The Lord Of Blood Hill

Chapter 593: Trust Your Subordinates!

Henwell naturally knows the risk Chick is talking about.This is also the main reason Peace Haven's expedition this time could only occupy a little more than twenty thousand square kilometers of land.

If they take any more, their supply line will become too long.

The new territory does not yet have a complete defensive system, so their route of retreat could easily be cut off.

The current territory is already the limit of Peace Haven's expansion this time.

Even if Lumir does not unite with Ika to cut off his rear, it only has to send a few small detachments to cause trouble inside the new territory, and the spring plowing will be ruined completely.

At that time, public sentiment that has just been pacified in the new territory will immediately become restless.

Peace Haven will also have to take on the food for several hundred thousand more mouths, which is clearly not wise.

Henwell sighs. "I know these risks, but Elia and the others need support."

"If we do not move at all, Diversion Bay will inevitably force Divarak to fight Elia."

"That does not fit our interests, and it will also tear open a huge crack in our future cooperation."

But Chick still opposes sending troops. Henwell convenes a frontline military meeting and has the senior commanders of each legion discuss the matter.

No one takes a position on whether to send troops.

If they do not rescue them, then they are plainly abandoning Elia and Beethoven.

But if they do rescue them, the enormous risk is more than they can bear.

Now, Henwell notices Ayla's expression, and asks directly, "Ayla, if you have something to say, say it directly."

Ayla hesitates for a moment, then rises and says, "My lord, what I am about to say may affect unity, but right now, this concerns hundreds of thousands of lives and whether Peace Haven's strategic deployment can succeed."

"I know Elia. I worked with him before. Originally, he was supposed to become my First Battle Regiment commander."

"I know Beethoven even better. He was an outstanding graduate of that class at the Military Academy."

"Since they have not sent a request for aid now, that proves they have a way to respond."

"They are not reckless men. They are also carrying the lives of hundreds of thousands of people now. If they truly were truly driven into a dead end, I believe they would ask for help."

"My lord, we trust the two of them, and you should also trust that they have the ability to handle this incident!"

It is very risky for Ayla to say these words. As the second-ranking military figure of Peace Haven's local faction, he is now asking Henwell to abandon former companions, and important members of the gladiator faction at that.

This could easily cause a conflict between the two factions.

But just as Ayla says, he is a senior commander and also one of Peace Haven's old guard, someone who has fought beside Henwell since the Path of Honor.

In this matter, he has absolutely no intention of targeting the gladiator faction. Everything is for Peace Haven and for Henwell.

Henwell understands that as well, but if he is asked to ignore the matter entirely, he finds it hard to accept either emotionally or logically.

Chick steps forward now. "I support Ayla's thinking."

Gevana, commander of the Second Legion, also steps forward. "I also support Ayla's opinion."

The support of two veteran members of the gladiator faction clearly shows that they will not blame Ayla for this matter.

After pacing for a while, Henwell says, "Then we will wait a little longer! However, every legion must also prepare for battle."

"Also, Simon!"

"Have the First Cavalry Legion prepare. Be ready to set out with me at any time."

"Once the situation turns bad, the other legions will fight defensively. I will take the First Cavalry Legion and charge straight south, punching straight through Ogiro's defensive line."

"Finally, we will link up with Browning at Saltwater Town. No one will be able to stop us. After the situation improves and we finish resting, we will charge north again and fight our way back!"

The others rise and accept the order. Henwell looks toward the southeast, his eyes full of worry.

Elia has only just gotten married.

Did he really just plant a death flag?

Half a month later, Divarak's troops arrive at the foothold zone.

At this time, the two foothold zones have basically connected, and the occupied area is close to four thousand square kilometers.

Before the battle, Divarak meets Elia and Beethoven in front of the formation.

Divarak sighs. "Run. We have three legions here, and behind us are two royal legions following from a distance."

"They are both supporting us and supervising our battle. This time, I am powerless as well."

"I know you have a fleet. Take your core personnel and leave by ship. Whether you go to Tatan City or Saltwater Town, you can survive."

Elia smiles. "It has not come to that yet. I only have one question. My lord count, what do you need in order to report back and withdraw from this bloody mire?"

Divarak says, "At the very least, I need to take down one of your legions. Otherwise, we cannot give an explanation."

Elia nods. "Good. Then we will give you the the victory results of one legion."

Divarak frowns. "If I need actual battle results to report, some armor and weapons alone will not convince the others."

Elia shakes his head. "Of course it will not be those. Tonight, bring two of your trusted battle regiments and attack the camp, then obtain a great victory."

"Afterward, you can use the excuse of heavy losses to temporarily leave the battlefield."

"But before that, you need to properly clean out the embedded footholds in your legion. Lady Blood Fox has already investigated the list and will give it to you later."

Afterward, Elia and Beethoven leave.

Looking at their backs, Divarak's cousin Pavaro says suspiciously, "Do you think they might want to ambush us?"

Divarak says, "They probably will not. But we still need to prepare. Tonight, I will lead the troops in. You move east first."

"Have the Sixteenth Legion stand behind us."

"If something goes wrong, attack from the flank, and the Sixteenth Legion will receive us as we withdraw!"

Soon, night arrives. Divarak leads two battle regiments and, under the cover of night, quickly advances into Elia and Beethoven's main camp.

Now, the elites of the two men have joined forces in the main camp. There are twelve thousand people, barely enough to count as a full legion under Peace Haven's organization.

When Divarak sees this mixed legion, his heart jumps, and he feels that something may be wrong.

Just as Divarak thinks the other side is about to counterattack him, Elia and Beethoven walk out of the military formation, followed by several dozen soldiers carrying large wooden boxes.

After hesitating for a moment, Divarak still goes forward to meet them.

Before Divarak can ask anything, Elia signals the soldiers to open the boxes.

A stench of blood rushes out. By the light of the lanterns, Divarak sees what is inside.

The boxes are piled high with bloody ears.

Human ears.

Divarak suddenly understands. "You are using the ears of serfs so we can treat them as spoils of war? That is a method too."

Elia scoffs. "Do I look that shameless? These are the ears of my legion's soldiers."

Only then does Divarak notice that the soldiers carrying the boxes behind the two of them all have bandaged ears, and blood is seeping through.

Divarak is somewhat shocked. "You used the ears of your own soldiers?"

Then something even more shocking to Divarak happens.

Elia and Beethoven draw their short blades together and, without changing expression, cut toward their own ears.

"Wait... ah... why did you have to go this far?"

Blood drips down his chin as Elia smiles. "The legion commanders' ears are here too. A complete set."

Three days later, when Henwell receives the news, he flies into a rage. "Damn it! Those bastards!"

"They have gone too far! I have to turn up the pressure on them!"