Black Iron’s Glory

Chapter 563 Tactical Analysis and Task Allocation

“... our scouts reported intelligence that the Clyde and Jessica Legions, in conjunction with local guard forces in Federkansi and Benguela counties on the southern coast, as well as territorial nobles and local officials, had taken their families to Colwalk County in the west..." Colonel Boquer drew the red route of his transfer on a map hung on the wall.

“How many of them are there?” Avettelli I of the Kingdom of Breot asks.

Colonel Boquer glanced at the folder in his hand: "With more than 136,000 men and horses in the two Standing Regiments, combined with local armed guards, there are about 20,000 troops in the four Regiments. There are also local officials and relatives of the territorial nobles who left together, as well as the inhabitants of the south who followed them, together numbering almost 200,000. We estimate their destination should be the four counties of the Northwest Highlands, which is the Grand Duke of the Hicks. The territory of the Duke of Feriot...”

“Pilag. Lord Hi-Friott? The name is a little familiar...” Claude thought, “Are the four counties of the Northwest Highlands all part of the Duke's territory? Then his power in the Hicks kingdom should be one of the best..."

“Marshal, this is Pilag. The Duke of Hi-Friot is indeed your acquaintance.” Colonel Boquer laughed: "In the Second Eastern War, he was the Supreme Commander and Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Coalition Army. Later in the Battle of Polyvoria, he was in a bad mood, forcibly seizing the Duchy of Kanas, lightly riding three divisions and emplaced more than 80,000 horses in the battalion, along with all the four-wheeled carriages, and taking more than 100,000 Hicks wounded and handicapped back to the Kingdom of Hicks. Upon his return, he was stripped of the rank of Marshal by Machid III...

Pilag. The Duke of Si Feriot has a high reputation in the military circle of the Kingdom of Hicks, with four counties in the Northwest Highlands, all of which he has seized from the Highland Barbarians except Wilmouth County, which is his family territory. Because these three counties are frequently attacked by the highland barbarians, King Hicks was unable to direct or seal the three counties to the nobles of other territories and had to deliver them to Pilag. The Duke of Hi-Friot was entrusted with the administration, so much so that the four counties of the Northwest Highlands became the sphere of influence of the Feriots.

General Holmes and General Torrimok, the commanders of the Clyde Regiment and the Jessica Regiment, were both Pilaghers during the Second Eastern War. The subordinates of the Duke of Hi-Feliot, under his command, served. Pilag. One of the two generals was injured when Duke Ferriot led the evacuation and the other was responsible for the transport of logistical heavy goods, all following Duke Ferriot back to the Kingdom of Hicks.

Because of Pilag. The Duke of Hi-Friot alone was guilty of not fleeing the war, so his subordinates and the two generals who followed him home were not punished for their involvement. They are grateful to Lord Feliot, which is also the main reason why our intelligence services judge Clyde Corps and the Jessica Corps that their destination is the four counties of the Northwest Highlands... "

“Can we intercept them?” Avettelli I asked.

Colonel Boquer looked at Avettelli I and was somewhat embarrassed: “Cut it off, if the Legion of Thunder were to chase them, it would delay their journey and force them to stay on the ground, then wait for the three Legions of Mount Breot to come and besiege them before launching an offensive, and we could besiege both Legions and those following them west at a certain cost of casualties.

But the problem is, if we all go after them, we give Hicks another four standing legions the opportunity. If these four standing legions learn that we are going after Clyde and Jessica, they will surely attack Wang Jing... "

“Let them go. Claude looked at the map and said," Now that they're off the field, we can ignore this team, and their departure is actually helping us reduce the number of enemies we face. Colonel Bockard, tell me about the rest of the four Hicks Standing Army. ”

“Yes, Marshal.” Colonel Bockard turned a new page in the folder, and now that Claude had made his decision, there was no need to strangle the whereabouts of the two Hicks regiments. I have to admit that the two leaders of the Clyde and Jessica Legions, General Holmes and General Torrimok, were brilliant and chose a way of life.

“The Buckler and Bruce Legions are currently stationed in Skavia County, adjacent to Dartmouth County, two days behind the Solem Standing Army. It is presumed that the two Hicks Standing Regiments should have returned after receiving Wang Kyung's distress message, except that when they arrived in Skavia County they were told that the Solem Standing Regiment had been wiped out and that Wang Kyung had been attacked and that Machid III had died in battle, which led to a dilemma.

The Legion Commander of the Barek Legion is the third son of Machid III, Mondo Carlo. His Highness Da Hicks, Lieutenant General of the Kingdom. He was said to be the most militarily talented of the nineteen children of Machid III, who had participated in the war to suppress the rebellion of the nobility of the Territory, who had been brutally murdered by birth, and who preferred to burn the captives alive with fire oil. That is why he has a poor reputation in the Royal Hicks Army, where a number of officers believe he has no sense of kingship and decency.

