Feigning an Attack

"But..." Marissa wanted to say something, but when she saw Karl approaching, she quickly tried to get up.

"Don't move, Marissa, sit down." Karl quickly stopped her, then knelt down to check Otto's injuries with concern. "Otto, how are you feeling?"

Seeing that the Lord had come to comfort him in person, Otto was very excited and struggled to sit up. "Lord... Lord! I'm fine! It's just a minor injury... it'll heal with time!"

Karl gently pressed down on his shoulder. "Lie still and don't move."

He looked at Otto's many wounds, especially his broken arm, and his heart was filled with gratitude and guilt. "Otto, thank you, thank you all. Without your desperate resistance on the walls, Carnford would have fallen long ago. You are Carnford's hero."

Otto smiled sheepishly, a little embarrassed. "You flatter me, sir... This is... this is what we should do."

Karl's gaze shifted to Marissa, who was silently weeping beside him, and he felt even more guilty.

He solemnly said to Marissa, "Marissa, I also want to apologize to you for causing your husband such serious injury and for making you and your unborn child live in fear... As the Lord, I failed to protect you..."

Marissa quickly shook her head, wiping away her tears with her sleeve. Her voice was choked with emotion but firm. "No, sir! Please don't say that! Otto did it to protect our home! We... we don't blame you! As long as Carnford can hold out, as long as everyone can survive... a little injury is worth it!"

Hearing Marissa's simple yet profound words, Karl felt a surge of warmth and a strong sense of responsibility.

These were his people, a lovely and respectable group of people! He secretly vowed to lead these survivors to rebuild their homes and enable them to live a peaceful life.

He also visited several other soldiers who were seriously injured, encouraging them to focus on their recovery.

Beneath the Fran City, in the Sauron camp, at the central command tent of the Sparrow Corps.

Ulf held a hastily written battle report that had just been delivered by fast horse in his hand. His face, which had been somewhat gloomy due to the long siege, now showed an extremely strange expression.

First came disbelief and astonishment, then an uncontrollable sarcasm, and finally a low, gloating laugh.

"Heh... hahaha..." Ulf's shoulders shrugged slightly, his laughter sounding particularly jarring in the silent tent. "A hundred thousand troops besieged a tiny Carnford for over half a month, suffering heavy losses, and finally retreating in defeat? Ha! Ha! Ha! Harald, oh Harald! My good ' Great Chieftain '! You've finally met your match!"

He casually tossed the battle report onto the map covered with wolf skins, as if it were something filthy.

The few lines in the battle report seemed like the most absurd joke to him.

However, he had no doubt about the authenticity of the intelligence; the person who delivered the message was a trusted confidant he had placed in Harald, and he would never make a mistake in such a matter.

He just felt... utterly ironic!

Harald, who was always arrogant and called himself the Wolf of the Northern Territory, actually suffered such a big defeat in front of an unknown young Lord and a border fortress!

This is an unprecedented disgrace in the history of the Sauron Tribe's southward raids!

One can imagine the doubts and challenges Harald would face when he returned to Frosgard with his defeated troops and spoils of war!

The position of the tribal alliance's Great Chieftain is probably in jeopardy!

"Serves you right!" Ulf cursed inwardly.

He already harbored resentment towards Harald, and this time, during the southward campaign, his Sparrow Corps was left to gnaw on tough nuts in the Northern Territory, while Harald led the main force to plunder the fertile lands of the south. He had been holding back this anger for a long time.

Seeing Harald get humiliated, he was naturally pleased.

However, his gloating lasted only a moment before the cold reality, like the biting winds of the Northern Territory, jolted him awake.

What does Harald's defeat signify?

This means that the threat to Carnford has been eliminated, but it also means that... Ulf and his Sparrow Corps are currently isolated within the Goldflower Kingdom, with their rear vulnerable and without the support and cover of the main force!

His gaze suddenly swept across the area between Fran City and Carnford on the map.

If... if the garrison at Carnford, after repelling Harald, still has the strength, and even joins forces with any possible reinforcements, to pursue him northward, or to attack his Sparrow Corps directly from the flank and rear, then he will be in an extremely dangerous situation!

With the fortified city of Fran in front and pursuers behind, the consequences of being caught in a pincer movement would be unimaginable!

"We must retreat!" This thought instantly became incredibly clear and urgent.

But how to retreat? That Old Fox, Earl Rochefort, in Fran City, is no pushover.

If you show any signs of retreat, the enemy will pounce like a shark smelling blood and bite your tail hard. At that point, the retreat may turn into a rout!

A glint of cunning and ruthlessness flashed in Ulf's eyes.

He abruptly stood up and roared towards the outside of the tent, "Send word! All officers of the Regiment Commander and above, immediately proceed to the central command tent for a meeting! Quickly!"

Soon, all the generals of the Sparrow Corps gathered in the tent.

Ulf did not reveal the specific details of Harald's defeat, but solemnly announced, "We have just received urgent military intelligence that the main force of the Great Chieftain has returned north as planned. Our Sparrow Corps has completed its mission and is ready to retreat immediately!"

These words immediately caused a stir inside the tent.

Many generals showed expressions of relief, after all, no one wanted to continue wasting time besieging this impregnable fortified city in the freezing cold.

However, some cautious generals expressed their concerns. "Corps Commander, if we retreat now, what if the garrison of Fran City pursues us..."

Ulf sneered, interrupting him. "Therefore, we cannot leave quietly! We must launch a full-scale... attack!"

"Attack?" The generals were taken aback.

"That's right!" Ulf walked to the map and pointed heavily at the Fran City. "Order all battalions! Immediately assemble the troops and build simple siege weapons. In two hours, launch a full-scale feint attack on Fran City! Make a big show of force! Let that old bastard Rochfort think we're going to fight to the death, and keep him firmly on the city walls!"

He surveyed his generals, his tone resolute. "The attack will last for one hour! At that time, the central command will sound the alarm, the vanguard will become the rearguard, and each battalion will take turns providing cover, quickly disengaging and retreating northward! The supply battalion will proceed first, lightly equipped and with minimal entourage! The retreat route will be executed according to the pre-arranged plan! Anyone who disobeys will be executed!"

The generals suddenly realized what was happening and responded in unison, "Yes, sir!"