Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 393 Recapture of Frostfang Mountains and Acquisition of the Book of Hatred

The terms offered by the two dwarven lords sounded incredibly tempting. A secure northern barrier, powerful dwarven allies, a source of high-quality military equipment, and even potential secret passages… This practically eliminated all of Su Li's worries about the northern border and could also bring enormous economic benefits.

But Su Li wasn't blinded by the dwarves' generosity. He knew these extremely stubborn dwarves all too well; they viewed Frostfang Mountains as their lost ancestral homeland, and once they returned, it would become entirely their kingdom, with human influence reduced to a minimum.

This will likely bring a great deal of resentment from the human soldiers who went through so much trouble to conquer this place.

After all, the dwarves hadn't participated in the earlier battles. Now that the humans had pushed their forces to the very edge of Frostfang Mountains, were they just going to jump in and reap the rewards? And once they occupied the area, it would be completely theirs, and the humans would have to pay them taxes if they wanted to approach or develop it! How could Hilder and her soldiers possibly accept this?
“Old friend,” Su Li leaned forward slightly, tapping his fingers on the location of the Frostfang Mountains on the map, and said calmly, “Your determination to return to your homeland is admirable, and the conditions you have offered are quite generous. But…”

He paused, noticing the sudden tension on the faces of the two dwarf lords.

"...The Frostfang Mountains are now within the territory of my Black Forest Territory, and were taken from the Blue Mirror Territory by the blood of my warriors. If you want to immigrate in on a large scale, establish substantial strongholds, or even rebuild the kingdom... this is tantamount to establishing your 'enclave' on my territory. I understand that this is your homeland, but the reality is that it now belongs to the Black Forest Territory."

Dolock's face flushed even more, as if he wanted to argue, but Gerson stopped him with a look. The experienced Grayrock Lord said in a deep voice, "Lord Suli, please state your terms. Dwarves will not take their friends' land for nothing, not even their ancestors' land."

“It’s very simple,” Su Li said with a satisfied smile. “I have two conditions: first, the immigration fee; second, a share of future profits.”

"The Redbeard Clan and the Grayrock Clan need to pay a substantial sum to the Blackwood Territory for this large-scale migration and initial reconstruction, to compensate for the administrative costs and potential risks of the 'change of territorial sovereignty' and the 'acceptance of a large alien community.' This sum... well, let's calculate it per person: 20 gold crowns for each migrating dwarven citizen (including warriors, artisans, women, and children). I believe you have accumulated sufficient wealth in the Gray Mountains."

The dwarves would have to pay Su Li a reconstruction fee based on the number of people they wanted to immigrate here. This was certainly justified and could convince the human knights of the territory, since the territory also sold land to outsiders. Whether it was human knights, halfling clans, or immigrants from the Sun Goddess, the territory would sell land to them, allowing them to build and develop within its borders.

As the second-highest citizen of the empire, dwarves were naturally entitled to this treatment as well.

The only problem is that the selling price is indeed a bit high; 20 gold crowns could buy 3 to 8 slaves.

So Dorothy Redbeard jumped up like a powder keg that had been lit, his beard bristling with rage. "Twenty gold crowns per person?! Do you think we dwarves grow out of gold mines?"

Su Li covered his ears, which were ringing from the dwarf's roar, and waited for Gerson to pull Dolock's arm and push him back into his seat before calmly saying, "My friend, reason doesn't lie in raising your voice. I think this deal is still worthwhile, after all, you immigrants can directly gain the right to rule a territory."

"If you're not interested, I'm sure there are other dwarven tribes in the Gray Mountain Kingdom willing to accept this offer. You'd better hurry, because the reason I'm negotiating this deal with you is because you have the advantage of being closer and arrived first. The news of my conquest of Blue Mirror Territory hasn't even reached Gray Mountain yet. If we wait until the news spreads throughout the Gray Mountain Kingdom, you won't have the advantage of being closer."

