Chapter 491 Winter Coup
Granston Castle, the main chapel was deserted.
The soft light streaming through the church's stained-glass windows pierced the cold air and fell upon the compassionate statue of Saint Sis. The flickering flames on the bronze candlesticks illuminated Count Derek's pious face.
Although the Granston family had long since sold their souls to the demons of hell, the Holy Light remained the foundation of their faith.
The real world is often not black and white.
At this moment, the head of the Glenston family was sitting on a bench in front of the statue, his hands clasped together in a low prayer, his expression solemn and dignified.
Everything is in place.
Three hundred thousand noble troops are marching towards the battlefield in two columns. Among them are mercenaries from the kingdom, heavily armed serfs, and knights loyal to the nobles... Everyone is ready to restore that sacred and ancient tradition.
Some will sail downstream, bringing the flames of war to the desecrated Thunder City. Others will head straight for Campbell's Fortress, bringing the capital of the Duchy of Campbell under their control.
The principality is within our grasp.
The only variable is Edward.
That fool was even more cunning than he had imagined; he had been hiding in the Andes Manor in Thunder City for the past few months and hadn't even gone home for his birthday.
Some nobles suggested waiting, but he didn't want to wait any longer, and neither did King Ryan, who was far away in Roland City.
They're all the same, actually.
They also have people in Thunder City.
Earl Derek, who was praying, smiled slightly, as if he could already see the despair on the naive Grand Duke's face.
The far-sighted Granston family had planned everything in advance; they had long anticipated that the Campbell family, chosen by the masses, would be led to the abyss by the ignorant and short-sighted people.
They've kept this trump card hidden for two hundred years, and today the moment has finally come to activate it. Turning the tide is within reach!
Demon King, stand by him!
"Bang--!"
Just as he was basking in the joy of victory, the heavy oak doors were suddenly pushed open, and powerful footsteps burst into the magnificent hall.
Jerok Campbell stormed in, furious.
He wasn't wearing armor or carrying a sword, but his furious expression was as sharp as the razor's edge as he charged straight at Derek.
"Derek!"
His voice echoed in the sacred hall, like an angry lion discovering another ambitious lion while surveying its territory.
"What on earth is going on?! Why is everyone calling me 'Your Majesty' this morning?! And where are my men? Sir Riveld and Sir Lucretia... where have they all gone?!"
Despite Gerald's furious rage, Count Derek's piety remained undiminished.
He slowly rose from the prayer bench, turned around, and faced the enraged young knight behind him.
Then--
Under Jerok's dumbfounded gaze, the old count, who was like a father to him, nodded slightly and knelt down on one knee respectfully and solemnly.
"Greetings, Your Majesty the Grand Duke!"
Jerok's mind exploded like a thunderbolt, shattering the sense of shame and loyalty he had always believed in.
"What are you doing? Are you crazy?!"
Jerok staggered back a step as if he'd been electrocuted, and even the voice of this platinum-level expert carried a hint of panic.
"When did I say I wanted to replace my brother! Get up! And tell your men to stop, we—"
"His Majesty!!"
Derek suddenly looked up, letting out a deafening roar, his eyes fixed on him.
Having never seen such an expression on Count Derek's face before, Gerald froze on the spot, staring blankly at him.
Derek didn't stop or get up from the ground; his cloudy pupils stared intently at the "helpless" young man.
His voice was as high-pitched as a church bell, echoing in the spacious hall.
"Our wealth is being plundered by Edward and his despicable merchant lackeys! Our honor will be buried in the dust of history!"
"Wake up, Your Majesty!"
"Those who sell their souls to the devil will not show mercy just because we are upright. If we don't fight now, we will lose everything in the future!"
With a clang, he drew the sword from his waist, then gripped the blade with both hands, presented the hilt, and bowed his head deeply.
"If you want this to stop, take my head and beg your brother for forgiveness!"
"Let the roaring steam engine shatter the pastoral idyll outside Glenston Castle. My descendants may be grateful, for they have never seen what those days were like; as for me—"
His voice became hoarse and mournful, like that of a saint about to be martyred, reminiscing about the passing sunset before nightfall.
"At least, I died at dusk before nightfall."
"At least, I didn't bury all of this myself."
Jerok stared wide-eyed at the sword offered to him, at his friend who was like a teacher and father to him—and at the elder who had taught him chivalry.
