Chapter 247: Heavy Casualties

"Lord Count, what is the matter?" Carolina asked with concern.

Weijinsi raised his head to look at the liaison officer of Wushan Castle; perhaps due to excessive anger, his eyes were already bloodshot, and his ferocious expression startled the latter.

She knew that something had definitely happened over at Chishan Town, and it was a major matter at that!

Weijinsi panted heavily, struggling to calm his mood: "Carolina, please go to the front and notify Sir Tolu, as well as Luoning, Kabier, and the others, and tell them I am at Wushan Fortress..."

"No, just push me over there directly."

Weijinsi had originally not intended to disturb the banquet, but the matter was urgent, so he decided it was better to notify the nobles and knights present as soon as possible.

In the banquet hall, the lights were not yet extinguished, and the music had not yet stopped.

However, everyone was quite tired from playing; most people were basically sitting down, eating desserts, chatting, and laughing while exchanging interesting stories.

In fact, at this point, tonight's banquet could be considered nearly at a successful conclusion.

Daianni, who was sitting down eating dessert, also breathed a sigh of relief.

This was something she had proactively proposed to Lulansi to host personally, and being able to complete it smoothly could be considered a good account of herself.

A rumbling sound rang out; it was Carolina pushing Weijinsi back.

"This is?"

Daianni noticed this scene and also saw the expression on Weijinsi's face.

Based on her understanding of her husband over these many years, something major had definitely happened.

She hurriedly stood up and walked over, glanced at Carolina, and then asked: "Weijinsi, why is your complexion so poor?"

Since losing his leg, Weijinsi's temper had improved somewhat.

If it were in the past, he would definitely have shouted loudly and told outsiders to leave; being able to hold his breath now was already very good.

"Tolu, Kabier, Luoning, and also Albert, Kuli, you all come with me for a moment."

He turned his head to look at Carolina: "Push me to the side parlor."

The people who were named looked at each other, not knowing what had happened.

However, seeing Weijinsi's grave expression, they did not ask much and immediately followed.

The remaining noble relatives and performers saw that the main personnel had all left, so they also stopped their entertainment one after another.

Daianni clapped her hands: "Alright everyone, today's banquet ends here. Huoerhuate, you handle the matters that follow."

"Yes, My Lady."

Daianni beckoned to Buleidun, "Come, let us also go over and see."

In the side parlor, after everyone had entered, Weijinsi spoke a piece of bombshell news that left everyone stunned on the spot.

"Chishan Town has been occupied by the Bolante Bandit Group!"

Luoning's heart skipped a beat; how could it be so fast?

A Letter Bird did not even need six hours to fly from Chishan Town to Wushan Castle; the day before yesterday, Keruien had even sent a message saying that Kaxier Town had been continuously increasing its troops.

In other words, in less than two days, Chishan Town had been captured?

"That's impossible!"

Kabier was incredulous: "A Knight Order is stationed there, and the strength of both Keruien and Haen is quite good, how could..."

Weijinsi then dropped a second bombshell.

"Deputy Commander Haen has already died in battle, the Fifth Knight Order has also suffered more than half casualties, and now Keruien is leading the remaining people of the Knight Order to retreat and defend Jushi City!"

"How is that possible!"

If it were said they had suffered a defeat, they could barely accept it.

But for a Knight Order to suffer more than half casualties directly, and for a Deputy Commander to die in battle, such a thing was truly too inconceivable.

Knight Tolu walked forward in disbelief, took the letter from Weijinsi's hand, and read it, his face turning terrifyingly gloomy.

"This... how is the Bolante Bandit Group so strong?"

The Bolante Bandit Group only occupied one city and three towns; how had they suddenly become so powerful?

"I have been to Chishan Town and visited the defensive fortifications there. Unless there was negligence and slackness, even if the opponent's forces really wanted to force their way in, they would suffer heavy losses."

Kabier frowned and analyzed: "Could it be that the Bolante Bandit Group formed two Knight Orders during this period of rest? Or is it that they have multiple Golden Knights leading the charge?"

