"Taigo is extremely powerful, but he was weak in dealing with the issue of Hatchling Dragon, which almost led to disaster."
Zane sat on her Throne, shaking her head slightly.
"Why did mother say that?"
Below the palace, Barloz, Gax and Ferrum are all there.
"So far in this war, we have lost more than half of our troops. If it were Tagoma Kingdom's troops, we would have collapsed long ago."
Zane looked at Barloz who asked the question, "Why do you think the soldiers of Ashmark Lineage can still maintain their combat effectiveness? Is it because of their loyalty?"
Several Hatchling Dragons shook their heads one after another. The family ruled Lost Wilderness by relying on authority and violence. The clans in various places mostly regarded Giant Dragon with awe and fear. In terms of loyalty, they were actually no more loyal than the soldiers of the Emerald Family and Storm Family.
"It's because Giant Dragon roared ahead and took the lead that they were willing to follow. Amidst the tragic casualties, all we can rely on is the determination to win and die."
Zane asked himself and answered, "Hatchling Dragon's departure cannot be hidden from the eyes of the soldiers. They are not puppets and have their own ideas. Since even Lord Giant Dragon has no confidence and quietly transferred his descendants, why do they still fight? Why do they still stay here and not escape?"
"They dare not escape."
Barloz said, "We can follow our mother's example. If one person escapes, kill a group. If a group escapes, kill the leader. If the leader escapes, destroy his clan."
"Idiot." Zane sneered.
Barloz's expression froze.
"When you were at Black Lake, you only saw me killing people, but you didn't see me leading the army. Killing was never the purpose, deterrence was."
Zane said slowly, "As a lord, you can be tyrannical, arrogant, cold and cruel, but you can't let the soldiers notice your weakness. The more you fight to the death and fight hard, the harder you must be. If your will is not firm, the military's morale will immediately be shaken."
"Of course you can take them to Battlefield with a knife, but you must also be prepared for them to disperse in a hurry. You should all know what Emerald Family's army looks like. The head of Young Dragon that Ferrum killed is still hanging on the flagpole in demonstration."
Barloz lowered his head and fell silent.
"It's not that I killed him myself."
Ferrum said, "It depends on the army, companions and Null-Magic Stone."
Zane glanced at him and continued, "Without Hatchling Dragon, the morale of the army has been lost. When Battlefield is added, the soldiers will collapse at the first touch. Is it necessary to continue this battle? With only four Giant Dragon lords who can still fight, at most they can only drag a few opponents to hell, and cannot change the outcome of defeat."
Ferrum thought for a while and felt that military loyalty is a very complicated issue, and he did not completely agree with what Zane said.
"Since we plan to move, why not let the whole family move together? We can't give up Iron Throne's dignity and wild land, but we also want to keep Heavy-Metal Dragon's descendants and fire."
Zane exhaled a puff of black smoke faintly. "We are at a loss."
"We didn't leave, and what my mother was worried about won't happen again."
Gax took the initiative and said that he did not want his mother to talk about this matter anymore. Hatchling Dragons all respected Taigo and did not want the majesty of the king of Iron Dragon to be stained with dust.
Zane seemed to have no intention of slandering Taigo, so he changed the topic. "How did Veloa arrange it?"
After the battle, both Tungsten Dragon Lord Noz and Black Lake lord Zane were seriously injured. Taigo also needed time to breathe and recover. Now it is lord Red Tide Shoal who is in charge of the overall situation and deploying strategies.
The Hatchling Dragons recalcitrantly resisted orders and refused to be transferred, so they had to report it to Veloa face to face. That was the fourth Giant Dragon lord that Ferrum saw. Veloa·Ember Scar looked very noble and graceful, and his treatment of them was unexpectedly gentle.
Perhaps she had known for a long time that Jelierion and Hidorivi would not leave. Veloa was actually very happy that Hatchling Dragon could stay and fight alongside her son.
Gax and Barloz remained silent, waiting for Ferrum to speak.
"Abandon the Steelspine Plains defense line, stop fighting in the field, and fully retreat to Ash Fortress."
Ferrum reported, "Storm Family discovered that after we retreated, we were bound to launch a siege, so she redeployed four troops, and the four Giant Dragon who were still able to fight The lords guard the four sides, the Taigo leader is at the front, and Nurturer is the weakest, so all Hatchling Dragon join Young Dragon Warband."
"If you give up Steelspine Plains, the pasture they have always regarded as their lifeblood will be lost." Zane said.
"Losing the land is only temporary. Even if the enemy burns down the entire pasture, Steelspine Plains will still be able to glow with new vitality in the coming year, but if we are defeated, everything will be lost."
Barloz continued, "These are the original words of Lord Veloa."
"Finally I have some insights."
"Storm Family launched an expedition with a large army. Their members, soldiers and Thunder Beast consume huge amounts of food every day. We only need to stick to our own land and wait for reinforcements to arrive, which will be a turning point in the war." Gax added.
"It's a good idea."
Zane nodded. "It's a pity that she is still too stupid to understand that the family's strength is already at a disadvantage. If it is scattered and guarded in all directions, it will be defeated by each one. If we defend like this, when Storm Family really launches the attack, let alone March, it will be a blessing to be able to maintain it for three days."
"What do you think, mother?"
Ferrum asked, Chrome Dragon's inheritance never taught him how to deploy war, and although Zane's character is flawed and his territory management is a mess, he is very good at commanding operations and can suppress Tagoma Kingdom by himself.
Wilds Campaign Left-Wing Legion's victory further proved her ability.
