When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

#555 - The finishing touch

After receiving news of Prince Condé's surprise attack, Horn continued to perform his duties as usual, writing articles and reviewing the government's construction in the rear.

However, those close to him could sense that His Sacred Majesty had become more impatient and somber.

Ordinary meetings were usually stern, with few jokes to liven the atmosphere, and even the frequency with which the Curia monks were scolded had increased.

It should be known that everything in the Papal States depended on Horn, and even his slightest actions would cause great tremors when transmitted to the end.

In the end, the monks asked Jeanne to persuade His Majesty to calm down.

Realizing this, Horn temporarily convened a meeting, conducted a self-criticism, and restored much of his previous state.

Unfortunately, from the bottom of his heart, it didn't have much of an effect.

Calm down? How could he calm down?

The blood and tears of six million people in Thousand River Valley over five hundred years were about to be decided in these ten days. Who could be calm?

The most agonizing thing was that he could hardly participate in this battle that determined fate, and could only watch from the sidelines or even wait for Prince Condé's attack.

It had been more than a year since he had set his sights on the Battle of Long Bridge.

In this year or so, he had exhausted almost all of his strength and means.

Taming the Beastmen, extracting water from the salt wells, training troops on Autumn Dusk Island, establishing the Holy Machinery Court, and developing clockwork machinery.

The Battle of Pavia recovered Jeanne d'Arc Castle, cleared out the bandit knights, divided the Hundred Households District and farmland, and established the prototype of the Salvation Army government.

Then, he attacked the Cave Forest to the west to drive out the bandits, attacked the Golden River Township to the south to subdue the Kush Knights, and turned back to Jeanne d'Arc Castle to engage in land reclamation and agricultural restoration.

Then, he supported Little Pool City, then went north to support Rapid Stream City, and after returning, he trained new recruits for the Guards Regiment and discussed a new round of sugar and grain trade and municipal construction.

Next, he had to go to Kasha County to resist the new aristocratic coalition, and before he could return, there was news of the Gravel Plains attacking North Munder County.

One advance after another, one victory after another in despair.

In this year, Horn was fully loaded except for three to five days of rest on Autumn Dusk Island.

He was either fighting or working, and when it came to the most critical moment of verifying the results, he could only watch helplessly.

Although he did his best and left the rest to fate, if possible, Horn still hoped that the Holy Father could give him another year.

Two and a half years would be enough for him to have a well-equipped army, sufficient financial resources in the rear, and enough cards in his hand to wrestle with Lacunio.

Perhaps now, he could have a good fight with that damned prince.

Instead of being trapped in Rapid Stream City by three shackles, unable to exert his strength.

At this time, even if Horn had more composure, it was inevitable that he would be restless.

If this plan really succeeded for Prince Condé, his only choice would probably be to retreat to Black Serpent Bay.

Although this might not be a way out, the most important clockwork machinery center, Autumn Dusk Island, was still in Daze Township.

Losing this industrial center, the church's forces would return, plus the economic blockade and harsh environment of Black Serpent Bay.

At that time, all Horn could do was launch hopeless northern expeditions again and again.

The Salvation Army would probably be like the predecessor of the Joan Party, saying it was entrenched in Lin'an, but in the end, it would be trapped in Black Serpent Bay.

It's ironic that Horn wanted to go to Black Serpent Bay when he was in Jeanne d'Arc Castle but couldn't, but now he doesn't want to go to Black Serpent Bay but has to.

"Your Majesty, are you finished?" René stood in front of the Uffizi Palace's garden, watching Horn, who was bare-chested and sweaty by the pond, wiping his sweat with a towel.

"Yes, today's breathing exercise is complete." Wiping the sweat from his armpits and face with a hot towel, Horn stretched his limbs. "I feel that I have reached the realm of half-step breathing perfection, and I will soon be at the third stage of breathing!"

René habitually ignored Horn's nonsense: "Your Majesty, it's an urgent letter from Laurent, the legion commander of the Seventh Black Crown Army."

Putting on his shirt and walking to the marble washstand, Horn immersed his head in cold water.

In the bubbling water, René heard a clear "read" sound.

"Laurent's urgent letter, the nobles of Hotham County have rebelled and seized Stillwater Dock..."

