In this wilderness south of Anzeruta and on the border with Balta, only this kind of dark rock can be seen on most of the undulating ridges. Vegetation is sparse. White snow accumulates all year round at higher altitudes, and there are only sparse snow below.
Tundra grassland composed of heather or similar shrubs is dotted on the ground like a thin layer of volcanic ash. A majestic fortress stands between two dark peaks, with a wall more than sixty feet high.
Made of square stones, the flag of the empire is flying on the four watchtowers. From these towering towers, every valley within a radius of ten miles can be easily monitored. The observation room is also equipped with rotating ballistae and wizards, and is equipped with
More than one squadron of crossbowmen can intercept incoming enemies from the air from the perforations on the tower.
The fortress is also equipped with an air force. The border guards stationed here have griffons and flying dragons, as well as elite Pegasus knights. They will take off as soon as possible after confirming the enemy's situation to guard the airspace above the fortress.
Brando withdrew his gaze from the huge iron cages on the city walls. Those were griffin cages. The griffins locked inside were the air force of the early warning force on the city wall, which could be used for both reconnaissance and interception. And in
Not far from those iron cages, there is a towering giant door. This giant door is more than fifty feet high from the ground to the top. It opens in half and is completely made of cast iron. In order to cast this iron door
, the craftsmen of the Cruz people put together the iron workpieces that had been cast in advance. After letting the wizards use magic to blend them, the purpose of casting this iron door was to fully exert the impact of the dragoons in the fortress. The Black Sword
There are two regiments of ground dragoons inside the fortress. When the Cruzes need it, they will have the ground dragoons line up behind the door, then open the main gate and attack the enemy troops outside the fortress.
The flat slope outside the Black Sword Barrier was also paved manually. It was originally a steep valley. But it was filled in by Duke Sempley and became what it is now.
The eldest businesswoman stood beside him, holding his arm tightly with her little hands. She was looking at the majestic wall with her chin raised. She opened her mouth slightly and sighed: "It's so high, Brando."
"The Black Sword Barrier once had its outer wall raised in the Year of Glory. Before that, the height of its main wall did not exceed thirty-five feet in most places, which was not much different from the outer wall of Menstros. Frost
In the Year of the Tiger, the Highlanders led by Lord Longblade captured this place with the support of the Eruin people. In the Year of the Tiger Lizard, the Cruz people retook the fortress and began to rebuild the fortress. Restoration work on the fortress continued intermittently.
It lasted for thirty years, and it was not until the Year of Summer that Duke Sempley completed the ramp in front and it was basically completed." Brando told her about science. This knowledge is not uncommon for a senior player, but Xiao Xiao
Roman was stunned. She had never heard of these things. But listening to the conclusive words of the person at her hand was obviously not just talking nonsense. For a moment, she just felt that Brando was the person who knew the most in the world. She both
With a little vanity, he asked very curiously: "Can anyone really attack here, Brando? The wall is so high, can they climb it?"
"Although Black Sword Barrier is not the strongest fortress in the empire, it is also one of the tallest and deepest fortresses in the southern region of the empire. However, this city has indeed been captured twice by the Eruin people in history. The first time was
The war in which Junacre helped the Highlanders capture Anzeruta. The second time was more recently, during the Walnut Rebellion about a hundred years ago, when the Highland knights of Balta fought back
After resisting the invasion of the empire, they took advantage of the situation and captured this fortress, huh." Chiara seemed to have heard the conversation between the two, and softly snorted and said: "At that time, the Corcovado dynasty was at its strongest. But.
Unfortunately, it is still too weak. If it were me, I would not return this fortress to the Cruz people, either to the lion people or to the wind elves, so that the kingdom does not have to face the threat from the north."
Brando directly turned a blind eye to such a child's speech. He noticed that other people in the envoy also showed curious eyes and were obviously equally interested in this matter, so he nodded and replied: "Indeed, the Black Sword Barrier is the earliest
It was built in the Year of Moss in the Era of Chaos and was completed at the beginning of the First Era. It has only been captured twice in history, both by the Eruin."
"That's because other countries will not take a detour from Eruin to attack the empire." Chiara curled her lips and replied.
As for the fat man, Avram asked curiously: "Captain, do you mean that our Eruin actually defeated the empire?"
"What do you mean?" Brando was stunned.
"I mean, Captain, how can Eruin defeat the Empire? Are you mistaken?" The fat man said loudly as if he had heard some funny joke.
Brando was so angry that he was not angry to death. He replied angrily: "Why do you think Eruin has never defeated the empire?"
He really didn't even have the energy to despise this guy's ignorant historical knowledge. Let's not talk about the large and small battles in the past hundreds of years - although the Cruz Empire was powerful, it was not invincible.
There are many examples of defeats by the Luin people - and less than five months ago, he slammed the Temple of Fire and the Empire's expedition fleet to the ground in Ampelsel and taught them a lesson.
The war was ignored by this guy. He couldn't help but feel very depressed, and couldn't help but wonder what the hell this guy, as a descendant of a noble, had learned in Karasu.
