When they saw Greenburg's scarred outline again, the acrid smell of burning and the faint stench of decay still lingered in the air.
The castle's restoration work has begun under the command of Astaire and Raymond. Craftsmen and soldiers are working like busy worker ants, repairing the damaged walls and towers and clearing away the debris left from the battlefield.
But more important and urgent than repairing the castle itself, Lind's order was:
Erect walls to clear fields and build fortifications!
Although Greenburg has been captured, the main force of the Sassians has not been completely defeated, and the shadow of the Shadow Abyss Split is like the Sword of Damocles hanging over their heads.
No one can guarantee that the enemy won't return after a period of rest, bringing with them even more and more terrifying blasphemous creatures.
Greenburg must be transformed into a fortified stronghold capable of withstanding any counterattack, and the surrounding area must be turned into a wasteland that is disadvantageous to the enemy and difficult to advance quickly.
Thus, a massive defense system construction project, centered on Grinburg, was launched in full swing:
Linde ordered a thorough scorched-earth campaign to be carried out, radiating outwards from Greenburg for several miles.
All crops that could not be harvested or taken away quickly, whether ripe or not, were burned! Thick smoke rose from the fields, forming a shocking black barrier.
This was not only to cut off the enemy's attempt to obtain supplies on the spot, but also to clear the field of fire, exposing any enemy who tried to approach to the defenders' line of sight and arrow range.
All the remaining timber and stone materials in the village ruins that could have been used by the enemy were dismantled and transported back to the castle to be used as materials for repairs and fortifications.
Wells were filled in whenever possible. Roads were systematically destroyed, with traps and stockades set up, leaving only a few narrow paths that were easy for patrols and resupply, but also extremely vulnerable to blockade.
The area surrounding Grinburg is no longer just a solitary city wall.
Under Linde's plan, soldiers and conscripted laborers worked like worker ants.
A deeper and wider moat was dug around the main castle, with nearby streams flowing into it.
The excavated soil was not wasted, but instead used to build a solid and thick earthen wall behind the trench.
The earthen walls were not flat, but were constructed in a sawtooth pattern, forming the prototype of a defensive bastion, with firing ports and platforms for placing small ballistae.
At key locations outside the earthen walls, especially along the main road leading to Greenburg and in areas where enemy troops might gather, simple but sturdy wooden and stone fortifications were constructed using felled timber and collected stones.
These barriers complement each other, forming a crossfire network.
The interior of the castle is also being reinforced.
The breach that had been smashed open was resealed with large logs and stones, and wooden fighting platforms were added to the inner walls to facilitate the defenders throwing stones, boiling oil, or firing at the defenders.
Behind the crucial gate, additional reinforcements were made using massive stones and iron bars.
The entire area around Grinburg was transformed into a massive construction site. The sounds of hammering, sawing, shouts from soldiers and laborers, and the rustling of digging filled the air, replacing the former battle cries.
The air was thick with the scents of fresh earth, wood, and sweat, temporarily masking the stench of blood and burnt flesh. Though exhausted, the soldiers' eyes held a newfound determination, a clear purpose in mind.
They knew they were not futilely repairing ruins, but building a solid barrier for their own lives and those of their comrades.
Linde inspected the various fortifications daily, checking progress and adjusting plans. Standing on the newly erected earthen wall, gazing at the scorched fields and the serpentine trenches in the distance, the tension in his heart remained unbearable. Supplies were dwindling, the soldiers' strength was waning, and time was ticking away.
"grown ups."
Aster walked up to Lind, his armor covered in dirt, his face showing weariness from the journey, but his spirits were still high.
"The last batch of iron ingots and timber delivered from Lord Sutherland has been stored. The northern moat will be completed today. Raymond is leading men to reinforce those corners on the east side, which are the weak points."
Linde nodded, his gaze still fixed on the horizon.
“Very good. Tell Raymond to insert two more layers of sharpened wooden stakes on the outer edge of the watchtower, make sure they are densely packed. Also, the watchtower's signal fire drills must be conducted once a day, without any slackening.”
"yes!"
Astaire responded, following Lind's gaze, his voice low.
"My lord, are you worried... that the Sassians will come again?"
Linde did not answer directly, but instead gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his knuckles turning white.
The setting sun cast long shadows of him and the newly built fortifications onto the scorched and bustling land.
"The construction must be done quickly, Astaire. The faster the better."
His voice was calm, yet carried a heavy weight.
Lind's concerns were not unfounded. Even as fortifications around Greenburg were being constructed at a rapid pace, the shadow of the Sassians had not truly disappeared.
For several days afterward, the newly established watchtowers and patrols around Greenburg sounded alarms continuously.
"East! Sass light cavalry spotted in the east! Three riders!"
"There's movement in the southwest; it might be scouts!"
"Smoke signals to the north! A small group of enemies is attempting to approach and observe!"
The Sassin scouts, like hyenas that have smelled blood, began to appear frequently on the outskirts of Grinburg.
They moved swiftly, appearing and disappearing like the wind, often lingering outside the range of the defenders' arrows, scanning the castle and the fortifications under construction with the sharp eyes of hawks, noting the direction of the moats, the height of the earthen walls, and the location of the ramparts.
These harassments are annoying and add to the stress.
The soldiers had to be on high alert at all times, and the laborers' work was often interrupted, forcing them to hide or take up makeshift weapons to defend themselves.
The tension that had just been diluted by the smell of sweat and earth filled the air again.
"We can't let them be so arrogant!"
Raymond slammed his fist into the newly reinforced citadel, sending sawdust flying.
"They're always staring at me like flies, it's so annoying! My lord, I'll take a troop of cavalry out and drive them away!"
Lind stood on the newly built earthen wall, coldly watching several rapidly shrinking black dots on the distant horizon—those were the Sass scouts who had just been startled back by the arrows from the watchtower.
He shook his head:
“Drive them away? They’ll just come back. The Sassians are like wounded wolves now, afraid to pounce and bite directly, but they must keep a close eye on their prey, looking for the next opportunity to attack.”
What they want to see is our true strength and weakness, our defensive setup, and... our reaction.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes:
"Since they want to see, let them see 'clearly'! But we have to do it our way!"
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