Earl Rochefort's Imminent Support
"Carnford! Karl's territory!" Earl Rochefort slammed his fist on the table almost instantly, his face ashen, a sharp glint in his eyes.
He almost instantly sketched out the most likely truth in his mind!
"Either Lyon's reconnaissance team lost the battle and was chased all the way by the Sauron, fleeing to the nearest Carnford, for refuge!" He spoke very quickly, as if analyzing the enemy situation on the battlefield.
"Either... they won! They might even have severely damaged one of the Sauron forces, enraging the Sauron, and then also chose to retreat to the relatively closer and more concealed Carnford to regroup!"
He turned sharply to the disheveled reconnaissance officer, his voice carrying an undeniable certainty. "Judging by the scale of the Sauron's mobilization, even going so far as to deploy their Main Corps, including infantry, to attack a newly established stronghold... Lyon and his men have probably won a major battle! And inflicted heavy losses on the Sauron! They're here for revenge! To silence them!"
This conclusion made the Count's heart clench.
If that's the case, then Carnford is facing a threat far more than just three hundred men!
What the reconnaissance team saw was likely only the vanguard or a portion of it! The actual number of troops the Sauron subsequently committed was probably far greater than that!
"With Karl's current strength... his newly built fortress, those newly armed militia..." The Count's brow furrowed tightly as he rapidly calculated in his mind, "Even if he can temporarily hold them off with the advantage of terrain and fortifications, he will inevitably suffer heavy casualties! He might even... he might even fall!"
There lay not only the vast resources and effort he had poured into the land, but also the young Lord he held in high regard, a potential key figure in the Northern Territory, and his daughter Charlotte! He could not stand idly by!
"Dispatch twice the number of scout cavalry immediately!" The Count's voice suddenly rose, filled with decisiveness and urgency. "Use the fastest horses and the most experienced scouts! Keep a close watch on that Sauron army! I need to know their exact numbers, troop composition, whether they have siege equipment, and their latest movements! Report any changes immediately! There must be no errors!"
"Yes, sir!" The officer acknowledged the order and turned to rush out.
"Wait!" the Count called out to him, his gaze sweeping over the adjutant and clerk who had rushed over at the sound of his voice. A series of orders were issued like a sudden storm:
"Sound the alarm bells throughout the city! The entire city is now on wartime alert!"
"Immediately draw... no, assemble two full-strength cavalry battalions, one heavy infantry phalanx, plus all available archers and crossbowmen from the City Defense Army and the First and Second Standing Regiments! I want the most elite troops!"
"Order the Quartermaster to immediately begin allocating rations, arrows, and medicine! Prepare supplies to sustain at least ten days of high-intensity combat!"
"All officers on leave, return to your posts immediately! Inspect the saddles, harnesses, and horseshoes of all horses in service!"
"Hurry! We're racing against time with the Sauron! Every second that Carnford holds out increases our chances of victory!"
The entire Governor's Office instantly became like a pond tossed with a boulder, creating ripples!
The order was quickly relayed, and the heavy alarm bells soon rang out from the Governor's Office tower, then spread throughout the city.
Fran City, this important Northern Territory, was like a lion awakened from its slumber, its muscles tensing rapidly and its sharp claws bared.
The Count walked to the window and looked southeast, his gaze seemingly trying to pierce through the mountains to see the newly built fortress facing a storm.
His hands clenched into fists.
"Hold on, Karl ... Charlotte ..." he whispered to himself, "Reinforcements will arrive soon!"
Two full days have passed since the Sauron Cavalry first appeared on the outskirts of Carnford.
For the past five days, Carnford has been like a hedgehog surrounded by wolves, curling up his body and raising all his quills.
All daily production activities had ceased, and the entire territory had entered a tense and oppressive state of war.
Fortunately, thanks to the previous bumper harvest and reserves, the fortress still has a considerable amount of food stored up, so there is no need to worry about food in the short term.
However, the psychological pressure from the Sauron' continuous siege and the cavalry blockade was increasing day by day.
The people hid in their houses, peering nervously out through the cracks in the windows; unease and fear filled the air.
The soldiers stood guard behind the fortifications day and night, their tense nerves and the monotonous wait draining their energy.
Karl had already moved his command post and bed to the front-line military camp, living and eating with the soldiers and keeping a close eye on the enemy's movements.
He knew that the other side's inaction meant that a bigger storm was brewing.
Sure enough, on the morning of the fifth day, as the first rays of dawn barely dispelled the night fog, the alarm bells on the watchtower were rang frantically.
Everyone who woke up saw a sight that caused their hearts to stop.
On the distant horizon, where only Sauron cavalry used to roam, a dark mass of infantry formations appeared!
A dense array of Sauron infantrymen, clad in various leather and iron armor, wielding spears, Battle Axe, and broadswords, were gathering and forming ranks at the front!
Their numbers far exceeded those of the previous cavalry; a rough estimate puts them at least a thousand men!
The real siege army has arrived!
"Sauron! Lots of Sauron infantry!"
"They... they're carrying battering rams!"
"Oh my god! We're doomed..."
Behind the defensive line, both militia and soldiers, witnessing this horrifying scene, inevitably fell into immense panic.
Whispers turned into screams of terror, and the once orderly battle line began to stir and fall into disarray.
Faced with an enemy force several times their size, equipped with siege weapons, a sense of despair began to spread.
Karl arrived at the position immediately, followed closely by Charlotte, Brendan, and others.
As they watched the approaching, menacing Sauron army, everyone's expression turned extremely grave.
"Finally... it's here." Karl took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
He had long anticipated this day, but he hadn't expected the enemy's forces to be so formidable.
"Karl ..." Charlotte's voice trembled slightly, her hand instinctively gripping the hilt of her sword.
Old Brendan's white eyebrows furrowed tightly. "My lord, judging from this situation, Harald is determined to remove this thorn in our side. This force is enough to launch a real siege."