On the high podium, General French stood silently. There was no joy or sorrow on his face, and he was calm.

The line of defense he had carefully laid out had been breached by Aberdeen's hoplite troops. Little by little, the enemy is steadily advancing, widening the gap, ******** the forces, and widening the gap...... And so on and so forth.

If this momentum continues, this defensive position will soon fall completely.

This level set up by Taranto is an integrated fortification. Supporting and covering each other in each section of the defense line can greatly exert the defender's firepower output, inhibit the attacker's breakthrough momentum, and make it impossible for them to exert their full strength.

In this small nameless place, there is no particularly advantageous geographical advantage that can be used to hold off the Aberdeen army for so long, and the layout of the defense line and the command of the army of the famous generals of Riga are indeed indispensable.

But there are pros and cons.

General Frankie's arrangement and full mobilization and exertion of the combat effectiveness of every soldier are indeed very remarkable. But from another point of view, it can also show that every fighter is running at full capacity, and the strings in the body are already tightened. In addition to the combat tasks that have long been assigned, there is no room for anything else.

Therefore, when a certain point of the entire line of defense is broken by the opponent, the defensive positions on both sides are quickly affected. The copper wall that seemed impregnable one moment was like ice and snow splashed by boiling hot water the next moment, melting and breaking in an instant.

On the makeshift command platform, Taranto's generals were as anxious as ants on a hot pot, constantly rubbing their hands and pacing, but no one spoke, only glanced at General Frankie standing at the front from time to time.

This Riga man was experienced and commanded, and had already earned considerable prestige among the rebel army of Taranto. And during this time, the army has achieved a series of achievements under his command, which has pushed his personal prestige to the peak.

By now, every order of General French could be transmitted to any part of the army. Even without the special explanation of Grand Duke Kochis, the generals at all levels did not slack off and did not discount in any way.

In the minds of the Taranto soldiers, General French's orders were divine decrees and truths. Just do as he commands, and they don't need to worry about anything else.

Because of this, even if the battle situation ahead is critical, the anxiety in the hearts of the generals has reached the extreme. But General French did not speak, and no one dared to speak first.

"According to the original plan, retreat!"

In the midst of years of torment, Taranto's generals finally waited for clear instructions.

It's just that the command is still a little far from their expectations......

One of the generals behind him hesitated, but finally came out of the ranks.

"General French, the sons can hold on. Is it a little longer to eat the enemy's hoplites first? ”

The position that was broken through belonged to the external strength and the middle trunk, which was a hard bone on the surface, but in fact it was the weakness and weakness of the entire defense line. Once the enemy sees through the reality, the entire defense line will face collapse and collapse, and the only way for your side to retreat is to go.

The people present were all high-ranking generals in Taranto's army, and everyone knew the whole battle plan very well in their hearts, and they didn't think there was anything strange about General French's orders. After all, retreat was originally a part of the battle plan that had already been set.

However, in the final analysis, the operational strategy is only a directional thing, and when it comes to specific operations, some details are negotiable. For example, in the timing of the retreat.

Especially in the face of such a "big cake" as the whole hoplite in Aberdeen, no general in Taranto can remain calm.

The current situation on the battlefield is naturally more favorable to Aberdeen. After the key breakthrough, the army can pour in from the gap, cut through the entire defensive line, and then come back to attack the defenders from the rear.

No matter how well General Frankie's defensive line was set up and how well the fortifications were built, it was only against the enemy in front of him. If the attack comes from behind, they have no defense.

It can be said that Aberdeen's victory is a foregone conclusion. Even if Frankie is possessed by the god of war at this moment, he is powerless to reverse the situation.

As the biggest contributor to this battle, the hoplites who served as the main force of the attack were not in a good situation now.

Although they broke through the fortifications built of earth, they failed to break through the "defensive line" composed of the flesh and blood of Taranto's warriors, and they were already surrounded by many people.

