Chapter 552 The Last Step
After receiving the news of Prince Condai's raid, Horn continued to be on duty, writing articles, and reviewing the government construction in the rear as usual every day.
But people close to him can feel that Sheng Sun Mian is a lot more irritable and depressed.
Usual meetings are stern, and there are few jokes to liven up the atmosphere. Even the privy monks are scolded more frequently.
You must know that everything in the Papal State depends on Horn. His small actions will cause big shocks in the end.
At the end of the quarrel, the monks asked Jeanne to persuade her to feel at ease.
After realizing this, Horn held an impromptu meeting, conducted a self-examination, and restored much of his previous state.
Unfortunately, from the bottom of my heart, it didn’t have much effect.
Anshin, how can I feel at ease?
The blood and tears of six million people in Qianhe River Valley for five hundred years will almost be decided in these ten days. Who can feel at ease?
The most painful thing was that in such a fateful battle, he could hardly participate in it. He could only watch the battle from afar and even wait for Prince Condai's attack.
More than a year has passed since the Battle of Long Bridge was determined.
For more than a year, he almost exhausted all his strength and means.
Taming beasts, collecting water from salt wells, training troops on Qiumu Island, establishing the Sacred Arms Court and developing clockwork machinery.
The Battle of Pavia recaptured Fort Joan of Arc, wiped out the robber knights, divided hundreds of households and fields, and established the prototype of a salvation military government.
Then he attacked the cave jungle to the west to expel the bandits, and attacked Jinhe Township to the south to subdue the Kush knights. In turn, he returned to Fort Joan to start land reclamation and restore agriculture.
Then support Koike City, and then go north to support Rapids City. After returning, they will train new recruits of the Guards Corps, and discuss a new round of sugar and grain trade and municipal construction.
Then they had to go to Kasha County to resist the new coalition of nobles. Before they could return, there was news that Gravel Plains was attacking North Mound County.
March again and again, victory in despair again and again.
Except for the three or five days of rest in Qiumu Island this year, Horn was at full capacity the rest of the time.
He was either fighting or working. When it was most critical to verify the results, he could only watch.
Although he said he would leave everything to fate, if possible, Horn still hopes that the Holy Father can give him another year.
Two and a half years are enough for him to have a fully equipped army, sufficient financial resources in the rear, and enough cards in his hand to compete with La Cunho.
Maybe now, he can have a good fight with that bullshit prince.
Instead of being trapped in Rapid City by three shackles now, unable to move out due to lack of strength.
At this time, no matter how determined Horn was, he would still be impatient.
If Prince Kong Dai succeeds in this plan, I am afraid his only choice is to retreat to Black Snake Bay.
Although this is not a retreat, Qiumu Island, the most important center of clockwork machinery, is still in Daze Township.
With the loss of this industrial center, the power of the church has returned, coupled with the blocked economy and harsh environment of Black Snake Bay.
At that time, all Horn can do is hopeless Northern Expeditions.
The Salvation Army is probably going to be like the predecessor of the Ruo'an Party, claiming to be in Lin'an, but ended up being trapped in Black Snake Bay.
It’s funny to say that when Horn was at Fort Joan of Arc, he wanted to go to Black Snake Bay but couldn’t, but now he doesn’t want to go to Black Snake Bay but has to go.
"Your Majesty, are you finished?" Rene stood in front of the garden of the Uffizi Palace, watching the shirtless and sweaty Horne wiping his sweat with a towel by the pond.
“Well, today’s breathing method practice is finished.” Wiping the sweat from his armpits and face with a hot towel, Horn stretched his limbs, “I feel that I have reached the halfway point of breathing method. He has reached the state of perfection and will soon be able to practice the third stage of the Breathing Technique."
Rene habitually ignored Horn's nonsense: "Your Majesty, this is the message from Laurent, commander of the Seventh Army of the Black Crown! Urgent letter.”
After putting on his shirt and walking to the marble washstand, Horn dipped his head into the cold water.
In the bubbling bubbles, René heard a clear word "read".
"Laurent has an urgent letter. The nobles of Hotam County have rebelled and have captured the detention dock..."
