12. The reinforcements who came alone---Wei and Banchan [9/20]
"Statholme City is in emergency! Your Majesty, the undead gathered from Darrow County and near the Soldow River have blocked the communication between the city and the town, but there are still nearly ten thousand civilians near Darrow County who have not moved, and they are sticking to Stanholm.
Uther, the high knight of Somme, asked us to send an army to rescue them!"
In the meeting hall of the Palace of Lordaeron, all officials from the entire city gathered here. Everyone was assigned wartime tasks, from taking in civilians, to liquidating war supplies, from recruiting militia, to collecting intelligence from various places.
Everyone was busy, and in the center of the hall, the old king with a frosty face sat in his seat. Behind him, the attendants continued to summarize the situation in various places, and then marked them on the map in front of them with various colored signs.
.
The map of the Kingdom of Lordaeron in front of me is simply shocking. Every settlement in the kingdom is surrounded by red signs representing the activities of the undead. In the Tirisfal region and the Stratholme region, the icons of various major cities are almost densely packed.
The little red dots are full, but that’s not the worst.
In the areas of Lake Lordamre and Silverpine Forest, a big red icon is moving towards the discovery of Dalaran. The dazzling color represents that the number of undead in that group is more than 150,000, no matter how poor your imagination is.
Anyone can imagine the horrific scene wherever such an army goes.
The old king has not rested since early yesterday morning. His eyes are full of exhaustion, but he cannot rest because almost every hour, bad news comes.
"Where are the troops from Hearthglen?"
The old king asked, the attendant looked through the records in his hand, and then said in a deep voice:
"Grand Knight Fordring and the knights in his territory are supporting the city of Andorhal. The mages of Quel'Thalas and Dalaran are also in the city. They are in the city not far from Andorhal.
A temporary shelter was established in Coldwind Camp, gathering all the exiled civilians in the entire Western Stratholme area."
"Well, Fording did a good job."
King Terenas rubbed his forehead: "How many troops are there in Stratholme?"
"Not many, Your Majesty, Rivendell... The traitor told the truth before he died. There are many undead spies in that city. The high knight Uther is also busy dealing with hidden dangers in the city. It is said that they are in
That city was poisoned, and there were hundreds of thousands of people in that city, so Uther Knights asked for help, and their troops were probably stretched thin."
There was also a hint of heaviness in the attendant's eyes, and he whispered:
"The Holy Light's Hope Chapel and the Paladins of Tyr's Hand plan to take in the civilians of the entire East District. Some high elf rangers are also under the order of the Sun King to help our towns evacuate, but Darrow County... it
The location is too remote. Whether it’s going to the Cold Wind Camp or Tyr’s Hand, resurrected corpses appear in both directions..."
While the attendant was talking, an intelligence officer suddenly stepped forward and handed him a piece of news. The attendant took one look at it and his expression turned sad.
"Your Majesty, there is...there is some bad news."
"explain!"
The old king gritted his teeth and spit out a word. The attendant took a deep breath and put the information in his hand in front of the king:
"The town of Kaolin was captured by the undead... The entire Kaolin intersection, including Blackwood Lake, fell into the hands of the undead. The road leading to Daron County from Tyr's Hands was completely destroyed..."
"Okay, stop talking."
The king closed his eyes, with a heavy look on his face. Before he became the king, Terenas also commanded the legion and fought against the trolls on the border of Stratholme. He was familiar with the terrain of that area. The town of Cowlin
Located in the center of Stratholme East, the town is often called "Cawlin's Crossing" and is a transit hub to various areas in Stratholme East.
Once it is cut off there, it means that the entire Eastern Stratholme District has been artificially divided into east and west districts, and Darrow County is stuck in the center. If the king remembers correctly, there happens to be another area near Darrow County.
A very large cemetery that has existed for over 200 years...it's really bad!
"Dalon County, if I remember correctly... that nearby should be... Keldalon... Barov."
The old king's thoughts were spinning rapidly. After a moment, he said to the attendant:
"In my name, I request Count Barov to send his private soldiers to move the civilians of Daron County to his castle."
"But Your Majesty, that count is..."
The attendant's expression changed slightly. In the aristocratic circle of the entire Kingdom of Lordaeron, who didn't know that Count Barov had always obeyed the king's orders, if not for the Barov family and all the big families in the entire northern Xinjiang?
They all have complicated relationships. I am afraid that this family has been expelled by the king in some way.
"Now is not the time to talk about contradictions, just do it."
The old king waved his hand, and before the attendant left, he said again:
"Send a letter to Marshal Gatheris. I know there are clouds of war on the Arathi front, but when necessary, I need the Marshal to return home with our most courageous army. The current situation is too bad."
