Chapter 1711: 572. You become a friend of a dwarf, you will be a friend of all dwarves – Extra chapter [14/30]_2
If it weren’t for some serious business today, I would have to ask you for some pointers on the essentials of swordsmanship here.
With such thoughts, Murphy’s carriage was swiftly escorted towards the Blackflame Mountain Pass.
As a natural passage leading from the ring-shaped Dark Mountain Range to the outside world, this pass isn’t truly a flat road between two mountains. In fact, the length of this mountain pass spans seventeen kilometers, situated on a relatively flat terrain nestled between high and desolate mountains on both sides.
As early as the first Black Disaster campaign, the civilized factions realized the strategic value of this pass and thus built castles and fortifications here. From above, it looks more like a long and narrow “small town” rather than a single defensive line, but the ravages of four Black Disasters have left ancient ruins scattered across the pass.
The castles established after the first Black Disaster have long been destroyed, only the ruins of their foundations now serve as the station for the Blood Covenant Knight Order. Hundreds of years of warfare and repeated rebuilding have made the terrain here more complex.
When the carriage reached a ridge, Murphy got out and carefully observed the entire defensive line below with a telescope.
He had to admit the strategic value of the Blackflame Mountain Pass; such terrain revealed its险峻 even to a layman without any understanding of warfare, and centuries of structures have turned this place into a real “porcupine.”
There are no less than a hundred spherical bunkers built on the ground alone, with watchtowers and sections of walls built against the mountain forming deadly crossfire platforms. Those constantly shaped small fortresses directly altered the original terrain of the Blackflame Mountain Pass.
It looks very chaotic, but in fact, it is well-organized.
Simply like a hardcore tower defense player who spent a whole night on ten bottles of expired wine creating an “abstract artwork.”
However, one thing is certain.
If Murphy’s three thousand troops came to attack this pass, they would probably all perish under deadly firepower without even breaking through the second line of defense.
“How many people are there on this defensive line?”
Murphy put away the telescope and asked the escort army commander beside him with a sense of awe.
The latter responded succinctly:
“Nine main battle regiments of the Blood Covenant Attendant Army totaling 13,000, plus 20,000 new recruits, with the Blood Covenant Knights Second Lord’s Regiment fully stationed here, 140 silver blood race members, 2,530 black iron retainers, and one gold commander, Lord Hether.
Additionally, the artillery regiment of the Brass Dwarves and a ranger unit of Forest Elves.
Strategically, the Blackflame Mountain Pass is no different from the Brass Fortress, it’s just that due to the terrain here, even the Brass Dwarves cannot mass-build a city like they did with the Brass Fortress.”
Saying this, the helmeted Nord female warrior glanced at Murphy, seeming like she wanted to speak but ultimately refrained.
This emotion was quickly captured by Murphy, and he said:
“You are an excellent soldier, guarding here for years and protecting the peace of the Continent. Heroes like you don’t need to be reserved in my presence; if you wish to say something, just speak freely.”
“Well… alright.”
Under the subtle effect of Desire Ability, the captain-ranked female warrior finally voiced her true thoughts:
“I’ve heard that you’ve established a defensive line in the Shadow Valley? Pardon my bluntness, but it’s unnecessary!
Let your soldiers come directly to the Blackflame Mountain Pass; we still have positions for them here. If the Blackflame Mountain Pass falls, you wouldn’t be able to hold against the Wolf People in the Shadow Valley either, so instead of spreading your forces thin, it’s better to unite them.”
“Hmm, a very good suggestion.”
Murphy nodded but then shook his head and said:
“Your suggestion is based on the premise that the Blackflame Mountain Pass can delay or hold off the main enemy forces, but if it were to be destroyed in this battle… I mean, I think the scale of this Black Disaster won’t be smaller than the last one. You should know that last time, the King of Bone Biting took only fifteen days to destroy this place.
We must establish a second line of defense in the Shadow Valley, ma’am, to prevent the worst outcome.
In case the worst happens, at least the Shadow Valley can provide a refuge for you, avoiding the tragedy of the fourth Black Disaster.
One hundred and ten years ago, over ten thousand people guarding here died overnight, including many renowned figures on the Continent. I greatly admire their courage, but if they had prepared earlier, perhaps more lives could have been saved.”
“Compared to its current state, the defense of the Blackflame Mountain Pass during the fourth Black Disaster was like a child’s toy!”
The helmeted female warrior retorted scornfully:
“After the last Black Disaster ended, Lord Pa Ying has been finding ways to strengthen the system here. Over the past hundred years, we’ve increased the number of fortresses fivefold, dug hideouts and storage rooms underground, with enough food for tens of thousands of people to last several months already in place.
The Brass Dwarves and Half-body Man have transported enough explosives here to blow up the entire mountain.
I don’t mean to belittle your military expertise, Governor Morty, but we can stay here until we die of old age!”
“Of course, of course, you have the capability.”
Murphy shrugged and said:
“I am not a professional soldier or commander, I do not intend to argue in your field of expertise… Lady Hether, I just never heard you had this hobby? Are you disguised like this to test the worth of me, Governor of Transia?”