Before he even finished reading, Rene felt his eyes blur.
Horn, who was still washing his face, appeared in front of him like a flash and snatched the letter from his hand.
After reading almost ten lines at a glance, Horn almost jumped up.
He closed his eyes for ten seconds. When he opened them again, all the sleepiness and impatience in his eyes had dissipated.
"Immediately summon the senior monks and officials in the city to gather in the council hall for a military meeting." By the time Horn changed his clothes and rushed to the council hall, all the top military and political officials in the city were already in place.
Including councilors from various places in Rapid City, Lower River County, as well as the commander of the stationed Salvation Army, they all came.
Beside the oak conference table, a privy monk was reading the information loudly.
"On February 25, the gray horse knight Venn surrendered, claiming to have evidence of collaboration between the nobles of Hotam County, but was shot dead by an unknown crossbowman.
Prince Condai was furious and sent an imperial company to arrest him. Earl Sampoly of Stonewall Town
The Earl of Sampoly was afraid that Prince Condé would take this opportunity to move them to Mountain County. The former Cavalry was raging, so they chose to rebel.
On the night of February 29, Saint-Sun rebels Andre and Warren Taylor led 800 elite militiamen to stay outside the city pretending to be refugees. br>He cooperated with the count's cronies who entered the detention dock in advance and captured the detention dock..."
"Impossible." Not only Karl, but also Hakuto screamed.
The detention dock is not a separate fortress, but has a main fort and many satellite-like auxiliary forts.
The main fort's detention dock was captured. Although the knights stationed in many auxiliary forts lost their logistics, they were immediately isolated and helpless.
But they are not without the power to fight back. If the knights in the auxiliary castle gather their forces in time, they can still recapture the main castle.
“The knights of the deputy castle, under the influence of the noble lords, had different thoughts and delayed their actions in time.” Walking to the seat with a smile, Horn clapped the letter in his hand, “But our The two legions are very competitive.”
After receiving the news, the two legions stationed near the detention dock made an immediate decision. The legion commanders and legion clerks of the two legions immediately marched after discussion.
They didn't have time to wait for instructions and approval, so they took the barge directly down the river, and arrived at the detention dock in half a day before the knights counterattacked.
Legion commander Laurent led the troops and successfully repelled two counterattacks by the knights, seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Correspondingly, Prince Condai and the Qianhe Valley Church also completely lost their last chance of recovery.
“Is this true?”
"Can you confirm the source of the news?"
"Jeshka stationed at Ansenberg has sent a boat to confirm." Horn looked at the sunset piercing the clouds outside, "Whether it is true or false, It should have arrived by now."
Everyone looked out the window, and almost at the same time, a carrier pigeon flew into the shed of the tower in the distance.
Although there were many pigeons carrying the message, almost everyone had a vague feeling that it was the pigeon flying from Ansenberg.
Not long after, a piece of sticky note paper was delivered to Horn.
He only glanced at it and handed it over with a smile: "That's true."
The note was passed one after another in their hands, and each time it was passed into the hands of each person, there was a series of exclamations.
"Holy Father——"
"Then, isn't that..."
"It's unimaginable!"
Don't blame them for being surprised, this is a miracle in itself.
It turned out that the Salvation Army was trapped in Lower River County and could only wait for Prince Condai to defeat them one by one. It was basically a desperate situation.
But now the water dock is equivalent to La Cunho's strategic design.
The five earls of Hotam County rebelled against them, which was beyond everyone's expectations.
It is even more unimaginable that they are willing to attack the detention dock for the Salvation Army.
It must be said that Horn's support of the Saint Sun Rebel Army and his permission for the Saint Sun Rebel Army to change its flag were originally criticized by many monks.
But now it is this pheasant team that no one is optimistic about. It has played a key role in communicating with these nobles.
Of course, whether it is Wayne's alienation plan or Prince Condai's stupidity, it does not hinder the most crucial fact -
"Towards Flying Castle" The door has been opened to us! ”
The city of Rapids, which had been raining for three consecutive days, suddenly became sunny on the evening of March 1st.
(End of this chapter)