Dolock's roaring aura faltered instantly; he knew all too well that the Gray Mountain King was stubbornly determined to reclaim Frostfang Mountain!
The most important reason why it has not been recovered is, of course, the inconvenience of the previous right of passage. The sons of the Grey Hills and the sailors of Mannan really had no dealings with each other.

Their Gray Mountain army couldn't possibly force its way through so much human territory to attack this mountain range.

It can be said that it was Su Li's army that expanded its territory and unified all the plains and territories at the foot of Gray Mountain, which gave the dwarves the opportunity to reach this place with their military might.

Su Li has completely solidified his identity as a friend of the dwarves. Basically, all the Gray Mountain dwarves are grateful to him, or at the very least, hold him in high regard. Therefore, countless people are willing to cooperate with him.

Neither Gerson nor Dolock could object to this.

If Su Li really contacted the Dwarf King and got the Dwarves to migrate to Frostfang Mountain, the number of people signing up would be overwhelming.

Fortunately, Gerson remained calm and said, "It is indeed true what my big friend said. But I think it is precisely our advantage of being close that can greatly reduce the burden on your Black Forest territory. If other tribes in the kingdom send troops, not to mention how to cross those monsters that are like a vast ocean, their logistical support cannot be guaranteed. At that time, when the dwarves send troops, they will rely entirely on your Black Forest territory to provide them."

Upon hearing this, Dorock's eyes lit up: "That's right. My friend, you should think this through. It won't be easy for our foolish relatives in the mountains to migrate and develop the Frostfang Mountains. Greenskins, beastmen, trolls, and other monsters surround them like a vast ocean in the mountains. Unlike us at the foot of Gray Mountain. If they want to send troops, they'll have to fight their way through countless monsters. But then their logistics and supply lines will be completely unreliable. When you attack Frostfang Mountains, you won't just have to send troops to help, but you'll also have to provide logistical support."

Su Li couldn't help but smile and asked directly, "So you mean you don't need me to provide logistical support for your attack on Frostfang Mountain?"

Gerson and Dolock's tiny, beady eyes widened simultaneously, all their rude words stuck in their throats. They stared with wide eyes, straightened their bodies, and didn't dare to utter a sound for a long time.

They're like a crow landing on a pig's head now; don't laugh at your brother for being so cunning.

Given the current situation of the Redbeard Clan and the Grayrock Clan, they are basically supported by Su Li. Of course, this also helps the Black Forest Territory maintain its status as a border granary. For thousands of years, humans and dwarves have lived together in this manner: the humans below the mountain provide food, beer, beef, venison, and the like, while the dwarves provide weapons, armor, and exquisite handicrafts.

After establishing a good relationship with the Blackwood Territory, the dwarves decisively devoted more of their population to their preferred mining and iron-working activities. The Grayrock tribe was particularly enthusiastic about this; having finally recovered several mines that had been contaminated by the ratmen, they were now digging with great fervor, determined to retrieve all the ores they had previously lost or missed.

The few terraced fields and mountain farms they cultivated were barely enough for their self-sufficient tribe to brew a little dwarf ale.

Without Su Li providing them with a large amount of food (which would also be very beneficial to the Black Forest Territory), they would have had a hard time not only recovering the Frostfang Mountains, but even maintaining the clan's diet of black bread made of crushed stones.

This is also the most important reason why they've been pestering Su Li these past few days. They not only hope Su Li can send troops to support their recapture of Frostfang Mountain, but more importantly, they hope Su Li can provide strong logistical support. Otherwise, given the dwarves' efficiency, transporting supplies from Gray Mountain, traversing the Gray Mountain foothills, Crimson Highlands, Green Hills, the Central Plains, then crossing the Flashspear Plains, passing Stromgarde, and then heading north into Frostfang Mountain, would waste an unknown amount of food and manpower. Especially the section around Flashspear, which is surrounded by various hidden monster warbands, Chaos Cultists, and Chaos Knights. That's not a small force that can cross; a slight misstep could result in the entire supply convoy being wiped out.

For several days, even more than ten days, the dwarves on the front lines had to fight on empty stomachs.