But Avram was still stubborn. He spread his hands and asked: "But the empire is so huge, and Eruin is just a small country on its border. It can't even compare to a province of the empire. How can we defeat it?"
Overtake them? Captain, you said that we Eruin people once defeated the Cruz people. I don’t believe it. There are often such examples in history. In fact, they just took advantage of a small conflict.
It is said that it is a great victory. I have seen such things many times in Karasu. My friends in the patrolling cavalry often do such things. Seeing the big from the small means that the glory preached by the royal family must not be fully believed. However,
It’s just to maintain the legitimacy of their rule.”
The idea of comparing the rotten patrol cavalry of this era with the Highland Knights of the Walnut Rebellion era was also very avant-garde. Brando couldn't help but marvel at this guy's way of thinking. He couldn't help but reply:
"In that case, why do you think we can stand here today and represent the empire on behalf of Eruin? The Cruz people will never ask the provinces below them to send envoys to pay tribute to their emperor.
.”
Avram had obviously not considered this question, and was stunned when Brando asked him. He couldn't help but frown and think hard. At this time, the daughter of Archduke Viero, the girl of seventeen or eighteen years old, stood beside her.
Shengchi said: "I think that's because the empire doesn't need a remote place like Eruin at all. In addition to our kingdom, there are many kingdoms and principalities attached to the Temple of Flame. The empire doesn't have the right
Have they ever fought? My teacher often told me that if the empire had the intention, Eruin would have become an autonomous domain like Anzeruta, and by then we would all be nobles of the empire, Lord Earl, I’m telling you.
Is it right?"
"For your size, it's best not to meet that damn teacher of yours." Brando said heartily. But he looked at the expressions of other people in the envoy and found that except for Roman, Medisa and Hipamira
Except for such outsiders, most people seem to agree with this statement. Of course. Except for those who really understand the history of the kingdom, such as Ciel and Kiara, both of whom have expressions of obvious disdain on their faces, and
What made Brando a little curious was that he actually saw a similar look on Juta's face.
At this time, Chiara finally couldn't help it anymore. After all, she was also a former member of the royal family. Maintaining the legitimacy of the kingdom was also safeguarding the reputation of her family. She sarcastically said: "Then the relationship between the empire and Egypt has started since the Year of the Dragon's End."
The battle between the Luin ancestors seems to be a good show, so that the Elouin people can become independent from the empire and establish our own kingdom. The nobles of the Cruz people are full of this kind of helpful spirit.
We really have to thank them for sending the late Lord Eke out of the Four Realms Wilderness, right?"
Her sharp sarcasm shocked everyone. Only then did Avram realize that he had somehow offended the eldest lady. The daughter of Grand Duke Viero even opened her mouth and finally answered.
One sentence: "Isn't that because the wind elves are helping us?"
Brando saw Chiara's little face as dark as the bottom of a pot, and couldn't help but shook his head. He didn't know since when. The nobles of the kingdom had lost their backbones - the highland knights in Balta were still
The era of existence was in the Year of the Walnut. The empire had never been a problem for Eruin. The problem was whether the Eruin people still dared to fight, that's all. He couldn't help but think of Alberton, that
In front of the white knight was a highland knight from Balta. Since then, in the past hundred years, the princes and nobles of Eruin seemed to have suddenly lost this spirit, and they could no longer raise their heads in front of the Cruz people.
Already.
But he didn't expect that the nobles' imagination of the Cruz Empire had reached such a ridiculous level. When Avram first spoke, he thought it was just an example. After all, this guy looked like a stubborn kid at first glance, that kind of
A typical example of uneducated and unskilled. But when Archduke Viero's daughter opened her mouth, he realized something was wrong. Although this little girl's performance was just average, it was obvious that she was a well-educated and sensible person.
She obviously knew the history of the kingdom in terms of foreign affairs and etiquette, but like Avram, she obviously did not agree with this history.
There are too many differences between these histories and everything they see now.
He shook his head for the second time, and then replied to his nominal subordinates: "Although the empire is strong, it is not without enemies. Although Eruin is small, the empire cannot devote all its energy to deal with us.
There is Faenzan in the north, Saint Osor and Madara in the east, Hazel and Toquinin in the west. Facing so many enemies, even if the empire wants to spare the power of a province to deal with us,
It's also impossible. What's more, in its southern territory, there is Anzerutta. Since the time of Lord Longblade, the Highlanders have been dreaming of independence for nearly seven centuries. If we don't cause trouble, the empire is already thankful, so what?
Dare to use weapons in the south easily? Therefore, the empire actually hopes to maintain this kind of relationship between enemies and friends with us. On the one hand, the honor of the empire makes them still unwilling to recognize the establishment of Eruin. On the other hand, they are unable to truly
Even in the war of the Walnut Rebellion, our opponent was just a Walnut Duke. In the final analysis, we were actually helping the empire suppress the rebellion at that time."
"Eruin's status is so sensitive and special that neither the wind elves nor the empire dare to tamper with it easily. Relying on this delicate balance, the former Lord Ek found his own path for the Eruin people.
." At this point, he glanced at Chiara: "Ansem I has obviously already understood the secret between them, so he returned the Black Sword Barrier to the Cruz people after the Walnut War, because once the balance is broken, for E
It may not be a good thing for Lu Yin."
