Chapter 1307 - 1225: Resolute Retreat
On February 7th, the Holy Alliance Army officially launched a war against the Duke of Immortal Stone Field, citing "collusion with vampires" as the reason.
On the same day, Jeanne ordered the Chongxin Battle Group to set out along the Nao’an River, forming the left-wing advance route.
On the same day, the newly stationed army in Red Sand County also crossed the Seine River westward, constituting the central army advance route.
Further north in Upper Seine County, the Fire Lizard Battle Group acted as the right wing, departing on the same day, moving south!
Initially, the Duke of Immortal Stone Field had dispersed his land servants across the border areas.
There are over ten thousand people at the border, just like the giant serpent coiled around the roots of the Holy Tree. Strike the head and the tail arrives, strike the tail and the head appears, strike the middle and both head and tail arrive.
But he didn’t foresee a situation where the head, tail, and middle could be struck simultaneously.
Of course, it made no difference as they all collapsed in defeat anyway.
In an instant, urgent military intelligence flew into Fishing City like snowflakes in winter, causing the Duke’s palace to boil like boiling water.
It wasn’t until February 11th that Kakulkan and the Duke, who had been enjoying leisure and treasure hunting nearby, received word of the defense line’s collapse.
At first, they thought the defense line was overreacting.
Because in the morning, they were told of the defense line collapsing, and by afternoon, Count Martiel from the nearby border sent a message saying it was a small contingent of Holy Alliance troops mistakenly entering, which he had already dealt with.
Considering this, even capturing a thousand pigs would take a while, wouldn’t it?
Moreover, they were relying on fortresses and strongholds, with around five to six thousand men if you include those on payroll.
According to the rule of ten-times the troops needed for a siege, the Holy Alliance would need about fifty thousand to breach the defenses.
Yet the next day, requests for aid, messages, and deserters increased, making the two realize something was amiss.
It was not until Count Martiel’s plea for help arrived that they truly believed things had gone awry. The Holy Alliance had indeed attacked!
Both Kakulkan and the Duke were in disbelief.
How could the Holy Alliance dare? Where did they acquire such military strength?
If the Holy Alliance had redirected other battle groups, they would have gotten the news first!
The battle groups couldn’t possibly move faster than messengers, could they?
If it was the so-called "Western Battle Group," even two groups wouldn’t be enough to breakthrough.
The new battle group was only formed three months ago and lacked combat capability.
Despite their doubts, they hurried back to Fishing City.
By the time they returned to Fishing City, it was already the evening of February 13th.
In haste, bringing a large retinue, they didn’t have time to wash their faces or change their clothes.
The Duke and Kakulkan eagerly entered the bedroom and began writing letters.
Letters to the leader of the Royal Court’s Central Army, to Lakunio of the Northern Army, to the Vampire Army stationed in Piana Fortress, and to the reinforcements en route to Piana Fortress...
Then began the long, suffocating wait.
From February 14th to the early hours of February 16th, the replies finally arrived, but slowly.
The 5000 Vampire Army left behind by Kakulkan sent a reply saying they wouldn’t reach Piana Fortress until around the 20th.
Following that, the 3600 Vampire defenders at Piana Fortress replied that rashly entering Fishing City was too dangerous and advised Kakulkan to hide at Piana Fortress.
On the morning of the 17th, the anxious Duke got the news from Kakulkan.
Usually obsequious before Kakulkan, this time the Duke truly flushed with anger, loudly complaining with near-shouting: "You told me there were troops at Piana Fortress ensuring no worries; the Holy Alliance wouldn’t dare to attack, couldn’t!"
Kakulkan, knowing he was at fault, could only smile and console: "The Holy Alliance was overly bold, launching an undeclared war, shamelessly."
"Shameless or not, will we live to laugh about it?"
Kakulkan fell silent, and by this point, he too regretted.
He should have never left the troops on Dawn Island extorting and plundering.
Firstly, it resulted in the inability to promptly respond to the Holy Alliance; secondly, riches entice people — those vampire soldiers probably didn’t want to return.
What is with the Holy Alliance? And what’s with the Duke?
The defense line of over ten thousand soldiers breeched in one day, and false information was reported by subordinates.
Under dual external and internal pressures, Kakulkan managed to remain calm: "Discussing this is pointless now. Let’s gather our maps and intelligence, or we’ll never know what to do."
"Come."
An elderly white-haired knight immediately stepped forward, spreading out the map to explain to everyone.
