Heroes of Might and Magic: Grand Consul

Chapter 32 The Flames of War Erupt
Forrest started out as a carpenter and is very familiar with the operation of Kuraki Town. He has a good understanding of the key points that ordinary people care about.

In terms of management, Su Mu was secretly pleased to have such a talented person.

According to his observation using the Qi-gazing technique, the other party has accumulated sufficient experience and is close to advancing again. This time, he may be able to comprehend new skills.

This thing is useful, but it's really annoying to be able to keep money.

"My lord, you've simply abandoned everything and gone off to enjoy yourself at Longlet Castle. Do you know how difficult it is to feed, care for, and manage the daily needs of these 20,000 people?"

This amount of money and logs is only enough to maintain the status quo temporarily. It will be completely depleted in an instant should war break out. We need to find more ways to make money.”

Forrest broke down in tears, lamenting his financial difficulties. Su Mu couldn't bear it any longer and had no choice but to temporarily agree.

But getting things open source is easier said than done.

"Is there any news about the boundary marker from Eagle Dove's side?"

"Not yet. He said he would keep an eye on it, but it might be harder to find during times of war."

Boundary markers are practically useless in peacetime, since construction can be supported by higher authorities. However, once war breaks out, they can be used to repair cities and employ earth magic, making them quite useful and naturally attracting more attention.

In other words, the intensity of the war is not that high right now, otherwise it would be even more difficult to acquire it.

The Eastern Wall army is sharpening its swords, and Longleat Castle is causing trouble from behind. The castle must be completed as soon as possible, with its own watchtowers and archer towers to secure its position before the Wall army fully advances.

Forrest noticed Su Mu's worry: "You seem to have some concerns about the Kingdom's Legion?"

"You lost a border city, handed over the Far Forest, and only arrived slowly after advancing to the Luxembourg Hills. How can I trust you?"

It wasn't that Su Mu underestimated the strength of the Light Priests and the cavalry; this force was not only well-equipped but also comprised veteran generals. However, the kingdom was currently corrupt and inefficient, with councilors bickering and shirking responsibility. Even when deploying troops to defend against enemies, they were still considering the distribution of their respective interests. No matter who sat in this position and commanded this army, it would be difficult to gain the respect of the people.

Facing a well-prepared, heavily fortified army, they are likely to suffer a great loss.

……

High on the mountain, camps stretched as far as the eye could see. Knights rode their horses on the southern mountain, griffins patrolled the sky, and priests prayed for the blessings of the gods.

The dark, imposing army made it hard to breathe.

Inside the commander's tent, the various lords had arrived, creating a noisy and bustling scene. Ordinary barons and viscounts were basically excluded from the ranks and could only stand in the back to watch. Standing at the very front were several powerful marquises and the heir to the Grand Duke, who were currently arguing over the marching route.

"The Xilin Plain is vast and has smooth roads. It is also the most prosperous area in the central region with a concentration of castles. Naturally, we should pass through here so that our people can see the power and prestige of the royal army."

“We’re going to war, not to put on a show. Are you worried that Isildur’s silver pegasus won’t be able to detect the main force’s movements? The dry grass snowfield is the shortest route. A surprise attack by the army can catch the enemy off guard.”

"The roads in the snow-capped mountains are difficult to traverse. If you ask me, it would be better to take a boat eastward from the valley, bypass the hills, and launch a surprise attack from behind. We can achieve victory in one fell swoop."

The three routes represent the territories of various kings and nobles, and naturally, they wanted to lead large armies there to clear out any troops that had infiltrated the fortifications.

"Boom boom boom!"

As the argument escalated, head coach Raven Finaksia slammed his hand on the table, drawing everyone's attention to him.

"The stronghold is known for its rangers. With such a large-scale legionary operation, the enemy will definitely notice. Don't try to take shortcuts. We'll push through the Hills of Shilin and engage Isildur's forces in a head-on battle at the Luxem Hills."

