NEC Chapter 134: The Iron Wall of Cloud and Mist, Autumn Winds at Nightfall

War is the continuation of politics.

The flames of war between small nations are often merely the dying embers on the chessboard of great powers.

Just like sometimes, even when neither side in conflict necessarily wants to fight, they must fight, they cannot not fight.

Common people have their displacement and wandering, lords have their own helplessness.

September was the traditional harvest season on the continent. However, for the vast majority of kingdom farmers who struggled in the fields year-round, this September was definitely not a good time.

The tax officials from the towns, with bellies as large as women about to give birth, braved the still somewhat scorching sun and came to the farmlands where the harvest was in full swing. They bent down with difficulty and picked up a stalk of wheat.

The accompanying tax clerks immediately seized the moment, holding up magic crystals that flickered with faint light, using magical images to record this touching scene for the kingdom.

"All recorded?"

"All done, all done! Sir, look at your heroic bearing, like a celestial being. It truly makes us subordinates feel ashamed..."

The tax official scrutinized the images in the crystal with a critical eye. After a long while, he finally hummed a satisfied "hmm" from his nasal cavity.

Setting down the magical image device, when he turned around again, he had already put on an iron mask.

"Orders from the city lord, within three days, deliver the autumn grain tax in full. From each household, one out of every three able-bodied men must serve the city lord!"

"All of you, hurry up! If you delay the city lord's affairs, don't blame us if our swords show no mercy!"

Yes, when harvest season arrived and the kingdom's grain stores were abundant with idle manpower, the war that hadn't been finished before was about to continue.

Once a century of peace was broken and wounds were torn open, they wouldn't heal so easily. The curtain had been raised on a new round of continental annexation wars. The temporary ceasefire agreement reached under the mediation of two great powers was understood by all parties to be nothing but waste paper.

The moment any side was ready for war, the flames would immediately reignite.

The Greenspine Kingdom knew this as they sharpened their weapons, preparing to launch an attack. The Emerald Duchy also knew this as they stood ready in strict formation, preparing to receive the assault.

In the autumn of Sky Empire Year 1427, the armies of the two nations, facing each other across the New Amber River, erupted into a small-scale local conflict triggered by a magic fireball that flew in from who knows where.

Before the letters of inquiry could even be delivered to the lord's mansion in Cloudmist, the Greenspine side had already begun large-scale river-crossing operations.

It must be said that the loss of the Crystal River defense line was truly too painful for the Emerald side.

Having lost a major river defense line, they could only retreat to defend a tributary. The enemy could brazenly build ships on the Crystal River, practice forced crossings, then go upstream along the river intersections, directly turning the New Amber River into a smooth thoroughfare.

With the loss of the territorial natural barrier, troops from three territories of the Greenspine Kingdom continuously crossed the New Amber River in an unending stream, launching sieges on cities. Everything seemed to be a replay of the war that had just occurred.

Except yesterday it was South Pass Territory, and today it was Cloudmist Territory.

However, the military strength of Cloudmist Territory was completely different from South Pass Territory.

Earl Liuyun's territorial taxes were less than half the average level of the surrounding areas, and his conscription and corvée labor of the people also belonged to the relatively friendly category.

During the decades the Earl had governed the territory, large numbers of refugees from the surrounding areas had continuously flowed into this fertile plain, clearing wasteland for cultivation. So even though the exploitation of his subjects was limited, Cloudmist Territory's strength was significantly higher than its neighbors.

The combat effectiveness and morale of the troops were the same. Wherever Earl Liuyun's longsword pointed, the warriors of Cloudmist would roar and shout like beasts smelling prey, charging into battle formations!

As soon as the war began, Earl Liuyun, who had prepared for war in advance, immediately led his army south and engaged in three consecutive hard battles near the Twin Tower Fortress, completely crushing the invading Greenspine left flank army.

With the flank lost, Greenspine's central group had to halt their offensive and reorganize their defense line.

While Earl Liuyun put on a grand display of preparing to assault Greenspine's central army, after using griffin riders to blind the enemy's long-range battlefield reconnaissance, he forced marched for two days and nights straight, directly stabbing into the flank of the Greenspine right flank army that was besieging Purple Rose City.

With one of the three armies dead and another wounded, the Greenspine central group had to contract their lines and establish static defenses in place.

In just half a month, Earl Liuyun's reputation soared, and the name "Iron Wall of Cloud and Mist" echoed throughout the southern nations.

Compared to the jubilation throughout the Emerald Duchy, the lord of Cloudmist Territory, Earl Liuyun himself, was actually full of worry, staring at maps day after day, searching for every possible opportunity and vulnerability.

