When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist

Chapter 1351: Chapter 1269: Intelligence Error?

Originally, the empire, including Falan, thought that if the Royal Court were to launch another attack, it would have to wait until at least October.

But to everyone’s surprise, the Royal Court handled the rear situation exceptionally smoothly.

It was just early September when the Royal Court took action.

First, breaches appeared consecutively in the defensive lines at both White Sand Ground and Golden Fleece Beach, and then even worse news came from Storm Cape—

Within one month, three cities were conquered, fifteen castles surrendered, four brigade-level generals died in battle, and one army-level general perished.

There were even 187 local nobles who fought personally, and eventually were all killed by the Royal Court.

It must be said that although Storm Cape is far from the center of Falan, the loyalty and integrity of the local nobility there are far superior to those of the nobles at White Sand Ground and Golden Fleece Beach.

In the end, Charlie personally stepped in, taking three foreign legions to the battlefield, barely stopping this wave of setbacks.

Not to mention the north, once again the capital of Leia, Changge City, was besieged, and King Jiji’s experience in defending the city rapidly increased.

As for the Dawn Federation, they have already started to engage in combat with the Royal Court’s Servant Army.

The western battle group has begun training new battle groups in New Gem Federation and other places, with an expected increase of two more battle armies (battle group army abbreviation) in the future.

As for the direction of Shattered Stone Plain, it’s also being fought fiercely, with tens of thousands of troops coming and going on the Salted Meat Castle-Bacon Castle-Thick Bull Castle battle line.

One moment André breaks the enemy, defeating many vampire soldiers, the next moment another army is surrounded, needing rescue.

They must act because three thousand troops returning from the Royal Court’s homeland and the Norn front are already on the way.

André and Alexey must establish a significant advantage before the enemy arrives.

The entire Shattered Stone Plain frontline is lively.

The empire is ablaze everywhere, battle reports flying everywhere.

Yet ironically, Rudilo, the best at fighting, leads the Fire Lizard Brigade to station in Wolf Bridge County.

What’s Wolf Bridge County anyway? Whether it’s conquered or not hardly makes a difference, showing hardly any signs of battle.

It’s not that Rudilo is too eager for progress or naturally battle-crazy, but without contributing to the overall situation, he feels unsettled.

If no one comes to test the sword, how do you know if it’s sharp?

However, this melancholy didn’t last long, broken by news from the nearby reconnaissance cuirassiers.

In the refreshing autumn air, the leaves along the endless maple forest are slightly tinged yellow on the edges, burning on the treetops like half-yellow, half-green flames.

Along the forest and the message was a long fence, surrounding this pasture.

Golden fodder piled up, while cows and sheep lay fallen in pools of blood.

The house beside the road collapsed, a plume of smoke still spewing sparks rose straight into the sky.

Rudilo’s face was gloomy, veins pulsed on his forehead, he stood silently with his hands behind his back.

In front of him was a pyramid, three men high, made of piled bodies and heads.

Adults and children, men and women, regardless of age or gender, all stacked like bricks.

The rich smell of blood pierced the nostrils, causing nausea, and many accompanying brigade soldiers turned pale.

"Martilus, bring my horse here, notify the brigade to deploy borrowed cavalry..."

Before Rudilo could finish his words, he was interrupted by Senior Pastor Laka, who despite being from Black Snake Bay, spoke considerably more reliably than Rudilo.

"We received orders to station here, not to take initiative in attacking."

"Shouldn’t we annihilate the enemy when they come to our borders? This isn’t garrisoning." Rudilo was so furious that his eyebrows nearly stood up.

Laka still shook his head: "Not allowed, at most dispatch borrowed cavalry for reconnaissance."

"Why not allowed, I believe this falls under military matters." Rudilo glared, "You’ve already decided no attacking, only garrisoning, how to garrison is up to me!"

"You’re clearly attacking!"

"Attacking within the garrison area is garrisoning, and moreover, His Majesty emphasized that we should adapt to circumstances, not rigidly adhere to rules."

"You’re being unreasonable..."

"Laka, these soldiers are most likely accidentally wandering Servant Army, vampire soldiers wouldn’t slaughter so recklessly, there’s no trace of drained bodies."

