Warlords of the witcher world

Chapter 204 Riding and plundering
As time went by, the burning ship gradually sank to the bottom of the river.

As they sank, the river suddenly became clear.

However, the flames on the slowly sinking ship and the large number of driftwood and corpses on the river showed what had happened here.

Scattered among the remnants of the battle were small boats filled with rescued Nilfgaardian sailors.

The Northern Fleet sailed past the sunken Nilfgaardian ships, smashing through the broken hulls and crushing them into the river bottom.

The flag of the Northern Kingdom is flying proudly over the losers in the posture of the victor, just like the northern warriors participating in this battle are in high spirits.

"Congratulations on another victory, Lord Heme."

On the decks of the northern ships, there was naturally jubilation, rejoicing that they had defeated the Nilfgaardians.

Herme's attendants and guard captains were all congratulating him on his victory.

"What should we do next, Lord Heme, is it to go to Cintra?"

The captain of Hemei's ship asked, and everyone looked at Hemei, wanting to know his next order.

"No, we are not going to Cintra. The strength of the Nilfgaardians gathered there is extremely exaggerated, and many Nilfgaardian ships have fled the battlefield. The men in black have also received warnings, and the attack will inevitably be more difficult. Go up a floor.”

Herme didn't plan to go to Sintra, and she didn't see how Brugg and Amelia were strengthened by them.

The Nilfgaardians have made new responses in the places where they suffered losses last time, and there must be more defenses in Cintra.

After all, the city at the mouth of the Yaruga River can play a huge role in the entire war situation.

"Where are we going then?"

"We landed on the north bank of the Yaruga River. The fleet will block the Yaruga River as much as possible, but don't get close to Sintra. The situation in that city is still unknown. And I want to carry out a riding robbery."

Hemei obviously had already planned the battle in his mind, and he said with great confidence.

However, not going to Sintra was a helpless move. The benefits of going straight to Sintra were obviously greater, but according to the intelligence he received, that city was no longer what it used to be.

Moreover, Nilfgaard seems to have built many forts at the mouth of the Aruga River, which is also a big trouble - this is why Herme does not let the fleet go there.

It's enough for the gunboats to torture the imperial fleet. Don't fight with the turrets. Fighting with the running platforms will only result in failure - even if the turrets are equipped with Serikania Fire Scorpions.

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Riding plunder, traditionally speaking, is a strategy that takes advantage of the cavalry in the enemy's territory to maneuver on a large scale and plunder and destroy the enemy's economic zone during the movement.

However, it is naturally impossible for Hemei to plunder the northern lands and rob the northern people. This would be damaging his own foundation.

His target was Nilfgaard's military station.

After occupying the Nilfgaardian squadron port on the Aruga River, Herme waited a few more days for a large number of horses and cavalry to be sent from the rear.

Then he led the cavalry into action.

Hemei dispatched 5000 cavalry this time. These [-] people were the result of a selection, and they were all well-disciplined cavalry units.

The Lord Protector still remembered how the empire fell behind a full 8000 people along the way when he advanced into Cintra last time. He did not want such a thing to happen again this time.

This time it was no different than the one in Cintra, because his goal was not to occupy this land.

"Alas, when will this war end? This is the third time. It seems far away."

"What, you don't want to make achievements anymore?"

"Nonsense, I don't want to think about it for a long time. After so many years of war, I have accumulated a lot of wealth. If the superiors hadn't kept me from leaving, I would have gone home and enjoyed my life, instead of continuing to risk my life on the front line. I almost died in the north during the last northern war.”

"Ha, speaking of which, I have accumulated a lot of wealth, but because I was captured in the last northern war, those damn bastards took away half of my property, and they said that I was 'suspected' of treason. Damn it, I see I just want to steal money. But even so, I still want to leave. Anyone who wants to stay in this hellish place can stay in this place, but no matter what, they won’t approve my discharge application."

"Suppose this war is over and you go back successfully, what are you going to do?"

"What are you doing? Just guard my family's fields, but the prerequisite is that the empire wins this war. Otherwise, I have to recruit a few good men first. The empire is not peaceful at the moment. Do you still remember what our old chief said?"

"It could lead to another civil war... Yes, I know, but all we can do is watch."

"Oh, by the way, there's also the one in the south..."

"Let's not talk too much about that. Anyway, no matter what the above says, we should be smarter ourselves."

The two Nilfgaard veterans just set up a deck chair at the gate of the military station and sat on it to talk leisurely. Because of their high qualifications, no one dared to care about them.

Their recruits are busy counting supplies and doing daily maintenance on the military station.

If possible, they would also like to be as leisurely as the two veterans over there, but unfortunately, the newcomers are newcomers, and they can only continue to work under the supervision of their superiors.

The so-called military station was the product of Nilfgaard after summarizing the lessons of its failure in the Second Northern War.