He had no doubt about Derek's loyalty.
Earl Glenston was one of the late king's right-hand men, and he and General Hannor were among the most trusted men of Grand Duke Aaron.
One is the shield of the principality, and the other is the spear of the principality.
Jerok's hands were trembling violently; he was unable to take the sword no matter what, nor did he even have the intention of reaching out to take it.
Not surprised by Gerald's wavering, Derek gently placed the sword on the bench beside him, his voice turning earnest and compassionate.
"Your Majesty, the Duchy of Campbell is calling your name."
"Those farmers forced to leave their land, dying of hunger and cold! Those citizens in Thunder City who can't afford firewood and suffer from soaring prices! And those knights who have served Campbell for generations, now forced to bow to merchants and demons—"
Derek looked up at Gerald's bewildered face and pierced the knight's heart with an invisible sword.
"They are all calling your name! They long for your return like lightning, to shatter the dark clouds that shroud the sky!"
"You are our only hope, and only you can save the decaying duchy and get everything back on track!"
"Your Majesty! We are willing to fight for you. Lead us into battle one more time!"
Jerok's eyes widened, and he couldn't help but take a step back, bumping his ankle on the bench leg and sitting down with a thud.
He sat in the second row of the church pews, and subconsciously looked at the statue of Saint Sebastian in front of him, trying to gain inspiration from the divine will.
However, the sacred marble statue neither opened its mouth nor had any doves or crows fly in through the window to give him any inspiration about the future.
Clearly, even the gods chose to temporarily evade the powerful force of the collective will.
Or perhaps, the gods themselves are what people think they are.
There was no holy light in the world, but people felt that there should be one, so in addition to sunlight, there was a sun that did not exist in the world.
“You…you’re all insane…” Jerok managed to squeeze out the words. He had never felt so weak, as if his fists had turned to cotton.
He is a Platinum-level powerhouse.
But in this matter, even a demigod probably can't help him.
"Your Majesty, we are not insane."
Earl Derek shook his head, his gaze fixed intently on Jerok, who sat on the bench, his eyes unwavering and clear.
"We have never been so clear-headed."
"That's exactly how our fathers got here."
...
While most people in the Duchy of Campbell read fairy tales with some historical embellishments, the dukes were clearly well-versed in real history.
They knew perfectly well how Saint Sith had defeated the gods, become the sole deity on Earth, and ushered in the Second Age. They also knew how the Isaac dynasty had failed, and what would have happened had they won.
The Duchy of Campbell does not need Archduke Edward.
They need a ruler like Theodore so that their glory can be passed down from generation to generation.
At that moment, that strong will transformed into firewood, which was poured into the furnace that was burning fiercely outside Campbell Castle.
On the vast plain, the crooked battle line stretched for tens of kilometers, with hundreds of artillery pieces firing wildly behind the two armies' lines.
The deafening roar of cannons shook the earth, and thick black smoke obscured the pale sky.
Taking advantage of the lulls in the cannon fire, the mages from both sides risked their lives to advance and weave bizarre and fantastical spells across the battlefield.
"Fire spirit that burns the earth, I beseech you with scorching flames to consume the evil ones before me—"
"The burning flames gather in my palm, transforming into a spear that pierces through all evil, burning away the enemy before me!"
Scorching fireballs streaked across the battlefield!
The mages, holding their staffs high, roared hoarsely, as if they were shouting their final cry before nightfall.
The roar of cannons and the screams of mages heralded the start of the civil war!
Earl Derek's noble coalition had an overwhelming numerical advantage, with 300,000 troops spreading out like a tidal wave, their banners covering the sky!
Although most of the soldiers standing in the ranks were serfs who had just laid down their farm tools, their expressions were filled with fear, their hands gripping their flintlock pistols tightly, and they had only just figured out who their opponents were, this did not diminish the power of the flintlock pistols in their hands.
On the flank of that army were the pride of the noble alliance—the renowned Trident Knights, and knights loyal to their northern vassals.
Clad in heavy armor, they marched forward with overwhelming momentum, the tips of their spears gleaming with a faint holy light, carrying the blessings of the priests.
In contrast, Archduke Edward's new army numbered only 100,000, barely enough to fill the wide battle line.
They stood silently in front of Fort Campbell, forming seemingly thin lines, as if they would be swallowed up by the massive wave at any moment.
Their faces were all heavy, as if weighed down by a suffocating cloud.
