On August 13th, Lorist, who had been busy for more than fifty days, finally breathed a sigh of relief. The last group of forced immigrants who were escorted to the Northland had already set off on the road. The battalion, accompanied by Bodfinger, went to inspect the camp where the Merchant Federation army was stationed.
In the past 20 days, the main armies of the six chambers of commerce of the six giants of the business alliance have also arrived at the front line one after another, setting up camp at a distance of more than 30 miles from the million-strong army of the Andinak Kingdom. At present, what the scouts and light cavalry can detect is that the six giants of the business alliance and the six armed main armies of the chamber of commerce have all arrived at the front line. More than 500,000 troops. The most surprising thing is that, as an ally of the business alliance, the Kingdom of Chigeda also sent an army of nearly 50,000 people to join in the fun.
Originally, Lorist didn't pay much attention to the army of the Commercial Alliance. He was always busy with how to transport the captured and captives of his family's armed forces and those immigrants to the Northland safely. It's a pity that it's not winter now. If it was winter, those immigrants and captives would be very obedient. Everyone knows that leaving the large army in the severe winter is a dead end, and no one dares to take risks. Moreover, the use of the sled car is not only fast, but also has a large cargo capacity, and even the escort personnel only need minimal strength.
But it is impossible now, mainly because the Norton family captured too many captives and forced immigrants this time, which exceeded the pre-calculated. Originally, Lorist only planned to move 300,000 to 400,000 people from Anderwolf and Porto-Org provinces to the Northland. But unexpectedly, even the province of Campona was completely wiped out by Bodfinger. The 100,000 reinforcements from the Tiger Tiger defeated the Merchant Alliance. Thousands of forced immigrants.
Calculated this time, the number of people who need to migrate has reached 700,000 to 800,000 people. After moving to the Northland, the total population of the Northland will exceed 3 million, which is almost larger than the total population of some kingdoms. So Lorist was very busy, and it was not an easy job to relocate these 700,000 to 800,000 horses to the North without any injuries. Experience, this time is exhausting enough.
After completing these chores and sending away the last batch of forced immigrants, Lorist had the time to learn about the current situation of the million-strong army and the countermeasures of the business alliance before feeling that the situation had changed a bit. Not quite right. His Highness the Second Highness is still very confident. Forty days ago, he asked a captured Earl of the Business Alliance to deliver a letter. It has become a small banquet for three days and a big banquet for ten days. It seems that the business alliance will definitely accept his request.
The main armies of the six chambers of commerce of the Commercial Alliance arrived at the front line more than 20 days ago. The Second Highness did not take this seriously, but as the troops of the Commercial Alliance gathered more and more, the Second Highness only ordered the scouts to strengthen the light cavalry. To monitor and guard the commercial alliance army camp, it is strictly forbidden to send out scout light cavalry to conflict with the opponent's scouts. And the army of the business alliance also sent scouts to avoid the scouts here. Although there were no conflicts or small-scale battles, the scouts in charge of monitoring by the Commercial Alliance were almost day and night. This made Lorist feel that something was wrong, so he took the guards and Bodfinger to check the commercial alliance's garrison camp in person.
"Strange, is the Commercial Alliance really planning to start a decisive battle with us?" Lorist muttered while looking at the commercial alliance's barracks with a monocular.
Bodfinger beside him was very puzzled: "Your Highness, how did you find out?"
Lorist handed him the binoculars in his hand: "Look for yourself, have you noticed something strange? The camps set up by the troops of the Commercial Alliance seem to be temporary, and they don't meet the requirements of defense at all. Firstly, no ditches were dug to set up partitions, and secondly, the railings of the big camp were carelessly inserted into the soil with a few pieces of wood and then surrounded by straw ropes. What do you think is the significance of this? Does the business alliance still want to To launch an active attack on our million-strong army? They seem to understand that we will not attack like them... ”
Bodfinger raised his binoculars and looked at it for a while, with a serious expression on his face: "Your Highness, setting up the barracks in this way is either a temporary barracks for sleeping overnight during a safe march, or it is because you are sure that you will have a great victory on the battlefield and are ready to go When the enemy launches an attack, this kind of battalion match is very convenient for the whole army to dispatch, but in terms of defense, there is almost no defense at all, and it can be broken in one attack."
