Looking at Charlotte who was deep in thought, Sebastian asked curiously.
Charlotte frowned and nodded slightly, but quickly shook her head:
"No... I'm just a little bit curious about the significance of the rebels stationed on the banks of the Dorne River. Our territory of Castel has developed sea trade and numerous water systems. As long as the nobles of all sizes are close to the sea or river, almost every family has a ship..."
"The Leglis family is one of the three viscount families. It is impossible to have a fleet. The Dorne River is the largest river in West Union, and it is also the main waterway trade route between Northland and East Union.
Now, the upper reaches of the Dorne are in the hands of the Leglis family."
"The upper reaches of the Dorne River can reach directly to the Black Land of East Uniont, and the Black Land of East Uniont is a paradise for mercenaries. As far as I know, there are many mercenary merchant ships that use the Dorne River to travel between East Uniont and Castells...
…”
"Does the Leglis family... really have no means of crossing the river?"
Viscount Len-Castell explained:
"My lord, the Dorne River is too wide, and there are too many rebels. The only bridge is near North Port, and the shore is heavily fortified. Even if the rebels organized a fleet, it would be difficult to cross the river, let alone me.
It’s not like Steer doesn’t have a fleet, fleets composed of various noble families are already patrolling the coastline and the estuary.”
Charlotte thought for a while and asked again:
"What about extraordinary means? As far as I know, some powerful magicians should be able to freeze rivers within a certain period of time, right? It is winter again, and the weather may get colder in the next few days, which is more suitable for the use of frost magic.
.”
After thinking for a while, Charlotte asked.
"Safe? Oh, that's not necessarily the case."
Charlotte sighed:
"If you want to find an excuse, you can always find one. No matter what, we have to be on guard against that ambitious guy."
Even Sebastian looked surprised:
Looking at the Tulip Earldom on the map, which was like a big stone pressing down on the waist of the Castel Territory, Sebastian couldn't help but muttered.
"Master, although this possibility is possible, I'm afraid it's not very likely. Extraordinary power is indeed very common in wars, but if you want to cast magic that can allow ten thousand people to cross the Dorne River, you must at least reach the level of Blazing Sun.
The Archmage takes action..."
The old Viscount nodded:
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Because we are separated by the enclave of Tulip Earldom...Tulip Earldom just separates Beigang Viscounty and Leglis Viscounty. If we go around, we will definitely need to pass through Tulip Earldom."
"Furthermore, maintaining such a large-scale magic is much more difficult than directly destroying a town. Even the Blazing Sun Mage will consume a lot of money. If other Blazing Sun strongmen interrupt the magic in the process,
, the loss... is not even a small loss."
Baron Angus nodded:
"Yes, so the successive Earls of Castells want to take back the territory of the Tulip Earldom from the Duke, and are even willing to exchange it for the rich lands in the south. However, the successive Dukes of Bold have always refused.
Even the Tulip Earldom is not as large as the Beigang Viscounty..."
"Your Majesty Sebas is right. Unless it's time to fight hard, I'm afraid no Mage Blazing Sun would be willing to cast such a large-scale magic. That would cause Mage Blazing Sun to consume too much and fall into weakness."
Charlotte frowned:
"Then I'm even more surprised. If you put it that way, unless they come directly to the North Port where I leave the sea, wouldn't it be impossible for the Leglis family to reach this side of the Dorne River? They are upstream.
What are they doing stationed on the shore? Or...what are they waiting for?"
Charlotte was a little surprised.
Viscount Len Castel was stunned and said hesitantly:
"My lord, are you sure? We should not delay this rebellion for too long..."
After listening to the old Viscount's words, Charlotte's frown deepened.
"There are no Blazing Sun professionals in the Leglis family. It would be difficult to hire high-level mages to freeze the river..."
Baron Angus explained:
As if he thought of something, his expression changed slightly:
"My Lord Earl, do you doubt that...the Duke will take action against us?"
Sebastian pondered for a moment and said:
"Master, this... shouldn't be a problem, right? Even if the third prince wants to obtain the Castel Territory, things need to be done well... Otherwise, who will dare to support him in fighting for the throne in the future?"
"This... I don't know clearly, but it is said that except for us, most of the nobles of the principality participated in the installation ceremony of the new Duke."
That bastard Third Prince has no good intentions at all!
"The Bold family is really good at choosing enclaves... Now look carefully, this enclave almost cuts off the Castel territory on both sides of the Dorne River."
