Chapter 532: Can the Salvation Army fly?
On January 7, 1446 in the imperial calendar, heavy snow finally fell in the Qianhe Valley amid the cold wind.
Amidst the falling snowflakes, more than a dozen sailboats and barges transporting troops, food and people can be seen at intervals on the South Nauan River and the Ibe River.
Some sections of the river with busy boat traffic are even crowded with boats.
Everyone stood on the side of the ship, pulling on the ropes, insulting each other from a few meters away, and there was a muffled sound from the collision between the hulls.
These narrow rivers with busy boat traffic are basically the three ferry sections that have not been burned.
The shipowners shouted, and the sailors ran up and down the planks, followed by the Skitarii captains, who trembled as they disembarked.
The skitarii wearing clogs shivered in unison as they stepped on the icy ground.
Starting on January 2, after five days of transportation and preparation, the first batch of Skitarii engineers who built the camp finally arrived at the South Nauan River front line with their tools.
It was a pity that they were hurriedly put into the carriage by the local Juano monks before they had a chance to eat a meal or drink a hot soup.
The covered carriages could not block the flying snowflakes, and thousands of Skitarii engineers marched from various ferries, like spider webs, along tributaries and roads towards their intended targets.
Thousands of engineers obviously cannot build dozens of supply points and forts in half a month. The Juano monks will also call on the local rich farmers and small landowners.
The main purpose of arranging these engineers is to improve efficiency and assist in guarding the supply point. As for the purchase of supplies at the supply point, all the consumption of supplies is paid for by the wealthy businessmen of Rapid City and the monastery of Casha County.
The advantage of this is very simple, that is, you no longer need to carry military rations and set up camp during the march. You can eat, drink and sleep wherever you go, and get up and march after you sleep.
At least two or three hours can be squeezed out for marching every day, and it is faster without luggage and can cover an additional 6-9 kilometers.
This is especially true for the cavalry who convey the message. They can even change horses without changing people, and pass the message from the front to the back all the way.
These supply points do not need to be too strong. Really strong temporary fortresses will be built with mortar concrete at the three crossings and dangerous places on the river.
Just like the three-story corner castle of Moncruse Manor.
These supply points and camps were surrounded by wooden walls, and drainage channels, stables, wooden barracks, and the most important warehouses were set up inside.
A supply point is guarded by as few as 10 guards and as many as 40 guards. The guards are not enemy cavalry but country bandits.
As for if the enemy reaches these supply points, they can directly target the warehouses and then run to the forest or village to hide.
At that time, whether it is to collect food on the spot or bring its own baggage team, it will slow down its marching speed.
Such a simple camp could be set up by a regular army in about an hour or two.
For the local farmers and skitarii, the number is a little small, but it takes two days to build and three days to sign a grain purchase agreement with nearby villages.
In the ten days from January 7 to January 17, twenty supply camps and strongholds have been established along the predetermined march routes and defense lines, and more than twenty camps are under construction.
As for the church army that besieged the monastery of Brago in Cascia County, there was almost no response.
The leader of the church army knights patrolling the outside of the basin sent a dozen light cavalry to have a look and then went back to drink.
It was not until the third day after Shelley City was defeated on the 18th that La Cunho received the news.
"Gan Ni Niang is a dung-picker!" The moment he saw the words on the battle report clearly, Lacuneo couldn't help but cursed in the Norn dialect across the border.
"What's wrong?" Puccilio, who was riding on a horse and wearing iron armor with hollow flower decorations, was startled by Lacuneo's loud shout.
Without saying a word, Racunho handed the battle report to Puccilio next to him.
Since he was riding on horseback and it had just snowed, Puccilio could only shake his body while reading with difficulty in the light reflected from the snow.
In the cold streets of Shelley City, the smell of blood and burnt food lingered in the air.
The shops and houses on both sides of the street have closed their doors, and the once bustling market is silent, like an empty city.
Only when the servants of the country smashed the door so hard that the snow fell from the eaves, could one see the pairs of frightened eyes in the dark room.