Vulnerabilities were the enemy's opportunities.

Earl Liuyun, who was skilled at exploiting enemy vulnerabilities, was most worried at all times about the enemy seizing an opportunity.

"Father, you're too tired. You should rest. If this continues, your body won't be able to take it!"

The speaker was Earl Liuyun's son, the camp's deputy commander, duchy baron, third son Liuchuan.

According to noble customs, except for male descendants of imperial and royal families who were called "Your Highness," children of all others, whether dukes or barons, could be called "young lord."

With Earl Liuyun personally leading the campaign this time, the first heir had to stay behind to guard Cloudmist City, in case something happened to the Earl while away.

The second heir had been arranged early by Earl Liuyun to go to the capital of the Emerald Duchy to seek aid. In some sense, this was also a backup arrangement.

If the territory truly collapsed completely, at least there would still be an "exiled lord of Cloudmist Territory" in the Emerald Duchy, waiting for a possible future lifeline.

So following the Earl into battle were the third son and the sixth and seventh sons and other children.

Taking the cup of tea his son handed him, he drank it in one gulp.

"Rest? I can't rest!"

"The enemy can make ten mistakes, a hundred mistakes. If they lose here, they can retreat across the New Amber River. If they lose again at the New Amber River, they can still retreat across the Crystal River."

"But we can't afford to lose even once. Lose one battle, and enemy fireballs will be hitting the walls of Cloudmist City."

"Your mother and brothers are all there!"

Liuchuan had followed his father in campaigns for years and naturally understood the situation. When the weak faced the strong, they often had this kind of helplessness.

Every time you placed a bet, you wagered your entire fortune and life, while if your opponent lost, they really just lost some money and could immediately push forward double the stakes, continuing to force you to gamble your fortune and life.

The biggest difference from gambling was that war had higher technical content.

"Father, I don't understand. Why does Resting Moon just watch as we get beaten, losing territory piece by piece, and refuse to send aid?"

"Are they really going to just watch as South Pass is lost, Cloudmist is lost, and the Emerald Duchy is lost?"

"Is the loyalty of these vassal states completely worthless in their eyes?"

Seeing his son's surging anger and righteous indignation, Earl Liuyun shook his head helplessly.

"The Resting Moon Dynasty has existed too long, just like the Sky Empire back then. It's old, rigid, with stiffened limbs."

"Think about it, how many years has it been since Resting Moon produced a pioneering knight who conquered actual territory? Fresh blood can't rise up! Children who want to build careers with sword and blade can't get ahead!"

"Above the dynasty are all old folks. They don't need to do anything, just inherit their dukedoms and marquisates by birthright. Who would want to fight wars?"

"So when war comes, they always want to negotiate first, to resolve things peacefully!"

"Anyway, losing one or two territories below, or even one or two duchies, what does it matter to the Resting Moon Dynasty?"

"But Father!" Baron Liuchuan's hand slammed heavily on the upper part of the map, making a crisp sound. "Why doesn't Mistmoon have this problem? They're still launching external wars!"

"No, Mistmoon has it too, and compared to Resting Moon, the problem is even worse. Those are old bastards wearing divine robes. What kind of wise decisions do you expect from them?"

Seeming somewhat tired, Earl Liuyun leaned back in his chair. The third son moved closer and gently massaged his father's arms.

"The reason Mistmoon is still actively provoking external wars has two causes. First is that their external pressure is smaller than Resting Moon's."

"Back then, the Moon Alliance resisted the Sky Empire's rule and drove Sky forces west of the Dragon's Spine. This territory was divided among over a dozen countries, large and small, led by Resting Moon and Mistmoon."

"As the two leading powers, there was a division of labor. The Resting Moon Dynasty held the western front, directly facing the Sky Empire's counterattacks, while Mistmoon Divine Court guarded the eastern frontier, resisting the beast tide invasions from the wilderness."

"Now you can see, Sky never stops thinking about returning to the continental center. But the beastmen, since Mistmoon abandoned the White Deer Plain, beastmen and Mistmoon haven't fought for over a hundred years."

"Now it's us small countries caught in the middle who bear the beastmen's raids, endure Mistmoon Divine Court's steady encroachment, and face constant harassment from Mistmoon's greedy vassals below."

"And Resting Moon? Half their main force is in the west guarding against Sky, half must guard against Mistmoon. That their support for countries like ours always comes late is not surprising at all."

Liuchuan finished massaging one side and switched to the other, continuing to ask, "Then... what's the other reason?"

