Divine Kingship

Chapter 593 Their War, My Exercise

The borders of the Duchy of Lunar Phase.

It seems that war has begun.

Since the establishment of the Moon Phase Kingdom, theoretically all the land in the kingdom belongs to Rand, but in reality, according to the existing system...

Only the lands of the Duchy of the Moon are directly under the control of Rand; other areas can only be considered as subordinate territories.

Strictly speaking, the Duchy of the Moon also has two concepts: the lands directly under the control of Rand, and the vast territory under its jurisdiction.

In this world, royal power and noble land ownership are actually divided.

At least in other kingdoms, as long as the nobles with fiefdoms do not violate the kingdom's laws too much, such as by not paying taxes, refusing to accept conscription, or committing treason, the king has difficulty controlling the private lands of these nobles. However, he does have some administrative power over the lands under his jurisdiction.

And the king.

The royal family will have royal territories, and the king himself may also have some titles.

The royal domains, with their power and wealth, are actually separated from the kingdom's authority.

However, there is no need to sort out these complicated matters too much, because Rand will never be satisfied with an overly traditional model of kingdom rule.

However, the system of the Lunar Duchy still exists.

……

Vanilla stood on the city wall, wearing specially made steel armor, her eyes fixed on what lay ahead.

Vanilla's combat ability is quite average. She can be considered a high-level professional, but her combat ability is very weak. Her archery, spellcasting, physical fitness, and judgment are all excellent.

Even their court swordsmanship was quite impressive.

However, despite the various excellent abilities combined with Vanilla, they did not form any combat power.

In a normal battle, a Wind Chime, also a high-level professional, can kill five Herbs.

However, if it's a life-or-death battle, then things might be different...

Vanilla is not actually weak.

“The enemy has a total strength of just over a thousand, including about seventy knights.” Vanilla analyzed from the city wall, then had the students observe carefully as well.

Vanilla instructed the students around her who could hear her clearly: "We taught you how to judge the number of enemy troops in class. Now, please recall!"

Fengling held her sword, constantly watching over Xiangcao's safety.

Fengling is a wandering knight, but a wandering knight is not just a simple archer; Fengling's swordsmanship is quite remarkable.

It's actually a bit strange that Wind Chime and Vanilla are standing on the city wall leading the students in a drill.

Vanilla, an elven royalty, teaches students here, while Wind Chime, a "big star," serves as a bodyguard.

Meanwhile, inside the city, Serai instructed his soldiers to prioritize their own safety and not to rout the enemy too quickly.

For them, these enemy troops, whose numbers and combat strength were not bad, were really nothing. It was just a live-fire exercise. Although there were still risks, they had to seize this opportunity for real combat. Being able to participate and gain something would be of great value to the students and Vanilla.

……

Meanwhile, outside the city, the noble rebels of the Kingdom of Bolen were also assessing the strength of the city's garrison.

“Our inside man in the city should be ready.” The nobleman from the Kingdom of Bolun smiled coldly.

“The enemy’s numbers are at most one-third of ours, or even less, and many of them are newly recruited soldiers.” Of course, the nobles of the Kingdom of Bolun had investigated this beforehand.

"Besides, this is the border. How many troops does Rand have in total? We don't need to worry at all about any Rand reinforcements appearing along the way." The nobleman from the Kingdom of Bolen was full of confidence.

"We will surely win this war!" the nobleman of the Kingdom of Bolen declared confidently. "Now, warriors, charge! Let Duke Rand, blinded by lust for power, realize his mistake!"

In the past, some might have thought that Rand was all show and no substance, but at least now, no noble in the Kingdom of Bolen would believe that Rand's military capabilities were fake or just boasting.

So now, the nobles of the Kingdom of Bolen are only encouraging their own people by saying that Rand has become stupid since becoming king, and that some objective reasons will prevent Rand from putting real military pressure on them in this place.

Otherwise, if it were Rand who was defending the city, even if the city's forces were only one-tenth of theirs, they might not dare to attack.

Fortunately, Rand Nicholas is unlikely to be in the city now.

Now that they have a numerical advantage, and with a surprise attack and an inside agent in the city, victory is within reach.

Soldiers and knights from the Kingdom of Bolun outside the city launched an attack on the city walls. The walls were dilapidated, with many parts crudely constructed from piles of wood and bricks, making them very weak in defense.

