After three days of marching through the plains and hills of Tulucas, the new Guards Army swelled again from 16,000 men at the time of departure to 21,000 men. The new 5,000 men were the routs of the three armies of the Guards along the way.

Most of these routs claimed to have been scattered by the enemy, and the first request after seeing the three guards was often food. In winter, the temperature in Tulucas has dropped to around freezing, and it is difficult to find food in the wasteland, and there are no crops to feed the fields. Close to the two large cities of the Negru Republic, Stranwood has been recaptured by the Negru Republic, and the defeated soldiers are afraid to go. Longford was further away, the situation was unknown, and the routs were too lazy to go. As for the three cities near the Negro Republic, these deserters, who were deserters, did not want to go at first because they were afraid of court-martials. Later, however, they had more people and less food, and after many clashes over food, the leaders of the rout realized the seriousness of the matter. They have begun to move to areas controlled by the Ankenrein Empire, hoping to get enough food. The appearance of the three armies of the Guards only advanced the timing of their return to the army.

Prince Eliot and Vincent Navley, chief of staff of the Guards, didn't have much energy to care about the rout. They sent people to briefly inquire about the origin of the defeated troops and their units, and then threw them all into the newly formed Third Division of the Third Guards Army, and let them walk at the front of the line. This is the punishment for deserters, who have to take the risk of touching the enemy if they want food.

Fortunately, the three-day journey did not encounter a large force of the enemy, but the small group of scouts came and went from time to time, and the light cavalry squad of the 2nd Division of the 3rd Guards Army exchanged several rounds with them and drove them away. Seeing that the deep winter is approaching, both sides have lost the mind of the general battle, and are just monitoring each other's actions through frequent scout activities.

Three days later, the newly formed Guards Army found the Fifth Army of the Western Theater of Operations, fortified in Thorny Hills, as well as the remnants of the Second Army, the Third Army, and the Fourth Army in charge of Scat Province, who had fled all the way from Strongwood and the Tulucas Line further west, leaving behind a bare man. These men, who together were less than 100,000 men, were reorganized into the new Second Legion with 12,000 men, the new Third Legion with 48,000 men, and the New Fourth Legion with 30,000 men and 2,000 men by Bill Claflin, the commander of the Fifth Legion.

"These people can't fight anymore......"

Gastens rode his horse and walked with the staff of the three armies of the Guards in the tents that dotted the land. Knowing that Prince Eliot had survived and had returned with Longford's team, the Commander of the Fifth Legion arranged an impromptu reception banquet at the Fifth Legion's military headquarters. And from the garrison of the New Guards Army to the headquarters of the Fifth Army, you will just pass through the camp of the New Fourth Army.

"It's not that we can't fight, it's just that we don't have the heart", Erica Russell and Gastens walked side by side, "After all, we haven't fought in more than 800 years, these people are strictly new recruits, and those who survive now are considered veterans, if they have some time to retrain, they will be better than recruits." ”

"I just don't know if I have time......"

Gastens tightened his cloak. The temperature has dropped again in the past two days, and it is estimated that deep winter will come soon. At that time, if the logistics are not strong, the Fifth Army and the other hundreds of thousands of people who have built a defensive line here may not even be able to guarantee training.

On the way to the headquarters of the Fifth Legion, Gastens could see the defensive line built by the Fifth Legion and the three newly formed legions. It was a chest-high breastwork, and a thick plank that served as a mobile shield. Judging from the arrangement of these planks, the Iron Shield Front used by Ankenrein against the Sixth Army was obviously known to the rear. And in front of that long, endless breastwork, there were at least two identical black walls, winding like three long snakes in the snow-mixed hills.

"It looks like I'm going to hold on to it," Gastens shared his opinion with Erica beside him, "With so many people, nearly 200,000 people, what about logistics?" Got in touch with the rear? ”

"It should be, I heard that the Seventh Combat Readiness Army, which was originally in charge of Strandwood, is now in charge of logistics, otherwise Commander Claflin would not dare to build a defensive line in such a deserted place."

