When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 552 The finishing touch

After receiving the news of Prince Condé's surprise attack, Horn continued to work as usual, writing articles and reviewing the government structure in the rear.

But those who are close to him can feel that His Majesty the Holy Grandson has become much more impatient and depressed.

Normally, meetings were serious and there were rarely any jokes to liven up the atmosphere; even the privy monks were scolded more frequently.

You have to know that everything in the Papal State depends on Horn, and even the smallest action he takes will cause a big shock when it reaches the end.

In the end, the monks asked Jeanne to persuade His Majesty to calm down.

After realizing this, Horn convened an emergency meeting, conducted self-examination, and restored much of his previous state.

It’s a pity that from the heart, it didn’t have much effect.

How can I feel at ease?
The blood and tears of six million people in Qianhe Valley for five hundred years will almost be decided in just ten days. Who can feel at ease?
The most tormenting thing was that he could hardly participate in such a fateful battle and could only watch from the sidelines or even wait for Prince Condé's attack.

More than a year has passed since the Battle of Changqiao was decided.

Over the past year or so, he has used up almost all his strength and means.

Tame beastmen, draw water from salt wells, train troops on Autumn Dusk Island, establish the Holy Machinery Court and develop clockwork machinery.

The Battle of Pavia recaptured Jeanne d'Arc, eliminated bandit knights, divided the land into hundreds and fields, and established the prototype of a Salvation Army government.

Then they attacked the cave forest to the west to drive out the bandits, attacked Jinhe Township to the south to subdue the Kush Knights, and turned back to Jeanne d'Arc to reclaim the land and restore agriculture.

Then they supported Xiaochi City, and then went north to support Rapid City. After returning, they trained new recruits for the Guards and discussed a new round of sugar and grain trade and municipal construction.

Then they had to go to Kasha County to resist the new coalition of nobles. Before they could return, they heard the news that Gravel Plain was attacking North Mound County.

March after march, victory after victory in despair.

Except for the three or five days he took a break on Autumn Island, Horn was fully occupied the rest of the year.

He was either fighting or working, and when it came to the most critical moment of verifying the results, he could only watch.

Although one should do one's best and leave the rest to fate, Horn still hopes that the Holy Father can give him another year if possible.

Two and a half years was enough time for him to have a fully equipped army, sufficient financial resources in the rear, and enough cards in his hand to compete with Lacuno.

Maybe now, he could have a good fight with that damn prince.

Instead of being trapped in Rapids City with three shackles, with strength but no ability to use it.

At this time, no matter how strong Horn's determination was, he couldn't help but feel restless.

If Prince Kongdai really carried out this plan, I'm afraid his only choice would be to retreat to Black Snake Bay.

Although this is not a way out, the most important clockwork machinery center, Qiumu Island, is still in Daze Township.

With the loss of this industrial center, the church's influence has returned, and Black Snake Bay is blocked from all sides by the economy and harsh environment.

By then, all Horn could do was to launch hopeless northern expeditions again and again.

The Salvation Army will probably end up like its predecessor, the Ruoan Party, which said it was seeking safety in Lin'an but ended up being trapped in the Black Snake Bay.

It's funny that when Horn was in Jeanne d'Arc, he wanted to go to Black Snake Bay but failed, but now he doesn't want to go to Black Snake Bay but has to go.

"Your Majesty, are you done?" René stood in front of the garden of the Uffizi Palace, looking at Horn, who was shirtless and sweating by the pond, wiping his sweat with a towel.

"Well, today's breathing method practice is complete." After wiping the sweat from his armpits and face with a hot towel, Horn stretched his limbs. "I feel that I have reached the state of half-step breathing method perfection, and I will soon be able to practice the third stage of breathing method!"

René habitually ignored Horn's nonsense: "Your Majesty, this is an urgent letter from Laurent, the commander of the Seventh Army of the Black Crown."

After putting on his shirt, Horn walked to the marble washstand and dipped his head into the cold water.

Amid the gurgling bubbles, René heard a clear word: "Nian".

"Laurent sent an urgent letter. The nobles of Hotam County rebelled and have seized the Detention Dock..."

