The three of them were silent.
After a long time, Colonel Bolognik finally couldn't bear it anymore and said: "Let's talk about what we should do next. Whether this Baron Strathern is guilty or not is none of our business, but we must ask Strathern. Baron Larsen surrendered his power as admiral and asked us to take over the local garrison of Tiersim. If we don't do this, we will not be able to complete the task of forming reserve forces here. The local garrison here has been completely eroded. Already…”
Colonel Severit said with a grimace: "Although we have the task of preparing local defense forces, we do not have the authority to take over the local defenses of the direct jurisdiction. This matter will have to wait for the follow-up division troops and personnel sent by the Ministry of War to arrive to establish wartime logistics. Only the headquarters can be responsible. Moreover, Baron Strathern is Her Majesty the Queen's nephew and the admiral here. He can use the excuse of being sick and bedridden to refuse to cooperate with our request... "
"If that's the case, we will arrest him directly for dereliction of duty and corruption!" Colonel Bolonik was much more ruthless than Colonel Sevicit: "Anyway, we already have the evidence that the Governor gave us, and now it's war. During this period, we cannot tolerate this Baron Strathern delaying our time. If he knows what is going on, his problems can be dealt with after the follow-up troops arrive, and he can still be free for three or four months. If he does not cooperate, let him go to the cell. Stay here, we have no time to delay..."
Although it is good to cut through the knot with a quick knife, it is easy to go to extremes. Colonel Sevicit could only shake his head, not agreeing with Colonel Bolognik's handling method. It's ridiculous to say that the Rangers are known as the most trusted guards of the Sterling royal family, but they didn't expect that on the first day they came to the Tiersim Direct Territory in the Nubitia continent, they were going to take the nephew of Her Majesty the Queen. Come on, this is really speechless and very ironic.
"What do you think?" Colonel Sevict asked Claude.
Claude had already thought about it during this time, and he said to the two senior leaders: "We may have thought everything too simply. Before arriving on the mainland of Nubisia, we thought that the local garrison and armed forces in the direct jurisdiction here were It should be about the same in the interior of the kingdom. But what we see now proves that we thought too well about the progress of the armaments in the directly-administered territories. I think we have to change the original plan. We must leave a regiment in the rear to form and reorganize the areas in these directly-administered territories. Garrison and reserve forces.
Otherwise, if we all go to the front line, I am sure that once we fight the enemy and the rear cannot provide support, our three troops will have to fight alone. And if the casualties are too high and too many troops are lost, we will simply not be able to set up a solid defensive front to withstand the enemy's front. Maybe in three or four months, the enemy will be able to attack here.
We must take over the local garrison force of Tiersim. If Baron Strathern is willing to cooperate with us in handing over his power as admiral, he can continue to be at ease when he is sick at home. We can even make up for the shortage of troops, muskets and ordnance from the local garrison regiment of Copicius Port and the local garrison battalions of the other four towns. If he is not willing, I think one of the seven admirals of the overseas territories has already died on the battlefield, so it would not be surprising to sacrifice another one... "
Colonel Bolonik and Colonel Sevict were both stunned. Well, Colonel Bolonik only wanted to arrest Baron Strathern, but Claude was even more ruthless and wanted to send the man to the front line to die heroically. . But thinking about it carefully, I have to admit that Claude's idea is better. Everything will be settled once a person dies. There will be no scandals and no charges. The reputation of the royal family can be preserved. Even Baron Strathern's sacrifice will bring more benefits. Much reputation.
"I think Baron Strathearn has no choice. He will definitely cooperate with us obediently. Moreover, we have also promised to make up for him the shortage of troops and muskets and weapons for the local garrison. He will definitely be very satisfied." Colonel Wickett laughed.
"It's not such a cheap thing. He still needs to give us more than 50,000 gold crowns to sponsor the military to show his absolute loyalty to the kingdom." Claude said through gritted teeth.
Colonel Bolognik was stunned: "Is this possible? How can he afford this money?"
"You can figure it out if you can afford it. There are four thousand gold crowns a year for the vacant pay, and a soldier's salary and welfare subsidy is two gold crowns a year. From this alone, he has earned more than eight thousand gold crowns. Plus military expenses Expenses, resold muskets and weapons, and the soldiers’ pensions that he falsely claimed. I think the old fox governor’s estimated income of fifteen thousand a year is still small. We don’t want more, so let him spend these three years. Just take out the embezzled military funds. If you are not willing to pay for your sins now that you are facing death, then go and die in the battlefield for the kingdom... "
Although Claude's calculation was general, the two senior group leaders could still approve the expense. With this money, it will be easier to recruit reserve troops and prepare military supplies. There is no need to argue with the governor about wartime military expenditures. The delay will have a very negative impact on the war.