In the past various campaigns of the black army, the requirements for logistics were not very high. The imperial army could always end large-scale battles within a few months and then let the war enter the final stage.

But the Northern War was different. This war was obviously protracted and the pressure on logistics became increasingly severe.

In the Second Northern War, many troops of the empire suffered heavy losses on this.

Although the main reason was that the northerners made a sneak attack on the rear of the empire, causing the supply line to be cut off.

But the problems in the logistics department are still difficult to cover up.

In the Second Northern War, the logistics department collapsed in chaos.

Logistical problems further led to panic among the army, which added fuel to the empire's failure at that time.

Military depots, this is what the empire came up with in order to improve the logistics situation.

After determining the route for transporting supplies, the empire will set up military depots on the line, which will play the role of material storage and suppression of surrounding areas.

At the same time, the military depot also plays a role in maintaining the roads it is responsible for and expelling nearby rebels.

Relying on the existence of these military stations, the Nilfgaardians' logistical conditions have been greatly changed.

At the same time, the military depot also plays a very good role in controlling nearby areas.

However, this also created greater manpower needs, but this did not matter to the empire. During the Third Northern War, the imperial army ushered in a wave of extremely exaggerated expansion.

"He who relies on his old age and sells his old age will never die."

Seeing the veterans looking leisurely and relaxed, a recruit cursed in a low voice behind him.

He really couldn't stand the slackness of these guys. As Nilfgaardians, they looked like they were just eating and waiting to die. They had been veterans for many years, but they had degenerated like this!
Then, this recruit began to lament that he had not been recognized for his talent. As a citizen of the city of golden towers who loved the empire, he had the mentality of serving the empire (and getting promoted and making a fortune), and despite the opposition of his family, he joined the imperial army. But he was assigned to do odd jobs in such a military station.

Did he really want to beat up that damn distribution officer because he couldn't see his value?

Of course, this angry recruit didn't know that his current position was obtained by his parents begging for help, just to allow their son to survive this cruel war.

The recruit lamented and climbed up the tower to perform his sentry duty. He really found this task boring. The empire had almost wiped out the nearby villages. How could there be an attack from the north?

But speaking of the northerners' attack, he recently heard that the northerners defeated the imperial fleet at the Yaruga River in the south. The northerners seemed to be heading to Sintra.

He has nothing to worry about. The superiors have already told them that there are now more than [-] regular imperial troops garrisoning Cintra, and the northerners will never return.

He was a little envious of his comrades in Cintra. If he were in Cintra now, he would be able to achieve success in the war.

While he was thinking this, he saw layers of smoke and dust being rolled up on the distant horizon.

"Whose cavalry regiment is this? It can run so fast."

The recruit said subconsciously, and then looked over with the telescope set up.

Then what appeared in front of him was the banner of Aedirn, and under the banner were cavalry wearing northern style armor.

These cavalrymen looked neat and tidy, but their bodies were dusty and even stained with blood. They looked like they had experienced a lot of battles.

"Enemy... enemy attack!" The recruit quickly knocked the alarm bell next to him with all his strength. As the urgent alarm bell rang, the recruit's heart became excited.

Subconsciously, he thought this was a northern rebel that wandered here for no apparent reason. In his opinion, his chance had come.

Finally, he had a fight!The empire's new hero is about to be revealed!

However, an armor-piercing arrow hit his helmet next. The arrow broke through the iron and penetrated into his brain.

Thus died the future hero of the Empire.

"Assemble! Assemble! You newbies!"

The veterans roared, and the soldiers guarding the military station stood up to the fighting position under supervision. Many people were very nervous. This was the first time many people here faced war.

Many servants in the military station were also armed and joined the queue, but they still looked more like servants. Even wearing armor could not make them brave.

"Damn it, why did the northerners come here? It looks like it's going to be over this time."

The veteran who had been leisurely just now had an extremely bad expression. He could see that these northerners in front of him were definitely not random soldiers, but real elites.

The most important thing is that the soldiers in the military station will definitely not be able to defeat these northerners.

Therefore, the veteran gave the comrade who had just chatted with him a look.

The comrade was stunned for a moment, then nodded.

They shouldn't shout "die for the empire". After fighting for the empire for so many years, they have long been worthy of the empire. Let the passionate young people rush to the front.

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"Take away all the things you can take away. If you can't take away anything, call the nearby residents and let them take it away!"

Walking in the military station that had experienced a fierce battle, Herme heard an officer shouting this.

This battle can be said to be extremely easy. It can be said that the moment the door of the military station was knocked open, the fate of the battle was decided.

Facing the northern cavalry that rushed in like tigers and wolves, the Nilfgaardian battle line collapsed in an instant, and the next step was to pursue them.

Now, in the military station, the soldiers are collecting everything they can use.

The grain stored here was piled in the square for nearby residents to take.

