When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 1225 Resolute Retreat
On February 7, the Holy Alliance army officially launched a war against the Duke of Xianshidian, citing "collusion with vampires" as the reason.

On that day, Jeanne ordered the Chongxin battle group to set off along the Nauan River as the left-wing advance route.

On the same day, the new army, which had long been stationed in Akasa County, also crossed the Seine River and advanced westward, forming the central army's route of advance.

Located further north in Upper Sien, the Salamanders, on the right wing, departed on the same day, heading south!

Originally, most officials in the border regions deliberately dispersed the servants of their old territories under their direct jurisdiction.

The border area has more than 10,000 people, like a giant serpent coiled around the roots of a sacred tree. If you strike the head, the tail will come; if you strike the tail, the head will come; if you strike the head, both the head and the tail will come.

But he did not anticipate one situation: being attacked from both ends simultaneously.

Of course, there's no difference; both sides suffered a crushing defeat.

In an instant, urgent military reports poured into Fishing City like snowflakes in winter, causing the palace of the most important man to boil over like water.

Kakulkan and Dostoevsky, who were sightseeing and treasure hunting in the vicinity, did not receive news of the collapse of the defense line until the 11th.

At first, they thought the defenses were overreacting.

Just this morning, news broke that the defenses had collapsed, and in the afternoon, Count Mathilde, who lived near the border, sent a letter saying that a small group of Holy Alliance troops had mistakenly entered the area, and that he had already led his troops to resolve the situation.

Come to think of it, even if there were 10,000 pigs, let alone more than 10,000 troops, it would take a while to catch them, right?

Besides, they all have fortresses and strongholds as their base, and including those who are paid without working, there are still five or six thousand people.

According to the principle of attacking a city with ten times the number of troops, the Holy Alliance would need at least 50,000 troops to break through the defenses.

As a result, starting the next day, the number of requests for help, messages, and deserters increased, and the two realized that something was wrong.

It wasn't until Count Mathil's letter of appeal arrived that they truly believed the worst—the Holy Alliance had indeed attacked.

Neither Kakulkan nor Dolce could believe it.

How dare the Holy Alliance? Where did they get their troops?
If the Holy Alliance mobilizes warbands from other directions, they will definitely receive the news first!
Surely your warband can't outrun a courier, right?
If it were that so-called "Western Battle Group Army," even two battle groups wouldn't be able to break through the defenses.

The new battle group has only been formed for three months and doesn't have much combat power yet.

Regardless of their doubts, they hurried back to the fishing town.

By the time they rushed back to Fishing Town, it was already the evening of the 13th.

He hurriedly led a large group of servants, not even having time to wash his face or change his clothes.

Dolce and Kakulcan couldn't wait any longer and went straight to their bedroom to start writing letters.

He wrote letters to the master of the central army of the royal court, to Lacunio of the northern army, to the vampire army stationed at Piana Castle, and to the reinforcements on the way to Piana Castle...

What followed was a long, suffocating wait.

I waited from February 14th until the early morning of February 16th before the reply finally arrived.

The 5000 vampire troops that Kakulkan had forgotten replied that they would arrive at Piana Castle around the 20th.

Then the 3600 vampire garrison of Piana Castle replied that it was too dangerous to rashly occupy Fishing City, and suggested that Kakulkan come to Piana Castle for refuge.

On the morning of the 17th, the anxious Duo learned of the news from Kakulkan.

The usually subservient Sergeant Dolce was now truly enraged. He complained loudly, almost shouting, "You told me that with the army of Piana Castle, there would be no worries, and that the Holy Alliance would not and could not attack!"

Knowing he was in the wrong, Kakulkan could only force a smile and appease them: "It was the Holy Alliance that was too audacious, launching a war without declaring war and not afraid of being ridiculed."

"Whether it's shameful or not is another matter; do we even have the life to laugh about it?"

Kakulkan fell silent; at this point, he too began to regret his actions.

I should never have left the army on Dawn Island to extort and plunder.

Firstly, they couldn't deal with the Holy Alliance in time, and secondly, money is a powerful motivator; those vampire soldiers probably didn't want to come anymore.

What's going on with this Holy Alliance? And what's going on with these "most scholars"?
The defensive line of more than 10,000 defenders was breached in a single day, and some of their subordinates were even giving false information.

Under pressure from both inside and outside, Kakulkan surprisingly remained calm: "There's no point in talking about this now. Let's compile the maps and intelligence, otherwise we'll never know what to do."

"Come."

Immediately, an old knight with white hair stepped forward, spread out the map, and explained it to everyone.

