Along the way, the team quickly bypassed the city of Muni and set out on the road to the north.

After a five-day march, the Knights of the Southern Cross had reached the last town north of Lulian, the town of Twilight.

After this town, there will be an endless northeast Gobi of Lulian in front of you.

In those five days, the team did not stop for a moment.

There was no camp to rest, and there was no cooking in a pot. Sleep on horseback, eat dry food, and never leave the saddle of the horse.

However, the speed of the team is not fast.

"From the moment we left the city of Mooney, the training began. ”

This is what Leng Jin said to the knights.

"In terms of energy and physique, our old bones are definitely inferior to you. Therefore, we have no other requirements, only one requirement is that what we do, you will follow. ”

Leng Jin's words were an understatement.

At first, the knights didn't feel anything wrong.

After all, everyone saw it - the youngest of these old knights was in their fifties, and the oldest was in his seventies.

At this age, maybe the source power and martial arts of the fighting spirit will not decrease much, but the energy and physical strength are far worse than those of young people.

And these men who are in the prime of life, have been mercenaries in the wind and rain for so many years, what hardships have they not suffered, and what sins have they not suffered?

Although I don't know how the old knights train themselves, in everyone's mind, since people treat themselves equally, this kind of request is not too much at all, and it is completely reasonable.

However, no one expected this to be the beginning of a nightmare.

The initial training was mount coordination training.

All knights are required to be in the state of releasing the Warring Link Warhorse at all times while marching.

Generally speaking, the knight will only release the Warring Link mount before charging, causing the mount to increase in size under the influence of Fighting Qi, greatly increasing its strength and speed, and bursting out with the strongest impact.

Usually marching and hurrying, even if everyone will not be easy to rest, they can save fighting energy, who will have nothing to do to release the battle ring?

But that's how the order was ordered.

If you don't understand, you don't understand, and everyone still does it.

Immediately afterward, the old knights divided the team into twelve teams, each led by one of them.

They demand that all the riders must be at the same speed as them. It's not just that they're fast, everyone has to follow fast, and if they're slow, everyone has to follow slow. Moreover, even the starting time of the war horse, the pace rhythm, and even the undulation of the body, the direction of the horse's head, etc., must be synchronized.

For everyone, this is actually not a difficult task.

After all, those who can join the Southern Cross Knights have the strength of just knights at the least.

Even if the fighting habits and methods of mercenaries and knights in the army are different, the knightly training they have received since childhood, especially the basic training such as horsemanship, is exactly the same.

There are even many who are far more skilled in riding than the knights in the army.

No one found this kind of training difficult, or even necessary.

However, it soon became clear that everyone was wrong.

The rhythm of these old knights is extremely strange, not only fast and slow, but also varied.

Under their control, the horses sometimes move forward in very small steps, with the hooves of the horses in a diagonal line, sometimes they are medium-speed steps with the front and rear hooves rising and falling at the same time, sometimes they only see the horse's legs rise and fall, but they do not move forward, and sometimes they catapult from stationary to rapid charge.

And as they walked, their horses would turn sideways, moving sideways like crabs. Or with the front hooves as the center, a 180-degree rotation, after the horse's butt is thrown in front, and then another rotation, the horse's head is thrown back and continues to move forward.

As for what diagonal line to advance, change direction from left to right, as well as control the horse to raise the hooves and pedal, jumping and other actions, there are even more tricks, and one will come from time to time.

Many of the movements are simply like the war horse is frightened.

The knights are going crazy.

Growing up, everyone has never been tortured like this.

In order to keep up with the movements of the old knights, they even used their strength to feed, but they were still a mess.

Especially in the case of the fighting spirit stimulating the war horse, the consumption is like flowing water, and there is no problem in the usual few prayers, but now it is just one or two prayers, and he is sweating profusely.

The formation was even more chaotic.

However, by this time, everyone had their mouths tightly shut, without the slightest doubt or dissatisfaction.

Because everyone saw that the twelve old knights, including Rook, all walked in the lead position on the right side of the group, slightly away from the group.

And when they changed their footwork and movements, the twelve people, even if they were hundreds of meters apart, were as neat as twelve puppets led by a line.

Start at the same time, turn in circles at the same time, stop at the same time, and change the pace and rhythm of the war horse at the same time...... Even the direction and angle of the horse's head and tail are exactly the same.