Before he could even finish reading, René felt a blur before his eyes.

Horn, who was originally washing his face, appeared in front of him like a flash, snatching the letter from his hand.

Reading it almost at a glance, Horn almost jumped up.

He closed his eyes for ten seconds, and when he opened them again, the fatigue and restlessness in his eyes had completely disappeared.

"Immediately summon the senior monks and officials in the city to gather in the council hall for a military meeting."

By the time Horn had changed his clothes and arrived at the council hall, the city's senior military and political leaders had all arrived.

Including the councilors from Lower River County and Rapid Stream City, as well as the legion commanders of the stationed Salvation Army, had all come.

And at the oak conference table, a Curia monk was loudly reading the intelligence content.

"February 25th, the Gray Horse Knight Vain surrendered, claiming to have evidence of treason by the nobles of Hotham County, but was shot and killed by an unnamed crossbowman.

Prince Condé was furious and sent an edict to arrest Count Sampoli of Stone Wall Town.

Count Sampoli was afraid that Prince Condé would take the opportunity to move them to the Mountain County, and in addition to the ravages of the lancer teams, he chose to rebel.

On the night of February 29th, the Sacred Sun Army's Andrei and Valentine Tyler led eight hundred elite militiamen disguised as refugees to stay outside the city.

They cooperated with the Earl's confidants who had entered Stillwater Dock in advance and seized Stillwater Dock..."

"Impossible." Not only Carl, but Hakuto also exclaimed.

Stillwater Dock is not a single fortress, but has a main fort and many satellite-like sub-forts.

If the main fort of Stillwater Dock is captured, the knights stationed in the many sub-forts will be isolated and helpless even if they lose their logistics.

But they are not without the power to fight back. If the knights of the sub-forts gather their forces in time, they can still recapture the main fort.

"The knights of the sub-forts were instigated by the noble lords, their minds were not unified, and their actions were procrastinating and untimely." Smiling as he walked to his seat, Horn patted the letter in his hand. "But our two legions are very promising."

After receiving the news, the two legions stationed near Stillwater Dock made a decisive decision. The two legion commanders and the legion scribes immediately advanced after discussion.

They didn't have time to wait for instructions and approvals. They directly took barges downstream, and arrived at Stillwater Dock in half a day before the knights counterattacked.

Legion Commander Laurent led the troops to command and successfully repelled the knights' two counterattacks, seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Correspondingly, Prince Condé and the Thousand River Valley Church completely lost their last chance to recover.

"This, is this true?"

"Can you confirm the source of the news?"

"Jeshka, who is stationed in Ansonburg, has sent a small boat to confirm." Horn glanced at the setting sun piercing through the clouds outside. "Whether it's true or false, it should have arrived by now."

Everyone followed and looked out the window. Almost at the same time, a carrier pigeon flew into the shed of the distant tower.

Although there were many pigeons delivering messages, almost everyone felt in their hearts that it was the pigeon that flew from Ansonburg.

Before long, a slip of paper was sent to Horn.

He only glanced at it and handed it out with a smile: "It's true."

The note was passed from one hand to another, and each person who received it was filled with exclamations.

"Holy Father—"

"Then, wouldn't that mean..."

"It's really unimaginable!"

It's no wonder they were surprised. This itself was a miracle.

Originally, the Salvation Army was trapped in Lower River County and could only wait for Prince Condé to defeat them one by one. It was basically a desperate situation.

But now that Stillwater Dock has fallen, it is equivalent to Lacunio's strategic design being in vain.

The five earls of Hotham County revolted in opposition, which was already beyond everyone's expectations.

It was even more unimaginable that they would be willing to attack Stillwater Dock for the Salvation Army.

It must be said that Horn's support for the Sacred Sun Army and allowing the Sacred Sun Army to change its banner was originally criticized by many monks.

But now it is actually this ragtag team that no one is optimistic about that has communicated with these nobles and played a key role.

Of course, whether it was Vain's divisive tactics or Prince Condé's stupidity, it does not hinder the most critical fact—

"The gate to Flying Stream Fortress has been opened to us!"

Rapid Stream City, which had been raining for three consecutive days, suddenly cleared up on the evening of March 1st.