23: The Art of Strategic Maneuvering: Understanding Contradictions and Determining Strategies (Part 2)

The delegation led by Bronzebeard Stonehammer, relying on the Dwarves' familiarity with the mountains and the Elwin scribe's precise memory of the paths, traveled through the dim and rugged underground tunnels at maximum speed.

The "Swift as the Wind" Formation was faintly activated, mainly used to enhance the load-bearing marching capacity of the Dwarf Warriors.

Two hours later (Divine Realm time), they finally arrived at the outskirts of the valley where the Blackrock Clan resided.

It was less of a valley and more of a settlement expanded from a huge, abandoned mine.

The entrance used rough Blackrock to build crude walls and watchtowers, where one could see Blackrock Clan warriors patrolling nervously.

Their numbers were few, and their equipment was clearly inferior to the Furnace Fortress patrol teams, mostly consisting of worn leather armor and old weapons.

The air was filled with a tense and oppressive atmosphere. Clearly, the Blackrock Clan had learned or sensed the approach of the Furnace Fortress army.

"Stop! Outsiders! State your identity and purpose!" the Blackrock Clan warrior on the wall shouted sternly, aiming the heavy crossbow in his hand at the delegation below.

They saw Bronzebeard and the other Dwarves, and a flash of surprise and deeper vigilance crossed their eyes—fallen cousins? And with an Elwin in tow?

Bronzebeard Stonehammer followed the rehearsed plan, stepped forward a few paces, and struck his Rune Battle Axe against the ground, making a dull thud to demonstrate his strength, but he did not raise it, signaling peace.

His resonant voice echoed at the valley entrance: "My name is Bronzebeard Stonehammer! I come on behalf of the Lord of the Hundred Schools Temple, His Highness Lin Zhou! We have no malicious intent; we are here to make friends! We heard the Blackrock Clan is having some trouble, and our Divine Lord is willing to help!"

His words were straightforward, even a bit rude, but they fit the Dwarven way of communication perfectly, which actually made the Blackrock Clan warriors on the wall pause, their hostility slightly reduced.

If it had been an Elwin or a human using flowery language, they might have been more suspicious.

A Blackrock Clan warrior who looked like a minor leader asked cautiously: "Hundred Schools Temple? Lin Zhou? Never heard of it! How can you prove you have no malicious intent? Besides, our Blackrock Clan doesn't need help from outsiders!"

At this moment, an Elwin scribe stepped forward, his voice gentle and carrying a convincing tone (faintly activating the aura of the Confucian "Sincerity"): "Respected Gray Dwarf warrior, we understand your caution. Please look, what we carry are not weapons, but gifts."

He signaled for the Dwarf Warriors behind him to display the armor, battle axes, and crates of Ore.

"These... were 'obtained' from a patrol team of Furnace Fortress." The scribe deliberately blurred the word "ambush" to emphasize the source, "We are not friends with Furnace Fortress. We heard that our brothers in the Blackrock Clan uphold tradition but are heavily oppressed, and we feel indignant. My Lord, Lin Zhou, upholds Civilization and Order and wishes to befriend all factions that hold fast to their principles and pursue justice."

His words, combined with the tangible gifts belonging to the standard issue of Furnace Fortress, played a key role. The Blackrock Clan warriors on the wall began to whisper to each other, clearly shaken.

Just then, a heavy and rhythmic sound of footsteps faintly came from the tunnel on the other side of the valley, accompanied by a powerful aura carrying the scorching heat and oppression of a furnace!

The Furnace Fortress army was almost here!

The Blackrock Clan warriors on the wall were suddenly in an uproar, and a feeling of panic spread.

"Quick, go report to Clan Chief Brook!"

"The scum from Furnace Fortress are here!"

Bronzebeard saw the timing and said loudly: "Look! Trouble has arrived! We are here to help! Let me see your Clan Chief! More people means more strength! Do you really want to face those bastards from Furnace Fortress alone?"

His words were simple and direct, yet they hit the deepest fear and pain point of the Blackrock Clan at this moment.

A moment later, the heavy gate of the valley slowly opened a crack with a harsh, grinding sound. An old Gray Dwarf, similarly burly but with a face full of vicissitudes and worry, walked out. He wore slightly old but well-polished armor, and his Rank was LV 23. He was the Clan Chief of the Blackrock Clan—Brook Blackrock.

