A map of animal skins was spread out on the table, and the topography of the hills and mountains of Petrona was drawn on this map. Between the Principality of Forondo and the Principality of Faker, the border line that stretches for hundreds of miles is the hills and mountains of Petrona. There are dense pine forests and steep hills, as well as numerous streams, valleys and cliffs.
After being blocked by the trench-and-earth-walled defensive position set up by the Principality of Forondo, the Second Highness also had the idea of the hills and mountains of Pedrona. As long as it can break through the hills and mountains of Petrona, it will be able to pose a threat to the capital of the Principality of Forondo, the capital of Pedro, and the capital of the Principality of Falker, the city of Falaimoch. But after sending out a white lion troop to test for a while, they withdrew again. Without him, the mountain road is rugged and long, which is not suitable for large troops to walk through.
The main difficulty is that the Principality of Forondo has deployed a mountain army here. Most of the soldiers in this army are composed of mountain people living in this mountain. They move fast up and down the mountain, are familiar with the mountain environment and are good at setting traps. Aggressive and brave, not afraid of death. An advance brigade of 1,000 men from the White Lion Corps was ambushed by more than 400 soldiers from the Mountain Legion, and engaged in a small-scale battle. As a result, the Second Highness and Lorist almost dropped their jaws in shock.
In less than half an hour of fierce fighting, the thousand-man team of the White Lion Army had nearly 700 casualties, while the casualties of the more than 400 soldiers of the Mountain Army were less than half. Although the number of people more than doubled, the battle took place in the woods on a hillside. The soldiers of the White Lion Legion wearing heavy armor faced these soldiers wearing tattered leather armor and holding short weapons, walking through the woods like flying, The soldiers of the Mountain Legion who made strange noises while fighting really had nothing to do.
They are really good at taking advantage of the terrain, just like a wounded centurion who was rescued and reported: "You never know where they will appear, maybe jumping from a tree, maybe from a bush Out of nowhere and catch you off guard. They won't fight you face to face unless there's no way out. But that's rarely the case...
Several times we chased them and saw that we were cornered, but they would still quickly climb up the tree or jump down to escape. And our movements are too slow, it is difficult to catch up with them. When you find them, either they appear behind you or they have finished attacking the target. You can only watch the backs of these enemies who hurt your comrades leave quickly... "
The Second Highness had no choice but to cancel the decision to break through the hills and mountains of Petrona. Such casualties are more unbearable than anyone else. The White Lion Legion has a total of five regiments plus one logistics battalion, with an establishment of 56,000 people. Each legion is only 10,000 people and 10,000 teams. In addition, the attack on the trench defense position in the previous days has almost damaged a corps. According to this casualty ratio, even if the entire White Lion Army is thrown in, it will not be able to break through the hills and mountains of Petrona. It doesn't matter if five mountain legions attack from the white lion army united formation on flat ground, but there is really nothing to do with this mountain legion in the mountains, and this matter can only end here.
After entering and occupying the city of Pedro, the capital of the Principality of Forondo, the Second Highness heard that the mountain army was still entrenched in the hills of Petrona, and did not retreat to the Principality of Handela with the Duke of Forondo. But the Second Highness is not in the mood to send troops to conquer, so let them stay in the mountain. If they dare to go down the mountain, do they really think that the cavalry under him are vegetarian
Since the Second Highness didn't care about the mountain army, Lorist didn't bother to trouble the mountain army. Besides, they stayed in the hills and mountains of Pedrona, and it was really crazy to let the cavalry regiment, the Flying Tiger Legion, go to fight in the mountains. But just as Lorist was preparing to keep the water out of the river, the Flying Tiger Legion that was going to clean up the nobles' territory was frequently attacked by this mountain legion. The casualties were not large, but it was really annoying to keep buzzing around the ear like a fly, until the snowstorm became heavier and heavier in late December, and the Flying Tigers also finished cleaning up the noble territory of Fabusia Province After moving to the province of Zamora, the mountain army stopped its harassing attacks.
Lorist was really angry, I counted you lucky not to trouble you, but instead of being lucky, you went down the mountain to harass us, it's really deceptive. If it weren't for the busy relocation of refugees, Lorist would have wished to go directly to the mountain. So a secret decree made Bodfinger and Malek, who had nothing to do on the border of the southern province, lead three regiments to use the sleigh carts of refugees on the return journey to secretly arrive in Farbusia province, and secretly stationed in the displaced refugee camp. .
