CHAPTER 561: CHAPTER 539: THE NEW ABBOT OF BLAGO MONASTERY

For strategic objectives, Horn did not seize the opportunity to continue advancing.

This battle was merely to prevent the church army from Blago Basin from entering the Southern Nao’an River Basin, not to attack Shelley City.

If they recklessly attacked, the Salvation Army would similarly find themselves in a predicament like the church army due to deep incursions into enemy territory.

Because within the basin, there are many castles built, and while siege warfare is possible, it’s a lengthy process.

Not to mention, Lakunio’s opinion that the Salvation Army lacks siege methods is correct.

Compared to other relatively advanced weapons, during a siege, the Salvation Army can only employ the most primitive ant-like siege tactics, lacking effective siege cannons to breach walls.

Hilov has not yet developed reliable siege weapons, or rather the explosive-effect alchemical materials are either extremely expensive or extremely inefficient.

In the end, it’s because foundational sciences have not progressed; Horn can still refer to natural laws from his homeland, but in terms of alchemy and magic, he’s completely in the dark.

Scientific research cannot be accomplished overnight; it’s a process where many gather wood to ignite the genius spark.

Once the foundation is laid, there’s nothing else to do but wait.

Leaning against the ship’s railing, Horn watched the barges returning downstream to the defense area, silently calculating in his mind.

This battle was easier than any of the previous ones.

With the support of long-range units like clock-bombs, helical gun skirmishers, and fireball crossbows, the Salvation Army achieved a crushing victory.

The enemy forces totaled over 3,900, with more than 2,400 guards and armored soldiers, over 800 knights, and more than 500 land servants and great swordsmen.

Meanwhile, the Salvation Army had only four corps with cavalry and 2,800 fireball crossbowmen.

According to post-battle statistics, over 1,300 guards and leather armor soldiers were killed or captured, over 400 elite knights were killed or captured, and more than 300 land servants were affected.

Even if all the guards could loyally and luckily regroup at the rear, the church army in this direction lost more than fifty percent.

Counting over a thousand previously eliminated by the Salvation Army’s skirmishes, the losses might even reach sixty to seventy percent.

Of course, in reality, hoping all soldiers return safely is unrealistic; if 700 to 800 deserters rejoin, it would already be considered good.

In contrast, on the Salvation Army side, apart from the sixty-seven war monks who died in scattered skirmishes, only one person died in the Lapper River battle.

Of course, in cavalry battles and melees, there were over a hundred light and heavy injuries, but with the joint consultation of witch doctors and monks, most lives were saved.

However, winning this battle did not entirely rely on those fireball crossbows and clock bombs; the constant small-scale skirmishes with the church army at the beginning were necessary.

However, Horn estimated that replicating such tactics in future offensives would be difficult.

Because they were fighting invading wars, entering the stronghold positions of the Juanist faction.

The Salvation Army achieved transcendent tactics beyond the era, thanks to the local Juanist faction village monks, in addition to the transcendent strategic system and talent.

These tactics would be difficult to implement in Hotam County or within the Leia Empire, as those are Miseria’s orthodox church regions.

Without local intelligence and manpower support, where would the supply points and camps come from?

"Your Grace, please return to the cabin; it’s cold outside." Raphael placed a fur cloak over Horn’s shoulders.

Pulling the cloak tighter, Horn’s thoughts were interrupted, just shaking his head: "I’ll breathe in some fresh air outside and return shortly."

Breathing out white mist, Horn lowered his head, watching the ship’s hull parting the water foam.

Up to this point, the second phase goal in the original strategic plan, "preventing the church army from further penetrating the Southern Nao’an River Basin," was completed.

The next plan is to continue through small-scale battles, establishing depots and supply points, clearing the remnants of the church, and advancing to the basin’s edge.

The reason for not recklessly attacking is that Horn wasn’t sure if Hotam County would provide support.

Once Prince Kongdai’s main force enters Kasha County, without the cover of depots and the advantage of the Southern Nao’an River Basin’s water network, the Salvation Army might suffer significant casualties.

According to current intelligence from the Saint Sun’s Army, Prince Kongdai has acquired a large amount of funds through the gun cavalry.

With these funds, Prince Kongdai recruited a batch of knights from the local area and neighboring Immortal Stone Manor, barely completing five decree companies.

However, according to André’s opinion, the combat strength of the two relatively new decree companies doesn’t match the old ones, needing at least a year or two of coordination.

If both battle groups went forth, Horn would have confidence against the five decree companies and those elite mercenaries.

But now, he has to guard both the Southern Nao’an River and the Rapids City defense line; his forces are indeed spread thin.

No matter how successful Horn was in the campaign, Lakunio has basically achieved his strategic goal of tying down the Salvation Army’s forces.

Before acquiring accurate intelligence or strong reinforcements, the Salvation Army is stuck on these two defensive lines.

Horn felt vexed whenever he thought of it; he placed too much trust in Kasha County’s defense capabilities.

He had provided so much mortar, repaired so many good castles, they should hold out for at least a few days, right?

Rang Buluo declared it an impregnable line, yet Lakunio bypassed it directly.

An impregnable line, more like a balloon that can be burst!

Massaging his temples, the cold wind blew over, slightly alleviating Horn’s heated mind from overthinking.

In terms of resolving this, he determined two directions:

Either have the Black Hats, no, the Black Crown Battle Group from Rapids City, create some disturbance with the Saint Sun’s Army to distract Prince Kongdai.

Then the Salvation Army on the Southern Nao’an River defense line could swiftly reclaim the fortresses at the Kasha County gateway, eliminating the possibility of Prince Kongdai advancing from the southern line.

Or find the Falan, asking them to slightly relax control over Black Snake Bay.

This way, reinforcements from Black Snake Bay could defend the Southern Nao’an River, then march north to capture Deer Horn Town and join forces with Gray Horse Knight Veen.

The former is too risky; if the Saint Sun’s Army fails to distract Prince Kongdai and Horn doesn’t capture the gateway fortresses in time, he would fall into the same predicament as Layenna today.

Unable to advance, unable to retreat.

The latter would require considerable interests and favors, not just towards Falan but also the Secret Faction of Black Snake Bay.

"It seems it still needs to be discussed at the Court Council."

Grasping a handful of greasy hair, Horn staggered towards the cabin on numbed legs.

Regardless of the final decision, before that, he must make the most of the results from this Lapper River battle.

Currently, most of the high-ranking Juanist faction monks who haven’t been captured have been brought to Xiaochi City.

And their next task is to elect a new Abbot of Blago within the stipulated time and place.

The name of the Abbot of Blago, to be elected by the monks and appointed by Horn, was already given to Horn by Saint Master Miseria.

He is Martin Calvin, a senior member of the Saint Father Association, one of the founders of the Holy Path theory, and former student of the previous Abbot Ludvik, serving as a liaison for the Holy Axis!