A Tale of Strategies For the Throne

Gastad's army and the mixed army of various countries that followed the Gastad people totaled hundreds of thousands, and were marching towards the royal city of Aaron Landis.

Aaron Landis had six legions in total.

The cavalry units of the First, Sixth and Third Legions were destroyed in the western battlefield.

The Second Army and the Fifth Army guarded the north to resist the return of the Geshurs, and were unable to go south to rescue them.

The Fourth Army Corps was guarding the eastern border and was held at the border by the eyeing Yisi people, who were also unable to go to the rescue.

In the critical capital, only the infantry of the Third Legion, less than 20,000 soldiers, guarded the capital.

In the various cities of Aaron Landis, most of the troops responsible for guarding the city only have a few thousand soldiers, and cities with more than 10,000 soldiers are extremely rare.

Putting aside their individual combat effectiveness, their numbers simply cannot match the Gastards, let alone rescue the royal city.

If the Lion King was still there, as long as he shouted loudly, troops from all directions would immediately gather, and the troops from all the cities would gather under his command.

However……

Without a clear flag, the city lords and governors of each city could only guard their cities helplessly and cautiously, watching helplessly as the Garstard army marched towards the royal city.

At this time, while Gastad's army was still moving forward on the road, a group of cavalry from the North had already rushed into the royal city under the cover of night.

The leading black knight completely ignored the uproar his return caused in the palace. He threw his dusty cloak on the welcoming maid and walked straight to Garlan's palace.

The guards who were guarding the palace day and night in accordance with the orders of the crown prince were surprised when they saw Heimos suddenly appearing here.

The leading knight captain was silent for a moment, and then he motioned for the others to get out of the way and put Heimos in. He looked at Heimos with a little surprise in his eyes, because although he had received the order, he I didn't expect that this prince would really come back.

Heimos, who only wanted to see Garlan, didn't notice the knight commander's eyes at all.

He strode inside.

Everything in the palace was exactly the same as before he left, without any change, including the group of lavender hyacinths by the pool, which were still fluttering gently in the night wind as before.

However, perhaps because the owner here was injured, or perhaps because it was late at night, the courtyard seemed very deserted at this moment.

As a result, Heimos's rapid footsteps were extremely clear in this silent courtyard.

Pushing open the door, Heimos quickly walked in and immediately saw the bulging white blanket on the bed.

The blanket he was wrapped in was rising and falling gently.

Rhythmic, unhurried and unhurried.

Huimos immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems that Garlan's body has recovered very well, otherwise he would not have slept so soundly, and he could even hear slight snoring...

snore?

Garlan never snores when sleeping.

Heimos raised his sword eyebrows and looked carefully at the bulging blanket.

The drum is too round.

That handsome face instantly darkened, and his expression became gloomy.

Heimos stepped forward and without saying a word, reached out and lifted off the white blanket that was wrapped in a ball.

As a result, the chubby boy hidden under the blanket was exposed to Heimos.

Completely unaware that the person he feared the most was right next to him, Tal continued to sleep soundly and snorted like a little pig because he felt a little cold.

His golden-red eyes narrowed slightly, Heimos raised his foot and kicked Tal off Garlan's bed.

The little fat man was sleeping soundly when he suddenly fell to the ground with a bang, making him stunned.

He was lying on the ground, with some traces of saliva from sleeping on the corner of his mouth, and his sleepy eyes were open with a confused look on his face.

Tal was still confused.

Heimos was already impatient and reached out to pick up the little fat man who was still lying on the ground looking around.

As soon as Tal raised his head and met those golden-red eyes, he immediately trembled.

When he saw clearly the dangerous glint in Heimos's eyes, which was staring at him, his heart almost jumped out of his throat.

"Where is Garlan..."

Heimos hasn't finished asking yet.

Tal, who was frightened to death, had already hugged his head and shouted in a low voice.

"Your Highness, don't do anything! The prince asked me to wait for you here!"

"…………"

Heimos paused.

Therefore, the little fat man who was frightened by Heimos' glance just now took advantage of his pause to pretend that the prince was injured, and together with Shermer and others, seduced the underground forces in the royal city. He told Heimos everything about coming out to catch them all.

Naturally, this includes the prince leaving a substitute and sneaking out of the royal city to go to the battlefield.

"You mean, Garlan asked you to wait for me here?"

"Yes, I received a message from the prince from the Western Region a few days ago."

Tal nodded vigorously.

"The prince said that you will definitely come to him, so he asked me to wait for you in his room. When I see you, I will give you this."

