573.Chapter 571 570 Well, this place is really used as a cemetery.
Chapter 571 570.Well, this place is really perfect for a cemetery! -1230
(For brother “Huo Zheng is fine” 12/20)
The Valley of Shadows was a true place of war.
This place was stuck right on the necessary route from the Black Flame Pass through the Desolate Mountain into the Baphomet Canyon, and it was so high up and in such a dangerous position that it didn’t even need to form a position with the other strongholds to be perfectly stuck on the only road leading to Transylvania.
If the Jackals didn’t send someone to take down the Valley of the Shadow after entering this place, then their march would definitely be exposed to the defenders’ offensive for a long time.
But if they sent people and couldn’t take it down for a while, even though they couldn’t hold on for too long because the valley wasn’t rich in produce, having such a nail in the coffin was enough to ensure that the Jackals wouldn’t have an easy time no matter how they chose to do it.
Strategy and tactics is as simple as this, let the enemy like a man in the back of the arrangement is definitely a good tactic, let the enemy loudly cursed the tactics will be excellent, and can let the enemy can not wait to hold the earth bomb to send you up to the sky of tactics that would be perfect.
The harder the enemy curses you, the more it means you’re doing something right.
One could only say that back then Adele’s mother had definitely put some effort into choosing a campsite with the gladiators who had escaped from the city of Mejva, and that in turn had cheapened the Transylvanians who were preparing to make a big splash in the Black Plague a few decades later.
“What a place!”
In the evening, Maxim, who was suspended in the air, was observing the terrain near the Valley of the Shadow from a high position, and this vampire general, who was fighting for the first time under the command of an army, couldn’t help but let out a sigh of emotion.
Kudel, the civil protection officer who accompanied him, likewise nodded his head repeatedly.
He rubbed his beard, which he had grown up not long ago at the suggestion of his granddaughter, and said:
“Back then, we didn’t discover such a good place, perhaps because time was short, or perhaps because the battlefield of the first phase at that time was in the Dark Mountain Range, and during the Fourth Black Plague, the expeditionary forces sent by the humans all fought in cooperation with the vampires within the range of the Dark Mountain Range.
Our large forces were also blocking the Black Flame Pass, we set up twelve layers of defense as much as we could but we didn’t even hold it for half a month before being completely destroyed by the King of Biting Bones using meteorite tactics, that battle even directly changed the terrain of the Black Flame Pass.
I was also brought back to Transylvania by Salokdar after the attack and defense, perhaps that guy brought me back from the dead pile of meteorite fall.
Alas, if we had set up a second camp here back then, perhaps we could have held out for a while longer after the Black Flame Pass was breached.”
“That was, after all, the King of Biting Bones, Lord Kudel, the only absolute chieftain in the history of the Jackals, and defeat before it is nothing; that does not prove that you are not a warrior.”
Maxim whispered:
“The good news is that we won’t have to face the King of Biting Bones this time, and the bad news is that there won’t be any human expeditionary force this time either. Our plan to keep the enemy outside our borders failed to gain the approval of the Wolf Girl and King Louie, and both nations are unwilling to accompany us on our adventures, preferring to take the traditional approach to warfare.
They intend to sacrifice Transylvania once again to slow down the Jackal’s advance, and they want to fight a blocking siege on our land as they have done four times before.”
The vampire general nicknamed “The Monster” looked back to see the artillerymen of the Pathfinder Legion’s Canary Flower Vanguard looking around behind the marching line of the Cadmanian People’s Army, which had already completed its change.
The five-hundred-man artillery was the only other army besides the Transylvanians to have crossed the filthy swamp, and was commanded by Colonel Fraser and Major Ron.
Although it was a friendly army, and this army had participated in the attack on Wolfsburg during the Battle of the Swamp, the light in Maxim’s eyes at that moment could not be considered friendly.
This emotion was captured by Kudel, and the civil protection officer shook his head and said:
“People still came, you know, that noble son actually didn’t have to come, no one can accuse him of cowardice. From that point alone, you shouldn’t expose your true thoughts in front of them.
Mark, you are a general now!
