Warhammer Divine Throne-Chapter 614 - 269, Winter Offensive (Part 1)_2

"Yes, yes, I understand." Hugo also knew how merciful Count Laine was for pardoning these bandits. All the surrendered bandits swore to serve the Count with their lives.

In the morning, a sharp pounding sound echoed from the watchtower within the town, as a soldier used an iron hammer to strike the tower's bell.

"Deng~Deng~Dong~"

"All troops assemble!" The knights shouted loudly.

Outside the town, an army of fifteen hundred was rapidly gathering. Several hundred spearmen had all equipped their shields, the crossbowmen were ready to go, and the swordsmen were raring to fight. Bright armor, raised military flags, the infantry were all prepared, eager for war, longing for loot, and hoping to be promoted to sergeant.

Veronica appeared with over a dozen witch apprentices at a corner of the grand army. For these witch apprentices, the war was also a rare opportunity for practical experience. Veronica knew well that for most witch apprentices, battle was the fastest way to be promoted.

More than thirty knights would also go on this expedition. Riding fierce warhorses and wearing splendid knight armor covered with beautiful surcoats, their shields hung on the rear legs of their horses, longswords at their waists, lances in their hands, in stark contrast to the unevenly dressed, rustic-smelling infantry. The knights gleamed in their finery, the proud Ranger Knights lifted their heads disdainfully towards these country bumpkins.

Until several Kingdom Knights appeared, Holy Grail Knight Armand, leading several Kingdom Knights and dozens of Knight's Squires, rode Half-Elf Warhorses, holding high the family crest banner of the Count. The Kingdom Knights were all clad in plate armor. Armand's face was solemn: "Is everyone here?"

"Everyone is here, except the elves." Kingdom Knight Hex, in fine dwarf masterwork plate armor, with vibrant eyes and sword-like brows, but a serious expression. His shield bore his family crest, a silver-gray shield emblem crossed with a horn and a longsword underneath a black feathered helmet.

The Kingdom Knights turned their gaze to a group of dwarves within the army. Most of the dwarves' armors were somewhat old and broken, and many dwarves' beards were not so clean and tidy, yet they exuded a strong sense of blood and battle. The leading dwarf wore a rounded helmet with two big horns and held a war axe as tall as a person.

"Come on, come on, war, I can bet that the brave dwarves will be the champions~" Sven Novigrin shouted, leading more than fifty dwarves. This dwarf chieftain settled his clan here with Laine's permission and couldn't wait to take on Beastmen and Greenskins.

"The elves are here too." Laine's future brother-in-law, Julius, rode in, helmetless, reins in one hand, said to Armand: "Lord Armand, look, over there."

Over a hundred Woodland Guards and twenty or thirty Eternal Guards appeared under the leadership of the Wood Elf Lord Ogres. Even in winter, this Forest Lord simply wore a fur cloak, paired with masterwork scale armor and a longsword made by Delong-Feinson. A recurve bow was strapped to his back, and he rode a stag, appearing at the edge of everyone's sight.

Julius noticed that most of the Wood Elf army seemed very young, like children. The legitimate son of the Duke of Winford said discontentedly: "What do the elves take this war for? A child's play?"

"The elves use this war to train new recruits." Armand shook his head, the Count's Standard Bearer showed no special expression: "The Wood Elves want war training but fear losing these recruits, so they offered to participate in our winter war. This way, these recruits can get training while avoiding losses."

"Hmph~ The Wood Elves have quite the plan." Julius snorted coldly.

"But we also need the Wood Elves. With them, no Beastmen can play hide and seek with us." Armand remained calm: "We simply need each other."

"Alright." Julius had nothing more to say. Laine had emphasized to him to follow Armand's commands. Although the Duke's legitimate son was a Marquis, Armand was a Holy Grail Knight: "Lord Armand, are you commanding this war?"

Who knew Armand would shake his head: "I am just the Standard Bearer and Deputy General; the main commander is someone else."

Ogres led the Wood Elf army closer. The Forest Lord was burly, with green patterns covering his face and arms, full of wildness. Noticing dwarves in the army, he spoke in broken human language: "Previously agreed... no... dwarves."

"We never said this war wouldn't involve dwarves, Lord Ogres. It was the Wood Elves who promised the Count to obey orders." Armand frowned and said.

"...Fine, let it be." Ogres frowned. Wood Elves were not like High Elves; they didn't have deep hatred for dwarves, just mutual disdain.

"Alright, we're going to fight alongside the Sharp Ears. Let's hope they don't run in front of us during the war; if so, blowing their brains out would be unavoidable." Dwarf Engineer Dugen the Ironman, carrying a jug of malt beer and two dwarf muskets on his back, mocked.

"Hahahahaha~ Let the Sharp Ears see the prowess of us dwarves." The dwarves laughed heartily: "Sharp Ears are just a bunch of kids."

"The children can stay behind and shoot arrows."

Though the Wood Elves didn't understand what the dwarves were saying, they instinctively knew it wasn't anything good. Over ninety percent of the Wood Elf army here today were new recruits, who beside their immaturity also displayed impulsiveness. Many Wood Elf recruits glared angrily at the dwarves, who continued their taunts.

The human infantry were caught between the two, these Peasant Infantry could only keep their heads down and endure. Faced with the dwarves and elves, they naturally felt a sense of inferiority.

At this moment, a wild roar pierced the gloomy winter sky; a huge Horned Eagle Beast circled and glided in the sky, roaring loudly at the rider's command, disturbing the entire town. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The army outside the town quieted down, and everyone's eyes were on the Horned Eagle Beast in the sky.

The Horned Eagle Beast exuded a strong sense of intimidation, even making dwarves and elves uneasy. Finally, after sweeping low, the ornately armored Horned Eagle Beast descended before everyone, spreading its wings boastfully: "Roar Roar Roar!"

A bald-headed man clad in a white bear skin cloak and Dwarf Secret Silver Plate Armor jumped off the Horned Eagle Beast: "Are you ready, my soldiers?"

"Yes! Lord Angerong, we are ready!" The knights and soldiers loudly responded to the newcomer's query.

"Alright! Let's move out!"

"All troops march!"

......

Laine stood inside the castle, watching the slowly departing army through the window, silent and unspeaking, his eyes filled with some anticipation but also some tension.

He somewhat understood why the Prince-Electors of the Empire, the Dukes of Brittania liked to personally lead troops in important battles, because entrusting one's army to someone else brought a sense of unease.

However, knowing that Angerong was in command eased Laine's mind considerably.

"You have to get used to this, Laine. You are already a Count; there's no need for you to manage everything by yourself. You need to learn to let go of certain things, keeping a certain degree of mystique and mobility is quite necessary, especially since you are the Lady's champion." Mogiana's voice came from behind Laine. The beautiful Lake God Witch wore a sea-sand white gentle high-collar long dress, seated in a soft-backed chair. Opposite her sat Teresa. At Laine's request, Mogiana was teaching the female sorcerer advanced sensing methods of the Magic Wind.

Only Laine could have such face; if it were any other Duke, the Lake God Witch would likely say just one thing: "Get out."

"My scouts report to me, there is a batch of vibranium in the Green Skin Fortress deep in Charon Forest. The purpose of this war is both training and acquiring that batch of vibranium." Laine nodded.

"Alright, let's continue, Teresa."

"Mm!"