allonlinenovel Chapter 439 Northern Alliance, assemble!
Chapter 439 Northern Alliance, assemble!
Lead-gray clouds hung low overhead, and goose-feather-like snow poured down from the sky, shrouding the entire North Port in silver-white chaos.
The salty sea breeze swept across the dock, carrying ice crystals and rolling up snow to dance on the stone road. Twelve ships flying the flags of Is, Barden, and Grant were slowly berthing, with rough cables stretched straight on the masts, and the sailors on the deck wrapped in thick wool scarves were pushing bundles of armor and gunpowder barrels down the gangway.
"Wow--"
A team of heavy infantry from the Principality of Is stepped onto the dock, treading on the creaking snow, their nailed iron boots tapping out a crisp rhythm on the stone slabs. The young soldier walking in the front suddenly stopped, his nose red from the cold, and the white mist he exhaled was instantly blown away by the cold wind.
"What a damn weather!"
He wiped the ice from his eyebrows.
"Before I set out, I heard from an old sailor that the climate here is mild. Why is it as cold as the Principality of Is?"
"Stop complaining. We're here to fight, not to go on vacation."
A soldier nearby responded while wrapping his cloak tightly around himself. There were still some traces of sea water on his cloak, which seemed a little blurred in the snow and wind.
"But I suggest that we postpone the fight until next spring. This winter is much colder than previous years. Look at the snow, it seems like it never stops. There are no winters this cold in Ys."
There was a sudden burst of complaints on the docks. Merchants were busy baking frozen cargo boxes with rosin torches, and there was a clanging sound from the blacksmith shop, and white smoke rose from the horseshoes being quenched in cold water.
Suddenly, a commotion came from the west side of the port. Twenty war horses covered with white felt blankets came stepping on the ice. The knights on horseback were all wearing white armor. The gold-plated Balden royal emblem in the center of the breastplate flickered in the snow.
"Wow, the Isu people. I've only seen them on the sea before."
In a tavern not far away, several merchants from the Kingdom of Balden were looking through the foggy windows at the groups of Isu soldiers passing by, chatting as they watched.
As the freezing season was approaching and the amount of floating ice on the sea was gradually increasing, several businessmen decided to stay here until next year.
"Yes, not only the Yisu people."
A businessman said as he stirred the steaming wine in front of him.
"Our King has also sent a lot of troops. Look at the port, there are busy soldiers everywhere, from various countries."
"And the gang from South Grant Islands."
Another businessman continued, raising his eyebrows with a hint of curiosity.
"I tell you, I've never seen anyone paint on their face."
"That's a totem tattoo."
A slightly older businessman said, recalling the rumors he had heard.
"I don't know what their specific functions are, but those people look very fierce. I guess they have some special abilities when fighting."
A businessman looked at his smiling boss busying around and said:
"Look here, although it is a wartime state, the lives of ordinary people do not seem to be affected. Look, there are still people coming and going in this tavern, there is no shortage of food and drinks, and the people do not look panicked."
"Well, this shows that the higher-ups haven't yet reached the point of forcibly conscripting men and supplies."
A businessman added after drinking a glass of rye.
"The fact that the people can still live in peace and stability shows that the war on the front line is still under control."
“Plus so much state aid.”
A businessman stretched out his hand and pointed in the air, as if counting.
"I think the Yoda Empire will lose this time. With so many countries united, the Yoda Empire cannot easily contend with them in terms of both manpower and supplies."
"Haha, you're right."
The merchants around nodded in agreement, and the tavern was suddenly filled with relaxed laughter.
"Hey, look."
A businessman suddenly put down his glass and asked everyone to look outside. Everyone looked at the white scene outside the window, and saw a ship that was much larger than other merchant ships slowly entering the port.
The ship was like a giant beast on the sea, its tall hull seemed to be able to break through the snow. Many soldiers wearing brass armor on the deck were disembarking from the port one after another. The armor shone with a cold metallic luster under the light of the snow, and every soldier had a serious and resolute expression.
The general in the lead was extremely tall, more than two meters tall, and standing there he looked like a small mountain.
In his left hand, he held a huge warhammer. The handle of the warhammer looked to be half a person's length. The hammer head was huge and glowed coldly, as if it could smash everything with a light swing. In his right hand, he held a huge shield with exquisite patterns engraved on it. Although part of the picture was covered by snow, it could still be seen that it was a dragon with its wings spread.
He was wearing a scarlet cloak, which rustled in the wind and snow like a burning flame.
An official from Beigang had already been standing on one side of the port. Upon seeing this, he immediately came forward, bowed in greeting, and then asked respectfully:
"Excuse me, your Excellency?"
The tall general simply replied:
"The leader of the Fire Dragon Knights of the Grand Duchy of Grant, Gurenberudo, is leading the Fire Dragon Knights to provide support under the order of Grand Duke Edward."
Dougal, who was far away in Franche-Comté, had a solemn expression on his face. After reading the intelligence sent by the spy, he stared at the letter as if he wanted to burn the words on it. It was about the details of the enemy army, so detailed that it was chilling.
The troops supported by many countries were well-equipped and experienced veterans. This meant that he was no longer facing only the desperate, isolated and besieged Midlanders. If he could not conquer the Earl's Castle, he would inevitably face the siege of the multinational coalition forces next year. At that time, the endless war would spread to the entire Yoda Empire, and the consequences would be unimaginable.
A flash of determination flashed across his eyes, and he threw the letter into the brazier without hesitation. The flames instantly devoured the paper, making a "crackling" sound, just like the fighting spirit burning in his heart. Then, he turned around and loudly issued orders to the soldiers behind him:
"Pass on my military order, have the sea beasts attack the Knights! The Purple Rhino Knights are ready to arm themselves, once the snow stops, we will launch a siege."
He knew very well that he had to take this place even if he had to ask the south or the emperor for more troops.
After hearing this, Bosco replied firmly:
"Yes, Marshal. We will do our best."
The Yoda military camp suddenly became busy, and the soldiers began to carry out the largest-scale mobilization. The coordination between the various legions was orderly, the food and grass transport teams were busy shuttling back and forth, and the weapons and equipment were also checked and distributed one by one.
Inside the Earl's Castle, the atmosphere was extremely tense. Tens of thousands of soldiers held their breath on the city walls and in the square, waiting for the final order. The snow was still falling, and the cold wind blew, and the flags fluttered in the air.
The grief of the invasion of their territory and the hatred for the enemy filled their bodies, and ideologically, no one wanted to wipe out these enemies more than they did.
Hawke stood on the high platform, his voice resounding like a bell throughout the castle hall.
"Brothers! Soldiers!"
His voice echoed with the sound of wind and snow outside the door:
"We have fought countless battles in the past few months. Now I can tell you that this war is about to come to an end. The reinforcements from Barden, Isu, and Grant have arrived at North Port. The invaders from the Yoda Empire are about to meet their end!"
"In the past few months, they have attempted to use the power of the entire country to raze our Earl's Castle to the ground, but they are wrong! They don't know that in the Earl's Castle, here, there are warriors who will never surrender! You are the bravest warriors, and your names will become the enemy's eternal nightmare."
"When the snow stops, it will be our time for revenge! That's when we will show our strength! We will fill this battlefield with roars and blood, and we will let the enemy know that the army under Earl John is invincible!"