Earlier in the day, the 2nd Swordsmen Regiment was stationed outside the city of Mandolia. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info

At Leonard's behest, Bran walked to Alonso's carriage and asked politely: "May I ask Your Excellency, why haven't the reinforcements arrived yet?" ”

When Alonso heard this, he replied angrily: "How could Ben Hou know? ”

Bran continued to ask politely: "But didn't you say that once we enter the Lars Empire, reinforcements will come to ensure everyone's retreat?" ”

Alonso's attitude finally did not become more and more badly responded: "It was His Majesty the Elven King who asked Ben Hou to say this. You ask Ben Hou. Ben Hou couldn't answer. But it can be seen from the disgusted expression on the marquis's face and the dust that keeps shaking in his hand. This guy is getting impatient.

Seeing this, Bran turned around and left the carriage with interest: "Thank you." ”

As soon as Bran returned to Leonard's side, he told the Great Swordsman: "Cleos didn't tell Alonso anything about reinforcements. ”

Leonard sighed with a grim expression: "It seems that we can only rely on ourselves. The other day, the cavalry that had slipped out of Mandoria was supposed to be a Frankish messenger. We were not able to intercept him. Reinforcements from the enemy are expected to arrive soon. Time is running out. ”

When Bran heard this, he expressed his concern: "If Cleos is not trustworthy. Reinforcements will definitely not come. What should we do? Retreat immediately? ”

Leonard's face was not relaxed at all, and he asked, "If we retreat now, it will definitely be a failure." The morale and morale of the officers and men will suffer a great blow. Do you think Frank will let go of this great opportunity to defeat our pursuers? Can we escape from the hinterland of the Lars Empire and ascend to heaven safely? ”

When Bran heard this, he asked tentatively, "You mean, take the risk of attacking?" ”

Leonard offers his own unique opinion: "We've all come this far anyway. It is up to people to plan things, and it is up to heaven to make things happen. Rather than sit back and wait for a long night, it is better to take Mandolia in one fell swoop before reinforcements from the Lars Empire arrive. Desperate to win. ”

When Bran heard this, he asked worriedly: "But we don't even know the number of defenders in Mandoria and the disposition of troops. Wouldn't it be too chaotic to take the risk of attacking now? ”

Leonard pondered for a moment, and then came up with an unusually bold plan: "How will you know if you don't try it?" After so many days of observation. No matter how provocative our army is outside the city. The number of defenders on the walls of Mandoria was always very scarce, and there were usually only two or three guards standing guard. If it weren't for the Imperial Army's ploy. The forces in the city should be quite empty.

Of course, this does not make us careless and careless. But our Second Swordsman Regiment has been teasing outside the city for so many days. In any case, the enemy will certainly relax psychologically. Tonight, our army will attack in its entirety, and make a tentative night attack on the city of Mandolia. Once successful, the tide is reversed. If the enemy is on guard. We can also retreat in an orderly manner under the cover of night. ”

Bran retorted, still reassuringly: "However, I still think this is too risky. If there are a lot of enemies and they are on guard. It is quite possible that our army will suffer unexpected losses as a result of this. ”

Leonard, however, refuted Bran's doubts with a series of rhetorical questions: "Then do you have any better way than this?" We don't even dare to make a tentative attack, so how can we find out the deployment of troops in the city? If you don't find out the number of defenders and the configuration of weapons, how should you fight the next battle? When the longbowman heard this, he couldn't think of a better way, so he nodded and agreed to the great swordsman's proposal.

Then, Bran walked up to Alonso's frame again and asked very politely: "Your Excellency, Marquis, our Second Swordsman Regiment has decided to launch a surprise attack on Mandolia City tonight. In order to ensure that the city is taken in one fell swoop, I would like to ask you to send more than 2,000 soldiers under your command to accompany our army on this military mission. ”

When Alonso heard this, he angrily stretched out a pale and thin arm from the car window, palms facing up, and asked loudly: "Where is the money?" ”

Bran was stunned by this sudden question, and it took him a long time to react, and he continued to ask cautiously: "Money... What do you mean? Is it asking for money? ”

Alonso frequently bumped his dry palm up and down a few times, and explained it confidently: "Do you still need to ask?" Benhou's guards were all hired for money. If you want to take them to war, take the money first! ”

Bran, as a nobleman with a strong sense of honor, was suddenly surprised by Alonso's statement, to the point of intolerability; turned to reprimand the half-dead man with extremely fierce words: "What!? It was the first time I had heard of a nobleman who went out on a campaign for his homeland, and when the enemy was in the present, he was willing to send troops to fight because he was willing to send troops to fight.

