When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 583 - 561: Have We Arrived? Yes, We Have!
The cold wind blew through the skirts of the singers in the tavern, their thin clothes trembling in the wind, but they still forced a smile.
As for the citizen representatives, monks, and minor nobles who were pushed to the forefront, they were dressed neatly, braving the cold with trepidation, waiting by the roadside early on.
They were afraid that the Salvation Army would cut off their heads now, and also afraid that Prince Kongdai would do so later.
Unlike the high nobility, these people could run, but their temples couldn't run with them.
In this anxious wait, time passed by the minute and the Salvation Army still did not appear.
They waited from morning until evening, their apprehensive hearts went numb, the sun set, yet the Salvation Army was nowhere to be seen.
Before the sun completely set, they did see about a hundred Kush Knights scouting, but after moving the ten boxes of gold and jewels, these knights disappeared.
When the moon hung high in the sky, the nobles led by Sanboli arrogantly appeared with hundreds of knights in the citizens' view.
Thus, this daylong welcome ceremony was belatedly used for these nobles who appeared out of nowhere.
In the cold wind of the night, the snot-nosed citizen representatives stiff-leggedly walked in the night on their way home.
A question lingered in their minds:
Isn't it only 20 li from the Imperial Decree Camp to Feiliu Castle? Can't they walk it in a day?
......
On the afternoon of March 10, the Salvation Army moved into the Imperial Decree Camp.
The first thing they did was to enlist the Defensive Army and local laborers for major cleaning and partial reconstruction.
Trenches, walls, drainage ditches, and thatched huts were established, and it had to be said that everyone in the camp lived much more comfortably than before.
To the disappointment of Valent Taylor and a host of artisans, this Saint Son Horn might be a good person, but not as merciful as they had been told.
He not only didn't release the artisans in the camp, he ignored similar requests.
The next day, he even demanded the artisans repair armor and weapons for the soldiers for free.
Although the Saint's Grandson promised, "I will let you go home when the war is over," Prince Kongdai had said the exact same thing, and they were numb to it.
However, the Saint Son was definitely better than Prince Kongdai.
Because he not only abolished the overseer system, rescinded brutal corporal punishment and reward, but also opened the granary and sent all sick artisans and laborers to Feiliu Castle for treatment.
However, they still did not get what they wanted most—freedom.
But it didn't matter. At least this Saint's Grandson Master Wan treated them as humans, which was better than before, and they could see their families at will, which satisfied most people.
Horn carefully honed his Blood Covering Cloud sword while asking Valent Taylor, "How are those slave laborers and artisans now?"
"They're well-fed, have beds to sleep in, and not much complaint." Valent Taylor seemed to be holding back anger.
Horn helplessly set down the whetstone, "I just need them to provide logistic support, after this battle, I really will let them go home."
But the doubt in Valent Taylor's eyes did not fade in the slightest, and Horn could only smile bitterly.
Promises from the nobles to the commoners in this world are like passing gas, causing post-traumatic scars, and even normal requests are twisted in their minds.
Patting Valent Taylor on the shoulder, Horn stepped in front of everyone in the wooden hut: "Is everyone here? André, let's hear the latest intelligence."
"Word from Rapids City, Prince Kongdai abandoned the attack on High Castle City and left White Maple Mercenary Corps to guard High Castle, then hurriedly returned three days ago."
"Prince Kongdai headed west?" Jeska, who was leaning drowsily on the chair, leaped up upon hearing this.
Horn was surprised by the news, then slowly walked to the long table of the Imperial Decree Prince's military tent: "He should have received the news long ago, did he really only set out three days ago?"
"There's news that Prince Kongdai wanted to return long ago, but Grand Duke Moliat engaged him in battle for days, until three days ago, Prince Kongdai suddenly knocked Grand Duke Moliat off his horse.
To rescue Grand Duke Moliat, the White Horse Knight had his left hand chopped off and was severely injured, and the Mountain Knights suffered heavy losses, unable to threaten the remaining White Maple Mercenary Corps, hence the return."
"How long will it take roughly?"
"We discovered Prince Kongdai's trail near the Silver Mantis River two days ago."
André blinked his eyes rapidly, "They should arrive near Feiliu Castle in seven days."
"Seven days?" The Legion Commander Juer Dan of the accompanying staff turned and glanced at the map, "It's at least 350 kilometers from High Castle to Feiliu Castle, can they really walk 35 kilometers a day?"
Prince Kongdai's main force is cavalry-based, but that doesn't mean he only has cavalry.
He also has two Mercenary Corps, as well as Armed Farmers recruited along the way.
Even if they wanted to travel by water, the Meigedi Commerce Association and the local nobility had already sent people ahead to gather most of the flatboats.
With abundant resources, Catherine had sunk several large ships blocking the navigable tributary of the Nao'an River, ensuring Prince Kongdai's forces could not take the Nao'an Riverways.
If Prince Kongdai forcibly cleared the river's sunken ships, it would play right into the Salvation Army's hands, fighting along the river would constrain the cavalry's maneuvering space perfectly.
"Thousand River Valley, Thousand River Valley, this place sure has many small rivers." André shrugged, "They can progress through small valleys by segments, using boats and their cavalry won't be constrained."
The Legion Commander Das of the First Imperial Guard Army eyed the map, "If that's truly the case, they indeed might arrive by March 18, but simultaneously moving by land and water is a pretty complex maneuver, can they really repeat that without capsizing?"
The Salvation Army can advance by land and water due to high troop quality, strict discipline, and designated logistics personnel, which allows for leeway.
Can Prince Kongdai really move that quickly?
"What do you take the Death Squad and Eagle Corps for, back then in Falan, they marched 105 kilometers in three days under force march, and Thousand River Valley even has boats." André rolled his eyes, "Not all infantry are guards or armored soldiers, those are professional elite infantry, without some skill, how could Prince Kongdai afford to hire them long-term at great cost?"
"What is the monthly salary for their infantry?" Catherine, who hadn't spoken before, suddenly asked.
André was clearly familiar with mercenary prices and responded promptly, "They can earn about 90 dinars a month, and take 60% of the plunder.
When they fight, they earn a daily pay of 6 dinars, which is a pay grade typically for bow cavalry in other mercenary companies."
Former bow cavalry mercenary Mira's cheek muscles twitched, evidently recalling some unpleasant memories.
After marking up the map, Bernardo rolled it up and handed it to Horn: "We need more intelligence and resources, it's best to have Rangers and nearby Saint Sun's Army check it out.
But if André's speculation is accurate, then I think by this time yesterday, Prince Kongdai should've already clashed with Count Pogik stationed at Kenke Town."
......
Shortly after the ad-hoc meeting, before dinner, a group of severely injured knights appeared outside the Imperial Decree Camp.
A cloth bag, after passing multiple inspections, was handed to Horn by the military police: "Your Eminence, it's from the Kenke Town direction."
The bag wasn't yet undone, but the overwhelming stench of decay and blood already filled the air.
Sure enough, Horn found Count Pogik's head inside and a parchment with blood-written words:
"I will crack open your skull to drink Blue Blood Wine."