"Your Highness, I wonder if the business alliance also wants to reach an agreement with us, and these troops are only sent here to put on airs, so they don't care much about the defense at all?" Genorio, who was next to him, heard Lorist Interjected after speaking with Baldfinger.
Lorist patted his head, he always encouraged people around him to express their opinions, so that he would not listen to one side and believe on the other. So there's nothing wrong with Genorio's interruption.
"You are right, but what I am surprised is that if the business alliance is determined to discuss peace and sign an armistice agreement with our majesty, then there is no need for them to gather so many troops. Isn't the gathering of more than 500,000 troops Small matter, if you really want to negotiate, you should set up a defensive line, and a hundred thousand people are enough. By the way, last time His Majesty sent an earl to deliver a letter. It has been more than a month today. Have you heard of Your Majesty? Did you get a reply?" Lorist asked.
Both Baldofinger and Genorio shook their heads.
"Forget it, I'd better go see His Majesty and ask myself." Lorist thought for a moment and said to Bodfinger: "Tiger Ross was appointed by me to escort those immigrants back to the Northland. At present, our family only has the Rock Legion and The guard camp is here. How about it, Borg, after you go back, choose a place with dangerous terrain behind the camp to re-establish a well-defended camp, and we must be prepared."
"Understood, Your Highness," Baldofinger replied.
After returning to the camp, Lorist took Genorio to continue to the camp where His Highness the Second Highness was, which was more than twenty miles away from the place where the Norton family's armed forces were stationed, and it was almost noon when they arrived. Lorist found that the defense of the White Lion Corps barracks where His Highness the Second Highness was located was very loose. The gates were wide open, and soldiers came in and out. There was not a single figure on the arrow towers on both sides.
When Lorist arrived at the gate of the barracks on horseback with his guards, the soldiers leaning against the gate finally came to their senses. The ten soldiers on duty guarding the gate of the barracks squatted and jumped up, leaning on them hastily They stood at attention and lined up to salute Lorist. They all knew Lorist, the most famous Grand Duke of the Northland in the Kingdom of Antinac.
"Where's Your Majesty?" Lorist asked.
"Your Majesty is hosting a banquet for all the grand dukes and nobles in the large tent in the central community. Would you like us to inform His Highness?" A small soldier leader replied very graciously.
Lorist waved the whip in his hand: "No need, we can go there by ourselves. Genorio, give me a reward."
Genorio took out a black money bag from his pocket and threw it to the little boss: "Your Highness rewarded you for buying wine."
"Thank you, Your Royal Highness." The ten soldiers bowed together. The envious soldiers who were watching the scene drooled enviously. Who didn't know that the Grand Duke Norton of the Northland was the most generous. There were ten large silver coins in such a small black purse, which was enough to add an extra month's salary to each of the gate guards on duty. They only regret why they didn't meet this generous Duke Norton on duty...
There is a small stone hill in the camp of the White Lions, seven or eight meters high. His Highness the Second Highness set up a large tent on this small rock hill, and set up another camp around the small rock hill. This is the camp within the camp, and what the gatekeepers call the central quarter. The purpose of His Highness the Second Highness to set up this central community is to separate it from the camp of the White Lion Army, because there are many ladies and ladies accompanying the army in the central community...
Most of these ladies and ladies are the family members of the nobles who were captured by the business alliance when the Second Highness attacked the northwest region. Arranging them to accompany the army is to let them atone for their husbands, children, parents and relatives. As for the atonement Everyone understands the Fa.
Generally speaking, nobles' wars are worse than family members' children. But there is a premise that nobles need to prepare a decent ransom for their relatives who have fallen into the enemy's hands, whether it is gold coins, materials, territories or family heirlooms. In this way, you can ensure that your relatives will receive very favorable treatment in the enemy camp, and no one will hurt them.
