Astartes of the Bear School

Chapter 1730. Request
"But, I'm sure you understand, Your Excellency Marshal." The demon hunter said "but" as expected. "High-value prisoners must demonstrate their value."

Menno Cuhoon remained motionless.

As a typical senior military officer, he was very familiar with the process of capturing nobles.

Ordinary noble captives existed mainly as objects of blackmail.

The family of the defeated, or his own fiefdom, needs to pay a reward that satisfies the victor in order to redeem his personal freedom, equipment, war horses and other items.

But when it comes to Menno Coohane’s level, things start to look different.

He is the Field Marshal of the Nilfgaard Empire, the most prestigious and capable general in the entire empire. His status is basically comparable to that of a noble family.

For people like this as captives, simple extortion of money is far from the goal.

The victors' demands on these captives are more likely to appear in terms of political demands, family inclinations, marriage, industrial cooperation, legal inheritance, etc.

What's more, high-level prisoners captured in the war will even participate in the negotiations as negotiators of the post-war victorious side, persuading their former camp to give up more interests and bottom lines.

Menno Cuhoon was mentally prepared for this, and his staff even made a plan for him on what to do if he was captured.

So at this moment, Menno Kukhorn was ready to listen to what Lan had to say, and then follow the previously agreed strategy to see if there was any room for mediation.

But even though Menno Kuhoon thought he was fully prepared and had sufficient psychological fortitude, when Lann finished speaking, the Marshal still couldn't control himself and was stunned.

"Do you know what you're asking of me?"

The Marshal stared at the other person in a daze, thinking that he must have been hallucinating.

But on the other side, the demon hunter's expression clearly told him: I know you heard it clearly.

In fact, not only Menno Kuhoon heard it clearly, but even Sir Hans Capen, who was sitting on the same military camp road just across the road, heard it clearly and stared blankly at Lan and the Nilfgaardian Field Marshal.

"I can repeat it if you need."

The witcher folded his arms across his chest, leaning against the cart, his expression calm as if he was discussing a performance by a wandering theater troupe.

But what we are talking about
"I will explain to you the possible development direction of the next battle with rationality and objectivity."

Lan En repeated what he had just said, his pronunciation was still clear, and the people listening were as focused as before.

"You lose, Marshal Kuhoon. You lose to me. You export all this stuff."

The witcher was sincere and frank. He first pointed his finger at his chest, then kicked the cursed bronze bell beside him.

"If you lose, then the western front along the coast will also be lost."

Lan's account is straightforward and, as he said before, it is an objective account, not malicious speculation or denigration or ridicule.

"The commander of the Western Front was Duke Joachim de Witte, and to say he was 'incompetent' would be an understatement."

"After your successful offensive that began last summer, he has twice as many troops as you, yet he still can't get to Cidaris, where he can invade Temeria and cut off Goth Velen from Vizima."

"What is he doing? Yes, he is entangled with the guerrillas of the Kingdom of Verden." Lan commented on the Duke of Nilfgaard as if he was telling a joke, "He is a cruel man. He thinks that as long as the ruler is cruel enough, he can conquer everything."

"Growing up in a noble family in the Golden Tower City of Nilfgaard, he probably thinks his methods will be effective outside as well?"

"But when the war started in the summer, the Kingdom of Verden had only one guerrilla force, no more than fifty men at most. What do you think happened in the winter? It was all over the place, Kuhoon."

In particular, Lan also suggested that Tissaia and Heng Gedimitis, two of the oldest wizards among humans who could be regarded as decisive weapons, use Weyden as a battlefield to rebuild the influence and credibility that the warlocks lost in the coup on Thaned Island.

This made the Kingdom of Viden, which had already been severely hit by the backlash of its cruel rule, even more dangerous to the Nilfgaardians.

"Since the war began, you have only been charging forward with your fast-moving cavalry. I suppose your infantry was sent to the Western Front?"

Lan asked the question in an affirmative tone, and Menno Kuhn's face looked visibly unhappy.

Lan En got more information from the other person's instantaneous change in expression.

"You sent the infantry to the Western Front, gathered the cavalry there, and then began to charge forward on the Central Front. I have to say that you are very innovative and courageous in your tactics, Kuhoon."

Lan tilted his head towards the west, referring to the chaotic Western Front under the command of Joachim de Witt.