Brook scanned Bronzebeard and the team behind him with sharp eyes, lingering for a moment on the Rune Battle Axe in Bronzebeard's hand and the gifts, and finally looked into Bronzebeard's eyes: "I am Brook Blackrock. You say you can help? Based on what? Just these few dozen people and these... gifts?"

His voice was low, carrying suspicion and a trace of imperceptible hope.

Bronzebeard followed Elwin's instructions beforehand, not boasting, but telling the truth: "Clan Chief Brook, there aren't many of us, but every one of us is an expert! See this axe? It was snatched from an officer of your Furnace Fortress! Our Divine Lord has great Divine Ability and is a master of military strategy! We were the ones who robbed your Ore convoy earlier, and we even framed those rats in the underground!"

He deliberately revealed part of the truth to show off their muscle and methods, while also implying their opposing stance to Furnace Fortress.

Brook's pupils shrank. Robbing a convoy, framing the Underground Gnomes... these outsiders were not simple!

The Elwin scribe added at the right time, his tone sincere: "Clan Chief Brook, with the Furnace Fortress army pressing on the border, you know exactly what they intend. The Blackrock Clan alone might barely hold out, but it will inevitably suffer heavy losses and be even more constrained in the future. Cooperating with us is not about dependence, but mutual benefit. My Lord is willing to help the Blackrock Clan cast off its shackles and restore the glory and independence of the Blackrock Clan! This is a promise made by my Lord personally!"

"Mutual benefit... cast off shackles..." Brook muttered to himself, a flash of longing in his eyes, but more caution, "What do you want?"

"It's simple!" Bronzebeard took over the conversation, "We want Furnace Fortress finished! At the very least, they won't be able to bully you again! Afterwards, we can sit down and discuss how to divide the mineral resources of these Blackrock Mountain Range! Most importantly, from now on, we are friends, not enemies!"

The conditions were not harsh, even generous, focusing on striking a common enemy and promising shared future benefits.

Brook struggled internally. Cooperating with an outside force of unknown origin carried great risk. But the current crisis, and the humiliation of long-term oppression, made him unwilling to give up this opportunity. Moreover, the strength and strategy shown by the other party seemed worth a try...

In the distance, the footsteps and noise of the Furnace Fortress army were getting closer, like the drumming of a death knell.

Time was running out!

Brook gritted his teeth, a flash of determination in his eyes: "Fine! My Blackrock Clan is willing to cooperate with Your Excellency Lin Zhou to resist Furnace Fortress! But please remember your promise!"

"Dwarves never lie!" Bronzebeard Stonehammer slammed his chest heavily.

"Excellent." The Elwin scribe smiled, "Please, Clan Chief, arrange the defense immediately and inform us of the specific situation of the enemy forces and the valley terrain. The wisdom of my Lord will surely guide us to win this battle!"

The initial Alliance was reached, hastily but firmly, under the pressure of the Furnace Fortress army.

Lin Zhou perceived all this through Bronzebeard's perspective. He knew this was just the beginning, and the foundation of the Alliance was still very fragile. But regardless, the first step had been taken.

His consciousness turned to the outside of the valley, toward the approaching Furnace Fortress army. The leading Gray Dwarf officer, riding a huge, iron-clad Cave Lizard, held a long-handled war hammer burning with dark red flames, with a Rank as high as LV 26! His aura was several times stronger than the officer from the previous patrol team!

[Furnace Fortress Expeditionary Army]:

Commander: Furnace Fortress Guard Captain, Baroque Meltingheart (LV 26 Gray Dwarf)

Troops: 180 Gray Dwarf Warriors, 40 Gray Dwarf Crossbowmen, 15 Gray Dwarf Rune Priests, 5 Lava Cave Lizard Knights (LV 20).

Military Might: Murderous, well-equipped, clearly prepared to use the momentum of Mount Tai to crush or even destroy the Blackrock Clan!

A defensive battle with disparate forces was about to break out in this dim valley!

And Lin Zhou needed to find a tactical opportunity to win with wisdom for this uneven battle. He needed to perfectly combine the power of the Blackrock Clan with the elites of his own expeditionary force, and... perhaps other variables.

The Art of Vertical and Horizontal Alliances begins with diplomacy and ends on the battlefield. The real test has only just begun.