The Bruce Legion is headed by the Marquis of Wissinbad, Major General of the Kingdom. He was a relative of the Hicks royal family, and his aunt married Prince Sirleyham, brother of Machid III, to become Princess. By virtue of this relationship, the Marquis of Wissinbad flew through the Hicks and soon promoted himself to Major General, becoming the Commander of the Bruce Standing Army. The only advantage of this man's unusual performance in the army is to obey his superiors' orders.

The Buckler and Bruce Legions are now stationed in camps in Skavia County and are convening reserves in surrounding counties, collecting grass and other supplies locally. Three reserves have now arrived in their camps, with an estimated 350,000 troops assembled. According to our captured messenger confession, Mondo Carlo... His Highness Da Hicks also asked the Clyde Corps and the Jessica Corps, as well as the two Standing Regiments stationed in the Manoli Plains, to assemble... "

Colonel Boquer used his fingers to point out the route west of the Clyde Corps and the Jessica Corps on the map: "Obviously, the two corps refused to obey this Mondocaro. Instead, His Highness Da Hicks commanded us to find a way of life for ourselves, avoiding war with us. As for the two standing regiments stationed in the Plains of Manoli, the Dakhly and Faklin regiments, they did not heed the summons of His Royal Highness, but built defensive positions at the entrance to the mountains on the outskirts of the port of Patkara, which seemed to be to be maintained..."

Avettelli I interjected: “The Daghley Standing Army is a local regiment in the three counties of the Manoli Plains, most of which are recruited locally and, seriously, they should be from our kingdom of Breot. It's just that the three counties of Manoli have been forcibly cut by the Hicks kingdom for over 30 years, and I don't know if the people here have admitted not to be our people..."

Claude looked at some of the lost Avettelli I, consoling: “I'm sure those of you who are older will remember the forcible seizure of the three counties of Manoli by the Hicks Kingdom. You said that the resistance in the Manoli Plains was very intense at that time, and that the occupying forces of the Kingdom of Hicks had killed many people here, and that hatred would not be easily forgotten.

If you look at the Dahley Regiment, instead of obeying that prince's call, building defensive positions at the mouth of the mountain, you can see that they do not want to fight for the Kingdom of Hicks, but are prepared to defend their homeland. Maybe you can send an envoy to get in touch with them, maybe they'll be happy to return to their homeland. ”

Avettelli I nodded slowly: "Okay, I'm sending someone to talk to them, and if they want to accept peace anyway, it would be better. ”

“All we have to do now, then, is deal with the army, 350,000 horses, two standing legions and three reserves, assembled by that prince of the Hicks kingdom, assembled in Skavia County.” Claude stood up and looked at the map: "Colonel Boquer, tell us about this local county. ”

“Yes, Marshal.” Colonel Bok Al instructed his men to hang a detailed map of Skovia County on the wall: "Skovia County is a hilly and plain terrain with two main rivers, with 68 villages in eight towns in three towns and cities, and is under the direct authority of the Hicks Crown, with a total population of around 740,000. The capital, Scannamo City, is situated on the banks of the River Glow, the current prince, Mondo Carlo. His Highness Da Hicks' base camp.

So far, Mondo Carlo. His Royal Highness Prince Da Hicks' Barek Legion was deployed in the capital, Scannamo City, with a defensive front built on the River Huai. The Bruce Legion of the Marquis of Wissinbad, on the other hand, is arranged in the Hidepath Hills of Turner's Changlin, in line with the Shining River. Between these two points, there is a town of Cherbourg, where the reserves from Kdames County are stationed.

Four more towns in front of this defensive front, the Ridleys County Reserve Corps, have been split up to hold the four towns, presumably the Mondo Carlo. His Royal Highness Prince Da Hicks used this Ridleys County Reserve Corps as a precautionary line and forward base. Only four other Standing Regiments did not respond to his summons, so much so that he could only turn his back and move on to Dartmouth County, where our Legion of Thunder guarded...

In Mondo Carlo. Behind this line of defense set by His Royal Highness Prince Da Hicks, there is also the city of Langris, which has now become the general logistics base for more than 300,000 people. The Reserve Corps from Sudkerberg County is responsible for guarding the city and collecting supplies such as grass locally. According to the testimony of enemy soldiers captured by the Thunder Corps, it is likely that two more reserves will be forthcoming in the next half of the month, one from Lenvoyork County and the other from Drynsink County. ”

After Colonel Boquer had briefed him, he asked his men to label the town on the map as a prisoner's confession. Claude looked at the map, shook his head with a smile, and turned to the senior officers in the tent and said: "From the deployment of this defensive force in Skovia County, we can conclude that His Royal Highness is not an experienced and distinguished military general..."

Claude pointed to Scannamo City, the capital of Skavia County, on the map: "General Berklin, if you were the guardian, how would you arrange for this Scannamo City to reach Chevrolet and then the defensive front of Hillside Sidepath? ”

Lieutenant General Berklin, the general chief of staff of the Legion of Thunder, led the First and Second Division of Thunder as General Baker, the leader of the First Mountain Legion of the Kingdom of Breot. He succeeded in fooling the officials of the Hicks Kingdom who had come to escort him, bringing a division of the First Mountain Regiment of the Kingdom of Breot and the First Second Division of the Thunder Regiment to Dartmouth County, then collecting grain on the spot, hanging the escorted Hicks officials and destabilizing the chicken dog in Dartmouth County.

