Chapter 423: The Maginot Defense Line Officially Begins Construction!
“Compared to when we parted last night, Major, um, Colonel, you look much more haggard.”
In the office at Blood Vulture Halls, Murphy sat formally with his hands crossed supporting his chin, saying to Colonel Frayzer and Major Ron in their military uniforms:
“It seems you two had a tiring journey. You probably didn’t rest well last night in our poor remote area. This is my failure as a host.”
“It has nothing to do with your hospitality, Governor Murphy.”
Colonel Frayzer tried hard to hide his emotions, but facing such a situation for the first ti in his life made it difficult for him to appear unaffected despite his good upbringing.
To avoid more awkwardness, the colonel with dark circles under his eyes went straight to the point:
“My deputy and I are here today to discuss the stationing location for our military observation group. Marshal Loren’s orders require us to choose our own station and take on the duties of Golden Flower Kingdom soldiers during the Black Plague.
Please understand, we are not Transian ard forces and are not under your command during warti.
Therefore, the matter of authority must be clarified in advance to avoid certain situations that would be awkward for both sides later.”
“Although I’m not a soldier, I can fully understand your concerns.”
Murphy didn’t dwell much on this issue. He pointed to the map hanging on his office wall and said:
“But in reality, even if I gave you full authority in this area, I estimate you won’t have many choices on the battlefield along the line from Baronsee of Shadow to Foul Swamp.
The Fort Cria fortress group in the easternmost part of the defense line occupies a quarter of the entire battlefield width by itself, while the Maginot Line we are already building will encompass most of the remaining half.
Even if Marshal Loren ca personally, he could only choose to camp in the western area of the battle line.
This is also our suggestion to you, you can establish your defense area near Lake Shulps close to the Saxony region. This would allow you to receive supplies directly from the Saxony region. Otherwise, you would have to advance deep into Foul Swamp alone to establish forward outposts.
Speaking of this, I must share with you so important information brought back by Transian scouts.”
Murphy picked up a docunt from his desk and handed it to Frayzer. After the latter took it and glanced at it, his expression beca increasingly serious.
He quickly read through the contents and passed it to his deputy Major Ron. Ron, who ca from a military family background, felt his heart skip a beat when he first saw the docunt.
There were already advance forces of gnolls from Dark Mountain in Foul Swamp? And they had organized a massive undead skeleton army?
What kind of terrible pre-conflict phase is this?
In other words, once the observation group sets up camp at the front, there’s a high probability they’ll be imdiately drawn into the war between the Transians and the gnolls?
This made Major Ron very worried.
He knew very well that although the observation group’s officers were prepared to participate in a brutal war, the war coming so quickly still exceeded these young people’s expectations. It seems Marshal Loren’s prediction of the war situation was also too optimistic.
“The footsteps of the Black Plague are faster than we imagined.”
Colonel Frayzer said in a deep voice:
“So, there isn’t much ti left for us to adapt to this land of suffering?”
“To be precise, I suggest you skip the ‘adaptation’ phase entirely.”
Murphy shrugged and used the gentlest tone to speak the cruelest words, saying:
“Unless you’re willing to always stay in the safe rear, when you step onto the Foul Swamp battle line, you’ll have to grip your weapons and fight to the death with the fierce gnoll warlocks and their skeleton army.
Also, as an ally’s duty, I must warn you that we will send our elite forces into Foul Swamp on a large scale in at most 15 days.
That ans we will launch a decisive expulsion and attack against this gnoll clan entrenched in the swamp and attempt to bring the strategically important Foul Swamp under our managent.
You are free to choose to participate or observe, or even prepare to mock us rcilessly, I can accept all of these. But I absolutely do not want to see the fourth and most foolish choice of ‘dragging your feet’ and ‘creating obstacles’!”
“Golden Flower Kingdom’s soldiers never fear! We would never do such things to our allies, it wouldn’t benefit us anyway.”
Major Ron said in a deep voice.
Murphy glanced at this tiger-headed young man and said with the characteristic gloom and arrogance of a vampire:
“Save those words until after you’ve proven yourselves on the battlefield. Gentlen, we Transians have a simple way of distinguishing friend from foe, as long as you kill one gnoll from Dark Mountain, you are our friends in this war.
I hope your actions are quick enough to catch up with the impending war.
Finally, regarding the station location issue, let’s leave that to Major Ron and Regent Miriam to discuss. Colonel Frayzer, I need you to stay here.
We have so more important topics to discuss.
I guarantee, as the Governor of Transia, this is extrely important for both the Golden Flower Kingdom and the Carpe family.”
With Murphy putting it this way, Frayzer had no way to decline. Not having to actually face Miriam, who had just dealt him a heavy blow, also gave him a strange sense of relief.
He used his eyes to signal Major Ron to fulfill his duties.
The latter returned a strange expression so rich in aning it could be analyzed in a pie chart, making Frayzer discouraged.
