Chapter 1298 - 1216: Not a Difficult Problem
The following day, after examination by the Exorcism Court and other cardinal institutions and extensive discussion, the predetermined appointments were all confirmed.
It didn’t take long before Jeanne, newly promoted to Battle Commander, convened her first military meeting.
The meeting took place in a war planning room on the second floor of the Holy Seat Mansion.
This planning room had three paneled walls and one with a huge glass window.
In the center of the room lay a long white wooden table, with a man-high map of the Eastern Continent hanging on the white walls.
The secret advisors moved back and forth in front of the map.
In several different positions, they pinned nails with caps of different colors to indicate where battle groups were stationed.
The table was surrounded by Battle Commanders and Senior Pastors dressed in the uniforms of the high-ranking officers of the Holy Alliance.
They sipped coffee, chewed on snacks, crossed their legs, and chatted with long-unseen nearby friends.
Despite the noisy background, Jeanne’s face remained calm.
Standing before the map, she didn’t even need to count to know how many pins there were.
Eight.
Ever since the battle of Grey Robe Hill, the battle group structure of the Holy Alliance had always been eight, never changing.
This was the current battle sequence of the Holy Alliance, composed of eight battle groups.
They were divided geographically into four internal and four external battle groups.
The Guard Battle Group stationed in the Ry Court Barracks, the Black Crown Battle Group in Joan of Arc Castle, the Chongxin Battle Group in Xia Lvcheng, and the Wild Wolf Battle Group in Cold Spring Castle.
These comprised the four internal battle groups.
And the Iron Fist Battle Group stationed in Silver Bay City, the Fire Lizard Battle Group in the New Five Counties, the Shadow Crow Battle Group in Long Embankment City, and the Divine Punishment Battle Group in Solaburg.
These belonged to the four external battle groups.
According to Horn’s requirement, the external battle groups on the border retained half to full structure, while the internal battle groups retained only a quarter to half of their structure.
Besides this, there were cavalry units in various locations, numbering quite a few.
However, Jeanne could draw a clear number from the Exorcism Court’s archives.
As per Horn’s established regulations, documentation staff of all battle groups and Senior Pastors had to submit a monthly report and update the soldier card every month.
The so-called monthly report meant keeping records of work, all actions of the battle group this month had to be reported.
Especially various meeting records, anyone who made any remarks had to be recorded.
The soldier card included the commander’s name record, subordinate structure, actual troop strength, weapons inventory, and soldier roster.
Based on the latest monthly report and soldier card summary, the Holy Alliance currently had a total of 34,527 active soldiers and 58,991 reservists (Defensive Army).
This was more than sufficient for the next phase of expansion and recruitment.
Though it required telling the Exorcism Court to open up restrictions for large-scale reservist training.
"Ahem." Battle Commander Jeanne coughed once, and the previously noisy meeting room fell silent instantly.
The officers sat upright as if just coming out of a boot camp as new recruits.
"Alright, enough pretending." Jeanne slapped Kolman’s back of the head as he made faces, "Just because I’m wearing the Battle Commander’s hat, you don’t know who I am anymore?"
"Hehe." Kolman laughed.
The others also relaxed, and the atmosphere was no longer as tense as before.
"Alright, let’s talk business."
Jeanne instructed the Secret Monk to distribute the Holy Alliance Exorcism Court’s monthly report brief.
"According to His Excellency’s plan, we definitely need to expand the army." Jeanne paused for a moment before speaking, "But there must be an explanation for the order and personnel arrangements, my opinion is to first expand in the Western Battle Group Army."
While Jeanne spoke, the surrounding officers and advisors nodded along.
"Why expand the Western Battle Group Army first? The western region already has the Chongxin Battle Group and the Fire Lizard Battle Group. Recruiting one more battle group will fulfill the battle group army requirements."
A young officer sitting in the middle-back raised his hand, Jeanne glanced sideways, then turned to inquire: "Speak."
This officer was none other than Lauren, just appointed last year as the Battle Commander of the Chongxin Battle Group.
He slowly lowered his hand and asked in clear pronunciation, "Are you anxious to recruit a new battle group because you want to impose force on Immortal Stone Field?"
"Yes." Jeanne sized him up twice, "Very clever, Mr. Lauren."
"You overpraise me." Lauren smiled slightly, looking around at several colleagues, then pursed his lips.
The faces of those officers immediately changed, some lowered their heads to their coffee, while others stared back directly, the disdain written on their faces.