"What should I do about the commander of the local garrison in Port Corbichus, Lieutenant Colonel Everard? It is said that he is a close associate of Baron Strathern and is responsible for the resale of muskets and weapons and supplies, and that Captain Hinkson, He should also be deeply involved in those matters. He was the one who asked us to purchase spare military supplies..." Colonel Bolonik said.
"All Baron Strathern's cronies and subordinates who know his crimes will be requisitioned by me in the name of guides and taken to the front line. I hope Baron Strathern will cooperate with us in handing over the power of admiral. Otherwise, he will also volunteer to go to the front line in person. Those who go to the front line to detect the enemy’s situation…”
Claude believed that Baron Strathern would make a wise choice. Although he lost a large amount of money and admiral power, the crimes he had committed before had disappeared. All the handlers and insiders have gone to the front line. Whether they can come back depends on their performance and luck during the war. The most important thing is to preserve the dignity of the Sterling royal family. As the nephew of Her Majesty the Queen, he is a relative of the royal family. If the things he has done are exposed, it will become a major scandal in the kingdom, and even His Majesty the King in the future. Appointing relatives of the emperor to local public offices will be questioned by ministers based on his example.
This is why both senior leaders believe that it is the best way for Claude to send Baron Strathern to the front line to die heroically. After all, even if Baron Strathern made a wise choice this time, he still He will hate the three people Claude who did this. There is a high possibility that Claude and the others will be slandered in front of the Queen in order to avenge him for losing his wealth.
But Claude didn't care. He and the two senior captains had already discussed it and recorded everything, including the evidence of Baron Strathern's embezzlement of military expenses and other crimes, and handed it over to General Michelich. The general handed it over to Prince Hansback. I believe that Baron Strathern will soon be abandoned by the royal family. A baron without power will not be of much use to Claude and the other three. His Majesty the King and the eldest prince will thank Claude and the three of them for preserving the dignity of the royal family...
"Our time is very tight. Tomorrow my 131st Ranger Battalion can have another day of rest. The day after tomorrow, we must set off to the front line to reconnoiter the enemy's situation and find out the current war situation. Where has the Hicks Kingdom's army marched? At present, We need to find out what places have been captured. So we can only have one day at most to solve the problem of Baron Strathern. If he really doesn't cooperate, I will force him to rush to the front line."
Claude looked at the two senior captains: "You must leave one person and one regiment here to take charge of the reorganization and reorganization of the local garrison forces. The Tiersim Direct Territory can form at least two local garrison regiments to go to the front line. We don't need to conduct voluntary recruitment. Didn't Baron Strathearn resell muskets and weapons to the civilians here? We will first compulsorily recruit a group of reserve troops according to the roster. If there are three men in the family, one man must serve. Otherwise, he will be arrested for evading military service, his property will be confiscated, and his whole family will be forced to serve in the labor force."
"It's during the war now, I think it's feasible." Colonel Bolognik nodded: "At the dinner at the governor's residence, I asked Viscount Cruz that Tiersim has one port and four towns under its direct jurisdiction, and there are thirty-seven official residents of the kingdom. Ten thousand, we can definitely recruit the strength of two local garrison regiments."
"Our time is very tight. We can only stay here for ten days at most before setting off to the front line to set up defensive lines. We don't know if we can form two local garrison regiments to set off with us in these ten days." Colonel Sevicit explain.
"Let's set it up first, and we'll talk about the training on the way." Colonel Bolonik didn't hold out much hope: "If we can set up a defensive line on the front line before the enemy comes, we can take time to train these local garrison regiments on how to defend. Fighting."
"Retrieve the local garrison regiment of Port Corbichus and the garrison squadrons from the other four towns, and form a regiment first. In addition, the other four towns must reorganize a brigade of security forces each, and Port Corbichus must also form a regiment. Leave a garrison battalion to guard against riots by local indigenous people."
Claude walked to the map of the seven overseas territories of the Kingdom of Overas spread out on the table, clicked on it and said: "Actually, what I am most worried about is that the matter of Baron Strathern is not an isolated incident. The admirals of the directly-controlled territories are actually similar to him, and the situation of local defense and armed forces is not optimistic... "
"Look at the map," Claude said: "Except for the kingdom's seven overseas territories, except for the Beringana territory, the other six territories are all lined up along the coastline. To the south of the Tiersim territory There is also the Arturas Direct Territory, and the south of the Arturas Direct Territory is close to the endless virgin forest. No one can enter and come out, so the security of the Arturas Direct Territory is still safe.
