Knight and Wand

Chapter 230: Hurt Tianhe
In front of the tent, Azerien sat on a small stool, holding a candle for his companions, and watched Leon use a wooden stick to draw the direction of the big river in Usato on the mud.

"This is the main stream of the river flowing from the upper reaches of the eastern section to the west."

As Leon spoke, he drew another river channel winding southward about 30 kilometers west from upstream.

"And this is the forked tributary of the great river we are in now."

On the east and west banks of the tributaries he sketched out the dense forests that separated the Usatoling hills and plains.

". The overall terrain of this area gradually descends from northeast to southwest. If a water diversion channel can be dug upstream of the tributary and a water storage dam can be built to block the river water, the tributary can be diverted to flow southwest.

If successful, it would be difficult for the enemy to obtain water east of the forest, and it would be impossible for them to establish a large military camp in the area south of the upper reaches.

At that time, if their tens of thousands of troops wanted to cross the river, they could only choose to attack head-on on the south bank downstream.
But at the same time, the diverted tributaries will wash away the fertile soil in the river valley north of the forest, turning the area along the way into a muddy swamp that is difficult to navigate.”

As he spoke, Leon looked up at Azerien:
“I have been flying back and forth these days and have checked the soil quality on the south bank. Usato Territory is indeed a good place. The land in this area is not sandy. Once it is submerged by shallow floods, it will probably be difficult to release it in a short period of time.

Although the shallow flood that reaches above the ankles will not drown people, all the horses of the Uriah people will be disabled. I don’t believe that those grassland people will be willing to dismount and brave the muddy swamp to become infantry and continue to fight for the Kantardar people. "

After saying that, Leon used a wooden stick to point at the expected location of the water storage dam and water diversion channel used to cut off the direction of the tributary.

“When there is enough water here, if the enemy wants to go around the river valley north of the forest to the upper reaches, as long as they dare to camp close to it, we will break the dam and release the floodwater to wash away their camp.

No matter how many people come, they will have to retreat the same way they came, and the enemy will have only one choice: to cross the river head-on from the middle and lower reaches of the river.

Of course, they will definitely not seek death in this way. If they do so, it won’t take long before the Duke of Aberle will have to withdraw his troops from Usato Territory.”

After hearing his partner's explanation of this tactic that he had never heard of before, Azerien's eyes widened.

But he couldn't help but frown in confusion. He reached out and touched his calf, and asked in astonishment: "Is this really feasible? But you said it's only submerged to the height of the ankle? How powerful can it be?"

He had never seen a flood with his own eyes, although he had read about terrible floods in books before, but those were all major floods that could drown people.

If it was just a shallow flood that was above the ankles, Azerien was not sure that it would have the effect of retreating the troops as his companions said.

Leon shook his head and explained patiently: "The enemy cannot get clean water from the flooded areas. Floods are different from river water. Without sedimentation and natural filtration in the river, the flood water that washes through is mixed with silt and various pollutants. If we drink it directly, we don't have to fight this battle. We can just wait for the enemy's army to break out in a serious disease, and they will fall without attacking.

It was even more difficult for them to make fire in the flooded areas, and it was almost impossible to obtain wood for making fire. They could not find dry land to station a large army to set up camp. Even if they were forced to station, how would they transport food and supplies to the rear? I don't think any commander would dare to march long distances across the swamp to attack the enemy. To come with an exhausted army like this would be tantamount to committing suicide."

Azerien then pinched his cheeks and quickly calmed down from his surprise.

He was not a fool. With a little thought, he understood how dangerous a seemingly shallow flood would become to a large army if it covered a large area.

"But can the river diversion really flood such a large area?" he continued to ask.

"I've calculated that the amount of water in the tributaries is enough to flood the forest valley on the south bank and the lowlands near the river further downstream. Moreover, based on my observations from the air and the experience of past years gained from asking local people, the weather here will soon enter a rainy season, and the water level in the upper reaches of the Usato River will also increase accordingly." Leon nodded.

Relying on the griffin's advantage in aerial vision, he couldn't help but come up with the idea of ​​"using water instead of soldiers" almost on the first day of performing aerial missions when he observed the terrain and rivers of Usato Territory.

