In August, the sun is unbearably hot, and even the blowing wind is mixed with a sultry breath. The farmland surrounding the county town of Tyniec is dotted with patches of green wheat fields, which are growing gratifyingly. The farmers bent over, facing the earth, and carefully fiddled with the fields.
Since the War of the Successors, the province of Thorne in the north and the province of Yona in the east have been at war. Both sides tried their best in this battle for succession, conscripting and sending all the young serfs and freedmen who should have been working in the fields to the front lines, which directly affected the sowing and harvesting of food. The consequence of this is that it is difficult to see crops in the green wheat fields at this time, but instead they are covered with waist-high weeds... Occasionally, I see people working in the fields, and it is also an old farmer with gray hair and a shambling step on the edge of the field~
Looking around the county town of Tyniec, the surrounding farmland is busy at this time. Although the land in Tyniec County is not considered fertile, it can even be said to be somewhat barren. However, thanks to the distance from the war in the country and a series of decrees issued by Viscount Ater, the newly appointed governor of Tyniec County, this barren land in the south is far away from the war in the north. It follows a step-by-step process, sowing when it is time to sow and weeding when it is time to hoe. Therefore, it is difficult for anyone to believe that when almost the entire country is involved in this damn succession war, this remote place that has been ignored by the world can still maintain normal life and work. It is really touching...
At this time, people were coming and going in the town of Tyniec County, and the streets of the county town, which were not wide in the first place, were crowded with bustling people. As the bell on the city wall rings in the morning, Tyniec's day begins. When the huge oak gate was opened by the two defending county soldiers, the merchants who had been waiting on both sides of the city gate to sell and purchase goods came in and out under the guidance of the county soldiers.
The tax collectors sitting on both sides of the county gate held quills in their hands, recording the taxes that traders should pay on the birch bark used for writing. These tax collectors are actually not very old, and some even look a little immature. But don’t be fooled by this young appearance. Although these people are young, they are familiar with taxation. Because they are full-time clerks from the schools in the southern valleys, they are not only responsible for the collection of commercial taxes, but also responsible for the payment of salaries to soldiers in Tyniec County and the collection and verification of taxes on village territories.
Early when Art took over the defense of Tyniec County, he had already instructed Civil Affairs Officer Cooper to arrange the professional talents trained in the Valley School to various parts of the county as Art's right-hand assistant in managing county affairs. It was not in vain that Art had painstakingly cultivated them. These people faithfully performed their duties in their respective positions and managed all parts of the county in an orderly manner, making the county's business increasingly prosperous.
Since Art was granted the title of Tynets County, he promoted this native of Tynets to the captain of the first company of the Second Division of the Welsh Army, and managed nearly two hundred soldiers of Tynets County under his command. Wall was originally the captain of the city garrison squadron in Tyniec County. He had already known Art when he was an Orion. Although he liked to take advantage of small things, he was a pretty good person.
"Sir, do you still need to trouble you with this little thing? Just leave it to me." Andre replied quickly.
"No, Mr. Ater specifically told me before he left that I must maintain public security in the county. The north is not at peace now, and maybe Tynets County will..." Wal paused.
Andre looked at Wall with doubt in his eyes.
“Forget it, let’s not talk about this anymore, call your people and set off immediately!” Before Andre could speak again, Wall had already strode towards the stable next to the gate of the station.
On the road leading to the south city gate from Tyniec County, Wall rode in front, followed by five county soldiers including Andre, and soon arrived at the city gate.
At the southern gate of Tyniec County, the sun was blazing in the sky. Wall wiped the sweat from his forehead with one hand and took off the wine bag from his waist with the other hand and poured it into his mouth.
Seeing several tax collectors at the city gate still busy there, Wall stopped, handed the reins to the soldiers beside him, and walked straight to the bottom of the doorway.
"Lord Wall!" The tax collector saw Wall approaching and quickly stood up to greet him.
“Thank you for your hard work, brothers.” After saying that, he asked his men to pass a bag full of wine to several people.
"It's too hot, let's drink some wine to quench our thirst, it's not a big deal."
The tax collector hurried forward to take the bag, and kept bending down to express his thanks.
