When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 545: The Idiots of Gravel Plain

Politics is war without bloodshed; war is politics with bloodshed.

All wars serve political goals and are not fought for the sake of war.

The answers to these questions, such as why to fight and when to fight, must be thought out before the war begins.

This is what Horn once said to Meliati.

Although Meliati followed Horn as a sister or daughter at the time, she learned more than she imagined.

Astronomy, geography, military affairs, politics, how to divide people, how to establish organizations, how to sort out internal relations...

Some of his experiences even made Meliati wonder if he was born to rebel.

You know, for some of Horn's experiences, she couldn't find any similar references in books.

Either Horn deduced it himself, or he was born with it.

When she thinks back on it now, she can't help but wonder if Hornpapa was really possessed by an angel?

After all, where could he, an unknown accounting apprentice, learn these things?

But Meliati knew that was impossible. The Church would never tolerate another angel escaping from them, especially from an opposing position.

Unlike Wayne, who had already felt the spring breeze, on the dividing line of Upper River County, the high mountains blocked the spread of spring.

After the beginning of spring, the temperature in Upper River County strangely dropped again, even approaching the beginning of winter.

When Meliati's horse hooves stepped on the muddy road, the snow on the side of the road had not even completely melted.

Amid the withered branches and scattered patches of snow, an army of nearly 10,000 infantry and cavalry marched beside the foaming Honey River.

This is already Hedge Country, Horn's hometown.

The Moulin Rouge village they had just passed was where Saint Sunhorn was born.

If they continued to march at the same speed, they would most likely have to camp in the high castle.

A small Moulin Rouge village not only gave birth to two heroic figures, Horn and Jeanne.

There also emerged first-class military and political talents such as Jeshka, Das, Monsé, and Boussac, as well as a group of young geniuses such as Armand, René, and Doillon.

If the scope is expanded to Hedgerow, there are now seven cardinals in front of Joan of Arc, five of whom are from Hedgerow.

There are sixteen legions in the two major war groups, ten of which are led by people from Hedge Country.

Judging from the Salvation Army’s military and governance, these people are no fools just trying to get by.

I don’t know whether to say that the Salvation Army’s talent training system is excellent, or that Hedge Township is a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery.

It’s just that the Savior Army has so many talented people, but is there a lack of people under Meliati?
"How many days has the sentry fort been under siege?" Meliati suddenly asked Lannes while riding on her horse.

Lannes, riding a tall horse, wearing shining plate armor, walked beside the Duchess with his head held high.

No one would have thought that Lannes, who was a groom's son more than two years ago, has now become the knight commander of the guard cavalry.

This position is specially used by Meliati to train talents.

Although Lannes was of humble status, he had fought bravely since he became a mountain knight, always leading the troops, and soon stood out in the army.

In the promotion system of the Duchy of Hemashi, the Duchess has always been generous in rewards and punishments.

As a result, he was promoted almost like a rocket. The boy who could only sit on the grain cart and drive the horses before could now talk to the Duke.

Lannes bowed his head respectfully and said, "This is the third day since we set out, and the fifth day since the sentinel fort has been under siege."

After receiving the news that the sentinel fort was under siege, Meliati immediately set out with her army and headed towards Lujiao Township.

After receiving the news from Kasha County, she had been gathering troops and preparing to go south to help Wayne attack Lujiao Township and meet up with Horn as soon as possible.

But just as they were getting ready, they received news that the outpost fort was surrounded.

Thanks to the previous preparations, she did not need to make any further calls, and the next day she set out with 4500 North Mande foot knights, 1000 surrendered knights, and more than 2000 serfs.

If someone who doesn't know the situation saw this lineup, they would probably wonder why Meliati didn't bring any infantry.

But those who are familiar with mountain people know that mountain knights lack good horses. Most of the so-called knights usually ride donkeys or attack as infantry. But it's not that they can't ride horses, but the horses are kept at home for farming.

Don't bring them out unless it is necessary, because if they are brought out and die of illness or war, the whole family will starve in the coming year.

So when they are in their prime, they can switch smoothly between infantry, cavalry, archers and horse archers at any time.

It was with the help of these versatile cavalry that Meliati was able to slap the faces of several great lords who were far more powerful than herself in the previous war against Codburg of the Norn Kingdom.

As a result, Meliati gained the recognition and favor of the Norn Lords.

Norn, that's right.

In this uprising, Meliati borrowed more than 200,000 gold pounds from various Norn lords by mortgaging their territories, not to mention free aid such as war horses and armor.

This is still external, and there is also plundering and robbery within the country.

Without external borrowing and internal exploitation, Meliati would not have the army it has today.

Of the 4500 North Mound County infantry knights, two-thirds had war horses, and the remaining one-third had ordinary horses.

Half of the people have three-quarter armor, and the remaining half have chain mail or half armor, with a 100% extraordinary rate.

Each person was equipped with a 120-pound heavy bow, 50 armor-piercing arrows, 100 tapered arrows, two bottles of Khan potion, and a donkey or a riding horse.

Meliati has gambled everything, and what she wants is to join forces with the Savior Army here and annihilate Prince Conde who is besieging the Sentinel Fort in one fell swoop.

The Thousand Valley Rebellion that has lasted for a year and a half should come to an end. According to the news from the Norn Lords, the window period for the Thousand Valley will soon be over.

Because the Leia Civil War is coming to an end.

The brothers Duke Luel and Duke Neidbach, who were supported by the enemy nobles, had already pushed the battle line to the Heshang Island area.

This civil war over royal succession should be over in half a year at most.

It will take at most a year for the Leia people to quell the internal chaos, and then they will reach out to the Thousand Valley again.

Prince Conde couldn't wait, and Meliati couldn't wait even more.

"Hurry up and march." After listening to Lannes' report, the Duchess's iron face hummed with an unquestionable voice, "We must reach High Castle before dark."

"As you command, Your Excellency."

Under the orders of knight officers at all levels, the originally slow-moving team immediately increased its speed.

As the pace quickened, everyone gritted their teeth and moved forward quickly.

Following the Honey River and crossing the Silverhopper River, the army sailed downstream and actually arrived at the City of High Castle before dark.

After camping overnight, replenishing supplies and summoning local knights, the Grand Duchess ordered the army to assemble and continue advancing early in the morning.

However, this time they had not been out of the city for long. Around noon, the Grand Duchess received an urgent cavalryman from North Mound County in the army.

"Say it again?" Lannes pinched the messenger's wrist, "What happened to the army in the Stonewall?"

"They said that some sheep ran towards our place and they would bring people to look for them. But who would come with an army of more than 10,000 people to look for sheep..." said the cavalryman who delivered the urgent letter aggrievedly.

"Looking for sheep? Are you sure?"

"What does this mean, a threat? Or a diversion?"

"They're not really going south, are they?"

The knights' chaotic voices suddenly exploded, and everyone started talking.

"Don't make wild guesses." Meliati's calm voice sounded from behind the iron mask, "It's the idiots from Gravel Plain who want to get involved."

The knight officers who gathered together were all speechless, and all their eyes were focused on the Grand Duchess.

"Then let's..."

"Never mind, just keep going."

Pulling the reins, the first one continued to move forward. The Grand Duchess' voice was still calm, but the expression under the iron mask was extremely ugly.

(End of this chapter)