However, after Ron left, the atmosphere in the office beca sowhat lighter.
After all, Frayzer and Murphy had decent personal relations, the two n had once fought for their lives together in the sa disaster. Moreover, they were in a cooperative relationship, which was much more comfortable than cold military duties.
“No need to be so tense, relax, Frayzer.”
Murphy stood up and elegantly poured drinks for himself and the colonel. He turned his head to hand the glass to Frayzer, saying:
“Look, I suddenly discovered a fourth commonality between us besides both being young, handso, and excellent. We are both now facing the spiritual tornt brought by a difficult yet enchanting lady.
Why show such an angry expression?
Do you think that as a vampire lord I wouldn’t monitor everything happening in my territory?
Do you perhaps have so misunderstanding about the word ‘vampire’?”
Faced with Murphy’s teasing, the colonel accepted the glass with a cold expression but didn’t drink.
He always kept official and personal ti strictly separate and didn’t want to make any strange comnts on this matter, so he silently waited for Murphy to get to the main point.
Such uncooperativeness ant Murphy couldn’t see the entertainnt he wanted, which he found quite regrettable.
But serious matters still needed to be discussed. Murphy took a sip of his drink and used his mimicry skills to tell Frayzer about what happened to Becky’s rchant convoy at the Transian border.
The truth of this matter had not spread due to Murphy’s suppression. So when he heard that Becky’s convoy was endangered because their own rcenary group had defected to the Wolfsbane vampires, and that Becky herself had almost died in this conflict, Frayzer’s expression quickly beca extrely ugly.
No wonder after this eting, Becky treated him with such contempt, his nominal fiancee’s anger indeed had a reason.
“How disgraceful!”
The colonel was nearly grinding his teeth.
He struggled to maintain his composure, but the flas dancing in his eyes couldn’t be extinguished. This matter was a terrible hidden danger to the Carpe family’s reputation.
“No need for such anger. If the Carpe family could rely on their own power to find Wolfsbane Clan’s spies hidden among you, then you would probably be honored guests of every ruler in this world.
The blood servant problem is a trouble shared by all regis on the continent. The Carpe family was just unlucky, but I think you should still carefully describe this problem to your father.
The first ti can be called an accident.
But if it happens a second ti, then it’s your own fault.”
Murphy waved his hand dismissively and said:
“That’s not what I really wanted to talk about with you. This is just a lead-in. What I want to discuss with you is ‘Dusk’. Although this might pull you into a terrifying whirlpool as well, I think given your current level and background, you absolutely need to know these things.
So next, don’t interrupt my description. Keep any questions in your heart and verify them in your own way. Co back after you get the answers.
I believe by then you’ll understand that I and my Transia can also be good help to you in matters beyond the Black Plague.
Of course, you can choose not to believe, after all, such things sound very strange.
But the fact is, under the dazzling light of your ‘Sun King’, they also exist in the shadows of your country.
And I guess the brighter the light, the darker the shadows behind it.
Based on this secret I’m about to tell you, I require that while heading to your station, you must provide necessary cover for a ‘special intelligence force’ under Transia.
What I an is, I need to tell you in advance that there is a local gnoll clan serving .
So keep your soldiers in check and don’t let them harm ‘our own people’.”
————————
Just as Murphy was revealing the existence of “Dusk” to Frayzer, in the distant Baronsee of Shadow region near Foul Swamp, “Military Commander” Joy Stick jumped down from the saddle of his beloved shadow-maned warhorse “Shadow King”.
Having completed the war blessing of the Winged Cavalry, his body was as huge as a half-giant, walking with the majesty of a dragon and tiger, his footsteps bringing wind.
While maximizing the pressure, paired with his battle-scarred Winged Cavalry armor and the “1:1 replica” Napoleon command saber hanging at his waist, this guy unconsciously highlighted his current identity.
He appeared on this land, where the air was filled with the stench of rot and cold aura due to its proximity to the swamp, in the capacity of “Commander-in-Chief of Maginot Line Construction and Operation”.
Behind Joy Stick, the Tiger Leopard Cavalry brothers followed closely.
As the command layer of the rapidly expanding Crimson Hamr and Sickle Group, these veteran-born fellows had picked up their previously abandoned military qualities again through constant war tempering in the ga.
It can be said that Joy Stick’s current group is the most special among all player groups in “Reality Realm”.
Others ca to play the ga, they ca to “fight wars”.
This is the classic headquarters of Paradox Interactive players, filled with wild hawk war criminal groups, anti-aircraft flat awareness flow, neutron annihilation efficiency party, alien canned wholesale rchants.
Everyone is a hero who views gesture encirclent as pre-dinner entertainnt, madn who have carved 100% war mobilization into their bones, and ruthless people who use 95% tax revenue to support war.