From the side, it is simply pleasing to the eye.

Moreover, all this is like their instinct in their bones, and it is done so easily. Sitting down, the horses were completely integrated into their bodies, and their steps changed like dancers.

This made many knights dumbfounded at the time.

Although I haven't been in the army, everyone still has this kind of eyesight.

They could fully imagine how tacitly a knight with such riding skills could cooperate on the battlefield, how flexible the advance and retreat would be, and how terrible the sudden combined attack would be.

At that moment, there was only one thought in everyone's minds: "Where did they come from? How could Lord Leo know such a powerful knight in the army?"

No one knows the answer.

If before everyone was still suspicious of these old knights who suddenly appeared to train themselves, now all they had left was awe.

And the only thing they can do is grit their teeth and try to keep up.

For a time, on the road to the north, thousands of knights were like toddlers in kindergarten, learning behind the twelve old Farrington knights.

However, this is only the beginning of the training.

Since that day, they have not left their horses.

When he was hungry, he ate a few mouthfuls of this dry food with water in a water bladder, and when he was tired, he lay down on his horse and took a nap. When the source power is exhausted, he will ride on a horse to exercise his pranayama, and when he recovers a little, he will continue to train.

Originally, it was a full-speed race, but it was only a day or two journey, and it took five days.

By the end of five days, many of the young and strong knights had unkempt hair, unshaven beards, and haggard faces.

But the twelve old knights were still in good spirits, just as they had been when they had just set out from Muni City. It is impossible to tell that they have spent five full days on horseback like everyone else.

Everyone even suspected that they would be like this for another ten or twenty days.

These tortures, which have never been experienced before, are as simple and natural as eating and drinking water for them.

This time, no matter how rebellious the person is, he has no temper.

In this way, the team trained as they went. By the time they arrived in Twilight, the knights had already changed dramatically from when they first left Muni.

The team is still the same team.

Even judging from the appearance of the army, the knights with haggard expressions and dirty clothes were worse than before.

However, if you look closely, you will see that the procession is now a little less loose. The distance between the knights, whether it was front and back, left and right, was naturally maintained in a suitable position, and the slightest loosening would immediately change back.

It's like there's an invisible rope pulling at it.

At the same time, the movements of the knights became soothing and natural, and their bodies seemed to grow together with the horses, whether they were marching or other movements, they were far more relaxed than before.

And more importantly, on their bodies, there is already an invisible momentum that cannot be touched or grasped, but can be clearly felt.

And so they rode along.

Even if it is just an ordinary medium-speed walk, from the head of the team to the end of the team, there are rows of figures rising and falling with the neat footsteps of the war horses, and the rhythm is like ocean waves and war drums.

Every step of the iron hoof gives people a surging feeling.

Listening to the sound of hooves from afar, it is like being stepped on in the heart, and I can't help but feel a trace of heart palpitations. It seems that as long as they gallop their horses and iron hooves like thunder, their hearts will beat violently uncontrollably, making people's blood rush to their brains and tremble all over their bodies, which cannot be stopped.

Even the heart has to jump out of the throat.

......

......

"Roy, we're in Twilight. ”

Leng Jin rode back from the front of the line, reined in his horse beside Roy, and reported.

"Can you set up camp and rest?" Roy asked.

Looking at Roy's expectant eyes, Leng Jin and the others next to him all laughed.

Leng Jin nodded and said, "We'll live in Dusk Sand Town today." The first stage of training is almost at this point. Anyway, it's still a long way off, and we have time. ”

Roy was pleasantly surprised, "Really? I'll tell them." ”

As he spoke, Roy didn't wait for Leng Jin to reply, he hurriedly urged his horse and galloped towards Langdero and the others in the queue.

Moments later, the marching procession erupted in a burst of cheers that resounded through the sky.

Many knights roared and shouted. It looked like a group of prisoners who had finally regained their freedom. If it weren't for discipline, I'm afraid everyone would have jumped off their horses and lay on the ground by this time.

The old knights looked at Roy who was surrounded by the knights with a smile, and they all looked at each other and smiled.

There is affection in the eyes, but also relief and pride.

"How's it going?" Luke asked with a smile, "Our young master isn't me bragging, right?"