Zane was not in a hurry to speak, but stepped aside, took some parchment and charcoal, and wrote while narrating:
"What Ash Fortress can rely on is not just a few city walls. The family spent thirty years strengthening this fortress and building a continuous fortification consisting of outer walls, rammed earth slopes, forts, inner cities and palaces. Each of them is a barrier that we can rely on."
"Symbolic defense is still necessary, but the family cannot be scattered on the outer wall and fight to the death. Instead, the main forces must be concentrated together. The Giant Dragons lead the soldiers to defend layer by layer, strangle each pass and engage the enemy."
"Fighting inside Ash Fortress, we can advance and retreat freely, but all Storm Family can do is attack. The family will lose Ash Fortress layer by layer. However, compared with the casualties of troops, this is an affordable price."
"When attacking and defending at the pass, we have to be more resolute. At other times, we can be relatively flexible and slowly let Storm Family attack in and try to bleed them."
"In this way, when reinforcements arrive, we will no longer just have a chance to turn around, but an opportunity to win."
Zane finished the tactical deployment and then said:
"My child can tear Young Dragon's body apart. Putting Ferrum in Warband to defend blindly is a waste of his talent. Positional offense and defense are what Iron Dragon and Cobalt Dragon are good at. The only thing the blade can do is cut."
"Veloa should reorganize the troops, give her Wyvern Regiment along with Lesser Dragon to my children for screening, and reorganize into an elite force of 500 people. The strength of these 500 people is enough to rival Young Dragon. Letting this force surround the fortress and hunt at low altitude will achieve greater results."
Barloz slowly gritted his teeth while listening.
Gax once said casually that Zane didn't treat them like his own offspring, and suspected that their mother was someone else, another family member who died in the previous Dragon Blood War.
This was of course a ridiculous joke. At that time, Barloz didn't think Zane was harsh, but he thought his mother had such a personality, so he didn't take it seriously.
However, my mother attaches great importance to Ferrum. She is proud of Ferrum's power in her words, and is even close to her, as if Ferrum has become Iron Dragon, and they are the Chrome Dragon that she picked up.
Barloz had a sullen face, but the depression in his heart was rolling like a sea tide.
"Will Lord Veloa hand over her troops?" Gax asked.
"I made a complete strategic deployment."
Zane handed out the parchment. "Show this to her. As long as Veloa is not really hopeless, she will agree."
Gax stepped forward and took it respectfully.
"Right."
Zane suddenly asked, "Where is the other Archaic Species, the Hatchling Dragon named Ladon?"
Barloz and Gax looked at each other, and finally Barloz spoke, "Ladon didn't meet us, but he didn't leave either. He stayed at Taigo all the time. Around, it is said that the main Battlefield killed many people before, as well as several young boys Blue Dragon, Taigo's Ironfang Warriors are guarding him."
"Ironfang Warriors..."
Zane smiled coldly, "He is really the successor of Dragon King."
She waved her hand. "Ferrum stays, you go first."
Barloz reluctantly left first with Gax.
Ferrum knew Zane's temperament, so he simply came closer to Throne and lowered his head to show respect without waiting for her to speak.
"I can no longer participate in this war, but I still have four Bloodfire Guards in my hand, which are similar in power to Taigo and Ironfang Warriors. I will lend them to you for the time being."
Zane was satisfied with his obedience and caressed him. "Your life is very valuable now. Since you have swallowed two pieces of me Nether Iron, you can't die easily."
"Thank you mother." Ferrum said.
"In addition, I will entrust you with one more small thing."
Zane said, "Valyria told us Bloodline Refinement's method, but Gem Dragon's meditation is of no use to me. I need Chromatic Dragon's method."
"I don't have the inheritance of Chromatic Dragon."
"There is no need for the inheritance of Chromatic Dragon. I got some information. Storm Family has a Juvenile Dragon, and its name is Yuge·Kelangemo. It is said that Golden Gate of Bloodline Refinement has been opened, and it is only the last step away from Archaic Species."
Zane narrowed his eyes. "Go and kill it, bring the Juvenile Dragon body back to me, and after tasting its blood, I will know what you need to know."
"Yuge."
Ferrum Repeat this name.
As early as the beginning of the war, Nurturer said that Juvenile Dragon was his target. Ferrum had already begun to pay attention to it at that time. Now that Zane mentioned it, he paid more attention to it.
I wonder if Chromatic Dragon, who can Bloodline Refinement, will be his strong enemy.
"Of course it will be a strong enemy."
Zane saw his expression and reminded, "Blue Dragon is different from Green Dragon. Although Dragon Blood War and Ashmark Lineage won the last game, they also lost several members. The descendants of natural disasters are indeed our enemies and cannot be underestimated."
"Understood."
Ferrum nodded in agreement, turned around and walked away.
I met Barloz guarding the door again.
Barloz looked at Ferrum, and Ferrum looked at him.
Chrome Dragon's Opening Sight ability allows Ferrum to feel Barloz's emotions, and he can't help but feel a little more sympathetic.
So he patted Barloz on the shoulder and said, "Except for Nether Iron, I have no intention of competing with you for more things. Dragons are not willing to live under others for a long time. When I have power comparable to Zane, the situation will not be like this again, so don't think too much."
Barloz was startled. "Aren't you afraid that your mother will be angry when you say such things?"
Ferrum shook his head. "You don't know her, but if you know that I have such fighting spirit, she should be happy, not angry."
Then his expression moved slightly and he raised his eyes to look at the pale sky.
Since the end of Wilds Campaign, a gap seems to have appeared in the sky, spitting endless wind and snow to the earth, but at this moment, the gap is slowly closing until it disappears.
"The snow has stopped." Ferrum said softly.