When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist

Chapter 1344: Chapter 1262: A New Crisis

Taking Bacon Castle and then Salted Meat Castle is, of course, a good thing.

However, as expected, the Northern Army is sure to launch a counterattack, attempting to retake the city while the ramparts are not yet fully fortified.

Considering the critical importance of these two locations, Horn decisively ordered André, the Northern Battle Group Commander, to immediately set out for support.

The Northern Battle Group consisted of three infantry battle groups, namely the Iron Fist Battle Group, the Wild Wolf Battle Group, and the Shattered Stone Plain First Battle Group, as well as a cavalry regiment of five thousand men.

This cavalry regiment of five thousand included cavalry under the direct command of the battle group as well as cavalry squadrons assigned to each battle group.

These cavalry were administratively part of the battle group’s direct cavalry regiment but were under the command of the battle commander in daily and combat operations. Horn personally named them "detached cavalry."

Each battle group would have 300 to 400 detached cavalry responsible for reconnaissance, messaging, reporting, and requisitioning logistics, among other tasks.

In terrains like the Shattered Stone Plain and the Roaring Corridor, cavalry is an indispensable component.

Horn’s prediction was accurate. Just as the Northern Battle Group arrived at Salted Meat Castle, they received news that Bacon Castle was under siege by a large Royal Court army.

André dispatched two battle groups and cavalry to provide support while he led an attack from the Saff River.

As a battle group commander of his rank, André did not have to seek Horn’s approval for every operational detail.

Thus, by the time Horn received the news at the ry Court Barracks, André had already proceeded according to plan.

In July, the ry Court Barracks resounded with cicada chirps, while the weekly work meetings made the cardinals drowsy.

There wasn’t much of significant importance this week, the biggest issue was probably the battle situation at Shattered Stone Plain.

The cardinals all waited for the battle report, their minds wandering to the conflicts at Shattered Stone Plain.

However, Qianqian was full of energy, still delivering a report with a thick stack of papers in hand.

His previously hopeless Holy Treasury finally saw a glimmer of hope during this time, which lay in the wool and glass industries.

The fall of Golden Fleece Beach and White Sand Land made the biggest beneficiaries, apart from the Royal Court, the Holy Alliance.

Because once these two places fell into war, the output of refined woolen and glass products was bound to plummet.

Coincidentally, the Holy Alliance had low-end industries in woolen and glass products.

Although the quality was not as good as Falan’s, wasn’t this precisely an opportunity for the Holy Alliance’s industries to transform?

Numerous skilled workers and master craftsmen who fled from Golden Fleece Beach and White Sand Land went either to Flower Hill or to the Holy Alliance.

Although it felt like prying into Falan’s territory, being allies in the Fourth Air, who owns what, could be discussed.

"...Therefore, I suggest establishing an incentive fund with Lady Catherine, to help these industrial workers make a comeback..."

Halfway through Qianqian’s report, a light knock came from the door.

The Secret Monk on duty poked half his head in: "Lord Petier is here, saying he has urgent news for His Majesty."

"It must be that there’s a result in the Shattered Stone Plain battle." Horn eagerly waved his hand, "Let him in."

"But I haven’t finished my report yet." Qianqian was displeased.

Madlan laughed: "Who is really interested in listening to your report now? It’s better to let Petier come in and speak about the results, so people can pay attention to you."

Qianqian puffed his face and turned his head away in a huff, pretending not to want to listen.

But alas, his slightly tilted head and inadvertently aimed ear betrayed his true interest.

"Sorry to interrupt your meeting, cardinals." Petier apologized upon entering, and Horn quickly took the responsibility, saying it was his order to be informed immediately.

Petier first whispered into Horn’s ear, then began to report.

"Everyone, we received the frontline report, triple-checked for accuracy, Bacon Castle held its ground against the attack, Lord André used two battle groups as bait to repel the numerous Vampire Army and Servant Army below the city."

"Great!"

"This move has rejuvenated the game."

"His Majesty is wise."

