Chapter 181: Red rock canyon (1/2)

The twenty-seven days marching of soldiers from southern star city to the Red rock canyon was spread all over the dukedom.

The main source of this news is the traders. As they travel a lot, the news also spread in so many parts of the Dukedom.

Some of them are in awe as they imagined the scene, some of them just brushed off the news as an exaggerated rumour.

Anyway, one twenty-seventh day, the march of the battalion came to halt as they reached the Red rock town.

The town has two main entrances and one of them is in the direction of the southern star city and the other one towards the Canyon where the military post is located.

Even though, it is called a town, it is no bigger than a normal village. The only reason it is called a town is because of the better economic state than a typical village.

This is one of the smallest border connections with the enemy empire. The Red rock canyon narrows down the path connecting the two empires making it a strategic location which can be a path into either of the empires.

If one empire compromises, the other empire will easily occupy the other town and if that happens, the balance between the two empires might break.

If any of the two empires wins in this location, the winner can use this chance to penetrate into the loser empire. Since, the border is small and the both sides are covered with Cliff making it almost inhabitable and difficult to send the troops from different directions, the losers will have only one way.

That is to gather the troops and attack from their other cities. But before they could gather enough troops and clear the citizens to make an attack, there is a high chance that the winner's forces would enter their empire and they will have a strategic advantage.

Even if the winner who entered the empire, has a hard time dealing with forces, he can use this canyon as a retreat path to back down easily. The other party's army wouldn't be foolish enough to barge into the canyon and follow them into their territory before defeating the army as there would be a high chance of landing into a trap.

For this reason, this became a delicate location due to the natural terrain around.

Sam read this report given to him by Deputy General, he also read something interesting and that is, a few decades ago, the armies of the two dukes are heavily stated near this red canyon and town and the counter part of this town in the enemy empire.

The civilians were forced into the dire states with lack of food and enough space and a safe environment. The red rock canyon became the battle field and the two armies faced some serious casualties.

But both the parties didn't budge and didn't want to give up on the place, as the first one who manages to occupy the red canyon and town of the other empire, they will have a strategic advantage.

They can take control of the surrounding villages slowly or they safely retreat into the canyon which would be an ideal location to defend as they can bring their enemies to a head on fight.

But the problem is when the two sides wanted to get it, they are wasting so many resources and lives, so they can only come to consensus.

They both retreated their armies and only left a battalion each. Both sides of the canyon are cliffs which divided the two empire completely and the next city with connected border is more than a week away.

So, whatever regiment that is in charge of that city's border will arrange a battalion here.

There are some more delicate spots like this and they are all guarded in the same way.

The enemy duke proposing this challenge will not only help his son to get some exposure from those people behind the scenes but also recognition from the emperor by resolving the stalemate in this place.

Sam has to say that this plan is amazing, the only variable is the win or loss of the battle.

If the plan really failed, then the life Duke's son be at stake.

So, Sam felt that there might be something else going one behind the scenes.

Will the Duke really leave his son to die in this place?

Will he really not care about this?

Sam felt that it is highly unlikely, but Duke still sent his son to the battle, there are only two possibilities, the Duke is so confident that they are going to win this battle or the Duke might think of a backup plan to save his son even if he lost.

Sam is thinking on what might be the case. He knew that, even if the battle is an opportunity for him to get the points for assignment, it is also a high-level risk.

He is an enemy of general and he more or less pissed the Duke off and even messed up their army. So, they might hold quite some grudge.

Even though, Duke's proposal might sound like an opportunity, Sam thought otherwise.