The War Begins

Chapter 66 The War Begins

A commotion erupted on the city wall as Baron Swood appeared atop the wall, glaring angrily at the knights below.

"Second, leave the city gates immediately and fight us to the death!" the knight read out the second clause.

Baron Swood roared, "I believe the Mujik family's declaration of war is unjust! The IOUs they provided to the Senate are forged! They cannot be used as evidence! There is absolutely no way we will cede territory!"

"This has already been judged by the Senate! Your defenses are not valid!" the knights below roared. "Thirdly, you may abandon your noble pride and choose to hide in the city and resist to the death! However, the Mujik family swears to make you pay a heavy price for it! Now, you can make your choice!"

"You want war? Then come on! I'm right here, waiting for your attack! Our family will fight to the death! You won't take an inch of land from us!" Baron Swood roared again.

How could he possibly back down? Behind him were the people of Lan Yumin, the very foundation of the Swood family.

Even civilians had to answer the call to arms, taking up arms and standing guard behind the city gates alongside some of the guards and mercenary groups.

The knight who read the declaration of war chuckled coldly and calmly walked back into the ranks of his troops.

"Didn't Alphonse promise to come to our aid? Where are they now?" Baron Swood asked Branta beside him.

Branta couldn't answer that question, so she could only say, "We've already signed a magic contract, he'll definitely come, there's no need to worry about that."

Brenta felt somewhat helpless. She had already reported it once, but her father still asked the question at this moment, probably because he was already a little flustered.

It would be a lie to say that she wasn't panicked at all; even Branta herself couldn't help but feel a little tremble as she looked at the large army in the distance.

Even with the addition of the Cold Wind Territory's military force, their numbers are still far fewer than the troops mobilized by the Mujik family.

If we could delay it a little longer, until winter arrives...

Seeing the two siege towers and the two giant catapults, Branta was already somewhat disheartened.

Can it really be defended?

Count Mujik, standing in the ranks of soldiers, smiled calmly. "As expected, they've chosen to hold their ground and resist stubbornly. How unwise."

He raised one hand high, pointing towards the town ahead, and roared, "Attack!"

Immediately, the army split up, and the two siege towers slowly advanced.

The swordsmen and shieldmen also raised their large shields to protect the archers as they advanced.

The mercenary groups formed two groups and hid behind the siege towers.

Archers raised their longbows and unleashed countless arrows, hurling them toward the city walls.

But the arrows shot down from the city walls were even denser, raining down relentlessly.

Blood splattered on the bodies of the combatants from both sides, and stray arrows always managed to slip through the gaps and hit some unlucky souls.

Both sides have suffered casualties.

However, the barrage of arrows could not stop the steady advance of the siege towers.

The two siege towers had become easy targets, riddled with arrows.

Unfortunately, the arrows could not penetrate the sturdy wooden wall, and many of them hit the sandbags hanging above.

"Fight back! Fight back!" Baron Swood had lost his composure, brandishing his longsword and roaring hoarsely, "We absolutely cannot let them get close!"

"Use rockets!" Branta ordered urgently.

Branta knew that the leather covering the outer walls of the siege tower had been fireproofed, but if an arrow could penetrate the tower's arrow slit and ignite from the inside, it could potentially destroy the tower.

The arrows, dipped in kerosene, ignited and shot out swiftly.

Although it was somewhat rushed, quite a few arrows were shot into the muzzle, but the desired effect was not achieved.

Instead, several sharp arrows shot out from the muzzle, both fast and swift.

Immediately, several archers on the city wall fell, and the rest only dared to hide behind the large shields of the swordsmen and shieldmen to fight back.

Branta immediately recognized the powerful arrows, which were shorter than normal arrows, as they were shot from a distance. He knew that the soldiers inside the siege towers were using crossbows.

It has great power, but it cannot fire continuously.

Branta could only pull the furious Baron Swood behind his shield.

At this moment, neither the father nor the son can fall down. If something unexpected happens, the morale of the soldiers defending the city will definitely be greatly reduced.

The siege tower was getting close to the city wall, and below it was a trench that had been dug. Although there was no water, it was enough to prevent the tower from getting closer to the city wall.

A heavy thud was heard beneath the city wall, and Branta quickly peered out.

Although arrows flew wildly through the air, and some stray arrows even flew into the town, Branta was wearing a metal helmet, which provided him with protection.

Mercenaries below the city wall were seen quickly carrying sandbags from under the towers and filling them into the trenches.

However, as the siege towers drew closer, they could no longer completely conceal the mercenary group hidden behind them.

"Shoot the men below!" Branta hurriedly gave the order.

Without him saying a word, the archers guarding the city walls quickly drew their longbows and unleashed a rain of arrows at the mercenaries.

However, this also exposed them, and several of them were shot down by crossbows inside the tower.

Such casualties are still within an acceptable range, and soldiers can be replenished, but the crossbows still need time to be reloaded.

"My lord, rest assured! As soon as that tower gets close, I will destroy the drawbridge! They won't be able to get up there!"

Beside Branta, a burly man with a scarred face gripped a giant axe tightly, a sinister grin spreading across his face.

Baron Swood nodded, feeling somewhat relieved.

This burly man is Hill, the leader of the Fury Blade mercenary group, and also an axe warrior with third-tier battle aura. He was hired by the Swood family at great expense.

On the other side, powerful warriors from the Berserker Blade and knights of the clan were on guard against the approaching siege towers, and they should be able to hold them off.

Alphonse! Where are you?!

Brenta was extremely anxious.

"Strange, why haven't their catapults started attacking yet?" Baron Swood asked.

That's right!

Branta also noticed this unusual situation.

He peeked out again and saw that the sounds of battle were still deafening below the city wall, but the mercenaries were only waving their weapons to block the arrows and hiding under the large shields of the swordsmen and shieldmen who were charging forward, roaring and cursing.

But no one attacked the city gate.

No one from the Swood family brought battering rams to storm the city gates.

This is unreasonable!

Brenta was a little confused.

Inside the city gate, preparations were already in place. Sandbags were used to block the gate, and a large number of soldiers were stationed there, ready to fight at any time.

Do they only intend to breach the city walls and enter from the top, without attacking the city gates?

But Brenta had no time to think it over, as the two siege towers had already rolled over the trench filled with sandbags.

Thank you to reader [lhyznb] for the 100 Qidian Coins reward!

(End of this chapter)