So the two of them grumbled and snorted for a long time before Dolock finally muttered, "My friend, you can't just sit idly by and do nothing about your friend's business, can you?"

"In my opinion, the combined forces of our Redbeard Clan and Grayrock Clan still have an advantage over other tribes. At least we are familiar with your territory and trade more frequently. We can hand over the equipment to you directly at Gray Lady Pass, and you can hand over the food to us at Stromgarde Keep. It's much more convenient than other tribes."

Seeing that even his stubborn old friend had given in, Su Li finally smiled and said, "That's natural. From the perspective of our friendship, I would certainly support you coming to Frostfang Mountains. We can be neighbors in a wider area."

"But you must understand that besides being your friend, I am also the lord of this territory. The interests of other knights and families must be taken into account. The 20 gold crowns for this immigration fee are indispensable. And our territory's ownership of this place must be guaranteed."

"Blackwood will receive a 15% cut of all minerals, gems, and other resources extracted in the Frostfang Mountains in the future. Dwarven forges sold locally will also be subject to normal business taxes."

"The rebuilt dwarven fortress must be integrated into the overall defense system of Blackwood. In the face of large-scale invasions by external enemies, such as the Chaos army or the Waaagh Greenskins, the dwarven army must obey the unified coordination and command of the Blackwood Marshal (of course, the dwarves possess a high degree of tactical autonomy)." "Furthermore, the symbolic ownership is also unquestionable; Frostfang Mountains still belong to Blackwood on the map. The dwarves possess a high degree of autonomy, but nominally, they must acknowledge Blackwood's suzerainty. Please don't be angry yet; this is more of a formality, used to appease potential doubts within the Empire and establish legal ownership."

Gerson Grayrock's face turned ashen, just like his name. He stared intently at Su Li: "Lord Su Li, this price... is far too high. Dwarves value promises and friendship, but they also value fair trade. This is more like... taking advantage of someone's misfortune. The elimination of the threat in Frostfang Mountains has already saved you immeasurable military expenses!"

The negotiations reached a stalemate. Su Li leaned back calmly in his chair, knowing the depth of the dwarves' desire for the Frostfang Mountains. The "immigration fee" and "future profit sharing" were indeed exorbitant, but he needed the dwarves to feel the pinch, to realize the cost of their "return," and to replenish the Blackforest Territory's treasury. At the same time, this was also a test of the dwarves' bottom line and resolve.

“Old friend, don’t get excited.” Su Li slowly sipped his fruit tea. “Think about it, once you return, rebuild the fortress, and restart the mines, what a magnificent sight it will be! The names of Redbeard and Graystone will be etched anew on the rocks of Frostfang Mountains! The foundation of your descendants will be solid. This money is an investment in the future. And…”

He then changed the subject, a hint of cunning in his voice: "If you find it difficult to pay the headcount fee in one lump sum, we can arrange it in installments, or... offset it with equivalent weapons, equipment, or engineering services? The Black Forest Territory is currently in dire need of the dwarves' superior equipment and sturdy defensive siege weapons."

Dolock was panting heavily, while Gerson fell into a long silence, only the unconscious twirling of his beard revealing the intense internal struggle he was facing. The call of the Frostfang Mountains was ingrained in his very bones, but Su Li's conditions weighed heavily on his mind like a mountain.

Finally, Gerson raised his head, his grey-blue eyes staring directly at Su Li, his voice heavy with the friction of rocks: "Lord Su Li, we need time... to discuss with our people. Your conditions... are very harsh. But we must return to Frostfang Mountains."

Su Li revealed a victor's smile: "Of course, old friend. I understand. Please proceed. However, while you are discussing this, my patrols will continue to clear the controllable areas surrounding the Frostfang Mountains. After all, safety comes first."

This was a subtle reminder that the longer it dragged on, the fewer opportunities the dwarves would have to "reap the benefits," and the smaller the area they could "expand independently."

The two dwarven lords left with somber and thoughtful expressions. But Su Li was quite certain that the deal would most likely be finalized.

