Jean Sauron fell ill.

He had been holding out behind enemy lines for a year, and his army had shrunk from 60,000 at its peak to 30,000, with a lack of food and clothing, and most of his ammunition had been captured.

As the situation became more and more severe, he had to rely on the dense forests of the Black Forest region to continue fighting, and at first he was able to receive a small amount of supplies from the Holy City, which he had not heard from for a month since mid-August, until September 15.

The bad news shattered Jean's sensitive heart beneath his strong exterior, and he contracted pneumonia, a persistent high fever, and a slurred speech.

Generals Nicholas Hermann and Michael Schmidt were always by their side, and these two brave and warlike generals were sad at this time, and there was nothing more than this in the most sorrowful moments of their lives.

The elder Duke Hermann died on the night of 10 August, and the mob is said to have dismembered him and dumped him in the streets. Thankfully, Nicholas Herman's other relatives were living in the family's traditional fiefdom and escaped.

The first heir of the Herman family originally had a very delicate relationship with Jean, because he was the queen's own brother, so he was naturally closer to the second prince. If he was asked to choose between the crown prince and the second prince, of course he would choose the second prince.

But now everything has changed.

"Go back to the Holy City!"

Jean, who was lying in the tent, suddenly screamed, and he could hear it from afar. Soldiers and officers who were busy outside the tent stopped what they were doing and looked at Jean's tent with concern on their faces.

Herman and Schmidt tried to go inside, but the guards stopped them:

"General, you can't go in, Your Highness's illness will be contagious. ”

Schmidt roughly shoved the guard aside and scolded, "Damn, I just want to lie down too, so I don't have to worry about it." ”

Herman comforted the guards: "Sergeant, we know you're right, but don't stick to orders at this time. ”

The smell of medicinal herbs wafted from the tents, and due to the lack of medicines, the military doctors had to use the earthwork of local hunters to reduce the fever of the crown prince, almost resigned themselves to fate.

Dean Gay said that the crown prince's complexion looked much better than the previous day, and although he still had a low-grade fever, it was much better than the high fever with a flushed face a few days ago.

Jean woke up, and he had him half-sit up, looking at his two generals:

"We're going to go back to the Holy City! or we'll not be able to wait for this winter." ”

The two generals nodded silently in unison, they had no choice, once winter came, they would starve and freeze to death.

Herman thought for a moment and said:

"Your Highness, the most important thing at the moment is your health. If you are sick, we will have nothing to do, and what are we here to starve, to brave the bullets and bullets, to resist the aggression of a brutal enemy? ”

"Yes, Your Highness, please cheer up, the dignity of the royal family needs you to uphold. General Schmidt also advised.

The army was quickly assembled, and Jean had the guards carry him through the soldiers.

They were ragged, including many officers, many in straw sandals, and some even barefoot, like beggars.

Yet they straightened up, saluted, and looked steadfast, following their commander.

Jean, who was still very weak, picked a dozen high-voiced guards to each regiment to issue a pre-war mobilization order on his behalf, and his mobilization order was simple:

Let's go home!

This is the best mobilization order.

The 21st Division set out first, and its most powerful 1st Brigade, under the leadership of Brigade Commander Horns, took the initiative to enter the steppe area, attracting the attention of most of the Assyrians.

In three days, the Horns Brigade fought thirteen times in succession, inflicting heavy losses on the Assyrians with their proud will to fight.

This initiative was not expected by the Assyrians. Initially, the 21st Division received some captures, and they even managed to ambush a supply point for the Assyrians, which allowed the 21st Division to maintain its combat effectiveness.

However, after entering October, the temperature in the north plummeted, coupled with the long and high-intensity marching and fighting, the 21st Division suffered a non-combat attrition, and faced heavy Assyrian siege and interception.

By 5 October, the 21st Division had only 5,000 men left, and its 1st Brigade had lost its combat effectiveness due to heavy losses, but they had reached the southern edge of the steppe.

General Schmidt's troops, on the other hand, took advantage of the gap gained by the 21st Division's bloody battles to escort the crown prince to break through from the other direction, and successfully sent a small force through the line to make contact with the Guards that were still resisting the Assyrians in northern Gyeonggi.

Although the upper echelons of the old army were almost bought off by the new regime, the middle and lower officers still revered the old empire, and when they heard that the crown prince had broken through the Assyrian barrier to the south, they agitated and pleaded with their superiors in the hope of launching a counteroffensive.

The news reached the Holy City and caused panic among the Tulip Party. As long as the crown prince does arrive in Gyeonggi, those who are ostensibly deferential to the new regime will surely turn against him, leaving the new regime, which is still not very strong, in jeopardy.

The Tulip Party sprang into action, cut off the news, and moved most of the newly formed army to the north in case of contingency.

