Chapter 1421 - 1333: Waiting for the Lead Actor

Chapter 1421: Chapter 1333: Waiting for the Lead Actor

The news of the Royal Court’s attack on Immortal Stone Field spread across the entire East continent in just a few days.

The instant people received the news, almost everyone who understood shouted that it was fake news, while those who didn’t understand regretted not paying attention earlier.

As for Horn, who issued the order, no one had any objections or displeasure.

Of course, even if there were objections or displeasure, few would dare express it.

Horn himself might laugh it off, but Cedric and the fervent civilians certainly would not.

War is a game of high randomness. Even the Holy Alliance’s command system cannot control every troop like moving a finger.

Hence, in a series of continuous battles, idle pieces can become fatal weaknesses, while many bad moves end up becoming the turning points.

In many wartime histories, arrangements that seemed farsighted to others might have been bluffs from the perspectives of those involved.

Therefore, the standard set by Horn for the Holy Alliance Army was not to always seek correct decisions but to make fewer mistakes.

As long as fewer mistakes are made at each point, the enemy will eventually defeat themselves, even without much effort.

However, with such changes, it is naturally impossible to mechanically execute the original plan; modifications are necessary.

Thus, Horn, marching towards the frontline, and the entire wartime planning office stayed near the New Five Counties.

After Bernardo talked grandly about the current situation, Horn spoke first, "You all see the current battle situation. Let us discuss any thoughts you may have."

To outsiders, it was evident that His Majesty Saint Sun was not shaken by the news.

Upon receiving the news, he even chuckled self-deprecatingly.

Horn and his party were stationed in a small town on the border of the New Five Counties.

The group occupied the ruined church in the town, moving benches aside and bringing in a long table.

Horn sat with his back to the altar, in dim light, moonlight filtering through stained glass and falling on the marble floor.

Standing in that colorful scene, over thirty military staff and accompanying officials wore grave expressions.

Seeing no one speak, Petier coughed and introduced, "In the current situation, Konyaz personally leads the cavalry in a swift attack on Piana Fortress. Having just been established, the Narran Battle Army hastily returned in defeat after a rush battle.

Piana Fortress’s situation is now precarious, as a large stationed force has been withdrawn, perished, or fled.

If the advisors’ estimations are correct, I believe Piana Fortress either has already been lost or is close to being lost.

Meanwhile, in other directions, like the Dawn Island guarded by the Central Battle Army, have faced intense feigned attacks from the Royal Court’s forces.

Being constrained, they cannot spare forces for support soon, but the Falan Foreign Legions have already headed north to aid."

"Ahem..." Bernardo coughed, "According to the message this evening, the two foreign legions were ambushed by Konyaz at the docks and were forced to retreat."

Petier was momentarily stunned, then nodded in acknowledgment and continued, "Given this, we must deliberate since Central Battle Army is the only one capable of providing support now.

The current issue for discussion is whether to withdraw the Central Battle Army from Dawn Island to support Immortal Stone Field or enclose the Royal Court troops’ retreat?"

Numerous advisors and high-ranking clerics exchanged glances, still hesitant to speak.

In such a scenario, no one dared speak rashly without absolute certainty.

Besides, this is a dilemma.

If Dawn Island is abandoned to support Immortal Stone Field, the Royal Court would seize the opportunity to capture Dawn Island.

If they persist in defending Dawn Island and the Royal Court forces truly risk it all, there’s potential for them to penetrate directly into the New Five Counties.

Now, most clerics, considering the previous developments, have a general idea.

Serafe’s intention is simple, to risk everything in this gamble and see who’s bolder.

If the Holy Alliance retreats and contracts the Central Battle Army, the Royal Court can seize this desired land, while the Holy Alliance would be politically trapped.

After all, the Dawn Federation is a member state of the Holy Alliance, and the aristocratic and oligarchic influences are not yet fully purged, making restoration tempting.

But if they don’t withdraw and securely cut off the Royal Court’s retreat, it’s trapping the Royal Court troops without escape.

Previously, the Holy Alliance would definitely decide on encirclement, believing that a bundled Royal Court army would opt for division over unity.

