Knight Lord: Start with Daily Intelligence.

Chapter 523 Unstoppable
Su Li's gaze swept calmly over the human prisoners, who were being held in close guard and dressed in various styles, though some of them clearly bore a uniform design. Having become a chosen knight of the Goddess of the Sun, his wisdom and strategic vision were already extraordinary; perhaps only slightly inferior to commanders like Orstein in terms of practical battlefield experience.

He immediately grasped the key hidden in Erstein's words.

"Your Excellency Marshal, are you referring to those human reinforcements?" Su Li's voice was calm, revealing little emotion.

“Indeed, my lord.” Erstein nodded emphatically, his expression grave. “These reinforcements are far from ordinary. This is not the first time our air cavalry has launched a rapid counterattack; almost every time, we have captured a group of human soldiers from the routed enemy ranks. Their information is far less tight-lipped than that of the die-hard swamp goblins. Judging from the scattered interrogations and their belongings, their origins are incredibly diverse, making it a veritable ‘border princely territory power exposition.’”

He listed in detail: "Among them are private soldiers from other nobles in the border princely territories, perhaps those secretly allied with Litanel; local bandit groups and raiders eager to plunder; and even extremely rare greenskin mercenaries and ogre mercenaries! My lord, you know that greenskins have a terrible reputation and are greedy by nature. Hiring them is tantamount to inviting wolves into the house. The fact that you can contact and command them speaks volumes."

Erstein paused, then pointed to a group of prisoners in the distance who, though disheveled, were clearly better equipped: "What's even more perplexing is that even Maleiburg, which has always prided itself on 'freedom and neutrality,' has a considerable number of knights and soldiers among the enemy ranks. They're using the pretext of 'eliminating border threats' or 'maintaining regional balance,' seemingly positioning themselves on the side of justice."

Hearing this, Su Li raised an eyebrow, a cold smile mixed with absurdity and mockery appearing on his face: "Oh? When did Count Litanel—this despicable man who, according to Hilder's intelligence, was hunted by thousands and was infamous—become so popular? I remember clearly that he rose to power through betrayal, poisoning, spreading rumors, and colluding with foreign enemies. In the Imperial Law, each of these crimes would be enough to send him to the gallows ten times."

His voice was filled with undisguised sarcasm: "What, in the blink of an eye, this 'swamp viper' has transformed into a rebel leader who can rally a large following with a single call? 'Heroes' from all corners of the world, even greenskins and ogres have put aside their past grievances, and the 'knights of justice' from Maleburg have condescended to come and lend him their support?"

As Su Li said, this was clearly an extremely abnormal phenomenon. It was impossible for a notorious upstart lord to possess such a broad and complex appeal. Behind this must lie a far more powerful driving force than Litanel's personal charisma, or rather, a "reason" that would make all parties, regardless of good or evil, regardless of their stance, feel it was profitable, and even compelled them to participate. This situation was far more complex than they had anticipated.

Hearing Su Li's sarcastic words, Orstein's face showed no smile, but rather grew even more solemn. He responded in a deep voice, stating his judgment based on intelligence analysis:
"My lord, based on the confessions of the prisoners and various clues we have gathered, the force behind this wave of 'reinforcements' that can temporarily bind together such a motley crew and even hostile races is most likely from the forces of Maleburg."

"The people of Maleburg?" Su Li raised an eyebrow; this answer was both unexpected and reasonable. He pressed further, "Are you referring to those bureaucrats who represent the will of the Imperial Electoral Council? Or are you referring to the senators who actually manage that city and occupy positions within the Maleburg Council?"

"Without a doubt, the bureaucrats of the Imperial Electors Council were deeply involved in this matter," Orstein said with certainty. "If we were to cleanly and decisively destroy Litanel, it would be tantamount to tearing away the fig leaf covering their corrupt system. Just think, a territory that can defeat a count's domain with the ferocity of autumn leaves, yet its lord is rated 'unqualified' in their noble assessment, unable even to pass the lowest rank of 'King of the Kingdom'? This in itself is a colossal scandal."

He paused, a cold glint in his eyes: "Once this matter is exposed, in order to quell the anger of the electors (although this set of corrupt rules is very likely something they tacitly approved or even created), the bureaucrats who were specifically involved will inevitably be pushed out as scapegoats. Therefore, they absolutely do not want to see us succeed."