The attendant was stunned for a moment. He subconsciously looked back at the map hanging in front of the king, looking at the dense red dots. Although most of the civilians in the country had been accommodated in the city in advance, each city had been built.
Defense system, but if you just look at the scene described on this map, you really feel like "Lordaeron is dying".
And just as the attendant quickly left with the king's order, Prince Alsace, who had taken a shower, changed clothes, and rested for 20 minutes, strode into the conference hall. He walked to his father and whispered:
"Father, the civilians of Sabotcher have been rescued. They are now undergoing inspection at the holding point outside the city."
"Well, well done, Alsace."
The old king nodded, and at this moment, the young prince looked at the map in front of the king. His bloodshot eyes roamed on the map. This time, faced with the threat of the undead, the response of the Kingdom of Lordaeron was worse than that of the undead.
It was much faster than ever in the past. Before the undead tide took shape, the defenses of various cities in the country were well arranged.
This is also an advantage under the imperial system. After intelligence is shared among various countries, no clues can be hidden from the eyes of the rulers. Especially in a state of war, the deterrent power of the imperial military attachés assigned to each legion can also ensure that the legion has
Super strong ability to execute orders from superiors...
During the war, the army enforces military law. The military attachés under the imperial system are all veterans who have participated in the Orc War. For those soldiers who disobey orders, desertion, and are not determined, these veterans who have survived the most cruel wars are the ones with the best skills.
Children, we will never tolerate it.
"What happened in Daron County?"
The prince looked at the map and soon discovered the standard green emblem on the landmark of Darrow County, a large town in the northwest of Stratholme region, which represented "at war". In the prince's memory, Darrow County could be seen nearby.
There is no garrison.
He looked at his father. The old king rubbed his forehead. After a moment, he said:
"The civilians of Daron County were blocked by the undead before they evacuated to Tyr's hands, but I have ordered Count Barov to send private soldiers to rescue them. There is no need to worry, my son, go and rest.
"
"Barov? Barov is not worthy of trust, father."
The prince shook his head, rubbed his sore shoulders, and said to the king:
"That family misses Perenold's rule. They are a factor of instability. Besides, Barov's private soldiers are limited to 1,000 people. They are not strong enough!"
"But we have no more soldiers left, my son."
The old king breathed a sigh of relief:
"The battle front in the Arathi Highlands has taken up too many of our troops. Now the defense of the entire kingdom is stretched thin. I know you are unwilling to give up even one of your people, but my son, sometimes, we have to make trade-offs and sacrifices...
.Our generals are not omnipotent, and you cannot ask soldiers to do things they cannot do."
"I know, father, I know your difficulties."
The prince gritted his teeth:
"So I will find a way on my own. I am going to the Hinterlands. Father, I want to ask the Wildhammer dwarves for help. Darrowshire and the Eagle's Nest are very close. If those children of the sky are willing to help, our people will
Be safe and sound."
"You are right. I don't want to give up a people. This is my responsibility. Anyway, wish me good luck, father."
After saying that, the prince turned around and quickly left the hall. The old king stretched out his hand and wanted to say something, but from Alsace's firm back, the king saw a trace of faith, which made him feel relieved.
The young man is unwilling to compromise the situation and vows to do something great and become a hero to save the people. As a father, what reason does he have to prevent his son from becoming a hero?
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"I would like to help you, little Alsace."
Fifteen minutes later, Arthas, who arrived at Eagle's Nest Mountain through the portal, met Falstad Wildhammer, the great lord of the Wildhammer dwarves. This dwarf lord with a beautiful orange beard looked embarrassed and looked at Hurry.
The prince said:
"But our gryphon knights and infantry have all been sent to the eastern front of the Hinterlands. You may not know that the undead who crossed the sea from Quel'Thalas boarded the mountains of the Hinterlands from Seaview Cliff early this morning.
"
Falstad pulled Alsace to the tactical map of the Hinterlands, pointed to the eastern mountainous area and said:
"The Kul Tiras fleet tried to intercept them on the sea, but failed. The undead withstood the fleet's artillery fire, and after losing a quarter of their military strength, they successfully rushed into the Evil Branch Troll's camp.
They are currently massacring the city of Sinsalor, turning those trolls into their own soldiers. To tell you the truth, the battlefield of the Hinterlands will soon become "busy"."
"this..."
Arthas did not doubt that Falstad would deceive him on such a major matter, and judging from the situation expressed on this map, once the undead in the North break through the city of the Evil Branch Troll, they will immediately come into contact with humans.
The empire's eastern defense line in the Hinterlands, that is to say, after the battlefield in the Arathi Highlands, the Hinterlands will soon become a battlefield.
"You understand, little Alsace?"