As the little fat man spoke, he quickly climbed back onto the bed with agility that was unlike that of a fat man, turned over a corner of the mattress, took out a cloth bag and handed it to Heimos.

It was a palm-sized cloth bag, light-colored, slightly stained.

Thin golden ropes tightly wrapped the opening, making it impossible to see what was inside.

Seeing Heimos staring at the small cloth bag in his hand, Tal quickly added.

"I didn't open it. I definitely didn't open it while you were away. I swear, I swear to Shamash!"

Too lazy to pay attention to the nervous little fat man, Heimos untied the rope and poured it into his palm.

A small emerald green thing gently landed on his hand.

He was startled.

Malachite earrings.

The emerald green gemstone earrings that he had put on for Garlan with his own hands were now lying quietly in his palm.

What fell next was a small folded white note.

As soon as he unfolded it, Heimos saw the familiar handwriting on the paper.

‘Guard the royal city. ’

The pale thin lips were slightly pursed. Heimos lowered his eyes, and the dark eyelashes cast a shadow on his cheeks. He remained silent and did not speak.

He clenched his hand and held the malachite earring tightly in his palm.

Seeing that Heimos was silent with his eyes lowered and ignored him, the little fat man's eyes rolled around.

"Here, I've given you the things. I've done what the prince asked me to do."

He climbed out of bed with a groan and said, "I can leave now to find the prince."

He showed a happy expression.

The recent period was nothing short of a nightmare for Tal.

Others didn't know, but as the prince's confidant, he naturally knew where the prince had gone.

The news that Aaron Landis's army on the western front had been completely wiped out was like a bolt from the blue, and it shocked him so much that he couldn't recover for a while.

King Camos died in battle... where was his... his prince?

completely annihilated.

In other words, his prince also died in the battle?

From that day on, he was in a state of confusion and couldn't even eat. He would run to the Lion Park every day and cry in front of the big lion Nerga.

His eyes were red and swollen every day, and he was losing weight at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The big lion Nerga is also very irritable. He always wants to escape from the lion park, as if he wants to find someone.

It wasn't until he received the secret message from the prince that Tarr came to life again.

If it weren't for the prince's instructions, he would have run to find Garlan regardless.

It doesn't matter how dangerous the place where the prince is now is.

Many years ago, when the little prince not only did not punish him, but also selected him, a good-for-nothing fat man, from among many children, he made an oath in his heart.

From then on he was the prince's most loyal servant.

No matter what happens, he will always be with the prince and never leave.

So now he has to go find the prince.

How can the prince do without him?

Mr. Keyhos doesn't know how to take care of people, nor does he tell jokes to make the prince happy.

Tal thought.

He is the prince's most loyal subordinate, so no matter what happens at any time, he has to stay by the prince's side.

Ah, by the way, we have to bring the big lion Nerga with us, otherwise the big lion will cause trouble. It has been so anxious recently that it has started to shed its hair. If the prince comes back and sees a bald lion...

While Tal was thinking this in his heart, he quickly climbed out of the bed, raised his legs and was about to run out.

After all, Priest Shemur promised him that as soon as he sent a message to His Highness Heimos, he would immediately send someone to take him and Nerga to the prince.

Well~~He will be able to see his prince again soon~~

"stop."

The words coming from behind made Tal, who was about to run away, tremble in his heart.

He stiffened his body, turned around slowly, and looked nervously at Heimos who called him.

"Your Highness, do you, do you have anything else to do?"

"Are you going to see Garlan?"

Holding the malachite earring in his hand, Heimos, who had been silent, raised his head and looked at Tal.

"Uh...yeah."

"Help me bring a message to Garlan."

As Heimos walked towards Tal, he raised his hand and took off the lapis lazuli earring that he had never taken off.

He handed it to Tal.

"Give this to him."

Heimos' eyes were fixed on the rough lapis lazuli earring in his hand, and the golden-red pupils reflected the blue color, as if melting together.

There seemed to be something inexplicable surging in his eyes, making his eyes look deeper and deeper.

"'good'."

Okay, I'll defend the royal city.

"'I'll wait for you to come back.'"

I'm here in the royal city, waiting for you to come back.

…………

……………………

Rudas City was quiet as usual.

Gastad's soldiers were as usual, running rampant in the city they conquered.

Late at night, in a remote corner of the castle, there is a large wasteland, with small shacks or simple wooden houses built on the wasteland.

This was the residence of slaves.

Although the city has changed its master, and these slaves have also changed their masters, their lives have not changed much.

