…………

"Quick, clean up the battlefield immediately, take everything you can take, and burn everything you can't take. First of all, all those prisoners were imprisoned and left to the disposal of the Chinese military camp. "On the front battlefield of the Liberation Army, an officer is giving orders to the soldiers who have just finished a skirmish.

Early this morning, the command camp of the Liberation Army received a battle report from the front, saying that several troops of about 100 troops of about 100 people had been sent to various parts of the front line in the direction of Thorne to support the Western Army. When the army of the Guangfu Army fought with this army, it was found that they were not the main force of the Western Army at all. According to the captives, these "troops" were farmers and homeless people around the city of Thorne, who did not know how to use even the most basic weapons, and went to the front line to fight just to have a bite to eat and not starve to death on the streets.

…………

"Guys, what do you think about this?" Flender, who had just finished a battle at the front, was walking down a country road in the Saône province in armor and a broadsword in hand, and asked the core officers who followed him all the way.

"Lord Marquis, do you mean the peasants and the homeless?"

"Yes!"

"Lord Marquis, Bernard is clearly secretly closing his main army towards the city of Thorn in preparation for the defense of the city. These farmers sent to the front were sent to their deaths. An officer behind Flender analyzed.

"You're right, Bernard is sinister enough, more cunning than a fox." Flender wiped the blood from his sword with linen, and as the commander of the Liberation Army and the future ruler of the country, he had few chances to kill his enemies with his own hands.

"No matter how cunning the fox is, it can't escape the eagle's eyes in the end." Another officer said.

Flender didn't speak, just kept walking......

"The battle on the periphery is now almost over, and now it's time for us to worry about attacking Thorne."

Several officers behind him glanced at each other, their faces mixed with joy and worry.

"Immediately bring men to wipe out the remnants of the enemy, and try not to let them escape into the city of Thorne. At the same time, troops were sent to guard the castle points that had been captured to prevent the enemy from sneaking attacks. ”

"Yes, Lord Marquis!"

"Lord Marquis, what about the captives?" An officer asked.

"Kill them all."

With that, Flender stopped, turned around, and expertly inserted his broadsword into the scabbard. The officers stood upright, with no sympathy on their faces.

"Also, let my uncle, Viscount Galvin, prepare the food and grass for the march into Thorne. This time was different from the past, after we penetrated deep into the hinterland of the Saône, the battle line was stretched too long, and it was difficult to replenish the grain and grass in the enemy's territory. The city of Thorne is also a city with high walls and thick walls, so I am afraid that it will be difficult to conquer in a short time, so we must be prepared for a long-term siege. ”

"Also, send someone to escort the siege equipment that has been prepared, and follow the army to the city of Thorne as it marches towards the province of Thorne."

"I give you a day to clear the way of the army. After a day, I will personally lead the Restoration Army to the city of Thorne. There was not a hint of doubt in Flender's tone.

"Die to the death!"

"Die to the death!"

…………

At this time, near an estate on the southern side of the city of Thorne, a day's walk away, the outpost of the Wells Regiment had just engaged in a skirmish with the Thorne soldiers who were holding back the Southern army here. Nearly twenty of the enemy were killed, five were taken prisoner, and six escaped.

This was the third time that the Wells Corps had encountered a blockade on their way north, but the number of people blocking was getting smaller and smaller. So this small block would not have any effect on the marching speed of the Wells regiment.

"My lord, they're coming~" A Welsh legionnaire who was cleaning up the battlefield saw Art walking in front of the team and immediately ran forward to take Art's horse.

"Your Excellency." Angus saw that Art had arrived, and hurried over.

"Sergeant Major, thank you for your hard work. Are our people damaged? Art asked with concern.

"One infantryman killed, three lightly wounded." Angus wiped a handful of blood from his face, remorseful as he looked at himself.

"Sergeant Major, treat the wounded immediately and bury the dead. May our Lord bless them. Amen~"

"Amen~" Angus also bowed his head in prayer.

"Ron, bring the wine over and quench the sergeant's thirst." Art said to Ron.

"Thank you, sir."

The order was given, and the army rested on the spot for a while. Then call all the officers above the flag captain over. ”

"Yes, sir."

"The whole army rests on the spot~"

"The whole army rests on the spot~"

With Ron's order, the order to rest was passed from the front to the back of the line.

In the tent of the command camp of the Chinese army, Yate waited for all the officers to arrive and began to arrange the next tasks.

“…… We are now only a day's journey from the city of Thorne, and the Liberation Army to the east is also clearing the remaining remnants, and it is only a day's journey from the city of Thorne. By order of the Marquis, the Welsh Legion must arrive three miles south of the city of Thorne by sunset to-morrow, and the Restoration Army will also be encamped in the woods a mile east of the city. ”

"Great~"

"yes~"

"But," Art continued, looking at the officers who were discussing in a low voice, "and the Thorne army will certainly not let us approach the vicinity of Thorne easily. ”

The officers were silent.