On February 9th, the giant serpent defense line at the border of the Duke was simultaneously breached by the Holy Alliance Army.
The Holy Alliance Army split into three groups, the left flank setting out from the Nao’an River, the central army advancing from Mushi City, and the right flank heading south from Upper Sain County.
First, it was Jeanne leading the new army.
On February 11th, after breaking through the defenses, the new central army seized Mushi City, followed by the surrender of Narbo Fortress, capturing Lemuwa City.
On February 17th, the central army reached the vicinity of Freyborg east of Fishing City; Freyborg is a city of the Holy Sect, captured bloodlessly.
At this point, the central army was merely 45 kilometers away from Fishing City.
During this period, Jeanne also dispatched Cuirassiers to scout near Anna Fortress and Malin Fortress.
Anna Fortress and Malin Fortress were about 80 to 90 kilometers away from Pian Fort, allowing them to observe the direction of Leia.
According to some veteran knights’ speculation, this move was to observe the defenders’ movements on Dawn Island, though not all territories were under Dawn Federation control, primarily river areas were.
On the other side, with the help of the Dawn Federation, the Chongxin Battle Group set out from the Nao’an River.
On February 9th, they surprised and captured Gop Fortress, a water fortress serving as a logistics hub.
On February 12th, they set out again; since the Holy Sect was pervasive along the banks of the Nao’an River, the Holy Sect brothers provided help everywhere, so hardly any resistance was met along the way.
On February 15th, the Chongxin Battle Group seized the southern city of Masen City; the waterway distance to Fishing City was 35 kilometers, with no troops deployed yet.
In the northern direction, mostly wasteland and abandoned mining areas, there were no significant towns.
After capturing a fortress and a castle, came the long land march of the Fire Lizard Battle Group.
By around February 16th, they captured Pontor City, formally camping 24 kilometers northwest of Fishing City.
"From the current situation, Fishing City is surrounded by enemy troops totaling over 22,000 in the northwest direction, the south direction, and directly east."
"And our army?"
"Mobilizing knights and militiamen from various places, surrounding Night Guards and Leather Armor Soldiers can also gather a batch, there are still 6,000 guards in Fishing City."
To translate, available combat power is 6,000.
Most knights immediately gave a resentful look towards Kakulkan, but Kakulkan was unfazed and calm: "How many days roughly until the Holy Alliance formally sieges?"
"Quickly, one day, slowly, three days."
"Can vassals nearby come to help?"
"It’s too late, the fastest would take three days, and they wouldn’t bring much useful force."
The civil war plus two Thousand River Valley Wars basically exhausted Leia’s elite combat power.
Even ten years haven’t been enough for a new batch of top-tier extraordinary combat power to grow.
Raffel and Lakunio level, isn’t every growth period two or three decades?
However, an old knight still pointed out available vassals and possible forces on the map.
He tiredly lowered the cane pointing at the map: "Anyway, the situation is as it is, we’ll just have to see what happens afterwards."
After hearing the old knight’s analysis, Kakulkan placed his hands behind his back, turned around several times in place, then suddenly sincerely held the hand of Duali Knight: "Duali Knight, you must believe, our Royal Court never treats loyal people poorly!"
Duali Knight felt a foreboding: "What do you mean by this?"
"3,000 Royal Court’s northern pioneering army has already used Thorn Garden to come down south, 5,000 Royal Court’s central army will soon arrive, and there are also 70,000 to 80,000 troops along the coast."
"No, you wouldn’t, no, no, no, no..." Duali shook his head repeatedly.
"There’s no other way."
"No, I’m not going anywhere, you promised..."
"Times have changed, must Holy Alliance Army hang your head on the city gate for you to wake up?"
"..."
"Reinforcements will arrive soon; even if the Holy Alliance breaches Fishing City, we can quickly reclaim it."
"..."
"Even if reclamation fails, I assure you, His Majesty Serafe won’t treat you poorly."
"..."
"The bloodline and territory of the family, which is more important, you must discern this!"
Everyone’s gaze, even Kakulkan who always looked down on Duali Knight, focused expectantly on Duali Knight.
He slumped into his chair, scanning his gaze over the nobles in the city before him.
All were looking at him expectantly yet with a hint of malice, everyone was pressuring him.
"Retreat to Pian Fort." Duali Knight’s eyes almost brimmed with bloody tears, "Firmly defend, and there will be a way."