The Lord of the Rings: Lords of Middle-earth.

“We’ve already crossed the Dingriel Valley! Just ahead is Rorian!” Caslow said to Roland, spreading out the map.

"My God... how did I end up in the Golden Forest!" Roland covered his face, feeling extremely ashamed.

“We have to head north! To the Graton region!” Omsk, wearing a helmet, said in a deep, muffled voice.

"What's the situation in the Gratton region? We don't know!" Roland shrugged.

"Whatever! They're not under the Empire's control anyway!" Ajax shrugged, her face full of helplessness.

“One day we will reclaim our territory!” Roland stared at the map.

“We could actually consider taking the waterway!” Roland suggested, since we could go directly from the Silver River to the Anduin River and then take the waterway to the Old Pass.

"Crossing the elven territory is already absurd enough! Going against the current is a bit unrealistic!" Ajax said bluntly, without any regard for King Roland.

“Let’s continue along the eastern foothills of the Misty Mountains to the Graton region! At least it’s more open there, and we’re less likely to be ambushed!” Omsk rubbed his temples, looking somewhat tired.

"Damn it! It's a pity we didn't bring the Knights!" Roland said with some regret.

"This is a waste of their talents. There's no need for knights to deal with scattered orcs! Heavy infantry is already giving them a lot of face."

“Graditon region? Wait! Our people have been here before!” Roland suddenly slapped his forehead. When he sent Baron Lance to escort the goblin prince Jessie Ava, they had passed through this area, and Roland still had the map they drew in his spatial storage.

“Baron Lance!” Caslo understood as well.

“I remember there are human settlements in Gratton!” Caslow and Roland searched through the map Lance had drawn and began comparing it with their own map.

“Here! Gratton Plain! To get there, we have to cross the Anduin River first!” Caslow scratched his head.

“We still have to go there! After all, we need to maintain contact with the human settlements. Although they have broken away from our rule, they will still be subjects of the Empire in the future!” Omske suggested.

“It doesn’t matter, but Lance said the people here are still very ignorant! Our little magician Nina Bonn comes from this settlement. She was almost killed, but Lord Lance saved her!” Roland winked mischievously.

Everyone burst into laughter, realizing the unspoken agreement. It has to be said that the hero-saves-the-damsel-in-distress trope is always a captivating spectacle.

“It’s like this…” Caslo looked at Ajax, who had a completely bewildered expression, and immediately pulled her over to tell her the story of this settlement.

"Damn it! We should destroy it! Bring it under the rule of the Empire!" Ajax angrily waved her fists, clearly furious at these ignorant people and those bloated lords.

“Calm down, most of the humans in Middle-earth are like this now! Can you kill them all?” Roland glanced at Ajax, who was furious like a mother dragon.

"Ha! I am a soldier! It is my duty and mission to fight crime and maintain order!" Ajax pouted and said discontentedly.

“Fool…sigh.” Roland looked at Ajax with pity and then sighed.

"You idiot, war is a continuation of politics! But soldiers are not pawns of politicians! It's best if a fool like you is bewitched by those ambitious people!" Roland shook his head. Fortunately, he didn't have such a strong desire for expansion. If it were a warmonger, he might have been completely fooled by this girl.

What Roland didn't know was that in this nameless place he uttered a statement that shocked historians for generations to come, and made countless people worship him!

"War is a continuation of politics, and soldiers are not pawns of politicians!" — The True Story of Roland Lagrange. "We are not warmongers; we only wish to protect the people under our rule. As for the ignorant majority... we are powerless to stop them!" Roland shook his head. In essence, he was not a warmonger. The stability of an agrarian society meant they were never enthusiastic about war!

"What's wrong? Is it strange? A king who isn't keen on expanding his territory?" Roland looked at the dumbfounded Caslo and Omske and smiled mysteriously.

Watching Omske and Caslo nod frantically, Roland couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth...

His lifelong dream was to live the extravagant life of a king, indulging in delicacies every day, enjoying a life without the grueling 996 work schedule, being served by beautiful and attractive maids, marrying a beautiful queen, and having several children...

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned! I was born in the damned Third Age! The elves and dwarves were still a force to be reckoned with, and humans were still living under their protection. Moreover, the darkness hadn't left Middle-earth yet, and the years of war left you in despair!
"Actually, I just want to live a stable life..." Roland sighed.

Initially, he wouldn't have participated in the Lonely Mountain expedition if he hadn't wanted some money. Later, if it weren't for Renault's insistence and consideration for the commission, he wouldn't have participated in the War of the Five Armies! Later still, if it weren't for the reasons of "if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold" and "how can one tolerate others sleeping soundly beside one's bed," he wouldn't have gone to Dolgoth to cause trouble for the Ringwraiths. Now, due to the pressure of the war in the north, he can only go to Moria to get a dragon rider and some gold.

"Sigh... life is unpredictable, like a large intestine wrapped around a small intestine!" Roland sighed. He didn't know where the future lay, nor was he sure if he would live to see that day. But when he thought of Nyx's smiling face... Roland clenched his fists. Disrupt my life? I'll slaughter even a god for you!

"Let's go! Let's get to the Graton region first, and then figure out how to cross the river!" Roland shook his head, banishing those random thoughts.

"Watch out for the orcs here!" Roland commanded.

"Understood!" everyone replied.

……

Lulong Fortress.

"What's going on?" Renault, dressed in full armor, stood on the city wall, a look of surprise on his face. The orcs of Dolgodor had started causing trouble again.
“I don’t know, General! Our scouts say an orc army is moving toward us!” Apophis Breo stood before Renault, bowing and clasping his hands in greeting.

"Damn it! Of all times! His Highness isn't here... Go! Send someone on horseback to Swiftstream City to report! Tell them to gather the people and prepare for the orc invasion! Tell His Majesty Yunfeng that the safety of Swiftstream City and the Grand Duke is in his hands! I will live and die with Lulong Fortress!" Renault stared murderously at Dolgodo in the distance.

“Understood. General Renault doesn’t have many soldiers in the city. Do we need reinforcements…” Apophis Breo, a descendant of the Duke of King’s Landing, asked with a frown.

"Hmm?" Renault raised an eyebrow.

“There are only 400 Battanian archers, 100 Crusader spearmen and shieldmen, 16 King’s Landing knights and 3 priests left in the fortress. Should we request aid from Swiftstream City…” Apophis Breo said with a frown.

"What? Are you scared?" Renault frowned.

"Afraid? The men of King's Landing are afraid? You are insulting the honor of the King's Landing Lions!" Upon hearing this, Apophis Breo jumped up like a cat with its fur standing on end.

“I’m just afraid you can’t hold this place! The south of the kingdom is no longer protected!” Apophis Breo glared at him coldly.

"It will take time and manpower to gather the people. If we ask for help, how many people can get there in time? Those Cross Bauhinia Knights? Or those heavy cavalry? Or perhaps the Holy Light Knights? What about Swiftstream City? Those are the very foundation of Swiftstream City! Are you planning to rely on the support of those Swiftstream Infantry or those conscripted light infantry?" Renault sneered disdainfully.

"When they arrive, they'll either be collecting the orcs' corpses or collecting ours! They might even end up getting themselves killed! We'd rather not have it at all!" Renault said domineeringly, gripping his sword.

"Today! I! The Kingdom of Lagrange! Reno, the garrison commander of Lulong Fortress, stand here! To tell those scum deep in the Dark Forest!" Reno took a deep breath.

"Lulong ahead, darkness forbids passage!"