Coming out of the city gate, Andre, who was standing next to Wall, finally couldn't hold it any longer.
"Sir, they are just small tax collectors. Why do you bother you to deliver drinks to them personally? They deserve it."
Wall looked sideways at Andre and said with a smile, "You don't understand this. They are Lord Art's right-hand assistants. They are in charge of the taxation affairs of Tyniec County and are also responsible for calculating and distributing the salaries of the county soldiers. It will be beneficial to us to have a good relationship with them. They may be able to put in a good word for us in front of Lord Art. Then it is not impossible to get promoted and make a fortune..." Wall looked proud.
Andre thought for a moment with his mouth tilted, and said flatteringly, "Sir, you are still smarter."
"Hahaha..."
"Hahaha..." The two laughed loudly.
While talking, I saw two black figures appearing on the hillside half a mile away from the city gate. Behind them, dust was flying in the sky, and the war horses roared and rushed towards several people.
"There is an enemy situation!" Just as the two of them stopped laughing, one of the county soldiers suddenly shouted.
Wal was so frightened that he quickly reined in the reins. Everyone else also pulled out the daggers at their waists, their faces filled with horror.
"Sir, there are cavalry on the hillside over there!" Wall looked in the direction where the county soldier was pointing.
For a moment, two cavalrymen were seen galloping down the hillside towards a few people.
"There are only two of them, don't worry, just follow my orders." Wall nervously said to several soldiers around him who had drawn their swords to fight the enemy.
After a while, the two cavalrymen were less than 500 steps away from the men.
“Sir, they, they seem to be our people.” Andre blocked the dazzling sunlight with his left hand, squinting his eyes and staring closely at the two black figures getting closer and closer.
"You bastard, have you seen it clearly?" Wall said to Andre on his left, who was looking eagerly.
"See clearly, they are really our people. They are wearing black cloaks and robes. There is no one else but our people dressed like this."
"It seems true." Wall replied.
by by > The two cavalrymen reined in their horses and stopped twenty steps away from a few people.
Wol and the others stood still.
"It's Commander Oliver from the task force." Andre recognized the person immediately.
The two Olivers took off their hoods and slowly got off the horse, motionless.
"It turns out to be Brother Oliver." Wall hurriedly stepped forward.
Thump, the two fell to their knees.
"Oliver!" Wall shouted when he saw this, and quickly ran forward and helped Oliver who fell to the ground.
As he walked forward, Oliver's face was covered with dust, his lips were chapped and bloodshot, his eyes were dull, and he looked tired.
"Brother Oliver, what's wrong with you, sir? Why are you two alone?"
"Water~water~" Oliver said weakly.
"Quick, give me the water." Wall took the water bag and slowly poured the water into Oliver's mouth. Another person had fainted and fell to the ground. Several county soldiers were surrounding him, and they were at a loss for a while.
Oliver took a breath after drinking some water.
"Brother Oliver, why do you look like this? Where are they?" Wall asked eagerly.
"Could it be..." Andre beside him muttered.
Wall glanced at Andre with a sad expression. He really didn't want what Andre didn't say to be true.
"My lord, my lord, they are fine." Oliver said weakly.
"Quickly, send troops, send troops to rescue Fort Marsi..." Oliver's vision went dark, and then he fainted.
Wall looked at Oliver who fainted, then looked around at everyone, and muttered,
"What is supposed to come has come."
……………
At the Fort in the north of the valley, Bass, the head of the Wells Army garrison, was training new recruits in the open space.
"Prepare, stab!"
"Cut!"
After Att led the first division of the Welsh Army to the expedition, Bass, as the head of the garrison, was responsible for recruiting and training peasant soldiers during this period. He also took care of the defense and security of the territory. He was extremely busy every day.
As one of the first people to follow Art, Bass was already familiar with legion affairs. Although he was very busy, everything was going on in an orderly manner under his management.
"Okay, that's it for today's training. You should try to figure out the essentials of the movements after you go back. Don't spend all day drinking, eating meat and looking for women."
"Hahaha..." The peasants and soldiers laughed loudly.
"If you don't train seriously today and don't sweat more, if you get to the battlefield one day, you're going to bleed!"