Although the Nilfgaardians swept away the nearby residents, how could they really want to drive away so many people.

What's more, Verden is not a key area to sweep like Soden and Brugg.

Therefore, in fact, there are still a large number of locals in the forest. As long as they don't come out, the men in black will not go looking for them.

But this time the Wieden people were indeed a little unable to defeat them. Last time they faced an encirclement and suppression by the entire Wieden Army. Although it brought big trouble to the empire, it also resulted in the death of a large number of men.

The subsequent western offensive in Foltest and the occupation of Nilfgaard in the Third Northern War made the Verden even more exhausted.

There have been too many wars over the years, and their losses have been too great.

What's more, the fall of Temeria as a whole has made many people no longer want to resist.

Resistance can only be carried out if there is hope. Now that there is no hope, why resist?
Most importantly, the Verdon royal family and many nobles were forcibly relocated by Foltest, and the Verdon uprising was left without a leader.

In the end, an uprising requires someone to organize it.

In the north, it was the nobles who played this role. Foltest moved so many nobles away, which naturally weakened the local resistance.

Finally, it was the fierce performance of the Verdens in the Second Northern War that gave them their united front value.

Therefore, the empire's occupation policy in the Verden region has become much gentler, without so much killing and abuse.

The combination of these factors led to a significant reduction in the resistance of the Verdon people, and even in terms of destruction, there were only some small-scale destruction.

But this does not mean that they are unwilling to resist. Seeing the arrival of the northern army, the locals took the initiative to assist the northern army.

It was also with their help that Hemei's team was able to quickly find the Nilfgaardian military stations scattered across the land.

"No. 13... I think as these news spread, Emhyr became uneasy."

Many soldiers are skillfully stuffing flammable materials everywhere in the military station, preparing to light the building when the time comes. Herme said while watching their actions.

Generally speaking, there are two purposes of riding plunder. One is to destroy the Nilfgaardians' logistics system and create chaos among the imperial army, and the other is to cause chaos in the imperial army.

Herme understood that with the current situation where the main force of the Aedirian and Rivia coalition was blocked by the Nilfgaardian fortress, it was simply impossible to seriously inflict a heavy blow on the Imperial Army.

All he could do was to continuously attack the logistics of the imperial army and disrupt the order of Nilfgaard.

Although the main force over there can be sent over via river transport, this also means that Bruges and Amelia will no longer have military surveillance, and the Nilfgaardian troops there can move freely.

And this is impossible to accept.

It would be possible if the Nilfgaardian garrison in these two cities could be incited to rebel, but these were basically determined Nilfgaardian troops, which made things very troublesome.

Therefore, now only by mobilizing the Nilfgaard army can he have a chance to inflict heavy damage on Emhyr's army.

Only after severely damaging Emhyr's army could he take further action.

And there is no need to worry if the Nilfgaardian army is too strong, he can just board the ship and run away.

Next, just land on another coast, and land in an empty place due to the deployment of a large number of troops.

Anyway, he now has the naval advantage, and Emhyr will be killed if he doesn't.

Of course, we still dare not go to the mouth of the Aruga River. On the one hand, we are afraid of the Nilfgaardian fleet that we don’t know where it is. On the other hand, we are also afraid that the forts at the mouth of the river are too strong and the fleet cannot rush through.

Of course, if Emhyr is determined to be a coward, then he will smash the Nilfgaardians' logistics to pieces.

Although the efficiency of sea transportation of the imperial army has increased a lot, it is still impossible without land transportation - the river transportation in Sintra is still smooth.

Logistics is broken, and Nilfgaard's war will naturally fail.

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Not far from the military station, the two veterans who had taken off their armor looked at the military station that had been occupied by the northerners and sighed.

The two men were not wearing armor, but ordinary clothes, and they looked quite embarrassed.

Their bodies were covered with mud, they had just crawled into the ditch to get here.

The moment they saw that nothing could be done, they took off their armor decisively and jumped in, thus saving a life.

"What bad luck? What are you going to do next? Do you want to run together?"

"Oh, I haven't lived a good life yet, and I encountered such a bullshit thing, damn it. Let's go, let's go, I don't want to fight this bullshit war anymore. After fighting for the empire for so many years, I'm almost done. All debts owed to the empire have been paid.”

The two of them had no intention of returning to the team. They decided to escape this damn war at all costs.

The thinking of these two people actually represents the thinking of many people in the Nilfgaardian army.

Especially among veteran soldiers, the more veterans, the stronger this kind of thinking is.

My thoughts can be summed up as follows: after fighting for the empire for so long, I really don’t want to continue fighting anymore.

In this way, the two people who made the decision left the military station without looking back and fled towards the south.

Not long after they left, gunpowder smoke rose into the sky, and the northerners, who took away everything they could, set the military station on fire.

And many such scenes happened at the same time in this land.

(End of this chapter)