The terrain and the season... all conditions are so suitable.

There is no need to create a terrible water situation like Guan Yu did to flood the seven armies. It is only necessary to turn the south bank into a muddy swamp, and the huge cavalry advantage of the Uriah people will no longer exist.

Cutting off the water source of the tributary would prevent the enemy from encircling the river upstream and crossing it, and the military advantage of Aberle's side would be greatly reduced.

Leon recalled the performance of the two Uriah vanguards he had seen and heard today, and he felt more confident about it.

This war, after all, had nothing to do with those grassland people. It was a struggle for the throne of Kantadar and a political struggle of the southern kingdom. If the Nightmare Forest had not disappeared, Orland's southern expedition would have opened up the way to the south, and he would have been able to intervene by chance. In previous years, I'm afraid Ledwin would not have taken the trouble to intervene at such a huge risk.

As long as the water attack strategy is successfully implemented, it will be enough to make the Uriah army retreat. They will never be stupid enough to sacrifice their entire army for the internal strife of the Kantadar people.

By then, the Duke of Aberle on the opposite side would have lost his military advantage and would have to bear the pressure of supply and floods and diseases, so he would have no choice but to retreat.

If this strategy succeeds, it will undoubtedly allow the Orland army to withdraw from the North-South conflict as soon as possible, and to deal with the undead disaster approaching from the east as soon as possible.

After listening to Leon's plan, Azerien couldn't help but take a long, deep breath, feeling that he had been opened to a different perspective.

Sure enough, wizards are as smart as in the stories. He secretly admired his partner's clever plan and asked, "How many people are needed to build this dam and diversion channel? How long will it take?"

"If we want to trigger a real flood, the time and manpower required will be unimaginable. But just to achieve the effect of diverting the flooded land that I need, we only need to mobilize 20,000 people. I estimate that it can be completed within 20 days." Leon explained the specific engineering plan to his partners on the muddy ground nearby.

Azerien nodded repeatedly after hearing this. It would certainly be a great thing if the war could be ended without anyone dying.

But looking at Leon's still calm expression, he was a little confused: "Since this tactic is so effective according to you, why are you still frowning?"

Leon sighed and put down the stick:
"Water attack is a good strategy for us to repel the enemy, but the floods have submerged the fertile farmland and dried up the tributaries. It will take a long time for the floods to be under control here. Even if the water can be receded as soon as possible, it will take one or two years, or three to five years, for the affected land on the south bank to be unable to be restored to cultivation. The price will be borne by the civilians who return to their homes in the future." Although they were the people of Kantadar, Leon was a true "outsider" and did not have a deep-rooted regional perspective. What's more, he was ruling over tens of thousands of Kantadar subjects.

Due to the education he received in his previous life, he could not bear to see the poor people who suffered from the rise and fall of their families.

Azerien felt the heavy burden of his companion and couldn't help but pinch his chin in thought.

After a long while, he comforted and advised: "Leon, judging from the current situation, you may not have to worry too much about the consequences of the flood on the people here."

"Oh? Why?" Leon looked at his partner.

Because of the bad deeds done by a bald man at Huayuankou in his previous life, he has always been worried about the water attack strategy that is harmful to the harmony of nature.

"What I mean is that the flood you are going to cause will probably not be as harmful as the massacre and looting caused by the Uriah people."

Azerien explained and analyzed what he had seen and heard in the past few days to his companions: "Compared to the disasters they have caused and may cause, the floods you mentioned are almost insignificant to the people here. The Duke of Aberle in Kantadar allowed the Uriah people to slaughter and plunder the Usato Territory. The areas further south have already been deserted, which caused a large number of residents on the south bank to flee to the north bank in panic.

Even if the farmland on the south bank cannot grow food in the next few years, it is not impossible to use the land on the north bank of the river to support these people. Besides, this shallow flood will not flood the areas further south. "

"Besides, even if there is a food shortage in the Usato generals, the people can just move north. Can't the northern lands conquered by Orlando accommodate this population?"

Azerien shook his head: "If I were our king, I would definitely be happy to accept the people of Shikong Usato who have fled famine, weaken the power of Kaso, the nominal king, and firmly control the royal family of Kantardar. His Majesty Ledwin summoned the army here, but he is not really here to help him secure the throne."

