Blood tax

Chapter 447 The Battle of Verona: Spring Awakening ([-])

General MacDonald was not only the commander of the 4th Army, but also the commander-in-chief of the entire theater.Assisting him in managing the legion was a "deputy general" at the rank of senior commander, several senior infantry commanders who commanded the brigade, and there were also the younger generation of aristocratic families like Berthier who had just been transferred.

According to Bayeran's tradition, in every large-scale military operation, students from several famous colleges and universities will be arranged to participate in the battle, to make up for the shortage of extraordinary people in the army, and at the same time to examine whether they have achieved something in their studies and do a good job in their duties after graduation. Prepare.

The students who attend spring camp don't fight locally for long, withdrawing after a fight or two.

General Macdonald favored the young men of Berthier and Homewatts.He gave the future earl some cavalry and light infantry, and ordered him to advance along the rose road to the south.

Berthier had fought against the rebels in Verona, and he had also been to Odessa, and together with Griffith, he wiped out many orc troops, with Dedius and the experienced Ophelia, Nona and Kulala assisted, and there were many first and second-year students from Homonworth who were familiar with each other in the army. He quickly began to carry out the order of splitting up and attacking together.

He led a battalion of Bayeran infantry, and Viscount Varian of Verona supported him with a battalion of Veronese auxiliaries.They were also assisted by a cavalry squad consisting of a dozen local knights and retinues.The army set out from the barracks, passed through two towns, and rushed south of Dupont Land to the west.

Berthier made full preparations. He not only collected local geographical and cultural information from the local lords loyal to Bayeran, but also sent his subordinates to collect information from local residents and shepherds.

His troops are called "Berthier's Column". It has two brigades of 1300 heavy infantry, 100 light infantry infantry, 200 engineers and artillery, as well as 6 cannons, some Extraordinary and knight support, and more than 700 unarmed auxiliary troops. Soldiers are responsible for carrying things for them.The 2000-man force marched west along the Avenue of the Roses, parallel to friendly forces to the north.

However, once you leave the area controlled by the Bayeran garrison, the situation becomes a little different.Soon, the surrounding environment became visibly depressed.

Not to mention collecting intelligence, even the towns and inns where everyone had a rest along the way were gone.Behind the tall weeds and bushes, there are even wild beasts moving quietly.

"I remember that it wasn't like this when I came last time," Berthier said to the nobles and officers around him, looking at the desolate land. "The crops in the fields are very lush, and the people near the roads and rivers are also very dense."

"This area is a buffer zone. After the rebels fought a few battles with us, this is no longer the case," Viscount Varian replied, "The fleeing of farmers is very serious. They moved with their families to the mountainous area to the west. I don’t do small business any more.”

"Why? I mean, why would they go to the rebel-controlled area, isn't it a barren mountain?"

"It is indeed barren, but the rebel army only takes [-]% of the tax, which is [-]% less than that of the local area. And there is no fighting there, unlike this area. After repeated raids by Sharon and Earl Lamor's army, the farming has been greatly affected. "

Varian said lightly, as if talking about something unrelated to him:
"The two earls have come here and completely expelled the rebels from the eastern coastal area, and also recovered many towns in the central part. After they left, a new general came in and fought a few battles in the west, collecting military supplies along the way. .Since then, if the rebels want to come and harass us, they have to go through hundreds of miles of uninhabited wilderness."

Berthier didn't answer.The meaning of Viscount Varian is already very obvious - the reason why this army operation has to go through the wilderness that lacks support along the way is thanks to the former General Bayeran.

The intervention of Bayeran's army not only deprived Verona of its autonomy, but also wiped out the local people's livelihood.The trade in wool, spices and crops, which flourished before the war, now goes through Beyeland's agents before leaving the country.

It is impossible for the nobles of Verona to be free from complaints and worries.

……

After Commodus the Kingslayer fled, Ophelia's identity became a bit embarrassing.She was investigated together with Midian Maier for a period of time, and she was still under the surveillance of the military after she regained her freedom under the protection of Griffith.Because she often participates in the staff work of the high command, especially the autumn campaign of Odessa, she was a member of the army command from the beginning to the end. In the whole second year of Homonwatts, she and Griffith are called the most talented An excellent staff officer can accurately and quickly grasp the characteristics of the entire battlefield.

The superiors transferred her to assist Berthier, but did not send Midianmeier.

This seemingly conspiracy order has kept Ophelia on high alert for several days, beware of this being a trap.

Soon, as a staff officer, she received marching orders and details from Macdonald's command.Immediately after Berthier and another commander set off, the main force of the general himself advanced along the east-west Via Verona, which starts from the old town and extends to the city of Sofia in the mountains.

