The spring of this year passed slowly in the flames of war that swept through half of the Byzantine Empire.
The center of the empire, Osgilia, the two sides of the fierce battle, because they got the supply line of Lantis at sea, the defenders of Osgilia were able to breathe, and after getting the supplies, at least on this side, the support time was also Infinitely extended. Although the rebels, in the name of the Red Round Table, El Salvador personally wrote a letter to question the Landis Kingdom, and the letter was co-signed by twenty-six governors.
However, the reply from Landis is very "official": the Kingdom of Landis has no intention of interfering in the internal disputes of your country, and hopes that the warring parties in your country will end the war as soon as possible with compassion for the world and return to a peaceful world on the mainland. At the same time, the fleet in charge of supplying Osgilia at sea, which was firmly denied, had anything to do with Landis.
This answer made many governors in the rebel army almost vomit blood, but even if everyone closed the door and slammed the table and smashed the cup, it was of no avail. That fleet is clearly from the Landis, but they don't hold a flag and only claim to be the "righteous deed" of a private business group...
The leaders of the rebels immediately wrote a second letter to the Landis Kingdom. Since it was the righteous act of the Landis Chamber of Commerce, please ask Landis to stop the civil actions of such a business group in the country. Conflict, is not responsible for so...
But this tough letter received a more vague answer from Landis.
The credentials of Landis declared: The Kingdom of Landis has always been a politically enlightened, democratic, and free country that pays attention to civil rights. Even the royal government has no right to interfere in the actions of private business groups. The "Landis folk business group" that financed the Byzantine royal family, their actions did not violate any laws of the Landis Kingdom, so even the king could not order this "legal act" to be stopped. As for what you said might lead to conflict, the country can only express its helplessness.
This letter of credentials was later torn to pieces by several angry governors, and the more impatient would order the fleet at sea to attack.
But soon, the calm governor of El Salvador and Hughes stopped this impulsive idea.
The facts are obvious. The rebels' sea power is too weak. Although they have an absolute advantage in the total number of ships, everyone understands that relying on a number of ships of different sizes, temporarily gathered together, without tactics and without combat effectiveness. Team, want to win the Landis regular naval fleet, which has always been rampant at sea and invincible
"Let's be patient for a while, and focus on taking Osgilia. As long as we can take Osgilia, the Landis will naturally surrender."
El Salvador's insight is sensible.
In the process of wrangling between the two sides, spring passed so quietly.
Outside the city of Osgilia, the 2nd and 9th Corps of the Imperial Army, combined with the Rodriguez cavalry, launched a counter-offensive before the end of the spring, and fought a fierce battle with the rebels. Although the number of the imperial army was at a disadvantage, there were brave soldiers after all. The Rodriguez cavalry took the lead and still won a few games. But in the same way, the rebels were strong in strength. Although the imperial army's counteroffensive achieved a small victory, it did not have much impact on the overall situation, and because the troops were too small, it was impossible to take advantage of the victory to pursue and expand the results.
However, with the end of the spring, after the continuous operations of the 2nd and 9th Corps, the lost soldiers could not be replenished, and gradually they could only be in the strategic defense stage. The Roderian cavalry retreated 30 miles overnight, and the reason was very simple: the army had run out of food.
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The fierce battle of Osgilia is still at a stalemate, but in the northern part of the Byzantine Empire, the situation has taken a sharp turn!
The large-scale invasion of the Odins was overwhelming, and within a month, they occupied three counties within the empire!
Noz County was occupied by the Black Flag Army, Moore County was occupied by the Red Snow Army, and Tatania County in the western part of the Empire was occupied by another Odin Corps. The Odin Corps on the west road was a mixed regiment. , led by the eldest prince of the Odin Empire.
So far, the first prince has occupied an absolute advantage in the competition for the succession within the Odin Empire. The Black Banner Army has always supported the eldest prince, and this time the eldest prince has been led by God-Emperor Odin. In this mixed army, it is said that 10,000 elites were drawn from the Thundercloud Legion of the Odin royal family. Odin warriors, plus a total of 40,000 warriors recruited by nine large and small tribes in Odin formed a large army.
So far, the three-way Odin has invaded the army, and the number of troops entering the Byzantine Empire has exceeded 130,000.
At the end of the spring, in Syltan County, a neighboring county to the south of More County, the Red Snow Army, which went south, completed the encirclement of the last regular imperial army in the north of the Byzantine Empire. Under the situation of internal and external difficulties, the Seventh Corps faced the persecution of the rebel army on the left and behind, and took on the offensive of the Chixue Army. The large-scale retreat also abandoned a large number of cargo logistics troops along the way. The soldiers then split in two and fled to the southwest. One route led by Corps General Rostock led four elite main banner regiments, and the other route consisted of partial divisions of two banner regiments and some auxiliary soldiers. Manninger's Chixue Army left only a small number of troops stationed in the occupied area, and the large force continued to pursue the route of the 7th Corps Rostock without stopping. Vows to destroy the main force of the Seventh Corps.
Finally, on the last day of the end of spring, the main force of the 7th Corps, which was rapidly retreating, was overtaken by Odin's Red Snow Army in the north of the northeastern part of Syltan County called "Hilma River".
