Farming with Entries: From Lord to Emperor-Chapter 636 - 307: Starting with the Old Neighbor (Part 2)
The current battlefield at Black Pine Ridge is in the Northern Territory, where food and warmth are most important.
Even in winter warfare wearing a cotton-padded jacket is extremely uncomfortable. Fortunately, the soldiers loyal to Rod have some resistance to the cold due to the effect of the Tide Body trait.
As for military provisions, they have abandoned black bread in favor of hard meat biscuits.
Adding water, dried minced meat, and a little salt to flour, kneading it into a very hard dough, then baking it until it’s dry and hard—hard enough that you need to smash it with a stone or soak it in water to eat.
If conditions allow for a fire, these hard meat biscuits can be boiled into a gruel meat soup.
Although not as good as compressed biscuits, they can be preserved for more than a few months and provide a large amount of energy.
Enchanted plate armor from the blacksmith shop has been distributed, and Rod’s Frost Winter Knights are all dressed in brand-new armor, while the old equipment is then passed down to the Frost Iron Guard.
The chain armor from the blacksmith shop is continuously being forged, plus Rod has been buying and accumulating them, and with support from the Red Griffin Count, the chain armor for the first to seventh battalions of the Dragon Breath Legion is complete.
And the soldiers of the other three battalions are also equipped with chest armor.
As for the rest that are lacking, the blacksmith shop is racing against time to forge more.
During the urgent wartime preparations in Frost Leaf Town, Rod received new news from the Red Gryphon Count.
In the council chamber.
Rod looked at the letter delivered by Durant, which detailed the southwestern movements of the Empire.
The Western Alliance actively withdrew its troops, while the Noble Alliance Army, due to supporting different successors, split into four factions—including those who are neutral.
The commander of the Empire’s army, Leon, chose to support the Eldest Princess.
It is said that Leon’s son has a close relationship with the Eldest Princess, which is also why he chose her.
However, the Imperial army is not monolithic; the third, fourth, and fifth corps, under the roar of the giant bear, totaling over eight thousand men, have declared support for Prince Golden Hammer.
Thus, although troops are still stationed on the southwest border, the military strength has already been greatly weakened.
"Truly decisive."
After reading the letter, Rod slightly narrowed his eyes, "It seems they intend to throw the Empire into complete chaos."
If the Western Alliance were to continue its assault, the border garrison would likely not choose sides.
At the same time, the Eldest Princess, the Duke of Flowers, and Prince Golden Hammer might unite to preserve the Empire.
But now that the Western Alliance has withdrawn its troops, the already unstable Noble Alliance Army has directly split due to conflicts of interest.
Next comes the civil war within the Broken Rock Empire.
Once the three successors exhaust each other, and the Empire’s military strength wanes, the Western Alliance can attack again and reap the benefits.
This is basically an open strategy; Rod believes the other three successors have also realized this.
But unfortunately, none would back down as a result.
For the Empire to stabilize, there must be only one ruler.
"Sir, should we spread Count Ola’s information now?"
Durant finished speaking and offered his own suggestion,
"I think we better not."
"You are right, Durant, this is what I think too."
Rod nodded slightly in agreement, "We received the news too late here; the Empire’s situation has already been determined."
"And Count Ola himself doesn’t have much prestige; spreading the news won’t attract nobility to join, but rather draw attention."
A slight smile appeared on Rod’s face: "We’ll now learn from the Western Alliance and wait for them to fight among themselves first."
But that doesn’t mean doing nothing. Without the Empire’s ban, Rod’s army can engage in campaigns freely and quietly amass power.
This is also the reason for preparing the army diligently.
"However, Ola wrote five family names to me, all close friends of his."
Rod handed a slip of paper to Durant, instructing: "If they haven’t chosen a monarch to pledge loyalty to and remain neutral, you can send someone to try to make contact."
"Understood, my lord."
Durant took the note with both hands and carefully asked: "Which side does the Red Gryphon Count support?"
"The Red Gryphon Count remains neutral, even though emissaries from all three sides are at Red Gryphon Castle."
Rod said, holding the letter in his hand: "The Red Gryphon Count says this is the safest choice, but if we express interest, he will support us."
Hearing Rod’s words, Durant couldn’t help but admire: "The Red Gryphon Count is truly... likable."
The smile on Rod’s face grew as he nodded slightly and said: "In my reply to the Red Gryphon Count, I told him to remain neutral for now, but to prepare the army."
