Throne of the North.

Chapter 127 Outbreak
As the only viscount noble in Iron Mountain County and a loyal supporter of Earl Winter, Governor of North Wind Province, Viscount Walter owns a vast territory in Iron Mountain County.

These territories are different from Baron Freeman's. He occupies almost half of the plains in Iron Mountain County, which is land suitable for farming.

Not only that, the iron mines around Viscount Walter's territory also belong to the Viscount.

Within the scope of Tieshan County, the territories from south to north are Baron Malik, Baron Freeman, and further north is the territory of Viscount Walter. The territories of the three nobles are separated by intervals in a long straight line.

No one expected that after occupying Baron Malik's territory, Viscount Hogg's army intuitively crossed Baron Freeman's territory and attacked Viscount Walter.

But this is the best command. Baron Freeman's territory is located on the hills. The hillsides make it difficult for Viscount Hogg's army to withstand such physical consumption. Moreover, this place is easy to defend and difficult to attack. It can be seen that the ancestors of Baron Freeman's family had a good vision.

Can……

"How did he get there?"

Ryan asked. Although there were even larger wastelands around the roads outside the territory, Ryan did not believe that in this era, ordinary armies could march in the mountains and wilderness. The wild beasts and insects alone could annihilate those armies.

He came with his army from the north, while Viscount Hogg's army came from the south. The two sides did not meet on the only road.

Hearing Ryan's words, Baron Freeman's face was full of shock and disbelief, but soon, cold sweat broke out on his face.

“It’s… it’s a mine!”

Viscount Walter's territory owns the best land in Iron Mountain County. Large tracts of plains can be cultivated into enviable farmland, and on all sides of the plains, there are surrounding mountains with large amounts of iron mines.

"Before the Empire occupied the Northern Wind Province, there were many nobles here. They mined iron ore as their only source of income and traded with the Empire. After the Empire occupied this place and Viscount Walter's territory was divided into Tieshan County, they mined a large amount of iron ore for trading with the southern part of the Empire and sending it to the Earldom of Winter."

"This has resulted in some mines in the southern part of Viscount Walter's territory being connected into one."

"These mines can be opened up. It is possible to penetrate a mountain."

"The most crucial reason why Viscount Hogg defeated the army defending Baron Malik's castle was that a great mage who mastered earth magic appeared beside him."

"He used the ground to build a wall to isolate the troops on both sides of the defense line. By the time our mage group broke through the wall, Viscount Hogg's cavalry had already rushed to our front."

After listening to this, Ryan felt speechless.

But at the same time, we must also be vigilant and never forget that there are extraordinary powers in this world.

“So, it was that great mage who opened up the mines that could have been connected, allowing Viscount Hogg’s army to pass through the mountains right under our noses and appear behind us?”

Ryan was helpless. He had just come here from Viscount Walter's territory, but now he had to go back again.

"The territory of Viscount Walter should be able to hold on, right?"

……

Viscount Walter was standing on his own castle at this moment, like an ant on a hot pan.

Tieshan County has no decent cities due to the large number of mountains and hills. Even the only earth city is not here, but at the westernmost part of Tieshan County, close to Leiyun County. After all, in terms of geographical location, Tieshan County is also located at the easternmost part of Beifeng Province. Beyond that are uninhabited mountains. The further west you go, the closer you are to the center of the province.

Viscount Walter, who owned this good land, certainly couldn't give it up, so he stayed in his own territory. At this moment, he looked at the huge army outside, couldn't help suffocating, and his face turned pale.

"How could they appear here?"

For Viscount Walter, he was not so panicked because the nobles in the south were the natural line of defense for his territory.

But he could not understand why Viscount Hogg's army would surround his castle today.

However, someone reminded him of the truth. It should be that the mine tunnel in the south was opened up, and Viscount Hogg found a road that could cross the avenue and Baron Freeman's territory.

"Has Knight Luke returned? How long will it take for the Frozen Baron's army to come back to support us?"

Viscount Walter lost his previous composure at this moment, because he knew very well that there were not many troops in his castle.

Two hundred soldiers were his only military means, and a few magicians and a dozen silver knights were the few high-end combat forces. This should not be normal for a Viscount of Tieshan County whose wealth exceeded that of Lingdu County, but this was all Viscount Walter had.

At the same time, his castle was not built in a place that was easy to defend but difficult to attack, but in the center of the plain. Every morning when he got up, Viscount Walter could see the thriving fields and golden wheat outside from his castle, and his heart would be filled with a great sense of accomplishment.

But now this kind of terrain makes it difficult for Viscount Walter to feel safe.

He had gathered all the slaves and civilians from the village outside into the castle and placed them on the edge of the castle, ready to repel any attacking enemies at any time.

However, Viscount Hogg did not attack at the first moment. Instead, he dug pits and built defenses on the road to the south. He was defending against Ryan's army returning from Baron Freeman in the south.

"As long as we occupy Viscount Walter's territory, the reinforcements from Lingdu County will be caught in a pincer attack by us. Even if we do nothing, they will starve to death."

Viscount Hogg looked back at the only road between the two mountains, and then sent people to Viscount Walter's castle.

Viscount Walter is a loyal supporter of Earl Winter's family, but that does not mean he is absolute. The interests of the nobles are paramount, and Viscount Walter may not be unable to become a friend of Earl Weiss.

The answer was of course no. Viscount Walter would not abandon his family's honor and alliance and surrender so easily. So, on this sunny day, Viscount Hogg's army launched an attack.

On the land between the cultivated fields, the army marched like long lines of ants towards the castle ahead. Even in war, these soldiers did not have the courage to destroy the wheat that should have been harvested here.

After all, they were also serfs, soldiers composed of farmers.

"There is no army in Viscount Walter's castle. We are going to capture his territory today!"

Viscount Hogg was riding his warhorse and roaring at the rear of the battlefield, while the soldiers in front of him could only grit their teeth and keep charging forward.

It was impossible to capture a castle in one day, of course. However, under the frenzied attack of thousands of soldiers, even those soldiers in the castle who were converted from serfs or miners were exhausted.

Their physical condition was too weak, and after a life-and-death crisis, they were very hungry and extremely tired.

As a last resort, Viscount Walter could only take out a large amount of food to replenish these people's physical and mental exhaustion, which also led to these people sleeping deeper than anyone else that night.

(End of this chapter)