"He can't help you there, Cuhoon. On the contrary, he's waiting for you to come back and help him after you've penetrated the center."

"And after your failure, the noble Duke Joachim is already a failure."

His tone was so calm that it was almost gentle, but it only chilled Menno Kuhoon's heart. "The western and central fronts have completely collapsed, and Nilfgaard's three-front attack on the north is only on the eastern front. I heard that Rudolf Ep Darcy is the commander. As soon as he took office, he destroyed the reputation and popularity you have built in Aedirn for half a year."

"And the fragile treaty with the Kaedweni was destroyed in an instant."

"Of course, you have already fought for him and conquered half of Aedirn, the deepest in the north among the three fronts. And this noble who just became the clan leader has transferred a lot of forces to the east with the influence of his family. His current military strength is far greater than that of Kaedwen."

"But honestly, that doesn't make a lot of sense."

The witcher even crushed the stones under his boots out of boredom.

"After all, he should be dead by now. The Eastern Front would be clumsy to hold on without its commander."

"You said he's dead?" Menno Kuhoon said calmly, but for the first time he interrupted Lan, "Are you sure? Have you seen it with your own eyes?"

"You killed his father, along with thousands of Nilfgaardian warriors! This was the first time in your recorded history that you showed your power. Compared to this, killing Stassa was like flicking a fly away. There is no point in discussing this."

At this point, His Excellency the Marshal's voice could not help but rise.

"But it is precisely because you killed his father! So you can't imagine how much he values ​​his own safety now! He will not be intimidated by assassination or beheading tactics..."

"He is dead."

Before Menno Cuhoon could finish his argument, Lane interrupted him.

The straightforward narrative tone seems to be narrating a history that has passed and become a fact.

The witcher's amber cat eyes looked down at the other man. "There is no point in emphasizing the defenses around Rudolf Ep Darcy, Cuhoon. He is dead, that's all."

The other man's mustache twitched a few times, but looking at Lan En's calm and determined eyes, no sound came out of his lips after twitching.

"Let's take a step back," Lan En continued, seeing that he would no longer refute him, "even if he survives, what will happen? The western and central fronts have completely collapsed, and the eastern front is too deep in the north. When the coalition forces are free, his legion will still die."

In fact, Lann did not dislike Menno Kuhoon's rebuttal to him, but he hoped that this rebuttal was based on rational tactical thinking and discussion, rather than an emotional reaction after being anxious.

That would make him feel depressed.

"So, in fact, after today, Nilfgaard has already lost the entire war."

After another period of silence, Lan En made a summary conclusion.

"And according to what you said before, 'To the winner goes all power'."

"No matter what the other kings say, I am only conveying my demands to you now. I also ask that you convey these demands in full to Nilfgaard when you are redeemed or participate in negotiations."

"There are two requests in total. The first is about Cintra. You lose, and you can't defend it under my men, so let go."

Menno Kuhn did not react much when he heard Lan's request, and even thought it was very normal.

Because this has appeared many times in their deductions of the outcome of their defeat, and it is the content of the treaty that will inevitably appear on the negotiating table as long as they lose the war.

His Excellency the Marshal is fully prepared for this.

But at this moment, Menno Kuhoon was still staring at the other's beautiful lips, like a death row inmate waiting to see the verdict with a one-in-ten-thousandth expectation.

It is a pity that the judgment may be written, approved or sent incorrectly, but what Lan En said cannot be wrong.

"Second, about the family and fiefdom of Sir Hans Capen, including Pickstein and his uncle, Hans of Lepe."

While speaking, Lan En pointed at Hans, who was sitting slumped against the wall with a dazed look on his face and had no idea what was going on.

"The Nilfgaardian Empire shall not pursue any losses caused by them to the Nilfgaardian Empire in this war, nor shall any subsequent settlement be allowed. You are also not allowed to conceal what he did in this war."

He is laughing.

Menno Kukhorn suddenly realized that he had been looking at the slightly raised corners of the beautiful mouth for several seconds.

But even though the scene was so beautiful, Menno Kuhn felt that it was like a blade that could dismember a person.

"Do you know what you're asking of me?"

He repeated what he had just said and widened his eyes.

"You're asking me to split the empire?!!!"

(End of this chapter)