Chapter 201 Returning to the Fortress

Considering the effect of the pill, Roland did not immediately order the First Army to pursue it, but instead sent Lightning and Maggie to monitor the opponent's situation. 〔[(?〔]

The wounded soldiers on the defense line were treated immediately. After the whole battle, only five people were wounded, and all of them were hit by spears. Four of them were from the artillery team. To his relief, the wave of spear throwing by the enemy approaching to about 150 meters did not make the artillery disperse. Instead, they lowered their bodies, avoided the short spears with the help of gun mounts, and resumed the attack in the shortest possible time. into combat.

Nana always stayed behind the defense line and waited for orders, especially when the enemy turned around and fled, she ignored the rumble of artillery fire and ran to the artillery position with Viscount Tigu to treat the wounded who were stabbed by short spears. It's hard to imagine that half a year ago she was a little girl who would get dizzy at the sight of blood.

In the end, all five survived. Amid cheers, many soldiers saluted her and watched her leave the battlefield.

In fact, this battle was much easier than dealing with the Duke’s coalition forces. Without drugs, the militiamen in a state of addiction behaved extremely badly. Some even ran two or three kilometers and then lay down on the ground, unwilling to move any more. .

The chasing troops quickly gathered them all together and escorted them to Longsong Fortress. During this period, the First Army also captured two knights. Although they did not swallow the pills, they had already lost the idea of ​​resistance. Faced with the ever-approaching pursuers, they simply chose to surrender and asked to write to the family opportunity for redemption.

It was four days after arriving at Longsong Fortress.

According to the information obtained from the interrogation of the surrendered knights, Nightingale easily disintegrated the troops staying in the fortress castle. The captain was shot dead on the spot, and more than a hundred militiamen scattered in a panic, and then fell into the ambush circle set by the First Army at the gate.

Roland's men found Pei Luo who was imprisoned in the dungeon of the castle. He looked a little haggard, probably caused by worry and anxiety, but given Earl Honeysuckle's aristocratic status, he did not suffer any inhuman treatment.

After nearly three months, the prince saw the agent again.

"Your Highness, it's great to see you." Pei Luo finally relaxed his uneasy mood, and he described all the things he experienced these days in detail, "I don't know the envoys of Timothy... ..."

"They're all dead," Roland said casually, leaning back on his chair. "In addition, more than half of the 1,500 people they brought with them died at the border of the town, and the rest are currently locked up in the fortress prison."

When he heard the news that the envoys were all destroyed, Pei Luo seemed a little surprised, "Your Highness, if you do this, I'm afraid the new king... no, your brother will see you as a thorn in his side."

"So I should just go back and return to the capital obediently, and let him manipulate me?" Roland looked directly at the other party.

The latter lowered his head involuntarily, "No, Your Highness..."

"From the moment he sent troops to set foot on the western border, he was already my enemy," the prince said calmly, "Tifeco Wimbledon will only become more and more urgent in order to seize power. He urgently needs land and The title is distributed to those nobles who support him. If it is only for pleasure, why do you manage this fortress for me? You should be very clear that only when I become the king of Graycastle can your position in the western region be firmly established." He suddenly After a pause, he continued, "In order to prevent this from happening again, I need to form an army to defend the fortress."

"Army?" Pei Luo was startled.

"That's right, not knights, but a full-time army composed of civilians." Roland slowly said his plan, "You pick out a team of 300 people from the fortress, and my subordinates will train them how to fight." Combat. The requirements for these 300 people are: they must be civilians, have never committed a crime, are not believers in the church, are between the ages of sixteen and thirty, and have no physical disabilities. During the training period, they will live in Border Town, and their weapons will also be provided by I will provide it. Your knights and patrols will only be responsible for city security from now on, and more details are written on it," he handed the other party a piece of parchment, "you can publish the announcement according to the above content, recruit and screen .”

If you want to control the city defense in your own hands, it is obviously the most appropriate way to station an army of your own. But the number of the First Army is too small, and it is not enough to defend Border Town, let alone divide troops to garrison Changsong Fortress. Therefore, it is a compromise choice to let the other party provide manpower and conduct training by yourself.

Nightingale's polygraph ability can guarantee the purity of the team, and the new army's training methods and ideological education can make this group of people quickly form combat effectiveness. Equipped with muzzle-loading muskets that are about to be eliminated, even if they are captured by the enemy, it will not be a big problem. In addition, this army can also shoulder the task of transmitting information and intelligence. As long as someone tries to attack the fortress, Roland will be able to get the news immediately.

"I understand." Pei Luo nodded.

"I will review the personnel you have screened out. Don't try to put eyeliners in the team. This approach is meaningless." Roland warned, "The spies you sent before have all entered the mine now. If you something like this happened..."

"No, Your Highness," the other party wiped the sweat from his forehead, "I promise not."

"Next is the church," the prince leaned back on his chair with satisfaction, "you probably don't know yet, the cathedral of the fortress was set on fire by Timothy's subordinates, and the high priest of Tyro was also killed by them, and now there is only one ruins."

"They actually burned down the church?" Pei Luo was stunned by the news, "This... I have to report to Hermes."

According to the laws of the church, the king and the lord are obliged to protect the local church facilities from infringement, and if they are unable to stop them, they should immediately report the news to the holy city. For the former ambassador who is proficient in the law, it can be regarded as a normal reaction, and this kind of thing cannot be concealed at all. I am afraid that the pious believers in the fortress have already sent the secret letter to the holy city on the same day.

"Indeed, it should be reported, but the content of the letter needs to be adjusted appropriately." Roland raised the corner of his mouth, "You only need to state in the letter that the attackers were Timothy Wimbledon's troops, and they looted and burned the church not long after. Then leave Longsong Stronghold, just don’t know where you are. In addition, you enclose this thing with the letter.” He took out a pill from his pocket and handed it to Pei Luo, “it is said that it was picked up near the church. Of course they will understand."

"What's this?"

"The church's secret medicine is also Timothy's goal. It can make ordinary people burst out with extraordinary power in a short period of time, but after the medicine's effect wears off, the user will slowly fail and die," Roland explained simply, " Timothy wants to use this drug to strengthen the army and stabilize his precarious throne. The church will naturally understand his intentions when they see this pill."

Whether or not measures will be taken is another matter.

"As you order, Your Highness." Pei Luo put the ball into his arms and replied. (To be continued.) 8