"If Theodoro's Black Madonna's banner appears in view of Mount Chackmak, David the Builder will inevitably descend and take an all-out offensive against us. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 In the military meeting in the tent, Gregor, the commander of the Gimagius Brigade, Diognes, the commander of the Bellerophon Brigade, Gaia, the commander of the Komaloy Cavalry Archery Regiment, Hajib, the commander of the Oghuz Cavalry Regiment, and Leotius, the commander of the Artillery Corps, gathered together to discuss the situation that was about to be faced.

He had previously boasted to the sleeping officer that "it would not be a problem to destroy the combined forces of Trabzon and Georgia." ”

But Haikou is Haikou after all, and any victory in this world will not be at your fingertips, and you have to go through some anxiety and consideration.

Theodoro's military strength is not too clear, but he still knows the strength of the builder David on the other side: in addition to the army garrisoned in the towns of Carlsburg and Chiart, he still has 15,000 soldiers of all colors, including archers, light cavalry and infantry soldiers, of which 3,000 royal soldiers and the same number of Cuman and Alan cavalry are the killer of the builder David.

Gawain had two incomplete brigades on this line, and because the attrition of the previous battles had not yet been fully replenished, the strength was now about 3,800 men in the Red Hand Brigade, 4,100 men in the Gemagis Brigade, and four cavalry regiments with a total of 2,200 cavalry and the main force of the artillery regiment.

In addition, Gawain also knew that the reason why the builder David on the opposite side was able to hold his breath so calmly was probably that a group of recruits would arrive in the near future to strengthen his strength.

I have the advantage of armament, but the other side has strong reinforcements and the upper hand in numbers.

There must be caution and a proper strategy.

Time is running out, and after this battle, he will be able to sweep the entire eastern territory safely and securely, and go back to have a third child with Anna.

Slowly, Gawain's fingers slid to the position of the "Cathedral of the Holy Apostles of Armenia" on the sand table, "This is the triangle where the Chakmak Hills, the Sanukh Mountains and the Karlsburg meet, and it is another low point - once the builder David launches a decisive battle against me, this will be the place where all sides will be in the middle of war." ”

The generals' eyes also focused on the tip of the finger of the chief guarantor, "We only have a detachment of the Red Hand Brigade here, and some of the shooting corps attached to the brigade. This means that if the builder David comes to attack with all his strength, it will be difficult to withstand it with these forces.

"I need them to be able to withstand it, because I will concentrate my forces to defeat Theodoro first, and time is of the essence." Gawain said in a deep voice and resolutely.

"Is it possible to place two brigades besieging Karlsburg with a detachment each?" Gregor asked.

Gawain looked at Diognis, the other party thought for a while, nodded in affirmation, "I am more aware of the forces in the city of Greagles, and I think General Gregor's proposal is feasible." ”

"Then go and spread the word to Branas now, and do it. In addition, I have equipped all the halberdiers and all the chariots with vans to the position of this cathedral, and Leotius is in charge of this line, and as for the twenty-four perfume bottles, seventeen of them without wheels will continue to be in Sanukh, and seven of them will be drawn by oxen, and they will also be sent to the cathedral to strengthen the garrison. Gawain said briskly, "But I also need to stay behind in the Sanukh camp, and I am taking care of my banner and baggage, so I need more soldiers ......."

"What about borrowing troops from the eastern front of Haddadi or Syrvan?"

Gawain shook his head, "It's useless." ”

While he was hesitating, exciting news came from outside him - Hercules, the commander of Yefandouni's brigade and the future "commander of the cavalry of the royal family of Greater Armenia", hastily sent two detachments of soldiers and horses, carrying lion flags, and had arrived less than thirty gua south of the city of Kars.

"Very well, I will leave the future revival of the state of Greater Armenia to Hercules." Gao Wenxu was happy, and immediately praised the young cavalry commander.

At this time, the battle line between the camp and the Basilica of the Holy Apostles was already worry-free, and Gawain personally pressed his hand on the shoulder of the commander of the artillery regiment, Leotius, "You must make good use of the power of our artillery and the fortress, and severely damage the hillbilly from the mountains of the Caucasus, so that I can relieve my worries about the decisive battle with Theodoro!" I entrust you with the general red hand flag and the big hospital flag. ”

Lyotius immediately said that the great guarantor should be completely reassured.

Then Gawain turned to Gregor, the commander of the Gimagis Brigade, "Listen, in my decisive battle with Theodoro, your Gimagis Brigade will be the absolute main force on the front line, I and the four detachments of the Red Hand Brigade will act as a reserve front, and the cavalry regiments of Muzafiadin, Hajib and Gaia will be the killer force." Theodoro will be known for his bravery and ferocity in the future, and his Trabzon peasant soldiers are also known as the only remaining elite of the ancient empire, the 'flower of the sea of Yuke', and the Gimagith brigade is ridiculed by them as a 'rabble of shepherds and vineyard farmers from Syria', so do you have confidence in this battle? I'm not reluctant - if you hesitate with Parni, I'll be on the front line with the Red Hand Brigade and let you be the backup. ”

"How could Parni and I, as well as the soldiers of the entire brigade, allow His Highness the Great Patron to stand on the front line in the face of the enemy's vile and weak arrows? We will let the unbeatable flower of the Ukxing Sea wither on the mountains of Karsgau! When the time comes, allow us to capture his Black Madonna banner and decorate the shining silver tassels of Gemaggis. "Gregor is in high spirits.

And his lieutenant, the Armenian warrior Parni, who had defected to Ruben at the time of Ruben's fall, also said eagerly, "Please believe us, after so long of fighting in the east and west, the Gimagis brigade has long been the sharpest sword on your belt. ”

Gawain bowed, "Then I will put your brigade on the front line, and remember the most basic principle - Theodoro will definitely not be able to continue to fight from a long distance, so you must hold on to it, and hold them back until the enemy has a fatal flaw." ”

"Yes."

"Finally, the order was sent to Branas, who continued to take charge of the two brigades of the siege on the southern front, and until the decisive battle had begun, it was forbidden to move positions indiscriminately, and to give me only a fierce attack on the main fort of Cals. The combined forces of Haddadi and Sylvan, reinforced by Caesar's mounted cavalry regiment and artillery contingent, also had to bite the flank of the enemy's Chiarte town and prevent the other side from moving calmly. ”

After nightfall, Gawain, who had finished the meeting, stood on the heights of Sanukh and looked around, looking at the blue glassy sky of the Great Armenian Plateau, there was no brilliant sunset today, the weather was unusually cool, as always, the dry climate of the plateau, which was completely conducive to the development of all kinds of firearms - as for the sun, it was only twice a circle lower than the day, like a burning red egg, slowly sinking into the peaks of the Great Wall, standing shoulder to shoulder.

Behind it, the Trenzak Corps of Engineers had expanded larger fortifications around the Basilica of the Holy Apostles, and had hoisted door cannons in the transept of the cathedral.