Chapter Ninety-Seven: Mobilizing the Troops

Time passed slowly. In the third year since the founding of the Duchy of Adixu, as the seasons turned, both sides gradually lost patience, and the uneasy balance that had been barely upheld was finally broken.

On Adixu’s side, after so long a period of recovery, the many tribes of the northern lands had been thoroughly absorbed. One policy after another had been fully put into effect, and the realm at last had room to maneuver. As for the Duchy of Indeli, the remaining resistance in the south had been completely crushed. Most of the surviving remnants had either been brutally suppressed or driven into exile. Under such harsh rule, the whole south fell silent for a time, bowing beneath its authority, and Indeli likewise regained the power to strike outward once more.

Moreover, in the center, the royal court had openly sent troops to attack the south, and for a time the flames of war raged across the region.

With this news spreading, both sides grew increasingly urgent, each driven by a sense of crisis and each eager to unify the north before the struggle in the south was decided.

After all, the south was the true heart of this world. Its strength far surpassed that of the vast and sparsely populated north. In particular, the royal court, as the sole legitimate authority for countless generations, was not to be underestimated. Once it freed its hands, it would be a calamity for every nearby power that dreamed of carving out its own domain.

Under such circumstances, at the beginning of the year the two sides finally came to blows. Great armies began to gather, then spread outward like a tide, drawing the surrounding powers into the conflict.

If nothing unexpected happened, then once the contest between the two was finally decided, there would no longer be any force in the northern lands capable of matching it. The century of chaos in the north would be brought to an end by its unification, and an unprecedented kingdom would be born.

Yet the curtain to that war was lifted from the south. Relying on the many small city-states along the front, King Barrit of Indeli dispatched fifty thousand troops. Together with the forces sent by the surrounding vassal city-states and the armies raised by the lords under his command, the host numbered nearly one hundred thousand and surged northward in a mighty advance.

Under that fierce assault, several fortresses fell in quick succession, one forward stronghold after another was torn down, and the Duchy of Adixu was thrown into turmoil.

...

At that moment, outside the royal palace in Adixu City in the north, knights moved to and fro in haste, their faces tight with anxiety as they looked ahead.

"Your Majesty, the front has fallen. Gordon Fortress has been taken by the enemy, and the entire garrison perished!"

"Your Majesty, Holt City has fallen. All eight nearby castles have been captured as well. The enemy is already almost at Cecil City!"

"Your Majesty, the governor of Cecil City has sent word: King Barrit of the Duchy of Indeli is approaching with fifty thousand men. They are already nearly under Cecil City’s walls, and General Nadir, who commands the local defense, is requesting reinforcements!"

...

One report after another came in, and most of them were grim indeed.

Listening to these reports, Barton and the others beside Adixu could not help but pale, their faces showing clear alarm.

"I know," Adixu said with a slight nod.

His expression remained calm. Though bad news followed bad news, he stayed composed, never losing his poise.

That attitude steadied the hearts of those around him. With a pillar to rely on, they no longer panicked as before.

"Your Majesty, we should send aid at once! We have already lost more than half of our southern holdings. Cecil City must not be allowed to fall as well!" Carter stepped forward, his face stern, and spoke to Adixu.

Adixu nodded. "How are our forces prepared?"

"At present, our original troops have been assembled. There are twenty thousand men gathered in Adixu City, with some still on the way."

He paused, then continued, "But... apart from this direction, troops also seem to be gathering in the other two. If we send every available garrison south, I fear the other regions will be broken through."

"In other words, the only forces we can move now are the twenty thousand in Adixu City?"

Adixu looked at him, his expression unchanged.

"Even that may be too much to say. As the enemy advances north, some of the lords who had already surrendered have begun to waver again. It seems they intend to seize the opportunity to throw in with the south. So at least five thousand men, a full legion, must remain in Adixu City to keep watch and prevent unrest."

"Which means the troops we can truly use amount to only three legions, roughly fifteen thousand men, plus General Nadir’s forces at the front. Altogether, that makes about twenty thousand."

Carter’s expression was grim as he looked at the people around him, all of them furrowing their brows, and spoke slowly.

"Twenty thousand against fifty thousand?" Adixu murmured, frowning.

In this situation, even with the advantage of defense and the city walls to rely on, such a disparity in numbers was still far too severe.

"Send the order at once. Have Nadir recruit soldiers locally and bring the existing formations up to strength, with the governor of Cecil City assisting him!"

He turned and looked at Bazel and the others standing by his side. "Bazel, I leave your legion here to guard Adixu City. At the same time, take my orders and recruit locally to form a new city garrison regiment. They do not need to be especially powerful in battle; it is enough that they can help defend the city."

"Barton will assist with the recruitment."

"Carter, Kerkus, how is your legion’s training progressing?"

With that, Adixu turned to Carter’s side and asked.

At his question, Carter and Kerkus exchanged a glance. Then Kerkus stepped forward and reported.

"After sufficient training time, and with a steady stream of officers selected and trained to support us, the various legions have basically taken shape."

"As for the rank and file, we can set them aside for the moment. In general, those above the ten-man squad leader level, though most have still not awakened battle aura, have already reached a critical threshold. In former times they would have been enough to serve as knightly squires, and there are also no few true knights who have awakened battle aura. In terms of strength, they are by no means inferior to the royal guards of the city-states."

Listening to Kerkus’s report, Adixu thought for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Enough."

"Immediately go and rally the soldiers. We will head to Cecil City and join Nadir and the others."

"Yes!"

With the order given, a few days later a neatly ordered column marched out from the north toward the south, raising clouds of dust behind it.

With this, the entire Duchy of Adixu began to move at full speed. One legion after another was mobilized and gradually gathered on the front lines.

Yet as the main force marched south, the once-stable territories began to grow hollow, and a trace of unrest slowly started to spread.