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Chapter 273 The Territory of Death

Chapter 273 The Territory of Death

Claude has good news and bad news. The good news is that there is no time limit for sending troops to the Karnas Prairie. It is only required before May after the rainy season. The New Year has just passed, and there is still a long way to go before May.

, enough for Claude to make adequate preparations.

It seems that the superiors are very clear that it is very unrealistic to ask the Ranger Battalion to send troops to the prairie now. This is January, which is still winter, and it is covered with snow. It is easy to lose your way on the prairie, and you can't even find a place to protect yourself from the wind.

Compared to mountainous areas, the endless flat grasslands are the coldest places.

February is the period of melting snow and ice, so it is not suitable to send troops. There is mud and water everywhere on the prairie, and the trek is difficult. You can't even find a dry place. You have to carry dry wood for the fire. March is the rainy season. It is said that

There are swamps everywhere on the prairie, and even people and horses can fall into them if they are not careful. In April, the earth warms up, flowers bloom, and the weeds are luxuriant. Herdsmen begin to drive their cattle, sheep, and horses out to graze. This is the most appropriate time to send troops.

The bad news is that the First Ranger Battalion cannot recruit enough war horses. Everyone knows that mobility on the prairie relies on good mounts, but the Principality of Karrnath rarely sells war horses to external parties. They sell cattle, sheep, pack horses, and furs.

Wait, war horses are listed as strategically controlled materials and are not allowed to be sold privately. Even when doing business with allies in the anti-Austrian alliance, the war horses that are sold are incited.

After the war broke out, the Army of the Kingdom of Ovilas did not capture the war horses of the Principality of Karnas on the battlefield, but these war horses were divided among several legions, because these legions had cavalry regiments, and they needed war horses to supplement them.

.In the eastern region of the continent, the war horses of the Principality of Karrnath are the best mounts.

Although the Eskiline Principality is adjacent to the Karnas Prairie, it is really difficult to acquire suitable war horses in the three southern counties. People in the Eskilen Principality rely on horses to travel, while people in the Eskilen Principality rely on horses to travel.

It was a carriage. Therefore, in the three southern counties, there were many strong horses that could be ridden and pack horses that could pull carts. Captain Skerry collected many, but he could not find a few suitable war horses.

War horses need to adapt to the roar of artillery, the sound of gunfire and the smell of gunpowder smoke. Even if they are suddenly attacked during the march, they will not panic and disrupt the team and cause chaos. This is done by the strong horses riding and the pack horses pulling the carts.

Not available.

The 1st Ranger Battalion is an infantry field battalion in terms of organization. It is not equipped with war horses. It has a lot of pack horses, which are mainly used to carry supplies. Claude's brigade is equipped with more than a dozen war horses. This is the former Ranger Battalion.

The captures captured when ambushing the enemy's reconnaissance cavalry are now used for reconnaissance and transmitting information. However, if the entire battalion is sent to the Karnas Prairie, one soldier will need to be equipped with a war horse, otherwise he will not be able to escape even if he can't fight.

Different from the other three battalions of the Rangers, their three battalions entered the Kannas Prairie from the border area of ​​the Eskiline Principality. The terrain there is flat and wide. If you don’t have mounts, you can organize a large convoy, so that even if you encounter Kannar

The attack of the Si Principality's light cavalry can also be covered by the formation of a large convoy.

But the mountain road on the 1st Ranger Battalion was originally narrow. Although Claude asked the prisoners to repair the mountain road from Squirrel Village to the entrance of the three southern counties, it could barely drive a four-wheeled freight carriage. But from Squirrel Village to Kannas Prairie

The mountain roads have not been repaired. Now, let alone pulling a cart, even when marching on a horse, you have to be wary. You are afraid that if your mount's legs weaken, you will have to fall into the valley next to the mountain road. The safest way to march is to rely on yourself.

My legs walked through this mountain road...

Markchi, who was promoted to second lieutenant, was not impressed by the war horses. Last year, he went deep into the tiger's den to reconnoiter the territory of the noble Earl Locade Barclaus of the Principality of Karnas at the exit of the mountain pass.

It is called the Daqing Mountains, not the southern mountainous area marked on the map of the Eskiline Principality. Because the territory of Earl Leucade Barclaus is backed by the Daqing Mountains, his subjects are half

He is a farmer and a half-grazer, with villages, rivers, farms and forest farms in his territory. The count also has a large castle. This is the main reason why he became the commander-in-chief of the coalition of nobles in the Principality of Karnars last year.

