Chapter 1098: Chapter 1037: The Queen Dowager Intervenes

In the evening, the First Legion at Storm Cape had already reached near Dragonfly Port, only two days’ journey from there.

According to the arrangement by Montel, the twenty thousand troops had been divided into three main camps.

It must be acknowledged that although Montel came from a pirate lineage, by his generation, he had gradually turned legitimate.

He himself had received a classical military education, proving not all nobles hold positions without merit.

At least Montel was not one of them.

After Falan’s defeat in the first Battle of the Windmill Terrain, they learned from their mistakes and initiated a series of reforms.

Among them, notably, was the emulation of the Ancient Aier Empire in conducting elite military nobility education.

How to march? How to set up camp?

These were topics Montel had studied, only lacking practical experience.

Therefore, in Count Kazi’s view, Montel’s arrangements, despite minor flaws, were overall above the common level of the empire.

For this, he even praised Montel highly during dinner in front of everyone.

Yet Montel didn’t seem as pleased as he had imagined.

Among the three camps of the legion, the central main camp was located at the core traffic artery.

The camp was set on open plains, convenient for formation, near rivers and forests for easy access to water and timber.

The two flank camps were chosen at hillsides or valley edges, guarding secondary roads, suitable for concealment or rapid movement.

Each main camp had one or two outposts positioned about 5 kilometers ahead, each garrisoning 50 to 100 cavalry and a small number of infantry, responsible for reconnaissance and alerts.

The outposts required no large-scale fortifications, only temporary fences prioritizing mobility.

As for the distance between the three main camps, it was approximately 10 to 15 kilometers.

The notifying cavalry from the outposts often needed to arrive two to three days in advance to sign supply agreements with local lords and towns.

As for the small villages along the way, they just needed to summon the local village heads for direct allocation.

Compared to the Norn and Leia Army’s rampage wherever they go, the Falan Army had to restrain themselves within their own territory.

After all, the Falan Army was well-funded, with densely populated towns, relatively prosperous countryside, and could afford these supply costs.

However, for twenty thousand troops, apart from what they carried, the primary source of supplies would be large towns.

Especially to guard a fortress for a long term, it needed river hubs to transport rear provisions.

After the previous war with the Holy Alliance Army, Count Kazi realized that even the highest rewards couldn’t match the morale boost from well-fed soldiers.

So after dinner, he urged Montel to contact Dragonfly Port.

Not until the moon reached its zenith, when a servant was carrying out the foot-washing basin, did they see Montel hurrying back.

"Is Count Kazi asleep?"

The servant quickly shook her head, stepping aside on the road until Montel entered the tent, then dared to move.

She had only taken a few steps outside when she heard Count Kazi’s furious roar from the tent: "Won’t let us in? On what grounds?"

Count Kazi, upon hearing this news, was so startled he almost jumped out of his chair.

Relying on a few fortresses around Dragonfly Port to block the river and prevent Holy Alliance spice ships from sailing, luring the enemy to attack.

This was Count Kazi’s early plan. How could it be that the most crucial Dragonfly Port had problems just at the start?

"Did you sternly reprimand them? You know some commoners are just obstinate, you smile, and they bully..."

Montel, with a bitter smile, interrupted Count Kazi: "Dragonfly Port was sold under a stock system by the local City Council two years ago.

Basically, Dragonfly Port harbor and surrounding areas are collectively owned territories by dozens of nobles.

If we want to settle in, it requires signatures from all the dozens of families."

"You’re the Storm Cape Army, aren’t you? Why fear them? Just move in directly." Lighting an expensive beeswax candle with flint, Count Kazi was even more incredulous.

He looked Montel up and down, pondering whether he was genuinely ignorant or pretending to be.

It should be noted that Archbishop Camberter sent the Storm Cape Army for a reason.

The main reason being, Storm Cape has scarce farmland, so per capita trades at sea or engages in handicrafts and services, making land noble forces minor.

Compared to Red Leaf Hill, South River Region, the land aristocracy’s stronghold, Storm Cape and White Sand Land are less entangled with old noble forces.

Even if the old noble faction disagrees, anyway, these soldiers from Storm Cape have nothing to do with old nobles, could you really stop them?

Montel sat opposite Count Kazi, eyes seemingly enlarged from the candlelight’s stimulation: "That’s how I threatened them, but they gave me a letter."

"What letter?"

"Just saying that although the army is indeed fierce, it gives face to local residents, allowing us to station at Spark Town to the north, and Dragonfly Port is still willing to transport grains."

"Spark Town?" Count Kazi closed his eyes in recollection, then opened them quickly, "No, it’s too close to the border, too far from Dragonfly Port. Whose letter is it? Ignore it."

"We can’t ignore it, Count Kazi, it’s Baron Crecy’s letter."

"Baron Crecy? A baron, what right does he have..." At this, Count Kazi suddenly fell silent.

Clearly, he also remembered who Baron Crecy was.

Baron Crecy is a name that resonates even in Huaqiu City.

Though his title is low, his land rivals that of a powerful Count, even approaching a Duke’s territory.

The reason is simple.

Baron Crecy hails from the Faste family, not originally wealthy or mighty, it’s just that he has a sister named Delilina.

And Delilina gave birth to a child named Charles, known as Charles VIII. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Yes, Baron Crecy is the uncle of the current King of Falan, Charles VIII, the biological brother of the Falan Queen Dowager.

Delilina is also a cousin of Lupher Lakin, and even after Lupher’s mother passed away, Delilina managed her dowry.

At least a quarter of Lupher’s dowry came from Delilina, including a large estate outside Huaqiu City.

From this angle, Charles VIII is even Lupher’s distant cousin.

Everyone knows, though Baron Crecy claims to be acquiring estates, in reality, they’re Queen Dowager’s estates.

So the meaning of Crecy’s letter is clear, the Queen Dowager doesn’t want the area around Dragonfly Port to be garrisoned.

Fearing that Storm Cape’s troops might battle the Holy Alliance Army near Dragonfly Port, damaging her possessions there.

As for the Queen Dowager owning shares, it’s not even instigated by the Lakin family, as they wouldn’t dare.

But the spice trade, behind the scenes, one of the original owners was none other than the Queen Dowager.

When the Clove Corridor’s trade structure changed, the interests belonging to the Queen Dowager, however, remained unchanged.

The Queen Dowager wouldn’t openly oppose her son; she’s just greedy and easily swayed by nostalgia.

If Count Kazi and Montel truly want to settle, it’s not impossible.

But the problem is, if they enter today as ordered by Camberter, what if the Queen Dowager eventually looks for a reason to target them?

Besides, family matters are difficult to judge, who knows whether His Majesty the King would wish to protect them from the Queen Dowager’s clutches?

Once, perhaps, but twice? Thrice?

Their favor before the King would eventually run out, but the Queen Dowager’s revenge would be costless and relentless, forever.

She hides behind the scenes, yet doesn’t mean she’s powerless.

"What do you think we should do?" Montel’s tone seemed tinged with schadenfreude.

With a "snap," Count Kazi slammed the letter on the table in exasperation: "Ah, these Falan affairs, spoiled by this interconnected mess."