Age of Heroes (Age of Heroes Chronicles)

Chapter 533: Grand strategy (3)

The ascendancy possessed by Arial over the minds and courage of the soldiery was truly incomprehensible. 

A word, a gesture, was sufficient to inspire them with enthusiasm, and make them face the most terrible ordeals. 

If ordered to rush to a point, although the extreme danger of the maneuver might at first strike the good sense of the soldiers, they immediately reflected that their general would not have issued such a command without a motive, or have exposed them wantonly. 

"He knows what he is about," they would say, and immediately rush on to death, uttering shouts of 

"Long live the Emperor!"

This was the fanaticism of the Hall of War in Eden and as such, this kind of fanaticism was also encouraged in Arial army here in the Three Kingdoms.

And this fanaticism is even more prevalent here. 

The Thirteen Tribes look upon Arial as their saviors and their code of honor dictates for them to repay such favor.

He was an eloquent speaker and knows what words to say to stoke the hearts of men. 

And as he sauntered across his men, looking at their face Arial smiles as their vigor returns and their energy soared, their passion restored.

This was Arial first address to the army of the New World. He has slowly changed and improves unity on his army without them caring for their tribes. 

Arial did not want a tribal community. 

He dreamed of an empire united by one national identity. Edenian, regardless of place of birth and race. 

First and foremost, Edenian. 

The words of encouragement which he gave them shot martial enthusiasm through their veins like blaring fire. 

Arial then rides back to the front and looking at Balhae in the distance. Ragar also rides to the front, valiant in disposition riding beside Arial.

All the soldiers could see that reliable back of their commander and they could not help but felt confidence.

They will win this battle, and they would bring down rich provinces and great cities under their steel. They will reap riches and glory, fame everlasting

How could they cower in fearespecially now at the precipice of battle? Arial no longer talk to his men. 

His speech has ended. 

The reasons he no longer speaks because there was nothing else that needs to be spoken. 

Proficient in gauging the hearts of his army, Arial knew that sometimes lengthy words aren't necessarily better. 

Sometimes simple words are enough as long as it is impactful.

Arial was determined and he eminently possessed the power of calculation and combination necessary to exercise these decisive maneuvers.

In defiance of the established rules of warfare and what distinguished him above all his contemporaries was his ability to convert the most unfavorable circumstances into the means of success. 

Arial then rides his horse to one of the caravans and he lifted this heavy glaive and swing it and with his swing the sound of wind whooshing and sound of space cracking could be heard. 

Nodding as he was satisfied with something, he tightened the reins of his horse and kick his horse forward, riding down the Hill. 

The soldiers behind him wanted to follow but Ragar shouted. 

'Follow slowly. Our Lord will have the first kill! Charge when you are ordered. Do not forget your training!' His voice reverberated loud and clear and all ten thousand men responded by yelling an affirmative 

'AYE!' The voice pierced the clouds.

Rumbles of people marching down the Hill turns the calm and beautiful hill full of dust, the sky becomes gray and bloodlust filled the land. 

It was suffocating and terrifying. The killing intent was like a sharp blade ready to slice its enemies.

They were like hungry wolves. The promise of their Lord resounds once again in their ears.

The most fertile plains the sun shines upon. Rich provinces and many cities under their feet. 

Glory, riches and fame. 

All of this word turns the previously impassioned soldiers into a sharp blade. Arial scoffed as he looks upon that Wall.

Walls were not an obstacle for him as he could just jump inside. He remembers when he participated in the Orc Civil War. 

He jumps to the castle walls, terrorized the battlements on top of the walls, and opens the castle gate, and then with a rush, they managed to slaughter all those inside the castle.

This kind of prowess and martial ability can only be achieved by a person like Arial. This is a new kind of threat for the people of the Three Kingdoms. 

Rarely there are people who master martial arts are also a general of a large army. 

This also marked a new era of warfare in the Three Kingdoms as they have never saw this kind of ability before. 

For Vernium Kingdom, Arial martial ability to disregard the Walls is like pitting Vernium with their weakness.

If any other kingdoms were to be pitted with Arial they would at least have a chance by pitting Arial in an open field where they could use maneuvers in a cavalry or formations. 

But for Vernium, who excel in turtling up inside their castle walls, the moment Arial breach their walls and open the door from inside they would be caught unaware.

Arial has planned this move of his before he even reached Balhae. However, this move has one weakness. 

If they could take out Arial before he managed to opens the gates, then Arial forces could never take Balhae. 

This tactic relies solely in Arial ability.

If Arial failed, he will be besieged by the whole city.

But if he succeeds by opening the gates, his troops with their rapidity of motion should utterly surprise the superior number of his adversaries.

He could then concentrate the entire energy of a small force upon some point of a much greater force and thus defeat them.

This is also the reason why he with limited force managed to brought the other Kingdoms in Human Continent under his command.

To conquer the Kingdoms, the established rules of etiquette and strategy were abandoned by him. 

It was only by such rapidity of motion as should utterly surprise the superior numbers of his adversaries that he could hope to concentrate the entire energy of a small force, such as he commanded, upon some point of a much greater force, and thus defeat them. 

Every movement should be made with celerity, and every blow be leveled where it was least expected.

Arial rides down the Hills, his horse slowly galloping closer to the city wall, behind him Ragar follow him his bow was at the ready and arrows are at his bowstring ready to be unleashed.

STOP! A voice yelled as Arial reaches only three hundred paces from the city gates, thousands of bows aimed at him, suspicious eyes look down on him from the battlements.

Longbows were also aimed at him. The garrison is alert

Arial look toward the man yelling for him to stop, standing there imperiously on top of the castle battlement, his cape fluttered wildly due to the strong wind. 

It was a man of sturdy build with red beard and long red hair that come out from the back part of his helmet. 

He was wearing shining armor of silver with a black cape on his back and he is also wearing a helmet covering his top part of the head.

'Balhae does not permit anyone to enter. Return to where you came' the man shouted, his face was unwelcoming and full of wariness. 

Arial snorted and then he laughed.

Then he pointed to the people beyond the Hill. He then shouted

'Surrender this city to me and no one has to die!'

'This belongs to the Vernium Royal Family' the red hair man knows that this people are from outside the Shadowlands since and knows they have no intention of reconciling with them. 

He sent scouts and got intelligence confirming that this band of people has conquered almost everything surrounding Leavenhill.

Now that they came here there is only one objective. 

The Great War has begun as the darkness in the Three Kingdom is thinning and the people from Beyond the Godstree has now comes.

The primitive Thirteen Tribes from outside the Shadowlands can now cross here. 

The Gods are truly cruel. 

Since all the other parts of the New World is shrouded with the black mist only the Shadowlands that now clean from the Dark Mist could be used as shelters.

Arial pretend he did not listen as he rides his horse forward. 

If the castle quickly surrenders, then he did not have to take unnecessary lives. But he has his position. 

And the city lord of Balhae has his position. 

Since their goals and objectives are different, and a common ground could not be established, they could only talk with their steel.

Arial moves and a sound pierce the wind the moment he takes a step forward

From a loophole on the stone parts of the battlements an arrow suddenly fly towards Arial. 

Arial did not even stop his riding as he swings his glaive and the wind generated by him swinging his glaive flung the arrows away from him and broke in midair and this shocked the red hair man who was watching. 

The shock on the red hair man was not as impactful as the archers stationed at the loophole.