CHAPTER 400: CHAPTER 346 ELF ASKS TO FIGHT_1

Count Theodore’s birthday banquet!

Moreover, it was the Earl himself who wrote the invitation letter. In it, he mentioned that he had also invited Marquis Anderson and subtly expressed his desire to mediate.

No matter what the Earl wanted to discuss, Yan Xing was determined to go.

As long as the old Count didn’t adopt a hostile stance, Yan Xing would consider him both a mentor and a friend.

Seeing that the date of the birthday banquet was drawing near, Yan Xing immediately began preparing gifts. It was at this time that Arlanda came to find him.

"My Lord, Prince Eleraldo intends to attack Frostleaf City."

Attack now?

Yan Xing glanced at the weather outside. Although the coldest days had passed, it was still freezing. Furthermore, a large amount of snow had accumulated near Frostleaf City, making it a poor time for combat.

But from another perspective, this moment was indeed a good opportunity for the Elves to retake Frostleaf City.

The Orcs had opened the Frostleaf City passage to the Eternal Domain in exchange for winter supplies from Yan Xing. However, these supplies weren’t enough for the Orcs to survive the winter comfortably. During the coldest periods, many Orcs still suffered from frostbite and illness.

With winter nearing its end and the weather about to warm up, the Orc forces were at their weakest. If the Elves waited for good weather, it would benefit the defending Orc army even more.

"Let Prince Eleraldo come here. I want to hear his battle plan."

When Prince Eleraldo learned that Yan Xing wanted to see him and listen to his battle plan, he was overjoyed. Yan Xing had publicly stated several times that he would not provide any help to the Elves in attacking Frostleaf City. But since Yan Xing wanted to hear the battle plan, Eleraldo was sure he was considering helping secretly.

Prince Eleraldo had been living in Eternal City recently and had witnessed the expansion and reorganization of the Eternal Domain’s army. Those weapons, that morale! If Yan Xing gave him even a little support, wouldn’t Frostleaf City be easily captured?

Prince Eleraldo quickly arrived at the small conference room next to Yan Xing’s quarters. In the middle of the room, a virtual terrain model of Frostleaf City was displayed. Frostleaf City was depicted as covered in ice and snow. Further north, aside from the cleared roads leading into the Snowland, the rest of the visible area was a vast expanse of white.

Seeing Eleraldo arrive, Yan Xing couldn’t help but express his concerns. "Given the current climate in the Snowland, the Elven Royal Court cannot possibly attack Frostleaf City from the north to relieve your pressure. And I have met Marshal Morm; he is a commander with considerable warfare experience. You may think of attacking Frostleaf City when the Orcs are at their weakest, but he has likely anticipated that as well. The relaxed Orc defenses you envision might not materialize. Instead, they might already be prepared for an Elven counterattack."

Yan Xing spoke the truth. Marshal Morm had conceived the ambush on Frostleaf City while facing threats from two fronts. This showed he was not a commander who would lower his guard at a critical moment. If the Elves launched a direct assault on Frostleaf City under these circumstances, they could very well suffer a major setback.

Eleraldo glanced at the sand table model. Then he said to Yan Xing, "Lord Yan Xing, I know Marshal Morm is a formidable commander, and I am aware of the great risk in attacking Frostleaf City now. But for me, the counterattack on Frostleaf City cannot be delayed any longer. Once the heavy snow melts, the Royal Court’s army will undoubtedly attack Frostleaf City. At that point, even if I collaborate with the Royal Court’s Great Army to recapture Frostleaf City, the achievement won’t be enough to absolve me of the blame for losing it in the first place. If I can reclaim Frostleaf City on my own, however, that would be an entirely different situation..."

Prince Eleraldo explained the situation at the Elven Royal Court to Yan Xing, emphasizing that the sooner he recaptured Frostleaf City, the more advantageous it would be for his bid for the throne.

After Eleraldo finished, Yan Xing asked, "Are you confident you can take Frostleaf City?"

"Yes!" Eleraldo replied with certainty. "At Heize City and within the Eternal Domain, your army made me realize what a true army is. The training standards you’ve set for the Eternal Domain’s army surpass even those of human armies renowned for their rigor. Your troops execute commands so precisely that a thousand men act as one. My army also trained according to your standards while under your protection in the Thunderous Swamp. Thank you, My Lord, for providing us with ample food. Otherwise, we couldn’t have sustained such intense training. Now, I can say my army is entirely different from the force that first entered the Thunderous Swamp. Even if Marshal Morm is prepared, I can still storm and capture Frostleaf City! But..."

Yan Xing knew Eleraldo had trained his Elven soldiers according to the Eternal Domain’s army training program. The results were indeed remarkable.

The Snow Elves, apart from the Royal Court, didn’t maintain a standing army. They conscripted from various Elven villages for major wars. The quality of these soldiers varied greatly. Once a war ended, the Elven soldiers would be disbanded. The Elven Royal Court didn’t waste resources or food on extensive training for them.

In the Thunderous Swamp, however, the Elves had been well-fed and cared for throughout the entire winter. After Prince Eleraldo led his troops alongside Yan Xing in the Heize City campaign, the Eternal Domain further increased its supply provisions for the Elves. This had transformed the seemingly delicate Elves, making them robust and strong.

Having witnessed the Eternal Domain’s army, Eleraldo also trained his own forces strenuously. They were vastly improved, both physically and mentally, from when they first entered the Thunderous Swamp.

In contrast, the Orcs Yan Xing had seen in Frostleaf City had essentially just hidden from the snowstorms, holed up all winter.

Consequently, even if Marshal Morm was on guard, the Elves had a very good chance of forcibly conquering Frostleaf City.

Hearing Eleraldo hesitate, Yan Xing inquired, "But what?"

Eleraldo then said, "However, Frostleaf City is undoubtedly a stronghold. Even if we win by direct assault, our losses will surely be heavy. This is neither conducive to my bid for the throne nor to coordinating with your war against Marquis Anderson, My Lord. I know you’ve made promises to Marshal Morm, but if you could offer us even a little assistance, our losses would be significantly reduced."

Eleraldo’s words struck a chord with Yan Xing. The Eternal Domain’s army was intensively trained but lacked battlefield experience. Eleraldo’s Elven army, on the other hand, had fought real battles against Orcs and humans.

Yan Xing considered. If Eleraldo can retake Frostleaf City while preserving his strength, the situation in the Wildwind Highlands will greatly improve for me. Once production increases, arming the Elves will provide a ready-made elite force. Besides, I’ve visited Frostleaf City several times. When I tried discussing deepening our relations with Marshal Morm, the old Orc was always evasive, acting as if Cloud Tower completely had the Thunderous Swamp in its grasp. Therefore, the possibility of the Orcs siding with Cloud Tower cannot be ignored. Helping Eleraldo is essential. But the assistance can’t be too obvious, or it will push the Orcs into the opposing camp prematurely.