It is your vocation to pursue victory, and this is a situation where you need to unite these brave men that you can, and the firepower they have placed in the outlying passes can help a lot.”
“I understand, Hon. Kudel.”
Maxim nodded as he continued to look out over the surrounding area and said:
“I will hold here as my master wishes then, I will pummel every jackal that comes into my view, and I will keep fighting until we win. Then I will leave the side of the Maginot line to you while I fight away from the borders.
You and I both know that our battle here is only an appetizer, the real showdown will surely be fought there.”
Kudel did not reply.
As the supreme commander of the Maginot Line appointed by Murphy, Kudel was aware of the strategic advice Happy Stick had given to Murphy, and he had even seen the map of the line that Happy Stick hadn’t released yet when it finally took shape.
It represented a terrifying strategy, and in his mind he had not yet been able to make a decision.
Kudel was not a traditional vampire, and even though he had been in the Dark Night for over a hundred years, the small part of him that was human still stubbornly demanded that he not make such a “dangerous” choice.
But Kudel knew very well that once the battle came to that point, he would have to make a choice between Transylvania and Cato.
The Happy Stick had built the Maginot Line into what it was today, and that cunning and warlike foreigner must have started with the idea of “diverting water from the east”, and blamed himself for not being sharp enough to discover the secret hidden in those drawings.
This also fully proved that the military wisdom of the foreigners can not be underestimated.
“Go down.”
Kudel stretched his wings and said to Maxim beside him:
“Lord Murphy is waiting for us down there, and according to his timetable, tomorrow you will accompany him forward to visit Lady Heather, the second lord of the Blood League Knights, so be prepared, Mark. For some time after that, that Dwarven vampire, who is said to be not easy to deal with, is the only comrade in arms you can rely on.”
“Well, Laneia introduced me to Lord Heather.”
Maxim said as he descended towards the ground:
“She said that if Venerable Lord Paying is the sharpest spearhead of the Blood League, then Knight Paranor is the gorgeous gilt handle of this battle spear, Third Lord Yvette is the blood-stained flowing tassel, and this Lady Heather is the stone that polishes the battle spear.
Both firm and stubborn.”
“Hmm, nice description.”
Kudel nodded, but then turned the conversation around and said:
“But are you so good with Leonia? She would even tell you something like that?”
“Uh, it’s just a coworker relationship, and Lainnia helps me train musketeers.”
Maxim was embarrassed for a moment as he waved his hand and said:
“Please make sure you don’t spread those words around, there’s already too much gossip that wears the heart out.”
“Well, I don’t think it’s me you should be worried about, you actually know who’s been gossiping about you guys, don’t you?”
The Bailiff whispered:
“Look, that nasty guy is just up ahead, Mark, draw your skull crusher warhammer and smash his handsome face to smithereens, trust me, a lot of people will be screaming for you.”
“.”
Maxim woodenly didn’t answer.
He landed on the ground and exclaimed to Murphy, who was holding his binoculars in front of him and observing the marching formation of the Kadman People’s Army:
“His Excellency the Governor! Maxim, the Commander-in-Chief of the Cadman People’s Army, has come to report with three thousand warriors under his command! I ask for your instructions.”
“I’m not a commander, I’m just a nominal chief, Mark.”
Murphy bristled:
“When it comes to military theoretical knowledge, I don’t know as much as you do on both hands combined, but knowing more that’s just experience, the next step is hands-on.
I’ve got you the best position I can find, I’ve also got you a group of rangers with elven apprenticeships, our ancient compatriots have returned to the continent, and a batch of artillery procured from the Halflings and Dwarves will be given to these pirates to use while they are under your command in this battle.
The best scouts of the vampires are running through the dark mountains at this time to gather information for you, and the strongest fighters under the darkness of the night are cooperating with you in the battle.
See, I’ve done the best I could with the supporting work that needed to be done, and I’ve set the stage for you and your soldiers.
It is your turn to perform next.”
He lowered the binoculars and looked back at Maxim and Kudel. The two generals of the Blood Vulture Clan were wearing their newly made commander’s uniforms today, a new style of uniforms made by the master tailor Mrs. Water and the master furrier, which were crisp and clean and had a rather manly appearance.
