To the north of the Thousand River Valley, the Red Iron Mountains serve as the natural geographical divider between the Shattered Stone Plain and the Thousand River Valley.
Including the Obsidian and Athyst Mountain Ranges, these three ranges are offshoots of the Dragon Sleep Mountain Range.
The entire Dragon Sleep Mountain Range is like a "仌" shape, with nurous transverse ranges extending from its longitudinal peaks.
Starting from the Furnace Plateau in the north and falling to Black Snake Bay in the south.
The Thousand River Valley can even be said to be a nation built upon the Dragon Sleep Mountain Range.
In the post-autumn season, under the sheep-bitten bare rock walls of the Red Iron Mountains, there should have been the half-yellow, half-green Golden Grass Field.
This special grass, combined with the unique stormy climate of the northern Shattered Stone Plain, makes the local sheep's wool tough and long.
But now, under the blue sky and clear waters, the grassland is nowhere to be seen, leaving only patches of bald-looking mud pools.
That is the result of swiftly flowing floods subrging the grassroots lowlands.
It's easy to imagine that the grassland will certainly flourish next year, but this year the sheep are bound to go hungry.
The rapidly gushing floodwater climbs the riverbanks, spreading a yellow carpet, swallowing up fences and grass huts.
Under the golden sunset, it seems like patches of yellow-black burlap are stitched onto a green velvet cloth.
The air is filled with the sll of mud and fishiness, even the wind blowing on the body is damp and cold.
On the Ladan Castle Highland Camp, besides the fishy sll, there's also the scent of rust.
It emanates both from the soldiers' rusted weapons and from their blood-stained bandages.
Over 12,000 soldiers and more than 10,000 civilian workers set out.
At this mont within the camp, according to André's statistics, less than 8,000 soldiers and just over 4,000 civilians remain.
Although so scattered and straggling soldiers are trickling back, it's unlikely they will surpass 8,000.
In one battle, nearly 40% of the soldiers were lost.
This was still the result of Moliat exerting every effort, personally covering the retreat and holding back the pursuing enemy to ensure this outco.
However, under the overwhelming floods, Moliat's several counterattacks were also unable to turn the defeat into victory.
Once, she swept across the Norn Kingdom, leaving the Monarch of Codfish Castle and other Norn rulers unable to lift their heads. Yet Moliat suffered defeat just like this.
Even now, there are still many in the army who can't believe it.
That's the Grand Duchess Moliat, after all, how could she lose so abruptly?
"This defeat is not the fault of the battle," André slamd the table heavily, "The Duke of Wing Nest, in his madness, dared to dig up the Innocent Dam, abandoning his people, the Holy Father and Saint Master will surely punish him."
The previously noisy hall quieted down.
The eyes of the officers and knights conveyed both contempt and disdain, but they nevertheless had to heed this Falan's opinion.
After the great flood at Salt Marsh, André was the slyest, fleeing the fastest, preserving his strength most completely.
Later, he established this camp and aggressively absorbed rcenaries under the pretext of maintaining the organization.
Currently, André, with a force of more than 4,000 soldiers, has suppressed these Knight Counts.
André cleared his throat: "Gentlen, based on the current situation.
Due to the flooding and the Autocratic Duke's repeated counterattacks, the Shattered Stone Plain's side won't pursue further.
The lords of the Southern River Valley and villages will at least give the Duke of Wing Nest and others a hard ti."
Despite their disdain for André's character, they didn't distrust his ability.
Hearing André say this, the many Knight Counts breathed a sigh of relief.
Since the previous collapse of the Innocent Dam, their baggage and supplies were swept away by the flood, and the muddy grassland was difficult for carts and horses to traverse.
All the way through, these knight nobility suffered, finally able to rest for a night.
A Mountain Count stood up: "Lord André, let speak frankly, no matter how you phrase it, we lost the battle.
We can admit to losing; we owe up to the gamble, but what about the aftermath? There must be so resolution, right?"
Everyone understood the Mountain Count's aning.
The battle turned out like this, concealing defeat as victory is aningless.
The biggest responsibility had already been partially shifted to the Duke of Wing Nest; now the main issue was how to clean up the ss.
"I'll just be straightforward." André surveyed the room, "Our primary duties now are twofold, firstly to guard the border, don't fight on it, I'll handle it."
Who's fighting you for that?
Instead, everyone was relieved, continue staying in Shattered Stone Plain, facing floods and Broken Stone Primordial People?
Forget it, better to return to Hotam County sooner.
"Does anyone have an objection?"
Of course, everyone shook their heads; they were already a ragtag group of defeat survivors, only André maintained the organization, who else but him?
"Alright, the second is the matter of war debts." André chuckled, "Consider my reminder, we don't look all that great on war bonds."
"Na your number."
André held up three fingers.
"30,000 gold pounds?" a knight asked tentatively.
"3,000 gold pounds, after accounting for losses and miscellaneous expenses, at most we can only squeeze out 3,000 gold pounds to pay off the bonds."
"That's less than a tenth, are you sure about this?"
André rolled his eyes: "Dozens of old scribes and accountants compiled the books, you can audit them anyti.
Our spoils either subrged in water or abandoned by the roadside, as of now, even emptying our reserves can't cover the bonds."
The Mountain Faction nobles fell silent, exchanging glances, a thought rose in each of their minds.
Unable to resolve the debt, they could only deal with the creditor.
"I know you can't pay, neither can I." André deliberately raised his voice to draw everyone's attention, "But I have an idea."
"What is it?"
"That gentleman from the ry Court Barracks has a Falan connection." André lowered his tone, "He's willing to lend us a hand, as long as negotiations are completed, he'll co to et us in Shangruifo County right away, what do you say?"
The gentleman from ry Court Barracks…
The nobles felt their scalps go numb, their teeth on edge.
Whether they were Mountain Faction or Plain Faction nobles, they suffered under Horn.
Under his rule, the core area, Langsande County, was said to be a land without lords.
Later, whether the Holy Path faction flourished or the Holy Alliance was established with Black Snake Bay, the nobles resisted strongly.
But on the other hand, the ry Court Barracks cloth trade, Black Snake Bay spice and sugar trade, North County at sales, and other asures made the market prosper.
Product variety and transportation range significantly increased, the nobles' status declined, yet their standard of living slightly improved.
This benefit wouldn't drive them to fully support the Saint's Grandson, not quite.
This detrint wouldn't impel them to rise up for civil war, nor was it serious enough yet.
Every one of their asures was just right, and the Autocratic Duke cooperated seamlessly.
Every step the Saint's Grandson took seed to tread on the nobles' sensitive spots, making them simultaneously gratified and anguished.
But when all is said and done, the Mountain Faction nobles fear yet love Moliat, whereas they fear and fear Horn.
"Can't we skip the eting? We could dig into our reserves and negotiate with Lady Catherine, maybe…"
"Lady Catherine is a neutral banker, and as a senior partner in the igedi Comrce Association, she needs to profit too." André shook his head, "Notifications have already been sent, you don't want to see the Great Shepherd angry either."
The nobles looked at each other.
After this battle, their previously slight military advantage equaled that of the ry Court Barracks' side.
Moliat, who could initially counter Horn, was heavily injured and remained clear-minded for only a few hours a day.
Currently, no one could shoulder the responsibility of uniting the nobles' will and safeguarding the sleeping leader.
"When will His Highness the Great Shepherd arrive?"
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