Warhammer Divine Throne-Chapter 689 - 307, Decisive Battle Military Council (Second Update!)

Bodlukes, in the meeting room, Count Glamorgan Laine, Marquis Ascot Connelly, Duke of Winford Francois, Duke Boldro Bodric, and others are discussing plans for reinforcements. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"There's a storm raging at sea right now, the fleet cannot set sail." Duke Bodric shook his head at Laine and Francois: "The storm is too fierce, and Manannan's will cannot be defied. If the fleet forcibly sets sail, it will face destruction."

"Then we cannot support Leonais via the sea route." Laine said helplessly to Francois: "If... I'm saying if, Leonais really needs reinforcements, then we can only take the land route."

"Has Dalheid requested aid from us?" Bodric suddenly asked Laine and Francois.

"...No." Both Laine and Francois shook their heads.

"No request for aid, no letter. If we rashly lead troops to support Dalheid, it's good if we win, at most it counts as illegal entry. But if we lose... Hey, Laine, Francois, do you believe that Dalheid would shift the blame for defeat onto us?" Bodric suddenly laughed in a mocking tone. In fact, there is a lot of discord between Duke Boldro and Duke of Leonais because both territories have long coastlines. Bodlukes is a major trading port, and naturally, there is much competition between them.

Thus, Duke Bodric isn't too keen on supporting the Leonais Duchy. Out of knightly duty, he wouldn't disregard righteousness and refuse to send support.

He would support with a troop and funds, meaning these people would be commanded by Laine, and the rest wouldn't concern him. In the Empire, the Prince-Electors wouldn't care about knightly duty, and if relations were bad, they simply wouldn't support each other.

Bodric has a point, because if Leonais Castle cannot be defended, no one knows whether the Barbarians will attack Kulona via the eastern road or continue south to strike Musillon and Boldro? He must prepare adequately.

"I share the same opinion, Laine, go back, gather the army, and wait for the Lady's oracle or Duke of Dalheid's request for aid." Francois said to Laine: "I will send Jerald and Connelly to lead a troop to protect Kulona and also transport some provisions over."

"Understood." Laine nodded, his territory is already preparing for war.

......

Leonais, north, Barimonte Castle.

This castle was once used to guard nearby deserted hills and mountains, with several knights and hundreds of militiamen stationed. Since it is neither coastal nor close to forests, there are no frequent battles, and the army is not at full strength. Most knights, upon hearing Duke of Paragon Casvan preparing for war, hurriedly went to join Casvan's ranks, leaving weak defenses.

Approximately several hundred peasant insurgents seized this opportunity to arrive here. They were hinted by an unknown person and, after receiving guidance, pretended to be distressed peasants, saying their village was plundered, asking the master knight for support.

The master knight readily agreed to support. As he opened the castle gate, the unsuspecting knight was killed by insurgents using manure forks and grass forks, hoes. Peasants then occupied this castle, electing a leader named Nero as everyone's head.

This leading peasant raised a banner, declaring himself the Castle Lord of Barimonte. He proposed slogans that delighted the peasants: "Equally divide the land, to the sower, food everyone shares, clothes everyone wears, all eat and keep warm, establishing a truly egalitarian, independent kingdom without exploitation by master knights."

Thus, revolting peasants gathered towards Barimonte Castle, swearing allegiance to Nero.

However, good days didn't last long, these peasants soon found things amiss.

Firstly, Nero, who declared himself Castle Lord, did not engage in production, nor did those peasants who initially revolted with him. They opened the castle's granary, ate, drank, played all day, lived in the castle's best rooms, drank the master knight's vintage wine, slept on his beds, toyed with his wives and daughters, leaving leftovers strewn while many peasants outside remained hungry.

Grain in the granary was soon squandered by Nero and his compatriots, leaving Castle Lord and his buddies with empty bellies. So Nero immediately ordered that all peasants' rations be fully "turned in" and become part of the "national treasury," all extra money and grain to belong to the "national treasury."

These grains and money turned into the "national treasury" were casually used and spent by Nero and others. Any peasants who proposed opinions faced their ruthless retaliation, either executed or assassinated. Nero even set up numerous stakes outside the castle specifically for executing peasants opposing him.

Many peasants then realized that while master knights often acted with rules, the methods of peasants against their own kind were far crueller, and the actions were even more ruthless than master knights.

Meanwhile, northern Barbarians invaded, and Nero, seeing the bad situation, fled with his confidants, taking money and provisions, leaving helpless revolting peasants to the Northern Barbarians.

Peasants lacked equipment, training, and couldn't possibly confront the Barbarian Army, so some fled, some ran, while remaining peasants, hoping for luck, attempted gathering some provisions, knelt by the roadside, begged piteously.