At the same time, a high-pressure policy was adopted to purge the troops who had defected to them on a large scale, and a large number of middle- and low-ranking officers were arrested in just half a month, and many were shot without trial.

Although it was an act of self-harm, the Tulip Party really took control of the army, and with the newly formed 150,000, the total strength was as high as 300,000.

At the same time, the crown prince's army had found a place to shelter near Gyeonggi, and the old local army had surrendered to him, opening a gap and finally allowing him to catch his breath. At this time, the crown prince's direct strength was just over 10,000 people left, but the combat power of this time-tested army was amazing.

Thus, in the north, the Crown Prince's army, the Assyrians, and the so-called new army of the Tulip Communists formed a situation of intertwined and temporary balance of forces in the northern part of Gyeonggi.

The province of Irulsun is dominated by the alluvial plain formed by the Osella River and one of its main tributaries, which served as a natural barrier for the crown prince's army against the Assyrians and the New Army.

I don't know if it's because of the southern climate, or if the situation is a little milder, and Crown Prince Jean's lung disease is beginning to recover. He was emaciated and almost changed, and even Dean Gay thought it was a miracle that he survived.

With this base, Jean finally had a chance to figure out what had happened in the Holy City, and he could only sigh at this.

Whether it was out of morality or family affection, it was necessary for him to send troops to the Holy City to rescue him, but he knew that he was beyond his strength and urgently needed to recuperate and accumulate strength.

However, time was running out, and there was a blatant discussion in the newspapers of the Holy City about the trial of His Majesty the Emperor.

"Why don't those rebels take the initiative?" asked Jean.

"The new army is mostly newly formed and lacks experienced and reliable officers. And ......," explained Franco Franco, who was in charge of intelligence.

"Besides, what?" said Jean, disgruntled. His authority was now growing day by day, and even the unruly General Schmidt was now as docile as a sheep before him.

"There is a rumor in the Holy City. Franco looked at the senior officers in the room, "I ask to report to you privately." ”

"No need, since it's a rumor, it means that many people know about it. So one day, everyone here will know. Jean waved his hand.

"This rumor is related to Sean Connery. Franco stubbornly said, "It is said, Your Highness, that I am talking about rumors, that they say that the Count of Connelly is your illegitimate son. ”

"Well, what?"

Jean was stunned for half a minute, his mouth big enough to fit a duck egg. The expressions of the senior officers present were also very wonderful, and Schmidt scolded and said:

"Sean Connery is really haunted. Ah, Your Highness, I beg your pardon, I mean he is a man who is thousands of miles away from us, but he always affects us in various ways. ”

Jean said embarrassedly, "Guys, this is definitely a rumor. ”

But his subordinates are not entirely convinced, just as Jean does not deny that he had a love affair in his youth that was not recognized by the royal family. From a real-life point of view, it's not big news that someone in high society has an illegitimate child.

Herman said:

"This may explain the strange restraint of the new army, for I have heard that the army of the Earl of Connery, in September, launched a series of counterattacks, and that he had driven the Bilisians less than five hundred kilometers from the border, and had recovered three provinces, and was in full force. ”

After a pause, Herman suggested, "We should get in touch with Count Connery immediately. ”

"He's also from your 21st Division, and Colonel Horns has a good personal relationship with him. I have to say that the 21st Division produces talents. Schmidt said enviously.

"Michael, Earl Connelly was also your subordinate. You've spent more time with him than I do. Herman laughed.

Franco poured cold water on him: "But he accepted the position of commander of the Western Front awarded by the rebels in the Holy City." ”

The young major intelligence officer considered this a serious betrayal.

Schmidt said unconcernedly: "So I always thought that this man was too slippery." But we have to admit that this man is so capable, and if we could get him on our side, it would be very different. ”

Jean looked around, "Nicholas, how is Colonel Horns' injury?"

Herman replied, "Okay, luckily, the lead bullet only went through his ribs, causing him to break two ribs and miss the vital point." Otherwise, we will lose an outstanding officer. Your Highness, I assure you, in another week, he will be alive and well. ”

"Good, I need him as my envoy in a week, and hopefully he can convince Sean to side with us. Jean decisively said, "Besides, from today onwards, he will be a major general." ”

"Yes!"

However, Jean's mood is shattered by the rumors brought by Franco, and the scenes of his youth come back to his mind, with sweetness, pain and remorse, which make him feel disrupted.

The officers also saw that the commander's heart had been disturbed, and they took their leave.

Herman walked out of the conference room with a frown, and he called out to Schmidt: "Michael, about that rumor......"

Schmidt shook his head and said, "Don't bother me with this kind of!"

"But it's important, isn't it?" Herman said.