I, the prince in distress, send money

Chapter 142: Fighting Hard

It was late at night, and Major Marlowe of the Oncandra Garrison was still doing clerical work.

The counter-insurgency mission did not go smoothly. He and his team had been blocking the rebels outside the Doro Canyon for several days. The garrison suffered heavy casualties but was unable to break in.

Although the rebels inside could not get out, they also managed to hold back a group of bandit cavalrymen who had been burning, killing and looting everywhere.

Marlowe felt that his performance was very good. He had held back this group of powerful elite soldiers, preventing them from wreaking havoc in the rear of the Republic as they had done before.

However, Major Marlowe also knew the character of the parliamentary masters in Oncandra. They were high and mighty and did not care why Major Marlowe stopped.
They would only see Major Marlowe halted in his tracks by a few casualties.

Major Marlowe sighed, put down his quill, and rubbed his sore eyes. His gaze fell on the map on the table, a finely drawn topographic map of the Doro Canyon, with red and blue lines marking the positions and defense lines of both sides.

The red color represents the rebels, and the blue represents the garrison. The two are deadlocked at the mouth of the canyon, like two colliding waves, neither of which can completely swallow the other.

"Oh, Dadi, this is disgusting."

Marlowe groaned, not sure if he was talking about the rebels being disgusting or the MPs behind him.

Maybe both.

There was the sound of boots stepping into mud outside the tent, and the young messenger almost fell in.

"Sir, a letter from the Council of Oncandra."

Marlowe's temples were throbbing and his head was aching. The thing he was most worried about had happened.

He took the letter, opened it and took a look.

"...The grain collection team was attacked in Gravel County yesterday, resulting in the loss of winter wheat... This incident has already occurred five times, severely impacting the army's supply... Your troops must clear the Duoluo Gorge within 72 hours and return to support..."

Attacked!?
Haven't I held back all the rebels here?
The rebel infantry in the canyon cannot get out, and the rebel cavalry outside harassed our troops this afternoon. What happened to this grain-collecting team when they were attacked?

Major Marlowe couldn't figure it out. He didn't know whether there was really a group of bandits in the rear who were so bold as to attack the army, or whether the congressmen were embezzling money and settling accounts.
No matter what the reason is, the garrison regiment is now tied to the task. If he leads the team away, the elite rebels trapped here by him will be free.

These rebels were the most deadly. Major Marlowe felt that although their number was small, only about two or three hundred people, if they were given time to recruit some rebels as auxiliary troops and servants, they would even be able to threaten Oncandra.

How can we just sit back and watch this happen?
Marlowe thought for a moment, then took a pen and paper and began to defend himself, while politely asking for more time.

The rebels behind me need food, but the rebels I trapped here are more capable and more deadly.

However, the next day, before Marlowe could send the letter, new news had already reached his tent. The young messenger rushed in again, looking panicked, and behind him was an officer with a bloody face. Their arrival gave the major a bad premonition.

"Commander, it's bad! The convoy responsible for transporting our food was attacked, and they are gone..."

Major Marlowe's face turned livid in an instant.

"What!?"

Before encountering such a thing, Major Marlowe thought that the congressman behind him was making a fuss. However, when the garrison regiment under his command was about to run out of food, he suddenly couldn't remain calm.

Has the situation in the rear gotten so out of control?
But I am trapped here and cannot get out.

"Damn it! Who are these rebels and how many of them are there?" Major Marlowe stood up suddenly, grabbed the messenger's shoulder and asked anxiously.

The officer following the messenger stood up.

"Major, this group of rebels calls themselves free men. Their leader is called Wallace, a strange man who likes to paint large patches of blue dye on his face. There are about four to five hundred of them, and they are familiar with the terrain."

Major Marlowe immediately turned to look at the officer, who turned and walked over to the table covered with a military map.

"Tell me, where were you attacked?"

The officer walked to the edge of the military map, opened his eyes wide, stood on tiptoe, looked at it for a long time, but did not take any action.

He can't read the map?