This set of uniforms as a whole imitates the Third Empire’s excellent aesthetic design that makes people marvel, slim style uniform with a cowhide armed belt, the lower body of the black military pants with hunting boots, forming a set of excellent look and feel.
The uniform was so excellent that it made even Maxim’s otherwise slightly odd white hair a rather beneficent accent.
Of course, the million-letter emblem thing belongs to the dross that needs to be thrown in the trash at any given moment, and just because squids are definitely assholes doesn’t mean those things wash away the stench, diode thinking is not something to be embraced.
Lady Water clearly espoused a minimalist style, so there wasn’t much adornment on the black, penciled-in uniform, with only the Blood Eagle symbol of the Blood Vulture Clan and the ancient Transylvanian Knight of the Sword and Blade insignia to indicate identity, and the epaulettes to represent rank.
Maxim carried his command sword at his waist and the legendary skull crusher warhammer on his back, making him look imposing, Murphy even thought that sending this guy to a modeling show would win him a consolation prize or something.
But he was still young in the end, and the aura on his body was insufficient.
Compared to His Excellency Kudel beside him, who was wearing the same style but had experienced the world, this guy was simply like a chief of guards, and although Kudel stood beside Maxim in the position of an adjutant, when the two of them were compared, this bailiwick officer in turn looked like His Excellency the marshal who had run to the lower levels.
Especially Kudel also grew a beard, making his majesty even more heavy and regal.
“Nice new clothes, isn’t it?”
Murphy asked flirtatiously.
Maxim and Kudel looked at each other and both nodded at the same time as Kudel said:
“I have to comment from the bottom of my heart, although the soldiers’ uniforms are much more minimalist, that slimming design still makes them look spirited and uplifted, if our soldiers were originally only second-rate, then this new set of uniforms on their bodies can advance their aura to first-rate as well.
Face value is combat power, this saying is really true.”
“Let’s save those words for after the battle.”
Murphy waved his hand and said:
“A black plague is enough to prove what they and we have become, and how the future of Transylvania will soon be revealed. You two come with me, there is something I need to tell you.”
The Governor brought his two commanders to a temporary command post in the Valley of the Shadow and took out a document and handed it to them, Maxim’s expression changed drastically when he took a look at the contents of the document, and Kudel even exclaimed in shock:
“You’re planning to turn all these soldiers into vampires? Murphy! That won’t do!”
“You should at least read it before you comment, Hon. Kudel.”
Murphy whispered helplessly:
“There is a prerequisite, I mean, giving them a chance to choose whether or not to continue fighting when their lives are at stake and they are about to head to the world of death. That’s two very different concepts from me forcing them to be turned into vampires.”
“You’re asking them to choose between ‘dying’ and ‘becoming a vampire’ that’s not called giving them a choice!”
Kudel chortled:
“And there’s only so many members of the Blood Vulture Clan, it wouldn’t be enough for everyone to run for the first embrace, you’re just being whimsical.”
“Which brings us to the last card I’m keeping in my hand.”
It was at this point, Murphy didn’t pretend anymore.
With a flick of his fingers, a jar of source blood jumped into his hand, and under the illumination of the gas lamp overhead, the liquid refracted a strange light in the glass vessel.
“The original vampires were created by the Archdukes of the Ancients using diluted source blood, I don’t have much in my hand, but Tris has calculated that there is still enough to complete the first midnight embrace for thousands of people after a large amount of dilution.
In fact, before the evil form of blood pacts, it was our oldest and most ancient tradition to first embrace new members with pure and noble source blood.”
Murphy placed the jar of source blood on the table and said to the two commanders in front of him:
“Do you really think that I would believe that 3,000 recruits would be able to hold off the vanguard of the Black Plague here?
They are human beings, human beings have limits, there is always a limit to the amount of power that a strong will can erupt, and in this not-so-gentle world, they will have to make an awakening if they want to protect their homeland!
Kudel, I know you have irredeemable goodness in your heart, but just as I have no way of deciding their fate, you can’t make the choice for them either.
