industrial lord

Chapter 730 Persuading Surrender
The light autumn rain, carrying a chill, fell on the military camp outside Hongshuiche Village. The veterans looked up at the sky with melancholy, hoping that it would stop raining, otherwise the muddy roads would bring endless trouble.

Bad weather didn't stop the soldiers from having breakfast.

The embers of the campfire emitted wisps of smoke, which rose slowly along with the steam from the pot. Salted meat, black bread, and vegetables that everyone had managed to gather were stewed together in one pot, stirred well, and each person was given a bowl.

In the king's tent next door, Rudolf slurped up a plate of sauerkraut and beef noodles while listening to Pistor's arrangements for the day's operations.

The lesser nobles began to set out today, ostensibly as armed reconnaissance, to scout the way for the main army.

The army of the Principality of Bain had already completed these tasks; they simply needed a "review."

Reiner ate his shrimp noodles and listened quietly, letting them do as they pleased.

Rank continued to slowly chew his noodles with tomato sauce and minced meat, listening silently, seemingly preoccupied with something.

As he looked at the castle icon on the map, he recalled the king's lingering worries about dividing the troops, and how he, as the chief strategist, had yet to establish any significant achievements in this campaign. A thought quietly began to take root in his mind.

After Pistor finished his report, the only sound in the tent was the slurping of noodles. Then Rank spoke.

His voice carried his usual composure: "Your Majesty, I believe that a direct assault on Flensburg would come at an immeasurable cost."

Rudolf and the others looked at him, and many guessed what he was thinking.

"Oh? What good idea do you have?" Rudolf asked.

Rank leaned forward slightly and said, "I am willing to go to Flensburg in person to meet its commander, Count Ulmand, explain the advantages and disadvantages, and persuade him to surrender."

Shu Yun Stief frowned immediately: "Persuade them to surrender? Julmand has defended Flensburg for so long, if he could persuade them to surrender, he would have done so long ago."

The Kingdom of Danma has long been divided in two, with the royal army struggling to hold on in the north, while Flensburg stands isolated in the south and remains in the hands of the Kingdom of Danma, relying entirely on Julmand to sustain it.

Rudolf hesitated for a moment, then looked at Rank and said, “Julmand is said to be quite stubborn. He was neglected in his early years for dissuading the army from attacking Hammam, but was entrusted with important responsibilities after the Battle of the Elbe, and is therefore very loyal to the royal family.”

"Rank, are you sure?"

Count Rank said earnestly, "Your Majesty, I am not entirely certain."

"Frensburg is now isolated, with Kosdorf to the north and our army to the south. The Danma royal army is too busy to help itself, and reinforcements are nowhere in sight."

“As a nobleman who has led troops for many years, Count Yulmand is exceptionally intelligent and must know that there is no way to change the current situation.”

“I explained the advantages and disadvantages to him. If we could make him surrender without a fight, we could preserve our military strength, advance northward, or retreat to consolidate the occupied territories. We could also gain a strong and capable ally for Your Majesty.”

Even if it fails, I can still probe their strengths and weaknesses, observe their morale, and provide a reference for my army's siege strategy.

"Your Majesty, please grant me permission to give it a try."

Leiner, chewing his noodles, watched clearly from the side and thought to himself that Earl Rank was indeed skilled at maintaining his position as the head of the court.

If Flensburg surrenders without a fight and the Rhine Alliance army maintains its strength, then Franz Jr.'s plan to launch a surprise attack on Kosdorf's main force can be put on the agenda, as the military cannot resist the temptation of occupying the Kingdom of Danma in a single war.

Rudolf's words resonated deeply with him. Now that there was a rift between the King and Frederick, and the Duchy of Bain, the Duchy of Mainz, and the Duchy of Wessen were all allied, how could he not be happy to have new allies?

Reiner felt that he still had a lot to learn.

Rudolf looked at the determination in Rank's eyes and the barely perceptible desire to achieve something great, and weighed the options in his mind.

The cost of a direct assault is indeed too high. While Ranke's proposal is risky, the potential rewards are enormous if it succeeds.

Moreover, Ranke was his most trusted strategist, and his personal involvement showed his sincerity.

After a moment's thought, Rudolf nodded and said, "Alright, since you're so inclined, I'll grant your request. But be sure to proceed with caution and prioritize safety."

“If Jurmand is wise enough to surrender, he will be rewarded handsomely. He could even be granted Flensburg and the surrounding area.”

"If he remains obstinate, return immediately; do not risk your life."

His tone conveyed concern for his trusted advisors.

A warm feeling welled up in Count Rank's heart, and he bowed solemnly: "Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty. I will certainly act cautiously and live up to Your Majesty's high expectations."

He felt the king's trust, which strengthened his resolve to achieve this feat.

More than an hour later, Count Rank, accompanied by two knights and a caravan sent by Leiner, arrived at the gate of the high moat drawbridge of Flensburg, carrying the banner of an envoy.

He announced his identity and purpose, and after a moment of silence, the officer guarding the bridgehead asked him to wait.

Rank stood outside the bridgehead gate waiting, and the garrison lowered a fairly sturdy chair down with a rope.

The ironwood gate of the bridgehead was riddled with holes, fire marks were everywhere, and there were many patches inside and out. Near the lintel, there were several throwing axes nailed, and countless holes were left by crossbow bolts.

There were also many graffiti in various colors on the door, all of which were symbols of the Church of Light and some simple drawings of military-related stories, layered with traces of battle, as if the defenders were using this method to gain strength to resist the infidels.

The walls have been damaged countless times, with concrete repair marks here and there, almost as if the bridgehead has been rebuilt.

The graffiti here is incredibly diverse, covering a wide range of themes, from birds, beasts, fish, and insects, to pastoral scenes, family gatherings, and the descent of angels. Many of the graffiti are obscured by dark red bloodstains, with angels encircling the bloodstains.

The same applies to the gates and city walls across the moat.

Leiner, disguised as a driver, stood in front of the wall for a long time, looked at Rank but hesitated to speak, and finally sighed.

Rank noticed his unusual behavior and asked, "Is there a problem?"

Reiner said seriously, "Let's go back. There are few soldiers here who can be defeated, and they certainly won't surrender. Only the Wesson Army can put up a fight with them."

Rank looked surprised.

Leiner couldn't explain to him how terrifying an army of martyrs could be, compared to the monsters of the Wesson Army.

The two men made no attempt to conceal their conversation, and the soldiers on the city wall heard it all clearly.

Their faces lit up with joy; they never expected someone to compare them to the legendary Wei Senjun—this was the greatest compliment they could receive.

After a long while, the heavy city gate slowly opened a crack, allowing only a few people to pass through, letting only Rank and his two knightly attendants enter.

Upon entering the castle, the atmosphere was solemn.

The soldiers guarding both sides of the road wore old and even somewhat damaged armor, and their faces showed signs of exhaustion from the long siege.

Although the officers tried their best to maintain their composure, their eyes betrayed their weariness, which Rank observed discreetly.

He was led to the main drawing room of the castle, where the garrison commander of Flensburg, Count Ulmann, an old nobleman with gray hair, a resolute face but a deep weariness, was already waiting. He was wearing a faded formal suit and had his sword hanging at his waist.

"Count Rank, you have come from afar, I am sorry for not welcoming you properly."

Yulmand's voice was slightly hoarse, but his manners were impeccable.

Following aristocratic etiquette, he stepped forward to greet Rank and invited him to sit down.

(End of this chapter)