In fact, apart from a few old friends like Juer Dan, Lauren’s reputation among officers had always been average.
Even Jeanne didn’t particularly like him.
The reason was due to his arrogant and attention-seeking nature, and he constantly enjoyed elevating himself by stepping on others.
Just now, this wasn’t the first time such behavior occurred.
But he was rather good to his subordinates, receiving widespread approval among soldiers, giving a sense of arrogance in higher-ups but humble below.
Sitting beside Lauren, Juer Dan pinched his arm, signaling him to calm down.
Juer Dan knew well what Lauren experienced in his youth, forming such a personality was normal.
At this moment, Jeanne returned to the long table and instructed the Secret Monk to pass down intelligence: "Distribute one copy per person."
The classified files were pulled open with strings by the officers, and a stack of materials toppled out.
Those who could sit in this position naturally could read, and soon enough, the officers stretched their necks, started whispering to one another.
"Could it be?"
"At this time?"
"Hm, we’ll ensure he comes but never returns."
Standing at the head position, Jeanne spoke up: "Indeed, you read it right, several lords of Immortal Stone Field are likely considering defecting to the vampires."
"But wasn’t the treaty with Black Mud Castle recently signed?" Mengse couldn’t help but ask.
Lauren flung the file onto the table: "Just a few scraps of paper, are you seriously counting on vampires to abide by it?"
"The vampires played a tricky card." Victor tapped on the table with his knuckles, "They entered Piana Castle as mercenaries."
"But why? Inviting vampires, what could they possibly gain?"
Sitting next to the Chongxin Battle Group’s Senior Pastor Modie calmed down: "They’re too close to the Dawn Federation and Holy Alliance, too far from Windmill Ground."
These words quieted the entire meeting room slightly, the officers immediately understood the implication.
Immortal Stone Field had two counties seized by the Holy Alliance, with its southwestern side bordering the Dawn Federation.
If conflict erupts in the future, the Holy Alliance certainly wishes to border the Dawn Federation, and the Dawn Federation likewise.
Originally, the Falan Legion sat there, leaving the lords of Immortal Stone Field unworried.
But now, that bastard Lorenzo pushed for strategic contraction, called back Leia’s legion.
This practically signaled an implicit stance, exchanging territory for the Holy Alliance’s support—Holy Favor Seed, moon mercury, and clockwork cannon.
The lords of Immortal Stone Field felt exceedingly aggrieved, paying taxes only for you to flee, leaving Immortal Stone Field sandwiched between Dawn Federation and Holy Alliance, what shall it do?
Holy Alliance’s harsh measures on nobility were witnessed by all.
Strip ninety-five out of a hundred assets, the Saint’s Grandson’s methods are well-known to you.
As for the Royal Court, not discussing their lenient policy towards lords, just talking distance, they are out of reach.
The Holy Alliance was beyond the reach of war in Windmill Ground, and vice versa holds true for Windmill Ground.
Thus, Horn and Jeanne’s strategy had always been to fight enemies right at the doorstep.
First, it shortened logistics lines, second, accelerated information transmission, third was home field advantage.
The battlefield they selected was precisely the region from Dawn Island to Immortal Stone Field.
The astute Leia nobles immediately noticed this point, yet their intelligence fell short of understanding this.
Then, under the pretense of quelling territory refugee uprisings, Dotos V hired vampire soldiers.
According to Cheka’s intelligence, approximately three thousand to four thousand vampire mercenaries arrived at Piana Castle.
Dotos V clearly intended to use this method to intimidate the Holy Alliance, which successfully amused Jeanne.
Originally, you could be fought or not fought, the Holy Alliance also needed time for preparation.
But you invited vampires to Piana Castle, within Immortal Stone Field’s domain, leaving no choice but to engage.
"The Holy Alliance must seize initiative." Jeanne pressed both hands against the table, "So, before next spring’s sowing season, it’s our expedition time.
We will launch a rapid, lightning-like offensive plan.
We aim to acquire all resources of Immortal Stone Field, to connect with the Dawn Federation and test our army!"
This means before the spring sowing season next year, the Western Battle Group Army must first replenish, then recruit a new battle group of five thousand men.
By the empire’s logic, such violent recruitment inevitably leads to declining soldier quality and combat effectiveness.
However, the officers present felt no trace of tension, as if this posed no challenge at all.
Indeed, this was no challenge.