Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters
Chapter 1181 - 20 The Great Alliance Moves Forward (5)_2

Chapter 1181: Chapter 20 The Great Alliance Moves Forward (5)_2

Clearly having the capability but not using it, ignoring the possibility that the enemy commander is an incompetent and foolish person, leaves only one reasonable answer—the enemy commander has deliberately ceased harassing us to tire us out.

"The enemy doesn’t want to slow down my marching speed," Felter thought, "Moreover, he’s eagerly awaiting my arrival."

At this point, when Felter looked again at Green Valley Town, surrounded by farms and orchards, he felt that the seemingly calm town was actually filled with hidden dangers. Even a flock of birds frightened up from the distant fields seemed like a sign of the enemy’s presence.

Felter looked at his own troops: nearby, soldiers with weapons on their shoulders were striding forward, silently following the ones ahead; in the distance, the spearheads were floating above the wheat stalks.

In fact, Felter didn’t even need to look; the entire marching column was already mapped out in his mind:

Six battalions totaling thirty-six Hundred-Men Squads, lined up on the road in order;

Three battalions in the front segment, three battalions in the rear, with the supply wagons protected in the middle;

Although he ordered that the Hundred-Men Squad be the smallest unit, advancing in the densest formation of eight columns, the size of the force inevitably stretched the marching column out to two kilometers, dragging the army’s formation out into a long strip.

As for the enemy?

According to the reports Felter received: the enemy’s main force has bypassed the Qingyin Pass, moving from Qingmeng Town and Changhai Town towards Bazenaur, "seeking a major confrontation with the New Reclamation Expeditionary Army";

Between Maplestone City and Mirror Lake County, the enemy only left behind some independently operating light cavalry units, likely intending to "monitor our movements in Maplestone City and Vernge County", "create the illusion that the main enemy force is about to attack Maplestone City", and "intercept communications between Colonel Sanel’s forces and Maplestone City."

Right up to leaving Maiqiu, the enemy’s behavior matched the intelligence Major Felter had.

Although the harassment by small groups of light cavalry was hard to defend against and seriously hurt troop morale, it also proved that the enemy’s scale was very small, lacking the ability to launch a frontal offensive.

However, the unusual calm from Maiqiu all the way to Green Valley made Major Felter sense something was amiss.

But, more than the enemy’s movements, Major Felter was anxious about his own subordinates.

The half of the "Sixth Legion" led by Major Felter first trekked from Westwood Province to Newly Reclaimed Lands Province, only resting briefly for one night in Maplestone City before rushing towards Mirror Lake County.

Continuous marching severely worn down the soldiers’ strength and will; the soldiers desperately needed rest.

But the situation didn’t allow them rest; Felter’s troops needed to quickly seize Qingyin Pass, cut off the rebels’ retreat, ensuring not a single rebel officer escaped.

If the prey already trapped were to escape again, then Alder Felter, who finally had a chance to merit, could pack his bags and wait to return to the Federated Provinces to write war history.

Felter couldn’t help but feel a little frustrated; if it weren’t for the various unfavorable conditions, he had confidence that the five infantry battalions he personally trained could face any enemy head-on.

But he quickly cheered himself up—throughout history, generals and commanders have always overcome various disadvantages to achieve victory.

"Sound the bugle," Major Felter ordered, "Stop the march, relay the order for all officers to come to me for a meeting."

The long marching column, due to "inertia", continued to move forward a bit before coming to a complete stop.

Officers of all levels rode horses, successively arriving at the hill where Major Felter stood from various points in the column.

Among all the officers, only six "Battalion Commanders" were graduates from the Land Academy and were all recent graduates from the 21st class returning to the country.

The remaining thirty-four "Centurions" were honorary officers appointed by the Grand Council—if not for two being killed on the road, it should have been thirty-six.

Green Valley Town was right in front of them, but the soldiers weren’t in a hurry; they took advantage of the rare opportunity to rest on the spot.

It was the officers who were impatient. As soon as all were gathered, someone couldn’t help but ask, "Green Valley Town is just ahead, Major, why stop the troops now?"

The questioner was an honorary officer. Major Felter sighed and asked back, "Didn’t you notice that the enemy has not harassed us like before throughout the entire day today?"

"Does that mean...they’ve retreated?" The young honorary officer asked with wide eyes.

Two Battalion Commanders impatiently folded their arms.

However, Major Felter was very tolerant, patiently explaining to the novice officer: "This kind of independently operating light cavalry would not easily retreat; their duty is to obscure the battlefield. The further we advance, the more resistance they should give us. Today is too quiet, somewhat strange."

The questioning honorary officer fell silent.

"What do you think?" a Battalion Commander asked in a deep voice: "Is it that they’re concentrating their forces today, preparing for one last desperate gamble?"

Major Felter nodded slightly: "There is no other reasonable explanation besides that."

The atmosphere became heavy, and the honorary officers suddenly felt the cool evening breeze become cold and sinister.

Major Felter, switching his tone, smiled and said, "But don’t forget, we are an army not to be underestimated. As long as we don’t mess up our formation ourselves, if they want to take us down, they’ll have to see if they have the teeth for it first."

The tension eased a bit, and someone cooperatively chuckled softly.

Felter looked towards Green Valley Town in the sunset, lightly tapping his finger on the sword hilt: "The couriers we sent to Green Valley Town before, none have returned. I think...Green Valley Town should have fallen. If the enemy wants to stop us from controlling Qingyin Pass, then Green Valley Town is their last and best chance."

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