Chapter 1206: 27. Great Alliance Moves Forward (12)_3

Another junior officer was puzzled. He crouched beside the corpse, picking up the shallow brown linen coat soaked in blood. “But they’re wearing the clothes of the Corps’ direct battalion.”

“They’ve changed into new clothes.” Skool tapped the nailed shoes on the corpse’s feet with his sword scabbard. “But they didn’t change their shoes.”

The junior officer suddenly realized and continued thinking, his face unconsciously showing surprise: “The New Reclamation Expeditionary Army should be the enemy’s most capable force. After a simple probe, they’ve already committed their main force. Colonel, Sanel must be serious this time!”

Skul shook his head. “No rush.”

The Colonel squinted his eyes, looking towards another hill across the river, where everything was hidden behind the smoke screen. Yet amidst the wind, Skool could vaguely hear the deep and powerful heartbeat coming from the other side.

“Have the scouts sent across the river not returned yet?” Colonel Skool asked his subordinates without turning his head.

“No, not yet.”

The Colonel turned around, his gaze sharp enough to kill. “Then send out more!”

In the eye of the storm, Colonel Bod keenly noticed some changes–the smoke screen covering the battlefield was beginning to thin.

“It’s about time.” Colonel Bod calculated the timing and gave an evaluation in his heart: “If it were the kings, they could have been faster.”

With the wind speed unchanged and the smoke screen thinning, it meant that the Grand Council army at the windward position voluntarily ceased the smoke screen operation.

This also indicated that the Grand Council army had completed their pre-battle deployment, and Sanel was not planning to undertake long-distance, large-scale maneuvers.

As the battle reached this stage, the smoke screen no longer served as a cover and instead hindered command efficiency, so it was better to line up the ranks for a straightforward confrontation.

Colonel Bod shouted loudly: “Inform Colonel Gessa and Colonel Skool, the next two hours will be the real critical moment! They must keep a close watch on the enemy across the river, no enemy troop formations may breach the riverbank!”

The messenger waiting on the stairs loudly responded “Yes,” and quickly ran down the stairs.

Fierce fighting continued on the village outskirts, and although Colonel Bod’s view was obstructed by the smoke screen, he only needed his ears to discern the intensity of the battle.

The attendants and aides assigned to Colonel Bod by the three counties had repeatedly come upstairs pleading for the Colonel to promptly retreat to a secure area, but Colonel Bod waved them off dismissively.

To the junior officers’ alarmist requests, Colonel Bod was disdainful–no matter how fierce the current fighting was, it was merely an appetizer.

“Come on, Sanel.” Bod Gates focused on the gradually dissipating fog. “Let me see how much you’ve improved.”

Meanwhile, what Colonel Bod considered the “appetizer,” had reached the critical moment of victory and defeat.

“The riverbank defense line can’t hold anymore.” Lieutenant Woods concisely informed Captain Paladi in front of him. “But I’m certain the enemy commander is messing around.”

Captain Paladi commanded the reserve troop for the River Valley Village defense area–the First Infantry Battalion of Thunder Group County. His troops held the buildings on the west side of River Valley Village, awaiting orders to engage.

Woods’ face was covered with a black mixture of sweat and soot, speaking rapidly as he explained: “The commander across the river is messing around; fighting hard like this is counterproductive! He’s pushing all the troops up at once, even deploying ‘Vermillion Arrow’ to supervise the battle, determined to crush us through sheer force. I can’t fulfill the Colonel’s command; I can’t hold the riverbank defense line…”

“Lieutenant,” Captain Paladi patted Woods’ shoulder. Although his rank was higher, he did not arrogantly treat Woods: “Just tell me what you need me to do.”

“Follow my orders.” Woods’ Adam’s apple moved: “River Valley Village can only be defended my way.”

…

In the bloody seesaw battle, victory and defeat were determined, as Mont Blanc County’s troops pushed the enemy off the high ground one less time than the Grand Council army ascended it.

After climbing the hillside again, the Grand Council army occupied a small section of the wall on the east side of the river bend, and the defenders were unable to drive them out of the defense line.

Due to the river’s cutting, the south and north sides of River Valley Village were steep, with slopes directly plunging into the water, making it difficult to deploy siege equipment; the east side below the high ground was a silted riverbank–the easiest section to conquer among the three directions, and where the Grand Council army invested the most forces.

Upon learning that the east side river bend had made progress, the Grand Council units deployed on the other two directions immediately shifted towards the breakthrough point. Pressure on the south and north directions of River Valley Village also instantly lightened.

Clad in brown uniforms, soldiers climbed ladders, continually pouring into the defense line’s interior from the breakthrough point. Mont Blanc County soldiers, who had shown extreme resilience in the sawdust battle, reached their limits and fled.

Ultimately, the wall between two bastions was fully occupied by the Grand Council army, while only a few remnants held out in the corner buildings and courtyards.

Watching the enemy troops flee desperately into the village, the victorious soldiers in brown uniforms erupted in cheers.

However, their commanders were not content with just this; their commander had his eyes on the sweetest strawberry on the cake, the reddest apple on the tree, and the most valuable spoils of this engagement.

The bell tower, flying the four-quadrant military banner, was within reach, and the commander of the soldiers in brown uniforms ordered a successful pursuit.

Turning a corner, the church appeared before them.

Then, the Grand Council troops heard gunfire from all directions and deafening hoofbeats.

The officer, consumed by dreams of heroism and achievements, quickly woke up: his forces had left the covering range of firearms from across the river and did not have weapons to counter the cavalry.