Seeing the "teetering" Duchy army, General Hannor, the "Spear of the Duchy," who fought for the noble alliance, was the first to draw his sword.
Immediately afterwards, Knight Commander Riveld and Knight Commander Lucler, who led the Trident Knights, also raised their lances for their Lord Gerald.
"For His Majesty Gerald—!"
"For Campbell's glory!"
"Kill them!!!"
Accompanied by deafening shouts, the allied noble forces launched their general offensive, with 300,000 troops surging towards Campbell's Castle like a tidal wave.
Under the cover of artillery fire, the Trident Knights took the lead and charged towards Archduke Edward's central army.
Meanwhile, in the distant army formation, a hundred-member priesthood was raising their ritual implements and chanting devoutly.
A visible golden barrier descended from the sky, bathing the heads of every charging knight.
That was Saint Sis’s blessing.
It is also a "sacred barrier" that cannot be penetrated by ordinary weapons!
Bathed in the dazzling holy light, the knights and their squires, lances in hand, charged fearlessly into the face of the cannon fire!
The nobles' allied forces were mostly peasants, as were the Grand Duke's army. They had no doubt that once they broke through the Grand Duke's lines, those peasants would scatter like birds and beasts.
This is how wars are usually conducted; they don't need to kill everyone. Besides, these are their own people, and although they are fighting for the nobility, they still hope that as few people as possible will die in this war.
After all, it's our own people's blood that's being shed...
However, just as the knights were halfway there and about to crash into the Grand Duke's army, the sacred barrier that had been hanging over their heads suddenly disappeared!
Perhaps the merciful god did not want to watch His people turn against each other with swords, allowing blood to taint His sacred feathers.
The golden sky burst open with a "pop," just like a soap bubble being popped.
The charging knights were completely unaware of this deadly change!
At that moment, behind the battlefield, a hundred priests who were chanting devoutly suddenly stopped praying in unison.
They seemed to have been struck in the soul by an invisible hammer!
Almost simultaneously, one hundred clergy members collapsed to their knees in agony, clutching their heads tightly with both hands, blood seeping from their eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
"ah……"
My head!
“By Saint Sith…please forgive your servant.”
Some people thought it was divine punishment, and despite the excruciating pain in their heads, they knelt on the ground in fear and pray.
The messenger cavalryman rushed over, staring wide-eyed at the group of hapless fellows, his anger rising but his mind at a loss.
Suddenly, he remembered that a few years ago, when Grand Duke Aaron Campbell fought against the demons in the labyrinth, the priests seemed to have encountered a similar situation...
A bead of cold sweat rolled down his forehead.
Could it be—
He looked up sharply, but there was nothing in the sky except for low-hanging dark clouds, or perhaps he simply hadn't seen anything...
Meanwhile, above the low-lying clouds.
Sisi floated in the air, flapping her wings, a strange smile on her bright red lips, and looked at the insects on the ground with a mocking gaze.
With the blessing of "Eternal Nightmare", she, who was skilled in mental magic, only needed to make a slight move to interrupt the joint spellcasting of the hundred priests with "Soul Hammer".
They are currently suffering from the pain of mental backlash and will not be able to cast spells for the next three days.
The previous queen of Nightmare Land was cursed by these priests, riddled with bullets by Campbell's musketeers, and finally impaled on the spears of the farmers.
Now, it can be considered that the great revenge has been achieved.
Unfortunately, that particular blond-haired gorilla wasn't in that order of knights.
This was Sissi's only regret; if that damned Irene Campbell had been in it too...
Campbell's knights were unaware that they had lost their divine protection and were bravely and devoutly charging toward death.
Within His Majesty the Grand Duke's army, centurions of commoner origin drew their swords, raised them above their heads, and roared in attack.
"Fire!"
A deafening roar erupted instantly!
Hundreds of Roxay rifles roared with a continuous steely roar, unleashing wave after wave of death amidst the crisp clanging of their barrels!
The charge of the Trident Knights froze instantly.
The thirty silver-ranked knights at the head of the group were the first to be attacked!
Their prized swordsmanship and heavy armor were rendered as fragile as paper in the face of the hail of bullets.
Even if the extraordinary power circulating within their bodies could protect their vitals, and even if they could cut through the incoming bullets, it would be impossible for them to block so many bullets at the same time!
"ah--!"
