When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

Chapter 883 La La La

Empire June 1449, 6.

East bank of the Nauan River.

On the peaks of the distant blue-gray mountains, a quiet streak of pale sky brightened half the sky.

On the narrow dirt road on the gravel plain, a long marching team was moving slowly forward.

The horses neighed and crowded, marching and swaying along with the soldiers and knights who dragged their tired steps.

Compared with the bright flags of the Knights Templar half a month ago, the piles of swallowtail flags today are much darker.

On one side of the crowded marching column, Knight Commander Cosme had a gloomy face.

Glancing at the knights and soldiers, one can always see fatigue, disappointment and unwillingness.

They set out in March, bringing three thousand knights, nine thousand sergeants and a troop of Centaurs to the Golden Horn, then turned to the Garden of Thorns and arrived at the Valley of a Thousand Rivers.

They were still so high-spirited when they attacked Xiongjian Fort in May.

But by June, 3,000 knights and 9,000 sergeants had become 2,300 knights and more than 6,000 sergeants.

Even the Centaur Cavalry was reduced from more than 500 cavalry to more than 400 cavalry, and a large number of firepower Red Cavalry archers were sniped by the guerrilla hunters in the rear using spiral guns.

Of the more than 12000 core combat forces, only a little over 8800 remain, and there are nearly 2000 wounded soldiers who are unable to go into battle.

The casualties exceeded three thousand, which was close to a loss rate of one quarter (peasant soldiers were not counted as people).

For nearly half a month, the border knights launched countless rounds of fierce attacks, but they failed to break through even the first line of breastwork defense.

In the eyes of most border knights, they still have a chance.

However, after the knight commander and others settled accounts with the grand master, and after the heat of the moment, the knights gradually came to their senses.

The broken bridge is a bait, the women's clothing is a bait, and even the Holy Grandson in Laden Castle may be a bait.

The only purpose is to force them to stay away from areas where it is convenient to transport supplies and go to Ladenburg to bleed them.

How else to explain that they haven't arrived yet, but the people of Qianhe Valley have already dug fortifications near Laden Castle?

They came prepared! How despicable the people of Qianhe Valley are!

However, riding on the big black horse with its tail hair burnt, Cosme clenched his teeth, he was unwilling to give in.

As a Knight Commander and a border knight, they are all simple people, born for the honor of knighthood.

Since entering Qianhe Valley, we haven’t fought a single decent battle. It’s so frustrating!

Although they don't say it, the border knights, including Cosme, believe in their hearts that they are the real knights.

As for the knights in the interior of the empire, they are nothing more than swindlers, robbers and corrupt men who claim to be knights.

The imperial knights did not care about the knightly honor, but the border knights not only cared about it, but cared about it very much.

This is the source of their fighting power and cohesion. Without this long-maintained belief, the Border Knights will quickly degenerate into the appearance of Imperial Knights.

However, the Grand Master did not think so.

The loss of a large number of war horses obviously touched his sensitive nerves.

The original situation was that the border knights could not break through the attack but could escape, and the people of Thousand River Valley could defend but could not catch up.

Both sides were in an undefeated position, so Emeric dared to fight hard.

Having lost his horse, Emeric lost his support and was naturally afraid of being surrounded by reinforcements like in the Battle of Marienburg.

Two days ago, he argued hard and finally got the current result -

If the Thousand Valleys leave their positions and attack, the Border Knights will stop their retreat and fight them on the plains.

This request was humble enough, but the respected Grand Master thought about it for a long time before reluctantly agreeing.

Cosme sighed. This Grand Master was still corrupted by power and chose the honor of a knight over his own status.

But what can he do?

Looking back at the vaguely invisible Laden Castle and the peasant soldier camp left in its original place, Cosme felt that the spring breeze blowing on his face was a little bit cold.

The only hope is that the Qianhe Valley defenders who are hiding in the castle can come out and fight openly.

No matter if you win or lose, you should fight. Even if you lose, at least you will be convinced.

