novelAbuy #549 - The most desperate battle has been fought before.
#549 - The most desperate battle has been fought before.
The number of black-clad soldiers on the streets of Rapid Falls City is increasing.
The black-clad soldiers who had left in ships are now returning in ships once more.
They have built their own barracks in the ruins between Rapid Falls City and the port, and have also helped to clear away a lot of debris.
During the process of helping, the citizens of Rapid Falls City gradually became familiar with these soldiers, and the fear of staying indoors disappeared.
Because these black-clad soldiers are different from other mercenaries, they almost never do things like stealing chickens or dogs, or robbing and killing people.
The worst thing they have done is that some war priests of the Black Crown Chapter will intimidate shopkeepers, not wanting to pay for food or goods.
But when the shopkeepers threaten to whistle for the watchmen and military police, these war priests will grumble and pay the money.
After a few times, almost no shopkeepers are fooled by the Black Crown priests anymore.
As for those Guard priests, they are almost all shy and honest farm children, paying honestly for food and goods, and not very good at bargaining.
There have even been cases where watchmen have received reports of Guard priests being cheated out of money.
Of course, the consequence was that the shopkeepers and hooligans who cheated the money were first fined all their cash and had their business licenses revoked.
Then they were kicked in circles by the Guard priests and dragged back to the barracks, where they are still washing toilets and emptying chamber pots for the Guard priests.
But as the number of black-clad soldiers increases, many citizens become worried.
So many barracks and soldiers mean that there will be a large-scale war next.
And that is indeed the case.
At this time, Rapid Falls City has gathered six Black Crown Chapters, six Guard Regiments, a total of 6,750 war priests have all arrived.
There are also 400 Holy Handcannon Cavalry and 500 Orc Hussars who entered Rapid Falls City yesterday.
Even 300 Cush Knights from Gold River Township led by Perini, 900 Mountain Infantry and Bow Cavalry from North County led by Murat, and a hundred-man mage group and 600 Black Serpent Bay barbarians led by Lurles are still on the way, and they will arrive one after another.
If the assembly is completed, with the addition of the Protectorate Guard, the force that Horn has mobilized this time will reach 12,000 people.
This almost squeezes out the limit of what Horn has on hand; there is really nothing left.
The military expenses for these 12,000 people cost about 6,000-7,000 gold pounds per month, and the Holy War bonds of Rapid Falls City, Jeanne d'Arc Fortress, and the Holy See are selling like crazy.
Although the people do not understand the opportunities brought by the Laya Civil War, nor do they understand the window of opportunity brought by the split between the Northern and Southern Churches.
But they believe in Horn. If His Holiness is going to put so much effort into completing this matter, then it must be a major event related to their fate.
Many citizens believe more in the interest rate on the bonds. If they win, they will be rich!
Unlike the Holy Son, who many people believe should be certain of victory, Horn is frowning at this moment.
In the conference room of the Uffizi Palace, he looked at the letter on the table and remained silent for a long time.
You've all read it, right?
Horn raised his head, looking at the gloomy conference room. "The Gravel Plains army has invaded North Mander County. Our previous battle plan may be useless."
"It's impossible for the Gravel Plains people to capture North Mander County so easily," Jeschka was the first to speak eloquently. "Given the strategic importance of North Mander County, it will take at least two months to reach Cold Spring Fortress."
"Does it make a difference? The Gravel Plains army's advance route is right behind Duke Hemers, and Melia has no way to return."
"Will they further help Prince Condé?" Boussac asked worriedly.
Mitnik waved his hand: "Impossible, they have nothing to do with this matter in the first place. It's okay to grab benefits and take advantage of the situation, but it's impossible to really help encircle the Grand Duchess.
Unless Prince Condé cripples the Grand Duchess first, I guess they would be very willing to kick her a few times."
"Lakunio, Lakunio..." While the cardinals were chattering, Horn kept murmuring this name.
Assassinating Ludwig, invading Kasha County, attacking the Grey Knights, inciting Gravel Plains, forcing Melia to attack Prince Condé, who was waiting for her, without a way back.
Stagnant Water Dock, Deer Horn Township, and the South Nao'an River locked Horn's movements with three shackles, forcing him to watch the fire from across the bank.
He can break through Deer Horn Township in twenty days.
But even if he arrives at Sentinel Fortress, Prince Condé has already gone north to attack Melia.
His Savior Army is mainly infantry, and without river transport ships, it is extremely difficult to catch up with Prince Condé's pace.
By the time he catches up, he will probably have to fight against the well-rested Edict Legion with an exhausted army.
The root of Lakunio's ability to reverse the situation in half a year is simple: he has too many cards in his hand.
He has the power of the entire Laya Kingdom's nobility to support him, and he can mobilize far more resources than Horn can.
If Horn could mobilize the knights of the Immortal Stone Field to steal Prince Condé's back door, even if it was just burning, killing, and looting on the edge of Hotam County, Prince Condé would be so anxious that he would jump up and down.
But he was still surprised that he could do it so perfectly.
Lakunio, ah Lakunio, how could a general with your ability be unknown for thirty years?
Could it be that you have no military achievements at all? Could it be that the generals who are generally evaluated as "mediocre" in the empire have such a level of ability?
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As if suddenly thinking of something, Horn looked at Mitnik, who was stunned, "Was it under this Lakunio that Prince Condé killed the vampire Grand Duke on the battlefield?"
"Um, Lakunio was the head of the Border Knights for thirty years, Prince Condé was twelve years ago... Eh, killing the vampire was exactly during his tenure."
Then it's no wonder, then it's no wonder...
People only see the sharpness of the sword, but they don't see the hand that wields the sword.
But now it's useless to think about these things. Horn straightened his posture and pointed out a few names:
"Jeschka, Hakuto, Karl, you are all veteran generals, and you are very familiar with the geography of Thousand Valleys. Tell me, can we penetrate Deer Horn Township in ten days?"
Hakuto and Karl looked at each other and did not speak.
Jeschka hesitated to speak, but finally sighed: "If you give me a hundred Red Dragon Breaths and build a mortar road in Deer Horn Township in advance, it is possible in ten days."
Although it did not directly deny it, the meaning was very clear, but if Deer Horn Township cannot be penetrated in ten days, it is equivalent to being divided and defeated by Prince Condé.
"What about attacking Stagnant Water Dock?" Jeanne raised her hand to suggest.
"Difficult. Stagnant Water Dock is a fortress built by Duke Kravalen II of Cush, with dangerous terrain, specially used to deal with mountain barbarians.
Later, the church drove the Cush people to the east of Rapid Falls City. In order to defend against the Cush people, they specially rebuilt Stagnant Water Dock, which can accommodate more than 4,000 defenders and is reinforced with holy water.
Later, we occupied Rapid Falls City, and the church temporarily built a large number of temporary castles near Stagnant Water Dock, which is even more difficult to attack than before."
As the head of the Black Crown Chapter, Jeschka's defense line was near Stagnant Water Dock.
He had personally led troops to scout Stagnant Water Dock before, and had even launched one or two tentative attacks, but without any results.
Sitting in the main seat and thinking for a long time, Horn suddenly stood up: "Okay, let's stop here today. Everyone think about it and discuss it again tomorrow.
Rapid Falls City is a transportation hub. Let's gather the army here first, whether it's advancing north or detouring or whatever, let's gather the army first.
We have fought more desperate battles before, haven't we survived?
I always believe that those who win the hearts of the people get more help, and those who lose the hearts of the people get less help. As for the future, let's do our best and then see what the Holy Father wants."