Brando looked at the others again and said word by word: "So, Eruin may not need to defeat the entire empire, but this does not mean that Eruin has no chance to win. Big countries have the power of big countries. Small countries have
The wisdom of a small country, I tell you this because I want you to understand. The Kingdom of Eruin has its own unique advantages, and its nobles and people may not necessarily need to be ranked first in front of the empire."
After Chiara heard these words, she couldn't help but snorted softly. It was obvious that she already knew this knowledge. There was no need for Brando to repeat it.
As for the others, including Avram and the youngest daughter of Archduke Viero, most of them had heard this statement for the first time and were just doubtful.
However, Brando did not need their full trust. He just wanted to give these noble young masters and rich ladies a warning in advance, so that they would not lose the face of the imperial nobles who bowed down when they saw him.
While the group was having this conversation, they gradually approached the Black Sword Barrier. At this moment, a burst of noise suddenly came from the front, attracting everyone's attention. The noise first started with a row of neat footsteps.
At the beginning of the sound, accompanied by the heavy sound of horse hooves, everyone in the envoy saw a small group of imperial soldiers lined up in their field of vision. This small group of imperial soldiers, led by three or four knights, opened the black sword barrier.
The small wooden gate next to the huge city gate lowered the drawbridge and rushed out - the knights scolded and suddenly directed their men to rush towards a caravan outside the fortress.
It is worth mentioning that in this season, in addition to Brando and his group of eye-catching noble convoys, there are also many large and small business groups gathered outside the fortress. Because as one of the only two gateways between the empire and Eruin,
In addition to being a strategic military hub, the Black Sword Barrier is also an important transportation artery between the two countries. Except for the one or two months after the Winter Qin Moon when the mountain roads are completely frozen, most of the
Most of the time, there will be business travelers passing here, and at this moment, the goal of those imperial soldiers is obviously such an Eruin caravan.
They quickly rushed into the middle of the caravan, first knocking down the armed guards, then driving the merchants out of the caravan, binding their hands behind their backs one by one, and pushing them to the ground. Then the imperial soldiers
Returning to the convoy, they used their swords to cut the ropes on the carriages and threw the goods on them to the ground one by one. Not long after, they found many people from those carriages, including men and women.
Old and young, the imperial soldiers drove these people together. Most of these people were in ragged clothes and stood shivering in the cold wind. The women and children among them were so frightened that they cried, but the imperial soldiers remained indifferent.
A few people still had sneers on their faces.
At first, Brando thought that he had encountered a bloody plot of banditry and military warfare, but then he realized that this was not the case. But before he could speak, the daughter of the Earl of Gray Mountain behind him had already arrived.
Frightened, Miss Enid looked at this scene with a pale face, and couldn't help but asked tremblingly: "What on earth is going on?"
When Chiara saw this scene, she curled her lips, but was unwilling to speak.
Among all the people, the daughter of Grand Duke Viero had some insight. She explained to the others in a low voice: "These people are refugees."
It turns out that this is the case. Only then did Brando realize that Eruin has been in turmoil within the kingdom since the royal party lost power in the Frost Revolution. The manifestation of this turmoil in the entire kingdom is war. The battle between the royal family and local nobles is nothing more than
It's just a smaller part of it. As the central government increasingly loses its binding force, the conflicts between local lords and lords become the first to become acute. Whether it is to compete for territory, population or support, large and small wars always continue.
, this situation is not so dramatic in the south - on the one hand, it is also because of Madala - but on the other hand, after the Battle of Ampelsel, the north was placed under the temporary supervision of the eldest son of the king, and beyond Sifah
In the north, the nobles seemed to have lost order for a while. In these areas influenced by the royal family of Corcova, the royal family of Sifah, the wind elves and the Temple of Fire, war seemed to have become a daily necessity.
Along with the war came a large number of refugees. A small number of these refugees were accepted by Tonigel, but more of them flowed to the north and to the empire. For the empire, this was originally a small matter.
, the refugees need to find a place that can provide them with a livelihood, and the empire is willing to accept these laborers - but the problem is that as the number of these refugees increases, they no longer bring only benefits to the empire, but also the accompanying consequences.
The trouble and burden that came with it, the direction in which the refugees migrated, originally had residents, and it was impossible for the empire's nobles to accept all the labor force, and the remaining idle people gradually became a hidden danger to local public security. In addition,
The arrival of these refugees in the past itself harmed the interests of the indigenous peoples, so over time, these refugees became synonymous with unwelcome people in the empire. From then on, the Cruz people began to refuse to accept these refugees into the country.
What happened before my eyes was obviously exactly this scene.
"Sister, what will happen to them?" Among them all, the youngest girl from the Golan-Elson family asked with some fear as she watched this scene.
"They will be treated as thieves and vagrants, tied to pillars here for public display, and then driven back..."
The descendants of these Eruin nobles all had a somewhat embarrassed look on their faces.
"It's such a shame. The kingdom has lost all its face by these untouchables." Avram couldn't help but mutter angrily: "No wonder the imperial nobles always act superior to us."