Chapter 795 Detour
In the afternoon, twenty miles south of Fort Arache.
Thousands of people from the Welsh Army have been marching on the trade road leading to the north for several hours under the scorching sun.
According to the original plan, the large army must arrive on the battlefield before this evening. However, the news brought by the outpost caused these thousands of troops to temporarily stop their march and stay put.
Under a few big trees on the edge of the wheat field, Art, Odo, the commander of the Palace Guards, Comor, and the mercenary commander, Gray Wolf, sat around on the ground, discussing the current problems facing the legion.
It turned out that just about half an hour ago, a number of people in a cavalry squad responsible for opening the way in front of the army fell off their horses and were injured when their horses' hooves got stuck in a pothole.
After preliminary investigation, it was found that the approximately five miles ahead of the trade road were covered with traps and pits. Although they were not very lethal, they were enough to render war horses and soldiers incapable of combat effectiveness. If you want to completely remove it, it will take at least half a day.
If this is the case, then the legion will not be able to reach Arechis until midnight, half a day later than originally planned. This will delay arrival in Milan overall.
In view of the current critical situation, whether or not they can arrive in Milan on time will determine the outcome of this battle to a large extent.
"—Everyone, you are aware of the current situation. The reason why the other party has laid many traps on our march is clearly to delay our march. The more they do this, the less we can fall into their trap."
Att has always had a reputation for being cunning and cunning, making his former enemies gnash their teeth with hatred, but he really did not expect that he would encounter such a situation during his march into Milan this time.
"Lord Earl, what should we do? If the army waits until all the traps are cleared before setting off, I'm afraid it will delay the battle." The mercenary leader Gray Wolf seemed a little impatient. Since being "acquired" by the Wells Legion, his mercenaries have not participated in any battles. If he wanted to gain a foothold in the legion, he would not be able to achieve any good results, which would really make him, a mercenary leader, lose his luster.
Yate didn't say anything, he just rubbed the hilt of the sword at his waist, thinking about how to deal with it.
Looking back at the large farmland and low hills on both sides of the commercial road, a bold idea emerged in Art's mind.
“We currently have thousands of troops in our hands, why don’t we divide our forces and march? The cavalry and infantry in our hands can completely bypass this section of the road and reach Arechis first. As for the spokes and carriages that cannot be bypassed, they can follow after the trap is completely cleared. Go."
"Sir, if this is the case, we will eventually have to wait until the radiation arrives before we can attack the city, which will still delay the progress of our attack." Odo frowned, but could not come up with a suitable solution.
At this time, Art stood up and glanced at the soldiers who were clearing traps in front of the army.
h "Odo, how long is the safe section of road that has been cleared so far?"
h "My lord, it's less than half a mile."
Matt shook his head and said: "No, this is too slow. Tell the soldiers responsible for clearing the traps to have them each hold a short spear, line up in a line, and poke it hard at the ground for me. Arrange more people, each responsible for a section, which can greatly improve efficiency."
Odo couldn't help but widen his eyes after hearing this. He took two steps forward and said excitedly: "My lord, this move of yours is really brilliant!
I'll go make arrangements right away." All the men of the company and the Andermatt Fort company, the young peasants and soldiers under Baron O'Dowd, plus the task force, the cavalry company, the crossbow company, the heavy armored infantry company, and the Chinese army command camp, took the ladder and followed me around to Arechis. All of Obote's reserve regiment stayed behind to clear the road and escort the heavy weight to arrive safely. "
"Ron," Art turned around and whispered in Ron's ear: "Tell Rogge to take twenty men from the Grenadier Company, each carrying a bomb and set off with the army. Deputy Commander Smith stayed behind and made sure to take care of the carriages. In addition, take Salt's son Jack with him."
"Yes, sir." Ron nodded, and left here in a flash.
Art turned around and looked at Comor and the mercenary leader Gray Wolf standing aside, "Both of you, except for the large radiator and the carriage, the rest of you will follow me on a detour to Arechis. Time waits for no one, we must capture Arechis before dawn tomorrow!"
"Willing to serve you!" Everyone replied in unison.
When most of the Wells Army left the trade road and entered Maiyou on both sides and began to detour, on a hillside half a mile to the northwest, two private soldiers of the Lord of Arichsburg who had been lurking here for a day and night quickly slid down from a large tree with a good view.
Not long after, the two people quickly went down the mountain and ran to the north~
At this time, Kane Hawke, who was twenty miles away, would never have imagined that the trap he carefully designed would turn out to be a decoration.