"Using the cover of the wind and snow during this period of time, I asked Reddy and his guards to conduct reconnaissance on the entire hills and mountains of Petrona. Thanks to the winter, otherwise, the mountain army would easily find their whereabouts. Although the enemy also has Some cold protection measures can also dispatch small troops to harass and attack us in winter. But their vigilance is not high, and they are not very happy to go down the mountain in winter... "
Lorist pointed to a circle drawn with a red pen on the map and said: "We purposely stop at the edge of the hills of Pedrona every time they go down the mountain to carry out harassing attacks, leaving them with us. The impression that they are willing to go into the mountains. Secretly, Reddy led people to follow their whereabouts, and they have already checked out the camp where they live together, which is here I circled.
This is the hot spring valley, and it is also the largest valley in the Petrona hills. It is said that there are many hot springs in it, and the valley is as warm as spring. It is the settlement of the entire Petrona hills and mountains. According to the news obtained by the secret agents of the Principality of Forondo, there are nearly 70,000 to 80,000 mountain people nesting here every winter, and the mountain army of the Principality of Forondo has 35,000 people. It is estimated that the total number of our targets this time exceeds One hundred thousand. This is also the main reason why I transferred the three corps of your Rock Legion.
This time the two corps left by the Flying Tiger Legion will also act together. They will dismount and enter the mountain to block all the comrades on the periphery to prevent the enemy from escaping. And you, Borg, lead the three corps and me to launch an attack on the hot spring valley, so as to The enemy was wiped out. You have already seen the specific arrangements and steps, but what we need this time is not to eliminate them, but to take more prisoners. These strong mountain people are all the best laborers, and there are still a lot of people in our family territory The development project needs them to effectively build. "
The family knights in the big tent all laughed knowingly, they knew that their Highness had taken the idea of these mountain people again.
Lorist also laughed a few times, and asked Genorio to spread out a map again: "This is the detailed topographic map of the Hot Spring Valley. According to Reddy's reconnaissance, there are eleven mountains surrounding the Hot Spring Valley. The Mountain Legion sent people to set up guard posts and beacon fires. To attack the hot spring valley, these eleven guard points must be eliminated first, otherwise once they warn the people in the valley to be prepared, they will block the valley If we want to attack the valley, there will be more trouble and casualties. However, Reddy, I and the guard battalion are in charge of these eleven security points, and you, Borg, are responsible for attacking the three passages in the hot spring valley.
In addition to the cliffs and high slopes in the north, the hot spring valley has an external passage on the southeast, west and three sides. And the valley is not flat, there are more than a dozen small hills in it, and the hot springs are basically located on these small hills, so most of the mountain people in Wodong here build simple dwellings on the basis of these small hills. The Mountain Army of the Principality of Forondo has a complete camp in the east of the valley. The Principality of Forondo mainly relies on this mountain army and the camp in the valley to exercise effective rule over the mountain people in the entire Petrona hills. So if we want to fight, we must uproot everything here, so as not to leave any future troubles, understand? "
"Understood, Your Highness." The family knights and senior leaders in the big tent answered in unison.
…
"Close the door, it's freezing cold." Old Chek yelled dissatisfiedly. Perhaps it was because of his age that Old Chek became more and more afraid of the cold. Whenever the weather became cold and wet, his joints of hands and feet would always Severe pain. This should be a very serious cold joint disease. According to the pharmacist of the Mountain Army, this disease is mainly caused by old Chek's alcoholism and cold exposure when he was young. The treatment is also very simple. You can buy a bottle of special For the medicine to treat this disease, go down three bottles to ensure the body recovers.
"What a profiteer!" Old Cheek murmured, is Jinford so easy to earn? He has spent most of his life in the Mountain Army, and he is already over forty years old, but the money he has saved There were less than twenty-three Gold Fords. If he hadn't gone down the mountain last month and killed a cavalry scout from the Norton family in ambush, captured three Gold Fords from that scout, and was rewarded with one by Legion Chief Noori. It was getting closer to the goal of thirty Goldfords.
It's just that now old Chek is facing a difficult choice. Once he has accumulated 30 gold coins, should he buy medicine to treat his cold joints, or use the money as a bride price to marry that widow Serena? I am getting older, over forty, and the days when I will be paid in the Mountain Army are not many. Last time, Serina said to herself that with thirty Gold Fords, she can buy 20 acres of good mountain land and build a Home, hunting and digging herbs in this hilly area will be a wonderful life, and I should have a family and have a few children to live a good life...
"Oh, old Chuck, it's so cold on the mountain. My hands and feet are almost numb from walking around like this. I really miss the hot springs in the valley. It's a hot pot of ale after bubbling in the hot springs in this weather. What a wonderful enjoyment... "The one who entered the room was Masocley, who was in charge of a guard point on the outermost hill with Old Cheke as a partner.
