When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 796 Pre-War Meeting on a Small Boat
(Rangers returning in the morning)——
"Last night, a team of rangers led by Colebo arrived at Summer Green City and captured four tongues."

A single lamp was lit in the cabin, and around it, a group of officers from the Holy League sat awkwardly.

The one-eyed man sitting in the first seat was Jeshka, the former Chapter Master of the Black Champions and the new Chapter Master of the Norn New Army.

He is a Norn and can communicate very smoothly with the soldiers of the Norn New Army.

As for his Black Champion, it was assigned to Victor, the old legion commander who came from the Gulag, years ago.

In the cabin filled with the smell of mold and sweat, Jeshka personally reported to the new officers.

“Based on the intelligence we have collected so far, we can confirm that Grand Knight Lavul has led the kingdom’s main army to Castle Adan in the north.

This answers our question - where did the large number of enemy troops outside the city of Adam come from? They were not the army of the Osra family, but the main force of the Leia people. "

Amid the rustling sound, the military chaplains and officers were writing in their notebooks.

When they heard that the main forces around Xia Lucheng had been transferred away, their faces looked better.

Seven days ago, the two regiments and Jeanne's Holy Grail Cavalry set out from Chateau Jeanne d'Arc and should have arrived earlier than now.

But halfway through the journey, they heard bad news that a large number of Leia troops appeared inexplicably outside the city of Adamburg.

If Fort Adan and Fort Haji were captured, it would not only be Xialu City that would be besieged, but also two battle groups.

In order to prevent their retreat from being cut off, Jeanne and Victor made a temporary decision to lead the Black Champion and most of the Holy Grail Cavalry to Castle Adam for support.

Coleb was sent to Xialu City to investigate the situation and determine the next plan.

“As things stand, there are approximately 20,000 troops outside the city, most of whom are vassal troops and mercenaries, including a large number of peasant soldiers.

Although of low quality and lacking clockwork cannons, they are in astonishing numbers and are distributed in the following locations. "

The dim light cast a giant beast-like shadow on the parchment map, and Jeshka's fingers slid across the map.

"First, there are less than 5,000 Xianshidian troops stationed in Suimi Town on the eastern outskirts of Xialu City, and secondly, there are less than 10,000 Norn allied troops stationed in the north.

As for the western suburbs, the main attack direction, these two imperial command companies are stationed there, as well as the most elite and well-armed Dawn Island troops, the Thousand Valley returning nobles troops, and mercenaries, the number of which is unknown. "

Retracting his hands into his sleeves, Jieshka said to the officers who were looking down at the map, "We only have more than 5,000 people, and the enemy's strength is far greater than ours, and they also have the Imperial Order Company, but they are relatively scattered in space.

So we had to attack the enemy like lightning, without consolidating the occupied territory, in order to create the illusion that there were follow-up troops.

In this way, the enemy can be deterred, and it would be best if the troops from Adam Castle could be attracted here - but I think the possibility is low.

The more likely possibility is that they temporarily withdrew their defenses in the eastern suburbs and waited for the arrival of reinforcements from the Osra family.

We can take advantage of this opportunity to withdraw the troops from Xialu City, and then rely on the fortresses on both sides of the Nauan River to defend and consume the Leia people's strength."

The defensive counterattack was the result of a unanimous discussion between Horn, Jeshka and others.

At present, the army of Qianhe Valley is small, and its quality has not yet reached the level of being able to easily break through the defense and fight ten people alone.

If they have an army of 70,000 to 800,000 soldiers coming at us like a flood, it would not be suitable for a field battle.

If you continue to fight in the field, the consequence will be that the enemy will send part of its troops to entangle you, and the remaining troops will cut off your baggage.

The final result is the same as Meliati, winning tactically, but losing everything in the end.

King Gigi has more cards than Horn, so even if Horn has a royal bomb, King Gigi has to play first.

According to the investigation results of the French spies, King Gigi's own financial situation was not optimistic.

Had it not been for the generosity of the Pope's treasury and the arrival of winter taxes, the treasury would have gone bankrupt long ago.

But the Pope's treasury is not endless, and the military expenditures for so many troops are astronomical.

