he also faithfully fought with Godric with outnumbered enemies, and he also pursued the murderer for justice with Dalyon.

Courage, loyalty, and righteousness are all in him, and he can even be regarded as a role model for most knights.

But why at this time, when Leon had already established the New Pendor Kingdom, when Charles was already powerful and holding a county, when he had almost obtained the same status as his father, Earl Auden, he still wanted to Collaboration?

Raphael didn't understand.

But no matter the reason, the task assigned by Li Ang must be completed first.

Right now, Ralph and the Horn Call Rangers are not here, so Raphael can only do it by himself.

Sometimes pressure can make people grow up. Raphael was originally a straightforward and bloody guy, but now he is forced to become a gangster who beats the sap behind his back...

In the lord's hall of Fort Yongshield, Raphael drove away Charles' guards on the grounds that he passed on Leon's secret order, and then took advantage of Charles' unawares, directly smashed him with a chair and knocked him unconscious.

Afterwards, he took out a big sack from his arms, pretended to carry the unconscious Charles out—everyone in Fort Yongshield knew Raphael, and no one would question him.

Then, before Charles' guards found out, Raphael fled Yonshield Castle with a sack of Pegasus, planning to go all the way south through the Noldor Forest to White Hart Castle-White Hart Castle was beyond the reach of Charles's people The place.

"Raphael?...you...why?"

In the forest, Charles seemed very tired after waking up.

But looking at Raphael with a murderous look on his face, Charles seemed quite calm.

"Why do you say? You should first talk about why you colluded with the Jatu people...Charles, to be honest, I don't understand, you are powerful, famous and famous, and you are still so young...Why? Do you want to destroy your future? And you are His Majesty Li Ang's first sworn knight!"

Raphael had already tied Charles tightly, and was adjusting the saddle beside him.

"I... Sigh... Raphael, if I say that I was forced, would you believe me?"

Charles did not argue, but sighed deeply.

"Forced? Do you think I believe it or not? Everyone knows that your relatives are no longer alive. Why are you forced?"

Raphael shook his head.

"Take me to see His Majesty... You won't believe me if I tell you. I can only confess to Your Majesty in person... But, Rafael, I have not betrayed Your Majesty."

Charles stopped talking and closed his eyes.

(End of this chapter)