A silver-rank knight quickly fell, followed by a second, a third... The pride of the Campbells was thus smashed into a bloody mess, man and horse alike.
It wasn't just the silver-level powerhouses who fell, but also the steel-level knights and the bronze or iron-level squires.
The 500-strong knightly order has been reduced by half!
Seeing their comrades fall one after another, Riveld and Knight Commander Lucretius' eyes turned red, and they roared as if they wanted to tear the soldier who fired the shot to pieces.
However, their roars were not enough to drown out the roar of the steel torrent.
Although the deafening barrage of bullets had not yet broken through the "divine power" of the gold-level experts, it had already sent the other knights and their squires behind them flying, turning them into a pile of corpses amidst the chaotic sounds of hooves and neighing.
In less than a minute, amidst the cacophony of gunfire, even the last half of the pride of the Duchy of Campbell was gone.
Before the whistling lance could strike its opponent, it was broken in two by the merciless industrial fire, leaving only the sharpest spearhead flying uncontrollably.
With few people left to surround him, Riveld finally fell off his horse in resentment and rolled on the frozen, muddy ground.
He murmured His Majesty Jerok's name, swallowing loyalty and blood, and etching hatred into his bloodshot eyes.
I curse you all—
If there is an afterlife, he will be reborn in this land, but not as a knight, but in another name to reclaim everything he has lost!
The last one to fall was Lucler.
He is the strongest member of the Trident Knights besides their leader, Gerald, and is only one soul-level bottleneck away from reaching Platinum rank.
If he could accomplish something extraordinary, such as reclaiming the throne for the "legitimate" King Gerok, he might be able to forge a new legend, become a hero in that new epic, and break through the bottleneck of his soul.
Unfortunately, the gods did not seem to recognize his nobility, and he ultimately died in the calamity that was destined for him.
At the other end of the battlefield, fighting was also taking place on the flanks.
The Campbell's cuirassiers, composed of commoners, successfully outflanked the noble coalition under the devastating cover of their own artillery.
Without the protection of the Trident Knights, the flank formation hastily armed by serfs was no threat at all.
Some cavalrymen fell amidst the gunfire, but this was not enough to stop their charge, nor to extinguish their determination to fight for His Majesty the Grand Duke!
"For His Majesty the Grand Duke—!"
"For Campbell!"
"Kill them!!!"
The centurion, galloping on his horse, shouted familiar slogans, so much so that the serfs who also heard the shouts were momentarily bewildered.
They thought they were the holy ones, so why were the other side also shouting "For His Majesty! For Campbell!"?
Whether they are the ones charging forward or the ones being charged, they have no time to think about what kind of chessboard they are on.
When the well-trained cuirassiers cut into the square formation that had already been thrown into chaos by artillery fire, the rebels' flank positions instantly began to crumble like an avalanche!
The centurion, fighting for Earl Derek, stared wide-eyed at the bloodshot enemy.
He brandished his saber, shouting at the fleeing serfs in an attempt to salvage the collapsing situation, but was pierced through the throat by a lance coming straight at him.
Soon, the cuirassiers who had broken through the rebel flank did not linger in battle. Following the sound of cannon fire, they charged straight towards the rebel artillery positions, ramming the firing mortars and smoothbore cannons and sending men and horses sprawling.
Seeing that the rebels' flanks and rear were beginning to collapse, Sir Wesley, the young officer in charge of the operation, did not miss the opportunity and decisively ordered his men to sound the charge.
"go ahead--!"
The Grand Duke's army began to advance, and the battle line, several kilometers wide, resembled an inverted bowl, approaching the noble coalition that outnumbered them three to one.
In contrast, the noble alliance's battle lines were already twisted by the sound of gunfire, and the entire army, from the flanks to the center, was in complete chaos!
The annihilation of the Trident Knights, in particular, caught the allied nobles completely off guard, leaving them stunned and speechless.
They had never seen such astonishing firepower, nor did they expect their Grand Duke to be so ruthless, wiping out the most elite forces of the Duchy of Campbell.
The wars waged by nobles differed from peasant uprisings. Although they were just as brutal for peasants, the nobles were always treated leniently.
Even if they occupy Campbell's Castle, they won't mistreat Edward's family like the Green Forest Army did; at most, they'll find a small island in the Whirlpool Sea and imprison them.