"Do you hear that clearly?" Bass roared loudly.
"Yes!" the peasants and soldiers said in unison.
"Okay, let's all disperse." After saying that, everyone on the training ground dispersed.
As soon as Bas turned around and was about to walk towards the wine on the table in the military castle hall, a sound of the neighing of a war horse interrupted his steps.
「Report!」
"Your Majesty, the branch leader, a letter from Tyniec County."
After saying this, the messenger jumped off his horse and ran towards Bas.
This is the garrison messenger from Boulder Town. Responsible for connecting Tyniec with the valley and other Yat territories with the valley. This morning, Tyniec sent a messenger to send a letter. Since it was an important military order, the officers of the garrison in Boulder Town had no right to make a decision, so Pegasus reported to Bas, the head of the garrison.
"The Third Division of the Wells Corps has been ordered to cross the mountain trails of the Saône and Côte d'Or provinces westward to reinforce Fort Marcy within seven days. The military situation is urgent and must not be missed!" Bass took the military order and read it softly.
"Commander!" Bass shouted at the messenger standing at the door of the military castle hall.
「Here!」
"Immediately go to the valley to inform the Civil Affairs Officer Mr. Cooper and the Tunnel Officer Scott to come to the Beiguan Army Fort for a military meeting, saying that there is a major military situation."
The military meeting at Beiguan Army Fort did not last long due to the urgent military situation. After discussions, the military and civilian leaders of several valleys made three decisions.
1. Immediately assemble all standing peasant soldiers and registered peasant soldiers as well as part of the garrison in Jushi Town, a total of 400 people. In addition, another 150 young and strong peasant soldiers were recruited in the territory, of which 100 went out with the garrison, and the other 50 stayed to guard the Beiguan Army Fort, with Scott serving as the temporary military fort chief.
Second, immediately ask for help from Andermatt Castle and ask Baron Antayas to lead troops into Tyniec County to maintain public order in the county and prevent outsiders from causing chaos.
Three, the civil administration immediately prepared a large army to send out food and supplies, and at the same time collected food from the people in the territory to prepare for unexpected needs.
On the third day, the assembled third branch of the Welsh Army, led by Bass, left the town of Boulder and went all the way north to Tyniec County, where it joined forces with 150 county soldiers. Then they accelerated their march towards the mountain trails between the Saône and Côte d'Or provinces.
………
"Look at you, you know how to fight all day long, and you don't know how to stay with me..."
In the castle of Sarp Castle, Mrs. Galvin looked sad, and she loved and hated Felix, the future owner of Sarp Castle and the only son of the Hugues family.
After receiving the order from Yate, Phoenix went crazy and couldn't touch the ground for the past two days. He was busy gathering the army, setting up the defense of Sapp Castle, and preparing the food, grass and baggage of the army.
"I said, mother, you should be happy for me, why are you still looking glum. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I bear the heavy responsibility of reviving the Yuge family." Phoenix was emotional.
"If we don't seize this opportunity to make meritorious service, our Yuge family will always be a wealthy businessman in the eyes of others, and my father will not be able to hold his head high in front of that group of old-school nobles and powerful officials. If I have military merit, I don't think anyone would dare to look down on our Yuge family."
Mrs. Galvin stopped talking. She knew that her child had grown up, and Phoenix was no longer the dandy and arrogant aristocratic young master. Thinking of this, she felt a little relieved and said nothing more.
According to Art's order, Sapp's army included the 1st Company of the 2nd Regiment of the Welsh Army under Sapp and the 200 young peasant soldiers of the 3rd Division of the Welsh Army who had already been stationed at Sapp Castle in the early stage. Under the leadership of Captain Fenix of the second company, they went out of a stone fort to the west, joined forces with Longxia's leading group heading north, and lurked on standby.
………
There was a busy scene in Fort Marcy at this time, and the soldiers of the Wells Corps were not idle.
Some are reinforcing the city walls, carpenters and blacksmiths are making arrows, and there are also baggage teams that have just returned from collecting food and grass outside the city. The city walls are already piled with huge rocks, kerosene and rolling logs for city defense...
All this indicates that an unprecedented decisive battle is coming...