Since the situation in the earldom of Leucade is roughly the same as that in the three southern counties, Markchi believes that there is no need to worry about the collection of war horses. At least to capture this earldom, it does not require a battalion of rangers to have good mobility. Those

Villages, farms, forestry, castles, etc. will not run away. Claude can definitely defeat them one by one step by step. After capturing this earldom, he can then recruit war horses. I believe it will be much easier than in the three southern counties, and

Maybe you don’t need to spend the military expenses of a battalion of rangers...

Claude adopted Marcci's suggestion, but this did not mean that he could wait until April to send troops. There were still many things to consider. For example, his brigade also had eight light infantry artillery and an artillery squadron, and relied on pack horses.

It is obviously impossible to transport artillery on the mountain road. There is no way to transport artillery on the mountain road over there. It is impossible to send troops without artillery. If a large group of light cavalry comes to attack, the cannon fired by these eight artillery will become your own brigade.

The security guarantee can at least block the enemy a hundred meters away so that they cannot get close.

In addition, before recruiting war horses to give his brigade sufficient mobility, Claude needed complete wartime equipment that could withstand the enemy's light cavalry attacks, so he used carrier pigeon communication to deliver the supplies he needed to the battalion headquarters' Sk.

Captain Skree followed Lieutenant Colonel Leedfonk's advice and did not ask what these things were used for, but worked hard to help Claude collect and transport them to Squirrel Village.

Time passed very quickly. After the rainy season, Claude began to send Markchi and others to lead a team to conduct reconnaissance on the territory of Earl Leucade at the exit of the mountain road. However, the results of the reconnaissance made Claude suspicious, because the scouts reported

It was said that no one could be seen in the earl territory, and they did not dare to go deep into it. They only waited and watched at the exit of the mountain road...

In mid-April, the battalion headquarters moved to Squirrel Village. After the 1st Ranger Battalion entered the Karnas Prairie, the place would be taken over by the local security battalion from the rear.

April 20th was the day when Claude and his brigade officially sent troops to the Karnas Prairie. Compared with the second, third and fourth battalions of the Rangers, they were already five days behind. There was no other way.

It is difficult to do, and the transportation of materials requires more effort.

The only thing Claude was lucky about was that his little lover Sheila was obedient and didn't come to see him off. A few days ago, I heard that Claude was going to the Karnas Prairie and left Squirrel Village. Sheila also wanted to accompany Claude.

Go. Claude persuaded her to give up this plan. Just kidding, everyone was fighting with muskets. If Sheila appeared on the battlefield and threw a big fireball, I guarantee that the muskets of both sides would fire on her...

Promise that he will return safely, promise that he will visit her when he has time, plus Sheila has to wait here for her mother to return, and also learn the study courses left by her mother... Claude finally made Sheila nod and agree.

, stay in the Witch Wood obediently and don’t go out wandering around...

In addition to the difficult march on the mountain road, this is because Claude's brigade carried too much supplies, and almost two or three soldiers were responsible for taking care of a pack horse. After leaving the mountain road and entering the grassland, Claude

De found that it took no effort to capture the Earl of Leucade. Just like an armed march, that is, walking through this Earl's territory, everything along the way fell into his control, whether it was a village or a

Farm and forest farm.

Just like what Mark Qi and others who conducted the previous reconnaissance said, there is not a single young and strong labor force here. The remaining people in the village are old and weak, and the number is still very small. Even the younger strong women are not seen. April is full of spring flowers.

Well, there are very few people working outside in this earl territory. Occasionally, a few old people go out with baskets to pick some wild vegetables to satisfy their hunger...

It wasn't until the team arrived at Count Leucade's castle and the people in the castle opened the door and surrendered that Claude discovered that there were only a few old servants in the castle. He asked the old steward who surrendered,

Where have all the people gone?

The old steward sighed and said, "They are all gone. First, half of the young men were taken away by the duchy's compulsory conscription. The remaining half were gathered by the lord and said they were going to the three southern counties to grab some and make some money. Teenagers

and boys and men in their forties who thought they could still charge into the battle followed. In less than half a month, the lord ran back with dozens of people. It was said that the battle was defeated, and those who did not come back were not fighting.

