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

Chapter 955 The Grassland Spirits Marching East

The people drinking the tribute wine were having a joyful banquet. Although the food wasn't particularly exquisite, it was still acceptable given the expensive Dovenian tribute wine. Meanwhile, in Swiftstream City, Vervier, who had just been eating bread and drinking vegetable soup, heard the news that he was to set off as soon as he arrived at Duke Cloud Maple's place.

"These are the minutes of the Lagrange City meeting! See if there are any objections. If not, then carry out the order!" Duke Yunfeng looked at Verway with a hint of helplessness in his eyes. He thought Roland was just making a small-scale troop movement and that there wouldn't be much else to do. He didn't expect Roland's actions this time to be so large that he could instantly set up a makeshift team. Although it was still fragile, at least it had some structure.

"Let me see!" Verway took the record and immediately raised an eyebrow.

"Oh my! Such a big move? Even we're going over there? Is he planning an attack?" Verway asked in confusion. After all, the War Tree was originally a slow-moving attack fortress; if conditions allowed, no one would use it as a defensive structure!

"I don't know, but he definitely needs you!" Yun Feng nodded to Verway. No matter what, Roland's need for the War Tree meant he must have encountered a problem.

“No problem! I’ll go back and get my people ready, then we’ll set off!” Vanville nodded knowingly. As a vassal of Roland, he had no reason or need to refuse Roland’s orders. After all, the elven holy sword Manikati had already made Vanville very grateful, enabling him to become a sixth-tier being and giving him the confidence to protect his people. The existence of the War Tree had further bound the grassland elves to Lagrang. After suffering for so many years, the grassland elves were finally enjoying the nourishment of nature’s source again. Although it was not as magnificent as the Ancient Tree of Life and the Magic Well, its essence was just as good!

“Yes, if you’re afraid of the risks, leave the women and children in Swiftflow City. It’s safer here than in the rear!” Yun Feng said solemnly to Verviers. As the kingdom’s prime minister, he now needed to consider the strategic aspect. Leaving the women and children behind would provide protection and give the grassland elves something to worry about. Whether Verviers was willing or not was up to him. Leaving them behind would only provide double insurance for the kingdom.

"No need! There are no cowards among the grassland elves! Besides, the women and children can seek refuge in Lagrange City. The opportunity to bask in the essence of the ancient tree is rare, so let's not waste it!" Verway decisively shook his head. He was joking! You want to drive the elves off the ancient tree of war? Don't be ridiculous! We are loyal subjects of the kingdom! We are immensely honored under King Roland's holy grace! What elven pride can compare to the tangible benefits brought by the ancient tree?

The long lifespan compared to humans has exposed the grassland elves to all sorts of deceit and treachery, but the grassland elves are not fools; they still have a basic ability to distinguish who is good to them and who is not!

What? You're saying the elves abandoned their glory to grovel before humans and forfeit their dignity? Then let me ask you, where were you when the grassland elves were living a precarious existence, exposed to the elements on the wasteland? King Roland had the Holy Sword and the Ancient Tree of War! Did you think I didn't know who was good to me? Answer me! Damn it, nobody cared when the grassland elves were suffering, and now that they're rich, what's with all the complaining?!

"Alright, as long as you know what you're doing! Don't let the women and children get hurt!" Yun Feng nodded. In the grassland elf tribe, there are no civilians, only women, children, and warriors. All young men must carry knives and bows to fight for the tribe!

"Don't worry, I won't joke around with my people!" Verway nodded. He had finally managed to gather over a thousand people, almost wiping out the wandering grassland elf tribes around the Lagrange Plains—no, they couldn't even be called tribes; those groups of only a few dozen people were more like families banding together. How could Verway possibly let these people, whom he had painstakingly gathered, be put in danger? Besides, traveling with the War Tree wasn't even considered dangerous.

"Go to the warehouse and get your own supplies. Remember to bring enough arrows and spare weapons! By the way... which route do you plan to take?" Yun Feng frowned as he finished instructing Verway, then suddenly remembered this question he had overlooked. After all, if it was along the way, the kingdom's dragon knights could provide aerial reconnaissance.

"We'll go straight across the Lagrange Plain!" Verway waved his hand domineeringly.

"Won't it be too dangerous? The central kingdom of the plains is undeveloped, and there are many magical beasts there. Besides, when the knights wiped out the orcs, they would definitely leave behind some remnants..." Yun Feng said worriedly. "Relax, Lord Yun Feng! That's not something you should be worried about. Roland specifically sent us with the Ancient Tree of War... As a wise man, don't you know anything about the Ancient Tree of War?" A cunning glint flashed in Verway's eyes. Anyone associated with war was definitely not a benevolent force!

"I hope everything goes well! I'm going to find Renault, so I won't see you off! Be careful on the road!" Duke Yunfeng glanced at Verway's confident expression and finally nodded knowingly. His worries were unnecessary. What could he possibly encounter with the Ancient Tree of War clearing the way? He couldn't possibly run into another Dragon King, could he?

"Alright! Let's go!" Verway waved to Yunfeng.

……

"Vanville and the others have set off!" Duke Giorstedia rubbed his tired eyes and handed Roland the intelligence. He'd drunk too much at last night's banquet! The cunning Roland, whether out of sheer inability to hold his liquor or on purpose, had been frantically using himself as a shield, drinking every toast offered to him! His head was still spinning!

"Let me see!" Roland took it and was immediately stunned.

"Wow! Good heavens! They actually crossed the kingdom directly!" Roland exclaimed in surprise as he looked at the route reported by Verway.

“Valvet felt that going along the swift current was too slow, and it might take until next year! So he wanted to cross it directly!” Duke Giorsted explained.

"Won't there be any risks?" Roland asked with some concern. After all, although it was called the Lagrange Plain, it was actually the kingdom's private territory rather than a controlled area. The so-called sweep of the entire plain by the knights was nothing more than wiping out the hordes of orc tribes. As for the magical beasts deeper inside, the knights kept their distance. One reason was to protect the integrity of the ecosystem and biosphere and not to overexploit the resources, and the other was that they didn't have the capacity to develop these places. After all, this wasn't the Lagrange Plain of the imperial era, which was full of towns and villages. Let alone wild magical beasts, even seeing wild animals was a result of the excellent landscaping!

"No way! You don't know about the Ancient Tree of War? Um..." Duke Joelster looked at Roland tentatively, afraid that he really didn't know.

"I know, but the monsters there haven't been completely cleared out yet. Although the probability of encountering a powerful monster here is low, it's definitely not zero!" Roland then thought of the Ice Dragon King Asata...