At least to a layman like Murphy, there seemed to be only a few isolated fortresses stuck between the swamp and the Dark Barony.

However, he did see some clues. For example, artillery positions were preset on the highlands between several fort groups. There would be a large number of workers building roads to transport artillery near those highlands.

It's like nails driven into the ground one by one. Connecting these scattered points is exactly a line of defense surrounding the swamp area.

Next to him, there is also a happy stick orchid introducing Lord Murphy to the composition of his defense line:

"Currently, the permanent preparation fortifications have built nine fire fortresses. We have carefully selected three areas from among them to build larger and more complex permanent preparation fortifications. They were all selected after repeated research on the previous four black disasters.

The most vulnerable area to breach.

The Brotherhood of Masons took a more prudent approach.

Through the cooperation of ground bunkers and underground fortifications, we connected these three locations to become the main body of the Maginot Line of Defense. The three main positions were connected through the communication lines dug underground by the kobolds, which perfectly blocked the road leading to Teran along the sewage swamp.

Some of the best thoroughfares in West Asia.”

Brother Bang pointed to the three bunker groups that had been established below in the air, and explained to Murphy:

"We will deploy a large number of artillery and stacked trenches in these three positions. The shortest position has a battlefield width of three kilometers in length and five kilometers in width.

The width of this battlefield can limit the numerical advantage of the Jackals and give full play to our advantages. Once we enter a wartime state, we will also plant a large number of mines in these key defense areas to delay the enemy's attack.

Outside the three key defensive positions, there is a very complex terrain that cannot allow the Jackals to pass through on a large scale. When the defense line is activated, it will cooperate with several positions in the rear. Once a small group of Jackals breaks through, it will be convenient to dispatch cavalry and

The infantry carried out encirclement and annihilation operations against them.

However, the number of soldiers under your command is still too small, and they cannot fully guard these fronts. We may need to mobilize militiamen when necessary."

"It sounds awesome, but I'm not a soldier after all."

Murphy nodded and asked again:

"But I noticed that your defense line is only in the central area and has not extended to the two wings toward the swamp. Why is this?"

"Not enough people, not enough time, my lord."

Happy Stick sighed and said:

"Although the Bloodclaw clan can provide us with a lot of kobold labor, and although the Stonemason Brotherhood is constantly bringing 'supporters' from the Plantagenet Kingdom into the construction of the position, we want to complete the project from the Crimean Fortress to the Smuggler's Wood."

A comprehensive defense of two hundred kilometers is impossible.

According to the current progress, it will take at least ten years to completely build a wall like the Crimean Fortress.

We don't have that much time and resources, and even if we really build a swamp wall, it's impossible to recruit enough soldiers to defend it with the population of Transia.

Most importantly, we don’t have to do that!

The terrain of the Dark Barony is quite rugged. This kind of terrain can make people very uncomfortable in daily life, but it becomes an advantage when fighting!

In the construction plan of a line of defense, man-made bunkers and fortresses will always complement the natural environment. Excellent generals should learn to make rational use of mountains and terrains and harness the power of nature for their own use.

Maybe this line of defense seems to you to be riddled with holes, but please believe me, once a war really breaks out, our current manpower is enough to ensure that we can rely on these positions, firepower points and criss-crossing trenches to hold on to both sides without support.

More than months!

Of course, the premise is that we can get enough fire support."

"But you didn't answer my question, Major Stick."

Murphy asked again:

"You didn't answer me. How will you respond once the gnolls break through from the two wings?"

"We don't need to deal with it, my lord."

Happy Stick was forced to tell the truth, and he replied slightly gloomily:

"The Jackal's breakthrough to the east will hit the outer defense area of ​​the Crimean Fortress. Unless General Winter Wolf is crazy, he will not allow the barbarians to leave in a big way.

If they break through from the west, they will follow the smuggler's woodland into the direction of East Prussia and Cato.

With all due respect, sir, under the circumstances of the vicious incident that just occurred in Marlow Town, Marshal Loren will definitely deploy his army there, and if the Jackals cross Lake Sulpers and enter the Cato area.

