Warhammer Divine Throne

Casvaine led his great army to Doomsday Mountain, known as ”Doomsday Mountain” among the Brittania people, while the Imperial people on the opposite side preferred to call it ”Heart of Ice and Snow.”

Duke Palawon didn’t linger much as he passed through Ubeseric. Instead of attempting to attack the town, he seized the opportunity to extort a sum of military provisions and pay from Count Graf in exchange for a promise not to assault the city.

Count Graf complied obediently. Ubeseric had three hundred standing troops, and Count Graf also had his own personal guard. Facing Casvaine’s army of over fifteen thousand, they naturally didn’t dare to resist. Casvaine also didn’t plan to stay here; after acquiring enough military provisions and gold coins, the army passed through Ubeseric and headed straight for Hemgart.

Although war had been declared, people still adhered to certain boundaries in the human civil war, such as not killing prisoners or civilians. Nobles would be detained awaiting ransom.

The army of over fifteen thousand camped on the mountain slope of Doomsday Mountain. Casvaine urged the knights and soldiers to rest up in preparation for the coming battle.

Emperor Carl Franz, on the other hand, camped with approximately twenty thousand troops behind the shallows in front of Hemgart City. The Avey Territory forces, led by Umberto Prince-Elector, occupied the Emperor’s flank, creating a horns-like formation.

Within Hemgart, there were another four thousand Imperial troops on garrison duty. The Emperor did not intend to defend the city, considering this as a human civil war.

The two armies began their standoff, each seeking an opportunity for battle.

On a February morning, Laine and Francois stood on the walls of Hemgart, looking at the confronting armies. The Divine Chosen Champion of the Lake Fairy spoke in a low voice: ”The Imperial Army is well-trained, composed of various types of troops with high morale, but they have fewer knights. Even counting the Rick Guard and Umberto Prince-Elector’s Personal Guard, the total number of knights is only about one thousand two hundred.”

”Casvaine’s army size is much smaller compared to the Imperial Army, but he has over two thousand two hundred knights. The outcome of this war is uncertain. The Empire has a certain manpower advantage, Casvaine has a knight advantage, but sometimes the victory or defeat can be decided in a flash.”

Francois nodded. The Duke of Winford considered for a moment and said: ”Casvaine, who is battle-hardened, knows that if he forcibly charges the Imperial array, the knights cannot secure victory. He needs to wait for an opportunity, a chance for the Imperial Army to expose its weaknesses.”

”Expose weaknesses...” Jerald observed the confronting armies, frowning: ”Casvaine’s army is fighting in the Empire on an expedition. He doesn’t have the resources to endure a prolonged conflict with Emperor Franz. As long as Emperor Franz fortifies his camp, Casvaine has no chance of victory.”

”No, you’re wrong, Jerald.” Laine shook his head: ”His Majesty Carl Franz understands that this war is not as simple as it appears. Jerald, you are only considering the military aspect, but Carl understands much more. He is not only an excellent general but also an outstanding politician.”

”Indeed, the Emperor might rely on a staunch defense to win, but that’s not what he wants.” Francois nodded with a smile, satisfied with Laine’s political insight: ”So many of us are here watching.”

Understanding dawned on Jerald’s stern face: ”I see.”

War has never been simple.

......

In the Imperial army camp before Hemgart, the Emperor and his generals, including Kurt Heilberg, Standard Bearer Ludwig-Schwarzhammer, and Toscan Prince-Elector Umberto, were studying the battlefield sand table.

The Great Alchemist Biersaze Gaert was also present, but contrary to his usual interest, he remained silent during this human civil war, standing aside without a word.

The front of Hemgart City was dotted with red flags representing the Rick Territory forces and yellow flags for the Avey forces. Across the shallows and a narrow plain, blue flags were planted on the mountain slope of Doomsday Mountain.

”Casvaine has stationed his troops halfway up the mountain, where there is ample water and sufficiently steep terrain,” Heilberg pointed his finger at the blue flag area: ”If we directly attack his camp, a huge group of knights will charge down the slope at our array, a charge of such magnitude that we can hardly withstand.”

The generals all nodded, fully aware of the power behind the Brittania knights’ group charge. When these knights charged forward shouting the Goddess’s name, any enemy standing in their way would be shattered.

”Our number of knights is not as many as Casvaine’s, any direct assault will certainly lead to failure.” Clad in military attire, Carl Franz shook his head: ”Our artillery can cover our advance, but Casvaine’s forces include about fifty Pegasus Knights, and they will undoubtedly seize any opportunity to attack our artillery positions.”

”A frontal assault would result in significant casualties. This is a civil war among humans, so we can’t conduct the battle in such a manner. The bloody lessons of the Three Emperors Era stand as a warning, but we can’t remain inactive either. As Lord Vicma stated, any enemy challenging the Empire’s authority must be defeated thoroughly.” Emperor Carl Franz stated calmly, fully aware that neither he nor his army could afford to merely defend. Under the scrutiny of all onlookers, he must secure a splendid victory.