Although Frost Rose's army is large in number, due to supply, preparation, and road reasons, they did not all press forward to the front line, but moved forward in batches and in different directions.
Among them, the main force of the forward force is naturally on the New Verga side. The 200,000-strong army together with the Golem Army, under the command of Jenkins, an experienced veteran, passed through the jungle-covered Huangnan County and advanced towards Hopelaner.
Another team of 50,000 people accompanied the ships and headed north, heading north along the Black Pine River again. Most of the combat forces in this team were infantry adapted to mountain warfare, and the golems were also small and flexible.
The last one is a maritime fleet mainly composed of newly built ironclads and a few airships. There are about 30,000 navy, a total of more than 60 ironclads and more than 20 airships. There are many high-level mages on board (Sequence 5-
6), elites gather to intercept possible reinforcements from the Southern Islands.
Compared with the weak New Verga, Frost Rose is actually more worried about the Young Moon Council of the Southern Islands. The two mages come from the same lineage, and they know each other's strength very well, so naturally they don't dare to underestimate it.
Huangnan County, former military camp.
A black and gray isolation belt was cleared in the area close to the jungle, and then the soldiers cut down trees to make simple wooden fences to surround the camp. As night fell, hundreds of bonfires of various sizes were lit in the camp.
The soldiers ate around the campfire and sat down to rest and relieve the fatigue of the day.
It is early autumn now, and the weather is no longer so hot. Most of these soldiers are wearing black and blue uniforms with a layer of steel armor outside.
After a long journey, due to fatigue and fatigue, many people also took off their armor and put it aside, enjoying the rare relaxation in the evening breeze.
As the night gradually deepened, the sound of sleeping snores began to be heard in tents of all sizes, and the camp became quiet.
In the large tent in the center, Jenkins was still looking at the map under the light. The terrain around Hopeland was marked on it, and some chess pieces were placed next to it.
The dim candlelight cast long shadows on the cups, pens, scrolls of paper, and other sundries on the low table, and occasionally they swayed with the light.
The curtain of the tent suddenly opened, letting in the cool air from outside, and a female knight who took off her helmet walked in.
Jenkins raised his head and took a look, and then continued to focus on the map in front of him, with the pen in his hand occasionally calculating and drawing on the paper.
"Aren't you asleep yet, Ada? You have to be on your way tomorrow. It's different now than at home. In wartime, military law is more important, and I can't favor you."
"Well, I'll go to bed later and come to see you."
"Is there anything good to see? Are you worried that something might happen to an old man like me? Not only are there guards around, but there are also warning barriers set up by the group of mages. If others approach, they will know from here."
The female knight in her 20s shook her head and said nothing more. Instead, she found a cushion and sat at the low table.
"It's my first time to go on an expedition, so I'm still a little fresh and a little nervous." She looked at the map and said.
"What are you worried about? My daughter, you are not usually such a sentimental person." Jenkins put down his pen. He was tired now and stopped thinking.
"I don't know if I can make a move when facing the enemy. Those people across from me were actually raised by my parents like me. We don't have any deep hatred for each other." Ada's head rested on her old father's knee.
superior.
"Hey, it's a good thing that you have such a kind heart. You probably inherited your mother's character." Jenkins touched his daughter's dark red hair.
"But it's not okay to dwell too much on these things."
"Don't put your position too high. We can't adapt to everyone's wishes and satisfy everyone. That's impossible."
"So, for our own benefit, sometimes we have to destroy other people's interests or lives."
"It's like a wolf eating a sheep. It's neither good nor evil. It's just a part of life."
"Compassion can be shown to one's own people, and that would be a virtue. But if one is kind to one's enemies, that would be a kind of foolishness." Jenkins described his daughter carefully.
"I understand these principles, but I still can't fully implement them..."
Ada closed her eyes, her beautiful face reflected a faint light under the light, and the young knight looked very beautiful after taking off his helmet.