The retreating soldiers who never gave up their resistance, the archers and mages who attacked from afar, and the defenders who flanked each other, inflicted casualties on the hoplites at every turn.

At least until the follow-up troops arrived to reinforce them, they had to face a constant siege, being beaten to the ground by the Taranto soldiers around them.

If Taranto's retreat could have been a little later, and with a little more blood, to wipe out the hoplites in the encirclement in one fell swoop would be tantamount to cutting off one of John's old boy's arms, so that even if he won the war, he would not be able to laugh.

"Retreat."

General French didn't even look at the man, "Same order, I don't want to say it a third time." ”

"Yes!" The general's whole body trembled, and he hurriedly bowed down to receive the order, and hurriedly turned around and went down.

Moments later, Taranto's formation began to slowly retreat, giving way to the position they had been holding onto.

Frankie stood still for a moment, watching the retreat of the troops in an orderly manner, and did not show too many flaws. Only then did he nod his head and turned around and got off the high platform.

The Taranto generals hurriedly followed him and left.

In the blink of an eye, there was no longer a single figure on the huge command platform.

……

Brilliant empire, imperial capital, inside the imperial palace.

"Your Majesty, the old man and the others are here to resign this time."

With a serious face, the cardinal archbishop of the Holy See of Light, Garrincha spoke.

Opposite him, is His Majesty the King of the Glorious Empire, Beckenbauer? Alexandra.

"Lord Garrincha only came here yesterday and is leaving today. But this king did not entertain well and neglected the distinguished guests? ”

Nagarincha didn't know if he was born with a serious look, or if he deliberately kept a straight face, feeling as if everyone owed him money.

Fortunately, his words were quite polite.

"Your Majesty is serious. If possible, the old man really wants to stay here for a year and a half. But as servants of the Lord, preaching the gospel of the Lord to the world and displaying the glory of the Lord is our lifelong mission engraved in the depths of our souls. Therefore, I had to live up to His Majesty's kindness. Please also ask Your Majesty Haihan. ”

His Majesty the King nodded: "In that case, this king will not force you to stay." When you first arrive in our country, you may not be familiar with the customs and roads of our country, do you need a guide from this king? ”

The cardinal waved his hand, rejecting His Majesty's kindness.

"Don't bother Your Majesty, we came out this time to travel the world, understand and be familiar with the customs and folklore of various places, and there is no fixed destination. As long as Your Majesty gives you a warrant, so that the officials in your country will not be misunderstood, and we will be arrested as spies of the Riga. ”

"In that case, this king is not reluctant, just according to the will of Lord Garincha. But adults should also know that we are at war with the Riga Empire, and there is a small number of shameless people in the country, who have been bewitched by the enemy, and have defected to the enemy's camp. In the territory of those rebels, the king's warrant may not only be useless, but may also cause trouble for Lord Garrincha. Please also pay more attention to this point. ”

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, if you want to fight against the army, of course a few of us don't have the ability. But if you only want to protect yourself, don't say that the rebels of your country, even if they change the elite troops of the Riga Empire, they will not want to keep us. ”

When Garrincha said this, there was a hint of anger in his proud tone, apparently remembering some experience on the way over.

His Majesty's face remained impassive, still smiling gently.

"That's very good."

Cardinal Nagarincha really didn't seem accustomed to this kind of diplomatic courtesy, and after a few more small talks, when he got the king's edict, he immediately stood up and took his official leave.

King Beckenbauer made a little stay, but Cardinal Garrincha was adamant. His Majesty the King did not insist, and personally sent the group to the gate of the main hall and waved goodbye.

Seeing the Bright Sect and his party drift away, they slowly disappeared out of sight. His Majesty withdrew his gaze and turned back to the palace.

A moment ago, his face was warm as spring, but in an instant it turned into a cold winter.