The two chatted for a while about what they had seen and heard on this front, and then arrived at the headquarters of the Fifth Army Corps. Unlike the tent that Gastens expected, this military headquarters turned out to be a wooden building with a large footprint. At the front of the building, a courtyard was enclosed with a wooden fence, and in the middle of the courtyard were many three-meter-high wooden stakes, with horizontal iron rods hanging from the top of the stakes, and on the iron rods hung bright pyroxene, which emitted light and heat. A thick canvas raised high around a wooden fence envelops the courtyard and shields it from the chilling wind.

"This ...... What a luxury......"

The first impression of the Fifth Army was very bad for Gastens, and the battle was fought like this, didn't Bill Clavlin have a sense of urgency? On the front line where food and pyroxene are all tense, how dare you hold such a luxurious banquet?

"Duke Claflyn, Golden Lion, have you ever heard of that name?"

Erica and Gastens entered the courtyard and immediately felt a warm current. The uniformed general, who had been waiting at the door for a long time, laughed and stepped forward, took Prince Eliot's arm, and walked into the military headquarters first. The retinue that had followed Eliot was scattered around the courtyard, resting while waiting for the appearance of the host and the guest of honor.

"Named the Grand Duke? What is the background? ”

Gastens was somewhat familiar with the name, he seemed to have heard of this man in his first life, but it was too long for him to remember the specific information.

"Well, the title of the Grand Duke. This general is the son of Henry Claflin, Grand Duke of the Golden Lion, who has lived in the top society since he was a child, how can he let himself be wronged? In this way, it can be regarded as the product of his compromise after lowering countless standards. ”

"How did he get his title? There has been no war for more than 800 years, and it is difficult for the army to produce a named Grand Duke, right? ”

"Not his father, it's his ancestors. It is said that before the establishment of the magic equilibrium, his ancestor Whittington Claflin once followed the archmage to conquer the world, and also witnessed the establishment of the magic guide equilibrium, and their family's title of the Golden Lion Grand Duke is hereditary, and the Claflin family is also known as the Golden Lion family, don't you know? ”

Gastens shook his head, he really didn't know the gossip. In his path, these top-level characters will sooner or later become his enemies, and he has limited interest in the stories of these people. He dragged Erica to the cold table, where he found only sausages, sausages, and cured meats, as well as some white and black bread, and not much of the nobles' favorite snacks. But even so, the food was delicious for Gastens who had fled all the way. He tried to be as reserved as he could, took two pieces of white bread, sandwiched a sausage into slices, and devoured it heavily. Beside him, Erica, like him, had already begun to feast in large chunks, completely forgetting his cultivation as a baron.

The good quality meal lasted for half an hour, after which Prince Eliot and Bill Claflin, the commander of the Fifth Legion, appeared together and spoke separately. The content is nothing more than that the battle situation is difficult, but there is still hope, and everyone must hold on and wait for victory to come. As Gastens listened, he continued to stuff something into his stomach, and he almost missed the information about reinforcements from the rear.

“…… More than 400,000 troops are training, and our factories are working overtime to produce, whether it's clothes, food, or weapons, we're only going to get more and better. Stay through the depths of winter, and wait until next spring, and we will use Anken Rein's horn to let the sissies on the other side know what despair is! ”

Gastens had to admit that Bill Claflin's speech was still very inflammatory, and he listened to it with some enthusiasm. But after the surge, only a full stomach and a faint worry remained. The somewhat offbeat, somewhat lavish reception lasted a full three hours, and the soldiers who served as makeshift attendants served five times before they filled the bellies of the accompanying personnel. After dinner, it was getting late, and Gastens said goodbye to Erica first, and went to the 7th Combat Reserve Army to find someone.

Now that Strongwood has been taken away by the enemy, the brothers he left behind in Strongwood to guard the factory at that time, I don't know what to do?

"Oh, little Gas, what a blessing it is for you to come back alive! Seeing you at the party today, don't mention how happy I am! ”

Frank Lauwell, commander of the 7th Combat Readiness Army, also attended the afternoon reception and chatted with Gastens. It was then that Gastens and Lowll agreed to meet for the evening.