“However,” Erstein changed the subject, “we cannot rule out the role of the senators in the Maleburg local council. They have been operating for generations, and their interests in Maleburg and the surrounding area are deeply entrenched. If our Hesse territory sweeps across the north in one fell swoop and our forces reach the gates of Maleburg, it will completely disrupt the power structure they are familiar with, which is also a huge threat to them. Both publicly and privately, they have an incentive to secretly support Litanel and create trouble for us.”

Su Li seemed to be deep in thought, and then raised a crucial question: "They... still have the ability to pull off such a big operation behind the scenes? As far as I know, the struggle between the city lord's mansion and the local council of Maleburg has reached a life-or-death level. Do they still have the internal resources to exert such a great influence on the outside world?"

Erstein shook his head slightly and explained, “My lord, it is precisely because their internal struggles have become so intense that they need external ‘achievements’ to solidify their position and influence. For the bureaucrats of the Electoral Council, protecting Litanel means protecting their own positions and even their lives; for the senators of the Maleiburg Council, delaying or even stopping our unification process is buying them time and space for internal struggles. Faced with a common threat—namely, our Hessian territory—it is entirely possible that these two forces will temporarily set aside their disputes and tacitly use their respective channels and resources to support Litanel.”

"Money, promises, even coercion... Maleburg's trade routes and network of influence span the border princely territories. It's not impossible for them to act as intermediaries and bring together such a seemingly complex 'alliance.' This also explains why even the Greenskins with their extremely poor reputations and the ever-arrogant Maleburg knights would appear in the enemy's ranks."

Su Li slowly exhaled; the situation was indeed more complex than he had anticipated. Litanel was not fighting alone; behind him, the shadows of two powerful forces within Maleburg loomed. This border unification war was gradually evolving into a direct clash with the empire's old interest groups.

Su Li turned her head and looked at the dashing Holy Lily Knight beside her, asking, "Hilde, what do you think of the Marshal's analysis?"

Upon hearing this, Hilde's clear and sharp eyes showed no sign of seriousness; instead, a sharp glint, like a drawn sword, flashed in them.

She raised her head slightly, her voice clear and powerful, carrying the confidence and composure unique to a legendary strongman:

"My lord, in my opinion, this is not a bad thing for us, but a good thing!"

Her words were like a thunderbolt, and she immediately articulated her point of view with clarity: "First, Litanel's army is firmly pinned down in the Green Moss Swamp. They have the advantage of the swamp terrain, which makes them difficult for us to conquer in the short term, but they also cannot cross the Twilight Mountains to threaten the prime territory of our lands east of the mountains. Now, our adversaries are foolishly and continuously pouring reinforcements and resources into this quagmire. What does this mean?"

A cold smile curled at the corner of her lips: "This means that every successful counterattack we launch will result in the capture of a large number of soldiers and the seizure of rich spoils. It's like a massive siphon effect! It's like pumping water from the Electors' Council's bureaucratic corruption of the years, and from the deep family wealth of the Maleburg Senators, into this huge swamp, which we, the leaders of Hessen, will then 'take over'!"

Hilde's voice carried a penetrating insight: "This war has truly become a huge 'swamp,' greedily devouring the troops, supplies, and wealth of all participants. We can take this opportunity to solve the core problem of the Black Forest Territory's long-standing 'vast territory with sparse population' in one fell swoop! Through prisoners and spoils of war, we will gain a large number of people, slaves, and wealth, greatly enriching our territory."

She concluded decisively, "It's time for these parasites of the empire to use the wealth they've plundered from the people over the years, along with the army they've placed their hopes on, to pave the way for the rise of our Black Forest Territory! As for the possibility of a direct clash with the old interest groups?"

Hilde let out a light, arrogant laugh: "That's nothing! We are already a legendary force. To rise again, we are destined to seize benefits and power from those corrupt old overlords. We must have this confidence—a legendary knight, commanding three thousand true imperial elites, has the strength to smash all the entrenched networks of the old powers and stand firm on this land!"

Listening to Hilder's powerful and comprehensive analysis, Su Li's eyes lit up with admiration, and he exclaimed in praise:

"Well said! You truly deserve to be called a legendary knight of such valor! Your domineering confidence and insightful understanding of the times are truly extraordinary!"

Hilde's analysis, like a sharp sword cleaving through the fog, instantly turned what seemed like a passive defensive battle into a golden opportunity to inject resources into the Black Forest Territory and accelerate its rise.

This courage and foresight dispelled the last trace of doubt in Su Li's mind.

