Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

With the current storage in Revodan, there is more than enough to meet the quota demanded by Maplestone City.

But...

"Don't give them anything! Damn it! Not a single grain!" Andre shouted angrily, "They send a piece of paper over and expect us to obediently hand over grain and money? What if they demand our lives next? Should we give those too?"

Winters fiddled with a small knife, "I think that even if we give them the grain, Adams would still send his troops."

On the matter of refusing to send grain, the six of them reached a consensus without needing discussion.

Refusing to give up the grain is easy, but what should they do next?

The current situation is fraught with internal and external troubles.

Outside, in Vernge County and Mont Blanc County, at least eight large enemy squads are gathering.

Inside, the displaced people are a powder keg that could explode at any moment, and Revodan is similarly rife with undercurrents.

Winters has no control over North Eight Towns and his influence in South Eight Towns is based on the support of the landowning class.

Once the rebellion-quashing troops arrive, Revodan will welcome them again with open arms, and the gentry of South Eight Town will quickly prostrate themselves at the feet of the New Reclamation Legion.

When it comes down to it, only the people of Wolf Town genuinely support Winters with all their hearts.

The rest are all fair-weather friends, ready to follow whoever wins.

In the battle to take Revodan, they had bitten off more than they could chew by swallowing a bigger fish. Before they could properly digest it, the Legion's fist swung their way.

The second person responsible for the current predicament, Lieutenant Tang Juan said carelessly: "The Colonel and I haven't been without consideration. Empty the granary, give up Revodan, and retreat to Wolf Town. If he wants to come, let him."

"If he comes, we retreat; if he doesn't, we hold onto Revodan. At worst, it will just be the original planned outcome," Colonel Moritz wasn't in a hurry either.

It's easy to swallow but hard to spit out.

Fortunately, they were not so enamored with a frontier city like Revodan that they lost sight of what mattered.

Andre slammed the table with a bang, saying viciously, "If we can't hold it, we won't leave it for them! Burn Revodan to the ground! Take the grain and retreat to Wolf Town and Blackwater Town! Two hundred kilometers of barren land will be enough for their supply line to suffer! If they dare to come, we'll eat them alive and push into Mont Blanc County and Vernge County."

Upon hearing this, Senior Mason couldn't suppress his laughter, "There's no need for that. Maplestone City isn't determined to eliminate us at all costs this time. Not only should we not retreat, but we should also fight. If we hurt them enough, we should be able to remain stable until next May."

Senior Mason had been downcast since his return today, absent-minded in the meeting, and this was the first time he laughed heartily.

Andre, irritated by the laughter, said, "Why do you say that?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Mason propped his chin on his hand, asking in return, "What happens in May next year?"

"What?" Andre pressed on.

Winters had already grasped Senior Mason's meaning, "The wheat ripens!"

"Exactly," Mason said matter-of-factly. "If I were General Adams, I would never launch a major offensive this winter. The Paratu People attack the Herders specifically during winter because the steppe roads are easier to travel, and it's also when the Herder's livestock are most vulnerable. On Paratu territory, the opposite is true."

Seeing the others listening intently, Senior Mason suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.

He swallowed and explained, "Winter is conducive to defense, not offense. If General Adams still has his wits about him, next May would be the best time for him to move his troops. The wheat ripens, reducing the pressure on supplies. If we abandon the city and retreat, they can harvest our wheat. If we stand firm, they can annihilate us.

Our soldiers lack training and morale is low, and General Adams' troops also need training. Instead of rushing to fight us, it's better for him to train his troops this winter and launch an offensive next year when the wheat ripens. General Adams has greater financial resources, grain reserves, and military strength than us, so no matter how you look at it, time is on his side."

"That's the way it is," Senior Mason said, spreading his hands and smiling awkwardly.

The conference room was very quiet.

"Well said!" Winters banged the table, cheering for Senior Mason.

Banging tables, clinking glasses, and stomping feet were common ways to enliven the atmosphere in the Land Academy and the army. Winters had no glass at hand, and stomping feet would be lacking decorum, so banging the table was his only option.

Bard and Tang Juan responded immediately, followed by Andre and Moritz.

They banged the table so loudly it thundered like the sound of galloping hooves.

The soldiers and clerks on the first floor looked up towards the conference room on the second floor, puzzled. Those unaware might have thought the officers were tearing down the house.

"We are earthen pots, and Adams is a porcelain vase," Winters said, reminiscently quoting the teaching of a predecessor, "Porcelain does not clash with earthenware."

Moritz lowered his eyelids and sighed softly.

"Adams, that cunning fellow, definitely doesn't want to fight us tooth and nail. In my view, he's preparing for both possibilities. If we collapse easily, he'll reclaim Revodan. If our "earthen pot" turns out to be tough, he'll wait until next year and bring out a hammer to smash us. The actions this winter, at most, serve as a military exercise."

Winters declared definitively, "We can't surrender Revodan!"

With the goal now clear, the next step was to formulate a battle plan around it.

Winters brought out a large-scale map that was still a work in progress, drawn based on maps collected by Colonel Jeska.

As if suddenly remembering something, Colonel Moritz mentioned to Winters, "With that being said, there's someone you need to meet."

"Who's that?"

"Of course, the one who brought the letter," Colonel Moritz sipped the water from his glass, "I've brought him here."