"Your Excellency, you mean that we will definitely clash with them on the outskirts of Thorne." Odo, who had not said a word just now, suddenly spoke.

"Otto, you're right. Bernard is not an easy guy to deal with, how could he easily let us get close to the city of Thorne. It's like the meat in your bowl, will you let others take it easily? Art made an analogy.

"It's up to him to see if his skull can withstand my hammer!" Otto's words caused everyone to burst into laughter.

"So I guess Bernard also has a hammer for us outside the city of Thorne."

"Alright, let's assign the task. Oto, you are responsible for the baggage of the legion, and you will gather the vacated wagons and collect food from various manor villages along the way. Although we have brought our own grain and grass baggage, we have also purchased some in the city of Kodor, plus 50,000 pounds of grain from the Count of Kodor, so we don't have to worry about food and grass in the short term. However, the city of Thorne will certainly not be so easily attacked. Therefore, we must be prepared for a long-term siege, and when we have food in our hands, the soldiers will not panic. ”

"My lord, don't worry, leave the problem of grain and grass to me." Otto commanded.

"In addition, we are getting closer to the city of Thorne, and the enemy is likely to send a large number of cavalry to attack. Therefore, the sergeant major and Lusignnan were responsible for leading the cavalry to defend the perimeter of the army. ”

"Yes, sir."

"And one more, and most important. The enemy is likely to come and burn our grain and hay, and once we are left without food, we will not be able to move an inch. Therefore, it is necessary to send heavy troops to protect the grain and grass escorted by the baggage team. This task was left to Kazak. ”

"Yes, don't worry, sir." Kazak stood up and said.

"The rest of the commanders, you have to control the soldiers under you, we have been fighting for a long time, the soldiers will inevitably have strange feelings, the commanders must firmly control the hearts of the soldiers with the assistance of the ideological and political officer......

"Is the mission clear to everyone?"

"Clear!"

"Okay, give the order to the whole army to go. Goal, Thorne City! Art pointed to the north.

"Yes, sir." And they all stood up and took the command.

…………

A day later, both the South Wales Regiment and the Liberation Army in the east arrived at their destinations as scheduled. The Legion of Wells and the Legion of Midsummer were stationed in a clearing three miles south of the city of Thorne, surrounded by long-destroyed wheat fields. The camp of the Restoration Army was located in a wheat field one and a half miles east of the city of Thorne, and to the south of the camp was a dense forest, small but large enough to hide an army of five hundred men.

As the two armies approached the city of Thorne, Thorne's army continued to attack. Fortunately, the losses caused were not too great, and the food and grass of the accompanying army were also heavily guarded, and the Thorne soldiers who attacked the army could not get close.

…………

Welsh Regiment station. After arranging the defense around the camp, Art instructed Ron to invite Viscount Leonde, the leader of the Midsummer Legion, into his tent.

After receiving a secret letter from Flender, the Longxia Mountain People's Legion went out of Longxia under the leadership of Viscount Leonde to Marsiburg to join the army of Arter, and played an important role in the elimination of the southern army of Kodor. Although it was only a few mountain people who stayed behind and could not catch up with the regular army that followed Flender on the expedition, Phoenix was still impressed by the bravery of these people. The Hill Legion later took part in the encirclement of the northern army of Kodor, and then followed the Wells Army north to the city of Kodor and then north to the city of Thorn.

As a strong army, Art certainly wanted the Midsummer Mountain Folk Legion to stay by his side. But now that Flender was east of the city of Thorne, there was no reason for Art to command the army to fight for himself. Can only be returned to Flender.

"Sir, Lord Leonde is here." Ron, who was outside the tent, said to Art.

"Viscount Leonde, please come in." Art beckoned Leond to his tent. "Ron, serve the wine."

"Yes, sir."

"Viscount Leonde, thank you for your continued support of me." Art said sincerely.

"Mistress Art, you're being so polite. We are all serving the new king, and we can't talk about support. Leonde said bluntly.

"You're right, we're all serving the new king. Come, I wish you victory in this war, cheers! ”

"Cheers!"

With that, the two of them drank the wine in their glasses in one gulp.

"Viscount Leonde, now that the Marquis has arrived to the east of Thorne City, what are your plans?" Art asked tentatively as he put down his glass.

"I am already under the nose of the Marquis, of course, with the army to join the new monarch and accept his command." Leonde said without thinking.

Art had hoped that Leond would have stayed in his army, but when Leond said this, it was no longer difficult for him to be strong.

"Viscount Leonde has a point. It just so happens that I'm going to ask the Marquis for my life, so let's go over together. ”

"Yes, Viscount Art."

After deciding to go to the Flanders camp with the Longxia Legion led by Leonde, Art temporarily handed over the affairs of the legion to Angus and Otto to be jointly responsible. He led Ron and his guards to the Flemish army command tent east of Thorne.

They were followed by 20,000 pounds of grain and grass and 30,000 Finney's military expenses provided by Art to Flender......