With the strategy set, the efficient war machine of the Black Forest began to operate with unprecedented precision and power. Under Su Li's command, the two core commanders, Orstein and Hilde, demonstrated perfect division of labor and cooperation. The resolute and loyal Marshal Orstein took full control of the frontal battle against the core area of ​​the Green Moss Swamp. He did not rush into a rash advance, but instead made full use of his side's advantages in resources and conventional warfare, adopting the most stable, yet most lethal, "barrier" advance tactic.

Using previously captured outposts such as the Deadwood Pass as a base, he commanded a large provincial army and free militia, like experienced craftsmen, to begin constructing sturdy fortifications, walkways, and watchtowers along the edge of the swamp. These fortifications were not merely defensive, but rather served as stepping stones for advancing, gradually encroaching on the swamp's edge step by step.

In this slow but irreversible process of compression, the ancient relic—the "Sky Horn"—played a crucial role. Under Orstein's meticulous planning, the horn was no longer merely a tool to dispel the fog, but a strategic weapon that could alter the battlefield environment. Every few days, after selecting a direction, elite griffin riders would carry the horn into the air and blow it in a chosen area deep within the swamp.

Each horn call seemed to stir up a lingering power from the heavens and mountains. The deep, resonant sound echoed across the swamp, and wherever it reached, the dense, chaotic miasma was parted as if by an invisible giant hand, revealing the murky water and mud below. More importantly, the primal power of "purification" and "order" contained within the horn caused continuous damage to the swamp's inherent chaotic ecosystem.

In areas repeatedly affected by the horn's power, the swamps would dry up unnaturally, cracking open with deep fissures; strange plants that relied on miasma and moisture would wither in swathes; even the swamp monster lairs hidden underwater felt intense discomfort and were forced to migrate deeper. The area of ​​the mossy swamp was being slowly and steadily compressed at a visible pace. Count Litanel's strategic depth, on which he relied, was disappearing bit by bit. His army was firmly locked in this shrinking swamp, and every attempt to break out was met with the impenetrable walls constructed by Erstein and the ever-present threat of aerial cavalry attacks.

In just about a month, the front lines commanded by Marshal Erstein achieved remarkable and brilliant results with their steady and efficient pace.

Under his command, the air cavalry of the Hessian Territory displayed unparalleled mobility and striking power. Relying on their fortified forward positions, they moved like tireless falcons, launching over twenty swift and deadly attacks against any enemy forces daring to peek out or attempt to relocate or resupply. This continuous barrage brought the Hessian Territory seven resounding victories, as well as countless successful annihilations of small enemy units.

The most direct manifestation of the victory was the endless stream of prisoners being escorted back to the rear. Within a month, over 2,500 human soldiers (including mercenaries, regular troops from other territories, and "volunteer" knights from Maleburg), nearly 100 rare greenskin and ogre mercenaries, and over 300 powerful swamp warriors were successfully captured. The seized weapons, equipment, supplies, and gold and valuables looted from enemy officers filled the makeshift warehouses, significantly replenishing the Blackforest Territory's war expenditures and even beginning to support the territory's finances.

The core reason for the overwhelming success of the air cavalry lies in their superior quality. Under Orstein's command, each sortie included several Chosen Knights capable of transforming into "divine generals," as well as many more Champion Knights whose strength far surpassed that of ordinary knights. This high-end combat force made each air cavalry dive more than just an assault; it resembled a judgment orchestrated by demigods.

The swamp realm's army, both human soldiers and swamp goblins, found their counterattacks utterly futile against these true powerhouses. Arrows and javelins could hardly pierce the runic armor, and hastily organized spear formations were pulverized like straw before the warhammers and giant axes imbued with destructive power. Even the fearsome swamp beasts, sculpted by dark magic, could no longer offer the momentary resistance they had shown upon their first appearance. They had barely risen from the mire, attempting to display their terrifying strength, when in the next instant, they were cleaved in two by massive blades crackled with holy flames or lightning, reduced once more to meaningless heaps of mud and broken bones.

Faced with absolute power, any elaborate resistance appears futile and laughable. The sustained pressure directed by Erstein not only physically compressed the enemy's living space, but also psychologically crushed their last remaining will to fight.

The green moss swamp, this natural barrier that once sheltered Litanel, is being transformed step by step into a vast graveyard burying his ambitions under Orstein's calm and ruthless tactics.

