New Fortification Plan

In recognition of the breastwork's outstanding performance in defensive battles, Karl summoned the scribe, Old Morrell, to his study in the castle.

"Mr. Morr," Karl said bluntly, tracing the area surrounding Kahnford Fortress on the rudimentary map, "The tactics of breastworks and pre-set gaps proved extremely effective in the last defensive battle, but we cannot always passively allow the enemy to rush to our core fortifications. We need greater strategic depth and earlier warning and blocking capabilities."

He pointed to the relatively flat area below the fortress, now dotted with farmland and settlements. "I plan to start building more permanent walls down here, using the existing terrain and buildings."

"It's not just about building simple walls; ideally, you should select key locations, rebuild or even construct some sturdy stone towers or small fortresses, and then connect them with walls to form an outer defensive line."

Upon hearing this, Morr's gray eyebrows furrowed slightly, and a hint of doubt and worry appeared on his face. "My Lord, do you mean... we don't intend to use the outer area at the foot of the mountain as a buffer zone that can be abandoned, but instead plan to invest huge resources to build it into a position that needs to be defended?"

He remembered that the previous strategy was to abandon the outer perimeter when necessary and retreat to the core castle for final defense.

"No, Mr. Morr, you misunderstand." Karl shook his head. "Strategically, the periphery can still be abandoned if necessary, but 'abandoning' and 'collapse at the first touch' are two different things!"

He stood up, walked to the map on the wall, and tapped his fingers forcefully on the terrain around Carnford.

"Through this battle, I have come to realize that our soldiers, as long as they are well-equipped, properly commanded, and rely on strong fortifications, are in no way inferior to any of the Sauron elite troops in terms of fighting spirit and strength! We can no longer act as before, panicking and abandoning all outer positions as soon as we see the Sauron army pressing in, and hastily fleeing back to the castle to cower."

"Doing so would have extremely serious consequences! First, it would severely damage the morale of our army, causing soldiers to develop a habit of fearing the enemy like tigers, and becoming cowardly before the battle even begins! Second, we would lose all the farmland, houses, and workshops that our people have painstakingly cultivated, built, and worked on at the foot of the mountain, rendering their years of hard work futile. This would seriously shake the foundation of our territory and the hearts of our people!"

He paused, his tone becoming stern. "And most importantly, if we retreat to the castle at the first sign of a strong enemy, we will completely lose the strategic role we should play as the northern outpost of Fran City."

"The Sauron only need to send a few hundred men to build camps and hold them on the key passage down the mountain, and they can completely trap us on the mountain! At that time, we will be no threat to the Sauron army below the mountain, and can only watch helplessly as they rampage through the Northern Territory, and even calmly besiege Fran City!"

Karl drew a line on the map from the castle down to the plains below the mountain. "However, if we actively extend our defenses forward, even if it's just building a sturdy wall and a cluster of fortresses only a hundred or two meters long at the foot of the mountain, the situation will be completely different!"

"This extended defensive line is like a thorn in the throat of the Sauron! If they want to move south and threaten Fran City, they must first remove this thorn, otherwise they will be attacked from both sides. For this reason, they have to mobilize far more troops than are needed to besiege the castle to attack us, perhaps two thousand men, or even more!"

At the same time, Karl frankly admitted, "Yes, Mr. Morr, you are right. Extending the defensive line means we need to defend more points, lengthening the battle line, and we may suffer greater casualties and pressure when the enemy launches a full-scale attack."

"However, this also gives us more offensive options! This outer defensive line will become our springboard and sanctuary. Our cavalry can launch attacks from multiple exits of the city walls, harassing their logistics and attacking their weak points, thus taking control of the battlefield to some extent!"

He concluded, his voice firm and resolute. "In this way, we can firmly attract a large number of Sauron troops, keeping them tied down beneath the Carnford City. Every Sauron soldier we hold back here will alleviate the pressure on Fran City's front. Overall, we can relieve Fran City of at least a thousand to two thousand enemy troops' burden!"

"This is the ultimate strategic goal that Earl Rochefort hoped we would develop Carnford into a truly reliable shield and sword for the Northern Territory! We must not let him down, and even less can we let ourselves down!"

Morr listened to Karl's clear, logical, and powerful analysis, his previously furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and his eyes revealed deep thought and a gradually brightening light.

He realized that the young Lord had begun to transform from a defender who guarded his homeland into a ruler with a regional strategic vision.

He was indeed unwilling to easily give up the farmland, workshops, and stone houses built brick by brick by the people at the foot of the mountain, which were already taking shape.

The Lord's new strategy is clearly more proactive and assertive.

But he then raised a very real and pressing concern. "Sir, your plan is very wise, but... it's almost July, and the peas and rye in the fields will soon be ripe for harvest."

"Harvesting grain requires a large workforce. If we were to conscript a large number of people to build city walls and fortresses at this time... how would we allocate these people? Wouldn't this severely impact this year's harvest? Grain is the foundation for us to survive the winter and hold out for the long term!"

Karl seemed to have considered this beforehand, and he calmly replied, "There's no need to worry too much about manpower, Mr. Morr. As Sir Brendan said, our recent victory has already established Carnford's reputation and sense of security."

"I believe that more and more refugees from the Northern Territory and Freemen yearning for a stable life will come to us, and our labor force will be replenished."

He walked to the map and continued to elaborate on his specific ideas, "Moreover, the outer city wall to be built this time does not need to be as tall and majestic as the main castle. My initial idea is that the wall height will be four to five meters, and the rammed earth construction technique will be used to compact it layer by layer. This is the fastest and most labor-saving method."

"The exterior of the wall can be covered with a layer of stone plaster about one meter thick to enhance its defensive and anti-damage capabilities. The interior can be reinforced and supported with wood. At the same time, a combat platform can be built one to one and a half meters behind the wall for soldiers to stand, fire, and walk. The width of the wall should be enough for two soldiers to pass side by side."

Finally, his tone became decisive. "In my name, issue a nationwide mobilization order!"

"Make the current situation clear to all the people: the Sauron will not give up easily, and an even bigger attack is imminent! Once Carnford falls, everyone will face annihilation!"

"Defending their homeland is defending their own lives and property! Mobilize all available resources and increase daily corvée labor. I believe that after the previous battles and today's funeral, the people will understand and support us! This is the final moment of preparation for life and death, and we must do everything in our power!"

Seeing the unwavering determination and clear plan in Karl's eyes, Morr's last doubts were dispelled.

He took a deep breath, a serious and solemn expression appearing on his aged face. He nodded vigorously. "I understand, my Lord! Rest assured, this old minister will immediately draft a mobilization order, organize manpower, survey the terrain, and implement your strategy as soon as possible! Every single person in Carnford will fight to protect our homeland!"

After speaking, the old clerk bowed and then turned to leave with firm and hurried steps.