It seems that the villain is targeting me.

Everyone got what they wanted and left satisfied.

Logically speaking, the current dilemma should have been resolved, but Gwyneth's mood did not relieved.

Gwen thought that she was actually lucky. She had been trained by her father since she was a child, and was brought up by his side to develop her military talents. She also established her prestige through various coincidences.

...and she also met a little bird.

All of Gwen's political talents came from Xiao Niao's dedicated training.

The Imperial Chancellor describes the rules precisely to Gwen: You give people what they want, and they will follow you.

When the soldiers wanted gold, she distributed the captured spoils to them; when the civilians wanted a stable life, she ordered the army not to harass the residents and won the hearts of the people with kind actions.

The lords and vassals who followed her wanted titles, lands, and wealth. She first demonstrated her strength and won a war with great success, and then gave them these things and promised them greater power.

She had gained an initial advantage for herself, but she was not excited at all.

On the contrary, Gwyneth kept a cool head.

Gwyneth knew that it was not time for her to relax until she had captured the capital and completely overthrown the current emperor.

She got a glimpse of the cold and cruel world that Xiao Niao had once participated in. She had only just begun to venture into it, but the unspeakable pressure and fear were already making her breathless.

Gwen didn't know how Xiaoniao had managed to survive. She didn't have her family background, assets, or the protection of her relatives, and she couldn't even protect herself with her own hands.

How much effort did that person spend to gradually convince the people around him so that everyone would willingly follow a short-lived half-human?

Gwyneth took a deep breath.

As if trying to draw courage from it, she silently recited the name of the person she loved in her heart.

------

-

Xiao Niao was in the castle of the Lord of Hejian.

Her team was very small and their speed was impressive. After speeding all the way, she had successfully arrived at her destination yesterday.

The Riverlands remained basically neutral in the current situation. Xiao Niao was treated as a guest, and the local lord, Earl William, entertained her with the best things, but he was quite hesitant about whether to form an alliance.

"Sir William, I know you have concerns," Xiao Niao put down the porcelain cup in his hand. "You don't like war, so you don't want to take the initiative to take sides - but you must understand that war is not something you can refuse just because you want to."

The Riverland Lord's face showed obvious embarrassment.

He shook his head at the bird. "The capital is too close to the Riverlands. The royal army can reach my walls in a few days. You must understand me, Butcher. I must be responsible for my people..."

Xiao Niao sighed inwardly. She knew that Earl William hated disputes and was full of concerns - but if not, it would be difficult for the two of them to become friends.

She took a sip of tea and was about to continue the negotiation when someone suddenly knocked on the door of the reception room.

The two looked towards the door, and the figure of the Red Moon Knight appeared. She poked her head out slightly and held up a piece of paper in her hand.

"Sir," said the Red Moon Knight, "there's a report from the front."

She quickly reported to Xiao Niao the news that Gwyneth had successfully defeated the defending army in the battle.

Xiao Niao noticed that when Earl William heard the battle report, his expression showed signs of hesitation and looseness.

This is good, Xiao Niao thought, the more times Gwen wins on the battlefield, the more bargaining chips I can use for negotiations - I will definitely use this to win the support of Earl William.

She was busy planning in her mind how to organize her words to shake the count's mind.

However, at this moment, the Red Moon Knight suddenly walked towards her and handed her a letter.

"There is another letter for you, which was just sent along with the battle report." said the Red Moon Knight.

My letter? Xiao Niao took the letter from the Red Moon Knight and opened it after a brief thought.

It was a letter from Gwyneth to her.

This was not the first letter. They had been in contact via carrier pigeons for the past few months. Most of the letters were official business letters discussing serious matters, and occasionally they would ask if she was safe.

It begins with a very ordinary 'Levi', and the next few lines are all about the situation on Gwyneth's side, the next marching plan, and inquiries about certain details.

This is obviously a business letter, and the wording is very rigorous and written.

Towards the middle of the letter, Gwyneth told Xiaoniao how she would deal with Victory City. Xiaoniao was pleased to see that Gwen had listened to her advice and done better than she had imagined.

Xiao Niao continued reading. This paragraph was filled with emotion. She described the process of how she persuaded the generals and recorded some of the conclusions she came to after thinking. She specifically asked Xiao Niao to give her some suggestions.