Sure enough, the next day, the two dwarf lords found Su Li at the same time and announced the results of their negotiations. They decided to each send 500 dwarf warriors to form a 1000-strong allied army to join Su Li's troops in conquering the Frostfang Mountains!
These 1000 dwarven warriors were just the vanguard. After they had initially cleared the monsters from the Frostfang Mountains, they would build a fortress each in the northwest and southeast of the Frostfang Mountains.

The Redbeard Clan's fortress remains in the southeast, facilitating communication with the Flashspear Plains. The Grayrock Clan's fortress is in the northwest, providing convenient access to the Blue Mirror Plains.

The two dwarven clans were quite wealthy, and they promised to pay an upfront immigration fee of 20000 gold crowns.

After the two fortresses are established, they will continue to migrate dwarven women and children here, and this payment will no longer be settled directly with gold coins. Instead, it will be settled in installments using their profits in the Frostfang Mountains—the armor and weapons crafted by the dwarves, and the ancient treasures they excavate.

Moreover, the two clans acted very quickly, and their armies were assembled and arrived at Stromgarde in less than half a month.

Then the two lords found Su Li together. Gerson Grayrock's voice was rough, carrying an undeniable resolve: "Lord Su Li, Redbeard and Grayrock's axes are sharpened. 1000 of the toughest warriors are ready to set off at any time! This is our initial 'sincerity'!"

As he spoke, he slammed a heavy leather bag filled with gold crowns onto the table with a dull thud.

Although Dorothy Redbeard's face still showed some pain, his eyes burned with a burning desire for his homeland. He twitched his mustache and said, "That's right! Let those scum who have been entrenched in the ancestral mines taste the wrath of the dwarves! 20000 gold crowns, not a penny less! The rest, we'll slowly repay with the treasures we dig out and the fine steel we forge in our furnaces!"

Su Li's smile was much more genuine this time. The dwarves' efficiency far exceeded his expectations, and the huge sum of money greatly filled his coffers.

He immediately stood up, and the map was spread out again, this time clearly marking the locations of the dwarves' planned fortresses—the Redbeard stronghold in the southeast guarding the pass leading to the plains of Flashspear City, and the Grayrock stronghold in the northwest overlooking the plains of Blue Mirror Territory.

"Very good! Welcome home, old friends!" Su Li patted the two dwarven lords' broad shoulders forcefully. "The army of Blackforest Territory will fully cooperate with you to eliminate the core threat in Frostfang Mountains and lay the foundation for your fortress!"

With a flick of his sword across the map, thousands of legions marched to the perilous battlefield, where they fought valiantly, expanding their territory and driving out evil.

The allied forces were formidable. The Redbeard Clan warriors, clad in heavy plate armor trimmed with bronze, wielded massive battleaxes and shield-hammers, their steps heavy and resolute, like mobile steel fortresses. They were exceptionally skilled in mountain shield formations. The Grayrock Clan warriors, equipped with darker-toned, rock-textured armor, were adept at using long-handled warhammers and heavy crossbows, their formations even more disciplined. Their miners and engineers followed closely behind, carrying heavy toolkits; this clan's miners and warriors were renowned throughout the dwarven kingdom.

The forces of Blackwood provided mobility and long-range firepower. Imperial knights were responsible for perimeter reconnaissance and dispersing small groups of harassers, while a considerable number of musketeers provided powerful suppressive fire. Su Li also specially dispatched a team of experienced rangers and butchers, familiar with fighting in rugged terrain, to guide and support the dwarven vanguard.

The allied forces entered the Frostfang Mountains, and war soon broke out. The first major battle took place at the treacherous Stonethroat Pass. Once a vital checkpoint on the ancient dwarven trade routes, it was now occupied by a large number of beastmen and corrupt bandits. Utilizing the natural caves and collapsed dwarven fortifications above the pass, they hurled boulders and incendiary materials from above, making it difficult for the dwarven phalanxes to fully deploy in the narrow passage.

