Horns' unit was part of the 17th Regiment's 21st Infantry Division.
The performance of this regiment in the Red Moon War a few years ago was astonishing. They persisted to the end with their tenacious fighting will and waited for the final victory. Only 20 people from the 21st Division survived.
Except for Sean, who quit the army, all of these people serve as main officers in Horns' 1st Brigade, which is where Horns' confidence lies.
If the division commander Lord Nicholas Hermann is the most determined presence of the 17th Army, strong and even a bit domineering, then the 1st Brigade is the hardest punch of the 21st Division.
The 1st Brigade has 3 full infantry regiments, 3 cavalry artillery companies and 5 cavalry companies, as well as a large number of draft horses, with a total number of up to 4,000 people. It is extremely maneuverable, has extremely strong combat effectiveness, and its officers and soldiers are of high quality.
.
The 21st Division undoubtedly had a lucky aura. During the war at the end of 1834, this division was not on the main route of the Assyrian attack, so it was able to retain most of its strength.
When the defense line was broken through by the Assyrians, Division Commander Hermann immediately withdrew his troops to the Black Forest area. He used the complex and dense mountain forests there as cover to collect supplies while persisting in fighting. At the same time, he dispatched the 1st Brigade to the southern grasslands of the Black Forest.
Look for opportunities in the area to annihilate the small Assyrian army.
In the blink of an eye, in the spring of 1835, Commander Hermann clearly felt that the strength of the Assyrians was weakening, and he also heard that the Crown Prince's persistence in the city of Gondea attracted a large number of Assyrians to besiege - this was also the 21st Division.
An important reason for being able to persist until now.
In fact, at this time, Commander Hermann had become the de facto supreme commander of the 17th Army Corps. However, except for the 21st Division, the rest of the troops were short of clothing and guns and could only undertake auxiliary tasks.
Therefore, after fighting on the periphery for a period of time, Division Commander Hermann ordered Horns to lead the 1st Brigade to try to advance toward Gondea. He wanted to contact the crown prince.
Horns's 1st Brigade has a tenacious style, constantly marching and moving. If it were other troops, they would have been exhausted and complained, but the 1st Brigade still maintained a strong will to fight.
This army was also cunning enough to always break out of the Assyrian encirclement in advance, and several of them were very thrilling. They looked for favorable opportunities to attack the small, and accumulated the small to make the enemy stronger. In a few months, they had annihilated nearly 10,000 Assyrians.
people, but the casualties themselves were very small.
On February 10, 1835, the 1st Brigade arrived in the Gondia area. What Colonel Horns didn't know was that several smaller troops were also approaching Gondia.
By the time Hermann arrived with other troops of the 17th Legion, about 100,000 imperial troops had gathered outside the city of Gondia.
These armies are all units that insist on fighting behind enemy lines. Of course, some of them have to insist on fighting behind enemy lines because they are blocked from returning, and their fighting will is average. Unfortunately, these armies do not have unified organization and command.
Even with the status of Lord Hermann and his family in the empire, he could not persuade these troops to obey his command.
The situation at this time is:
The crown prince and his 50,000 officers and soldiers stood firm in the city, preparing to break out, while 200,000 Assyrians were besieged outside the city. At the same time, the Assyrians themselves were also tired, and their supply method of supporting war through war was actually unsustainable.
On the outer edge, there are 100,000 imperial troops facing them.
In the vast north of Europe, such situations abound, but the city of Gondia has become the most important battlefield. The crown prince's strategy has paid off. He has consumed too many resources of his opponent in the city of Gondea, and the opponent has
It cannot be abandoned.
The 1st Brigade was ordered to launch a night attack on the Assyrians who besieged the city. Hermann's purpose was to let the crown prince in the city know that the empire's army in the north was still fighting.
At daybreak, the 1st Brigade withdrew its troops to face enemy retaliation during the day.
Hermann had no time to consider other troops. He set up the position of the 20,000 troops of the 17th Army in a group of mounds 5 kilometers away from the Assyrians, and built the position extremely tight.
"Hans, what are the casualties of your brigade?" Hermann asked Colonel Horns who returned to the headquarters.
He has always been a very strict person. Even in the most difficult times, he still wore his military coat meticulously. Therefore, Colonel Horns, who was also very strict with himself and his subordinates, was highly valued by him and promoted him to brigade commander.
, and tilt the resources at hand to him as much as possible.
"Commander, we have lost about two companies." Horns said with great pain, "There are also people in the city who broke out."
"Oh, how many people are there?" Herman asked in surprise, "How is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince doing?"
"About 200 people. They originally had 500 people. According to them, the situation in the city is pretty good, but ammunition is starting to be scarce. According to the officers who broke out, the city can still hold on for a while. The crown prince said that he is planning to attack on February 15
We are preparing to break out at 5 a.m., and I hope we can cooperate."