To die is to be captured...

After the lord escaped back, he packed up all his belongings and took his family to Beibu Gulf. He never came back. The reason why the old steward was left here was to make him responsible for selling off all the real estate in the territory, paying taxes and selling off the property.

The property was then sent to the Beibu Gulf. But the news of the defeat had spread throughout the free land of this lord. Not only his Earl Lord, but also the lords who had fled back were like him, taking their property and family members and fleeing to the Beibu Gulf.

The territory that was once considered life was abandoned.

All the young and strong citizens in this area who had applied for recruitment have not returned, and the remaining people who can leave have left this increasingly desolate place. The old steward just watched the formerly prosperous territory become desolate.

No one is plowing the fields, and no one is grazing cattle or sheep anymore. Everything that can be taken away has been taken away by the people who left. Even the barking of the sheepdogs can no longer be heard.

This territory is dying... the old steward said sadly.

"Where do you mean the lord's free land you just mentioned?" Claude asked.

"This is here, this large area at the foot of Daqing Mountain. There are more than a dozen territories here. Our Earl's territory is the largest, and he is also the leader of the lords. Without the permission of the lord, even if it is the Grand Duke's driving

, and cannot enter this area. So the lords call this area their land of freedom." The old steward said proudly, seeming to be recalling the glorious years and glorious days of the lords.

Being a slave is a matter of pride. That is the freedom of the lords, and it has nothing to do with a servant like you. Claude asked McJack to bring a map and asked the old steward: "Except for your lord, who else is there?"

All the lords have also fled, and no one is left?"

"They are all gone, they are all gone..." The old steward sighed with a sad face: "This area has been stained with the shadow of death, and there is no way to escape the end of destruction. There are only people who leave, and there are no people who come back. Young people,

I advise you to leave quickly, otherwise you will also die here..."

Claude began to check the map and ignored the confused old steward. What is a territory that is headed for death? Either the young men in the territory are drafted, or they don't want to be robbers and go to the three southern counties to rob, but they are killed by themselves in Squirrel Village.

The lords who fled back were afraid that the army of the Kingdom of Ovelas would take the opportunity to attack their territory, so they packed up their belongings and fled early.

Without the young and strong territory and without the lord, the remaining people who are not willing to wait for death will naturally look for a way out. After everyone who can leave has left, the territory without people will naturally become like this. This is not surprising.

of.

No wonder we haven’t seen any merchants from the prairie since last year’s victory. It turns out they were all scared away by these rumors. No, it’s not that they were scared away, but they didn’t have much business to do even in this area.

If there are no people left, merchants will naturally stop coming...

"Morde, Dide, each of you will lead your own squadron to search from the left and right sides of the earl territory. Search all the lords' territories in this area. If there are still people, bring them back and place them in the

Here, do you understand?" Claude pointed to the map and said to Muriel Diavide.

"Yes, as ordered." The two of them saluted and set off.

"Mark Qi, lead your squadron to conduct reconnaissance from here to the center of the grassland. If you find herdsmen and nomadic tribes, bring them back if you can eat them. If you are not sure, mark them on the map. Don't let them

Discover."

"Yes, sir." Markchi ran out happily. Claude's order gave him great freedom of movement. If he found the herdsmen's living tents along the way, he could capture them and rob them at the same time.

Yeah, this is a way to make extra money.

"Master Chief Langster, your infantry squadron is stationed on the castle. Master Chief Rocky, your artillery squadron will remove the accessories of the eight artillery pieces from the horses and reassemble them, and search for the guns on the castle.

Place your position. I think we will have to stay here for the next few days." Claude ordered the remaining two squadron leaders.

This was an unexpected situation that no one expected. The territorial nobles here would actually give up their territory and flee, and as a result, they gave up this large area at the foot of Daqing Mountain.

The Karrnath Prairie is very large, and the area of ​​these dozen territories on the map accounts for one-seventh of the prairie on the map. Although Claude received the task of investigating the actual strength of the Principality of Karrnath,

But with such a big pie falling in front of him, there was no reason not to eat it. He believed that Captain Skerry had the same view as him, to occupy this area first. After all, this area was backed by Daqingshan, and there were many agricultural and animal husbandry areas.

Xiangyi, when developed, is the best starting base for the Kingdom to conquer the Karrnath Prairie...


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