Seeing that their commander had set the tone, the others said no more. As a member of the royal family and a veteran knight with outstanding military achievements, Raven's words were generally well-received.

After all the nobles had left the tent, a man dressed in a monk's robe entered.

"This is a letter from the Speaker to you."

Raven opened the envelope, his expression growing increasingly grim as he read. He lashed out at the messenger in front of him: "Saliman has lost cities and territories. If his son hadn't deserted, the Fal Forest wouldn't have fallen so quickly. Now I have to send a special force to rescue his assets?"
If his son were under my command, I would have killed him long ago to uphold military discipline!

The messenger hadn't expected the marshal to be so angry, but could only advise, "Saliman is the most powerful duke in the north, and also the king's father-in-law. Most of the northern nobles who are going on this expedition have connections with him. The marshal must be cautious!"

Raven was well aware that the northern nobles basically revered Salman, and that his property was not entirely his own; this letter represented the will of the entire North.

At dawn, scouts reported that several marquises had dispatched their subordinates to form a griffin unit, flying towards the withered grass and snowfields, presumably to protect their wilderness resources. If he ignores this, the Northern Lords will likely lose their will to fight, and without the strongest force among them, the Northern Lords, the battle is doomed.

"Have Salman send 150 Crusaders, the kind with water-based heavy armor, don't let him try to fool me with ordinary swordsmen!"

The emblem of the Salman family is the Flood Swordsman, most famous for their Crusader buffed by water elementals. They possess a built-in elemental dispel spell, are unaffected by any curses or debuffs, and are swift and powerful, making them ideal for charging into battle.

Even with the Salman family's resources, sending 150 crusaders at once was extremely difficult. The messenger was immediately caught in a dilemma.

“Tell him that if he doesn’t send troops, he can forget about the crystal and gold mines in the withered grass and snowfields.”

Raven waved his hand, and the messenger had no choice but to leave.

In the dimly lit tent, Raven rested his chin on his hand, looking utterly exhausted.

Salman was not the first to make a request; the king and the grand duke each had their own interests, and the power dynamics in Parliament were deeply intertwined, making it difficult to refuse.

As marshal, he could certainly disregard some military orders while in the field. However, this was also the drawback of the conscription system. The nobles in the camps were only temporarily gathered together to fight against Isildur, but if their own interests clashed with those of the kingdom, they would definitely prioritize their own interests.

Even if he could temporarily suppress them, the distracted nobles would find it difficult to fight against the fortified army.

He had intended to reward Knight Commander Peyton for his valiant fight in the Fal Forest, but his mission stalled at Parliament, and there was no further news. The people were extremely dissatisfied with Peyton's burning of the Fal Forest, believing that as long as they defeated the Isidore Empire, they could still occupy the continent's best forest; now they could only watch helplessly as the Fal Forest fell into paralysis.

"madness!"

"Do you really think the Barrier Army is so easy to deal with? Letting them control the forest resources would be a death sentence."

Raven was utterly fed up with the incompetence of the people in Congress, but he also needed their help to mobilize troops from all over the country, which was incredibly frustrating.

He lit the kerosene lamp, took out the kingdom's magic map, and advanced eastward along the Xilin Plain. Along the way, he would pass through several marquis territories, all of which were rich in resources. Perhaps he could send them to the north to provide support.

……

High in the hills of Luxembourg, a large army of centaurs, dwarves, and wood elves is encamped and resting, awaiting their next move.

The two heroes stood on the snow, gazing at the boundless plains to the west.

"I heard that this plain is governed by several high-ranking human nobles, and it is rich in resources. It is the core area of ​​Elton."

The one who asked the question was an ordinary-looking elf, carrying a longbow, wearing leather armor, and surrounded by a gentle breeze.

"That's right, mainly the two marquesses, Garfield of the Eagle family and Argyle of the Angry Bear family. The rest are some powerful viscounts. Don't underestimate them just because they're not very strong; each of them controls a lot of resources."

The person who answered was limping, with a huge wound on his leg covered in stone powder; it was none other than Sirel, who had been shot by Orling earlier.

