Yun Zhe never expected that a new war would come so quickly.
This time it's not some small-scale, chaotic skirmish between regions; it's a pure national war.
"If it's a national war, does that mean we'll be going to war together with the Lunlang family?" Yun Zhe sensed the resentment behind him and turned around, just in time to meet Philby's eyes.
“Philby, I have a small question. Why did Belvaldo suddenly invade us, just as winter is approaching?”
"Who knows? Don't worry about a madman's thoughts." Philby was in a bad mood, not because of Yun Zhe's question, but because he thought of a possibility that made him very unhappy: they were going to attack together with the Lunlang family.
"Then why retreat to Dorgnitzburg?" Yun Zhe asked again.
"It's hard to say. Kurman's territory also borders the Lunlang family's territory, although not much, but there should be a road connecting them. But indeed, wouldn't it be more convenient to retreat directly to the capital? Going this way does seem a bit strange."
The guests began to leave one after another. After a brief moment of shock, they carried this important information and hurried home, eager to bring the news back to their families as soon as possible.
"Yun Zhe, I never expected something like this to happen," Arthas said as he walked to Yun Zhe's side. He didn't actually agree with Serena's attempt to force Yun Zhe to stay. It wasn't that he was wary of Yun Zhe, but he genuinely felt that Yun Zhe should live the life he chose.
“It’s nothing. I haven’t decided to leave either. It’s just that Philby and I were discussing this news just now. We both think it’s a bit too strange that the Marquis of Kurmann is retreating to Dorgnitzburg.”
Arthas blinked, then put down his wine glass and began to arrange plates and glasses on the long table to create a rough topographical map.
"It is indeed strange. Dorgnitzburg is not a very important castle. The Empire also has the Gular Valley in the west. Gularburg there should be a better choice."
Looking at the location where Arthas had placed the items, Yun Zhe suddenly felt a sense of fear. He pointed to Dorgnitzburg and asked, "Is it possible that Guralburg has already been captured? So the only option is to run to Dorgnitzburg?"
“Impossible. I think it’s more likely that the road to Gurral was cut off, and he was forced to run to Dorgnitzburg.” Arthas shook his head. “We can only know many details after we meet Marquis Kurman.”
"Gentlemen, this matter is sudden and has disturbed your enjoyment. However, Dorgnitzburg only has five hundred men now, which is unlikely to affect the battle situation. I have an idea: to provide support to Dorgnitzburg as soon as possible. I wonder what everyone's opinion is?" Serena walked to the group and said loudly after seeing that only her own people remained at the scene.
“We can’t send many soldiers. I think a safer approach is to concentrate our forces here so that we have something to rely on no matter how things develop,” Blake was the first to object. In fact, most people present did not agree with the idea, but Blake’s words were more effective.
Serena was somewhat disappointed, but not with Blake; she was disappointed in herself. Her initial plan had also been to gather troops at Donic Castle, but she was reluctant to relinquish her newly acquired territory, fearing potential losses, which was why she had said that. Now, after Blake's words, she recalled her own petty motives and realized she had become short-sighted, focusing only on immediate gains. Her so-called magnanimity and broad-mindedness had vanished into thin air.
“Kurman certainly didn’t go to Fort Dorgnitz alone, there must have been some troops with him. It seems there are more soldiers in Fort Dorgnitz than we thought,” Yun Zhe said.
Serena looked at Yun Zhe with surprise, thinking to herself, "Could it be that he supports me?"
Blake's expression darkened. Yun Zhe's words likely indicated that he had some well-developed plans to send troops to Dorgnitzburg. Had he misjudged again?
Yun Zhe looked at everyone, a slight embarrassment on his face. "I don't agree with going to support Dorgnitzburg. I just want to remind you that the pressure on logistics may be greater than that on the soldiers."
These words were a wake-up call. Blake and the others exchanged glances, suddenly realizing that this was the real headache. If they were to provide logistical support from those closest to Dorgnitzburg, it would be manageable for a day or two, or even ten days or half a month. But if a protracted war broke out around Dorgnitzburg, then that would truly be the beginning of a nightmare.
"Therefore, I suggest that instead of gathering soldiers, it would be more urgent to start preparing provisions now," Yun Zhe stated his conclusion.
“Then we must know how many soldiers are in Fort Dorgnitz,” Philby said in a low voice.
Serena unfolded the letter Xixi handed her, read it again, and her brows furrowed.
"The letter said that Marquis Kurman's several hundred men arrived first, and there were follow-up troops, but it didn't specify the exact number." Serena closed the letter and said with dissatisfaction, "This Mobik is too careless. How could he not make this clear!"
Yun Zhe lowered his head somewhat awkwardly. The soldiers who had escaped with him from the dead in the river valley village were now all centurions or captains. And Mobik happened to be the captain of all the troops currently stationed in Dorgnitzburg.
"Wait a little longer, there should be new news soon," Blake said, not in a hurry. He was already starting to worry about the food supply. This year's harvest wasn't good, and they had just finished a war; they couldn't very well borrow food from the elves again. Right now, he was hoping that Marquis Kurman was exaggerating, that his army consisted of only a few hundred men as mentioned in the letter.
"I reckon by tomorrow, the entire Empire will know they've been invaded," Arthas remarked. Bad news always seems to travel faster than good news.
"It's strange that this marquis didn't inform the Empire immediately after being attacked, but only fled after a complete defeat, letting the Empire know. Could it be that the enemy's numbers were actually not many, and he thought he could win? Or was this Marquis Kurman tricked, so he had no choice but to come all the way to Dorgnitzburg?" Yun Zhe pondered to himself, this place was also somewhat unusual.
The crowd was buzzing with discussion, somewhat bewildered by the sudden outbreak of war, and everyone was trying to calm themselves down by chatting.
Yun Zhe did not join the discussion, but silently walked back to the table where Arthas had set up the terrain and looked at it again.
The more I looked, the more something seemed off. If this retreat route was an offensive route, not only would we be in danger, but even Gularburg would be in danger.
Yun Zhe stared at the plate that was being used as the Gularburg, and the cup to its northeast that was being used as the Dorgnitzburg.
He picked up a silver fork and forcefully drew a line between the two.
A straight and short line.
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