Knight with Wand

In front of the camp, Azerion sat on a small stool, holding a candle for his companions, watching Leon use wooden sticks to draw the flow of the big river in Usato Territory on the dirt.

".This is the main river flowing from the upper reaches of the eastern section to the west."

As Leon spoke, he drew another river course that meandered southward about thirty kilometers west from the upstream.

"And this is the branch of the river we are currently in."

On the east and west sides of the tributary, he slightly outlined the dense forest that separated the hills and plains of Usatoland.

"The overall terrain of this area gradually decreases from northeast to southwest. If a diversion channel can be dug upstream of the tributary and a water storage dam can be built to cut off the river water, the tributary can be diverted to flow to the southwest.

Once successful, it will be difficult for the enemy to obtain water sources east of the forest, which will eliminate the possibility of them establishing a large military camp in the area south of the upper reaches.

At that time, if their tens of thousands of troops want to cross the river, they will have no choice but to attack head-on on the south bank downstream.

But at the same time, the diverted tributaries will wash away the fertile soil of the river valley to the north of the forest, turning it into a muddy swamp that is difficult to move forward. "

With that said, Leon looked up at Azerien:

"I have been flying around these days to check the soil quality on the south bank. Usato Territory is indeed a good place. The land in this area is not sandy. Once it is submerged by shallow floods, it may be difficult to release it in a short time.

Although the shallow flood that reached above the ankles could not drown anyone, the horses of the Uria people were completely disabled. I don’t believe that those grassland people would be willing to dismount their horses and bear the mud of the swamp, turn into infantry and continue to fight to the death for the Kantadar people. .”

After speaking, Leon used a wooden stick to point at the expected location of the water storage lake dam and water diversion channel used to cut off the direction of the tributary.

"When enough water is stored here, if the enemy wants to go upstream from the valley to the north of the forest, as long as they dare to camp close to it, we will burst the embankment and release the flood water to wash away their camp.

There is no need for one soldier at a time. No matter how many people come, they have to retreat the same way. The enemy has only one option: cross the river from the middle and lower reaches of the river and cross the river head-on.

Of course, they will definitely not seek death like this. It won't take long before the Duke of Abel can only withdraw his troops from Usato. "

After hearing his partner reveal this tactic that he had never heard of, Azarian's eyes widened.

But he couldn't help but frown in confusion, stretched out his hand to touch his calf, and asked in shock: "Is this really feasible? But you said it is only submerged to the height of the ankle? How powerful can it be?"

He had never seen a flood with his own eyes. Although he had seen terrible floods recorded in books before, they were all major floods that could drown people.

If it was just a shallow flood that covered his ankles, Azarian wasn't sure it would have the effect of retreating troops that his friends said.

Leon shook his head and explained patiently: "The enemy cannot obtain clean water sources from areas covered by floods. Floods are different from river water. They have not gone through the sedimentation and natural filtration of rivers. The washed floods are mixed with sediment and various kinds of water. If we drink pollutants directly, we won't have to fight this battle. We can just wait for the disease to break out in the enemy's army, and we will be defeated if we don't attack.

It was even more difficult for them to light a fire in a flooded area, and it was almost impossible to obtain wood that could make a fire. They could not find dry land to set up a camp on which to station a large army. Even if they were forced to camp, how would they be able to transport the food, grass and baggage from behind? I don't think any commander would dare to march long distances across the swamps to attack the enemy. To come with an exhausted army like this would be tantamount to death. "

Azarian pinched his cheek and quickly calmed down from his surprise.

He was not a fool. After thinking for a moment, he understood how dangerous a seemingly shallow flood would become to a large army if it covered a large area.

"But can the river change its course and really flood such a large area?" he continued to ask.

"I have calculated that the water volume of the tributaries is enough to flood the forest valley bottom on the south bank and the lowlands near the river further downstream. Moreover, based on my observations from the air and previous experience gained from asking local people, the weather here will not be long in the future. It is about to enter the rainy season, and the water level in the upper reaches of the Usato River will also increase." Leon nodded.

Relying on the gryphon's aerial vision advantage, he couldn't help but come up with the idea of ​​"replacing troops with water" when he observed the terrain and rivers of Usato Territory on almost the first day of his aerial mission.

This terrain, this season, all the conditions are so suitable.