"Then get used to it slowly. There is always a first time for many things."
Jenkins sighed. He had been in the army for many years and had seen veterans who did not die on the battlefield but could not live in peace after retirement. Not everyone is so cold-blooded, and some people hate fighting. However, the nature of this world does not change due to this.
I couldn't bear it and changed.
No matter how kind a person is, when faced with the enemy's blade and the threat of death, he will still take up arms and fight because he understands that if he does not kill the other party, the other party will take his life away.
That's all.
Many ordinary soldiers go to the battlefield not thinking too much about the honor of their family and country, but perhaps just about life. They want money to support their families and change their own situation.
But once on the battlefield, there is no room for retreat. Unlike the stable order on weekdays, the killings in war will not be taken seriously. In the past, it took several months to see a death row prisoner executed, but on the battlefield, everyone
All of them are, so they gradually become numb.
Jenkins recalled what he had seen and heard in his military career over the years, and sometimes reflected on whether he was a just soldier. But the final results and facts told him that his meaning as a soldier was not just, but more about loyalty. This was his answer.
.
And just as the father and daughter were sitting and talking by the candlelight, a rapid whistle suddenly erupted outside, and then there was a series of noises and shouts outside the camp. For a while, the sound of running feet and the sound of armor clashing could also be heard.
.
Jenkins stood up suddenly, picked up the sword beside him and prepared to go out to take a look, but Ada rushed out of the tent at a faster speed. This female knight was a rare genius in the army. Among the younger generation, she was even more powerful than her.
My father is quite well-known.
"Enemy attack!" Sharp shouts rang out everywhere, and many people ran towards the place of the accident with torches and weapons.
"To the south!" shouted a soldier standing on the lookout.
"There are so many people, are they barbarians?"
As the summoned soldiers approached, they could clearly see the faces of those fighting with their own side.
Under the bright yellow firelight, this group of enemies held shields, brandished long axes, and had white and red paint on their faces. They looked quite ferocious.
They screamed strangely and rushed into the crowd, chopping without regard for their lives. A trace of red streak flashed on the long ax head, and they swung it down at the enemy's weak joints, bringing with them a pool of blood and stumps.
These warriors with face paint only have a little armor on the key chest and shoulders, and the rest of their bodies are wrapped in single clothes. Although their defense is low, it also allows them to quickly break into the enemy camp, causing commotion and slashing everywhere.
Kill the soldiers who haven't reacted yet.
However, soon the guards from the Frost Alliance also rushed over. After a short period of confusion, they formed a formation and used their sickle-hook spears to pierce these wild warriors who tried to get closer.
When Ada arrived with a group of personal guards wearing full armor and dark blue cloaks, the fighting situation here had slowly come under control.
At this moment, she put her sword by her side and asked the officer beside her.
"Can you tell where they come from?"
"Back to Knight Commander Ada, these people may be barbarian warriors from the north, but they were hired by the New Verga Alliance. Since the barbarians were conquered by the West Wind decades ago, their tribesmen have been scattered in various places. This group is probably
He was raised by a large chamber of commerce as a bodyguard and death warrior."
"How strong are they?"
"Although they don't have much armor and their individual combat prowess is pretty good, it's a pity that they don't have discipline. They have no advantage when facing the assembled military formation."
As the officer spoke, a group of soldiers formed a formation and surrounded the night attack team of about 800 people, and killed them in an orderly manner.
"Kill!" Many soldiers suppressed the uneasiness in their hearts, and together with their teammates, they stabbed out the spears in their palms and knocked each enemy to the ground.
Most of them were new recruits. Although they had received complete training, it was their first time to kill people on the battlefield. Fortunately, there were many companions and comrades around them, so they gradually settled down.
Following this strange night attack, nearly 100,000 people in the entire camp woke up. Later, scouts were sent to investigate the surrounding areas. After ensuring safety, everyone slowly fell asleep, but it was getting dark at this time.