When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 1040 How can people hide in reeds that are chest-high?

The morning fog in September is like milk diluted with water, so thick it can't be dissolved.

The branches of the banyan tree droop with aerial roots, swaying in the mist as strings of gray shadows.

Amidst the chaotic footsteps, flannel clogs and military boots trampled the damp, decaying leaves on the ground, squeezing out foul-smelling water.

Although the water mist is cool, it makes people feel tightness in their chest and shortness of breath.

The soldiers couldn't resist any longer and rolled up their trousers and sleeves, but they still had to swat away the leeches and mosquitoes.

Astride his horse, Gale's pale hair was tied up, and the riding crop at his waist tapped intermittently against his boots.

He looked at the serpentine line of soldiers ahead, but didn't feel much tension—the battlefield was still far away.

No matter how fast the Holy Alliance army marches, they still need to wear armor, and the road is extremely difficult to travel.

With their few legs, they're probably still shuffling around in the valley ten miles away.

The scout cavalry had already been deployed three miles away, and could detect their presence even before they got close.

If they actually engage in combat, there will be ample time for Gale and his team to prepare.

Let alone five thousand people, even five thousand pigs would take half a day to catch.

As long as I retreat quickly enough, no one can defeat me, and no one can hold me accountable.

The marching Franz soldiers were in good spirits as well.

Although the environment is harsh, fighting means high rewards, especially from nearby lords.

This exploitation of local powerful families by using the army is a classic tactic of royalty.

Compared to places closer to the Holy Alliance, such as Red Leaf Hill and Lilac Corridor, the soldiers at Storm Cape had little impression of the Holy Alliance.

Faced with an impending formidable enemy, the officers intentionally or unintentionally spread rumors to boost morale.

"Hey, I heard that Saint Sun has four holy maiden wives?" A rough laugh and curse came from the queue; it belonged to a blacksmith's apprentice.

He carried a long spear, with a burlap cloth wrapped around the shaft for wiping sweat: "He forces others to have monogamy, but he himself has four wives, and I heard they all sleep in the same bed!"

"It is said that this holy grandson has four penises and eight testicles, each penis as big as a bull's horn, otherwise how could he satisfy four witches?"

"It's said that those witches are all like the succubi in paintings, and they can even conjure up pancakes out of thin air!"

“And the guilds!” another soldier chimed in. “My cousin said his apprentice escaped from Thousand Rivers Valley. The Holy Grandson dismantled all the guilds, and even the looms have to be registered and numbered.”

"I heard that Cheka officers are patrolling the walls at night, checking anyone with a light on!"

"As long as they don't find out that the Holy Grandson is having an affair with a new lover."

"Hahahaha-"

A burst of laughter erupted from the group, startling the dew on the banyan tree, which then dripped down in a flurry.

A tall infantryman nudged the man in front of him with the barrel of his rifle and said in a voice as loud as thunder: "In my opinion, there's no need to fight at all."

When we arrived at our destination, we shouted across the street, "François is hiring laborers. The monthly wage is 5 dinars, three meals a day are provided, and you will live in a stone house. You are also free."

Those Holy Alliance people dropped their guns and ran over. They followed the Holy Grandson, eating thin porridge and black bread. Meanwhile, here…”

"Pfft-"

A muffled thud sounded like wet linen being torn apart.

The big infantryman's laughter stopped abruptly; he clutched his throat, his eyes wide as saucers.

Bright red blood seeped out from between his fingers, staining the coarse cloth military uniform on his chest, and exuding a rusty smell in the humid air.

He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but only let out a "hoarse" gasp before collapsing heavily to the ground.

The line froze for a moment, like a river frozen in time.

The next second, an experienced veteran shouted, "It's a mortar! Take cover! Enemy attack!"

"Enemy attack! It's a clockwork gun!" The officers' shouts pierced the thick fog. "Form ranks! Pikemen forward..."

Gale pulled on the reins in disbelief, and it took him a while to realize that they had been ambushed!

Wasn't it said that the main force of the Holy Alliance was still on the other side of the valley? Where are the scout cavalry?

"Where's the scouts?!" Gale roared, his face instantly turning red. He grabbed a scout cavalryman who had rushed over, "Weren't you supposed to have spread out three miles? Are your eyes in your crotch?!"

The cavalryman shook his head, trembling, his helmet askew: "Sir, I haven't seen anyone..."

"Can you even see him? He's practically right in front of us!" Gale glanced at him with disgust and quickly memorized his name.

What a rule-breaker!
Gail abruptly shoved him away, her gaze sweeping across the battlefield.