After all, the northern vassals, led by Earl Derek, did not intend to usurp the title of the duchy; they merely wanted to give the duchy a new master, and this new master was still the direct heir of the Campbell family.
If they unfortunately fail, their families will most likely not lose their fiefdoms, but will simply be replaced by the heir designated by the royal family.
Even with the mediation of the Ryan royal family, this is something that can be discussed. Although the duchy is independent of the royal court, it cannot act recklessly.
However now—
Looking at the Trident Knights reduced to dust, the minor nobles who stood with Earl Derek suddenly became unsure whether this was still a "glorious war".
They didn't care whether the soldiers were bloodthirsty or not.
But their Grand Duke was clearly in a killing frenzy...
Amidst everyone's hesitation, the scales of victory had already tipped in favor of the resolute side.
A huge gap was torn in the central line of the noble coalition, and the cuirassiers who had breached the artillery positions turned their spears toward the reserve troops behind the center.
There were no fully deployed formations there; the conscripted soldiers anxiously awaited the order to fight, but instead, they were greeted by the hoofbeats of enemy horses.
The centurions hastily ordered their soldiers to prepare their firepower, but behind the roaring cavalry were the backs of their own frontline soldiers.
Panic spread like a plague along the battlefront, which was several kilometers wide, until the distorted front began to collapse backward.
The conscripts, routed by the cavalry, scattered like smoke from gunpowder blown away by the wind!
"Hold the formation—!"
"Everyone, listen up! Hold your positions and do not retreat!"
General Hannover, the commander-in-chief of the allied forces, was furious.
He spurred his horse and charged towards the fleeing soldiers, slashing down an officer who had left his position with a single sword stroke. Holding the officer's head, he roared at the terrified soldiers.
"Those who retreat shall die!"
Hannover was a veteran who followed Aaron Campbell, the last symbol of bravery left from that golden age. He was a true platinum-level warrior, and his prestige and strength were the last pillar of the allied forces.
He knew it very well.
Even if the soldiers stood still and let the enemy kill them, fewer would die than if they panicked and fled. A few hundred cuirassiers were simply not enough to break through his lines; their spears could only withstand two charges at most, and even with spare spears, they would only have three at most.
And there was the continuous roar of gunfire...
The Grand Duke's army had fierce firepower, but their ammunition was not unlimited, and they did not equip every soldier with such a rifle!
Furthermore, large-scale battles are different from small-scale battles. Troops of this size cannot be resupplyed in a short time. Once they run out of ammunition, victory still belongs to the glorious Allied forces!
They haven't failed yet!
"Royal Guard! Charge with me!" Hannor roared, brandishing his sword and leading his personal guards in a turn.
He stopped chasing the cuirassiers and ignored the collapsing flank, instead focusing his attention on the constant roar of artillery fire from the opposite side.
The morale of the entire army is now on the verge of collapse. Compared to the advancing privates, the artillery in the distance is clearly a greater threat!
Especially when one's own artillery fire stops, the roar of enemy artillery fire can be even more deadly than the shells themselves!
Hannover's charge began.
As the strongest warrior in the army, he galloped like a golden lightning bolt, his armor enveloped in platinum-level holy light.
He is a warrior of the Temple faction!
The Temple faction's "divine power" differs from the Dragon God faction's "qi." The latter emphasizes the power of "qi" itself, while the former focuses more on protection and resilience!
A hail of bullets rained down on Hannor, but the Grand Duke's army showed no mercy just because they saw his banner.
And he didn't hold back either.
Hannover charged ahead into the middle of the hundred-man squad, and with a flash of his sword, more than a dozen heads fell to the ground.
The raging firepower ceased instantly, and Hannor emerged from the smoke like a vengeful ghost, his wide-open eyes terrifying the soldiers.
They were also Campbellians, no braver than the Campbellians on the other side; at most, they were just better equipped.
Faced with their former heroes, they even forgot their bayonet fighting skills and were cut down one by one by the bloodthirsty Hannor.
General Hannover's personal guard followed closely behind, and the thirty cavalrymen charged in like tigers among sheep, their thunderous hooves kicking away the young men who were trying to hold their formation.
A hundred-man team was instantly pierced through!
Platinum-level superhumans are considered high-level superhumans, far beyond the reach of ordinary mortals.
In the distant old days, he alone would have been able to crush an army of ten thousand!
Unfortunately, times have changed.
