Stepping into the red and white Chinese army camp, Randall saw Cumberland and many senior Crusaders standing in front of the sand table.
"The enemy took away all the food in the town and burned down all the habitable houses." Cumberland touched the silver whiskers on his chin: "There is no doubt that they shrank their troops, retreated and entered the forest."
Crusader Commander Ackerman asked: "Forest? The church mobilizes troops from dozens of countries. Why does it move so many troops into the forest?"
Cumberland pointed the wooden stick at the dense forest around the Papal States: "Because this is the best tactical strategy that the church army can adopt after comparing the strength of the enemy and ourselves."
"The total strength of our army is about 20,000. Although the number is smaller than that of the church army, its combat power is much better than that of the other party. Whether it is the Crusaders, the Muxi Knights, or the Valkyries, any of the troops,
All can pose a fatal threat to the church army."
Cumberland stared at the terrain map on the sand table and said slowly: "So, under such circumstances, it is absolutely impossible for the enemy to engage in a head-on battle. The best way is to take advantage of the complex terrain on the battlefield."
"Look here, there are more than 700,000 hectares of dense forest surrounding the Papal State. There are caves, rivers, hills and canyons in the forest... The enemy's best tactic is to split the troops into multiple battle groups and disperse them in
Build bunkers and tunnels in the forest, use sounding arrows and smoke as communication methods, adopt a feint method to lead us into the forest, then concentrate our forces, divide them section by section, and defeat them one by one."
An orc shaman punched the sand table with his fist and yelled: "These are just a group of rats hiding in the forest! Each of our warriors has absolute power. One is worth a hundred, so there is no need to worry!"
"
Glancing sideways at the orc shaman, the elf shaman pondered for a moment and asked: "Escape into the forest to fight? Can the enemy commander really think of such a tactic?"
"Unfortunately, according to our intelligence, the enemy commander this time is probably an extremely difficult opponent." Cumberland sighed softly: "Many years ago, when I was an officer in Silver Ring City, and I was with
When the church troops fought side by side to resist the northern barbarians, under the introduction of the old turtle Emerson, I met a legendary figure from Tyro City."
"Bromo Hershmond."
The elf shaman nodded thoughtfully: "I heard this name before when I was in the north."
“Heavenly Father whips evil with a war whip, the most courageous and skilled saint, the dean of the Tactical Academy, the model of church knights...” Cumberland said with emotion: “He has had every honor you can think of.
"
Ackerman asked: "If I remember correctly, he should be in his seventies this year. I heard that he retired from the army long ago."
Cumberland nodded and said: "Yes, Bromo stopped being involved in the military many years ago. Even in the battle of the Holy Acropolis, he did not lead the troops. I guess it is precisely because of this that he led the troops to fight this time.
This battle is a matter of life and death for the church."
Ackerman scratched his head: "Let's get down to business, how should we fight this battle?"
The werewolf shaman suggested: "Maybe we can burn the forest and use the fire to force the enemy out."
Cumberland shook his head and said: "Where to burn it? How to burn it?"
"More than 700,000 hectares of forest, not to mention tens of thousands of soldiers, can perfectly hide the entire city of Tyro, not to mention the caves, rivers and hills that provide cover, as well as the bunkers and tunnels built in advance.
To ignite such a large forest requires countless ignition materials, which will take at least two to three months."
"Furthermore, I guess that in the face of our army's expedition, Bromo Hershmond has already made complete preparations, and the fire attack is naturally a move he expected. Fire canals, emergency water sources, etc.
It must be all available.”
Ackerman let out a long sigh: "What should we do?"
Cumberland frowned and stared at the sand table in silence.
A knight walked up to him and whispered something to him.
"His Majesty's special envoy?"
Upon hearing the knight's announcement, Cumberland raised his head in surprise and looked at the door of the camp.
Randall and five other companions walked into the camp and came to Cumberland under the watchful eyes of everyone.
The latter stretched out his hand towards Randall and asked in a deep voice: "I heard that His Majesty gave you a letter of appointment?"
Randall calmly took out Todd's document from his arms and handed it into Cumberland's hands. He nodded and said, "We are performing a mission for the Holy King and must rush to Taylor City as soon as possible."
Cumberland carefully read the appointment letter, looked at Randall and said, "Besides the contents in the document, is there anything else your Majesty would like you to tell me?"
Randall shook his head.
Cumberland sighed: "If you want to enter the city of Taylor, you must first pass through the forest in the east. The enemy has set up traps, secret posts, checkpoints and troops there. They will carefully check every person who passes by, and they will carefully check any signs.
Suspicious people will be executed on the spot. Believe me, I don’t think you can pass safely now.”
Randall put away the appointment letter and asked again: "Besides the forest? Are there any other routes to Taylor City?"
Ackerman stood up and explained: "Go north, follow the Falling Star Mountains, pass through the snowy mountains and plateaus, and make a big circle. It will take three months to enter the Papal State."
Randall smiled bitterly and said, "Is there any other way?"
"Go south, find a shoal at the edge of the forest, get on a boat and cross the Mediterranean, arrive at the port of the Holy City of the East, then turn around and go all the way west into the Papal State. But I want to remind you that the Holy City of the East is now occupied by the Southern Empire.
Occupied, it may be even more dangerous there.”
Randall said with a headache: "Listening to what you said, it seems that walking through the forest is the best choice?"
Ackerman did not answer Randall's question, but just stared at him for a while, then suddenly said: "I know you, aren't you the one..."
Randall shrugged: "Yes, I am the human being who appeared at the Crusaders' trial."
As soon as these words came out, the expressions of everyone in the camp suddenly became colorful.
Many shamans, including the elf shaman, glared at Randall, wishing to drive him out of the camp immediately, as if he was the embodiment of evil.
Ackerman first glanced at Randall, then at Barbara behind him, and finally winked at the two men maliciously, with a smirk on his face.
As for Cumberland and the knights, after figuring out the whole story, they all held their foreheads and suffered from headaches.