Lead bullets rained down like dense raindrops, embedding themselves in the trunks of banyan trees, rocks, and soldiers' armor. They struck the armor with a crisp "clang," and pierced flesh with a dull "thud."

In a short time, more than twenty corpses had fallen at the front line.

However, these Franzian legions were well-trained, especially Thierry, who had learned the Holy Alliance's pre-planned training system.

Before setting off, the soldiers of the Stormcap Legion were thoroughly trained on how to deploy their formations after a surprise attack.

The standing army is different from ordinary imperial infantry, not to mention the elite officers selected from the lower nobility and the emerging middle class.

"Dutema, stand still!" A centurion jumped onto a supply wagon, his boots stomping loudly on the wooden planks. "Get behind the wagon and push the supplies and cabinets down to block the lead."

"The pikemen in the middle, first move to the flanks and raise your shields; the musketeers, prepare to load. Centurion, gather the men together!"

Several captains drew their half-swords from their waists and roared in the chaos, "Third team, move to the left! Fifth team, don't push!"

The soldiers, like a flock of sheep being herded, stumbled and crawled into the ranks, the clanging of armor clashing mixed with cries.

Even amidst this chaos, both the vanguard and the rearguard were converging towards the center.

Using the carriages, they were actually able to reorganize their ranks after the surprise attack.

Spears were raised one by one, while wind-up muskets extended from behind the carriage, pointing in the direction from which the lead bullets were flying.

As for the thrown clock bombs, their effect was limited.

Most of the French Legion members had one or two stages of breathing techniques, while officers often had three or four stages.

This clock bullet, which is most effective against breathing difficulties, only made the soldiers of the Franco Legion feel dizzy for a moment.

Pulled by lead pellets, swords, and arrows, the morning mist gradually became riddled with holes, dissipating into the air in wisps.

A sudden gust of wind improved visibility.

Gail squinted and looked ahead. Three hundred meters away, a vast expanse of reeds, several miles wide, swayed in the wind.

The reeds were almost half a person tall, and lush and green—yes, the enemy was hiding in there!

"Didn't you sweep the reeds?" Even with his excellent composure on the battlefield, Gale's face was grim at this moment.

"The reeds are so tall they don't even reach chest height, and so short they only reach waist height. Those clockwork guns have to be fired while standing up..." The reconnaissance soldier felt particularly aggrieved.

This startled Gale awake. Yes, there was no one in sight in the reeds. How were they shooting?
The lead bullets whizzed past, snapping the reeds in two, and at that moment, the five hundred of Wang Xian's cavalrymen at the front finally returned.

"Can you determine how many of them there are?" Gale shouted to the returning knight commander.

"Uncertain, but judging from the gunfire, there are probably four or five thousand people."

Could this reed marshland really hide four or five thousand people? Gale didn't know if he was seeing things because of his old eyes or hearing things because of his deafness.

"Sir, what do we do now?"

"Set it on fire!" Gale blurted out, pointing at the reeds and shouting, "Force them out!"

The accompanying priest's face stiffened. He leaned closer and whispered, "Sir, it's September now. The reeds are still green and damp; they won't catch fire... Only the withered grass in November..."

"I don't care!" Gale ducked awkwardly to avoid the lead bullets. "Then shoot them with arrows! Shoot them with guns! Just drive them out!"

Before the words were finished, a series of neat commands suddenly rang out from the reeds.

Gail's pupils contracted as she saw the black and red procession emerge from the reeds, lined up as neatly as if cut by a knife.

The Holy Alliance's army has come out on its own initiative?!

The long spears were pointed diagonally to the sky, while the musketmen held up their stock with the muzzles pointing upwards.

Upon closer inspection, it appears densely packed, but there are only two horizontal rows.

"Only...only two regiments? A thousand men at most!" Wang Xian's cavalry battalion commander exclaimed.

Remembering his earlier confident assertion of five thousand, his face instantly flushed: "Sir! They have very few men! I request permission to go and overwhelm them!"

"Can you?"

I believe I can do it!

Gail was silent for a long time before saying, "I'll give you this permission."

The centurions also realized what was happening and roared, "Damn it, five thousand men are going to be bullied by a thousand? Charge!"

“Hey, they’re hiring in Fran…” A soldier remembered the conversation from earlier and suddenly shouted, only to be slapped on the back of the head by his captain.

"Are you out of your mind? You actually believe it? Hold your spears and get ready to charge. Let them see what men from Stormcap are like."

　PS: More later
　　
　
(End of this chapter)