On the Hilma River Beach Plain, the rushing Chixue Army chased after the tail. While the Seventh Corps was trying to cross the river, Manninger gathered all the reindeer cavalry and suddenly launched a surprise attack. The Seventh Corps resisted for less than an hour. It was defeated, and the army was defeated. The fighting lasted for an afternoon, dyeing the river red, the corpses blocked the river, and even a large number of corpses floated downstream along the water...
In this battle, the main force of the Seventh Corps was finally eliminated by the Odins. More than 7,000 people died on the spot, and the establishment of the two banner regiments was cancelled. Corps general Rostock was shot and killed, and his subordinate flag regiment was the flag officer. Three died and two fell. However, Manninger, the chief of the Basak tribe in command of the Chixue Army, made a mistake at this time.
Probably because he ate at Xia Ya before, he finally released his anger. Manninger ordered the slaughter of 3,600 captured Byzantine Empire soldiers, including the two flag regiment-level generals who surrendered. .
After the war, the three main banner regiments of the original Seventh Corps survived and escaped, with less than 300 people...
Such a move, although venting his anger for a while, has left very bad consequences.
Because there are still many places within the empire where there are a small number of remnants of the imperial army. When the war situation was eroded, many local troops had already been shaken, and some even had the intention of surrendering.
But at this time, there was news that the Odins had slaughtered the prisoners of war and surrenderers, but instead strengthened the resistance of the remaining Byzantine army.
Anyway, surrender is also death... It's better to fight to the death!
After the main force of the 7th Corps was wiped out, the other 4,000 people who retreated along the way finally escaped. When the road to the south was blocked, they could only turn around and head northwest. There was pursuit by an army led by Manninger's son Morka.
Fortunately, at this time, God finally stood on the side of Byzantium. Suddenly three days of torrential rain fell, smashing the roads in the hilly area. Morka's pursuit was blocked, and he could only watch the seventh corps finally. 4,000 people fled...
However, at this time, Manninger was not very concerned about this result.
The elite main force of the 7th Corps has been completely wiped out. As for the 4,000 people who escaped, they were not the main force in the first place, and there were a small number of auxiliary soldiers. In Manninger's view, only a few thousand rabble, even if they escaped, Maybe after leaving the battlefield, they will be scattered as birds and beasts.
At this moment, the Chixue Army has occupied the entire territory of Syltan County, obtained a large amount of supplies and ordnance, and recovered the tax wealth of the Byzantine Empire in the county guard's warehouse of Syltan County... The wealth of the Byzantine Empire suddenly made all Odin warriors red-eyed!
Among the tribes in Odin, in addition to the royal family, other tribes, even if they are the other five powerful families, the life of the people in the tribe is not easy on weekdays. The Byzantine Empire had a warm climate, fertile land, and even more food. After occupying Syltan County, the entire Chixue Army got a lot of spoils.
At this time, Chi Xuejun, the whole army was full of satisfaction, and even Manninger couldn't help but feel a little proud.
At this time, greed will naturally arise.
(We came from the north and took Morshire and Syltane, with almost no decent resistance! These Byzantines were weak like sheep, and even their 7th Corps of the Imperial Central Regular Army, We are also vulnerable. We defeated these guys in only half a day! Where are the weak Byzantines still our opponents? We occupied two counties in only a month and got so much wealth , why can't you get more! Why don't you keep fighting, keep fighting!?)
Although Manninger was proud, he still retained a trace of sobriety. He immediately remembered that he was still in the north behind him, under the city of Denzel in Moore County, and he was frustrated.
At this moment, I have enough weapons and provisions, and it is time to return to the army and pull out the nails of that small town.
But at this time, God saved Xia Ya's life!
It must be noted that the northern part of the Byzantine Empire, especially the counties near More County, has always been the main grain-producing area in the northern part of the Empire.
Since it is a grain-producing area, it is certain that these areas meet several conditions: the land is fertile, the climate is warm and humid, and there is abundant rainfall every year.
The climate in these counties is the rainy season every year at the transition of spring and summer. At this time of year, cold air from the north of the continent moves southward and warm air from the ocean to the south travels north, staggering across the region, creating a lot of rainfall. Sometimes, it even rains for more than ten days in a row.
At the same time, the terrain of this area is also very special. In this area, there are seven or eight small rivers crisscrossing each other. The interlaced erosion of these rivers finally formed the geology of this area, which is similar to the nature of the river beach plain. The land is soft and fertile, which is very suitable for farming, but at the same time The soil is soft and belongs to the plains of the beach soil layer. Once the rainy season, the roads will be muddy and difficult to walk.
This year's rainy season is even more special.
This year's rainy season, it seems that the rain is particularly heavy.
The continuous heavy rain for half a month has caused floods in many rivers. Such floods will bring more silt on the river beaches, making the land on both sides of the river beaches more fertile, but it will cause bridges in many places to become more fertile. and road washouts.
The heavy rain did not stop for more than ten days, and the news finally came that almost nine out of ten roads in More County were completely destroyed. Landslides in many places collapsed, completely blocking the road, making it impossible for horses and horses to travel together. And in other places, bridges are destroyed, flooding...