The siege plan on the 18th went very smoothly. Dozens of demon hunters stormed the city as lightly-armed death squads, and then the double-paid swordsmen climbed up to the city and launched an unparalleled attack. Because the weather was too cold and La Cunho and others arrived too suddenly, they were busy quarreling and did not prepare enough winter clothing.
After the snow fell, even if some monks used magic to maintain morale, many people still died of cold.
The temperature dropped sharply last night, and heavy snow fell on the sky. Most of the soldiers hid indoors in the city gate tower and watchtower to keep warm. Only a few could insist on patrolling the city wall.
Lacunio even went into battle personally, holding a two-handed heavy sword and fighting his way into the winch room. He single-handedly cleared out more than twenty guards and successfully opened the city gate.
The armed monks of the Brago Monastery tried to fight street battles with the Brago Monastery on the mountain as the core. Unfortunately, they only lasted for one day and were defeated by the wolf-like servants of the country.
La Cunho even captured Jean Blow and other high-ranking Juano monks alive, because when La Cunho came to kill them, they were still in the city voting for a new abbot.
After two days of purges, the remaining forces in the city either fled or were eliminated. Only then could Puccilio and Lacunio enter the city to see the majestic Brago Monastery.
"This is really unexpected." After reading the letter, Puccilio was equally unbelievable. "It took me more than two months to mobilize the army and food."
If we extrapolate from the timeline in the letter, the Salvation Army only learned that they had captured Claysburg around December 22, and then decided to send troops for rescue.
By the 25th, nearly 2,000 people from three squadrons (500 Imperial Military Squadrons) rushed to the Nan Naoan River to burn the ferry.
Five days later, on Xinyuan Festival, cavalry came to support the same day.
On January 5, two more squadrons came to Xiaochi City, and on January 7, three squadrons and thousands of civilians arrived.
By January 17, they had built a large number of forts within 10 days, and Kush rangers and lycanthrope hussars were present to support them.
The Salvation Army even advanced into the sight of the rangers on the outskirts of the basin.
Putzilio mobilized his own army to support Hotam County. He only brought the food from Thorn Garden to Thousand River Valley, which took more than two months.
It took more than a month just to wait for the knights to arrive at the assembly point from various places.
He had just arrived in Hotam County in late November, and he went straight to Kasha County without much rest, just to catch the Salvation Army off guard.
The Salvation Army decided to mobilize troops in a total of 15 days from December 22 to January 7, covering a distance of more than 200 kilometers.
As a result, at least 5,000 Salvation Army soldiers have gathered in the South Nauan River plain in eastern Kasha County, and they even have the time to build camps and fortresses.
This is a surprise attack. Can these farmers fly?
Originally, I wanted to attack Langsand County in one go. If I had known better, I shouldn't have stopped fighting and rested during the New Year's Day.
Just as Puccilio was annoyed, the two finally arrived at Brago Monastery.
"Then Your Excellency La Cunho, do we want to continue the attack?" Seeing that the plan failed, Puccilio asked while dismounting.
"You can give it a try, but don't have high hopes." La Cunho patted the horse's neck and swept away the floating snow from its mane.
Since the plan to attack Langsander County by attacking Kasha County failed, the tactical target must be changed to Meliati in the north.
Anyway, as long as one of them is defeated, the other will not be able to hold on for long.
As for the main offensive mission in Kasha County, let's change it to containing the Salvation Army.
La Cunho carefully investigated and found that these farmers did not have much ability to attack the city and had always won in field battles.
Even if we can't win in the field, as long as we are willing to lose face and fight a siege with these farmers, it won't be a problem to delay it for another month or two.
By then, it would be too late for them to rescue Meliati.
The two stood side by side in front of the Blago Monastery, while several senior Juanno monks were tied with ropes and gagged, glaring at the two casually stepping into the most sacred altar of the Blago Monastery. intruder.
"This place is not bad. Let's use it as a restaurant for the knights from now on."
(End of chapter)