Okay, I admit they cause terror there, but what does that have to do with us?

That’s the land of the Plantagenets and the Wolfsbane clan!”

"You deliberately built the defense line like this! You deliberately leaked a path to the west!"

Murphy narrowed his eyes, stared at the happy stick, and said:

"That's the way you want the gnolls to go."

"Yes, I hope the enemy will act according to my plan."

Now that this issue has been discussed, the Happy Stick is no longer hidden and he said seriously:

"The Short Man Marshal is using us to buy time for his defense line. He regards us as cannon fodder to resist the Jackals. In this case, he will also bear the bitter consequences caused by the breakthrough of the Cato region!

If the Pioneer Legion can send an elite force of ten thousand people into the western defense line, then there is no way the gnolls can cross this line. They can only fight to the death with us in front of the Filthy Swamp.

But the dwarf marshal only sent an observation group and gave us 50,000 ruffians who were of no use at all. This has proved his attitude.

It was his unrighteousness first!

He is not a short-sighted guy.

He just has his own strategic intentions, and he is very evil. He is a very powerful commander. He hopes more than anyone else to see the Transians and Jackals die together so that he can gain benefits for the country behind him.

This kind of loyalty is admirable, but now this form is his own choice

Of course he can use war to weaken us!

But since he did it, we can fight back in the same way.

I admit that this is very vicious, my lord.

But if the wolfsbane vampires in the Cato region cannot resist the invasion of the jackals, then the hinterland of the Plantagenet Kingdom will directly face the threat of black disaster.

King Louis has obviously forgotten the madness when the fourth black disaster swept the continent.

No, he didn't forget, he just thought that the Plantagenet Kingdom was strong enough and history would not repeat itself. After all, he was a human being, and he had not experienced a real black disaster. He was very wise but he was not aware of such a world.

War' will result.

but we.

Together with the gnolls, we will give him a slap in the face to make the proud Sun King realize that we are not his puppets. Transia also has power, and we will not be defeated so easily.

This is what I will suggest to you next, sir."

Happy Stick looked around, lowered his voice and said:

"I know you plan to stop the black disaster on the front line of the Barren Mountains, but that is too risky. We are not afraid of death. However, the thousands of soldiers you have trained so hard represent the future of Transia. Those good guys should not be destroyed.

over there.

We can do it smarter!

Hold there for a period of time, then retreat proactively, lure the gnolls deep into the swamp, and then leave the rest to me and my Maginot Line."

"Do you know what you're talking about? Major Jolly Stick!"

Murphy yelled:

"You are suggesting that I take the initiative to take advantage of the Black Disaster! And the prerequisite for you to execute your plan perfectly is that your defense line must be strong enough to withstand the Black Disaster's frontal attack. Only when they realize that they cannot break through from the front will they take the initiative to divide their troops on the two wings.

.

This means your defense will be under unprecedented pressure.

if you fail

If you lose, you can walk away! Consider this a sad defeat, but all the consequences will have to be borne by me and my people.

No!

I cannot accept this suggestion."

"We can!"

Happy Stick said stubbornly:

"We will stay here until all tactical objectives are achieved! Sir, please don't forget, we will not die. This is my confidence to guard this line of defense! As long as I have three thousand undead heroes, I can stay here until I die of old age.

All my suggestions are based on Transia's interests.

You can be a good governor and use your own way to survive the Black Disaster, but King Louis and the Wolf Lady will not thank you for this, and Transia will still fall victim to the struggle between the two countries for hegemony.

In the final analysis, our position determines that it is impossible for us to rise in a normal way.

We have to be prepared for the future. To weaken the enemy is to strengthen ourselves. If we can do both at the same time, it would be perfect.

What do you think?"

Facing Happy Stick's first heart-to-heart proposal, Murphy fell silent.

After a few minutes of thinking, he took one last look at the defense line below and said:

"Let this be a backup plan. I will test the quality of the Black Disaster in the Desolate Mountain with my warriors. There is also the second thing."

Murphy looked at the happy stick and said:
To be continued...