"Okay," Leng Jin scolded with a smile, "How many times have you asked us this question?" No bragging, no bragging. ”

Everyone laughed and nodded.

You must know that as the future heir of the Duchy of Farrington and the only bloodline of the Hanshan family, Roy's identity is extremely valuable in the minds of the old knights.

And even in this order, he is the object of allegiance of all.

However, since leaving Muni City, Roy has not enjoyed any special treatment by virtue of his status.

While the rangers walked on either side of the procession, when the dwarven warriors grinned at the oddity, and when the mages followed in chariots, he rode among the knights and trained with them all the time.

If you want to choose the best student, then Leng Jin and the others will not hesitate to vote for their little master.

Roy learns things too fast.

The same action, the same request, it only took him one day to achieve it.

He sat down on the long-haired and thin horse, and it was almost as clear to him. Many footwork will be taught as soon as they are taught. And it is made lighter, more weird, and even gives people the feeling of an elven hunter.

It's on a horse.

So much so that everyone wondered if Roy had mastered a similar technique before.

And even if he learned it quickly, Roy didn't get off the horse for five days.

He walked quietly on one side of the group, sometimes joining the group, training with the knights, explaining and demonstrating key points of skill.

This knight order, except for the three or four hundred high-level knights who once fought side by side with Roy in the abyss, and it was a friendship of life and death, the rest of the others were all from various mercenary groups and were not familiar with Roy.

Half of the reason they joined the Southern Cross Knights was because the High Knights were their friends, brothers, captains, and even captains.

The other half was somewhat tempted by the heavenly magic costume.

As for Roy, they didn't have direct contact.

Moreover, after the formation of the Southern Cross Knights, Roy had been gone for a long time, so many of them, looking at the gaze of this commander, were somewhat observant.

But after a few days, no one still kept that kind of gaze. Everyone asked him for advice in training, laughed with him, and had an intimate and respectful attitude.

The old knights are all looking at this.

For this little master of his own family, it is 10,000 satisfaction.

......

......

Twilight is more of a small town than a town.

There are three routes from Lulian to the north. Passing through the Gobi in the northeast and cutting diagonally through the province of Saxony is the closest route to the Imperial Capital Plain.

If they didn't go here, the caravan coming from the northeast of the empire would have to make a big circle and pass through the territory of the Noble Alliance to the northwest of Lulian.

That would be nearly a month longer.

Therefore, the geographical location of Dusha Town, which is located on the edge of the Gobi, is very important.

Whether they are leaving Lulian or coming from the north to cross the vast Gobi into Lulian, people will choose to rest and prepare here.

As time went by, the town grew bigger and bigger.

Originally there were only a few hundred inhabitants and a guard of less than 100 men, but now it has a permanent population of more than 3,000 and a cavalry of 300 men.

The streets of the town are lined with hostels, restaurants and pubs.

And in addition to that, there are car dealers, there are auction houses, casinos, brothels, horse farms, warehouses...... There's even a small mission hall and a chapel.

After all, this is still Lulian's territory, so as soon as the Knights of the Southern Cross arrive, they will be greeted by the local garrison and arranged for food and lodging.

Roy took a hearty shower and had a hot meal before settling into the tent in the open space in the middle of town.

This is the temporary command post set up by Leng Jin.

In the tent, the old knights were gathered around the table, discussing something with the guards of Twilight.

On the table was a parchment map with seven or eight red circles drawn on it.

"Roy, it's just right that you're here," Leng Jin saw Roy come in, let him to the table, pointed to the map, and said, "We discussed it just now, and next, I'm afraid we will stay in Dusk Sand Town for more than ten days." ”

"Ten days?" Roy was stunned.

He had expected the Order to continue its journey after a short rest.

After all, the demon soldiers are getting closer and closer to Bendez. If the time is delayed for too long, it is difficult to say what will go wrong. I can't wait that long.

"Why?" Roy asked.

"Suppress bandits!" Leng Jin said, "Knight training, actual combat is the whetstone." Our first stage of training is just to lay a foundation, and if we want these mercenaries to change their combat habits and adapt to the army's combat methods, we must conduct a lot of actual combat training. ”

As he spoke, he turned his head and pointed at the garrison officer of Dusand Town: "It just so happens that Mr. Garrison Officer told us that there are a total of seven large bandit groups around Dusand Town, and there are countless small bandits in the depths of the Gobi. We took them under the knife and swept them all in half a month. ”

Roy opened his mouth wide and turned his head to look, and the garrison officer smiled bitterly and waved his hand, "Your Excellency, this is not my proposal. ”

The garrison's name was Hatton, and he was a low-ranking Lulian nobleman.

