When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 1037 The Empress Dowager intervenes

As evening fell, the First Legion of Stormcap had arrived near Dragonfly Harbor, only two days' journey away.

According to Monteil's plan, the 20,000-strong army had been divided into three main camps.

It must be said that although Montyr came from a pirate family, by his generation, they had gradually gone ashore and become legitimate pirates.

He himself received a good classical military education; not all nobles were incompetent.

At least not Montreal.

After his defeat in the first Battle of Windmills, Franz learned a painful lesson and implemented a series of reforms.

One of the more important aspects was the imitation of the ancient El Empire, which implemented military aristocratic elite education.

How to march? How to set up camp?
These are all things that Montel had studied, but he just lacked practical experience.

Therefore, in Count Cács’s view, Montaire’s arrangement, despite its slight flaws, was generally above the average level in the empire.

Therefore, he made a point of praising Montaire extensively in front of everyone at dinner.

However, Montaire did not seem as happy as he had imagined.

Of the legion's three camps, the central main camp is located on a key transportation route.

The camp was chosen on an open plain, which made it easy to form ranks, and its proximity to rivers and forests made it convenient to obtain water and timber.

The two flanking camps were located on hills or river valley edges to guard secondary roads, facilitating concealment or rapid movement.

About 5 kilometers in front of each main camp, one or two outposts were set up, each garrisoned with 50 to 100 cavalrymen and a small number of infantrymen, responsible for reconnaissance and early warning.

Outpost camps do not require large-scale fortifications; only temporary fences are erected, prioritizing mobility.

The three main camps are about 10 to 15 kilometers apart.

The cavalry would arrive at the outposts two or three days in advance to sign supply agreements with local lords and towns.

As for the small villages along the way, they simply summoned the local village chiefs and assigned the tasks directly.

Compared to the Norn and Leia armies, which were invincible wherever they went, the Fran army was much more restrained on its own borders.

After all, the French army was well-funded, and the country had a dense population of towns and relatively wealthy villages, so they could afford to pay for these supplies.

However, for an army of 20,000, the main source of supplies, besides what they carried themselves, was still the supply from large towns.

Especially for long-term defense of fortresses, river hubs are even more necessary to transport food and supplies from the rear.

Having experienced the previous war with the Holy Alliance army, Count Kazi had realized that no reward could boost morale as much as ensuring the soldiers were well-fed.

So after dinner, he urged Montaire to contact Dragonfly Harbor.

It wasn't until the moon was high in the sky and the servants were carrying the foot-washing basin out that they saw Montyr rushing back.

"Is Count Kazi asleep?"

The servant quickly shook his head and stepped aside, only daring to move forward once Montyr had entered the tent.

She had only taken a few steps when she heard Count Kazi roar from inside the tent: "Not allowed in? On what grounds?"

When Count Cazi heard the news, he was so shocked that he almost jumped out of his seat.

By relying on several fortified strongholds around Dragonfly Harbor, they blocked the river, preventing the Holy Alliance spice ships from entering and leaving, thus luring the enemy to attack.

This was Count Kazi's initial plan. How come the most crucial Dragonfly Harbor had problems from the very beginning?
"Did you reprimand them harshly? You know some commoners are just scoundrels; if you smile at them, they'll only take advantage of you..."

Montaire interrupted Count Cazi with a wry smile: "Dragonfly Harbor was sold off as a shareholding by the local city council two years ago."

This means that Dragonfly Harbor and the surrounding area are the shared territory of dozens of noble families.

If we want to move in, dozens of companies need to sign up simultaneously.

“You’re the army of Stormcape, aren’t you? What are you afraid of? Just go in.” Count Kazi was even more incredulous as he lit the expensive beeswax candle with flint.

He looked Montel up and down, wondering if he was genuinely ignorant or just pretending. After all, Archbishop Campbell had his reasons for sending the Stormcap army.

The main reason is that arable land is scarce at Storm Cape, so people tend to engage in maritime trade, handicrafts, and service industries, and the landed aristocracy has little influence.

Compared to the strongholds of land nobility like Red Leaf Hill and South Riverlands, places like Storm Cape and White Sandland have less collusion with the old noble forces.

Even if the old nobles disagree, these soldiers of Storm's Cape have nothing to do with you old nobles, so what can you do to stop them?

Montaire sat opposite Count Cazi, his eyes seemingly widened by the candlelight: "That's exactly what I threatened them with, but they gave me a letter."

"What letter?"

"It's just that the army is fierce after all. For the sake of the local residents, they can be stationed in Xinghuo Town in the north. Dragonfly Port is still willing to transship the grain."

“Starfire Town?” Count Kazi closed his eyes and thought for a moment, then opened them again. “No, it’s too close to the border and too far from Dragonfly Harbor. Whose letter is this? Ignore him.”

“We cannot ignore this, Your Excellency Kazzi. This is a letter from Baron Cressy.”

“Baron Cressy? A baron? He doesn’t deserve to be called…” At this point, Count Kazi suddenly shut his mouth.

Clearly, he also remembered who Baron Cressy was.

Baron Cressy, a name that resonates throughout Flowerhill.

Although his title was low, the land he owned was comparable to that of a powerful earl, and even approached the territory of a duke.

As for the reason, it is also very simple.

Baron Cressy was born into the Fast family, but he was not of great wealth or status. He simply had an older sister named Delilina.

Delilah gave birth to a child named Charles, also known as Charles VIII.

Yes, Baron Cressy is the maternal uncle of the current King Charles VIII of France and the younger brother of the Queen Mother of France.

Delilina was also Ruffie Larkin's aunt, and after Ruffie's mother passed away, Delilina took care of her mother's dowry.

At least a quarter of Ruffie's dowry came from Delilina, including a large estate outside Flowerhill.

From this perspective, Charles VIII was even Rufir's distant cousin.

Everyone knows that although Baron Cressy claims to have acquired the properties himself, they are actually all owned by the Queen Mother.

So the meaning of Cressy's letter is quite clear: the Queen Mother does not want the area around Dragonfly Harbor to be occupied.

Fearing that the Legion of Storm's Cape, fighting the Holy Alliance forces near Dragonfly Harbor, will destroy her bottles and jars here.

As for the Queen Mother's involvement, it wasn't even instigated by the Larkin family; they wouldn't have dared to do that.

However, in the spice trade, one of the original behind-the-scenes figures was the Queen Mother.

While the trade patterns along the Lilac Corridor changed, the portion of the profits belonging to the Queen Mother remained constant.

Empress Dowager Wang wouldn't openly oppose her son; she was simply greedy for money and easily swayed by old feelings.

If Count Cács and Montaire insist on moving in, it's not impossible.

But the problem is, they moved in today on Campbell's orders, what if the Queen Mother decides to find a pretext to punish them someday?
Besides, family matters are complicated, and who knows if His Majesty the King would be willing to protect them from the Queen Mother?

Once is fine, but twice? Three times?
Their favors with the king will eventually run out, but the Queen Mother's revenge has no cost and is endless.

She may be hidden behind the scenes, but that doesn't mean she's powerless.

"What do you think should be done?" Montel's words seemed to carry a hint of schadenfreude.

With a "smack," Count Cazi slammed the letter on the table in a fit of pique, utterly frustrated: "The problem with the Franco affair is that we're all intertwined."

　P.S. I didn't expect it to be too late.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)