For vampires, with human blood before them, not absorbing is nearly impossible, especially under such dense blood presence.

And according to Cheka’s intelligence, the Royal Court’s primary offensive direction is Shattered Stone Plain; this is likely just a division.

So most probably, this cavalry accidentally strayed.

Even if it’s an intentional harassment, the army behind them won’t be too strong.

If we let them plunder outside the city, it’s a major blow to soldier morale and local believers.

Therefore, Rudilo believes we should take action to gain some victories to soothe hearts.

But Senior Pastor Laka thinks since it’s agreed not to actively attack, we should strictly adhere to His Majesty’s plan and not act on our own.

It must be said, such debates are common in the Holy Alliance’s military command.

In theory, Senior Pastor decides whether to fight and why, while Battle Commander decides what to fight and how to fight.

But in actual decision-making, all four are intricately linked, and it’s difficult to achieve cohesive action.

These debates are unavoidable.

Even after ten years of development, due to limitations in productivity and time, many people’s mindset hasn’t adjusted.

They do not understand the concept of democratic centralism; there’s always a need to emerge as a leader.

In practice, sometimes the Senior Pastor leads, sometimes the Battle Commander leads.

So leadership isn’t always primarily Senior Pastor’s, it changes based on situational needs.

This is why Horn wanted to establish a military chaplain and deploy accompanying chaplains to the hundred-man team level.

The new battle brigade is better, but in old brigades, Battle Commanders have too much influence.

Clearly, in the Fire Lizard Brigade, newcomer Laka’s influence doesn’t exceed Rudilo’s.

"Don’t you have a heart?" Rudilo grabbed his collar, "Seeing such scenes, aren’t you angry?"

Beside him, the Deputy Warlord also advised: "Indeed, Lord Laka, the soldiers’ wishes are important, everyone is restraining a lot of anger."

After being persuaded by several senior officers, even Laka himself was somewhat swayed.

"Can you ensure nothing goes wrong?"

Rudilo immediately spoke up: "Lord Laka, I admit my tone was harsh earlier, I apologize, but as the Senior Pastor, shouldn’t you consider the local people’s opinions?"

This statement hit Laka’s soft spot.

The Senior Pastor’s responsibility is to handle religious and political matters, balancing military and government relations.

Everyone was new to this, inexperienced.

If villages on our side were massacred while our army took no action, would it cause local dissatisfaction?

This kind of public pressure is very deadly.

"Alright, I allow it." After much thought, Laka finally relented, "But do not exceed fifty li from the border; regardless of the enemy, you must stop when fifty li from the border."

"Alright."

On October 3, after learning of the border village massacre, Rudilo set out with half the brigade, ready to discipline these stray troops.

The next day, Rudilo defeated a lagging group and set out again.

On October 6, Rudilo had been gone for three days, which was within normal time range.

But Senior Pastor Laka felt uneasy, unable to sleep.

He just got up, preparing for a nighttime patrol, when the door was roughly knocked.

"What’s wrong?"

"Please come to the wall and look."

Donning half-armor, carrying a hand cannon, Laka quickly rode towards the wall.

Just reaching the foot of the wall, not even up the wall yet, he saw groups of wounded soldiers huddled at the gate.

Knowing something was wrong, Laka pulled a senior officer over, sternly asking: "Where is your Battle Commander? Where is he?"

"Battle Commander was hit by vampire artillery, his arm injured, lost too much blood, currently receiving treatment." That officer was anxious.

"Didn’t you say even if attacked by a large force, you could escape?" Laka’s expression was fierce.

The officer’s face fell: "But, but there are too many, sir, look at the wall, Cheka intelligence was wrong, it’s not a division, it’s clearly Royal Court’s main force invading Wolf Bridge County!"

After hearing the officer’s words, Laka couldn’t chat anymore, rushing up the wall.

Once he took a look, he gasped.

Around the wall, layer upon layer of soldiers in red approached with the thunderous sound of hooves, and even large numbers of desecration cannons.

How could this be?

This army should be at the Bacon Castle line; how are they here?

"Damn it!" Laka angrily slammed his hand on the table, "Immediately send a message back to army headquarters, request troop reinforcement, and inquire with Cheka, what nonsense, such crucial intelligence errors!"

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