He's been a garrison officer in Twilight for three years now, and he's well aware of his surroundings. Therefore, they were called by Leng Jin to inquire.

And as soon as he heard the question about the nearby bandits, Hatton was a little drumming in his heart.

Obviously, the old knights were fighting the bandits' idea, otherwise they would have asked for this.

I didn't expect it to be so.

In fact, banditry is indeed a big problem for Hatton and Twilight.

These bandits are entrenched in the Gobi Desert north of the town of Dusha, threatening the trade routes to the north at all times.

Over the years, Lulian did not know how many caravans were buried in the vast Gobi, which had a great impact on Lulian's economy.

In this regard, Grand Duke Adolf naturally did not sit idly by, and in the early years, he repeatedly sent people to suppress bandits.

However, these bandits are no ordinary bandits.

can survive for so long in the barren Gobi, in the scorching sun, drought, sand, and blizzard, without being killed, and from the fire with other bandits, and even becoming more and more powerful, are all the most ferocious bandits.

They are very good at riding, usually with one man and two horses, and come and go like the wind. In the vast Gobi, fighting hundreds or thousands of kilometers is commonplace for them.

They usually wander close to the caravan's route, and when they spot their prey, they pounce on it like wolves. And when they find danger, they travel thousands of miles.

They are not only familiar with the topography of the Gobi Desert and know every drinking point, but also cunning rabbits.

What's even more troublesome is that these bandits are still connected to each other. Sometimes when they encounter prey that they can't take down on their own, they will cooperate with each other.

On weekdays, they exchange news. As soon as there is a stir, there is not even a single bandit within a hundred miles of the custody.

Because of this, the Lulian army, which had suppressed bandits back then, spent a lot of military money, grain and grass, and only caught a few dozen bandits sporadically and executed them.

By the time the army left, less than a month later, the bandits revived.

However, intimidated by the prestige of Archduke Adolf, especially Miss Sophia, these bandits no longer dared to approach Twilight. The activity area is limited to the Gobi in the north.

It's no longer part of the Lulian territory.

After a few years of stability, Hatton had recently noticed that the law and order situation around Twilight Sand seemed to be showing signs of deterioration.

Two years ago, the Philip Empire invaded, and the bandits in the vicinity increased considerably. Then the demons invaded, Sophia went to the imperial capital to take charge of the Fire Phoenix Legion, and Grand Duke Adolf took care of himself, and the bandits here exploded.

Especially in recent times, due to the flow of refugees from the north, more and more people have seen Lulian as the last bastion of safety. Not only did the aristocracy send people south in advance, but the major trading houses, chaebols and some wealthy people also transferred a large number of assets and family members to Lulian.

Hatton even heard that even some civilians had begun to call Lulian for the idea.

You know, the Gobi has always been the biggest obstacle to people coming to Lulian. Without money, without a ticket for a carriage, or without the protection of guards, trying to cross the Gobi is simply looking for death.

But even so, Hatton heard that a large number of civilians had now gathered in the northern part of the Gobi. Some of them are organizing, trying to cross on foot.

The reason is simple, because other provinces have begun to starve to death.

Just like a herd of takins without water and grass, in order to survive, they can only move forward regardless of whether there is a mountain or a big river in front of them, whether it is a lion or a crocodile.

In such a situation, the bandits on this road are expanding rapidly.

There are countless prey for them to raid.

Hatton was hoping that someone would take down all of the bandits. However, this does not include this so-called order of knights, who have not completed even the most basic training.

Hatton wasn't afraid of any danger they had.

After all, hundreds of Knights of Glory are just knights, even if they are all mercenaries, they are a terrifying force.

Hatton was afraid that these guys would sweep through here, and the bandits would not be able to beat them and leave, leaving the town of Twilight and the people around them to suffer.

。

。 The verdict has been written for several years, three million words, and it will not be a eunuch in any case. Although it may seem distracting, for me, both the working hours and the efficiency are better than before.

。

。