Because of his brilliant performance, the senior members of the Hicks kingdom did not realize anything unusual. They thought that the Breott Hills Legion had raised the rebel flag because of the demanding logistical supplies, so they pressed the Solem Legion to come quickly to rebel and slaughter this legion of monkeys who dared to plunder the counties surrounding the Hicks King...

Therefore, the army of Solem, who had arrived in haste, did not care to carry out pre-war reconnaissance or anything, and directly hit the defensive iron plate, which had long been waiting for peace. It felt wrong to hit the head and bleed to death. However, it no longer had a chance to regret it, and the next morning General Berklin commanded the Thunder First Division to strike back from left to right, annihilating the Hicks Standing Army, which could not even be built in time for camp protection.

General Berklin naturally knew that Claude was asking about his vision and military common sense, and he went to the map and looked closely at the layout of the defensive front, which he answered with bamboo in his chest: "If I were a defensive commander, I would focus my defense on Chevrolet, which is the hub of the defensive front. I really don't understand why His Royal Highness has deployed his Standing Army in the capital, Scannamo City, if the town of Chevelle is captured, unless it is withdrawn from the River Glow, his army of Barracks is trapped..."

“The Shining River averages 50 to 60 metres wide, with a maximum width of more than 200 metres and a basic depth of seven to twelve metres, making it the largest river in Skavia County. The Shining River, which surrounds the capital city of Scannamo, is the widest of its rivers, and is more than 100 to 200 metres wide, so called Lake Shining. The river is calm and waveless, like a mirror. Every time the sun rises to the east and sets to the west, the Huiguang River reflects on Xia Xia and Xia, and is renowned for its glorious shadow view. ”

Colonel Boquer has turned the folder in his hand to the page of intelligence on the River Luminous: "Basically, the River Luminous is ferried without bridges. There are only two ferry terminals in the capital, Scannamo City, each with two ferry boats, which take about an hour and a half to come and go by pole and rowing, each carrying more than fifty people across the river at a time. There are also 32 small fishing boats, each carrying a maximum of five to eight people..."

General Berklin nodded at Colonel Bockard: "The Barracks are deployed in the capital, Scannamo City, without erecting a floating bridge on the River Huiguang. Then all we have to do is capture the town of Chevrolet, seal off the land passage in the capital city of Scannamo, and deploy a regiment of troops across the river, and this prince of shit won't get away with it.

If I were to set up this line of defense, the focus of defense would be on the town of Cherbourg, the capital city of Scannamo on both sides and this hill city of Hidpas, and it would be enough to set up a reserve corps defense. Both Standing Regiments are arranged in Chevrolet, one in front and the other behind, to facilitate rapid reinforcements, so that at least we can resist our attack for more than a month... "

“What would you arrange for the defense of the first four towns?” Claude asked.

“Arrangements are not required. General Berklin replied:" Retreat all town residents and defensive forces directly and clear the streets. Even the villagers in the front move to the rear. It is best to burn all the towns and villages in the front, so that the enemy cannot take advantage of any available cheaper. Only a camp can be built in the wilderness to get a place to rest... "

Claude laughed: "That's a good answer, but the only reason the enemy didn't clear the field was because they had the illusion of recovering the city of San Hiplian in Wangjing. That's why they deployed defensive armaments in the town in front of the line of defense to serve as a supply base for moving forward when the troops were strong enough and the time was right to launch a counterattack. Now that you understand the weakness of the enemy's defensive front, how to attack the enemy will be left to your Legion of Thunder.

You and Diavid lead the four divisions of the Legion of Thunder, cleaning up the Ridleys County Reserve Corps in front of the four towns, the Kdames County Reserve Corps in Cherbourg, and the Sudkerberg County Reserve Corps in Langris. As for the Bruce Legion in Hills Hills Hills and the Barack Legion in the capital, Scannamo City, all you have to do is trap them in two cities, and you're not allowed to attack the city without causing unnecessary casualties. ”

General Berklin and two standing up General Diaveed stand together to salute: "Obey orders, Marshal, we know what to do. ”

Seeing General Berklin and General Diavid with their high-ranking officers from the four divisions of the Legion of Thunder, who were delighted to leave the battalion to carry out Claude's orders, Avettelli I was in a hurry: "Marshal Claude, you have to arrange a mission for the three mountain regiments of the Kingdom of Breot. Can't they just watch you Thunder Legion go to work? ”

Claude laughed and waved: "My friend, you don't have to rush, it's time for you Breot warriors to show up. Thunder Corps is a light rider corps, fast manoeuvre, and penetration raids are their specialty. You see, that Bruce Legion guarded Hillside is in the hills, perfect for the terrain of your Hillside Legion attack, I leave this hill city for you to attack, I'm sure you will soon take it down..."