If this goes on, King Jiji’s finances might collapse one day. When the truth is revealed, that will be the time for the Holy Alliance to counterattack.

Until then, the army must endure.

The lower-level officers all knew these core strategies. An officer who had just graduated from the military academy immediately raised his hand. "Speak."

"Since our goal is to use the strong city to consume the enemy's strength, why should we withdraw the defenders of Xialu City?"

Not only this officer, most officers have this question.

The three months of conquering Xialu City brought nearly three thousand casualties to the Leia people, but Xialu City could still be defended for at least another year.

A strong city can consume tens of thousands of enemy troops in a year, so why not defend it in Xialu City?
"Colebo talked to Lord Rafael last night." Jeshka's voice lowered, "A strange plague broke out in the city, and it spread very quickly.

Meliati has ordered the blockade of five or six neighborhoods, and estimates that the number of infections will exceed four thousand.

At the current rate, the city will be uninhabitable in two or three months at most."

"Ugly Leia people!" Many officers showed expressions of disgust and hatred on their faces.

Under Horn's propaganda offensive, not to mention other groups, the officers hated these Leia troops.

"What's the point of them taking over Xialu City like this? Won't they still be unable to occupy it themselves?"

"It's because of the siege that the plague is difficult to deal with." Griffin, standing aside, explained to the officers like a teacher, "Without the siege, we can just drive the patients to the leprosarium and let them fend for themselves.

Then find some ordained monks, hold a few large-scale exorcism masses, and the plague will be gone.

Although many people will die, do you think the knights will care about this?"

Nodding in agreement, Jieshka added, “Besides, Xialucheng is too disconnected from the entire battle line, like an anvil suspended by a thin wire, which will break if you’re not careful.

It would be better to withdraw the manpower first. The fortresses along the way can still consume thousands of their troops in a month..."

The officers were taking notes quickly under the guidance of the two teachers, as if they were still in military school.

Jeshka looked at Griffin and knocked on the table to get the officers' attention.

“The two fortresses of Adam Castle and Haji Castle, together with the support of the Black Champion, are estimated to be able to hold out for ten days to half a month.

As for the Osra family, it is estimated that they will arrive in four or five days, so we only have three or four days from opening up the siege road to withdrawing the defenders from the city.

As soon as we reach the shore tomorrow, we must quickly defeat the army of Suimi Town, and then march north without stopping to defeat the Norn army.

Now that the retreat is clear, Xia Lucheng can lead the withdrawal. Do you have any questions? Ask them as soon as possible. "

An officer raised his hand: "We only have more than 5,000 people. Isn't it a bit too difficult to quickly defeat so many troops?"

Jeshka glared at him and said, “I told you not to underestimate the Leia army, not to underestimate yourselves.

It is too early to ask you to fight the imperial edict, but if you cannot defeat some vassal armies, you'd better go home as soon as possible."

Griffin, the former leader of the Eagle Regiment, echoed the sentiment: "The Xianshidian army in Suimi Town was defeated by Meliati once before, and the remaining troops are defeated and their morale is very low.

As for the Norn allies in the northern suburbs, I am also a Norn, but I will not defend them.

I have seen the Norn army led by Xiongbao. They are of poor quality and cannot stand up to a fight. They are good at fighting against bandits and rebels, but they can only rely on piles of lives on the front battlefield.

The Bear Fort army is incapable of fighting, and I am not scolding our Norn people."

After listening to Griffin's analysis, the officers finally put their minds at ease.

When the meeting was over, everyone left, but Griffin stayed on purpose.

"Sir Jeshka, I have one last question. Does the despot agree to withdraw the troops?"

Halfway through clearing the table, Jessica straightened up and said, "We didn't ask her at all. The Grand Duke was already seriously injured, and his injuries worsened after several charges. Currently, military affairs are being handled by His Excellency Herman.

Sir Herman is inclined to withdraw, regardless of whether Meliati wants to withdraw or not, given her current situation, she has to withdraw. "

"Your Majesty said so." Jieshka lowered his head and rolled up the map. "This matter is not up to her."

(End of this chapter)