To stake everything on a single throw

  To stake everything on a single throw of the dice

  Late at night

  New Enno Oak State Glorious City

  Scattered fires were lit in the desolate city, reflecting on the cloud layer, revealing a faint crimson color. Large groups of soldiers gathered at the inner river port outside the city, boarding ships one after another under the illumination of countless torches. Despite the army's orderly formation, the air was always filled with an unshakable sense of solemnity and sorrow.

  Idriel? Lyriath stood on the tower of the harbor, gazing at the burning city of Glory, and sighed softly.

  "Are we going to fight another uncertain battle?"

  The predicament of the Elven Army was far more severe than what Idriel Lyriath had estimated. He could no longer provide for his troops' rations for next week (the calculation of time in this world is slightly different from ours, with a year having 365 days, divided into twelve months, each month having thirty days, and a week being ten days long, with the remaining five days not belonging to any month but standing alone as special divisions).

  After Idriel's troops left the North Pole Port, General Selar, commander of the Elf Expeditionary Fleet, in order to gain merit, unexpectedly took command of a part of light warships from the North Pole Port without notifying Idriel and without bringing enough supplies. After raiding some southern coastal cities, the fleet arrived at the mouth of the Blue River, Glory City, which had just been occupied by Idriel, putting him in a desperate situation.

  Originally, Idriel led 7,000 troops from the North Pole Port to attack southward, and various supplies had been consumed a lot. Relying on the spoils of war along the way, they could barely maintain combat. After entering the Glorious City, however, they found that all the large and small warehouses in the city were looted, leaving nothing but empty shells, and the residents fled in all directions. The elven army gained nothing. In the following days of mopping-up operations, they didn't get much either, and instead consumed a lot of ammunition in battle. When 11,000 sailors asked him to replenish food, Idriel fainted on the spot. When he came to, his first reaction was to take the guards to arrest General Seral and temporarily detain him.

  The meager stores of supplies that Idril had at North Harbor would, if carefully rationed, be enough to feed the 4,500 people under her command for a month, but with the added drain of the fleet's needs, they could hardly last a week.

  The best way to solve the problem was to withdraw the fleet back to the North Pole Port, but a storm had blown up at sea and the fleet could not set sail. With the army on the verge of starving in Glorious City, Idriel had no choice but to make a desperate gamble and launch another round of attacks, as waiting for death or praying for miracles was not his style.

  But before that, there was one more thing he had to complete.

  "Report, sir. It appears the enemy outside the castle has discovered our movements and is making small-scale attacks on our sentries." Colonel Gilbert ran up to the tower, panting heavily, and reported the situation to Idriel.

  "Don't mind them! Just don't let the humans rush to the port." Idriel turned around, a hint of urgency and tension in his eyes. "How's what I asked you to do?"

  "Report to the general, Rear Admiral Serra has hanged himself in his quarters, overcome with shame for having led the fleet into this desperate situation." Large drops of sweat trickled down Gilbert's forehead, carving small rivulets through the dust that covered his face.

  "Just cremate him on the spot, what about the others?"

  "Yes, after Commodore Serral's death, all the fleet officers have expressed their willingness to obey your command."

  "That's good, let's get on the ship too." Idriel seemed to relax a lot after learning that he had finally grasped the entire army, and walked towards the stairs by himself. Gilbert wiped the sweat from his head and followed him down.

  ****

  "The Luminari Army has abandoned the City of Glory?" As soon as this news was heard, everyone in the command center had an expression of disbelief, even Great Druid Mr. Bruin brought his huge bear head closer.

  The militiaman who brought the news was clearly intimidated by the big bear, and he suddenly shrank back before speaking to Councilor Ludwig: "It's absolutely true, all the spirits in Glory City got on a boat somehow last night and sailed west. When we entered the city this morning, not a single spirit was left. And several outposts outside the city were also emptied at once."

  "Westward?" Charlotte, Ferry and Ludwig rushed to the new Enno Oak State map on the table. Glory City was located near the main river channel of the Blue River estuary, a short distance east was the sea. To the west...

  Three fingers on the map moved upstream along the blue line of the Blue River, crossing several small tributaries, and finally stopped at a large light blue area.

  "Tan Hai!"

  Dilsea, the largest lake on the continent of Manas, where the Blue River flows out and directly into the sea. Its area is almost equivalent to that of the entire New Eridoria's thirteen states. Five million people live in the coastal plains of Dilsea, where the climate is mild and the terrain is flat, making it the main grain-producing region south of New Enoo State. After entering Dilsea, the Elven fleet only needs to sail south for a day to plunder enough food. Moreover, at the junction of the southern shore of Dilsea and the desert, there are rich mineral resources and the largest armory in New Eridoria's thirteen states. Once the Elves obtain these things, they can completely sustain themselves until the arrival of the next wave of reinforcements, and deal a heavy blow to New Eridoria's thirteen states.

  But entering the Great Sea also means great risk for the Elf Army. Firstly, the main force's westward march would leave the North Pole Port completely defenseless; secondly, the cumbersome large sea ships sailing on the 700-mile-long Blue River are simply like targets with no distinction; finally, the Great Sea is a completely unfamiliar domain for the Elves, and advancing into an unknown enemy territory often precedes doom.

  But whatever happens to the Spirit Army afterwards has nothing to do with Charlotte and Ferry, as long as the Spirit Fleet successfully enters the Dull Sea, their purpose for sending troops this time will be completely ruined. Because after the Spirit Fleet enters the Dull Sea, the first target that can be plundered for grain is the New Mazosubure State.

  Once the situation of New Misorbia sending troops to aid in the north but putting the enemy on their own land occurs, Governor Norm will immediately be labeled as arrogant and incompetent in military affairs. Not to mention running for war zone commander, even his position as governor is likely to be removed by the new war zone commander to establish authority. Charlotte and Fili, as subordinates of the governor's office, naturally also have precarious positions.

  So, the Great Bear Legion must stop the Elven Fleet at all costs and absolutely cannot give them the opportunity to raid New Morslebro.

  "The whole army sets out, departing for Blue River Line." Charlotte gave the order decisively.

  "I will also have my people harass them along the way, hindering their progress." Ludwig also readily agreed to cooperate, sparing his sworn enemy who had destroyed his home, a responsibility that was equally unbearable for Ludwig.

  You have to find a suitable location for the ambush, or there is no chance of success. Phil looked at the map again and again, but unfortunately, New Enoak State was vast and sparsely populated, and there were really no geographical features or towns that could be used. It wasn't until he reached the coast of Danhai that he discovered a small black dot.

  "What's Blue Castle? What kind of place is it?"