I, the prince in distress, send money

Chapter 200 Offense and Defense (Part 1)

General Duds, riding a horse surrounded by numerous guards, looked with a grim face at the small-scale battle that had broken out two kilometers away to the right of the marching column. It was a completely one-sided affair.

Reinforcements had already set off, but the attacked cavalry infantry squad collapsed before the reinforcements arrived. Duds saw through the telescope how they cried out for their parents and abandoned their armor in a pathetic state.

For a moment, Dudley found it hard to believe that those cowards were actually Miniseyan men who dared to risk their lives at sea and fight against hurricanes.

Dud knew that compared to land powers like Bohemia and Leteria, the Kingdom's army was not established for long, had few glories, and its overall quality was only average.

But even a player of average skill shouldn't be so easily defeated!
Their poor performance completely ruined the planned forced march. To prevent enemy attacks, the entire force marched in a battle formation instead of a regular column formation.

The advantage of this kind of march is that it is not afraid of enemy surprise attacks, but the disadvantage is that the marching speed is slow. What could be completed in one day now takes three days or even longer.

Several officers attempted to organize effective counterattacks, but each time they were disrupted by the enemy's flexible tactics.

These heavily armored yet incredibly fast enemies seemed to be everywhere. They used the terrain and their speed to constantly harass the Minisian troops, even resorting to heavy weapons like artillery to create panic.

"General, we can't keep passively taking hits like this!"

"A colonel said anxiously, his voice trembling slightly."

“These enemies are too cunning in their tactics; they seem to know everything about our actions.”

Dud knew the reason... it was those cavalrymen who were loitering in the distance, holding flags and openly monitoring their own troops. Because of their presence, their every move could not be hidden from the enemy.

Do you want to drive them away or eliminate them?
Can't do it.

After carefully assessing the situation of the two cavalry companies he still had at his disposal, Dudley immediately abandoned the idea of ​​sending them into battle.

An attack may not necessarily achieve its objective, and it could even lead to falling into an enemy ambush and suffering heavy losses. It seems like a losing proposition no matter how you look at it.

As a naval power, the Kingdom of Minicia has a very valuable cavalry force that cannot be wasted.

Dud looked up at the slightly tilted sun and silently estimated the time in his mind.

"The entire army is halted... Chief of Staff, are there any nearby locations suitable for defense?"

"Yes, according to the military map provided by the Bagnians, there is a hilly area and a stream two kilometers to the northwest, which can provide for the army's encampment and daily drinking water needs."

"In the past, we set up camp, ready to hold out!"

……

The players performed their mission very well. They worked together and used all sorts of tricks to successfully hold back the Minisians, preventing them from moving or running fast.

Even at night, after the Minieses painstakingly reached that easily defensible terrain, they couldn't even have peace while building their camp, as players harassed them with muskets and crossbows.

So much so that when Chris led his army to the vicinity the next day and confronted them two kilometers to the east, the core camp of the Minisians was still not completed. However, although the camp was not finished, when Chris climbed the hill and observed through his binoculars, he discovered that the enemy had, despite harassment, almost completed the first line of defense the previous night.

The terrain chosen by the Minisians was indeed easy to defend and difficult to attack.

It presents a typical low mountain and hilly terrain, with a wide field of vision but also hidden tactical depth. The gentle slopes are covered with drought-resistant shrubs and scattered oak trees, forming natural hiding spots and ambush areas.

A stream about three meters wide meanders from northwest to southeast in a crescent shape. The water is crystal clear, and the riverbed is covered with smooth, rounded pebbles, making it an ideal water source.

The banks of the stream are terraced alluvial plains with firm, dry soil, large enough to accommodate a large army. The Minisians set up camp here, blocking the water flow to the north, east, and south of the camp, forming a natural moat.

The ridge on the north side of the camp rises in a jagged pattern, and the highest point offers a view that can cover a radius of five kilometers, making it an excellent location for setting up a lookout post. Chris has already seen a watchtower made of wood that is slowly taking shape.

To the west, on the slopes behind the camp, the terrain is relatively flat and covered with patches of wild alfalfa. This alfalfa serves as fodder for warhorses, and its root system effectively prevents dust from rising during marches. Several Minisians are busy harvesting it.

It is worth noting that the stream suddenly narrows to form a natural ford south of the campsite. The water is only knee-deep, and the riverbed is covered with flat sandstone slabs, forming a shallow beach about fifteen meters wide, which seems to be usable.

Once the cavalry and infantry charged up, they could regroup here and then advance to the gentler southern slope to launch an attack on the Miniese camp.

However, if Chris wanted to send men here, he would first have to cross a birch forest, a terrain that was clearly not very friendly to cavalry.

The tents inside the Miniese camp hadn't even been set up yet, but they had already spent a lot of manpower building two-meter-high earthen walls around the four sides of the camp using clay from the stream and wood from the birch forest to the south.

After a quick observation and combining it with the player's reconnaissance report, Chris immediately realized the enemy's intentions.

They're prepared to hold out here to the death!

Could it be that reinforcements from the Kingdom of Minicia are arriving?
Chris was unsure of his own judgment, mainly because he only had intelligence within Bagnia and knew absolutely nothing about the Kingdom of Minicia.

Chris is currently unaware of the situation with the Restoration Army and the Bohemian Empire. After the collapse of the Republic's army, he also lost access to Count Dirac Sisso's intelligence.

Connie's intelligence agents sent to Hegland have not returned with any information, and as for the players' intelligence... because Chris led the expedition against Waterladnoy, the players who used to hang out in Hegland have all rushed over here to participate in the main storyline.

Therefore, Chris's hope of finding out what happened in Hegland through the players' eyes also failed.

However, since the Kingdom of Minicia has increased its investment and sent troops in, the Bohemian Empire certainly won't remain indifferent.

So, after careful consideration, Chris realized that he didn't have much time to waste with the Minisians. He had to take King's Plain and Vortradnoi as soon as possible so that he would have the population and strategic space to continue fighting the war of national defense that he would face later.

"This is damn troublesome! Messenger, summon all officers of colonel rank and above, and operations staff; I need to hold an operations meeting!"

However, at that moment, the messenger brought him a message first.

"Your Highness, the army of the Kingdom of Minicia has sent an envoy who requests a meeting with you!"

(End of this chapter)