But after Serafe and Konyaz’s consolidation, they dare not make such assumptions.

The main force attacking Immortal Stone Field is none other than the 60,000 Royal Guards led by Konyaz!

The previously scattered Royal Guards have been thoroughly united this time.

These 60,000 Royal Guards are almost entirely composed of the Royal Court’s elite and most loyal soldiers, who will undoubtedly choose to fight fiercely if surrounded.

In other words, from the onlookers’ perspective, this is Serafe betting lives with the Holy Alliance.

Either the Holy Alliance gives up Dawn Island, or the Royal Court and Holy Alliance ultimately get injured, allowing Falanon or the Leia people to benefit.

Konyaz indeed deserves to be the Royal Court’s top general, making extraordinary moves, finding a way to break the deadlock even at death’s door.

Yet, this was built on a series of prior steps, otherwise impossible in the past.

A year ago, before Konyaz even set out, the Holy Alliance would already know his intent.

"Your Majesty." After a long silence, someone finally stood up; it was Piatous, the acting deputy shepherd leader of the Dawn Federation, "I think, we still need to encircle.

From a fundamental perspective, once the Royal Court troops’ retreat is cut off, their defeat is just a matter of time.

At that point, all we need to do is deal with their death throes.

If we choose to withdraw from Dawn Island, it effectively means we can’t even contain the Royal Guards while handing over Dawn Island, which is absolutely unacceptable."

The Shepherd Leader of the New Gem Federation, Gilatell, immediately countered, "You aren’t considering the whole picture. What if we encircle, and the Royal Court army charges straight into the Thousand River Valley homeland?"

"What do we do then? Are we, the Holy Alliance, afraid of a hard fight?"

"Not being afraid of a hard fight is one thing, but post-war reconstruction is another. What if Falan takes advantage to fish in troubled waters?"

As the two sides opened up, the church gradually became lively, with everyone echoing either side, still not reaching a conclusion after a long while.

But after all that was said, the encircle faction still predominated.

Firstly, the Dawn Federation was established earlier, having closer exchanges with the Holy Alliance, with more commercial interests involved.

The New Gem Federation is still too new, lacking political support in the Holy Alliance’s homeland.

Secondly, influenced by Horn and Holy Alliance’s wartime history and habits, these folks are stubborn, unbothered by challenges, willing to rebuild if the Thousand River Valley is damaged.

The Holy Alliance overcame such difficulties during its founding; why fear post-war conflict against Falan or Norn alliance forces?

Don’t be ridiculous.

Opinions gradually unified, but the power to finalize the decision fell upon Horn.

He looked at the eager eyes waiting for him to issue the encirclement order among the high monk advisors and smiled suddenly, "Both sides made good points and have great strategies, encirclement is a good plan, but I wish to modify it slightly."

The crowd was taken aback, not knowing how His Majesty Saint Sun planned to modify it.

Horn turned his head to Bernardo, "Did Konyaz come alone, or did he bring Serafe along?"

"Serafe is en route, reportedly near Changge City now..."

"Hmm, then here’s what we’ll do, instruct the Eastern Battle Army to head south again, but not to defend Fishing City, rather to defend the Seine River.

The Western Battle Army moves south to Shalan Castle, partially entrusting defensive duties to the Norn army, as for the Border Knight Order, inform Cheka they can act.

The other armies should remain in place for now."

The advisors and clerics were stunned; what did His Majesty mean by this?

This seemed like Horn was preparing to abandon Fishing City to protect the Seine River, but why?

Amidst the strategic choice of advancing for encirclement or retreating for support, Horn chose neither.

Bear in mind, if left unchecked, more Royal Court troops would pour into Immortal Stone Field, and under Serafe’s command, there’s a chance they’d reach the Holy Mechanism Court.

What’s happening? Wasn’t having a child supposed to make one more stable? Why does His Majesty seem even more aggressive?

"Then, Your Majesty, when will you act?" someone finally couldn’t help but ask.

Horn remained expressionless, revealing neither joy nor anger, "How can the show start before the leading actors have even arrived?"