After reading the notes, Rachel put down the notebook in her hand, suddenly thought of something, and complained to Todd, "If you ask me, it was such a waste to use 'Sutherland Potion' on 13 horses back then. If we had used all those potions to cultivate 'Inheritors,' we might have a superpowered company by now."
Todd chuckled and shook his head: "Harkins' cavalry squad is the most crucial link in defeating the Silver Ring Alliance. Giving them more strength increases our chances of victory. As for the town of Muxi, we know it much better than the enemy, so street fighting is more advantageous for us. Besides, I still have that thing..."
As the speaker pointed to the bundles of cloth in the room, the woman's face turned pale, and she leaned back slightly: "I've heard you mention gunpowder before, but I never imagined it would be so powerful."
Todd's tone carried a hint of regret: "This is improved gunpowder. If it weren't for the scarcity of one of the raw materials... But let's not get into that. Cumberland told me today that the Silver Ring army is ready to set off..."
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That evening, Todd convened the third pre-battle meeting of the Knights of Twilight.
At the meeting, Todd and the others discussed and determined the general strategy for the defense of Twilight Town, and clarified everyone's responsibilities and tasks in the war.
The general outline is as follows:
First, Cumberland led his cavalry and infantry to engage the Silver Ring Alliance in battle, drawing the enemy's attention; then, Haskins led the "Inheritors" heavy cavalry squad to attack from the rear of the alliance, with the objective of killing or capturing the enemy commander.
Second, Todd and Alfonso are responsible for leading the militia and the faithful to garrison the town, using street fighting tactics to slow down the pirates and barbarians and prevent Cumberland's army from being attacked from both sides.
Third, after Cumberland and Huggins defeat the Silver Ring Alliance, they will return to Duskwood to provide support.
Fourth, apart from the military forces mentioned above, the other residents of Muxi Town will evacuate to Lonely Rock City in the south the next morning.
In Todd's view, the tactics sound simple, but some details are open to discussion.
However, the old knight Cumberland simply smiled and offered a few words of comfort to the Grand Master's concerns.
"The many uncertainties in war stem from the fact that everything is in flux. To a certain extent, implementing plans amidst chaos is the true essence of war. Excessive nitpicking is the greatest enemy of a good plan..."
A week later, Cumberland and Huggins' army set off from Muxitown and began their march toward Silver Ring.
Before leaving, the old knight pulled the Grand Master aside: "Yesterday, the Silver Ring Allied Forces set out from the city. I estimate they should have seen the fake order by now. If they fall for the trap and speed up their march, the seven-day journey will be shortened to four days, meaning I'll be engaged in battle with them in about three days; if they don't fall for the trap, then in three days I will proactively approach the enemy and launch an attack. Regardless of the outcome, I will do my utmost to annihilate the enemy cavalry. Grand Master, remember! If we haven't returned by the fourth day, I've left a few horses in the stables; you know what to do..."
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At the same time, the Silver Ring troops were on the march.
Marquis Roderick, the commander-in-chief of the allied forces, sat on his horse, looking at the army that stretched for hundreds of meters, full of vigor and commanding respect.
"It's just destroying a rat's nest built by the sea, and they're mobilizing so many troops. In reality, half the troops would be more than enough!"
He was surrounded by a group of sycophantic nobles.
A sudden voice broke the harmonious scene: "I hope you will not underestimate the enemy. The enemy once defeated a cavalry company of the Eastern Legion and should have a complete cavalry force on hand."
Everyone looked toward the source of the sound, where an old man with a neat mustache sat upright on horseback, his silver crown on his armor gleaming.
“Earl Emerson, look at this army!” Roderick flicked his riding crop beside him and said unhappily, “We have hundreds of cavalrymen, plus the regular troops of the Southern and Northern Legions, plus the reinforcements you all have. Even if all those rats came out of their holes, our forces would still outnumber them three to one! I don’t understand what you have to worry about?”
The nobles echoed this sentiment.
Some even maliciously speculated that Earl Emerson said such things on purpose because he had been ousted from his position as commander.
Earl Emerson sighed, pulled on the reins, and left the group.
Marquis Roderick glanced at the departing figure, then grumbled to the nobles around him, "I really don't understand what His Majesty the King is thinking! He insisted on having that stubborn Emerson participate in this battle despite everyone's objections, and even gave him the title of Chief Advisor! Look at his cowardly and weak appearance, no wonder those who know him call him 'Old Turtle'..."
"My lord! My lord! An urgent military order has arrived from Silver Ring City!"
Roderick looked at the letter in the messenger's hand and said suspiciously, "An urgent military order at a time like this? We've only been gone for a day."
In front of everyone, the commander opened the envelope and carefully read its contents.
A moment later, the Marquis flew into a rage and angrily cursed, "These unruly pigs and monkeys! We agreed to attack together and split the spoils equally, and they dared to lie to me!"
A familiar nobleman took the letter from the marquis, read it quietly, and became increasingly annoyed, eventually joining in the cursing.
The letter stated that, according to the latest intelligence, the barbarian and pirate fleets had set sail ahead of schedule and were expected to arrive at Muxi Town three days earlier than the Silver Ring army. The Kingdom's government requested that the Marquis expedite the march and reach Muxi Town before the fleets reached the coast.
After learning the whole story, the remaining nobles also joined in the cursing.
Someone loudly reminded the Marquis that Muxi Town was a "land of miracles," a place overflowing with wealth. The well water could grant longevity, and the land could yield gold. If the barbarians and pirates got there first, by the time the kingdom's army arrived, they would likely be left with nothing but dust...
Some cautious people asked the Marquis if he should check the military order seal, since it was quite unusual to receive an urgent military order just one day after leaving the city.
Roderick found this reasonable and sent someone to retrieve the old military orders. After carefully comparing the seals, he discovered that all the seals were exactly the same, without any difference.
In this way, no one doubted the authenticity of the military order anymore.
The Allied commander-in-chief, Marquis Roderick, then issued an order for a forced march, requiring all troops to reach Muxi Town within three days.
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