Luoning also took the letter and glanced at it; it did not mention the specific details of the failure, and he did not know if it was forgotten to be explained or if Keruien was avoiding mentioning his own mistakes.

But regardless, Wushan Ridge had lost another border town, and this matter absolutely could not be left at that.

"It is useless to say these things now; the key lies in what we should do next."

Weijinsi interrupted everyone's speculation.

He was extremely anxious in his heart.

In the afternoon, he had just concluded a business deal with Luoning and was looking forward to earning an extra sum, but he had not expected that Chishan Town would be lost.

The loss of territory and the losses of the Knight Order made Weijinsi's heart ache; the fact that the loss of Chishan Town caused him to lose nearly two thousand gold coins every year also made his heart ache.

"Chishan Town absolutely cannot be lost just like this!"

Weijinsi's gaze was resolute, "I have decided to issue a War Order, letting the nobles of all sizes in Wushan Ridge send troops to support Jushi City and take back Chishan Town!"

Kabier and Tolu looked at each other and did not immediately express agreement, but such a matter could not be refused either.

Luoning thought for a moment and suggested: "What should be done now is to mobilize troops as quickly as possible to support Jushi City; we cannot let the Bolante Bandit Group continue to push forward."

War mobilization takes at least a month, or two to three months at most; waiting that long, it is uncertain whether Jushi City can hold out.

"Right, what you said is correct!"

A glimmer of light flashed in Weijinsi's eyes, and he highly agreed with this statement.

"Luoning, my son, this time for the expedition, I hope you can represent me and represent the Wushan Family to go!"

Nobility and military affairs are closely linked; generally speaking, when great nobles launch a war, they basically participate in the war personally, and even if they do not participate personally, they will send suitable proxies to represent them.

Now Lulansi has injuries on his body, and Weijinsi has lost a leg; the only ones left who can replace these two for the expedition are Luoning and Buleidun.

Buleidun is still young, only fourteen years old, while Luoning has not only just turned eighteen but is also the Viscount of Wubei Territory; such a status makes him the most suitable person to act as the agent for Wushan Castle.

Luoning did not expect Weijinsi to arrange such a major task for him, and for a moment, he did not respond.

He had previously agreed to Weijinsi's request to escort supplies to the front line because it meant he would neither have to go to the battlefield nor have to lead troops and provisions himself.

But now it is different; to respond to the lord's call to war, he must either bring his own Knight Squad and provide his own food and other supplies to participate in the battle, or, if he does not provide soldiers, he must provide supplies or logistical support to Wushan Castle.

Luoning finds it difficult to produce either of these two things.

To tell the truth, he does not want to participate in the battle at this time, even if winning it would bring him considerable prestige.

"Father, I am afraid Wubei Territory has neither enough soldiers nor food to support this, so I fear my help in this battle will be limited."

"It doesn't matter!"

Weijinsi does not care in the slightest how many Knights Wubei Territory can send or how much food it can provide.

"The Wushan Family needs someone to represent us in the battle; I cannot do it, your grandfather cannot do it, and Buleidun cannot do it either."

What Weijinsi said is indeed correct.

"Therefore, I only need you to command the battle in my stead; other things will be provided by the other Knight Orders and nobles."

Luoning was somewhat surprised; could it really be done this way?

He glanced at Tolu and Kabier, but neither of them expressed an opinion on this.

Luoning, however, frowned.

If things were really done according to what Weijinsi said, would he be able to command the others?

After all, he has no men around him and no deterrent power;

at the same time, he has no command experience himself and has never even been on a battlefield; in the eyes of others, having such a person in command would likely be seen as treating human lives like grass.

How would other nobles be willing to hand over the Knight Squads they had worked so hard to cultivate to someone like him to command?

Luoning concentrated and thought for a moment, "For such a major matter, I think we should perhaps listen to Grandfather's opinion first?"

Tolu and Kabier nodded slightly, indicating their agreement.

Weijinsi thought about it and seemed to feel that it was necessary as well.

"Fine, then let us go to the back courtyard now and settle this matter tonight!" (End of this chapter)