As Orstein steadily advanced with overwhelming force, Saint Lily Knight Hilde transformed into an iron storm sweeping across the outskirts of the swamp territory. Under her command were the most elite and mobile knights of the Blackforest Territory—including some Blackforest Royal Guard Knights, half-griffin knights, and a large number of elite knights.

Her mission was clear and deadly: to sweep through strategic locations previously controlled by Litanel, but not within the core swamp region. Based on prior intelligence, her advance was aimed at key points such as the Blackwater Whirlpool, Dragonbone Shoals, and the Pale Caverns on the edge of the Twilight Mountains.

Hilder's tactics were the complete opposite of Orstein's, pursuing extreme speed and devastating assaults. Her knightly order swept across the land like a whirlwind, often reaching the city walls before the defenders could even react. Against fortresses and strongholds built on relatively solid ground, the legendary knights' power was undeniable. She herself frequently led from the front, her massive sword tearing through flimsy city walls like paper. The combined charges of her elite knights could instantly crush any enemy attempting to resist in the open.

This led to even more astonishing, and even somewhat dramatic, achievements by Holy Lily Knight Hilde on the flanks.

In just one month, Hilde's elite knightly order, like a scorching blade, easily sliced ​​through the seemingly long defensive line surrounding the Swamp Territory. Within a short month, her iron cavalry, with lightning speed, breached seven fortified outposts, two sturdy baron castles, and over twenty royal knight estates with conscription obligations. Through pure military conquest, she captured nearly eight thousand civilians, farmers, artisans, and servants who had previously belonged to Litanel's rule, instantly becoming the much-needed labor force for the Blacksem Territory.

However, unlike Orstein, where a bloody battle was needed to capture prisoners, Hilde's biggest "trouble" was not the enemy's fierce resistance, but rather their avalanche-like surrender.

The regions targeted by Hilder's army were not ruled by monsters like swamp goblins, but by legitimate human nobles with investiture documents and titles within the imperial system—barons, knights of the kingdom, and other vassals sworn allegiance to Earl Letanel. In theory, they should fight to the death for their overlord.

But reality proved incredibly ironic. When the legendary knight Hilder, riding her powerful steed and leading the ferocious Blackforest elite troops to the city gates, the vast majority of these castles and manors chose to open their gates voluntarily.

The local nobles, accompanied by their families and subordinates, respectfully came out to greet them, and then, in an extremely awkward yet incredibly realistic manner, swore allegiance to Hilde, and through her, to Su Li, who still holds no formal title in the imperial records.

Thus, absurd scenes unfolded one after another in the northern border princely territory: a baron with an official imperial title knelt before a lord of "commoner" origin; a knight of the kingdom, whose lineage had been passed down for generations, pledged his loyalty to a powerful figure who had "failed the test" in the Electoral Council's archives.

This stark contrast, this scene that defies all imperial laws and aristocratic traditions, serves as the most scathing testament to the corruption and incompetence of the bureaucratic system of the Imperial Electoral Council.

It blatantly declares that in this dog-eat-dog world, true power does not come from a single document from Aldorf, but from overwhelming military might and unquestionable strength. The bureaucrats of the Electoral Council attempted to limit Su Li through peerage assessments, but the result was that the nobles they themselves had appointed flocked to the powerful figure they did not acknowledge.

Therefore, Hilder's achievements were significant beyond the military sphere. She not only expanded the territory of Hesse and captured a large number of people, but more importantly, she dismantled the authority of the old order in the region in a near-humiliating manner, laying the de facto legal foundation for Suli's rule. Compared to the prisoners and supplies that Orstein obtained through bloody battles in the swamps, Hilder's vast territories and the nobles who submitted to her without bloodshed were undoubtedly far more substantial and strategically valuable gains.

The fall of these outer areas not only greatly weakened Litanel's resource supply and strategic support points, but also completely severed his possible land connections with other areas of the border princely territory, leaving him utterly isolated on the ever-shrinking Green Moss Marsh, an "island".

With a two-pronged approach, victory was quickly secured. Orstein's frontal pressure, like an ever-tightening iron band, suffocated Litanel; while Hilde's flanking sweeps, like removing all the claws and teeth from its prey, turned it into a trapped beast.

The border unification war in the Black Forest Territory was swept away in just one month. The Green Moss Swamp, once a daunting and dangerous place, is now being rapidly disintegrated from both inside and outside, and what it is devouring is the blood and ambition of all enemies who dared to stand in the way of the Black Forest Territory's advance.

(End of this chapter)