After a few rounds of attacks, these dilapidated city walls will no longer be an obstacle.

……

"This exercise is a live-fire exercise, so everyone pay attention. Although there will be compensation for those who die, you only have one life, and I don't think anyone wants to die, right?" Vanilla stood on a high place to boost morale and emphasize some key points.

"General Serai said that the enemy is just a bunch of chickens and dogs, so don't feel pressured. Just remember what you learned in class, and they won't be able to do anything to us!" Vanilla emphasized repeatedly.

Then we engaged the enemy.

In terms of rank, Thalys is no lower than Vanilla, but this time, in order to train Vanilla's command skills, Vanilla is the chief, making judgments and issuing orders. Of course, Thalys will still be responsible for the lives of the warriors.

If any incorrect instructions are given, Serai will correct them.

As for what constitutes an error, that's up to Serai to decide.

The exercise has begun.

The two sides engaged in what appeared to be a fierce battle.

The enemy's morale is very high.

Their lord promised them many rewards, and even allowed them to plunder freely in the city.

The enemy was clearly not strong; they only had weak city walls and a small army.

So the rewards promised by their lord seem to be within easy reach?

They used long ladders to climb up the city wall.

However, it was relentlessly pressed back to the ground by boulders and logs.

The city wall wasn't very high, so they wouldn't be turned into mincemeat when they landed, but the fall and being crushed still had a significant chance of being fatal.

Because of the city walls and gates, many troops did not choose to storm the city walls, but instead used battering rams to attack the city gates.

Alternatively, they could directly use battering rams to smash into the damaged sections of the city wall, areas that were only protected by very scattered obstacles.

Some impatient knights even used longswords or halberds to hack at the wooden parts of the obstacles.

Then, after destroying the obstacles, they would face the warriors guarding behind the city walls.

The danger was anticipated when they arrived at the city wall, so the soldiers were all battle-hardened veterans, and their weapons and armor were top-of-the-line.

In short, they are mostly full-body plate armor, and many of them are even magical armor plates.

Ordinary swords and knives could hardly cause any damage.

It was also equipped with quite a few Dragonblood Eagle Knights, as well as some mages.

These mages were also equipped with standard-issue staffs.

Furthermore, Archbishop Thurs was present, and General Serai personally directed the exercise. Vanilla, the vice-principal of the church school, also led many students and teachers to participate in the drill.

When defending a city, it is extremely difficult for the enemy to break through.

A knight from the Kingdom of Bolun, seeing the obstacle broken, drew his sword and slashed at the soldiers of the Kingdom of Lunar Phase behind it.

Then it was easily bypassed.

Logically speaking, wearing such inconvenient plate armor would make it difficult to execute any tactical evasive maneuvers.

But the opponent of this knight from the Kingdom of Bolen is somewhat illogical.

After dodging the attack, there is a diagonal slash from the upper left to the lower right.

The knights of the Kingdom of Bolen attempted to parry, but were knocked away by the immense force.

Then came the blinding flash of a sword, the cold blade piercing the gaps in the armor of the knight of the Kingdom of Bolun, penetrating his brain through his eye socket.

After the knight from the Kingdom of Bolun fell, the knight from the Kingdom of Lunar Phases, clad in full plate armor, did not stop. He took a step forward and cut down a knightly follower next to him.

The knights' followers' inferior armor made them vulnerable to the superior knight's sword; the wounds they were slashed open gushed blood, and their internal organs were vaguely visible.

Several more soldiers from the Kingdom of Bolun rushed forward.

The knight from the Moon Phase Kingdom took a few steps back, avoiding the pincer attack, and then swung his hand to cut off the wooden handles of the soldiers' halberds.

After taking another step forward, it's time for beheading.

Several more soldiers from the Kingdom of Bolun rushed over, using their shields to restrict the movement of the Moon Phase Kingdom knight.

Then came the halberd thrusting out from behind the shield.

But there was only the crisp clanging of metal striking metal.

The halberd couldn't even leave a scratch on the armor of the knights of this Moon Phase Kingdom.

Of course, the surging power still caused dents in the magnificent armor of the Moon Phase Kingdom knight, and it will probably take repeated hammer repairs to restore it to its original state.