Before he had even finished reading, René felt a flash of light before his eyes.

Horn, who was washing his face, suddenly appeared in front of him and snatched the letter from his hand.

Horn almost jumped up after reading it almost at a glance.

He closed his eyes for ten seconds, and when he opened them again, all the drowsiness and restlessness in his eyes had disappeared.

"Immediately gather all the senior monks and officials in the city and gather in the conference hall for a military meeting." By the time Horn changed his clothes and rushed to the conference hall, all the senior military and political leaders in the city were already in place.

Including council members from all over the city of Rapids in Lower River County, and the commander of the stationed Salvation Army, all came.

Meanwhile, at the oak conference table, a privy monk was reading the intelligence aloud.

"On February 2, the Grey Horse Knight Wayne surrendered, claiming to have evidence of the nobles of Hotham County collaborating with the enemy, but was shot dead by an unknown crossbowman.

Prince Condé was furious and sent an imperial decree to arrest Count Sampoli of Stonewall.

Count Sampoli was afraid that Prince Condé would use this opportunity to move them to the mountain counties, and coupled with the previous rampages of the lancers, he chose to rebel.

On the night of February 2, Andre and Valentyl of the Holy Sun Army led 29 elite militiamen and pretended to be refugees and stayed outside the city.

They joined forces with the Earl's cronies who had entered the detention dock in advance and seized the detention dock..."

"Impossible." Not only Carl, but even Hakuto screamed.

The detention dock is not a single fortress, but consists of a main fortress and many satellite-like sub-forts.

The main castle's detention dock was captured, and the knights stationed in many secondary castles lost their logistics and were immediately isolated and helpless.

But they were not completely powerless. If the knights in the secondary castle concentrated their forces in time, they could still recapture the main castle.

"The knights of the deputy castle were deceived by the noble lords and their minds were divided. They were slow to act." Horn walked to his seat with a smile and clapped the letter in his hand. "But our two legions are doing very well."

After receiving the news, the two legions stationed near the detention dock acted promptly. The commanders and clerks of the two legions marched immediately after discussion.

They had no time to wait for instructions and approval, so they took the barge downstream and arrived at the detention dock half a day before the knights counterattacked.

Legion commander Laurent led the troops and successfully repelled two counterattacks by the knights, seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Correspondingly, Prince Kongdai and the Thousand Valley Church also completely lost their last chance to make amends.

"Is this true?"

"Can you identify the source of the message?"

"Dieska stationed at Ansonburg has sent a small boat to confirm." Horn glanced at the sunset light piercing through the clouds outside. "Whether it's true or not, it should have arrived by now."

Everyone looked out the window, and almost at the same time, a carrier pigeon flew into the shed of the distant tower.

Although there were many pigeons carrying the message, almost everyone felt that it was the pigeon flying from Ansenburg.

Soon, a piece of note paper was handed to Horn.

He only took a glance at it and handed it over with a smile: "Very true."

The note was passed from one person to another, and each time it reached someone, there was a series of exclamations.

"Holy Father——"

"Then, doesn't that mean..."

"It's unimaginable!"

No wonder they were surprised; this was a miracle in itself.

Originally, the Salvation Army was trapped in Lower Riviera County and could only wait for Prince Condé to defeat them one by one, which was basically a desperate situation.

But now the detention dock is equivalent to the Lacuno strategy being designed in vain.

The five earls of Hotham County rose up in rebellion, which was beyond everyone's expectations.

It is even more unimaginable that they are willing to attack the detention dock for the Salvation Army.

It must be said that Horn's support for the Holy Sun Righteous Army and his permission for the Holy Sun Righteous Army to change its flag were originally criticized by many monks.

But now, it was this unpopular team that no one was optimistic about that communicated with these nobles and played a key role.

Of course, whether it was Wayne's divisive scheme or Prince Condé's stupidity, it did not hinder the most crucial fact -

"The gate to Feiliu Castle is now open to us!"

After three days of continuous rain in Rapid City, the weather suddenly cleared up on the evening of March 3st.

(End of this chapter)