As the Marquis of the Republic of Vosfitta and the overseer of the Second Swordsmen, it is only natural and obligatory for you to send your subordinates to participate in the military operations of the Republic of Vosfitta and the Second Swordsmen. ”

When Alonso heard this, he was furious, picked up the dust whisk in his hand, pointed at Bran's nose and shouted fiercely: "You guy! Dare to teach Ben Hou such an arrogant lesson! Is this the attitude that you, a broken little nobleman from Bagram, should have when speaking to Benhou!? Benhou has been entrusted by His Majesty Cleos to serve as your overseer, which is a great blessing for your Second Swordsman Regiment.

His Majesty only ordered your Second Swordsman Regiment to attack Mandoria, but he never asked Benhou to do so, let alone let the more than 2,000 guards under Benhou's command come with him. Why were Benhou's guards sent by your Second Swordsmen? ”

Alonso was the Marquis of the Republic of Worthfitta, who owned a large fiefdom, and was the younger brother of the Duke of White. This Duke of White single-handedly controls the largest multinational trading consortium on the continent of Faroucion, the Five Elements Chamber of Commerce. Therefore, Alonso was not willing to take any risks and participate in the military operations of the Second Swordsmen; Instead, they tend to use the Second Swordsman Regiment to take the opportunity to make a lot of money in the Lars Empire under the premise of complete self-preservation.

As soon as the situation is unfavorable, Alonso will surrender. Rely on this guy's power and status. The Marquis thought that Clios and White would not hesitate to pay for him. The Lars Empire will definitely not treat him badly, and will only use Alonso as a bargaining chip in exchange for ransom and so on. Of course, the Marquis, who knew this well, would not send his own guards and the Second Swordsman Regiment to go on an adventure.

Seeing this, Bran completely dismissed all illusions of trying to persuade Alonso, and instead ran to a large rock nearby, and shouted enthusiastically to the more than two thousand marquis guards in front of him: "Brethren from the Republic of Vosfitta. Confronted with a formidable foe. Tonight, our Second Swordsman Regiment is going to attack Mandoria City at night.

The Marquis of Alonso refused to send you to fight with our army. Brothers, this battle is a matter of life and death. Moreover, once we conquered the capital of the Lars Empire, we made a first achievement. Everyone's future promotion and fortune are just around the corner. Aren't you all willing to contribute to your own future? ”

When Alonso's guards heard this, a raging fire immediately ignited in their hearts, and they all gathered towards the position where Bran was standing, and couldn't help but respond loudly: "We are all willing..."At this critical moment, who is not willing to fight to the death, get out of the treacherous environment, and seek to be promoted and prosperous in the future?

When Alonso heard this, he immediately ordered someone to carry him out of the carriage, waved the dust whisk in his hand arrogantly and arrogantly, and took turns pointing at the faces of more than 2,000 guards at the scene, threatening loudly and loudly: "What do you want!?" - Your master is Benhou! Benhou wants you to be born! that you may die! As the Marquis of the Republic of Vosfitta.

As long as you dare to disobey Benhou's orders and hook up with the guys of the Second Swordsman Regiment, you will definitely move your head. Do you still have the courage to talk about what credit is in front of Ben Hou's eyes? If you want to talk about merit, it is also reserved for Benhou by His Majesty! It is not the turn of the small leader of the Second Swordsman Regiment, nor the turn of you slaves. ”

When Alonso's guards saw this, they were all terrified, and they reached out to touch their necks, and they hung their heads in fear, and retreated behind them in panic, and they all fell silent. They all understand that Alonso himself is powerful and powerful, and he is very hard, and he always says everything about things, and there is only a dead end to oppose such a big nobleman. Seeing this, the marquis couldn't help but show a smug smile on his face. Seeing this, Bran only felt extremely disappointed in his heart.

Seeing this, Leonard walked up to Bran, patted the longbowman on the shoulder, and comforted, "Bran, this kind of person, unless you put your sword around his neck." Otherwise, he won't listen to you. ”

When Bran heard this, he still thought about the problem from the standpoint of the noble, and reminded Leonard: "Do you want to? He's a marquis! Coercing him with a sword is a felony under the laws of the Republic of Vosfitta. ”

Leonard put the big picture in mind to dispel Bran's concerns: "I promise not to do this." Because at this critical juncture, infighting will only become more and more unfavorable to us, and make the Lars Empire more advantageous. ”

In the evening of the same day, the group of the Second Swordsman Regiment took advantage of the bright moonlight, after a long period of lurking and crawling, chose a place where the enemy's defense was relatively lax, and approached the foot of the wall of Mandolia City. With a gesture made by Leonard. Several teams of mercenaries immediately threw the eight large wooden platoons they were carrying into the five-meter-wide moat of Mandoria City in front of them. Bang, bang...

