Chapter 693 Battle Report
In the largest room on the second floor of the luxurious tavern in Lavati City, Art, who was sitting in the main seat, looked a little tired. Although he had only had two drinks, his face was slightly red.
"Everyone," Mario, the guild leader who was sitting next to Art, picked up his wine glass and stood up, "I propose that we all toast to the Earl again. I wish the Earl to return in triumph and regain the family territory as soon as possible!"
"I wish the Earl to return in triumph and regain the family territory as soon as possible!" The wealthy businessmen on both sides of the long table also stood up together and shouted in unison.
Matt immediately stood up, raised his wine glass high, and said happily to everyone present: "I, Art Wood Wells, am very honored to meet all of you here. I would also like to take this glass of wine to thank you for your generosity. To provide a large amount of money, food and materials for the legion.
To our friendship, cheers! 』
"Cheers!"
Let's all drink together.
During the dinner, Mario promised Art that the guild would send tens of thousands of pounds of grain and grass to relieve the pressure on the Wells Army after the legion went south.
In addition, he also specially allocated hundreds of carriages and accompanying coachmen and handymen under the guild's name to the Welsh Army to ensure the army's material transfer.
Now that the situation is becoming increasingly clear, rather than saying that Mario and the Lavati merchants are being generous, it is better to regard this behavior as a long-term investment for them.
Of course Art takes everything that comes to his mouth. He naturally understands the intentions of these allies. It was just the simplest exchange of interests, and no one suffered.
After the banquet, Art came to the city gate again, accompanied by Mario and others.
At this time, the men and horses of the Radiation Department, with the assistance of the servants under the name of Lavati Guild, have loaded all the supplies into the truck.
Bob, the Acting Minister of the Radiation and Heavy Industry Department and Secretary of the Chinese Army, wrote down the last list of supplies on a piece of paper. After receiving the detailed bill from the guild steward, he hurried towards Yate.
"Sir, this is~"
Baron Bob was about to speak when Art waved his hand and said, "You are the acting radiation minister of the legion, so you just have an idea. There is no need to report everything to me in detail."
"Yes, sir." Bob retreated slowly.
"Your Majesty, the Count, is really trustworthy~" Mario said with emotion.
Sir Mario, thank you for your praise. This is the Central Military Secretary and Acting Minister of Radiation of our legion. When we first met him, he was still a poor, landless baron on the eastern border of Yona Province. But even so, he never thought of leaving any of the people under his rule to make a living on his own. Just imagine, how can such a man who loves the people like a son, is broad-minded and does not lose the aristocratic integrity make people uneasy!"
Matt praised Bob highly in front of this group of distinguished merchants,
"No wonder the count was able to quickly defeat Ward Burley's private soldiers after going south to Lombardy, capture thousands of the Guardsmen including von Bilen, and kill all the thousands of Duke Witott's cavalry. In addition to the count's skillful use of troops, it is also inseparable from your knowledge of people and good assignments>"
An elderly and highly respected old man cherished Art's military exploits, and even spoke highly of his conduct as a person.
Art has heard enough of these compliments. But out of politeness, he still responded, "Excuse me, you guys. I am just the son of a landless baron living in the dense forests of the Northland Valley. What I have achieved today is all because of the lives of my soldiers. Of course, it is also inseparable from your loyal friends who generously donated money to help me tide over the difficulties."
Art turned around and did not forget to leave a word of thanks.
At this time, Odo, the deputy commander of the legion at the head of the team, came to report, "My lord, it is already getting late. Should the army set off immediately?"
"Start!"
Yes!"
Odo then ordered the soldiers, "My lord has ordered us to suspend rest and continue to set off——"
"Your Majesty has an order, pause and rest, and continue to set off——"
Hands on horseback, running back and forth between the various camps, conveying the military order to set off.
When the team resting in the open space started moving again, Art also said a brief farewell to the merchants and nobles of the Lavati Commercial Guild.
Taking the reins handed over by Ron, Art lightly kicked the horse's belly and led the guards to chase the team that had already set off~
After a burst of noise, Lavati quickly returned to its previous calm.
When leaving Lavati, nearly 350 people from the city guard belonging to Lavati also followed the Wells Army southward.
According to the deployment of the Chinese Army, some key members of the army will be deployed to stay in military fortress towns with strategic value along the route. These soldiers of the Lavati Guards and part of the reserve regiment of the Welsh Army will be led by the backbone of these corps, stationed at strategic locations southward and controlling the main transportation routes along the way.
Although these areas are indeed under the actual control of the Welsh Army. However, there are always some hard-core people who refuse to obey these barbarians from the north. From time to time, they secretly harass the regiment's patrol soldiers and try to recapture part of the military castle estate.
A few days ago, a village located in a hilly area, half a day's journey south of Lavati, encountered banditry. When the soldiers garrisoned in the nearby military fort went to support them, the group quickly escaped into the dense forest in the nearby mountains and disappeared without a trace.