There is no need to create the terrible water force that flooded the Seventh Army like Guan Erye did. Just turn the south bank into a muddy swamp, and the Urians' huge cavalry advantage will no longer exist.

Cutting off the water source of the tributaries also prevented the enemy from outflanking the upper reaches to cross the river, and the military advantage of Abel's side was also greatly reduced.

Leon recalled the performance of the two Uriah vanguard armies he had seen and heard today, and he became more confident about it.

In the final analysis, this war has nothing to do with those grassland people. It is a battle for royal power in Kantadar and a political struggle in the southern kingdom. If the Nightmare Forest had not dissipated, Oland's Southern Expedition would have opened up the road to the south. It was fate. Under the circumstances, he was able to intervene. In previous years, I am afraid that Ledwin would not have taken the trouble to intervene at the huge risk.

As long as the water attack strategy is successfully implemented, it will be enough to make the Uriya army want to retreat. They will never be stupid enough to spend all their troops for the internal fighting of the Kantadar people.

By then, the Duke of Arborough on the opposite side would no longer have the strength advantage and would have to bear the pressure of supplies and floods and diseases, so he would have no choice but to withdraw his troops.

If this strategy is successful, it will undoubtedly allow the Orland army to withdraw from the dispute between the north and the south as soon as possible, and also be able to deal with the undead disaster approaching from the east as soon as possible.

Azerien couldn't help but take a long, deep breath after listening to Leon finish the plan, feeling that he had been opened to a different perspective.

Sure enough, wizards are as smart as in the story. He secretly admired his partner's ingenuity, and then asked: "How many people are needed to build this dam and diversion channel? How long will it take?"

"If we want to cause a real major flood, the time consumption and manpower will be unimaginable, but to achieve the diversion and land flooding effect I need, I only need to recruit 20,000 manpower. I estimate that it can be completed in less than 20 days." Lai Standing on the dirt floor beside him, he explained the specific project plan to his partners.

Azarian nodded frequently after hearing this. It would be a great thing to be able to end this war without killing anyone.

But looking at Leon's still calm expression, he was a little confused: "Since this tactic is so effective according to you, why are you still frowning?"

Leon sighed and put down the stick:

"The method of water attack is a good strategy for us to retreat from the enemy, but the floods have flooded the fertile farmland and the tributary rivers have dried up at the same time. It doesn't matter how long it will take before the floods here can be controlled again. Even if the water can be withdrawn as soon as possible, it will be at least a year later. The affected land on the south bank will not be able to be cultivated for two years, or at most three to five years, and the cost will be borne by the civilians who will return to their homes in the future."

Although they are the people of Kantadar, Leon, as a true "outsider", does not have a deep-rooted regional perspective, not to mention that under his own rule, he is also ruling thousands of Kantadar territory citizens at the moment.

Due to the education he received in his previous life, he could not bear it after all.

Azarian felt the heavy burden of his partner and couldn't help but pick his chin and think about it.

After a long time, he comforted and persuaded: "Leon, judging from the current situation, you may not have to worry too much about the consequences of the flood on the people here."

"Oh? Why?" Leon looked at his partner.

With the bad record of a certain bald man fucking at the entrance of the garden in his previous life, he has always been worried about the water attack strategy that would harm Tianhe.

"What I mean is that the consequences of flooding the fields you are about to cause may not be as harmful as the slaughter and looting caused by those Uriahs."

Azerion explained and analyzed what he had witnessed in the past few days for his companions: "Compared to the disasters they have caused and may cause, the floods you mentioned are almost insignificant to the people here. The ones in Kantadar As the Duke of Abel, he allowed the Urians to massacre and plunder the Usator territory, and the areas further south were already empty of houses. This caused a large number of residents on the south bank to flee to the north bank in panic.

Even if the cultivated land on the south bank cannot grow food in the next few years, it is not impossible to replace the land on the north bank of the river to support these people. Moreover, this shallow flood will not be able to flood areas further south. "

"What's more, even if a food shortage breaks out under General Usato, the people will not be able to move north. Isn't it possible that the northern land conquered by Orland's southern expedition can't accommodate this population?"