"Tell me, what's the matter with you? As long as I can help you, I will never refuse! ”

Lowwell has a good impression of Gastens, who somewhat sees Gastens as his own because of Danny Carey's connections. Moreover, the steam rifle with his name given to him by Gastens was also regarded as a treasure by him and carried with him.

"Don't dare, don't dare, how dare you work general", Gastens said modestly, asking about his partner's current situation, "...... It's my brothers who didn't make it, and they were still taking care of that factory when they left, I don't know if they're okay now? Can it be nearby? ”

"Yes, righteous enough, it's hard for you to remember those people," Lawrwill patted Gastens on the shoulder, "don't worry, they're not dead." But these boys are not very obedient, and when we retreated, we wanted to kill all the workers in your factory, after all, they knew how your rifles were made, and if they left them to the enemy, it would cause a big disaster. But your little brothers stalked me and forced me in. They are now under my command, the fourth company of the fourth regiment of the second brigade, and those workers are considered their prisoners of war, usually helping to repair the wall or something, although life is not good, but basically not dead, it is quite rare. ”

"These stinky boys, they're really ignorant! I'm sorry for the trouble Shogun! Thank you for the general's shirt! ”

When Gastens heard this, he breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and at the same time pinched a handful of sweat. He asked the location of his old subordinates and decided to rush over immediately. Lowell persuaded him a few times, but he didn't persuade him, so he went. Anyway, it's just over a kilometer away, so there's nothing to worry about.

Leaving the tent of the Seventh Army, Gastens felt a warm heart, although he had only been with those men for less than three months, but now he recalled it as if he were his own brothers, and he had great joy to learn that they were alive. He found his way in the darkness of the night and ran. The crisp air rushed into his lungs with his movements, making him tremble slightly with excitement.

I'm about to meet my brothers!

But at that moment, a white, bright thunderbolt flashed in the sky. Gastens stopped and looked up at the sky. The sky looked dark and dreary, and the moon that had just hung high in the sky was only a dim halo behind the clouds.

"Poof—"

Not far away, there was the sound of something landing. Gastens followed the prestige, but could not see anything clearly. He turned the pyroxene street lamp in his hand and shone it in the direction from which the sound came, but all he could see was the black and white ground.

"Poof—"

Another crash, this time from behind Gastens. He turned around, lit the streetlight, and finally found the culprit who made the sound.

It was a fist-sized block of ice. The moment he saw the ice, Gastens felt the hairs on his body stand on end. He stood up and quickly looked left and right, and found that he had just left the camp of the 7th Combat Reserve Army, and some distance from the camp of the 4th Regiment of the 2nd Brigade that he wanted to go to. Without the slightest hesitation, Gastens turned around and ran wildly towards the camp behind him.

"Puff-puff-"

More voices were heard, and the frequency of the hail falling from the sky gradually intensified, and the running Gastens was hit on the shoulder by one of them, and his heart ached.

In the distance, he could already see the glow of pyroxene at the entrance of the camp. The guards hid under the canopy of the sentry post and watched him from afar.

"Quick! Fast! ”

They waved at Gastens and shouted. Gastens didn't have time to respond, he ran as fast as he could, until he felt like his lungs were bursting. The hail of hail that grew denser and denser smashed beside him, in front of him, behind him, and beat a dull drum on the ground.

Finally, gasping for breath, Gastens rushed into the sentry post. The guards gave him his place and watched with him at the falling hail outside the outpost. The hail smashed shallow pits of various sizes into the ground, and gradually piled up.

Behind them, the camp was boiling over. The soldiers began to shout, howl. The soldiers who had not had time to hide in the tents and the guards who were patrolling began to look for cover. In the darkness of the night, the falling hailstones smashed deep pits of various sizes into the ground, and also smashed dense drumbeats on the veils above their heads. Faintly, Gastens could hear the shouts of the soldiers running frantically behind him.

"Deep winter is coming!! Fast forward to the tent!! ”