Especially after Murphy delegated player recruitnt authority to second-level guilds, the Crimson Hamr and Sickle Group was the first organization to upgrade to this rank. A group of veteran Battlefield players and mountain speed victory flow masters personally invited by Joy Stick were already starting to exercise in reality, preparing to participate in the holy war of “Defending Transia”.
Put poetically,
Murphy had already loosened the reins of his most fanatical war hounds, and a group of “war enthusiasts” led by Joy Stick were rubbing their hands together preparing to show off so moves.
“This trench is dug pretty well.”
On a high ground overlooking the defense line’s course, Joy Stick’s deputy Tiger Leopard Cavalry Lin put down his monocular and said to Brother Stick:
“As expected of trenches dug under the direct guidance of Professor Chen who has experienced militia training. Not only is the depth perfect and crisscrossing, but enough communication trenches and half-body trenches are also reserved for different uses, and even reinforced and improved drainage systems were made.
I don’t think we even need to build any ground fortresses!
Just taking photos of these already dug trenches and posting them to the group would be enough to make those guys who’ve already got qualifications howl with excitent.”
“Nonsense!”
Joy Stick’s voice carried a hint of undisguised weakness. He touched his sowhat itchy neck and said in a low voice:
“You think this is just playing a ga? There’s no respawning here, we only have one chance! If we lose, everyone’s finished! These trenches before us are just the most basic step, just the foundation of our defense line!
We not only need to build enough permanent fortifications at various terrain points, but we must also complete the construction of underground supply storage and rest areas.
I need General Maxim to send his soldiers over. The locals have very little experience in trench warfare, we must start training them now.
There’s also the firepower issue.
I don’t know what Brother Loyalty is thinking or what plans he has, but my requirent is that before the war truly breaks out, my position must have enough firepower to deny the enemy’s large-scale operations. I know everyone has it tough, so I won’t make outrageous demands for super heavy artillery like ‘Big Betty’, but can you at least give enough mortars?
How difficult can it be to make those things?”
“You have to be understanding of Brother Loyalty. His pressure isn’t less than ours, he not only has to provide fire support for the Maginot Line but also handle firearm production for the People’s Army, and right now he barely has any skilled workers.”
Tiger Leopard Cavalry Bing shook his head and said:
“I see that in the early stages of this war, we probably won’t be able to avoid bayonet charges. Speaking of which, yesterday a brother translated the complete ‘Militia Training Manual’ into the Computation Bead, and he also did a proofread version of the ‘Barefoot Doctor Manual’.
We should start training military dics, Brother Stick.
I think you understand very well how important a properly functioning field hospital is for boosting and maintaining morale in this context.”
“That job isn’t under our managent.”
Joy Stick said sowhat gloomily:
“Lord Murphy appointed a very strange fellow to train the dical corps and set up field hospitals. That guy is called ‘Pants Stripping Demon’. Say, was there such a person on the forum before? How co I’ve never seen him?”
“There are many people you haven’t seen, it’s not like the early days when there were only so many people. Just in these two weeks, more than 150 brothers have successively entered the ga.”
Tiger Leopard Cavalry Lin shook his head and said:
“You need to adapt to this change. There will be more strangers joining us in the future. Speaking of this, I need to report a ‘special situation’ to you.”
“Mm, go ahead.”
Joy Stick took out the battle line blueprint that he had begged Professor Chen to plan for him and examined it in his hands, thinking about how to build the battle line he was responsible for, while listening to his deputy’s words.
Lin looked left and right, then lowered his voice and said:
“My forr combat engineering company commander suddenly contacted yesterday. He asked what I was planning with all the old comrades I kept inviting. After I explained the situation, the old company commander said he was interested too and asked for a link.
But in my mory, my company commander was very rigid and had no interest in gas, yet now he’s strangely enthusiastic, so I suspect…”
“Shh.”
Brother Stick’s heart tightened.
He imdiately stopped Lin from continuing, but the others around all showed a certain knowing expression. After a few seconds of thought, Joy Stick shook his head and said:
“Never mind! This isn’t sothing we can control. If they want to co, let them co! But make it clear beforehand, once they’re in, they have to follow orders! Otherwise let them start their own thing.”
“He did agree to that.”
Lin scratched his head and said:
“The old company commander said he would definitely obey orders and follow commands, and said he could help us recruit more veterans to strengthen our guild. Sigh, this was sothing we used to dream of before, but why does it feel a bit scary now…”
“Don’t be afraid.”
Brother Stick was feeling uncertain himself.
But he knew this was the ti to give the brothers so reassurance, so he put on a fearless appearance, planted his hands on his hips and boasted:
“Despite their seniority, when it cos to actual combat experience, they’re not as good as us. Fighting here is different from outside, and the army has always been a place where strength does the talking!
Don’t show weakness, brothers.
Outside, you called him old company commander, but here he’ll have to salute you! Be more arrogant, show the veteran players’ montum to keep them in check. Hmph, let’s start with this Black Plague war, show them our real capabilities!”
User Comments
0 comments from readers