Leonard looked up and looked above the city wall again for a while, and found that the enemy army still did not move, so he raised his sword and pointed forward: "Prepare to cross the river." ”

Suddenly, Leonard turned around and found that none of his men responded to this order. One by one, they stood in front of the eight wooden rows thrown into the moat, hesitated. It turned out that Kevin and Mel, who were the first and second captains respectively, hid far away from the back of the entire team out of fear, and pushed their adjutant forward to take charge of the command.

As a result, the mercenaries of the two brigades under their command began to stop. The scene is quite eerie. When the mercenaries of the other brigades saw this scene, they didn't know what was happening, so they stopped and continued to move forward.

When Leonard learned the specific situation, he was furious, turned around and went to Kevin and Mel to settle accounts, and shouted loudly, "Kevin! Mel! Where did you two guys die!? The deputy commander Bran commanded everyone to stay where they were.

At this time, on the brightly lit walls of Mandoria City, dozens of imperial mages and archers had quietly gathered. One of them, the commander wearing a robe and holding a wooden staff with a red spherical crystal inlaid at the top, noticed that the Second Sword Regiment had suddenly stopped moving forward, and asked in confusion, "Why did you stop?" Could it be..."

Another elderly commander, dressed in military uniform, with a command sword pinned to his waist, and a rank that looked a cut higher than the mage commander, thought that attacking at the current distance in the night would have little effect: "No matter what problems arise on the enemy's side." We'll have to wait before we act. ”

After Kevin and Mel heard Leonard's words scolding them from afar, they didn't dare to slack off at all, and hurriedly ran to the head of the regiment and replied loudly: "Commander! "Captain!"

As soon as Leonard saw Kevin and Mel, he scolded him sharply: "If you still treat me as your regimental commander and think that you are still a soldier of the Second Swordsman Regiment, don't give me a shame like a bastard." The Second Swordsman Regiment doesn't need soldiers like you. I, Leonard, don't have any subordinates like you. ”

When Kevin and Mel heard this, they immediately realized the seriousness of the problem, and replied in a tone that was almost about to cry: "Commander, we know that we are wrong...", "We shouldn't hide at the back of the line..."...

Hearing this, Leonard continued to shout in an extremely stern tone: "Don't say anything!" Knowing my mistake, rush to the front of the line like a soldier! The head of this regiment is not to blame for the past! Otherwise, you will take off this uniform of your own for me now!" ”

When Kevin and Mel heard this, they replied with a salute, "Yes!" "Yes!" Then they did not dare to hesitate, and ran back to the moat with Leonard. When the mercenaries saw that the regimental commander and the group leader rushed to the front of the team at once, they immediately regained their morale and became eager to try.

While waiting for Leonard and them, Bran noticed that some of the enemies in the city of Mandoria were lying on the side of the city walls and looking down. So, the longbowman said to the great swordsman and the others who had arrived, "Wait a minute. Now that we have reached the foot of the walls, we should be a little more cautious. "And then, smack! There was a bang. As he spoke, he threw one of the spell projectiles he had with him into the moat. - Let's take a look at the grass first.

Bran thinks that the Second Swordsman Regiment has almost reached the base of the walls of Mandoria City anyway. If the enemy's forces are indeed very small, and the garrison is lax; Even if they were aware of it at this moment, it was too late to stop the mercenaries from climbing the city wall. On the contrary, the enemy army is large in number and well prepared, and the risk of attacking the city at this time is too great. Therefore, the temptation to startle the snake is necessary. If the enemy does not react for a while, the city can be attacked. If there is a large number of enemies, you must retreat.

After hearing a loud noise, the mage commander, who was on the city wall, nervous and already highly nervous, could no longer hold back. Instinctively, he asked, and at the same time he lay on the edge of the city wall and began to look down: "What's the matter!?" ”

Standing near the mage commander, the older commander saw this, hurriedly stepped forward, also stood on the edge of the city wall, reached out and grabbed his colleague's arm, and hurriedly persuaded: "Nephew, don't be impulsive! ”

At this moment, Bran, who was crouching at the foot of the city wall, had already drawn the metal composite longbow in his hand, and was waiting for the enemy to lean out again in recklessness. The longbowman had already aimed his bow and arrow at the mage commander, when he suddenly noticed a higher-ranking enemy with his head and neck peeking out on the edge of the wall.

Bran didn't miss this fleeting opportunity. The commander of the defenders of Mandoria had not expected such a powerful sniper in the Second Swordsman Regiment. Sou! - Click! After two sounds. The neck of the elderly commander of the Lars Empire was pierced by a sharp arrow.

Seeing that his uncle, who had raised him like his father, was shot and fell, the mage commander of the Lars Empire shouted with great grief and indignation, and reached out to support the elderly commander: "Uncle!! His uncle could not utter any words at the moment, but made a non-impulsive gesture to his nephew, and closed his eyes forever.

