Just as Paul was leading his army into the heart of the plains, Rodney XVIII of Crystal Radiance officially issued an order for Sentinel Legion, stationed at Watchers Fortress, to march east and take the opportunity to bring the oasis city-states that had submitted to the orc Royal Tent under the control of Aldor.
At this time, the Sentinel Legion was in a transitional period following the handover of command. The Earl of Hal, who had previously commanded the legion, was granted the title of Yellow Earth Land and became a fiefdom lord, with his title also being elevated to Duke. According to tradition, fiefdom lords should focus on governing their territories and should not concurrently serve as legion commanders. Therefore, the position of legion commander was taken over by Sir Colin, who also came from the Sentinel Legion and had a distinguished military record.
However, Yellow Earth Land is adjacent to the Watchers' stronghold, and Duke still spends most of the year in the fortress. He is familiar with the Legion's organization and the habits of veterans, often participates in military discussions, and even personally guides the training of new recruits. His influence in the Legion has not diminished due to the change of position, and Sir Colin has always maintained respect for him, always consulting him on important decisions first.
On the day he received the king's order, in the council chamber of Watchers Fortress, Sir Colin held the order scroll, his face beaming with excitement, and slammed his hand on the table: "Finally, a big move! Although those oasis city-states are small, they control the water sources and trade routes in the eastern part of the grasslands. Taking them will not only expand the kingdom's territory, but also allow our legion to achieve a great feat!"
The lord recalled the glorious days of the Sentinel Legion, when the orcs on the plains were a disorganized mess, and the oasis city-states of the east were completely subjugated to the Aldor under the Legion's intimidation. Even the successors of their rulers had to obtain the recognition of Crystal Radiance to be legitimate.
However, with the decline of the kingdom and the rise of Abar, the Legion's power had to withdraw from the vast lands east of Watchers Fortress. Some of the oasis city-states, which were like a string of pearls in the desert, submitted to the orcs, while others submitted to Gabella.
Now, the Aldor people are coming back!
Sir Colin immediately ordered his generals to gather and plan their troop deployment, eager to launch a major offensive.
Duke, standing to the side, remained calm. He looked at the excited Sir Colin and slowly said, "Don't rush into planning. Have you considered that the king's order to advance eastward at this moment, coinciding with Marquis Glaeman's expedition to the grasslands, is not without reason?"
Sir Colin paused, looking at him with a puzzled expression: "Isn't it obvious? Crystal Radiance is trying to have us tie down Royal Tent's flank, preventing Abar from concentrating its forces to defend against the Marquis's attack. What do you mean?"
Duke shook his head. "Heh, it's obvious. Did the King's orders mention Marquis Glaeman at all? Crystal Radiance has already begun to fear the expansion of Northwest Bay's power. Now that Northwest Legion is going to conquer the grasslands, they naturally want those of us loyal to the royal family to get a piece of the pie too."
His gaze swept across the legion's camp outside the window, his tone becoming somewhat grave. "On the worst-case scenario, the royal family is secretly trying to sow discord between us and Marquis Glaeman."
Duke continued, "We must carefully manage our actions. Marquis Glaeman has been kind to us Watchers; without his help, we wouldn't even be able to rebuild our legions. Even now, our firearms still rely on Northwest Bay for ammunition. We cannot afford to be hostile towards him and cause conflict. We must even inform Marquis about our plans to advance on the Eastern Oasis, so we can strike the Orcish forces in unison. But we also cannot get too close, lest they think we are fighting under the Marquis's command. After capturing the Oasis city-states, we must promptly report our progress to the royal family. In the current situation, maintaining good relations with all parties is more important than winning a battle."
Sir Colin's excitement gradually faded. After a moment of contemplation, he nodded solemnly: "Thank you for reminding me. I understand. I will keep my distance and never cause trouble for the Legion."
As the Sentinel Legion prepared for its eastward advance according to the King's orders, the defense of northeastern Aldor was entirely entrusted to the legion. This region, once turbulent due to the orcish invasion, was now guarded by the Sentinel Legion, familiar with the border situation. This ensured stability on the eastern border and provided logistical support for the legion's eastern campaign. Meanwhile, the royal new army, which had been urgently dispatched north by the royal family during the second orcish invasion to fight alongside Paul's Northwest Legion against the orcs, had completed its border defense duties and returned entirely to the capital, Crystal Radiance, for rest and reorganization. The new army soldiers returned to their long-missed camps, replenished their manpower and equipment, and awaited the next order from the royal family.
Meanwhile, the Crystal Radiance court was quietly plotting a new war, targeting Paradise Basin in the southeastern part of the kingdom, the territory of the Veblen Family. The Veblen Family's feud with the royal family was long-standing: during the Giles rebellion, the family openly supported Giles, sending troops to harass royal-controlled towns, attempting to gain a share of the spoils. After the Giles rebellion was quelled, most of the participating forces were either eliminated or chose to submit, but the Veblen Family, relying on the unique terrain of their territory, remained entrenched in Paradise Basin, refusing to bow to the royal family. In fact, the patriarch, Grand Duke Veblen, wanted to reconcile with the royal family, but only on the condition that the royal family acknowledge the Veblen Family's complete control of Paradise Basin, including the lands of the loyal lords they had seized. This unreasonable demand was resolutely rejected by Crystal Radiance, and the two sides have remained deadlocked ever since.
Paradise Basin is surrounded by mountains, accessible only by a handful of narrow valley passages, riddled with treacherous rapids and cliffs, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. The Veblen Family has built numerous fortresses and arrow towers along the sides of these passages, and stockpiled ample supplies of food and weapons. In recent years, Crystal Radiance has repeatedly attempted to attack the Veblen, but has been delayed due to the terrain and other threats—primarily the orcs.
Now, the orcs are dealt with by Glaeman and Sentinel Legion, and the royal new army has withdrawn to rest and regroup. The Crystal Radiance court believes that the time is ripe to attack the Veblen Family. This will not only bring an end to the rebellion of that year and eliminate the separatist forces within the kingdom, but also allow them to control the fertile farmland and rich mineral resources of Paradise Basin, thus enriching the royal treasury.
Inside the palace council chamber, ministers discussed the punitive plan. Some advocated a swift victory, launching a surprise attack on the passage before the Veblen Family realized the royal intentions; others suggested sending envoys to persuade them to surrender first, and then overwhelming them with a large army if they refused. Meanwhile, the generals of the royal new army were eager to prove themselves in this war and add another brilliant chapter to their military careers.
A campaign surrounding Paradise Basin is slowly unfolding within the schemes of the Crystal Radiance court.