However, such attacks were still unable to harm the knights of the Moon Phase Kingdom.

The knights from the Moon Phase Kingdom have arrived.

If these knights of the Moon Phase Kingdom cannot be defeated, then only by being extremely lucky and hitting some exposed parts of their bodies will they be able to kill them.

A blunt weapon like a warhammer or a gurudde might be effective, but at least the first wave of Bolen soldiers who stormed the city were not heavily armed with such weapons.

The siege did not last long, and soon the soldiers and knights of the Kingdom of Bolen suffered small-scale defeats.

Although surprised that the city could not be breached in one go, the commander of the Kingdom of Bolun was not in a hurry and ordered the horns to be sounded to signal a retreat.

The opposing force was indeed small in number, but well-prepared; their defensive equipment and obstacles were quite troublesome.

But it doesn't matter. With so few people, how many defensive weapons and obstacles could they possibly have? After a few rounds of attacks, we won't have to worry about these annoying things anymore.

That night, the nobles and military officers of the Kingdom of Bolen discussed: "Today's first attack did not go smoothly. It seems that the people of Rand are quite skilled, and their weapons and armor are very good."

"Blunt weapons will be the priority tomorrow," the nobleman of the Kingdom of Bolun ordered. "Let the warriors rest well tonight, and we will launch another attack tomorrow."

In these border areas, even if the people in the city can send out messages for help, it will take a month or even several months for reinforcements to arrive.

No matter how fast Rand's knights are, it's impossible for them to provide quick support after going back and forth.

The nobles of the Kingdom of Bolen observed today, and they did not see the flying knight unit from the legend of Naland. It is estimated that there is no such flying unit in the city, so there is even less to worry about.

The only slightly worrying thing is that the spies planted in the city have not yet taken any action, nor have any messages been sent out.

……

“I’ve taught you all the compulsory courses in war studies, but it seems some of you have slacked off today.” Vanilla was scolding her students with several people tied to her.

Vanilla is not a serious or harsh person.

Her personality actually matches her appearance very well; she is an elven girl who doesn't want to be stuck in the elven forest.

The teaching life can alienate people.

This caused Vanilla's personality to be completely different in her daily life and at work.

In life, Vanilla has always maintained her consistent personality.

At work, Vanilla would involuntarily become somewhat irritable and expressionless.

Vanilla wanted to become gentler and more patient, because her teacher was very patient when she was studying.

But when Xiangcao was managing the entire school and teaching part-time, she faced so many students, some of whom just couldn't learn, no matter how much she taught them, and kept making mistakes despite repeated instruction.

It's just that I naturally became irritable.

Vanilla is now a strict teacher and a strict vice principal.

Now that she teaches, she always emphasizes certain course content to ensure that her students can learn it.

If she really gets involved in the affairs of the Elf Forest in the future, then she may no longer be able to manage the church school.

But at least for now, she doesn't want any stain on her teaching career.

What if some stupid, inferior student later claims to be a student of Vanilla after making a mistake?

Just thinking about it made Vanilla feel uncomfortable all over.

It's truly disheartening to produce a bunch of useless students who can't learn anything.

Absolutely not!

"What should we pay attention to when defending the city?" Vanilla asked with a stern face.

Vanilla's pretty face was still very cute even with a stern expression, but her students didn't dare to look directly at her; instead, they remained silent in fear.

“Answer me, don’t stay silent,” Vanilla commanded.

"Be careful of inside agents," someone replied.

"Hmph, don't you remember? But how come you haven't reacted yet after someone sneaked up to the city gate?" Xiangcao scolded again.

The students bowed their heads and admitted their mistakes.

"Alright, alright, that's enough for today." Vanilla didn't dwell on it; she wasn't the type to keep bringing up a topic over and over again.

The students breathed a sigh of relief.

And when the students were about to leave...

Vanilla continued, "You all need to review the course content more often in the future. I won't be here to help you fill in the gaps in your knowledge anymore. On the battlefield, any weakness can be fatal, leading to death. You only have one life, do you understand?"

The students nodded.

Seeing the somewhat heavy atmosphere, Xiangcao said helplessly, "Alright, alright, I really won't say anymore. Be sure to be careful tomorrow, and don't fight the enemy too hard. Don't let the battle end before reinforcements arrive."

(End of this chapter)