CHAPTER 549: CHAPTER 527 BATTLE PLAN AND TROOP DEPLOYMENT

"Why are things always so bad in Kasha County?!"

Horn crumpled the battle report in his hand and vented by throwing it into the fireplace.

The flames crackled as the paper curled, blackened, and then turned into heaps of ashes.

The previously noisy meeting room, now serving as the temporary advisory office, quieted down significantly.

Even the rustling sound of copying battle report messages grew quieter.

Standing by the window, Horn took a deep breath of cold air, trying to cool off his heated mind.

The cold winter breeze finally blew in, frosting the window panes, forcing the workers in the workshop to light coal braziers and wear more layers for warmth.

This winter hasn’t been as difficult as past times.

Because Langsande County is abundantly supplied with local grains, previous lords deprived farmers of their provisions to trade for profit.

Grain prices fell, farmers didn’t earn much money, but at least they wouldn’t go hungry or freeze.

With honeycomb coal being such a cheap fuel, not many people use charcoal anymore.

Horn stood by the window, watching the honeycomb coal smoke rise over the city, finally calming his previously restless emotions.

Since Saint Sun’s Army brought the former Border Knight Order leader Lakunio, along with a newly emerged army to unexpectedly attack Kleiss Castle, Kasha County has received no good news.

First, Saint Lavan Monastery was breached, Blago Monastery’s doors were wide open.

Then seven monasteries in the northwest united to rebel, joining the Church’s army.

Blago Monastery couldn’t elect a new abbot across five rounds, causing disorder and leading to being broken one by one.

Even Ludvik’s body hasn’t been buried yet; they say it’s under investigation, causing Blo to hesitate and remain indecisive.

While Church Knights are attacking Saint Lavan Monastery, he’s busy writing letters to major Empire monasteries, asking them to preside over justice.

Horn didn’t know what the old monk felt at the moment, but whether he regretted or not, it was of no use now.

The newly arrived old knight Lakunio certainly played an ingenious move in Kleiss Valley.

To press those knights and infantry to complete such a highly difficult tactical maneuver is truly rare.

Or rather, it should be that this suddenly emerged new army has such motivation and capability, although it’s unclear what was promised.

At their current speed, they should reach Blago Monastery by next week.

Now it’s already December 22, 1445, about a week later, roughly around New Year Festival.

Originally thought the end of 1445 could settle peacefully over New Year Festival, but unexpectedly war has erupted again. As the Blago Monastery main branch, how long can Shelley City hold out?

"Your Majesty, news from Xiaochi City came, the northwest Gray Rock Castle reported sightings of Church army light cavalry."

Horn hadn’t rested long before another urgent report arrived behind him.

Turning around, Raphael, blistering around his lips, caught his breath, leaning on the door frame.

"Understood." Exhaling a cloud of white mist, closing the meeting room window, Horn approached the wall, pinning a needle with a Church flag into the map board.

Stepping back, Horn looked at Kasha County on the map.

Kasha County’s terrain is high in the northwest and low in the southeast, the northwest mountains really aren’t that high, not even half the relative elevation of North County.

It’s treacherous merely due to steepness, high slope, and narrow paths.

This mountainous area forms a crescent shape surrounding Kasha County’s northwest, creating a small, humid and warm basin in the center.

Coming out of this basin and heading east takes Horn to familiar Xiaochi City.

With Church army light cavalry northwest of Xiaochi City, it suggests part of the Church cavalry penetrated a road across the basin, even reaching near Xiaochi City.

No more waiting, heavy punches must be delivered.

Horn picked up a soft brush and drew across the South Nao’an River on the map.

"Hold the Ibe, must hold the Nao’an..." Horn mumbled, looking at the ink marks on the map.

This conclusion was an important conclusion from discussions at the pre-war meeting with Horn, Patrick, and Petier.

The southeastern four counties are affluent not just because they are plains, but mainly because large rivers pass through them.

Snow from Furnace Highlands passes through Roaring Corridor, flowing south to Shattered Stone Plain, becoming Upper Nao’an River.

Upper Nao’an River spreads through Shangruifo County, splitting into two branches near Rapids City in Lower Reif County.

One branch heads west becoming Lower Nao’an River, converging with other rivers, forming the fertile downstream Land of Gold.

Another branch flows south, traversing Kasha County, forming South Nao’an River.

Running almost parallel is Langsande County’s Ibe River.

Ibe River originates from Thousand River Valley’s eastern Dragon Sleep Mountain Range, crossing North Mangde County, Mangde County, and South Mangde County, entering Langsande County’s Black Bone Swamp.

Lakes gathered within these swamps partly flow into mountains west of Black Bone Swamp, forming a lake cluster named "Poison Wizard Swamp" in Deer Horn Town.

The other part flows south through mountains to collated plains, becoming step-like waterfalls, forming Ibe River downstream today.

Joan of Arc Castle Canal links Ibe River with South Nao’an River branches, facilitating Langsande County’s material transport externally.

Joan of Arc Castle thus becomes Langsande County’s core capital and transport hub.

Horn believes holding the Ibe River means holding Nao’an River, simply because Ibe River divides Langsande County, and between South Nao’an River lies open land.

If Church army broke through South Nao’an River, at least half of Langsande County’s territory would be exposed to Church eyes, with no natural defense.

Utilizing South Nao’an River’s relatively rapid currents prevents Church Knights from entering Ibe Plain, thus avoiding a muddy battlefield.

"Urgent order, Black Hat Battle Group mobilizes three corps to Xiaochi City, burning South Nao’an River’s docks along the way, collecting ships.

Guard Battle Group’s 3rd and 4th Corps head to Rapids City as the first reinforcements, holding Damp Dock and Deer Horn Town defense lines.

Guard Battle Group’s 1st, 2nd, 5th, and 6th Corps as second reinforcements, embarking from Joan of Arc Castle, heading south through Rapids City, aiding Black Hat Battle Group in obstructing enemy forces.

Tell Jeska, he isn’t fond of Black Hat, wants to change to Black Crown Battle Group? Win this battle, I’ll allow him to change it to Black King Crown."

In Horn’s dictation, over a dozen Secret Monks quickly wrote and revised, rolls of paper dropping to the floor, faint ink scent diffusing in the air.

The meeting room’s door was temporarily removed, footsteps and writing sounds blended, Secret Monks and Monks moved reports and orders in and out.

Normally, Horn would hold votes and discussions, but once the Holy Guns fire, the entire nation listens to him, no objections.

No matter what, even if forming a bad plan, it’s better than having no plan.

"Besides, ry Court Barrack’s 7th and 8th Guard Corps head north of Daze Village, establish temporary forts at mountain passage to prevent Mangde County’s Church army sudden raids."

"Message Louise, request support. If precise military delivery is delayed, send as many Wizards as possible, as long as South Nao’an River’s defense line is maintained, I’ll take as many as they can send."

"Order Jinhe Town’s Kush Knights to muster 500 Rangers for riverbank reconnaissance, advancing with second batch reinforcements."

"Inform Deer Horn Town, remind Gray Horse Knights attacking Deer Horn Town, Prince Kongdai is highly likely to raid, stay alert."

"Immediately mobilize food stockpile from various warehouses, transport to Joan of Arc Castle, after troops set off, commence grain transport."

Several Secret Monks quickly drafted orders, Horn briefly reviewed and signed before issuing them.

"Jeanne to lead three hundred Holy Gun Cavalry and three hundred North Bow Cavalry westward with the first troop transport ships."

"After second batch troops assemble, join me heading to South Nao’an River frontline."