The scorching afternoon sun shone on the ground, bringing unbearable heat. Especially in the plains where there was no shade, the temperature had reached more than 40 degrees Celsius.
Duke Wyen and Count Karl's troops were lined up neatly in a square formation, facing each other in the wasteland about 50 kilometers away from the Tuis Valley. This wasteland had a very beautiful name, the Land of Light.
It was said that the Goddess of Dawn, Lucia, had once defeated the evil army from the underworld. That was why her powerful divine power remained.
Under the nourishment of the divine power, this land was covered with countless sacred sunflowers that would not wither throughout the year. At a glance, it was like being in a golden sea.
However, the soldiers and knights were not in the mood to appreciate this beautiful scenery. To be exact, they were suffering and suffering.
Due to the direct sunlight, the metal armor became scalding hot in just a few minutes. The people inside felt as if they were locked in an oven. They were sweating all over, losing a lot of their physical strength and water. In another half an hour or so, there would probably be people falling to the ground one after another due to heatstroke.
If it weren't for the fact that the monarchs of both sides were negotiating in front of the formation, there would have been knights who couldn't help but charge and settle everything with a fierce battle.
However, Duke Wyen obviously didn't want to fight. Instead, he wanted to use negotiations to annex his opponent's territory. After all, in his eyes, Lincoln City was his biggest enemy.
"Old friend, you should know the difference in power between us. Therefore, I sincerely suggest that you listen to my suggestion and let the two families merge into one."
"Marriage?"
Count Karl, who was riding on the horse, frowned subconsciously. His eyes were full of doubt and distrust.
As a traditional inland aristocrat, he was no stranger to the merger of two families. Usually, the male heir of the stronger family would win the female heir of the weaker family. This way, their descendants would be able to obtain the inheritance rights of the two territories.
In history, many great nobles used this method to annex land and eventually achieve glory.
The problem was that it was easy to say, but difficult to do.
Especially for the weaker side, there were too many unpredictable variables. For example, what if one of them couldn't have children?
What if they suddenly died?
What if the stronger party suddenly changed their mind?
One had to know that once two parties were united by marriage, one of them would naturally obtain the right of succession, and with the right of succession, they would have a legitimate reason to interfere with the other party's territory, and even use it as an excuse to start a war over the right of succession.
No matter what the outcome was, the one who suffered the most would always be the weaker party. In serious cases, they might even be banished completely, losing their territory and noble titles.
Duke Wyen saw the other party's concern, so he gently patted the neck of his mount and solemnly said, "Yes, a marriage alliance. My eldest son will marry your eldest daughter, and the inheritance will be the dowry. If you can agree to this, I will immediately withdraw my troops.
I believe you should be very clear that my ambition is not in the inland, but in the south. As long as we can take down Lincoln City, we will immediately obtain countless riches. Why should we fight to the death for a bit of land? "
"To you, it may only be a little bit of land, but to me, it is a precious asset that my family relies on for survival and continuity.
I'm sorry, but I don't want to be involved in your revenge, and I don't want to be enemies with Lincoln City. "Count Karl shook his head and refused without hesitation.
Perhaps before Duke Wyen showed his hostility towards Lincoln City, he would have carefully considered it, but now, he would rather go to war than have anything to do with it.
Perhaps the others didn't know about the grudge between Duke Wyen's family and Lincoln City, but Count Karl was very clear about it. Especially when the previous Duke was hanged like a clown in public, which was a great insult to the entire family.
It was also because of the humiliation and anger that the current Duke Wyen had been accumulating his strength, waiting for an opportunity to launch a war of revenge. He longed to use blood and death to put an end to everything.
However, Count Karl was very clear that it was impossible to defeat Lincoln City with just a large number of troops and brave knights.
As long as the mages in the tower were still alive, no external enemy could break through the tall walls.
But unfortunately, Duke Wyen didn't realize this, and he sneered and mocked, "Are you afraid?
You're just like those cowards, afraid of Lincoln City's power, aren't you? "
"This isn't fear, it's self-awareness, just like how a hound shouldn't provoke a lion, a wild boar shouldn't provoke an elephant, and you shouldn't provoke Lincoln City." Count Karl pointed out his attitude without hesitation.
"Well then, it seems like negotiations have broken down, let's go to war!"
Duke Wyen glared at him, turned his horse around, and galloped back to his troops.
Earl Karl took a deep breath and returned to the square formation. He gestured for the knights under him to get ready for war.
Soon, along with the loud sound of a horn, the war drums began to thump loudly, and the infantry of both sides began to march forward in an orderly manner.
At the same time, the archers began to shoot in a large area. The sharp arrows made use of the acceleration of gravity, drawing a beautiful parabola in the sky, and then fell like raindrops, piercing into the advancing infantry.
At first glance, a large number of shieldless infantry fell to the ground like wheat being harvested, and let out painful screams and wails.
As for the trump card of both sides, the cavalry, they were still silently waiting for the order to charge.
Whether it was Duke Wyen or Count Karl, both understood that once the heavy cavalry was sent into the battlefield, it meant the final battle. Before that, they would try to use the infantry to break the enemy's line of defense, and let the enemy enter the battlefield first.
There was no ambush!
There was no strategic deception!
There were no conspiracies!
There was only the direct collision of blood and fire!
It was exactly the same as the war in Auraire for thousands of years!
After three rounds of crossbow fire, the infantry formation finally met in the center of the battlefield. First, the spears that were four meters long collided with each other. Almost immediately, the soldiers in the front row were either killed or injured. Then, the swordsmen on both sides of the formation swarmed up and engaged in a chaotic battle.
The deafening battle cries could be heard clearly even from a few kilometers away.
Usually, due to physical limitations, such a high-intensity battle wouldn't last too long. Once one side was exhausted, the other side's heavy cavalry would immediately charge and defeat the opponent in one go.