The response they received from the Northern Barbarian's War Axe was: "Die! You despicable Southern man."

The Northern Barbarians don't take prisoners; apart from the rare captives used as feed for the Chaos Hell Cannon, all the Brittania people were massacred, their skulls piled up to form altars.

When Egil's central army reached Barimonte Castle, there were more wooden stakes outside the castle than ever before, each impaled with headless corpses of over a thousand surrendered peasants.

Egil led the Chaos Mage Chakoy, Chaos Champion Cowende, Chaos Champion Yar, Chaos Champion Hardorn, and Chaos Dwarf Lord Zumala as they strode into Barimonte Castle.

"These Southern people may not be as weak as we imagined," Egil said, looking at the map, with a hint of surprise in his tone.

The information Jules received stated that Tuer Castle had already fallen, but in fact, it hadn't.

Holy Grail Knight Eisen led three thousand vanguards to hold Tuer Castle, repelling two waves of Barbarian vanguard attacks, killing the chiefs of three small tribes and several Barbarian Champions, ensuring the residents' evacuation. Upon receiving scout reports of approaching Chaos Mammoth War Elephants and Chaos Hell Cannon, Eisen knew his mission was complete. He ordered a retreat, escorting all residents to escape to Leonais Castle, leaving Egil with an empty city.

In his fury, Egil executed several chiefs of small tribes. He realized that the Southerners were not as weak as he thought, especially as the Holy Grail Knights intrigued him greatly.

"The previous plan is now void. I initially planned to arrive at the gates of Leonais Castle before the Southern army had gathered, but now it seems almost impossible. We've spent too much time at Tuer Castle," Egil said, pointing his finger at Tuer Castle and then at Leonais Castle located several dozen kilometers south: "Now, the Southern people must have gathered a large army."

"Indeed, that's what the scouts reported," Chaos Champion Cowende nodded, wearing a Double-Horned Dragon Helmet and black plate armor, with blood-red patterns that were fiercely intimidating, his face filled with rage: "I wish to kill all the despicable Southern men!"

"It's not that easy, father." Chaos Mage Chakoy remained calm: "The Brittania Knights are claimed to be the strongest in the Old World, and we must be cautious when dealing with them, or we could suffer heavy losses. Our cavalry numbers are few."

"Hmm." Egil nodded; in the Northern Wasteland, warhorses were extremely rare. Their horses are generally known as Norsca Warhorses, which are scavengers, cold-resistant, with weak stamina and weak burst power. Among the Barbarian army of thirty thousand, there are only five hundred cavalry, and most of them are light cavalry.

Egil, after Chakoy's detailed explanation, understood that Brittania's knights emphasized reputation, and although the knights at Leonais were not well-acquainted with his army, the intense hatred would inevitably lead to a direct confrontation. Duke Dalheid couldn't possibly stay shut in the castle, watching the Barbarian army rampaging through his duchy like that. He was also eager to eliminate the Barbarian army or at least drive them out of his country.

Thus, a field battle is imperative.

This Champion of Khorne, renowned for centuries in the North, immediately started devising bloody thoughts. He suddenly realized that the aim of luring the Brittania knight army out of the castle for a decisive battle was ready.

"Deploy on the Nanzi Plain, get all army units ready!" Egil concluded his thoughts and began giving orders: "We will have our decisive battle with the Brittania knight army here!"

Nanzi Plain lies eighty kilometers north of Leonais Castle, twenty kilometers south of Barimonte Castle. It's a narrow plain scattered with hills, where rocks and forests can effectively thwart the heavy cavalry.

"Yes!" Several Chaos Champions received the orders and left the chamber. Egil surged with a blood-red aura as he turned his gaze to the corner of the tent.

There sat a woman named Hengest, once known as Elizabeth. Though only two weeks had passed, her belly was already round and swollen, nurturing life within. Under Khorne's blessing, the small life inside was growing at an extraordinary pace. Through countless sacrifices on the journey, Egil not only revered Blood God Khorne but also satisfied Khorne with numerous Southern people's skulls. The other three deities also received considerable respect from him, allowing this small life to grow under the watchful eyes of the four gods.

That was Egil's coveted son.

Hengest's complexion was pale; she noticed Egil watching her, eyes avoiding meeting the gaze of Khorne's mighty Divine Chosen Champion.

Egil snorted coldly and marched out of the tent.

When the child is born, you will be useless.

Wait for me, my son, wait; the father shall welcome your birth with the greatest victory, with the grandest sacrifice. You will become the successor of my great kingdom; you will grow under Khorne's favor and be the most honored Child of Chaos in history.

Watch, my son!