"Because those bastard dwarves don't want to waste any more soldiers, so they plan to starve us to death like this." Yin Erkand said bitterly.
"Maybe they also want to see us fighting among ourselves over food and water, and appreciate our ugly appearance of killing each other," Judith also said.
"Maybe." Cullen said, "What you said all makes sense, but it's not the reason why those dwarves have kept us alive until now. The reason why they haven't done anything yet is to use us as bait."
"Bait?"
"That's right, we have lost contact with the outside for so long. Hells and the others will definitely recruit more people and go into the mountains to rescue us. Those dwarves have a big appetite. They not only want to trap us to death, but also want to rescue the supporting army.
Eat.
"When they cross the Dragon Ridge Mountains and enter the Western Territory, no one can stop them."
Yin Erkander and Judith looked at each other and saw a look of fear in each other's eyes.
They originally thought that those greedy guys would at most take advantage of the new emperor's ascendance and the turmoil in the empire to gather some wool and take advantage and leave.
I didn't expect those dwarves to be so courageous and actually dare to think of annexing the Western Territory.
So now this battle and the battles that will follow are a matter of life and death, and surrender naturally becomes impossible.
After all, it doesn't matter if they die, but if they lose their family's land, they will be eternal sinners.
As nobles, they have been taught since childhood to put the interests of the family first. Even Judith, who had the strongest desire to seek peace, kept his mouth shut at this time.
Yin Erkander said directly, "What do you want us to do?"
"How many more people do you have on hand?" Cullen asked.
"I still have about 700 people," Judith said, "but there should be less than 500 people who can barely fight, and if it drags on any longer, the number of people will become even fewer."
"I still have a thousand men," Yin Erkander said, "and I also keep twelve war horses."
"Why do you have so many people left?" Yudit was shocked.
And Yin Erkand's answer is also very simple.
"Because I have money."
After a pause, he added, "Although I didn't bring much money with me on this expedition, the name Yin Manuel itself is a guarantee, and the family also asked the blacksmith to cover the left arm armor of the elite warriors with a thin layer of
gold."
"In the first two days of the siege, I asked my guards to scrape off the gold in exchange for food."
"You treacherous little bastard, why did so many of my people starve to death? You still have extra food to feed the horses!"
The head of the Malir family was furious again.
Yin Erkander also refused to give in, glaring at Judit and sneered.
"What do you know, this old guy who only knows how to surrender? Those horses are more important than people. Without horses in this mountain range, you have no chance of escaping from those savages."
"Okay, stop arguing." Cullen said, "I need one of you to leave this valley, report to the people outside the mountain, especially the people who came to rescue us, tell them what happened here, and persuade them to immediately
return."
"How to do it? You just said that the target of those dwarves is the entire Western Territory. How many people did they send out this time, 20,000 or 30,000 troops?
"And after putting so much effort into setting up this trap, isn't it just to prevent any of us from leaving?" Yin Erkander said solemnly.
"If they really want to conquer the Western Territory, they will definitely need the help of the local people." Cullen replied.
"The establishment and maintenance of a new order has never been easy. My family has ruled this land for nearly a thousand years. If you want to eliminate the marks we left, you can't do it with just armor and weapons.
of."
"You mean you want us to pretend to surrender to the enemy? And then find a chance to escape." Yudit was somewhat moved.
"Those dwarves are not fools, they would not have thought of this possibility." Yin Erkander was not optimistic about Marquis Cullen's plan and said bluntly.
"Even if they really want to find help, they can kill us and then go out and pick again slowly. There is no need to take such a risk."
"You are right, so you must make those dwarves believe that you are sincerely willing to join them." Cullen nodded and said calmly.
So this goes back to Yin Erkander's original question - how to do it.
Neither Yin Erkander nor Yudit could find the answer. They both looked at me and I looked at you, but they were both at a loss.
And Cullen didn't lie any more, "Kill me. I need one of you to kill me, take my head, and go to those dwarves."
"And the other one wants to avenge me and lead people to fight the person who killed me. He is really desperate. In the end, the murderer can only take away less than a hundred of his men, and the rest will all die here. Well, if
It's best to get hurt a little more if possible, so that those dwarves will believe you."
Yin Erkander and Judith were completely stunned when they heard this.
The head of the Marier family was even frightened and trembled, "What are you talking about?"
"I said kill me." Cullen said calmly, "You heard me right. Those dwarves couldn't let me live anyway. It's just a few days early death, so it's not a big deal."
"But, but..." Judit could hear his teeth chattering.
He has lived for more than one hundred and sixty years, and has never been so scared as he is today.
But Cullen just looked into his eyes and said, "Choose one, Judit, live or die here with me."
Judith opened his mouth, but not a word came out.
Yin Erkander on the side couldn't stand the look of his pustule, so he took the initiative and said, "Then let me do it, I will live on."
"Have you really thought it through?" It was clear that he had been assigned the responsibility of dying, but Judith seemed to be relieved and could finally speak again.
His voice was a little hoarse, "This is regicide. No matter what the reason, as long as you take action, you will always bear this crime, and those dwarves will definitely spread this matter throughout the entire Bratis continent.
"No, it's not just you...your descendants will be cast aside by the world. Without any honor, that will be more terrible than death."
"I know, but someone has to do this, right?" Although Yin Erkander said it easily, his slightly trembling voice still betrayed him, "Who knew that this was the only way to protect the Western Territory.
"
"That's right." Cullen said with a serious look, "That is our land, we must protect it at all costs. Guarding it is our duty, and we cannot evade it."
The Lord of the West seemed to have returned to that afternoon long ago. Facing the menacing group of bandits on the opposite side, he once again drew the sword from his waist.
This chapter has been completed!