"Do you think I don't want to?" Old Cheke gave him a blank look: "But if you want Jinford, don't even think about enjoying it. If you didn't lose so much gambling debt, would you be willing to come here with me to spend the winter? ?”
This is true, so the head of the Noori army gave out two Jinford bonuses. Old Checker and Massoclay left the warm hot spring valley for the reward, and came to the top of the mountain here to suffer from the wind and cold. As long as you survive this winter, you will get two Jinfords.
"Is there anything going on outside?" Old Cheek said.
Masocley shook his head: "It's still not the same. I looked at the vast expanse of whiteness at first glance, and my eyes hurt after looking at it for a long time. I walked around the top of the mountain, and the surrounding mountains and fields were quiet, but our cliff There is also a mountain muntjac looking for food. Unfortunately, we can’t go down, otherwise there will be fresh broth to drink at night. I’m tired of drinking this salty broth and eating black bread every day.”
The cliff they are on is the outermost warning point of the hot spring valley, and it is also the tallest and most rugged, especially in winter, when it snows, it is impossible to go up and down the mountain. Basically, the path that can only be walked sideways is blocked. Generally sealed. The two could only survive the winter in a simple wooden shed built on the top of the cliff, and the transportation of supplies was pulled up by ropes lowered from the cliff.
"It's better to survive the winter, the snow and the rainy season are the most uncomfortable. When the snow melts, we will know if there is any water leakage in this dilapidated shed. If there is any, it must be repaired immediately, otherwise we will not be able to sleep peacefully when the rainy season arrives. "Old Cheek said with experience.
"Well..." Massoclay suddenly raised his ears: "Old Cheek, did you hear any movement? It seems that there is something outside?"
"Impossible, who can climb such a high cliff..." Old Cheke heard a knock on the door before he finished speaking, and then the broken door of the wooden shed was opened, and a figure stood at the door, and the cold wind blowing from the figure Irrigate directly into the wooden shed from behind...
"Surrender, I'll give you a chance." The figure in the white scarf and white cloak said lightly.
Old Chuck's teeth were shaking, he didn't know whether it was from fear or coldness: "You, you, how did you come on, come on, come on..."
"How to get up?" The figure seemed to be surprised by such a question: "Isn't there a way, so I came up like this."
Old Chek had calmed down this time, and he secretly pulled the clothes of Masocley next to him, and said in a low voice: "You stop him, and I will deal with him with you by lighting the wolf smoke."
The arrangement point of the wolf smoke on the cliff top is behind the wooden shed, but there is a vent in the wooden shed leading to the bonfire that warns the wolf smoke. Old Chek had already figured it out, as long as Masolek blocked the enemy at the door for a while, he could bend down and pull out a burning firewood from the brazier on the ground, then push open the wooden window of the vent behind him, and put the firewood Throw it on the bonfire that warns the wolf smoke, and the bonfire that has been poured with kerosene will burn immediately, and the people in the hot spring valley behind will know that the enemy is coming...
If the action is fast, it can be completed in just a few blinks of the eyes. The enemy will definitely fail because of the plan. Either they become angry and want to kill the two of them, or they want to escape in a panic. Anyway, as the vigilante, Old Chek has quickly completed himself. duty of. As for the old Cheke who is not afraid of fighting, he has a strong confidence in his skills in the battlefield where he has spent most of his life. There is nothing to be afraid of if the opponent is just a jerk...
"Do it!" Old Chek yelled violently, and immediately bent down to pick up a burning firewood from the brazier, turned around and rushed towards the wooden window behind him. Before turning around, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Massoclay drawing out his sword and rushing towards the figure at the door.
"It's done..." Old Cheke was overjoyed, and was about to push open the wooden window, but suddenly felt a chill in his heart, his whole body lost strength, and he couldn't stand still and fell towards the wooden wall. what happened? Old Chek lowered his head, only to find a shiny sword protruding from his chest.
"Well..." Old Chek turned around with difficulty, only to see that Masolek, who was standing just now, was lying on the ground, not knowing whether he was dead or alive, and the figure in white was standing behind him, cursing while drawing his sword, "I don't know what to do... "
It was dark in front of his eyes, and his whole body seemed to be torn apart, with a burst of energy leaking out. Old Cheke fell to the ground, dead.
On February 3, 1782 in the common calendar of Galintia, the Norton family attacked the hot spring valley in the hills and mountains of Petrona by surprise. , died at the sword of Bodfinger, head of the Armed Rock Legion of the Norton family. More than 10,000 young and strong mountain people persisted in resisting and suffered a bloody massacre, and the remaining 50,000 mountain people were forced to surrender their weapons and became captives of the Norton family...
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