Azarian shook his head: "If I were our king, I would definitely be willing to accept the fleeing people to free up the population of Usato, weaken the power of Kasuo, the virtual king, and firmly hold the Kantadar royal family in my hands. His Majesty Ledwin summoned the army here not really to help the other party secure the throne. "

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Having said this, he stood up with the candlestick and leaned over, put his right hand firmly on his best friend's shoulder, and said in a deep voice:

"And Leon, even if the consequences of the water attack are serious, as long as the lives of our soldiers are saved, it is still worth it to me. The disaster you saw in the east involves more than just the safety of the people in this place. If we If we can get Olander's troops out of here as soon as possible, we can save more people's lives in the future."

Staring at his partner who was considering his words, Azarian couldn't help but add: "As our leader, sometimes you have to make relatively cruel choices for more important purposes and the overall situation."

He paused and then suggested: "Or just leave this decision to me. I am willing to bear the unjust burden for you."

"Thank you, but forget it. I shouldn't put the responsibility on you." Leon shook his head, interrupting Azarian's proposal.

He looked at his partner and already made a decision.

"You're right. I've figured it out. Being timid because of such concerns would be cruel to you and all the soldiers who follow me." After accepting his partner's persuasion, Leon no longer hesitated.

"Regardless of whether it will be adopted or not, I will go to Mr. Elliot tomorrow to propose this water attack plan."

Early the next morning, Leon found Fengjun and explained in detail the idea he had been planning for many days.

Listening to the strategies from his beloved general who kept giving him surprises one after another, Elliot's originally relaxed smile gradually faded away, and he stared at the location pointed out by the opponent on the map, becoming more and more serious.

He was also shocked by the boldness of this tactic and did not make any judgments for the moment.

The water attack tactic of building dams to store floods was extremely rare, but after thinking about it for a while, Elliot remembered that in the history of war in the Northern Kingdom, there were not entirely without examples.

Historically, there were also some northern generals who, when they found the terrain was suitable, diverted water to breach dikes and attack enemy camps or castles.

However, since most castles and fortresses were built in areas with higher terrain, small-scale water flows could not have any practical effect. Therefore, in ordinary small-scale wars, almost no generals would consider this theoretical tactic.

To really create a large-scale flood, the manpower and material resources required are difficult to bear even for the army of the great lord.

Unless it is a large-scale war involving an army of tens of thousands of people and hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians, no party can mobilize the manpower for such a huge project.

However, Elliver estimated in his heart that the current scale of the North-South War can indeed be done.

The 4,000 royal city militia recruited by Casso alone can take on part of the labor, and then a few thousand civilians can be drawn from the Orland army. The remaining 10,000 people can be forcibly recruited in the villages and towns on the north bank. The army can also add a few thousand soldiers in the rear line, and mobilize 20,000 people to start the project. It is not difficult for the Northern Army at this moment.

Although it will certainly increase the consumption of food and grass in a short period of time, once the tributary is diverted, the subsequent battles will most likely not have to be fought, and perhaps the consumption of the original long-term confrontation can be saved.

"After reuniting with Balf, you will use the griffin to take me back to the north bank camp to discuss this matter with His Majesty and General Trosa."

Eliver naturally had no concerns about the consequences of the flood hitting the south bank of Usato, and couldn't help but laugh at Leon: "I didn't expect that my "griffin" is not only brave, but also a general. You made me feel lucky countless times that I didn't let Lord Trosa snatch you away from me."

Leon smiled a little at the corny words of the feudal lord: "Thank you for your praise, but I just see more information because I am often in the sky. Besides, this is easy for me to say on paper. If I really have to mobilize tens of thousands of people, I'm afraid I don't know how to implement it. "

Eliver waved his hand: "How to implement it, try it and you will naturally learn it with experience, but if you can think of this strategy just by flying in the sky, the Pegasus Knights of the King's Territory also fly in the sky every day, and they don't have such a flexible mind as you."

After getting a great and important strategy, he didn't want to delay, and immediately led the Thorn Flower and River Valley County coalition forces who had rested for a night, set fire to the Uriah camp that could not be taken away, took the food and supplies seized on this trip, and set off to withdraw to Balf's troops in the north.

The two armies met on the outskirts of Green Creek Village. Elifer ordered the army to stay on the spot, and then got on the back seat of Leon's griffin and took a "ride" to rush to the north bank camp.