Chapter 73: Constant Bad News
Ai'er didn't understand military affairs or politics, but the southern nobles around her did.

They were all those who followed the Duke of Westeros in his battles.

According to their description, the current empire is just relying on the inertia of the past to make the final progress.

The Queen was powerless to save the situation.

Once the Glass Fortress completely falls, the coalition forces of the northern countries and the private armies of the six dukes will quickly sweep across the entire northern part of the empire.

Then they headed straight for the imperial capital.

Because the northern part of the empire was basically the fiefdom of the Six Dukes, they should have been the barrier of the empire.

Now they have all rebelled, so it can basically be said that the northern part of the empire has fallen.

No matter how strong the city of Grasse is, as an isolated city it cannot always withstand the attacks of the Northern Allied Forces.

In this situation, Ai'er really couldn't think of how the Queen would turn the tables.

But she could only trust the Queen, otherwise, she would be in danger.

So she rejected, rejected, and rejected all the messengers' promises and requests.
-
With the sudden outbreak of this unrest, today is already the eleventh day.

The city of Grasse was indeed the empire's stronghold.

Even though they knew they were an isolated city, they still held out for ten full days without showing any signs of weakness despite being attacked from all sides.

However, the bigwigs of the coalition forces are full of confidence in this.

At dawn on the eleventh day, the defenders of Grasse did not see the enemy troops that were expected to appear.

It was obvious that in the previous ten days, the enemy had been relying on their numerical advantage to attack their city repeatedly.

But they hadn't seen any enemy attacks since last night, even in the rear.

This allowed them to have a good night's sleep after a long absence.

But if the other party does not take any action, it will make them uneasy.

The enemy has not retreated, so their inaction can only mean they are planning something.

The unknown is what worries people the most.

Finally, amid their anxiety and expectation, in the early morning mist, they saw a man riding a white horse coming towards them.

"Don't attack."

The officers' shouts echoed in the eardrums of every soldier.

There was only one person on the other side, and he was carrying a white flag.

But this obviously does not mean the other party is surrendering. They have all the advantages and they are the ones coming to negotiate.

The other party's voice also proved this:
"I am here to negotiate on behalf of the coalition forces, and I hope to meet your governor."

His request was granted.

The Governor and the generals met the messenger in the Governor's study.

The other party said straight to the point:

"I hope you will surrender. The situation is clear. My Lords, you cannot win."

After a brief silence, the Governor said:
"If that's all you want, please go back."

"If you really don't intend to surrender, why did you let me in?"

The other party's answer made the Governor fall silent again.

Seeing this, the messenger also smiled as if chasing after him:
"In fact, you also know that the fall of this city is inevitable, because you are isolated and helpless. Your stubborn resistance is not for your queen."

"You just want to prove to us that this city can hold out for a long time, so stop fighting and negotiate!"

"Am I right, my Lord?"

The Governor and the generals remained silent.

He's right.

They knew this when they learned that the Anras Fortress, which served as a supply line, had fallen and the six dukes had all rebelled. Unless the queen could gather an army in a short period of time and defeat the six dukes who had already received countless aids.

The reason they held out these days, apart from wanting to see if they could wait for this miracle, was more because it was indeed as the messenger said.

They just want to prove to the other side that the city can hold out for a long time, so negotiate and then give a good price.

Seeing their silence, the messenger smiled with increasing satisfaction:

"Governor, please tell me your request. As long as it's not too outrageous, I can agree to it."

The Governor finally sighed and said:

"I need you to ensure the safety of the soldiers and civilians in the city. Swear in the name of the gods and kings."

"Not you, but all the leaders of your coalition!"

"Of course, we are here to acquire land, population and wealth. Only a fool would do something that would harm his own interests."

The Governor's side became increasingly dejected.

"My soldiers are unwilling to turn against their former comrades, so do not force them to join your camp."

The messenger laughed even more and said:
"We dare not let the enemy follow us. We will place them outside the city, just like Anras City, with soldiers and officers divided into two camps in the north and south to guard them."

"Three meals a day, although not very good, but definitely not less. After all, this war won't last us several years."

"Besides, after the war, these hundreds of thousands of soldiers are precious human resources and cannot be wasted."

Some officers simply covered their faces and left.

With a war like this, all the soldiers deserve to die!

The Governor lowered his head even more:

"Also, give us a new identity and a sufficiently comfortable life."

"Of course, without the wisdom of the gentlemen, this city would indeed cost us a lot of energy."

"Now, it is nothing more than giving you the military expenses you have saved in cash."

This made the Governor smile bitterly:
"Who are you? You don't look like a messenger at all."

"I am the father of Grand Duke Roman, and I am also one of the people with the most influence among those guys out there."

The father of the Lord of the Principality of Roman?
Iron Fist Hello?

"Didn't you die a long time ago? Died in..."

"Died twenty-three years ago, at the hands of Lord Westeros?"

"I'm sorry, I'm just a little hurt."

Everyone fell silent again. They had always thought that Iron Fist Harrow was dead.

After all, even the Crown Prince of the Leumann Empire, whom he was responsible for protecting, was dead.

This is undoubtedly a huge shame for the Guardian Knight.

"By the way, I think it's necessary to tell you that your queen didn't try to save you, but I and my companions repeatedly pushed her back."

"So, you did try your best, my Lords. But you really have no reason to win this battle."

These two sentences made the governor and his men feel much better.

It’s not because we are incompetent, it’s just that there is no way to fight.

"We immediately opened the gates and asked the soldiers to surrender."

“Perhaps in the future, many people will scold you for your cowardice and incompetence, but please rest assured that in a few years, decades, or even hundreds of years, people will only praise your decisiveness and wisdom!”

"You didn't abandon the city. You protected the soldiers and civilians throughout the city."

On the eleventh day after the war broke out, Fort Grasse, the only fort capable of stopping the Northern Allied Forces, surrendered.

The northern part of the empire can be said to have completely fallen.

(End of this chapter)