The elf glanced at Hirel's wound and said, "The stone arrow was incredibly powerful, but with our medical skills, it should heal in a few days. You're keeping the wound; it seems you still hold a grudge against the person who injured you."

Anger flashed in Hillel's eyes: "I have led the centaurs for so long, and I have never suffered such humiliation. I will remember the town of Kuraki in Garfield. I will cut off the heads of those archers and hang them on the trees to dry in the sun when I get the chance."

The elf sighed: "Our goal is to destroy Elton's capital. As for the other towns and territories, we can recruit them as much as possible, but we shouldn't be too harsh."

After all, such a vast land, even if we conquer it, would be difficult for elves to stay for long due to their nature; it would still require human management.

If Isildur wants to restore the glory of antiquity, he must create a multi-powerful empire.

Sirell simply grunted in response, clearly not taking it to heart, but he didn't dare to contradict him.

The ranger before us is the son of the Mober Forest, the heir of the Natural Family, the descendant of the Wind from the Sifar Treant Nest, and a leading figure among the younger generation of the Isidore Empire.

Ivo Kane (Storm Ranger): Attack 5, Defense 6, Spellpower 3, Knowledge 5
Element: Air
Intermediate Storm Bow: For every 3 points of attack and defense attributes a hero has, the attack power of Wood Elves (including upgraded units) is increased by 1 point, and the bonus from air elemental magic is multiplied by 1.5.

Intermediate Defense Technique: Reduces physical damage taken by 10%.

Intermediate Air Magic: Greatly reduces mana consumption and increases casting speed when using air magic.

Basic Natural Leadership: Increases the morale of the entire army by 1. When leading bastion units, the maximum morale-reducing magic they suffer is reduced by 1.

Given Ivo's status, he could have stayed in the rear to accumulate merits, but instead, he took the initiative to come to the front lines, leading a raiding force to disrupt the enemy's territory.

Now they have gathered thousands of centaurs, thousands of dwarves, and over five hundred great elves, enough to pierce Elton's belly like a sharp dagger.

"How about we go to Garfield Territory? Even if we can't take the castle, we can definitely make them feel threatened."

Ivo glared at Hillel until the latter lowered his head before speaking: "Don't let personal grudges affect the overall situation. Our goal is to create chaos and cause a split in Elton's army."

He took the map, placed his hand on the snow-white, withered grassland, and then slid down to the southern valley.

"The kingdom's most formidable warriors are the lords of the North, so they will definitely protect their assets. We should do the opposite and attack the Ella Valley, throwing the Southerners into chaos first."

Of course, it was also necessary to create the appearance of attacking and disturbing the northern lands to confuse their large army.

"Pass on my order: the dwarven legion shall split into two parts. One part shall go to the border of the withered grass snowfield to build fortifications, the bigger the better, but do not initiate a war."

Another group dug tunnels through the Xilin Plain, trying to travel as quietly as possible through the desolate mountains and wilderness, avoiding populated towns.

"The remaining centaurs and great elves, travel lightly towards the valley and seize the nearest ford!"

"All troops, break camp and follow me into battle!"

Ivo Kane pointed his sword at the endless plain below, and the soldiers of the fortress raised their weapons in response, their shouts rising higher and higher.

Looking at the high-spirited army, Hirel was equally excited, but one worry remained. So he secretly sought out the hero leading the dwarven army and discussed some confidential matters.

Given the less-than-harmonious relationship between dwarves and elves, since Hirel personally brought it up, the other side has to give it serious consideration.

"I will do everything in my power, without going against General Ivo's strategic intentions!"

Upon receiving this reply, Hillel was somewhat disappointed, but he could only swallow his anger for the time being.

As long as the kingdom's army can be defeated, the Marquis will be too preoccupied to care about anything else. Then he'll lead his army over and twist Ouling's head off. And that earth-elemental hero who fought to the death—he'll bury him alive in the mud, seal his magic, and see how he dares to act so arrogantly then.

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(End of this chapter)