At most, it's just a more harsh and cruel master.

As usual, they went out early and came back late, working sincerely for the new owner, and getting a few dry biscuits every day to barely satisfy their hunger.

There is no future, no hope, day after day, year after year, just living in such a muddle-headed way until death.

It is like a soulless tool held in the hands of others. Once it is used up, it will be abandoned without mercy.

At this moment, a man was lying in a wooden house with his head in his hands, looking up at the ceiling covered with cobwebs in a daze.

Although dozens of people were crowded into one room, this simple wooden house was much better than a shack made of grass. Only slaves like them who were strong and capable of working could live in it.

He was in a daze, not knowing what he was thinking. Suddenly, a companion next to him poked him.

"Have you decided yet?"

the man asked.

The man closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"I've decided," he said.

He opened his eyes suddenly and gritted his teeth.

"Give it a try!"

He lowered his voice and said, "We are all slaves. What he can do, we can do too! The worst is death! But if we succeed and survive, we can get rid of our status as slaves!"

His companion also nodded with bright eyes, but showed a hint of worry.

"But, do you think it's possible that this is a lie to us? After all, those nobles have always... They tricked us into risking our lives, and if they regret it in the end, there's nothing we can do about it, right?"

"I may not believe other nobles, but the Crown Prince is different. Do you remember Tozes City?"

It has long been known that many slaves in that city were freed after the war, and those who got rid of their slave status became the envy of slaves across the country.

You know, if you are born a slave, you will be a slave your whole life, and your descendants will be slaves.

And the slaves of Tozes actually obtained the civilian status they dreamed of, which was like a dream.

"The man who came to persuade us a few days ago was a slave there - no, I should say, he used to be a slave in Tozes City, but he is no longer a slave."

There was light in the man's eyes.

Now they have that opportunity too.

"He said that at that time, the Crown Prince promised them that if they defend Tozes City, they would be abolished as slaves. Therefore, he is no longer a slave and has become a subordinate of the Crown Prince."

"A crown prince who is willing to make slaves his subordinates will definitely keep his promise to us slaves!"

The man gritted his teeth and said, "This may be the only chance in our lives to get rid of our slave status. Even if it means death, I will accept it!"

As the man spoke, other people in the wooden house also raised their heads one after another and looked at the man.

Everyone had a look of determination on their faces.

This scene was played out in different ways at the same time in the many places where slaves were imprisoned in Rudas City.

Some timid slaves chose to retreat, but more slaves who yearned for freedom chose to take a chance.

The liberated slaves in Tozes City were among them, telling them about their personal experiences of becoming soldiers from slaves, telling them that these people lived a life full of hope every day after they got rid of their slave status.

The hearts of the slaves in Rudas City are getting hotter day by day.

…

………………

Another day and night passed by in such a hurry, the sun rose and then set on the horizon again.

Rudas City became quiet with the night as always, becoming silent in the dark night.

There are very few lights in the city. Because of the fear of the Gastad people, the city residents rarely light lights after dark. Therefore, in these days, the whole city is dark at night.

Only the military camp where the Garstard army was stationed, the camp where Aaron Landis surrendered, and the castle standing on the ground in the center of the city were brightly lit at night.

They became the brightest places in the city.

Juta was dining in a richly decorated restaurant with Gastad's generals.

The prince of Tire took away the army, but he also left troops in the city of Rudas.

After all, this city will become a stronghold for the transfer of food and supplies for his army in the future, so although there are no troops near Aaron Landis that can fight against the Gastards, he still cautiously leaves a certain number of troops to guard Ruda. Sicheng.

Utar, who had gained Tyr's trust and was familiar with the city, was left here, but the suspicious Prince of Tyr still left behind a Garstard army and two generals.

Juta was eating the exquisite food with a calm expression. The two Gastard generals obviously disdained to be with him and sat far away from him at the other end of the long table.

Most of the people in Gastad are straightforward and simple in character. They look down on this despicable person who betrayed their country and will not give him a good look.

Juta, who was accustomed to this, didn't care.

Yes, he doesn't need to care about what these reckless men think. He just needs to follow Prince Tire closely and gain the prince's favor.

Jutta has never regretted betraying Aaron Landis.

loyalty? Belief?

What could those things give him?

And as long as he follows Prince Tire, he can become a real noble, a ruler above ten thousand people, and the real master of this city!

traitor?

Ah.

History is written by the victors.

