Legion Council
Frosgard.
Unag led his battered cavalry back to this place in a sorry state.
Along the way, they lost their armor and weapons, their morale plummeted, many warhorses collapsed and died by the roadside due to excessive running, and many cavalrymen were lost or deserted in the chaos.
Of the four hundred elite light cavalrymen who set out, fewer than three hundred were able to return with him to Frosgard, all of them looking exhausted and terrified.
However, what greeted them was not the thunderous fury they had imagined.
After listening to the detailed battle report from Unag and others, Harald's leader, though his face was terribly grim, ultimately only ordered Unag to be demoted by one rank, without imposing any more severe punishment.
While the Sauron penal laws were indeed cruel, Harald's rise to become a powerful ruler in the north was not solely due to his brutality, but also to his fairness and rationality in rewarding and punishing crimes.
He knew that the main responsibility for this crushing defeat did not lie with Unag's cavalry tactics.
Unag's forces successfully completed their pursuit, encirclement, and initial harassment missions.
The real failure stemmed from a serious misjudgment of the strength and resolve of the Carnford defenders, as well as the unexpected speed and scale of the Broomflower reinforcements.
The fact that Unag was able to break through the encirclement and escape with three hundred cavalrymen despite losing his main force and being surrounded by reinforcements is already a remarkable achievement.
Excessive punishment will only discourage warriors.
As for the captured Invag and his Sparrow Corps infantry, Harald was furious, but he also understood that they had done their best in the frontal assault, encountering an absolute disparity in strength and a well-prepared defense.
He held Carnford and that young Lord who had suddenly appeared responsible for this blood debt.
At this moment, an important "Legion Council" is underway in the Lord's Hall Frosgard.
Harald sat high on his throne, his face calm, but a cold flame burned deep within his eyes.
Below him, on either side, sat eight people.
These eight men were not all Corps Commander of major military corps, because at this time the Corps Commander of the Main Corps such as the Wolf, Tiger, and Bear had already led their elite troops to key passages for southward raiding, such as Blackstone Pass and Worton Fort, to prepare for battle.
Those present at this moment were mostly generals who had stayed behind to guard the rear, as well as high-ranking officers of the Sparrow Corps.
Besides the Corps Commander Ulf, there were several elite regimental Regiment Commander, a respected Third-Order Knight, and even a mage in a black robe with a chilling aura.
This is the highest decision-making form of the Sauron Tribe Alliance: "Military council."
Although the final decision rested firmly with Leader Harald, the opinions of these eight representatives from different corps and fields had a significant impact on him.
"Gentlemen," Harald's deep voice echoed in the hall, breaking the somewhat oppressive silence, "What are your thoughts on the new Goldspur of Carnford, and on this... setback we've just encountered?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Stark, the burly, bear-like Third-Order Knight Stark, let out a deep, booming roar, "What's there to see! Chief! Shame! This is a disgrace to the Sauron warriors!"
"More than six hundred brave soldiers have been lost in a newly established small outpost! If you ask me, immediately muster the troops, and this time I will personally lead the team! If we can't take it in one go, we'll try five times! Ten times!"
"Until that damned rock is completely crushed, and the head of that little Lord of the Broomflower is twisted off and used as a drinking vessel! Let all the Goldspur know the price of offending Sauron!"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Sigurd, a shrewd-looking strategist to Harald's left, spoke up at the opportune moment, seemingly asking a question but actually guiding the conversation, "The bravery of the Knight Stark is admirable, however, the main forces of each division are now preparing for a southward raid, and it is not easy to spare them."
"Of course, it seems that Corps Commander Ulf's Sparrow Corps is still stationed near Frosgard?"
As he spoke, his gaze shifted to the man opposite him who seemed somewhat distracted.
All eyes were focused on the Sparrow Corps Commander, Ulf.
He was still casually toying with a gleaming meat-cutting dagger in his hand, as if the strategic discussion before him was less interesting than the knife in his hand.
Upon hearing Sigurd's words, he lazily raised his eyelids, but instead of answering directly, he turned his gaze to Harald on the throne.
Harald understood Sigurd's intentions, but he slowly shook his head, rejecting this seemingly logical proposal.
"No, the main mission of the Sparrow Corps is to monitor the movements of Fran City. In this Battle of Carnford, the Earl Rochefort was able to send elite cavalry on a long-distance raid to rescue them in just a few days. This is enough to prove that his relationship with that minor Lord of Carnford is extraordinary, and he may even regard him as an important outpost."
"If we use the main force of the Sparrow Corps to attack Carnford, and fail to capture it after a prolonged siege, the defenders of Fran City will seize the opportunity to launch a pincer attack on us... The consequences will be unimaginable. We cannot afford to fall twice in the same place."
His analysis was calm and to the point; after he finished speaking, he even glanced at Ulf.
Ulf simply shrugged indifferently and continued playing with his knife, seemingly unconcerned about whether or not he would go into battle.
Sigurd did not give up and continued to speak, his tone becoming even more serious. "Your Excellency is wise, but Carnford is only two hundred kilometers away from Frosgard, practically right under our noses!"
"If we let it grow unchecked, allowing it to recruit refugees and strengthen the city's defenses, it will surely become a major threat in the future!"
"Back then, even those remnants of the Broomflower army far away in the Iron Islands were completely wiped out by the late Khan at great cost across the sea. Are we really going to turn a blind eye to this thorn in our side now?"
These words struck a nerve with many of the generals present, and some began to whisper in agreement.
Indeed, how can one tolerate someone else snoring beside one's bed?
At this point, Ulf, who had been silent all along, finally showed some noticeable reaction.
He stopped fiddling with the dagger, raised his eyes, and swept his gaze across the crowd before finally settling on Harald. His voice was calm yet carried an undeniable authority. "Sparrow Corps, obey the leader's decisions."
"When the leader says attack, my warriors crush them; when the leader says surround, we starve them to death."
He deftly kicked the ball back to Harald, demonstrating his absolute obedience.
Harald glanced at Ulf with appreciation; in crucial moments, this seemingly carefree Corps Commander always understood his thoughts best and offered his support.
He pondered for a moment, his fingers tapping lightly on the bearskin armrest, and finally made his decision:
"Stark's courage is commendable, and Sigurd's concerns are justified. Carnford must be eliminated! But not now."
His gaze sharpened. "It's already June. Raiding south is crucial for the entire tribal alliance's winter supplies; it's the top priority! The Main Corps must not be easily recalled, Ulf."
"Yes," Ulf replied.
"Your Sparrow Corps's mission remains unchanged: continue monitoring Fran City. At the same time, deploy sufficient forces to conduct a long-term siege and blockade of Carnford! Cut off all its connections with the outside world, harass its farmland and transportation, and deplete its resources and morale!"
"Remember, no large-scale offensive is permitted without my order!"
He surveyed the crowd, his voice resolute. "After the autumn harvest, each army will complete its looting, carrying abundant spoils as it safely returns through the pass!"
"Then we will gather our forces again, and with overwhelming force, we will launch a combined attack on Carnford! I want to see if that little stone fortress can withstand the full force of my Sauron army!"
"Yes, sir!" Ulf was the first to stand up and accept the order.
Stark, though still somewhat resentful, knew this was the safest strategy. He gave a heavy snort in agreement, and the others rose to their feet in response.