Major Marlowe's face twitched, and he suppressed his anger. He once again looked carefully at the officer's attire. The latter wore lieutenant's epaulettes on his shoulders, but his uniform was not worn in a standard manner.

I'm afraid this is a lieutenant from the Oncandra City Guard... The City Guard is a militia formed by ordinary citizens.

Major Marlowe understood that this lieutenant probably had not attended military academy, and it was even very likely that he was a leather worker, tailor, or baker just a month ago. In short, he was not a professional soldier.

As for why he became a lieutenant?
Marlowe guessed that it was bought with money. The Republic went to war one after another and was short of money, so the House of Commons proposed the "donation of official positions" policy.

Looking at Major Marlowe's serious expression, the lieutenant was obviously frightened.

"Report to the commander!" The officer blushed and stammered.

"We were attacked... in an area with a lot of rocks."

He gestured randomly on the map with his fingers.

“There’s a stream there, and a crooked tree…”

Following the lieutenant's description, Major Marlowe's finger hovered on the map for a moment, then slid along the supply line and found a place with the characteristics described by the former.

"here?"

"Ah... yes, yes, it's here."

Major Marlowe immediately gave up his last hope on the lieutenant. He sighed and pointed outside the tent, which made the officer feel relieved and he ran out anxiously.

Marlowe sighed. He really wanted to call others to discuss the situation, but the unit he led was a garrison regiment and had no staff officers at all.

So, in the end, Marlowe could only slap his forehead, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind quickly.

He realized that the first group of rebels was powerful, but the second group of rebels also existed and could not be ignored.

He had fallen into a desperate situation with enemies on all sides and no supplies. The existing rations were only enough for five days. Once the garrison was defeated, or if the rebels in the canyon came out and joined the second group of rebels, their presence would threaten the safety of Oncandra.

"Pass the order down, the entire army enters level one combat readiness! We can't wait any longer!"

Major Marlowe ordered decisively.

"I want to eliminate the rebels in Doro Canyon before they can reunite!"

He turned around, grabbed the map on the table, and studied it carefully.

The terrain of the Doro Canyon is long and narrow, and it is a natural barrier. The rebels have built a solid defense line at its end. In order to break through in a short period of time, it is necessary to find the rebels' weaknesses.

"Messenger, go and get my adjutant!" Major Marlowe shouted.

After a while, his adjutant hurried over and saw Major Marlowe's serious expression and immediately realized the urgency of the situation.

"Sir, any instructions?"

the adjutant asked.

"We don't have time. I need you to immediately organize an elite squad and circumvent the canyon from its flank. Our target is the rebel-occupied town of Duoluo. By raiding here, we can disrupt their deployment and lure the rebels out of the canyon. This will give our main force the opportunity to break through the canyon's defenses."

Major Marlowe quickly assigned the task, his eyes firm and decisive.

During this period, the garrison regiment was not sitting idle. Major Marlowe tried every possible means, and this plan of a surprise attack from the rear was one of the results. A way to go around was also found. It was a hunter's trail that required crossing a steep cliff.

The plan existed, but its success rate was too low. Even if it succeeded, the elite team would suffer heavy losses. Therefore, Major Marlowe did not think of implementing it.

And now, Major Marlowe had no choice.

The adjutant nodded and turned to carry out the order. Major Marlowe called him back.

"Remember, speed is of the essence. We only have one chance, and we can't fail!"

The adjutant replied firmly.

"Understood, sir!"

As his adjutant left, Major Marlowe looked at the map again. He knew that this battle would determine the direction of the entire war.

If they could successfully break through the Doro Canyon and eliminate the rebels behind the canyon, the garrison regiment would be able to return to the rear, eliminate Wallace's rebels, and protect the Republic's supply lines.

But if it fails, the consequences will be disastrous.

"Earth, bless us."

Major Marlowe prayed softly, his eyes falling on the map again, as if trying to find the key to victory in this complex terrain.

Time was running out, and Major Marlowe knew he had no way out.

(End of this chapter)