Xiao Niao could feel that the hesitation and confusion in Gwyneth's words were disappearing: she had already clearly understood the path she wanted to take and was becoming more and more determined.

This is undoubtedly what I want to see.

Xiao Niao smiled unconsciously, her eyes fell on the last content of the letter. Gwyneth kept nagging her about being careful and telling her to eat more.

Then come the last two lines.

Hope everything goes well for you.

I wish you could be by my side at this time.

Chapter 105 Heartbeat Interruption

Time passed quickly, and various news from the front began to become more frequent.

Since the Tudor family raised the banner of uprising, more than a dozen battles of various sizes have been fought.

The battle line is gradually advancing to the north. It took nearly a month to get news at the beginning, but now intelligence is only received once every two or three weeks.

The team led by Gwen grew larger and larger. She had fought many unexpected battles where she defeated the larger force with a smaller one, and now her numbers were gradually equal to those of the regular army sent by the royal family.

To some extent, this is also due to the rules she set. Some lords would directly choose to surrender when the enemy was at the gates in order to preserve their territory.

Si was coerced and lured into joining the rebel team.

The new head of the Tudor family was surprisingly young, but no one looked down on her because of her age. People began to call her the 'Queen of Thorns from Highgarden' with awe.

In contrast, the command system in the capital was still in a state of chaos. Sometimes a capable general was appointed as the commander of a legion, and a few days later he was dismissed out of suspicion.

Changing generals during a battle is a big taboo in military strategy, but now the capital has made the same mistake several times in a row.

The Hamilton who now sits on the throne is far less courageous and bold than Lawrence. He came to power by bribing legion commanders and assassinating heirs who were ranked higher than him.

When Lawrence was still alive, this man was just a leisurely prince who was raised like a pig. He had never been to the battlefield or seen blood, and did not understand the importance of timing in war.

After a series of defeats, the emperor gradually developed a fear. He ordered the army to retreat despite the opposition of the Imperial Conference to avoid losing too many soldiers in a head-on confrontation. The overall combat strategy was more inclined towards defense rather than offense.

The emperor hoped to concentrate all his military forces in the central plains: in such terrain, Gwen's best surprise attack tactics could not be carried out, and the only option was a head-on confrontation between armies.

What's interesting is that as Gwyneth's army gradually advanced northward, the tone among the major territories in the north was changing week by week.

Week 1: "The monsters raised by the Highgardeners declare war on the great Empire."

Week 2: "A cruel demon is marching towards Darkhold."

Week 3: "The Usurper Enters Sarsfield."

Week 4: "Tudor Captures Riverrun."

Week 5: “Gwyneth Tudor Approaches the Riverlands.”

Week 6: “The Queen of Thorns is arriving in her faithful North!”

------

-

Xiao Niao did not stay in Earl William's castle for too long.

After the news of two consecutive defeats of the royal army came, his attitude was obviously shaken.

Finally, when the bird was about to leave, the Gardener family became Gwyneth's first ally in the Midlands.

——For now, they are only secret allies. The two sides have reached a consensus under the coordination of Xiao Niao. When the final battle starts in the Hejian area, Earl William will lead the family knights to provide support.

In Xiaoniao's plan, the only lord in the entire central region who is worthy of an alliance is the one in the Riverlands: Although William is only an earl, he is extremely wealthy because the soil in his territory is fertile and suitable for farming, and he has the largest number of subjects in the central region.

So, on the second day after the alliance was reached, Xiao Niao said goodbye to Earl William and prepared to turn back and meet Gwyneth.

However, after a few days of walking back, the situation was not as smooth as she had imagined.

Xiao Niao soon found that it was becoming increasingly difficult to contact Gwen.

This is actually not difficult to understand: when the two sides first fought, the front line of the battle was in the south. The emperor's attention was on the war, and his control over the central and north regions declined accordingly.

The repeated defeats of the royal army were also related to this: since the troops were fighting in the south and the rear was located in the north, the supply lines for transporting food and fodder to the army were particularly long.

Coupled with the emperor's poor control ability and suspicious attitude, the legions that still had some combat capabilities were chased and beaten by Gwyneth's cavalry.

But now, as the battle line gradually moved north, the situation was reversed - it was Gwyneth who was the one whose supply line was stretched, and the Hamilton family got a brief respite.

The capital ordered the remaining troops to evacuate towards the Sancha River, and the defense line also retreated. This made the entire area basically fall under the control of the army, and travel checkpoints became tighter.