The third prince is also considered one of the popular successors to the Crescent Moon Throne. It is normal for the nobles of the principality who want to advance further in the kingdom to be the first to curry favor with him.
"Sebas, is there any other news coming from the south recently?"
"Isn't this...impossible?"
Hearing this, Charlotte's heart moved:
"Wait...what did you say? The Bold family has a standing army stationed in the Tulip Earldom?"
After continuing to study the map of the earldom for a while, Charlotte said:
"There is no need for the main force of the coalition forces to leave in a hurry. Let's train on the spot first. Beigang has plenty of supplies and there is not much logistical pressure."
"Oh why?"
"Are you referring to the Principality of Bold? Apart from announcing that it will maintain a neutral position in the Castres rebellion and refuse entry to troops from both sides, there is no other news from Bold for the time being."
Damn it, she almost forgot that next to the Castells there was the Tulip Earldom, a boulder enclave like a dog-skin plaster!
"Since three thousand men can hold the front line, let's send three thousand men to defend the Dorne River first. Oh, no, just to be on the safe side, five thousand men. Your Excellency, please recommend other capable commanders to lead the troops.
Defense, as for Baron Angus, just stay here in North Port."
Baron Angus sighed:
"Lord Earl, I'm afraid we can't get around."
The old Viscount thought for a while and said:
After hearing what Sebastian said, Charlotte nodded slightly.
"Where are the other nobles of the duchy? They have already sworn allegiance to the new duke?"
"Unless it is a national war with a higher level and scale, or the lord himself is Blazing Sun, almost no high-level mage is willing to take action in the war between lords in the kingdom."
"You think... could the Leglis family be planning to hire a high-level mage to cross the river this way?"
"How many people are there in this standing army? Are they all extraordinary? What about the equipment?"
Sebastian said.
"The main force will stay in Beigang?"
She looked at Castel's map carefully, and the more she looked at it, the more eye-catching the tulip county inlaid in the middle of Castel's territory was.
"The Duchess of Bold has announced that she will remain neutral in this rebellion and refuse the entry of troops from both our sides..."
Charlotte:……
Viscount Len Castel also nodded in agreement:
"The lord intervenes in the civil war between vassals?"
"Although the Tulip Earldom blocks our route to the north, it also blocks the rebels' route to the south along the coastline. Although North Port seems to be closer to the front line, it is actually the safest, and there is no need to leave so many troops for defense.
"
Charlotte chuckled and shook her head slightly.
"This is normal. After all, the Duke of Bold relies on the Earl of Tulip to balance Castel. The Earl of Tulip is the military fortress of the Principality of Bold in the north."
After hearing what the old viscount said, the expressions of the nobles in the meeting hall changed:
"Duke? Duke of Bold?"
The territory of Castells, which is supposed to be a perfect isosceles obtuse triangle, seems incomplete because of the Boulder enclave in the middle, which can really drive OCD to death.
Seeing Charlotte's meaningful expression, the old Viscount's eyes twitched.
"If I remember correctly, there should be three thousand people, maybe a little more. I don't know the extraordinary proportion, but it should be not low. As for the equipment... the former Duke of Bold once served as the military commander of the kingdom.
It is said that I have obtained many standard armors from the kingdom..."
"For so many years, the neighboring lords in the kingdom have not dared to take action against Castel. It is also because the Bold family has stationed a standing army in the Tulip Earldom. As long as the earl is still Bold's vassal, the Bold family
I will never let go."
Viscount Leon Castells sighed:
"Not to mention that the Mages Association has always opposed the participation of high-level mages in secular wars, especially wars between noble lords under the kingdom. Even if they participate, it is often high-level mages against high-level mages."
"No matter from which angle you look at it, it should be the best choice for them to go straight to Beigang, right? Even if they are stationed, they should be stationed downstream. Aren't they afraid that we will go around from the downstream to make dumplings?"
After listening to Charlotte's words, Sebastian fell into deep thought, while Viscount Leon Castells pondered for a moment, then nodded and said:
"My Lord Count, I understand. In that case... I recommend Baron Chalon to defend the banks of the Dorne River."
Charlotte looked at Baron Angus again, and Baron Angus nodded:
"My lord, Baron Chalon is also an excellent commander, and I think he is qualified for this job."
"Then it's settled. Although this rebellion really shouldn't be delayed for too long, we must leave enough time to train the coalition forces, and we must be wary of our neighbors."