Chapter 273: Chapter 256 Crisis after Crisis_2
The room suddenly grew cold.
The two looked at each other.
Suddenly, Yan Xing laughed, "What reason do I have to conquer Nuta City?"
Count Theodore instantly understood.
Land was not an urgent need for Yan Xing now; vast areas within Thunderous Swamp remained undeveloped.
What he needed was money.
The money to develop Thunderous Swamp and the Eternal Domain.
Nuta City was currently Yan Xing’s window for making money, with the Eternal Commerce Guild and Eternal Grain Bank amassing wealth for him on a grand scale.
Once the war ended, the road between Wildwind Highlands and the heartland of the principality would be clear.
The Eternal Merchant Guild established by Yan Xing would deliver even more wealth into his hands.
However, if Thunderous Swamp were to seize Nuta City, it would be tantamount to declaring war on Silvermane Principality. Occupying a city whose wealth would quickly be exhausted and then waging war with Silvermane Principality was an utterly losing proposition.
Unless Nuta City came under the control of someone hostile to Thunderous Swamp, Thunderous Swamp absolutely would not directly occupy Nuta City during its development period.
After realizing this, Count Theodore also burst into laughter.
"I’m getting old, getting old... and more muddled. I started doubting you just because I heard a few rumors. I was wrong.
I’ve also noticed the mercenaries’ unusual movements in the past few days.
If the Temple and ’Shortgun’ are involved, I’m afraid some nobles’ private soldiers might take part as well.
Behind the Temple stands the Gryphon Heart Empire. What our Emperor desires most is to see Silvermane Principality completely lose Wildwind Highlands.
If they are making big moves, it means they’ve discovered the situation in Wildwind Highlands could evolve in a direction unfavorable to the Empire.
Only... since ’Shortgun’ serves the Orcs, why would they come to blows with the people from the Temple?"
Count Theodore was baffled, and so was Yan Xing.
Logically speaking, ’Shortgun’ and the Temple, each serving their own masters, should cooperate since their interests align, Yan Xing thought.
He then said aloud, "Let’s not bother with them for now. Just let Chui Chui continue the investigation."
Yan Xing then spoke to the old Count about Lady Karol ordering two hundred thousand sets of cotton clothes and blankets from him.
"I didn’t know whether Lady Karol’s order for two hundred thousand garments had another purpose, so I didn’t tell you at the time.
But after I gave her the samples, she paid the deposit very decisively.
These garments are indeed intended for the future expansion of the Wildwind Highlands Legion."
Hearing this news, Count Theodore realized the gravity of the situation.
The expansion of the Wildwind Highlands Legion!
It certainly isn’t for expanding the Wildwind Highlands Legion controlled by Marquis Anderson, he thought. This indicates that the principality is already executing a plan for seizing power, and the success rate of this plan is very high.
Count Theodore immediately stood up and walked over to a tactical map of the highlands next to him.
Yan Xing followed him.
Pointing at the cities and marks on the map, the old Count said to Yan Xing, "Marquis Anderson is currently in Anjik Fort resisting the main force of the Orcs, and behind Anjik Fort lies Storm City.
To the south of Storm City is the highland passage connecting to the heartland of the principality, where the principality’s army has already assembled on the other side of the highland passage.
This is a force ready to ascend Wildwind Highlands at any moment and take control of the war.
How is Duke Silvermane planning to seize Marquis Anderson’s military authority? Assassination? Coup? A surprise raid?
This is when Marquis Anderson’s control over Storm City is at its weakest, and when the Wildwind Highlands Legion is most fragile and unstable."
Anything could happen.
Yan Xing looked at the map, pondering. He also didn’t know how the principality would move against Marquis Anderson. In such a situation, there were really too many methods they could use, all with very high success rates.
However, after looking at the war situation map for a while, Yan Xing said to Count Theodore, "Tutor... regardless of how Silvermane Principality implements the plan to seize power from Marquis Anderson, as long as it succeeds, it will be very difficult to hold Anjik Fort.
Don’t consider the process, only the result.
The new commander of the Wildwind Highlands Legion will first face the Great Army of Orcs laying siege to the city. Furthermore, it’s unlikely that reinforcements on the other end of the highland passage could enter Storm City quickly."
Count Theodore, worried about Marquis Anderson’s safety, was in disarray due to his concern.
Upon hearing Yan Xing’s analysis, he immediately turned to consider the military perspective: how Silvermane Principality, after taking over Storm City, could use the existing garrison to hold this important city.