"The other reason is that Mistmoon's upper echelons are completely in cahoots with the dwarves. The dwarves can already deeply influence Mistmoon's decisions."

Mentioning the dwarves seemed to trigger some unpleasant memories for Earl Liuyun, his voice becoming somewhat sharp. "Those guys who can't reach my crotch even on their tiptoes are too greedy!"

"They want to turn every region they can influence into their slaughterhouse for extracting marrow from bones."

"Do you believe it or not?" The Earl suddenly opened his eyes, staring intently at his son with burning gaze. "As long as I open gambling halls and usury operations to those dwarves in my territory, those guys across from us would immediately withdraw their troops and happily invite me to dinner!"

Liuchuan looked up several times, wanting to speak but hesitating. Finally, he couldn't help but ask, "Then... Father, the territory is already like this. Why... why can't we do that?"

"Don't think such nonsense, my child!" The Cloudmist lord stroked Liuchuan's hair. "Dwarves are all parasitic creatures who can possess others. Once you let them in, either you become one of them, or you watch them drain you and your territory completely dry."

"Everyone has things they're good at and not good at. If you don't understand politics, don't get involved in these matters."

"Let your elder brother and the others worry about these dirty political struggles."

The father and son chatted on for quite a while.

Candlelight flickered in the tent, illuminating the heavy weight that couldn't be dissolved in the Earl's brow and the jagged battle lines on the map.

Liuchuan silently and gently massaged from his father's tense arms to his stiff thighs and calves.

Only when Earl Liuyun's heavy snoring sounded in the tent did the young baron carefully tuck the thin blanket around his father and tiptoe out, his figure melting into the shadows of the camp.

Returning to his own tent, a voice eagerly greeted him. "Young lord, did the Earl agree?"

Liuchuan sat down without a word, remaining dazed for quite a while before shaking his head under his aide's expectant gaze.

"I don't know if Father sensed something. I hadn't said anything yet, but Father brought up Mistmoon and the dwarves."

"He said we absolutely cannot cooperate with the dwarves."

"Father also said that swaying with the wind without foundation will definitely result in being uprooted by others at will..."

Hearing this, the aide's face filled with undisguised disappointment, but soon a few traces of murderous light flashed in his eyes as he began his final persuasion.

"The Earl insists on dragging the entire territory to be buried alongside the decaying duchy. Surely you can see this clearly, young lord!"

"East Pass Territory is finished, South Pass Territory is finished too, and Cloudmist Territory will definitely be destroyed as well. This is the general trend, unchangeable."

"The Emerald Duchy can't hold on for more than a few days. By then, even if there's an exiled noble heir, would it be you?"

Liuchuan held his head in some pain. "No, I cannot betray Father!"

"No, how could this be betrayal? Mistmoon is willing to give you a promise. As long as you agree to a few small conditions, Cloudmist Territory will still be Cloudmist Territory, and your family will still be the rulers of Cloudmist Territory!"

"Most importantly, you will become the new Lord of Cloudmist."

"No, Father has trained me for so long. I cannot harm him!"

"A shattered territory becoming someone else's pasture, a destroyed family becoming enemies' slaves, that would be the real betrayal of your family."

"Your father's approach is what will destroy the family."

"You are saving it, aren't you? Saving the crumbling territory and the family facing life and death. Think about it, your ancestors are watching you, my lord!"

"Death, becoming a handful of unknown dust, your loved ones being humiliated and trampled by enemies! Or continuing the family's glory, becoming a great lord, a true master, even... a monarch?"

These words were like demonic whispers, circling in his ears repeatedly, constantly hammering at his soul, causing Liuchuan's entire body to tremble slightly. At a certain moment, the young general raised his head, his eyes already filled with bloodshot veins.

"If, if I accept, what about Father... what will happen to him? Can, can his life be preserved?"

The aide finally let out a long breath of relief.

Being able to ask this question meant the outcome was already decided. This young lord was merely finding himself a stepping stone for his final descent into corruption.

"Of course! My lord!"

The aide's voice instantly became fawning and fervent. He knelt on one knee, performing an exaggerated oath of loyalty.

"From now on, you are the supreme master of Cloudmist Territory! The life, death, glory, and shame of everyone on this land depends entirely on your single thought! Your father, Earl Liuyun, is naturally included."

Liuchuan stood up, staring blankly at his own palms.

The long autumn wind swept across the Cloudmist military camp outside Purple Rose City, causing the fires near and far to sway unsteadily, flickering bright and dim. Occasional calls of night owls carried far through the silent night sky, suddenly causing a bone-chilling coldness.

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