Warhammer Divine Throne

Now, tens of thousands of troops are assembling in Leonais Castle, united under the Lion Shield crest of the Leonais family. This army of twelve thousand is all that the Leonais Duchy can muster. Dalheid knows conscripted peasants are of little use in warfare against the Northern Barbarians, so he decisively chooses to bring only five thousand elite peasant soldiers.

The remaining seven thousand troops are comprised entirely of Knights, Knight’s Squires, Rangers, and Sergeants. Duke Dalheid’s face is solemn as he looks at the assembling troops in the castle, and says to several knights beside him, ”This battle will determine whether Leonais can continue to exist.”

Holy Grail Knight Eisen’s armor and cloak have some damaged areas, but he says little: ”My Duke, no matter what, I will stand with you, fighting in the name of the Lady, to the death.”

Another general stands behind Dalheid; he is Count Rein, also the Duke’s Deputy General.

At the same time, Dalheid’s heir, Aldred, is also present. The young man, upon learning that his homeland was being invaded, rushed back to Leonais Castle overnight.

”My Duke, the morale of the troops is low, and they seem listless. Is it unwise for us to attack so rashly?” Count Rein looks at the map, his expression tinged with worry.

”The Barbarians are eager to engage us in a decisive battle; there is no doubt. What do these Northern Barbarians understand? They only know how to ravage and plunder; beyond that, they are ignorant of many things.” Dalheid’s tone is somewhat disdainful: ”Clearly, the Barbarians have set up their formation on the Nanzi Plain because it is a narrow expanse filled with hills and forests, which hinders the knights’ maneuvers, so the Barbarians chose that location to challenge us.”

”Precisely, that should be the reason.” Eisen nods. He also wanted to raise this issue, but it is evident that Dalheid already has a plan, despite not being especially skilled in leadership among the dukes, has been through many wars.

He spotted the Barbarians’ intentions at a glance, and this is evidently a public challenge.

”Indeed, engaging the Barbarians on the Nanzi Plain does impact the knights’ charge, but it also presents us with a rare opportunity.” Dalheid fixes his gaze on the map.

The map shows the former glory and vast territories of the Leonais Duchy, now shattered. Three black lines stretch down from the Claw Sea in the north, reaching Landri Island, then splitting into two thick black lines, directly into the heartland of the Leonais Duchy.

The Duke knows he cannot sit back and wait for destruction; the Barbarians have already reduced the entire north of the duchy to ruins. If he continues to hide and defend from within the castle, it is only a matter of time before the Barbarians reach Leonais City.

The Barbarians yearn for a decisive battle against the Brittania people, and the Brittania people are no different. The thought of Barbarians spreading throughout the duchy in small groups is what Dalheid fears most. But now that the Barbarians seem to want a decisive battle, Dalheid is more than willing to meet them.

”Nanzi, Nanzi... I had considered leading a pure Knight Corps to directly attack the rear of the Barbarian army, and annihilate them before they could establish themselves. But now the storm is too fierce, and the Pegasus Knights cannot fly, while reinforcement from Jules is still en route.” Dalheid says somewhat gloomily: ”Obviously, this plan is now defunct. We’ll stick to the original plan and have a decisive battle with the Barbarians on the Nanzi Plain after meeting up with Jules’ forces.”

”Yes!” With Dalheid’s order, no one had further objections.

”Bring that out!” Seeing the army’s morale slacken, Duke of Leonais has long been prepared. With a wave of his hand, several clan knights bring out a large banner from inside the castle.

This is a long, white military banner, as pure as snow, emitting a faint spiritual light, with a scene depicted upon it.

It is the figure of King Arthur, the Founding Knight King, standing atop a mound of Green Skin corpses, surrounded by a holy aura. The flag’s golden-red tassels are fluttering in the sky. This flag, woven from the hair of the Elf Princess, is a priceless treasure passed down through a thousand years since the founding of Brittania.

”That’s... the banner bestowed by the Lady!” says the first knight to recognize the flag, with incredulity: ”This banner must have fought alongside His Majesty Arthur!”

”I know, this is the battle flag of the first Holy Grail Knight and the first Duke of Leonais, Sirulf! Sir Sirulf fought alongside this banner for over two hundred years, until he died fighting by the Sannes River!”

”My God! My God! We get to fight alongside this banner!”

”My Lady! I am ready!”

Blood boils in the hearts of the knights, and the depressed morale caused by days of setbacks is rekindled by this banner. Many young Ranger Knights shout with passion, and the composed Kingdom Knights are also filled with fervor.

Seeing this, Dalheid nods in satisfaction: ”Move out!”

......

After two days of marching, the Knight Army approaches the Nanzi Plain. The Kingdom Knight Army led by Jules merges with the Leonais Duke’s army, totaling nearly twenty-eight thousand troops, including over five thousand knights.