"The Principality has never reduced logistical support for the Wildwind Highlands battlefield. The supplies inside Storm City are enough to withstand Orc attacks for a while. But if the Orcs annihilate the garrison at Anjik Fort, the new commander will face defending the city with no one available.
Reinforcements cannot arrive in Storm City quickly. Even if they did, it would be very difficult for them to familiarize themselves with the city’s defenses in a short period.
The Orcs, knowing that the Wildwind Highlands Legion is changing commanders, will surely seize the opportunity to attack Storm City with all their might.
If Storm City falls, the humans on Wildwind Highlands will lose contact with their homeland and will eventually be eliminated.
It will be extremely difficult for the Principality to recapture Wildwind Highlands..."
Considering the worst-case scenario, Count Theodore analyzed the likely course of the war should Marquis Anderson be stripped of his command.
He realized there was a substantial chance that Silvermane Principality could lose Storm City.
Listening to Count Theodore’s analysis, Yan Xing said, "For the Principality, it’s absolutely better for Storm City to be in Marquis Anderson’s hands than in the hands of the Orcs.
But they still insist on seizing power, and they have taken action, which means they must have made thorough preparations.
They must have a way to stop the Orcs from taking Storm City."
Count Theodore furrowed his brows tightly, his eyes turning towards the homeland of the Barbaric Orcs.
"Taking Storm City is of great significance for the Barbaric Orcs. The Principality would have to deploy heavy troops around the borders of Wildwind Highlands to prevent the Orcs from breaking through. If the Orcs also attack the coastal cities of the Principality from the air, it will further increase the area that the Principality needs to defend.
This would be a tremendous drain on national strength.
The Barbaric Orcs would absolutely not retreat when they are on the verge of capturing Storm City.
Unless..."
"Unless someone stabs the Orcs in the back at this time," Yan Xing finished.
He and Count Theodore both turned their gaze towards the western front. The Elves had been somewhat inconspicuous of late.
Now, the entire Wildwind Highlands was focused on the Storm City battlefield. The Orcs, blinded by the pursuit of a victory so close, were attacking without regard for losses.
The Wildwind Highlands Legion, in order to stop the Orcs, also fought tooth and nail in a rigorous defense.
In contrast to the fierce eastern front, the western front, where the Elves were the main attackers, seemed somewhat quiet.
The Elves were also attacking, but compared to their fierce offensives at the beginning of the war, their momentum was much weaker now.
Often, just as they managed to provoke the resolve of the defending forces, the Elven army would initiate a retreat.
Initially, Count Theodore hadn’t thought much of it.
The Snow Elves had much weaker national strength than the Barbaric Orcs, and the Elves did not consider their lives as cheap as the Orcs, who possessed a sacrificial spirit. The fact that they could launch such a fierce attack at the beginning of the war had already exceeded everyone’s expectations for the Snow Elves.
A weakening offensive due to losses and war-weariness in the middle and later stages of the war was already anticipated in the strategic plan laid out by Marquis Anderson.
Especially with winter approaching, the Elves, needing to prepare supplies for the season, would not be expected to mount any significant attacks.
Now, after eliminating all other possibilities, it was clear: if Silvermane Principality wanted to seize military power from Marquis Anderson and also hold Storm City, they could only ask the Elves to backstab the Orcs.
And as both sides were in a state of war, the Elves were not an entity that could be easily persuaded to help.
All of a sudden, Count Theodore said to Yan Xing, "Those two hundred thousand sets of clothing cannot be given to Karol!"
Looking at the tactical map and listening to the elderly Count’s explanations, some of Yan Xing’s doubts began to clear in his mind.
However, regarding Count Theodore’s request, Yan Xing answered with a smile, "That won’t do... I’ve already given the samples, and I’ve already taken the deposit; the goods must be delivered.
My family creed is to always stand by my word.
Besides, I don’t believe that intercepting Lady Karol’s materials for buying Elven support is the most important matter right now. Rather, it’s preventing Marquis Anderson from losing his military command.
As long as the Wildwind Highlands Legion and Storm City remain in Marquis Anderson’s hands, whatever Karol promises to the Elves will be no more than a piece of scrap paper.
If Marquis Anderson loses his military command, I need to ensure that I establish a good diplomatic beginning with Silvermane Principality. The only thing I can do then is to ensure your safety and do my best to maintain your power in Nuta City."