Just as Hannor locked onto the distant artillery position and was about to lead his personal guard to charge, a whooshing sound came from the air.
A warrior's instincts allowed Hannore to immediately detect the deadly threat, and he almost instinctively unleashed a divine slash, cleaving the oncoming cannonball in two.
Unfortunately, it wasn't just one cannon aimed at him, but a full twelve cannons!
The cunning Sir Wesley had already set his sights on him, anticipating that he intended to turn the tide of the battle through his personal prowess. So he deployed twelve smoothbore cannons pre-loaded with exploding shells in front of the mortar positions, just waiting for him to walk right into his trap.
The explosion's flames instantly engulfed General Hannover's location, and scorching steel fragments instantly wiped out his personal guards behind him.
It wasn't just his personal guards who fell.
This includes him himself.
Even if he could withstand that terrifying firepower, his warhorse couldn't withstand it either, collapsing to the ground before it could even utter a mournful cry.
The sacred barrier shattered, and Hannor let out a low growl of pain. Dozens of sharp shrapnel were embedded deep in his heavy armor, tearing his flesh apart.
If he hadn't possessed platinum-level strength, he probably would have died in this round of direct fire.
Even though he didn't die, he was only half alive.
The broken longsword slammed against the ground, and Hannor, staggering to his feet, was covered in blood, looking like a demon crawling out of the abyss.
He was somewhat bewildered.
His strength had been steadily improving, yet for some reason, he always felt that his extraordinary power was weaker than before.
……Why?
Sir Wesley, standing atop the mound gazing into the distance, held his breath. His adjutant beside him looked at him nervously, awaiting his superior's orders.
With just one barrage, they could take down Campbell's hero.
But is it really necessary to go this far?
Sir Wesley hesitated for a moment, but when he saw the look of deep hatred on that face through his telescope, he knew he had no other choice.
Unlike baronies, knighthood is a lifelong honor, not a hereditary title, and there is no corresponding fiefdom.
Although his knighthood was bestowed by the Grand Duke, he actually wielded less power than the knights who were subordinate to the Baron.
Those guys at least had fiefdoms, even if it was just a village. But he had nothing, only the honors bestowed by the late Grand Duke and the current Grand Duke's favor.
He didn't want to assume the worst of Campbell's heroism, but what if General Hannover survived and learned he'd been defeated by a "civilian officer"...
Commoners who offend nobles will not have a good end!
Sir Wesley pondered for three seconds, then lowered the telescope and spoke in an icy tone.
"Let Sir Bertrand Pegg go forth, for the sake of our duchy, and give our general a dignified end."
The adjutant swallowed hard, but ultimately saluted loyally.
"yes……"
Bertrand Pegg is Edward's personal guard, and the only Gold-level superhuman among his many guards.
A valiant and unparalleled lord will not typically have many powerful superhumans under his command.
This is why the cowardly and incompetent Earl of Sparrowwood Castle was able to have a Platinum-level knight, while the Grand Duke only had a Gold-level superhuman under his command.
Although the Grand Duke himself was only Gold-level, his younger brother Gerald was Platinum-level, and after Irene and Prince Colin killed Kaylan together, Irene's strength reached Diamond-level!
Incidentally, Bertrand Peg is the father of Theresa Peg, who is the captain of Irene's personal guard.
The two had been playmates since childhood, and Teresa, who was a few years older, even taught Irene swordsmanship.
That is why anyone could jump off the Grand Duke's carriage, while Sir Bertrand had no choice but to get on.
Even though he was loyal to the late king and tradition, he did not approve of some of the decisions made by the young Grand Duke...
For the sake of his family and his children, Bertrand, though shocked by Sir Wesley's "shamelessness," had no choice but to grit his teeth, mount his horse, and head to this dishonorable duel.
Fierce battle erupts!
The two sides exchanged blows, their ruthless swords carving deep furrows into the ground, terrifying the onlookers.
Despite his severe injuries, Hanno was still unstoppable, but ultimately he was no match for a Gold-ranked knight in his prime.
In the end, Bertrand's longsword pierced the old general's heart.
When Hannover fell, Bertrand felt immense pain, as if the sword had pierced his own heart.
But at that moment, he felt the shackles that had bound him for so many years shatter!
A tremendous power surged from his sea of consciousness, coursing through his blood and flowing into every corner of his limbs.
Bertrand was astonished to discover—
I've broken through!
...