Falstad handed the prince a glass of wine, and the Wildhammer dwarf said pessimistically:
"Our Griffin Knights have been performing bombing missions since this morning. We have to burn all the corpses of the Evil Branch Troll before they are devoured by the undead, even those with long ears, you know.
?The plateau forwards stationed in the Hinterlands in Quel'Thalas also joined in this crazy bombing. No one wants to see the undead break through the eastern front, but here's the problem...the choice to start a war,
It's not in our hands now."
"Okay, I roughly understand that the situation here is indeed... it is indeed not optimistic."
Prince Alsace was a little disappointed, but just when he wanted to leave, Falstad said again:
"But what you said makes sense. Eagle's Nest Mountain is indeed very close to Darrow County. I...I mean, little Alsace, I can send a flying wing to help you, but we can't fight on land.
, we can only "explode" an escape route in the sky for your people. The frontline armaments are very tight, so we can only try it once."
"sure!"
The young prince turned around suddenly and looked at Falstad in surprise. He said loudly:
"The private soldiers of the Barov family have already set off. We only need to escort my people to the banks of the Sordo River. The distance on the ground is less than 30 kilometers. It will take the gryphon knights up to 20 minutes to make a round trip.
trip."
Alsace was like a man walking in despair. After seeing a glimmer of hope, he felt moved from the bottom of his heart. He held Falstad's hand tightly and shook it up and down:
"Thank you, Falstad, Lordaeron will never forget everything you have done for us."
"I have watched you grow up, little Alsace."
Falstad laughed, handed a pair of flying goggles to Alsace, and said in the thick voice unique to the dwarves:
"I still remember when you were a child and I taught you to ride a gryphon. You were brave then, just as brave as you are now. I know you will make your country proud, just like you are now... Let's go, our
Time is running out."
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"The undead are coming from the north! Captain Redpath! Knight David! They are here again!"
The shouts of the hunter sentinels rang out in the night of Darrow County, signaling the beginning of another fierce battle.
At this time in Daron County, the town square that used to be filled with shops was in a mess. The bodies of the undead who had been burned or hacked to death were everywhere. All the men who could still fight had taken up arms and were guarding the public security.
Under the leadership of Officer Joseph Redpath and Silver Hand Paladin David, they fought in the square with the undead attacking from all directions. Women and children hid in the town, crying for their husbands.
Praying with son and father.
The undead that broke out from the necropolis near Darrow County were surging forward tirelessly, and they were also mixed with ugly ghouls, disgusting monsters that could scare children to tears.
"Timmy, are you scared?"
Joseph Redpath, a veteran who participated in the Second World War, was holding a long sword and wooden shield at this time, looking at the undead rushing towards them. This powerful veteran turned to look at the little boy behind him. He was only about 11 years old.
Or 12 years old, wearing an old leather hat and holding a black musket in his hand. He was obviously very scared, but standing next to the brave Captain Redpath, little Timmy gritted his teeth and swallowed
Saliva, shouted loudly:
"I'm not afraid!"
"Ha ha ha ha"
Captain Redpath's laughter sounded at this moment. He tapped his shield with his long sword and shouted to the men around him:
"Did you hear that? Soldiers, little Timmy said he is not afraid of the undead, are you afraid?"
"I just want to burn them, Captain."
An old blacksmith with a pipe in his mouth waved the torch in his hand and shouted: "No one can step into Darrow County before I die!"
"Come after me!"
Captain Redpath waved his long sword. The moment the shambling undead stepped into the square, the men roared like wild beasts. They used long swords, pitchforks, or simply wooden sticks to swarm forward and knock down the undead.
On the ground.
Little Timmy tremblingly picked up his father's musket and shot one ghoul's head, but it also attracted the attention of another ghoul. This disgusting monster roared and pounced on little Timmy. Young
The child kept retreating out of fear, and finally staggered and fell to the ground.
"ah!"
The frightened child swung the barrel of the gun, trying to knock down the undead in front of him, but his strength was too weak. Redpath saw that little Timmy was about to be caught by the ghoul. He roared and rushed towards him, but was caught by both sides again.
Walking corpses blocked the road.
"Help me! Help me! No!"
Little Timmy's panicked shouts broke everyone's heart, but the current situation was so bad that no one could spare the energy to save him. But at the moment when the desperate hell descended, there was a loud noise, and suddenly in Darrow County
There was a sound from the front of the battlefield, the sound of an alchemy bomb exploding.
"boom"
A figure wrapped in golden light stood in front of little Timmy during the explosion. In the boy's dull gaze, the tall figure with short golden hair swung a war hammer and easily smashed the ghoul's head.
A slightly hoarse voice echoed throughout the square.
"My people, no need to be afraid anymore!"
Alsace roared angrily. In the beating of the holy light, the scorching light curtain protected the fighting people and forced the undead back. And in the shining light, everyone saw that familiar figure.