To capture this place, the warriors of Redbeard and Grayrock fought a bloody battle at the narrow entrance, withstanding the surging tide of orcish assaults. Battleaxes cleaved through thick hides and bones, warhammers smashed twisted horns, and the shield wall, though deafeningly powerful under the frenzied onslaught, remained unyielding. Meanwhile, dwarven engineers, braving a hail of arrows and falling rocks, rapidly surveyed the rock face under the cover of the shield wall.

Blackwood's crossbowmen and musketeers formed a dense firing line on the high ground behind the pass, raining down precise arrows and lead bullets on the enemy above the pass, suppressing their ranged fire and shooting down monsters attempting to climb the rock face to flank them. Meanwhile, rangers and butchers, guided by dwarven engineers, used ropes and pitons to scale the treacherous cliffs on the sides, trying to find a path to attack the enemy's flank and rear.

After a long and fierce battle, the dwarven engineers finally discovered a weak point in the rock wall on one side of the pass, which was very likely the remains of an explosive tunnel left by the ancient dwarves. Under the desperate cover of the shield wall, they quickly planted high-explosive dwarven explosives. A deafening roar shook the mountains! Debris and dust shot into the sky, and a large breach was blasted in the rock wall on one side of the pass, not only killing a large number of enemies but also opening up a new passage for attack!

At this critical moment, Dorock Redbeard roared, "For our ancestors!" and led his elite troops in a furious charge through the blasted breach. Simultaneously, the rangers who had successfully scaled the pass attacked from above. Caught between two fronts, the beast horde and bandits instantly collapsed, divided and annihilated by the allied forces. The pass was stained crimson with blood, but it also signified that the combined forces of Blackforest and the dwarves had completely penetrated the Frostfang Mountains.

Upon entering this ancient colony abandoned by the dwarves, the rewards exceeded everyone's expectations.

The first thing discovered was the dwarven fortifications. Inside this pass, after clearing away the overgrown vines and piled-up rubble, the engineers of the Grayrock Clan found several buried trebuchet emplacements. Although the ballistae were corroded, the Seeking Runes (Dragon Hunting Runes) engraved on the emplacements were still there. With a simple repair, this place could be reactivated and become the most important trade route pass for the dwarves once again, ensuring that Frostfang Mountain would not be invaded by greenskins and beastmen.

After further exploration, the ranger brought even more exciting news. Near an underground palace suspected to be an ancient artisan's quarters, after clearing away loose rocks and orcish garbage, they discovered a large, cleverly hidden, almost perfectly preserved storage cellar. The heavy wrought-steel doors, though rusted, were flung open with a roar thanks to the dwarven engineers' skillful lock-picking and the power of gunpowder. The cellar was filled with a thick, dusty smell, but it couldn't mask a deeper, more alluring aroma—ale! *Dozens of enormous, tightly sealed dwarven oak barrels were neatly arranged inside! Etched on the barrels were long-lost clan emblems and brewing years. The master brewer from Grayrock carefully knocked open a barrel stopper, and a rich, mellow malt aroma, aged by time, instantly filled the air, causing all the dwarves present to take a deep breath, their weary faces beaming with unbelievable elation. This was a gift from their ancestors, liquid amber left over from a lost golden age!

This was not just wealth, but also a vital food supply. When Bergman's generous flames appeared, the Hessian territory knew very well that the dwarves' ale was highly concentrated and energy-rich, enough to provide them with nutrition for several days.

But the most important discovery was in a command post half-buried by fallen rocks. Dorock Redbeard personally led the cleanup. They pried open a badly warped steel door, revealing a small, dusty, cobweb-covered room. On the stone table in the center lay a heavy book bound in sturdy metal and leather. Its cover was inlaid with dull gems and engraved with an ancient rune—the Book of Hatred of the Frostfang Dwarves.

It details the tragic events of the final days before the fall of Frostfang Mountain: the despicable ambush by the orcish horde, the fierce siege, the details of the loss of key defensive points, and the massacre of dwarven blood by monsters!

If we can eliminate the enemies above and avenge the dwarves' deep-seated hatred, we can find a treasure left behind by the dwarves of Frostfang Mountains.

(End of this chapter)