In mid-December of 1053 AD, the noble alliance split into two routes and marched towards Thunder City and Campbell Castle respectively, attempting to overthrow His Majesty Edward's authority.
This sudden civil war lasted for several days, staining the River Run outside Thunder City and the plains outside Campbell's Fortress with blood...
General Hannover, known as the "Spear of the Principality," was killed in battle.
The one who defeated this old hero was an unknown commander, Sir Wesley, a commoner.
This knight had served under General Hannover and distinguished himself in the campaign against Reggie Dragon, earning him a knighthood from Archduke Aaron Campbell. He was then entrusted with the important task of training the new army by His Majesty Edward, who succeeded him.
Although the new demon king from hell did not witness his investiture ceremony, they may have briefly met on the streets of Thunder City.
Luo Yan was on the street at the time, quietly watching the Grand Duke's procession walk away, and then turned back into the messy maze.
Now that he has won again, it may not be long before he receives a medal from the Demon King—or rather, Mr. Colin.
The noble coalition suffered a complete defeat. The 300,000-strong army, like frightened birds, fled in disarray towards the northern valleys and plains, intending to clean up the mess before making any further plans.
If the Duchy of Campbell were divided into four parts, the noble alliance would control at least three-quarters of the territory.
With the support of the Kingdom of Ryan to the north, as long as they cut off the trade routes on the Benliu River and are prepared to fight a desperate battle, they may have a chance of winning!
As for Princess Eileen and her 50,000-strong Northern Expeditionary Army, if they were to become embroiled in a protracted war, the Lionheart Knights of the Kingdom of Ryan would naturally hold them back.
However, if Earl Derek's men could think of this, then the "prophetic" Archduke Edward certainly wouldn't have been unaware of it.
Even before the start of this civil war, when both sides were still in the preparatory stage of their game, Sir Wesley offered His Majesty the Grand Duke an extremely bold strategy – the "diagonal tactic".
That was a tactic he learned while fighting against the Demon King's army.
An army of over 100,000 men was deployed on the front line, and the two sides clashed like two wooden sticks, seeing who would run out of manpower first.
If that's the case, why not deliberately reduce one side of your position and concentrate your elite forces to attack the enemy's weakest position?
The goal of war is not to kill every single enemy soldier, but to destroy their organization and disable their fighting capacity.
Of course, implementing this tactic is not easy.
This puts soldiers' discipline, commanders' strategic deployment capabilities, and even the battlefield's transportation environment and the attacking side's transport conditions to the test.
However, Sir Wesley was a soldier who had risen through the ranks, and he knew very well the level of his comrades and knew that Campbell's lads could do it.
After hearing his plan, Edward immediately placed his bet on it, which is why there were only 100,000 troops outside the most important Fort Campbell.
The southern part of the valley plain.
Nearly 30,000 rebels had just crossed a tributary of the Benliu River and, gazing upon a tranquil valley plain, finally gained a moment's respite.
Count Grin Spinor was cursing the bad weather and discussing countermeasures with his men when a barrage of gunfire erupted from outside the still-unfinished camp...
The last day of December in the year 1053 of the Austen calendar.
Archduke Edward's army utterly crushed the remnants of the noble coalition in the southern part of the Valley Plain, and then advanced all the way to besiege Granston Castle, completely thwarting the northern vassals' plan to retreat and resist stubbornly.
The Roxay 1053 rifle shone brightly in this pursuit.
The Campbell's cavalry, riding their warhorses swiftly into enemy territory, displayed superior firepower in a small number, repelling wave after wave of rebel attacks and holding out until the main force arrived.
Thanks to thorough preparation, the civil war came to an end at an incredible speed.
Although Count Derek, who was besieged, did not surrender, everyone felt that he and His Majesty Gerald would not last long.
However, even though the flames of civil war did not last long, the impact of the war was still profound.
The Thunder City Daily News called the civil war the Winter Coup.
Lord Derek manipulated Prince Gerald, and together with the northern vassals and knights who had broken their oath of loyalty, they launched this coup.
Countless young men died in the dishonorable war, and countless nobles and knights with long histories fell from their horses. The traditional power of the Duchy of Campbell suffered a devastating blow.
However, the people of Campbell need not grieve for the darkness before dawn.
Because soon they will forget those decaying names, and a group of young heroes will take their place, standing on the stage of history in their place...
(End of this chapter)
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