The second commander of MacDonald's corps, the lieutenant-general of the corps, led another army westward along the Varna Avenue in the north, then turned south on the north-south longitudinal Tribune Avenue, and went straight to the northwest of Dupont Land.In this way, three armies will surround the rebels.If the rebel army sees that they have more people than the opponent, so when they concentrate their forces to attack Berthier or the lieutenant general, the general marching along the widest Verona Avenue can lead the main force to attack from the rear and completely wipe out the rebel army.

"Sounds good." After listening to the report, Berthier looked at Ophelia who had drawn the route on the map, and then at Nona and Dedius who were present.

"The plan itself is very good~" Ophelia looked around at the nobles and officers present, and the pupils of the different pupils flickered with regret, "But to successfully implement it, the rebels need to stay in the camp of the Earl of Dupont inside……"

If Midian Maier had been present, everyone would have heard the sharper comments from Ms. Shotolar, and most of them revolved around the differences between General MacDonald's theory and practice and the room for improvement in intelligence.Ophelia's thinking was as fast as lightning, and she often said some provocative words before other people could react, especially when she was with Midian Maier.

Kulala, who was sitting very close, raised her foot and kicked Ophelia's heel.As a Royal Guard who has just been investigated, it is very irrational to openly question famous elders and generals in a meeting.

"Isn't this a matter of course?" The Verona nobles present were convinced of this, "Those hooligans and thieves are not rational people at all, they are just a bunch of dirty and stupid animals. their goodies.

"Marshal MacDonald's strategy is impeccable!"

……

Berthier's column advanced as planned.

Nona rode up to a small hill, where two female cavalrymen were standing and watching.

"Wolf Cavalry, how's the situation?"

"If you call like that again, I'll fight you," Ophelia clenched her fists and replied through gritted teeth. "Xiao Yugan's observers led people up and prepared to grab two tongues. They should be back by now."

"It's a pity that it's not Xiaoyugan himself." Kulala raised his index finger regretfully and shook, "The best man in the second grade, Griffith, Lana, Russell, Murat, Midian Maia didn't show up, it was just the three of us, and it felt like going out in the middle of the night with no clothes on."

Nona thought for a while: "Why is Murat ranked behind Russell, an idiot who is more reckless than a wild boar?"

"Huh? Is this the point? Why do you think we can't do without a man?" Ophelia smiled and shook her head, "And what about a man? Is any of the five of them already a man?"

"..."

The three of them were silent for a few seconds, and Kulala looked around suspiciously: "I don't know about the others, neither is Midian Maiya! Is this reasonable?"

Without waiting for others to answer, Kulala's eyebrows were crescent-like, and she suppressed a smile: "Could it be because everything happened so suddenly... As expected of the Gale Wolf..."

"Hey! Hit you!" Ophelia clenched her fists and growled in a low voice. "It's a compliment for his speed when gathering, marching and maneuvering! Other times, he is tough and durable..."

"It's as if you've been taught before, haven't you? Eh~ really haven't?" Kulala's witticism pierced Ophelia's body like a sword, and then made a sharp turn before she was really hit, "Quick Look, the kid is back."

The three of them stood on the hill, watching the dusty Desai come with the light cavalry.A still gray head hung from his saddle, and blood dripped from the scabbard of his horse sword.This kind of thing, everyone in the East has become accustomed to it.

Not only the first-year students from Bayeran who came to participate in this mission, but even the exchange students from Odessa also participated in the operation in batches.Instead of obeying Naira's will, Neferti went to spring camp with her friends, followed the column headquarters, and watched the cavalry gallop in the distance.

"Desai, what's the situation ahead?" Brigade Berthier and adjutant Dedius asked from a distance when they saw the returning cavalry.

Desai was not a member of Homenworth, but he had relatively rich combat experience. He was recommended by Griffith, who was unable to participate in this operation, to join the operation as an observer.

He had just wiped out a small band of rebels with four light cavalry, and returned with two prisoners and a string of heads.

"A rebel army of 500 people blocked the way, Commander," Desai jumped off his horse and thumped his left chest. "They blocked the bridge deck at the ferry four miles ahead with carts relying on the river. We conducted a test and found that they are equipped with a large number of crossbows, and the carts connected in series are two meters high and very strong."

"Bring up the artillery to bombard their camp," said Berthier to his companions, "that will save our casualties."

"But it will take more time. The artillery team is at least half a day away from us. The road here is not easy," said Viscount Varian, a nobleman from Verona, "The situation of Earl Dupont is critical. We must follow the instructions of the general. The order arrived on time, which is also the opinion of the old town."

General MacDonald did have strict requirements on the marching time, and Berthier did not discuss this matter further.He summoned the officers and sergeants, issued an order to prepare for the attack, and then said to the nobles of Verona: "Concentrate the cavalry and heavy infantry to prepare for a foot assault, and attack from both ends of the north and south. Hurry up and prepare some shield vehicles."

(End of this chapter)