On February 9th, the Great Serpent defense line at the border was simultaneously defeated by the Holy Alliance army.

The Holy Alliance army was divided into three groups: the left wing set out from the Nauan River, the central army advanced westward from Muchi City, and the right wing moved southward from Upper Sain County.

First, there was Jeanne's new army.

On February 11, after breaking through the defenses, the central army captured Muchi City, and then, after the surrender of Narboburg, captured Lemwa City.

On February 17, the central army arrived near Freiburg, located east of Fishing City. Freiburg was a city of the Holy Path, and its surrender was bloodless. At this time, the central army was only 45 kilometers away from Fishing City.

During this period, Jeanne also dispatched hussars and other scouts to reconnoiter the vicinity of Ann Arbor and Marienburg.

Ann Arbor and Marienburg are only 80 or 90 kilometers away from Piana Castle, and they can also keep an eye on the movements in the direction of Leia.

According to some veteran knights, this move was intended to spy on the movements of the Dawn Island garrison (not all territory is under the control of the Dawn Federation; most of it is the riverside areas), although there's not much to spy on.

Meanwhile, with the help of the Dawn Federation, the Faith Chapter set off from the Naoan River.

On February 9, they launched a surprise attack and captured the water fortress of Gaupu, which served as a logistics transfer center.

They set off again on February 12. Because the Holy Way Sect was spread along both banks of the Naoan River, and Holy Way Sect brothers helped them everywhere, they encountered almost no resistance along the way.

On February 15, the Chongxin Group captured the southern city of Masen. The city is 35 kilometers away by water from Fishing City, and no troops have been deployed yet.

In the northern direction, most of the land is wasteland and abandoned mining areas, with no important towns.

After capturing a fortress and a castle, the Salamander Legion embarks on a long land march.

Around February 16, after capturing the city of Pontor, they officially set up camp just 24 kilometers northwest of Fishing City.

"Judging from the current situation, Fishing City is surrounded by a total of more than 22000 enemy troops in the northwest, south and east directions."

"Where are our troops?"

"We are mobilizing knights and militia from all over the country, and we can also gather a number of night watchmen and leather-armored soldiers from the surrounding areas. There are still 6,000 guards in Fishing City."

In other words, the available combat strength is 6,000.

Most immediately fixed their mournful gazes on Kakulkan, who remained unperturbed: "Approximately how many days until the Holy Alliance officially launches its attack?"

"It will take at least one day, or at most three days."

"Are there any surrounding vassals who can come to our aid?"

"It's too late. It will take at least three days to arrive, and they won't be able to bring many useful troops."

The civil war, along with two battles in the Thousand Rivers Valley, essentially wiped out Leia's elite combat capabilities.

Ten years isn't enough time for a new batch of top-tier, extraordinary combatants to grow up.

Players like Lavrov and Lacuño, who are top-tier, all had a growth period of twenty or thirty years.

However, the old knight also pointed out the available vassals and possible troops on the map.

He put down his cane, which he had been using to point at the map, looking slightly tired. "That's just how things are. We can only wait and see what happens next."

After listening to the old knight's analysis, Kakulkan put his hands behind his back, spun around several times, and then suddenly and sincerely grasped the hand of the Dolce: "Your Highness Dolce, you must believe that our royal court never mistreats loyal people!"

A sense of foreboding rose in most of the men's hearts: "What do you mean by this?"

“The vanguard of the 3000-strong Royal Court Northern Route Army has already passed through Thorn Garden and headed south. The 5000-strong Royal Court Central Route Army will arrive soon. The Royal Court also has 70,000 to 80,000 troops along the coast.”

“No, you won’t, no, no, no, no, no…” Duoshi shook his head repeatedly.

"This is the only way."

"No, I'm not going anywhere, you promised..."

"Times have changed. Do you expect the Holy Alliance army to hang your head on the city gate before you realize this?"

"........."

"Reinforcements will arrive soon. Even if the Holy Alliance breaches Fishing City, we can take it back quickly."

"........."

"Even if we can't take it back, I guarantee His Majesty Serfaye will not treat you unfairly."

"........."

"You need to understand which is more important, the family bloodline or the territory!"

All eyes were on Dolce, even on Kakulkan, who had always looked down on Dolce.

He slumped into his chair, his gaze sweeping over the group of nobles in the city before him.

They all looked at him with expectant yet malicious eyes; everyone was pressuring him.

"Retreat to Piana Castle." Dodson's eyes were almost bleeding with tears. "Hold on firmly, and there's a way."

(End of this chapter)