As long as Prince Tire becomes the master of Aaron Landis, and he becomes the prince's confidant, then the record of him in the history books will change from a so-called betrayer to a person who follows the wise master and knows the current affairs.

And the truth will be buried in the river of time with the death of Aaron Landis and disappear without a trace.

Just when Juta finished dinner and stood up to leave, suddenly, the originally quiet city suddenly became noisy.

Shouts were heard everywhere, and from the floor-to-ceiling windows, sporadic firelight suddenly appeared in the dark night, extremely conspicuous.

Most of the places where the fire appeared were places where slaves were imprisoned in the city - including the place where the castle was lit by fire.

The two Gastard generals put down their unfinished dinner and stood up with frowns on their faces.

Soon, a soldier hurried over to report.

"Sir! The slaves in the city are rioting! Not just the slaves here in the castle, but all the slaves in the entire city!"

"slave?"

A Gastad general frowned.

In his mind, slaves were like pigs and sheep, so he didn't understand how these guys who were equivalent to livestock dared to resist the Gastards.

However, if you don't understand, you don't understand. As the city's garrison general, he must suppress those guys.

He said to his companions, "Move the army to suppress those guys and kill them all."

They are just some slaves. If they dare to resist the Gastards, they will all be killed.

The Gastadians never knew what mercy was.

If you don't obey, you will kill until you obey.

His companion nodded and was about to go out with him when suddenly a voice came from behind them.

"Something's wrong."

Juta frowned tightly and said, "Why did the slaves suddenly resist? There is something wrong with this matter. I'm afraid it's not that simple."

He, who was already extremely suspicious, said, "You'd better not act rashly and check the situation first before talking."

The two people usually ignored Juta, so after hearing this, they just snorted heavily with their noses, didn't bother to pay attention to Juta, and walked out quickly.

They were going to mobilize the army to suppress the rioting slaves.

Seeing the two Gastard generals ignoring him, Juta's eyebrows were full of gloom.

You two stupid guys, just wait, you will regret it.

Is it just that the slaves could not bear the oppression of the invaders and therefore resisted?

No, it won't be that simple.

Otherwise, why did those slaves resist earlier, later, but now at this time?

Moreover, those slaves should understand that they cannot be the opponent of the army at all. Even if they are caught off guard for a moment, they will eventually be suppressed by the army.

So why would they do something that has no chance of winning?

unless…………

Juta's heart suddenly tightened.

Unless someone can pick them up!

Someone wants these slaves to cause a commotion from within and take the opportunity to open the city gate and let the responders rush in!

When he thought of this, Juta could no longer hold himself back. He ran out of the castle quickly and hurriedly dispatched his subordinates to the city gates in three directions.

And he himself led a group of cavalry and galloped towards the east gate of the city.

It was enough for the Gastard people to suppress the slaves. He had to arrange for people to guard each city gate.

Juta thought with a frown.

Although I don't know where the reinforcements came from, as long as the slaves are not allowed to approach the city gate and the city gate cannot be opened from the inside, then the person who planned this incident has failed.

Juta galloped like a horse, thinking in his heart.

But, who is the person who secretly planned this matter, the person who can actually make all the slaves in Rudas City willing to fight to the death...

Before he could figure it out, Juta looked up and saw the east city gate right in front of him.

The tall city gate stood in the dark night, silent and without any fire.

He felt relieved.

OK, it seems we've caught up.

Those slaves haven't rushed here yet.

Just when Juta was relieved——

In an instant, there was a burst of fire.

Dozens of burning torches lit up on the wall of the east city gate. The hot firelight suddenly reflected on Juta's face, stinging him and subconsciously closing his eyes.

The sting in his eyes took a few seconds to subside. When Juta opened his eyes again, his pupils suddenly dilated.

On the city gate, on the high wall, there was someone standing in the light of the fire.

Dozens of flames were burning behind the man, and his face could not be seen clearly. He could only roughly tell that he was a young man with a slightly slender figure.

The boy stood in the flames.

The bow in his hand was stretched to its limit.

The sharp arrow flashed with cold light.

The taut bowstring seemed like it would break in the next second.

The strong wind roared past the young man on the high wall, and the bright blond hair reflecting the firelight flew in the air, like a cluster of golden flames burning in the dark night.

That is--

The long golden hair flying like clouds in the night sky was deeply reflected in the depths of Jutta's dilated pupils.

A buzz.

Sharp arrows shot through the air.

A cold light pierced the dark night.

Heartbreaking pain suddenly came from his shoulders.

Juta, whose left shoulder was pierced by the arrow, fell heavily from his horse to the ground.