To the north of the Tiersim Direct Territory is the Mormali Direct Territory, followed by the Amphiston Direct Territory, which connects the two direct jurisdictions of Beringana and Robisdo. Among them, the Beringana Direct Territory is the only inland direct jurisdiction of the Kingdom, and most of it is the Albato Prairie. In addition, the Beringana Direct Territory has the Dolinibara River, the largest river in the Nubisian continent. The waterway is connected to the Robisdo Direct Territory. Materials can be transported from the Dolinibara River, which is very convenient.
The two demesne of Beringana and Robbins are connected to the demesne of Cromwell. Before we set off, we had learned that the demesne of Cromwell had fallen into the hands of the enemy. At present, the enemy has divided its forces into two directions and is heading toward the White House. The two direct territories of Ghana and Robisto were ordered to attack.
According to the information given to us by the Kingdom's Army Ministry, the Kingdom of Hicks originally deployed two field legions in its colony, and the local garrison troops were also the size of a legion. After the war broke out, another legion was transported there. We don't know if any more troops will be transported later, but I estimate that the total strength of their colonial garrison is only four legions and about 240,000 to 50,000 people. "
Colonel Bolognik and Colonel Sevict both nodded. What Claude said was common sense, and the estimate of the strength of the Hicks Kingdom's colonial garrison was also very accurate.
"Before the war broke out, the Hicks Kingdom asked our kingdom for the jurisdiction of the three overseas territories of Cromwell, Beringana and Robbins. It can be imagined that their purpose in launching the war this time was to seize These are three direct jurisdictions of our kingdom. Of course, if the local defenses of these direct jurisdictions of our kingdom are vulnerable, I think the Kingdom of Hicks would not mind swallowing up these seven overseas jurisdictions of our kingdom.
Our kingdom does not want to have a war with the Kingdom of Hicks. First, the Kingdom of Hicks is the dominant power in the north of the Farea continent. Second, our kingdom has just ended the five-year war in the eastern part of the continent. Although they won, the country was exhausted due to the war and was unable to compete with the Kingdom of Hicks on the Nubisian continent. Therefore, the Kingdom can only dispatch our Ranger Division to teach the Hicks Kingdom's colonial garrison a lesson, hoping to force peace with war.
In fact, the colonies of the Kingdom of Hicks on the Nubisian continent are not much fewer than those of our kingdom, but most of the colonies of the Kingdom of Hicks are located in the inland areas. It wasn't until they obtained the colony of the Nasseri Kingdom that the excellent seaport city of Vibato Port became a reliable and safe landing place for them to transport supplies and mobilize troops.
Therefore, for the Kingdom of Hicks, Vibato Port is related to the safety of all colonies on the Nubisia continent. Perhaps they asked our kingdom for Beringana and Robistoto, the two direct territories, just to find themselves a second and third safe landing and supply port.
Therefore, I think that the strength of the colonial garrison of the four legions of the Kingdom of Hicks, in addition to a legion-sized local garrison to guard various places to prevent indigenous riots, there is also a legion of troops that should be distributed in Vibato Port and the newly occupied The Cromwellian Overseas Dominion of our Kingdom. Based on this calculation, I think they can only use the remaining two legions to attack the two direct territories of Beringana and Robisto respectively.
The capitals of the two direct territories of Beringana and Robidos are on our side of the Dolinibara River, and the enemy needs to cross the river to launch an attack. The Port of Patres, the capital of the Robisto Territory, was the destination port for the eastward route of our kingdom's fearless fleet in the past. The city defense has always been tight. It would be very difficult for the Hicks Kingdom to have a legion capture Port Patres. . If they were transporting heavy siege guns, it would take even longer.
Our 131st Ranger Battalion will set off the day after tomorrow and is expected to arrive in the Amphiston Territory within half a month. The task given to us by the division headquarters is to form the first defensive front in the Amphiston Territory. I will send my reconnaissance cavalry to the two direct territories of Beringana and Robisto to find out the enemy's current movements, and look for opportunities to launch attacks on the enemy's small troops and transportation and logistics convoys to delay the enemy's attack. pace. "
Colonel Bolognik watched Claude explain these strategies on the map. He understood what Claude meant: "I understand, let me stay and reorganize and reorganize the armed forces in these directly-administered territories in the rear. We will try our best to Within half a month, Colonel Severit led his 034th Ranger Regiment and the two local garrison regiments of the Tiersim Territory to go north, arrived at the Amphiston Territory, set up a defensive front, and completed the division command. The tasks assigned to us by the ministry..."