Louis had already given up on the local nobles. They really were all talk and no action.
Fortunately, he had plenty of talent under his command, along with abundant national resources and merchant guild connections.
With the war at this stage, Louis only hoped to hold on to his current territory. He couldn't let Lynn push south any farther.
After the first encirclement campaign ended, Louis had realized that these bandits, who fought much like the Rebel Army, couldn't be dealt with by conventional means.
They had reinforcements, and their commanders had all been sent from the Northern Border.
This was a different kind of campaign—a different kind of winter war.
To deal with this damn winter war properly, Louis began to take action.
He began asking for help. For instance, he went to his dear older brother, Lothair.
He explained the principle that when the lips are gone, the teeth are left exposed.
Then he tried to persuade the Eastern Nations.
He had the Demon Race approach the Khan.
He told them how dangerous Lynn was and how powerful he had become, hoping they would support him and join the fight.
He sought closer cooperation and asked for assistance.
Unlike before, when he had remained neutral, Lothair surprisingly agreed—but he had one condition: Louis had to reveal the details of the coup and tell him where their father, Charles, and his new consort, Freya, were.
Louis, of course, honestly said he didn't know.
He only knew that there had been breakouts at several locations that day.
Who knew where their Father Emperor had gone?
Louis had already used up all his credibility with his older brother, so Lothair simply didn't believe him.
Even so, with the pressure Lynn was exerting and the threat he posed, Lothair agreed to send