The cardinals grew excited, as they had been unable to respond effectively to the Empire’s previous attacks and felt stifled.

Now, with this maneuver, the Northern Army cannot concentrate its full attack on southern Norn.

This brought the Holy Alliance’s most common strategy of tiring the enemy into play.

The Holy Alliance’s governance emphasized authority and efficiency.

If the Northern Army advanced east, the Shattered Stone Plain troops would move north. If the Northern Army moved south, the Norn forces would go north. If the Central or Southern Army provided support, the Immortal Stone Field forces would head west.

Evaluating who moves the quickest, has better logistics, and higher efficiency, the Holy Alliance is fond of using its greatest advantage to suppress others.

Both Prince Kongdai and King Jiji were overwhelmed by such tactics in the past, leading to numerous blunders.

"However, the report also mentioned something." Just as the excited cardinals were celebrating, Petier interjected somewhat inappropriately, "The Northern Battle Group suffered heavy casualties, with the Iron Fist Battle Group even losing an entire Vanguard Corps."

"What?" The laughter in the meeting room disappeared instantly.

Hakuto slammed the table: "What’s Kolman doing? How did he let an entire corps get wiped out? Who instructed him to fight like that?"

The loss of a corps is no small matter, especially a formally named battle group corps, especially the Vanguard Corps.

The seasoned veterans and accompanying officers retained over generations are invaluable and traditionally preferred to be incapacitated rather than obliterated.

"I am not being biased, but please allow me to say something." Petier raised his hand, "According to the information transmitted by André, the Royal Court employed a certain type of cannon."

"The Royal Court has cannons now?"

Although the cardinals had heard from Cheka and prisoners of war that the Royal Court was constantly researching cannons comparable to the clockwork cannon.

But the principle of blood burst technique could not be applied to this area, so they had never succeeded.

Now they have actually developed one?

"Wasn’t it a Sorrido clan elder who said that as long as he was alive, the Royal Court would never possibly develop a blood burst cannon?" Marshall asked Hakuto from the side.

Hakuto was too distracted to hear, but it was Hilov on the opposite side who responded: "It wasn’t from the Sorrido clan, it was Elder Raymonsidos of the Royal Court’s Holy Tree faction.

He self-developed a potion last month, claiming it allowed vampires to inject the Holy Favor Seed, but before he could inject, he passed away after consuming it."

"There’s even such a potion? With effects this strong?"

Hilov nodded: "The Holy Council has taken over his research, intending to use it to develop gas bombs against vampires."

While these conversations continued, Petier continued his report: "The lost Vanguard Corps was sacrificed to cover the Fifth Corps’ capture of the enemy’s blood burst cannon systems..."

"That explains it." Hakuto sighed after a moment, "They were all good men."

The Royal Court’s new artillery could match the Holy Alliance’s clockwork cannon artillery.

Previously, the Holy Alliance battle groups benefited greatly from using flintlocks and yachts.

Unexpectedly, this advantage has now been negated by the vampires.

However, Petier’s report was not finished. After giving the cardinals a moment to process, he continued, "...According to the latest information, a new contingent of Royal Court troops has landed... according to the Black Legion... and the local Brotherhood... we estimate there are about twenty to thirty thousand vampires arriving... Additionally, within the past year, nearly a hundred thousand vampires have migrated to the Eastern Continent..."

What was once a fairly optimistic meeting room had now turned somber.

Although it was known that the Royal Court had plenty in reserve, including many undisplayed moves,

facing the arrival of thousands upon thousands of troops, who wouldn’t feel a heavy chest?

"Alright, why the long faces?" Horn knocked on the table, "Do not underestimate the enemy, nor overestimate them. It’s not like we can’t win, what’s there to fear?"

"Understood, Your Majesty." The cardinals promptly responded.

Horn nodded: "Qianqian, continue."

He had just finished speaking when he suddenly hit his head lightly: "Oh right, President Hilov."

Horn craned his neck, calling out to the Wolf Woman seated at the end, "Once the blood burst cannon is delivered, start analyzing and researching it immediately."

"Got it, my Lord."

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