It won’t be long before the southern expeditionary army that has passed through the wheat fields, walked across the plains, climbed over the hills, and returned to the trade road again will open the city gate of Arichsburg in a way that he cannot imagine. When the Arichsburg garrison was about to have a disparity in strength with the Burgundian army, the Provence leader Count Balian was marching on the plains twenty miles west of Arichsburg with his 8,000 frontier troops.
Since leaving early in the morning, the army only rested once on the way. At noon, after replenishing food and water by a river, Bellion once again ordered the army to continue moving forward, heading north under the scorching sun.
Along the way, except for the hilly terrain in the south that slowed down the march, this army of more than 8,000 people advanced rapidly at an average speed of three miles per hour.
As the leading Earl, Balian's many years of battlefield experience told him that in view of the current situation, arriving at the battlefield one second earlier would increase his chances of winning. Coupled with Milan's special status, he did not dare to neglect it.
While riding on horseback on the endless plain leading to Milan, Bellian couldn't help but sigh to the few confidants around him, "I really didn't expect that in just a few months, we have accomplished a feat that the Provence people have not accomplished for hundreds of years!"
A bearded baron following Balian could not help but flatter him, "My lord, not only that, you are also the first count to lead an army from Provence to attack Milan, the capital of Lombardy. This has never happened before in the history of Provence~"
Balian laughed loudly at this and accepted the praise from his subordinates gladly.
"Not only that," at this time, the leading viscount said, not to be outdone, "I heard that the whole of Provence is now praising the Count's achievements, thinking that it is you who made Provence great again!"
After a moment, Balian turned to the nobles who were following him and said: "Everyone, what I have achieved today is all because of you leading the soldiers under your command through life and death. The honor is not mine alone, it belongs to all of you!"
As one of the few leading count counts in the Provence court with outstanding merits, Balian knows how to win people's hearts.
He immediately spoke to everyone: "Everyone, as long as Milan is taken and Lombardy is destroyed, I guarantee that all of you will get what you want!"
At this time, a confidant viscount who had followed Balian for many years suddenly asked: "Your Majesty, once Milan is destroyed, it will mean the complete destruction of the Principality of Lombardy. At that time, what should be done with Milan and the large areas around it?"
It is not that Balian has never thought about this problem.
At the beginning, the Principality of Burgundy and the Principality of Provence sent troops at the same time, and invaded the Principality of Lombardy in two directions, occupying most of the territory in southwest Lombardy and the Po River Plain.
Until a few days ago, the two sides united their forces and advanced towards the four territories in southern Lombardy, and occupied them one after another. According to the previous agreement between the two parties, the two cities in the west were owned by Provence, and the city of Tiara and another city were owned by the Burgundy Kingdom. At this point, the two sides were bounded by mountains from north to south, and the land they occupied extended from their own country to the southern port of Lombardy.
But the occupied areas of Milan and Provence are separated by the land occupied by Arte and are not connected. Once Milan and its surrounding towns are captured, both sides will face the issue of Milan's ownership.
Thinking of this, Balian, who was the most powerful man on the battlefield, shook his head repeatedly.
"In this case, you immediately draw up a document to ask the palace about Milan's attitude, and we will be ready by then."
"Yes, Your Majesty, Count."
"In addition," Balian continued, "I will also discuss this issue with Count Arter after he arrives in Milan." At this time, the bearded baron spoke again, saying: "Your Majesty, everyone knows that the frontier count appointed by Flanders is very ambitious. What should we do if he insists on monopolizing Milan?"
"Shut up!" Balian suddenly shouted loudly.
When the bearded man saw this, he quickly lowered his head and admitted his mistake, "My lord, calm down, I am too talkative, I am too talkative~"
Balian glanced at the crowd and said sternly: "I tell you, don't mention such words in front of me in the future, let alone those in the palace. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, your lord!"
"Send the order, speed up the march!"
"Yes!"
After a moment, the anger in Balian's heart gradually dissipated.
Although he is very aware of Art's ambition and strength, as a friend, he will never allow his men to slander others without any evidence.
Once these words reach the ears of some nobles in the Provence court, the trust established between Provence and the Burgundian princes over the years will be in crisis. At that time, there will definitely be dissatisfaction between the two parties, leading to the breakdown of the alliance.
As an ally who is deeply bound to Art in many aspects, Balian is naturally unwilling to see this situation arise.