Chapter 1104: Chapter 1043: A Simple War, a Simple End

The midday sun in September was still harsh.

Falan’s military camp looked like a piece of red velvet after being ironed, neatly spread across the riverbank of the Ibe River.

Thousands of reddish-brown tents were arranged behind wooden walls and ditches, while patrolling soldiers were baked to the point of dizziness.

In this weather, only the cavalry had to brave the scorching sun, leading their war horses to drink by the river.

Just as they stepped out of the camp gate, before they could smell the unique fishy and burnt scent of this place, a horseman galloped towards them.

"Urgent military news, get out of the way, get out of the way!"

The cavalry made way curiously, watching the figure rush past the barrier.

Soon, news came from the central military tent, commanding all centurions to immediately stop what they were doing and gather at the main tent. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

The centurions emerged from their tents, mounted their horses, and arrived with their personal knights.

They lifted the tent flap and entered, finding Legion Commander Montel and Advisor Count Kazi studying the map spread on the table.

Count Kazi tapped the river location with the tip of his ivory staff, his eyebrows knotted into a bundle: "It’s fine, Spark Town is still in our hands; they’ve swallowed five thousand men, so let them."

"What is Gael up to? Even if you’re catching five thousand pigs, some would surely escape, wouldn’t they?"

Inside the tent, Montel paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, sweat sticking his hair in strands to his forehead.

Count Kazi slowly raised his head: "Montel, you must learn to be calm. By holding this position, we remain undefeated.

In war, you must first avoid defeat, and then aim for victory. That’s the simplest principle."

"What kind of principle is that?" Montel’s hand gripped his sword hilt, his knuckles turning white, "Gael led last year’s newly trained troops!

The armor is new, the spears are new, even the horseshoes were just replaced in March, and now they’re just abandoned?

When the King asks, how shall I answer? That we watched as the fresh troops got swallowed without even moving."

"Well..." Count Kazi furrowed his brows, knowing this was Montel’s first battle, which would also decide the future budget of Cape Storm’s First and Second Corps.

But his current impatience was starkly different from before.

It wasn’t right; Gael’s rash attack was indeed strange.

Why was Gael so anxious to win back a city?

Count Kazi couldn’t figure it out and didn’t have time to ponder, as Montel directly addressed the centurions: "Prepare yourselves, we’re going to engage the enemy."

"No way." Count Kazi, who had been seated, suddenly stood up, "Hold this position; the Holy Alliance will have to attack sooner or later. How to fight, whether to fight, will be our decision then."

"This is my legion, and I make the decisions. Falan people never hide like cowards!"

"No, this is the prince’s legion, it’s his decision, and we’re all just executors."

"Indeed, it’s the prince’s legion, but I am appointed Legion Commander by him. Shouldn’t all orders come from me, Advisor?"

Montel deliberately emphasized the word "Advisor."

Count Kazi was initially stunned, then looked at yesterday’s compliant student like meeting him for the first time.

Then his neck flushed as if pricked: "You’re so young, do you have any combat experience? Have you fought the Holy Alliance?"

"The Holy Alliance is just an emerging country; their army hasn’t been established for even ten years!"

"Ten years is enough to build a powerful army. I’ve seen it; I know their strength."

"Of course you do." Montel suddenly sneered, "I’ve never fought the Holy Alliance, but that’s better than you, a defeated general!"

The air inside the tent seemed like compressed soil, suddenly becoming airtight at this moment.

The whispering of the centurions grew quieter, until only the "pop" of the candle wick was left.

"What did you say?" Count Kazi raised his staff, pointing straight at Montel’s chest, "When I cleaned up the Southern County, you were still in diapers! Is it your turn to lecture me?"

"Falan people charge even to their death!" Montel, having torn the facade, couldn’t care less anymore, "You failed once and now exalt the Holy Alliance so much, isn’t that just to cover up your failure?

Your role as an advisor was to provide me with effective military advice, not to be a coward, not to stop others from winning."

"You!" Count Kazi was so flustered his speech was barely coherent, "With the way you fight, you will surely lose. Is the Holy Alliance just some peasant uprising force?

I’ve said countless times, splitting forces is a big taboo!"

"Not much better than a peasant uprising force. How fierce was the fight with the Leia army?

When we attacked the Windmill Land, did we face a similar battle? Doesn’t this tell us who is stronger?"

Montel should have participated in the Windmill Land battle from the start, catching the express to military achievement and promotion.

Instead, he inexplicably ended up with a task for army reform, missing the battlefield.

Although this task earned him the rank of Legion Commander successfully, without a military record, who would respect him?

Now, for this pivotal first battle, he must achieve victory, especially since he gave Gael the order to attack.

Most importantly, the Holy Alliance was established only a few years ago, relying on the excellent allocation mechanism of the Thousand River Valley and fighting only some poor armies.

Are there elite legions? Montel knew there certainly were, but the Imperial Guard was at Spring Castle, wasn’t it?

Kingdom spies had already reported that the troops they encountered were hastily assembled.

Original personnel were incomplete, and upon hearing about the battle, they hastily recruited soldiers from civilians, with even cavalry riding donkeys and mules.