Such a situation, at this special time, actually helped Xia Ya a lot!
Manninger's Chixue Army was in the south. Because of the raging rain in the monsoon season, the roads were blocked, and it was impossible to organize a large-scale force north to pull out the nail of Char. You must know that when the army marches, it must carry luggage and vehicles.
If Manninger's army came without food and supplies, the result could only be a repeat of the unsuccessful siege of Denzel City last time.
But according to the current situation, if we want to repair the roads and bridges, so that the troops of the army can walk together, I am afraid that it will not be possible for a month.
What's more, Manninger now occupies the entire Syltan County, as well as part of Moor County, and a large number of occupied areas require him to divide his troops to garrison. Attacking Char... I'm afraid it can't be done in a while.
Don't forget, there are already tens of thousands of troops in the city of Denzel in Char.
But at this time, Xiaya had instead made Manninger's idea.
Manninger's main force has gone to Syltan County, and the road is blocked in the rainy season, and he will not be able to return for a while.
Xia naturally set his sights on the enemy-occupied area closest to him: the original capital city of More County, Mesta City!
There are only a few thousand Odin defenders in Mestari, and Xiaya and Green have carefully analyzed it. With their current strength, it is entirely possible to eat the opponent! And as long as this counter-offensive is successful, the corrupt situation can greatly stimulate the morale of the remaining resistance forces in the empire!
"After the fight, we can defend or go. The weather is favorable for us now! If Manninger wants to return to the army, if he wants to return to the army, he will not be able to do it in a month! Mesta City is less than a month away from us. It's a three-day journey! If you go fast, you can arrive in a day and a half! After the fight, we can calmly arrange the situation. When the time comes, we can defend or go, and the initiative is in our hands."
Green pointed to the map and said slowly to Xi Ya: "Besides, Mesta city is all the people of our country. When we attack, the citizens of the city may echo us. I heard that the Odin people are unpopular. , not only slaughtered prisoners of war, but more importantly, they hung the head of Lord Klinthia County on the city gate. Lord Klinthia served in More County for seven years, loyal to his duties, very popular, his death, let Mo The people up and down the county are full of resentment towards the Odins... These favorable conditions for us can be fully utilized."
After saying this, Green looked at Xi Ya: "The only thing that needs to be decided now is whether to fight Mesta City, whether you go or I go."
"I'll go." Xia said loudly without hesitation: "You stay in Denzel City. I only lead Nene and 2,000 cavalry as the vanguard, and let Sharba lead 2,000 infantry to follow. Speed is the most important thing at this time. The Odins never imagined that we would come out to counterattack during this rainy season. The city defense of Mesta City was destroyed in the last war. As long as I took the opportunity to make a sneak attack and 2,000 cavalry rushed into the city, I would We can decide the outcome in one battle! Even if my cavalry can’t make a surprise attack, when Sharba’s two thousand infantry arrives, there will be enough time to attack the city calmly.”
Char smiled: "Our biggest advantage is... Manninger and the Odins don't even know that we have tens of thousands of troops! I'm afraid Manninger thinks we only have a thousand troops now."
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Two days later.
Under the black night, in the city of Mesta, only the lights were hung on the city wall, but the city was a silent darkness with no lights. After the Odins occupied this place, strict night control was implemented, and the residents of the city were strictly lit at night.
This kind of order seemed a little inexplicable to Xi Ya. Probably the Odins lived in the northern country, they all lived as tribes and lacked experience in defending the city.
At night, the lights are not lit. Isn't this a clear way to give Lao Tzu a chance to attack at night
As long as he rushes into the city and sets fires everywhere, the Odins will be startled...
Behind a hillside outside the city, 2,000 cavalrymen were ready to go. After they rushed for a day and a half to reach Mesta City, Char ordered everyone to hide on the hillside and rest for half a day to recover their strength.
At this moment, the two thousand original horse thieves have all changed into the armor of the army of the empire, and they look quite a bit.
Nene stood not far behind Xia Ya, looking at Xia Ya's back, she didn't know what she was thinking.
Nene returned to Denzel City ten days ago, and brought back more than 600 people, most of whom were horse thieves and mercenary tribes who originally lived on the wildfire plains.
In the newly edited cavalry flag regiment by Xia Ya, Nene still temporarily holds the position of deputy flag officer. Although everyone knows that Nene will not hold this position for a long time, at least this former boss is there, and these have been adapted. The horse thieves who have been around for more than a month are still very happy.
"Wait two more hours, and start the attack before dawn... Before dawn, it is the time when people sleep the most at night..." Xia Ya crouched on the hillside, looked at the city from a distance, and pointed to the distance: "The man in the northwest corner The city wall is broken, there is a gap, and the Odins have not completely blocked it... At that time, you will lead 300 people to rush under the city gate with great fanfare to attract the attention of the defenders, and I will lead people to raid the gap in the northwest corner, as long as you can Rush in... We'll win this battle."
When Xia Ya said this, she found that Nei Nei didn't say a word. She looked back, but found that this woman was staring at her in a daze. In the dark night, her eyes seemed a little distracted...