Having said this, he stood up with the candlestick in his hand and came over. He put his right hand firmly on his friend's shoulder and said in a deep voice:

"And Leon, even if the consequences of the water attack are serious, as long as the lives of our soldiers are saved, it is still worth it for me. The disaster you saw in the east involves more than just the safety of the people in one place. If we can withdraw Orland's army from here as soon as possible, we can save more lives in the future."

Staring at his companion who was considering his words, Azerien couldn't help but say, "As our leader, sometimes you have to make relatively cruel choices for more important purposes and the overall situation."

He paused, and then suggested: "Or just let me make this decision. I am willing to bear the unjust burden for you."

"Thank you, but forget it. I shouldn't put the blame on you." Leon shook his head and interrupted Azerien's proposal.

He looked at his partner and had made a decision.

"You're right. I've thought it through. If I hesitate because of such concerns, it would be cruel to you and all the warriors who follow me." After accepting his companion's advice, Leon no longer hesitated.

"Whether it will be adopted or not, I will go to Lord Elliver tomorrow and propose this water attack plan."

The next morning, Leon found Feng Jun and told him in detail the idea he had been planning for many days.

Listening to the strategies from his beloved general who kept giving him surprises one after another, Elifer's originally relaxed smile gradually faded. He stared at the location pointed out by the other party on the map, becoming more and more serious.

He was also shocked by the boldness of this tactic and did not make any judgment on it for a moment.

The water attack tactic of building dams to store floodwaters was extremely rare, but after careful consideration, Elliver remembered that there were examples of this in the history of wars in the northern kingdom.

In history, there were also some northern generals who, when they found the terrain was suitable, diverted water to break the dam and attack the enemy's camp or castle.

However, since most castles and fortresses were built in areas with higher terrain, small-scale water flows would not have any practical effect. Therefore, in ordinary small-scale battles, generals would hardly consider this theoretical tactic.

To truly create a large-scale flood, the manpower and material resources required would be difficult to bear even for the army of a great lord.

Unless it is a large-scale war involving an army of tens of thousands of people and hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians, no side can mobilize the manpower for such a huge project.

However, Elliver estimated that a North-South war of this scale was indeed possible.

The 4,000 militiamen recruited by Casso alone can provide part of the labor force. A few thousand more civilians can be drawn from Orland's army, and the remaining 10,000 people can be forcibly recruited from the villages and towns on the north bank. The army can also add a few thousand soldiers on the rear line. Mobilizing 20,000 people to carry out the project is not difficult for the Northern Army at this moment.

Although the consumption of food and grass would certainly increase in the short term, once the tributaries were diverted, there would be a high probability that subsequent battles would not have to be fought, and perhaps the consumption of the original long-term confrontation could be saved.

"After I reunite with Balf, you will take me back to the North Shore Camp on your griffin to discuss this matter with His Majesty and General Trosa."

Elifer naturally had no concerns about the consequences of the flood hitting the south bank of Usato, and couldn't help but smile to Leon: "I didn't expect that my 'Griffin' is not only brave, but also a talented general. You have made me feel lucky countless times that I didn't let Lord Trosa take you away from me."

Leon smiled at Feng Jun's corny words: "Thank you for your praise, but I can only see more information because I am often in the sky. Besides, it is easy for me to talk about this idea on paper. If I really have to mobilize tens of thousands of people, I am afraid I have no idea how to implement it."

Elifer waved his hand: "How to implement it? You will learn it naturally after trying it out and gaining experience. But if you can come up with this strategy just by flying in the sky, the Pegasus Knights of the Royal Territory also fly in the sky every day. They don't have such a flexible mind as you."

Having received a piece of ingenious plan of great importance, he did not want to delay, and immediately led the coalition forces of Thornflower and Valley County, who had rested for a night, set fire to Uriah's tent, which could not be taken away, and set out with the food and supplies seized on the trip, retreating to Balf's troops in the north.

The two armies met on the outskirts of Green Creek Village. Elliver ordered the troops to stay there, then got on the back seat of Leon's Griffin and took a "ride" to the north bank camp.

(End of this chapter)