Herman said with emotion: "His Highness did it. He is really a powerful man."
"Yes, it is indeed an amazing thing to be able to persist in isolation for four months." Hones said.
"Go and fetch Lieutenant Frank." Hermann turned to his adjutant and said. He knew many important people named Frank, but this lieutenant did not.
Seeing the adjutant leave, Horns asked: "Commander, what are you going to do?"
"I think this is an opportunity to counterattack. We have been here for several days, but overall, the Assyrians clearly have insufficient troops. They once again made the mistake of having too long a front. These barbarians are attacking everywhere. Once they cannot quickly
Let us surrender. Now everywhere has become a hole for barbarian troops." Herman said, "From the northern border to here, a thousand kilometers deep, the barbarians have consumed too much strength."
"Division Commander, our 21st Division alone may not have enough troops." Horns said, then paused and said, "Please don't misunderstand, the 1st Brigade will not be afraid of battle."
"Haha, Hans, I completely trust the 1st Brigade, and I have enough confidence in you as the brigade commander." Herman patted Horns on the shoulder and smiled, "But you are right, I haven't yet
We are so arrogant that we can win with only the 21st Division. This is why I asked the adjutant to find Lieutenant Frank."
"What do you mean?" Horns asked doubtfully.
"I need the Crown Prince's authorization. He at least still holds the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Resistance Against the Enemy. In name, all of us, including the 21st Division, must be controlled by the Crown Prince. The imperial army outside Gangdia must be
With a strong leader, I am
The best candidate." Hermann said, his tone was very conceited, which was his usual style, "Of course, it is impossible to truly obtain the crown prince's authorization. I could not meet the crown prince, so I had to borrow the name of Lieutenant Frank.
Yes, many people know him."
Hermann's surname was not bad either. He was the empress's brother, a serious relative, and was highly regarded by the emperor.
If you add the surname Frank and the identity of Lieutenant Frank walking beside the crown prince, this division commander Hermann may really be able to intimidate senior officers of other armies.
"In extraordinary times, you should do extraordinary things!" Horns said.
"This is very reasonable. Which thinker said it?" Herman asked.
"Sean Connery, he's not a thinker," Horns replied.
"Hmm. I know this guy is also from our 21st Division. I heard that he is now a very wealthy earl and very influential in the south." Herman said, "I have to say that the 21st Division produces talents.
Ah! If he still stays in the 21st Division, I can make him a brigade commander, responsible for logistics and reception."
In fact, Herman only met Sean once, but Sean's impression on him was not very good, and he classified him as a flatterer.
Because some small things that happened in Evans Abbey that year left a deep impression on him.
As for letting Sean be the brigade commander, Herman said it deliberately to express his slight dissatisfaction, because that was impossible to happen.
"I think he is more suitable to be your deputy." Horns said.
"It seems that you have a high opinion of him." Herman said noncommittally.
At this time, Lieutenant Frank was brought in, and Hermann stated his intention directly. Lieutenant Frank thought for a moment and nodded to express his cooperation.
The only consideration is to accumulate as much strength as possible to defeat the opponent, and red tape is out of date.
At 7 o'clock in the morning, the Assyrians' counterattack began. The 21st Division squatted behind them and stared at them, making the Assyrians feel uncomfortable.
Hermann used the 21st Division as the main force. The position consisted of a series of mounds. The artillery was concentrated on the heights of several mounds. Other troops of the 17th Army were responsible for protecting these artillery. The infantry support force was ambushed behind the mounds, ready to attack at any time.
Countercharge from the other side.
The power of more than a hundred cannons cost the Assyrians a heavy price.
A group of blood warriors wore heavy armor and fought a bloody path. They entered the front line of the 21st Division and mixed with the soldiers of the 21st Division, which made the artillery take action.
These powerful warriors possess great physical strength, and their huge battle axes split a stream of blood mist over their heads. Together, they become an unstoppable black torrent.
The officers and soldiers of the 21st Division had to retreat.
At the critical moment, the 1st Regiment of the 1st Brigade stood in front of the Blood Warriors. Gary Norris, the leader of the Big Nose Regiment, took command from the front. They formed three sub-battalions with greater width and depth, and fired in separate volleys.
way to give full play to the firepower advantage.
The bravest blood warrior had already rushed to a distance of less than thirty meters. The soldiers of the 1st regiment could even see the warrior's crazy eyes through the eye slits of the visor.
Norris drew his sword and shouted:
"Everyone, bayonets on, charge!"
Watching the soldiers of the 1st Regiment launch a countercharge following Norris, Horns had to curse to the left and right:
"This guy always ends the battle in the most uneconomical way."
Herman, who also came to the front, said:
"This is what makes the 21st Division unique. We not only fight with wisdom, but also fight hard."