An official who had been accompanying him said indignantly: "The people of this Bright Sect are too arrogant, Your Majesty treats each other with such sincerity, but they have such an attitude. He Garincha is just a cardinal archbishop, and those who don't know think it's the Pope of the Holy See of Light in person! ”

King Beckenbauer suppressed the anger in his heart and replied lightly.

"The Holy See of Brightness is the number one religion in the Oss Continent, and the kings of the Holy Empire who are second to none in the continent have to act according to their Pope's face. It's not surprising that the people below speak and act casually. ”

The official just couldn't get used to the arrogant attitude of Garrincha and the others, and couldn't help but complain. Seeing that His Majesty the King, who had always been calm, commented on the Holy See of Light in such a mocking tone, he knew that this Supreme of a Country was also choked with anger. Don't open your mouth at the moment, so as not to add fuel to the fire.

It is important to know that His Majesty's tone was not very good, but what he said was not bad at all. If the words spoken here are spread out and cause dissatisfaction and hostility among the Holy See of Light, it will be a catastrophe at this critical moment.

This side closed his mouth, but another official over there said worriedly: "What Galincha said is good, but he just traveled the world and observed the people's feelings. Who knows if they have other ideas, taking advantage of the fact that our country is in a period of crisis, to turn the glorious empire into another holy empire. Your Majesty must not be overlooked! ”

His Majesty stepped over to his dragon chair and sat down with a bang.

Feeling the anger rising in the heart of His Majesty, a group of officials stood below, and they did not dare to speak again.

The arrogance and rudeness of Garrincha and the others made King Beckenbauer unhappy, but this was a trivial matter after all, and the past was over. But it was the purpose of their trip that made him suspicious and worried.

The Riga Empire is now hostile to the Brilliant Empire and the Holy Empire. In the spirit of the enemy of the enemy, even if he can't be a friend, he is also a worthy object to win over and trap, His Majesty Beckenbauer was quite pleased with the arrival of Garrincha and his party. I thought it was ushering in a powerful helper, but now it looks more like a wolf with ill intentions.

On the condition that the Holy See of Light be allowed to establish churches and preach freely in the territory of the Glorious Empire, in exchange for the help of the Holy Empire?

Please, are you two already at war? Although there has been no major battles for some time, small frictions and clashes have occurred from time to time. Any one of them will cause a big war in an instant. Are you Garrincha too embarrassed to make this a condition?

Besides, what will be the final result of allowing the Holy See of Light to preach freely? Just look at the Holy Empire today.

If the Holy Empire is the most powerful country on the continent, probably the vast majority of people will not object. But if the king of the Holy Empire is the most boring of all the kings of all the countries on the continent, then it is estimated that everyone, including the king of the Holy Empire, will agree.

Just because above his head, there is also a Taishang Emperor.

Legend has it that the Pope of the Holy See can appoint and dismiss the Holy Empire's kings at will. This may be an exaggeration. But if the Holy See of Light is determined to deal with His Majesty the King, then the throne of this one country is firmly seated.

It is for this reason that even everyone knows that accepting the Holy See of Light can greatly enhance the strength of the country. However, all the countries on the mainland are afraid of it, and they are strictly guarded against it, refusing to let them in.

If it weren't for King Beckenbauer's view that Garrincha and his party were less than 10 people, it would not have looked like they had come to preach. Coupled with the fact that the situation is sensitive now, the Brilliant Empire really does not have the confidence to tear its face with the Holy See of Light at this moment. Otherwise, even the so-called "traveling the world and observing the people's feelings" will be strictly rejected by His Majesty the King.

There is no diplomacy for a weak country!

Looking at the cowering ministers below, His Majesty the King sighed in his heart.

Look at Garrincha's contemptuous tone and attitude towards the rebels. There are only a few people in themselves, but they dare not take the enemy's army in their eyes. What kind of attitude will he have towards the army of the glorious empire?

You know, not so long ago, the Taranto rebels were part of the Empire!

Alas~

His Majesty the King frowned, only to feel exhausted.