Chapter 699: Taking the Field Again

That night, Henwell studies the map and the enemy positions in silence. The fifth day is the army's limit.

They must break out, or they will run out of supplies and perish here.

The two Formation Breaker troops warbands can now barely combine into one warband of fighting soldiers.

The Iron Guard Warband has dropped from more than five thousand men to fewer than three thousand soldiers with combat strength.

Worse still, there are nearly five thousand wounded.

Over these five days, the royal army has also suffered heavy losses.

The two sides have already formed a death feud.

If Henwell abandons the wounded, the enemy will not take prisoners. Those wounded soldiers will all die.

The attackers are more patient than Henwell expected.

If he abandons the legion, Peace Haven will suffer a heavy loss, and the enemies that come after will gain a major advantage.

He will also lose an important card for the later contest.

Henwell looks at Hank.

"Which army is blocking the road to Cellarwine City?"

Hank answers, "The Third Legion."

Henwell says, "Tomorrow, I will tear open a gap. You will withdraw into Cellarwine City."

Cumberland immediately says, "My lord, if you leave the formation, the enemy will surround you."

Henwell says, "Then we will see whether they have the skill."

Cumberland cannot answer.

Henwell points at the map.

"The Vorry Third Legion has suffered the least losses, and its formation is still complete. If I do not kill through them, you will not be able to break out. Only by separating from you can I lure the attackers out. This stalemate is bad for us. We cannot delay any longer."

The next morning, Henwell once again comes to the front with his war spear.

After several days of bloody battle, the royal soldiers have almost forgotten Jonathan's assassination.

But when they see Henwell take the field, they remember the scene of him mowing down soldiers across the battlefield.

Henwell charges head-on.

The war spear tears the royal soldiers and their shields in the front ranks to pieces.

He advances at a normal walking pace, killing anyone who approaches him.

A prepared hundred-man team of knights launches a charge at him.

Henwell quickly realizes that they are all knights.

But he does not understand the point, because these knights will not survive much longer than ordinary soldiers.

Soon, he understands.

Their task is to force him away from the main formation.

At the same time, Henwell notices mobile arrow towers approaching, with ballistae taking aim at him.

After the first volley of ballista bolts, the surviving knights try to withdraw.

Henwell picks up the bolts from the ground and throws them out, killing those knights one by one.

Many ballista bolts strike Henwell, but his armor does not deform, and his body does not even stagger.

At this moment, no soldier dares to come within a hundred meters of him.

Henwell walks forward casually, picking up spears and ballista bolts from the ground and throwing them at the mobile arrow towers.

His strength and accuracy are even more terrifying than the ballistae themselves.

After more than ten throws, he has not missed once. Every throw destroys one ballista and damages others nearby.

Jonathan can no longer remain seated.

These ballistae were imported from Peace Haven at a high price.

Many have already been consumed during the siege. If Henwell continues destroying them, the later siege will become even harder.

Jonathan summons Jeremy, who is disguised as a guard.

"Dramatist, no matter what plans you have, your people must deal with Henwell now. Otherwise, our cooperation ends here."

Jeremy asks, "Do you have any leverage?"

Jonathan says, "My final trump card is myself."

Jeremy narrows his eyes.

Jonathan says, "Veil does not understand. Once Henwell enters Cellarwine City, the situation will change."

Jeremy says, "Explain."

Jonathan says, "The latest news says that among the countries encircling Peace Haven, Lumir's Obilian has ordered a withdrawal."

Jeremy asks, "So what? Losing Lumir does not matter much."

Jonathan scoffs.

"Veil is not a regime, so it does not understand how wars operate. After Lumir withdraws, the Death Herald Legion and Sixth Legion in Henwell's southern region will be able to pressure the occupied zone held by Ogiro."

Jeremy says, "Ogiro has ten legions there. Peace Haven is strong, but defeating ten legions is unrealistic."

Jonathan asks, "Then does Ogiro dare use all ten legions without guarding western Lumir?"

Jeremy falls silent.

Jonathan continues, "Peace Haven does not need to defeat all ten legions. It only needs to defeat three at most, and the entire southern continent's situation will change. Ogiro must move at least three legions to guard against Peace Haven's southern region. That leaves only four legions facing Lumir. Do you think Obilian will miss that chance? Do you think Marshal Clifford will not move?"

Jonathan taps the map.

"Once Lumir and Ogiro start fighting, imagine how many troops Peace Haven will be able to free for the north."

Jeremy asks, "What terms did you offer Obilian?"

Jonathan says, "None. I offered terms to Dilio of western Lumir."

Jeremy sighs.

"Peace Haven under Henwell is growing stronger and stronger. If we miss this chance, containing him later will become impossible."

Jonathan says, "Politics is compromise and helplessness. Sometimes you know it is poison, but you still have to drink it. A good politician only chooses the poison that kills slowest."

Jeremy says, "Our people will act soon."