The Beitang Defensive Line was built at great expense by Doug Lars.
The entire defensive line stretches endlessly, completely blocking the entrance to the Northern Border from the west.
Moreover, the defensive line is dotted with fortresses, each manned by dedicated rune masters and alchemists responsible for strengthening and maintaining them. Doug Lars can guarantee that the peculiar trebuchet from Graywhite Territory will not be able to destroy these fortresses.
Not to mention that strange trebuchet, even a fourth-level magic spell with a long incantation cannot completely breach the fortresses’ defenses.
Furthermore, after dragging on for an entire winter with the resistance army, Doug’s side has confiscated a significant number of firearms.
These firearms are not difficult to replicate, especially since the alchemists have analyzed the same gunpowder.
Even the alchemists around Doug lamented why such a simple structure and application had not been thought of on their side.
Soon, Doug began producing and manufacturing these firearms, and they were distributed to the soldiers of the Beitang Defensive Line and his own guards.
These firearms are even stronger than those of the resistance army, especially Doug’s firearms, which not only use the most expensive materials but are also inlaid with pearls and gemstones, making their power needless to mention.
Although this is merely a novel magical artifact for Doug, it has indeed provided a tangible enhancement to the strength of the troops below.
The only problem is that only the alchemists on Doug’s side can produce these firearms, which results in a low possession rate of the firearms within the army, and firearms from different alchemists may have varying specifications. By the end of winter, Doug had still not completed the quantification and standardization of the firearm specifications.
Doug even believed that allowing alchemists to handcraft firearms would yield better power and quality than the ordinary, aesthetically unpleasing firearms produced by the resistance army. Consequently, the firearms on Doug’s side have turned out to be quite unusual.
It is also this kind of loose management style that has allowed Doug to nearly touch the threshold of artillery, but he still lacks that final push.
After all, isn’t it just a uniquely designed trebuchet? We have those too, and there are professionals specifically trained to operate trebuchets. Are you afraid?
It feels somewhat like launching high-tech electronic components tied to arrowheads.
However, this still gives the defenders of the Beitang Defensive Line tremendous confidence. After engaging with the resistance army, they believe that the Graywhite Territory providing support to the resistance army is not that great either.
Though it has caused considerable trouble for the ordinary army, they are completely unable to withstand the powerful mixed units of Doug’s professional soldiers and regular soldiers.
The soldiers even feel that with this defensive line, they could have easily dealt with the demon clan, if only the Northern Border had had the funds to build the defensive line back then.
Doug is not entirely devoid of military talent; he even comprehended the utility of trenches while fighting with the resistance army. To prepare for potentially stronger firearms attacks from the Graywhite Territory, the Beitang Defensive Line has also dug trenches, just waiting for the enemy to engage in positional warfare.
The external propaganda is such that it was actually Doug who was blindsided by the trenches during the attack on the resistance army’s position and simply copied it.
The Beitang Defensive Line was built with countless bodies, with numerous civilians perishing while constructing the fortresses; Doug considers civilians mere expendables, akin to weeds that grow back after being cut.
Yet, this defensive line is like a natural barrier, perfectly separating the west from the Northern Border, and can even be described as unassailable and inviolable.
After all, everything is worth it.
A young knight yawned languidly inside the fortress of the defensive line.
“When can we go to war?”
The knight boredly gazed at the barren trees leading to the west of the Northern Border; indeed, there were rebellious watchtowers and military installations in the forest, yet the enemy seemed to have no inclination for proactive attacks.
“Probably not this winter,” replied one of the veterans sitting beside the knight.
At first, when they had just established the Beitang Defensive Line, there was a clear hierarchy among the people, and rules were strictly followed, but as time went on, they became more relaxed.
Moreover, these knights were originally just low-ranking knights and unknowingly mingled with the veterans.
“It’s so boring; aren’t we really exiled here? I miss my champagne, I miss the noblewomen, I miss the roasted lamb legs at the banquet.”
After saying this, the knight kicked a bundle of clothes that had been wrapped up on the ground.
This was a pastime that had circulated from Graythorn Territory, and while it was excellent for relieving boredom, unfortunately, the design of this defensive line was too cramped, leaving very little space for playing ball.
It couldn’t be helped. Although Doug Lars had made it clear that he would not tolerate any failure with this defensive line, and when the alchemists went to request a budget, he directly sanctioned a large sum of money, when it came to the actual construction, he lamented the lack of financial resources.
Where did all the money go? Who knows.
Fortunately, Doug Lars had indeed allocated enough funds so that despite the fact that much of the funding was unaccounted for, the defensive line was constructed, albeit at the cost of extremely limited space and facilities.
The entertainment venues and facilities originally promised to the knights were never built.
As a result, many knights and soldiers were now playing ball in the open space in front of the fortress, hardly taking the enemies in the distant forest seriously.
As time passed, the opposing enemies even shouted at the soldiers of the defensive line, trading supplies, and even kicked a ball together once.
Although in the end, they fought over who was the true Northerner, after returning, it did not trigger the war that the knights had hoped for.
“Isn’t this kind of life pretty good? Playing ball together, hunting a bit, muddling through the days, and the military pay just arrives—if there is any military pay.”
The veteran took a sip of the diluted low-quality beer, looking contentedly at the soldiers kicking a ball in the distance.
The knight took the low-quality beer from the veteran and after taking a sip, immediately spat it out.
“Ugh, what is this? It tastes just like the moldy socks that my neighbor’s aunt left in the barn.”
“How do you know what moldy socks from your neighbor’s aunt smell like?”
The veteran asked while eagerly taking the beer back and enjoying it. If he could drink beer, he was already better off than 90% of the people in the Northern Border.
“Alright, let’s talk about something else. I came here to kill enemies and gain nobility, but with not a single enemy in sight, how will I earn my title?”
“Actually, I’m more curious about how you know about your neighbor’s aunt…”
The veteran, saying this halfway, caught sight of the knight’s face, which was redder than his own from shame and indignation, and hurriedly interrupted himself, changing his tune, “Don’t worry, those who are meant to get promoted will be promoted even if they do nothing. Those who aren’t meant to get promoted, even if you kill the governor over there, you can’t rise in rank.”
After hearing the veteran’s words, the knight felt relieved and said, “Governor Doug eats and lives with us, talks to us and teaches us; we will definitely get promoted.”
The veteran clicked his tongue, looking somewhat sympathetically at the young knight; these training methods were actually passed down from the Lars family, and Doug indeed followed them but only half-heartedly. The most crucial rewards for soldiers and opportunities for promotion had been cut off by Doug.
While he spoke beautifully, he offered no real benefits.