Xiao Niao's message could not be delivered in time, and it was difficult for him to break through the defense line and return to Gwyneth directly.

At this time, a rumor spread: Levi Butcher, who had never been seen since his marriage, was now in the Riverlands.

-------

-

When it was almost dawn, a misty and dense rain fell outside. Xiao Niao couldn't sleep the whole night. She lay on the bed in the inn, facing the rough wooden ceiling, silently thinking about her next move.

This is a simple and abandoned post station, forgotten by people because of the construction of the King's Road. It has not been repaired for many years and is dilapidated. Even the walls are peeling off and it has long lost its original function.

Xiao Niao knew about this place because she was the one who funded the construction of King's Avenue, and the report sent by her engineers mentioned this old post station.

This place is very secluded and no one will pass by for ten days or half a month. After Xiao Niao remembered it, he took his people to hide here temporarily.

Her team had been trapped in this area for two or three days, and the originally planned journey had been seriously slowed down. The closer she got to Gwen, the greater the possibility of her being captured by the enemy army.

Now Gwyneth is about to reach the final battle site, but the bird still can't find a way to break through the defense line and meet up with Gwen.

Xiao Niao had to start hesitating.

There seems to be no benefit in forcing the defense line back, and it will not produce any additional benefits except that

There is no other meaning except to make yourself safer.

Maybe I should stay here, Xiao Niao thought. Even if I go back now, I can't help Gwen at all, and she will have to divert her attention to help me.

If I stay behind the enemy lines, I might be able to play a greater role.

Xiao Niao's thoughts gradually became clearer. It was almost dawn, and she hadn't slept well to begin with, so she simply turned over in bed and sat up.

In order to protect the bird's safety, the Red Moon Knight had been resting in the same room with her when they were outside. At this moment, she was lying on the bed next to the bird, and she woke up after hearing the sound of her getting up.

"Sir?" Hongyue yawned drowsily. "You're up... Are you going out again today?"

In order to avoid intentional or unintentional searches, they have stopped at the post station to rest for a day. If they stay any longer, the probability of being discovered will be very high.

Xiao Niao shook his head: "...No, we won't go out anymore. Let's go back and find Earl William."

Go back? We've been walking for so many days, and now you're suddenly going back?

The Red Moon Knight was a little confused, but quickly put that doubt behind him: Since the adults have said so, it must make sense. I just have to do it.

She quickly nodded, got out of bed, and went to inform the other knights in the inn who were responsible for the escort mission.

It is much safer to turn back than to go out, but in order to avoid any trouble, it is better to set off early.

Xiao Niao was the only one left in the room for the time being. She felt a little dizzy, so she sat on the bed and slowly put on her coat.

Just as she stretched out her left wing from her sleeve, she suddenly noticed a faint rustling sound coming from the window of the wooden house.

Xiao Niao's heart tightened. Without time to think, she lunged forward, away from where she had just been sitting.

Almost at the moment Xiao Niao moved, a slightly sharp whistle was heard in the room. The next second, a short arrow was stuck in the bed where Xiao Niao had just been sitting.

The arrow was so powerful that the front end penetrated straight into the wood, and the feathers at the tail were still trembling.

Xiao Niao looked back, her heartbeat unbalanced and cold sweat broke out on her back: she had a bit of PTSD about this thing.

The first thought flashed through her mind: It's an assassin!

If she is really an assassin, then the situation could not be worse. If her whereabouts are leaked, then this place is likely to be surrounded by the enemy!

"Hongyue!" Xiao Niao shouted loudly and ran out the door desperately.

The 'assassin' who shot the arrow became anxious when he saw that she was about to run away. He yelled a few curse words while hurriedly replacing the arrow with a new one and hastily aimed at Xiao Niao's back.

Xiao Niao had already grasped the door handle, and when she opened the door, the man outside the window happened to pull the trigger for the second time.

This time, the whistling sound of the wind was so obvious that Xiao Niao could clearly feel it coming towards her without even turning around. A strong chill spread from her back, and her heart was beating violently.

Then came the sound of the Red Moon Knight raising his sword and slashing downwards. Xiao Niao clearly heard the clanging sound of metal when the metal arrow head and the sword body came into contact. Then the Red Moon Knight stretched out his arm and suddenly embraced him.