Currently, telling the Red Gryphon Count about Ola’s news is meaningless; it’s impossible to get him to start a war.
Rod intends to wait for the right moment, letting Ola gather the nobility, and then the Red Gryphon Count will take the lead to respond to the call.
"And your father, the Earl of the Tulip Clan..." Durant cautiously asked.
"There is no news yet, but he’s very likely to support the Duke of Flowers."
Rod speculated in a deep voice.
Due to the war, Rod’s brother, Vincent, is only engaged to Baron Edmund, without a formal wedding yet.
But this does not affect the relationship between the two families.
If the Earl of the Tulip harbors ambition, this would be a very possible choice.
Luo De just wasn’t sure, and it’s possible that the Earl of the Tulip has other information and connections, choosing someone else or remaining neutral.
"Even though we belong to the same clan, if we’re allied with different camps, there’s no need to hold back on the battlefield."
Luo De sighed slightly, "You can only offer some respect off the battlefield."
Luo De couldn’t change his position for others, not even for the Earl of the Tulip.
There was no wasted effort concerning the Tulip Clan’s affairs.
Luo De then shifted his focus and immediately instructed Durant,
"Send a message to Brandon to probe Baron Edmund’s and Baron Camille’s stance, and see what attitude the Youlin Clan and Moon Lake Clan have."
"Also, if the vanguard is ready, head out for White Rock Canyon immediately."
Luo De ordered, "We’ll start with our old neighbors."
"Aren’t we waiting for Count Ola to reveal his true intentions?"
Durant asked.
"There’s no immediate need for him."
Luo De replied decisively, "Count Ola is more useful for persuasion."
"Understood, I’ll go relay the orders now!"
Durant nodded vigorously, quickly turned, and withdrew.
...
...
An early winter’s night in the Northern Territory.
Tiny snowflakes were fluttering down gently, as if a layer of flour had been sprinkled over the streets of Shilu Town at Eagle Ridge.
The icy wind swept through the streets like a knife, producing a sharp whistling sound.
The four-meter-high stone walls on the outskirts of the town were frosted, glistening in the moonlight.
The smooth ice made the stone walls more difficult to climb, easing the guards’ duty.
Outside the tower in the town, near the main gate.
A bonfire was blazing, driving away the midnight chill.
Two guards leaned against the fire, an old soldier curled up and dozing with eyes closed, while a tall, new recruit rubbed his hands to warm them by the fire.
Although they were cloaked, they were still shivering from the cold.
"Damn this ghostly weather!"
The rookie guard breathed heavily, "The temperature dropped so suddenly, it’s as if it’ll freeze someone to death!"
"Can’t handle it already? The days cold enough to freeze someone to death are yet to come!"
The old soldier, eyes still closed, calmly unfastened the water pouch from his waist and tossed it to the recruit.
"Roast something to eat, take a sip."
The old soldier lazily said, "That’ll warm you up."
As his words trailed off, the night plunged into silence.
The recruit didn’t reply, only the crackling sound of burning wood responded.
The old soldier, realizing something was wrong, suddenly opened his eyes
—the recruit’s figure had already fallen to the ground, his neck slashed open!
"Enem...gurgl..."
The old soldier was about to call out when his throat was sliced open by a blade, emitting only a few weak moans!
The lynx-man, Lai Te, suddenly leaped out from behind, not caring about the already deceased old soldier, quickly rushed to the main gate!
Then, he unhesitatingly swung his short knife at the chain!
"Clang!"
With a crisp sound, the chain locking the gate broke in response, and Lai Te yanked it off, starting to pull at the thick crossbar on the door!
Then, another lynx-man rushed out from the shadows, lifting the crossbar with Lai Te and tossing it aside!
"Boom," with a thud, the heavy crossbar was thrown to the ground, and Lai Te and his companion strained to pull the heavy, iron-clad wooden door.
"Creak—"
The piercing groan of wood sounded as the gate of Shilu Town slowly opened.
Immediately, Lai Te issued a few bird calls into the darkness beyond the door, and countless shadows surged rapidly towards Shilu Town!
At that moment, five patrolling soldiers holding torches approached from the other side of the street, instantly spotting the two at the gate.
"Enemy attack!"
The terror-stricken shout exploded, instantly shattering the tranquility of Shilu Town!