I can't bear to just leave it hanging like this empty.
But will the people from Qianhe Valley really come?

With such doubts, Cosme waited from early morning to noon, and from noon to evening.

Even after the rear army had set up camp, there was still no news. Sitting on a large rock outside the camp, he was bored and stirring the broth with a spoon.

Looking at the red light that gradually disappeared on the side of the mountain, Cosme put down the spoon and said, "Dopek, do you think we won or lost this battle?"

"We won," Dopek insisted, "but it wasn't easy."

"Ha, we won." Cosme looked in the direction of Ladenburg. "Perhaps in twenty years, no, in ten years, the whole empire will be filled with wars like this."

"Will it, will it?"

"Why not?" Cosme put down the cold broth he was stirring, "People have forgotten the spirit of chivalry and the piety of monks, and only know how to be cunning and cunning.

On the contrary, the people of Qianhe Valley in the civilized frontier, like us, still remember some of the glory of the past...

This empire has reached a point where it’s time for some change.”

Dopek broke out in a cold sweat. Is this something a mere soldier like him can talk about?
He quickly changed the subject, pointed to the distance and laughed: "Sir Cosme, look, another cavalryman has returned to the camp. Maybe it's the people from the Thousand River Valley who have sent out troops."

"haha, really……"

The sound of hurried horse hooves came closer and closer.

"Knight Commander, Knight Commander." The knight with disheveled clothes jumped off the horse before the horse even stopped.

Before the knight could speak, Cosme's heart began to beat fast.

It was as if blessing had come to his mind, as if he had anticipated something.

Standing up from the big rock, Cosme even asked tentatively: "Is it..."

"Qianhegu people, Qianhegu people are sending out troops!"

…………

The setting sun and the night dyed the air half golden and red and half blue and black respectively.

As early as noon, teams of Guards war monks, in units of hundreds, filed out of the city gates of Ladenburg.

The Holy Gun Corps carried holy guns on their backs, the Pike Corps carried long spears, and the Artillery Corps dragged heavy clockwork cannons on horses.

The most elite troops in the city had all left Ladenburg.

As for Muzhong Mountain, most of the guerrilla hunters went down the mountain and helped to gather the surrendered peasant soldiers while continuing to guard Laden Castle.

Horn spent the entire afternoon leisurely receiving the peasant soldiers and sending them to the other side across the bridge.

As for Horn's own central military camp, it was set up at the Crow Feather Hill camp, which was once the base of the border knights.

The 8th Guards Vanguard Corps set out in advance and followed the guerrilla hunters to the old position at Muzhong Pass in the cover of night.

From a tactical perspective, Horn's core forces lost less than 300 men while wiping out 3,000 on the other side, achieving a great victory.

It was unwise to confront these border knights on the grassland, and we should not have sent troops.

But from a strategic perspective, Horn's goal was to break up the situation on the Gravel Plain battlefield.

If we are only satisfied with such a victory, then this battle would be fought in vain.

Judging from Andre's current progress, it will take at least fifteen days for him to reach the east coast.

The gap in strength between the two sides has narrowed, and we can try to slow down their pace while ensuring our own safety.

Of course, Horn would not really go to the opponent's advantageous position to fight, but chose a battlefield that had been set up long ago.

If you don't want to fight a positional war, then don't fight? Are you playing house?

Don't retreat, but don't rush either. This is Horn's plan.

After arranging the entire battlefield and explaining all the plans, Horn straightened up as many corps commanders nodded in agreement: "I've finished explaining the plan. Do you have any questions?"

"No more." The corps commanders stood at attention and shook their heads.

"Okay." Horn changed his serious attitude and smiled. "I have prepared roasted lamb head and lamb soup. If you don't mind, you can have some here."

"How dare you disdain this good thing? It's rare for the Pope to invite us. You must come."

"Bruner ran away and missed a good meal."

"It's better if he's not here, otherwise half the pot would go into his stomach."

"Otherwise, how could he be so tall?"

"Hahahahaha."

(End of this chapter)