The mage commander had lost his most basic reason at this moment, stood up, and shouted the order: "Attack! The whole army is attacking now! Hit me hard! ”

Then, one after another, spell flares were released from the hands of the mages on the city wall, and they burst above the heads of Leonard and the others, rendering the night by the moat as if it were day. Syllable... Syllable... Immediately afterward, the mages and archers at the head of the city launched a rotation of fire balls and flaming arrows against the second swordsman regiment. - Burning fireballs and flaming arrows rained down. Whew-Whew-Whew-Whew——...

Under the city wall, Leonard, who saw such a scene, was not afraid of danger, raised the sword in his hand, and commanded his subordinates with extraordinary calm and not panicked at all: "Retreat!" Fight back now! ”

Seeing the great momentum and preparation of the enemy army at the head of the city of Mandoria, Leonard had to completely give up the idea of attacking the city. After receiving the order from the commander, the mercenaries of the 2nd Swordsman Regiment retreated, and while retreating, they took out crossbows or short bows from behind them and returned fire at the enemy on the city wall. Mercenaries are not regular soldiers, and usually carry a crossbow or bow with them in case of emergency.

Leonard's unhurried and loud command immediately attracted the attention of the mage commander on the city wall. In order to avenge his uncle's murder, the mage commander immediately waved his hand and summoned one of their best archers, and ordered him to pull out an arrow dipped in poison from his quiver. Immediately afterwards, the commander raised his arm and pointed directly at Leonard, and loudly ordered a sniper: "Aim for me!" Shoot him! ——”

Standing beside Leonard, Kevin, who was usually more cautious and cautious, first noticed this strange move of the enemy on the city wall. I saw him shout, and he pushed away the big swordsman beside him: "Commander, be careful!" - "Follow, click! ——. A pitch-black arrow pierced Kevin's armor in an instant, and stuck it in the right shoulder of the First Captain.

Kevin then let out a scream: "Ah! ——”

Hearing this, Leonard hurriedly turned around and asked Kevin anxiously: "Kevin! What happened to you!? ”

After so many events since he broke away from the Vosfitta army, Kevin has become more and more like a soldier under the inspiration of Leona's moral spiritual strength. I saw that the first captain covered his wounds with a pale face, and replied with a strong pain: "It's okay." It's just an arrow in the shoulder. ”

Leonard realized that he had put himself, Kevin, and Mel in danger because of his excessive recklessness, and hurriedly shouted loudly: "Mel, let's retreat too!" ”

At this time, because the other mercenaries were desperately running and retreating. Only Leonard would stop from time to time to command. Kevin and Mel, the two younger brothers, followed the Great Swordsman without abandoning. Unconsciously, a situation has been formed in which the three of them are the queen of the large army. After all, these more than 3,000 mercenaries were not brought out by Leonard, and they were of low quality; It is not surprising that they tend to only care about saving their own lives when it is critical.

Seeing this, the mage commander standing on the city wall continued to roar hysterically: "Don't let any of them go!" Keep shooting me arrows! Kill one more counts! His unusually excited yelling had already caught Bran's attention, hidden under a nearby low tree. The longbowman's retinue of mercenaries remained vigilant and crouched beside his young master. Only Leonard and the three of them, plus Bran, remained in the rear of the large force.

Sou! —and then another razor-sharp arrow shot out of Bran's longbow and pierced the throat of the mage commander on the wall. Near the commander, the archer of the Lars Empire, who was about to cast the cold arrow again, saw that his boss was suddenly killed by an arrow, and he couldn't help but throw away his bow and arrow in fright, and squatted on the city wall with his head in his hands, trembling with fear.

With the two highest-ranking commanders killed in succession, the Lars Imperial Army on the walls of Mandoria was suddenly plunged into extreme fear and confusion. An inexplicable atmosphere of panic then permeated. Archers and mages began to shoot like headless flies. And after a random shot, they crouched down their bodies and began to dodge. No one dared to come out again.

As the enemy's attacks became more and more chaotic, the hit rate dropped dramatically. Leonard and Mel helped Kevin to keep up with the main force, and then successfully withdrew to the camp.

experienced such a chaotic battle. The Imperial Army of Lars lost two of their uncles and nephews to the commander of the city defenses. In addition to this, only a few members of the Imperial army suffered minor abrasions. Frank, who arrived that night, understood the situation and took over the post of commander of the city's defenses and began to take full charge of the defense of the city of Mandolia.

The emperor also issued an order: no one is allowed to shoot at the enemy at night at a long distance, lest he be plotted again. After the setback, the city defense troops of the Lars Empire were greatly encouraged by the presence of His Majesty the Emperor himself. Morale, which had been extremely low, was re-invigorated.