According to the description of villagers who were lucky enough to escape, these people spoke with a pure Lombard accent and numbered more than thirty. Not only did they plunder all the money from the homes of the wealthy gentry in the village, but before leaving, they also chopped off the heads of several gentry and hung them at the entrance of the village.
It was found that these squires who lost their lives were the ones who took the lead in swearing allegiance to the Earl of Wales after the Welsh Army occupied this place.
It is obvious that these Lombard stragglers who refuse to surrender have begun to gather together in an organized manner, specifically targeting villages, castles and manors that are laxly defended. They robbed wealth with one hand and killed people and set fires with the other, to declare that the Lombards had not given up resistance.
The area occupied by the Welsh Army now far exceeds the territory of the Province of Wales, which also means that more manpower is needed to maintain order and commercial and agricultural production activities in the occupied area.
Wales is like a wild wolf. With its appetite, it is difficult for it to swallow most of the lion's meat in one bite.
At present, it is only a temporary measure to dispatch the personnel of the Lavati City Guard to the southern occupation zone. Once Solenberg is captured, continue the campaign south to the southern port cities of Lombardy. By then, the current manpower will be far from enough to maintain the normal operation of a large territory.
Hatta held the reins in his hand, his body rising and falling with the horse astride him, and he was thinking a lot.
As far as the eye can see, the vast expanse of withered grassland stretches as far as the eye can see. The long team behind them marched on the winding road, like a long dragon crawling on the earth.
Suddenly, the neigh of a war horse pierced the sky. Ate raised his hand and raised his eyebrows to block the dazzling sunlight in the west, staring intently at the war horse that was already galloping down the hillside.
“Sir, he seems to be from the Guards Corps.” Ron recognized the uniform of the soldier on the horse at a glance.
Ate put down his raised right hand and continued to ride forward,
"Your Majesty, the battle report of the Palace Guards!"
At the foot of the hillside, led by Odo's bodyguard, the cavalry ran quickly in the direction of Ate.
"Your Majesty, good news from the Palace Guards!" The Cavalry of the Guards gasped heavily, took out the secret message from the sheepskin bag on his waist, and handed it to Art respectfully.
At heard this, Art was overjoyed. He took the secret letter and hurriedly opened it.
“?Since the Chinese army commanded the camp and ordered the Palace Guards to break camp and go south, our troops have all set off. We arrived at Shankou Market Town in the afternoon of the same day, annihilated more than 130 troops stationed here and in surrounding military forts, and captured 58 enemies.”
"Eleven carts of grain and grass and valuables, gold and silver, were seized in this battle. They were all sealed up in the market town's granary and will be handed over to the Chinese army's command camp when they arrive." A squadron of soldiers plus a small team, the rest of the troops will continue southward, clearing out all the Lombard garrison fortresses along the way, clearing the way for the follow-up army——"
The final address of the secret letter is Comor, the commander of the Palace Guards.
Matt read the secret letter and handed it to Angus who was standing aside, feeling secretly happy in his heart.
To his surprise, the Palace Guards marched so quickly after receiving the order. Not only did it open up the passage for the army to go south to Solonborg, but it also "generously" left all the captured materials to the Chinese army command camp.
In fact, Comor could have kept the money and food for himself, but he chose to leave it to the Chinese army command camp to handle it. The profound meaning of this is thought-provoking. Now that Art is the commander-in-chief of the army, this money naturally goes into Art's pocket. Obviously, this was a favor given by Comer to Art.
Now that Flanders is away, Art has taken over the command of the southern army. All major and minor battles in the land of Lombardy require Att's nod, even the powerful Palace Guards Corps is no exception.
Angus read the secret message and said excitedly: "Lord Comor is so kind. After taking the mountain pass market town, he left about ten carts of captured supplies to us~"
Matt turned to look at Angus and corrected him, "It was not left to us, but handed over to the Chinese army command camp."
Angus quickly changed his words, "Yes, yes, hand it over to the Chinese army's command camp and distribute it uniformly after the war."
Art nodded with satisfaction, then turned to look at the sweating messenger, and immediately took off the water bag hanging on his saddle and threw it to the messenger.
"Thank you, Lord Count!" the messenger said excitedly. Then he pulled out the gag and poured a few mouthfuls into his mouth.
“You go back and tell Lord Codor that the Wells Army will arrive at the garrison camp outside Soronborg tomorrow afternoon. Before our arrival, the Guards Army must not engage in battle with the Lombards, and must guard against sneak attacks by the other party!”
"Yes, Your Majesty the Earl!"
Ron～
Art gave the order, and Ron handed a small bag of tinkling Fenney to the orderer.
"Thank you, Lord Earl!"
"Get him a fast horse, and prepare enough water and dry food~"
"Yes, sir."
"Everyone, follow the team in front and arrive at the camp in front before dark!"