It's just that His Royal Highness took the winter raid this time and captured the northwest region. The aristocrats of these commercial alliances that fell into his hands were basically wiped out, and even the land led by them became the spoils of the Second Highness. If there is another family property in another place, such as a store building in Morente City, then you can also ask the Second Highness to redeem your family and ask people to go to raise ransom for your family.
However, the nobles who have no property outside the territory can only rely on their wives and daughters to come out to serve the Second Highness. His Royal Highness Xiang only held a small banquet for three days and a big banquet for ten days to entertain the great powers and nobles of the kingdom. One is to capture the riches of the northwest region, the other is to connect with each other to express goodwill, and the third is to show the royal demeanor, like this It is an extremely glorious and romantic event to entertain the nobles of the kingdom with the female family members of the enemy's nobles as the maids of the banquet.
Lorist felt a little disgusted at such things, which was also one of the reasons why he repeatedly rejected the banquet invitations of His Highness the Second Highness. The Norton family has its own set of plans for how to deal with the captured territorial nobles. If the captured territorial nobles treat the people harshly and cruelly, the whole family will usually end up hanging on the gallows. It is better to kill the enemy Norton family. Don't let it go, because in this way, the nobles of these territories can be appeased and become loyal to the Norton family.
The Norton family does not need ransom for those lords who are kind to the people, but requires them to use their skills and talents to serve the family for many years before they can get the freedom of the whole family. As nobles who have been educated since childhood, they naturally have advantages over the citizens, and they always have outstanding talents in one aspect. During their years of service to the Norton family, their feats were also recorded. After the prescribed number of years is over, these nobles will find that they are faced with a very difficult choice, because their meritorious deeds are enough for the Norton family to confer them nobles, and basically these nobles will change their positions to be loyal to the Norton family.
After entering the gate of the central community, Lorist refused to let the royal guards report to the Second Highness again, and ordered his guards to rest on the spot outside the community, and he took Genorio to the big tent. Before they got to the big tent, they saw a very handsome lady come out of the big tent with the Duke of Kenmes in her arms, and the two walked towards a small tent next to it. These two have hooked up and are getting ready for a close-up sport.
Then Kenmes saw Lorist, he quickly let go of the lady and came up to him, and warmly opened his arms ready to hug: "Haha, Locke, what kind of wind brought you here today."
Lorist pointed: "Stop, don't approach me, go about your business, I have something to ask His Majesty."
Duke Kenmes shrugged: "I'm just asking, is there anything I can help you with?"
"Okay, don't neglect your lover, there is nothing to help, but I feel that the business alliance seems to be preparing for a decisive battle with us, let me ask His Majesty if you have any ideas?"
The Duke of Kenmes breathed a sigh of relief: "Locke, you are too nervous, you should come here a few more times to relax. There won't be any decisive battle. We just got a reply from the Business Alliance this morning, saying that they will formally He sent an envoy to negotiate a peace agreement with His Majesty. His Majesty was very happy, rewarded the envoy, and had a feast with us. Now go in and have a look. I don’t know if His Majesty is drunk. He also said that he would send Someone sent you a letter asking you to come to the banquet tonight..."
Lorist has already raised the curtain and entered the big tent. The big tent is big enough to accommodate more than a hundred nobles for a carnival feast. Some drunk nobles fell asleep on the blankets, and some continued to drink wildly. He was entangled with those ladies and ladies, and there were even a few couples working on the spot in the corner of the big tent... Lorist also saw the Grand Duke Fesabrun, the old man whose face was as red as a monkey's ass, with both hands in front of him. Upstairs, two maids with bare upper body were playing with the huge protrusions on their chests, and at the same time asked the two maids to give him a drink with their mouths... Bah, this old man is not shy at all!
The Second Highness is also almost drunk, and he should be in a good mood after receiving the reply from the business alliance, so he let go. This conversation is not smooth: "Luo, Locke, you come, come, come, dry, cheers..."
Lorist turned around and left, leaving the central community and said to Genorio with a gloomy face: "Let's go, let's go back."
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