I want you to deliver this document to every soldier, make sure they understand what it says, and when they sign their names they will be given a second life.
This time it will no longer be a mass initial embrace in the name of the evil purpose of Blood expansion, this time it will be in the name of the Defenders and the Guardian!
I believe that the Blood Clan transformed in such a war is much more qualified to enjoy the blessings of the power of the Mother of Midnight than those peacetime cretins, and they are the ones who will be the backbone of the rebuilding of the Blood Wyvern Clan ushered in by Trixie and I.
The Archduke of the Blood Vulture has agreed to this plan, you only need to carry it out.”
Silence settled over the command post, Maxim didn’t think it was a bad idea, in fact he’d had a similar idea before and Maxim was a pragmatist.
He didn’t see anything wrong with giving soldiers a second life.
But Kudel apparently wasn’t so easy to convince.
The conservator stared at Murphy with a tight frown, and after ten seconds or so of thought, he said:
“What if the soldiers don’t want it? Would you kill them to force the first embrace?”
“No! I’m not that cruel of an alpha, so I’ll give them that!”
Murphy took out another document from the table and slapped it on the table, and Kudel scanned the document, which was greatly titled “Detailed Explanation of Transylvanian War Insurance – Second Revised Edition
The civil protection officer who had been fully involved in the establishment of the war hospital and the recruitment of apprentices certainly knew what this was, and he was laughed out of breath.
He slapped the table and said:
“So, after our soldiers give their lives for their homeland in a human body, they either become vampires to fight for it one more time, or accept those quacks’ modifications to replace their bodies with machinery to step back into battle?
Do they even have the choice to rest in peace?
O Mother of Midnight above, Murphy, it’s like I’ve never known you before, for a moment I thought you were different, but you don’t seem any different than any other vampire.”
“What you’re really trying to say is that I’m no different than the Salokdar who turned you into a vampire.”
Murphy glanced at Kudel as he spoke in a gentle tone:
“I understand your pain, Kudel, so I don’t blame you for physically attacking me, but I will not allow jackals to set foot in my Transylvania!
If I have to, in order to win, I will turn every single person I’ve worked so hard to raise who can fight into a vampire! I will turn Transylvania into a hell for the Jackals and anyone who is hostile to us!
I have said that my warriors and I are the embodiment of the will of this land of Transylvania.
It does not wish to experience the pain of being trampled upon, plundered and destroyed once more, and so in this war, I will give everything for victory.
If you feel that this is against your morals, then perhaps you “
“Say no more, both of you!”
Maxim, who had been silent all this time, spoke up for the first time at this moment, interrupting Murphy’s words as he said in a deep voice:
“Saying any more is going to break the unity, this matter itself shouldn’t have been brought up by Master Murphy, I am the commander of this army, I should be the one to decide the future of my army, it’s a duty that I can’t avoid.”
He reached for Murphy’s two papers and said in a hushed voice:
“Your Excellency, Governor, I assure you that the Valley of the Shadows will be the graveyard of Transylvania’s enemies, and it will be the most honorable place for the bones of all the loyal and brave men and women of this Black Plague War to be buried! But the defenders of eternity will rise again from the graveyard.
We will walk in the darkness of the night, both in life and in death, willing to give all we have for our homeland and the goals we believe in, and as you say, such a first embrace may be the only thing that will truly rebirth the Blood Vulture Clan from its long decay!”
After saying that, Maxim gave Murphy a military salute, then straightened his back and left in stride.
The two of them, Murphy and Kudel, were left in the command post, and the atmosphere was heavy until Murphy took the initiative to speak, he stood up and said:
“Perhaps in your heart, there is no longer any difference between me and Salokdar, but I still have to defend myself, I will not hide in a dark castle and use the lives of my loyalists as a bargaining chip, I am the lord of Transylvania.
Lords are supposed to protect their territory and their people.
I am also a warrior in this battle, and no one will set foot on that land until I fall, just as I will do so before I ask my soldiers to stake everything for victory.
I don’t need your understanding, Kudel, I only ask one thing, fulfill your duty to Transylvania!
You know what I am talking about.”
(End of chapter)