Chapter 183 - Preparation For The Confrontation Against Germanicus
Bastian, who was cutting the neck of an enemy, smiled unconsciously because although he detested blood.
Being able to kill some traitors brought him some peace of mind, like the rest of his companions.
As they continued with the one-sided massacre at that base, the screams of the enemy soldiers slowly began to cease, leaving only an awkward silence.
Which was only accompanied by the sounds of the footsteps of those soldiers who were walking among the corpses and the rest of the completely destroyed camp.
"We have little time to take everything of value and get out of this place, so prepare the torches and start burning everything that is not necessary.
Well, today we leave this forest because we must cross this forest to reach the front line to support the reinforcement troops of Princess Adelaide and Duke Gautier.
Well, possibly tomorrow morning a real war will start against the invading troops. "
After saying those words, all the soldiers began to burn the tents while stealing as much as possible of the enemy corpses that were on the ground.
After a few minutes, they finished doing everything they had to do and went into the forest while erasing all their tracks to prevent someone from tracking them down.
Throughout the night, the soldiers in charge of Bastian walked through the forest without stopping to reach the assembly area.
But it wasn't until after midnight that they began to run into other squads.
Which were also not like the squad in charge of Bastian, as they had quite a few wounded and some were simply made up of two or three soldiers.
Bastian, seeing this, met with the leaders of those squads to ask what had happened.
"Because you have so many casualties, someone can tell me what the hell happened.
We did not lose a single person, and we killed approximately more than 700 enemy soldiers in attacks on their camps and caravans in these two days. "
One of the squad leaders approached Commander Bastian and looked at him with some anger and sadness "It was not our fault because the first day everything was quite simple, but it seems that your actions commander aroused the anger of the enemies.
So they started giving us each squadron by squad looking for our weaknesses, I suppose you were lucky because from what I can see absolutely nothing happened to you or your squad.
But in our case, the situation was quite horrible. I could see how my companions fell in front of me, so damn cavalry that did not even give us time to prepare the weapons.
They just charged us, and it was all over. The only good thing is that for my fortune and due to the grace of God, I was able to survive along with two other soldiers.
Although even with that I would dare to say that I was one of the lucky squads, because we do count correctly here, there are still a lot of squads that are needed that were surely completely purged.
But I guess it was inevitable, right? "
Bastian just sighed and patted him on the shoulder "It was a suicide mission, but what we had to do otherwise we would endanger the entire army.
In addition, our sacrifice will be rewarded because I understand that the emperor gave orders that once we finish with Germanicus, his lands be distributed among the soldiers.
Not to mention that there are also lands of Duke Hippolyte and any enemy of the empire, although perhaps they are no longer with us, their families will be able to enjoy the privilege of having fought with the emperor. "
After saying those words, they all continued walking, but this time in silence because no one dared to say a single word because it was not the right time to speak.
After a while of walking and at dawn, everyone was able to reach a meeting area. The grandmother was located deep in a cave.
Inside the cave, they met the son of Duke Gautier, Aubin who, upon seeing them, gave them a big smile.
"I'm glad you arrived, but we have to wait for the other squad leaders to arrive, until morning.
If they don't come back, we will simply consider them dead. For the moment you should rest a bit. You have earned it, but if you have something to report, do not hesitate to speak up because we need to know as much as we can about the enemy. "
When he finished saying those words, no one dared to respond to Aubin because they did not know anything of value, so after saying goodbye only Bastian stayed because as commander he had to give a report.
"Thank you for allowing the squad leaders and soldiers to rest a bit Aubin. They are quite exhausted, and some depressed by the counterattack of Germanicus forces."
Aubin sighed and looked melancholy at Bastian "They were the risks of such an important mission, but less positive side in the morning my father will be arriving along with Princess Adelaide to put an end to the army of Germanicus.
It will be a battle that will take place in the plains near the forest, from what I understand my father is going to divide troops to be able to ambush the enemy army from the rear.
That is why the best thing you can do right now is to rest a little because in a few hours you will be leading that army through the forest to reach an area where you can give a lethal blow to those damn traitors.
My father also informed me that if you can do it, you will be rewarded with a prize in gold coins and a large farm so that you can live with your family with a small noble title.
It may not be much, but if you keep fighting for us, you will continue to climb the ranks and the point will come that you could become a nobleman with a true fiefdom.
Remember that there are going to be quite a few lands that are going to need guidance after this civil war. "
After saying those words, the two men continued talking for a while longer until they took a break.
In the morning Aubin woke up and decided to have a little breakfast waiting for his father's messenger to arrive, informing him that he had already arrived at the duchy.
While we were having breakfast, he heard the neighing of a horse so he raised his face and looked at a messenger who quickly informed him about the plans his father had and where he had to meet.
Hearing all this, Aubin took a few bites of his meat and drank his beer completely before starting to wake up all his soldiers to give them some orders before leaving with his father.
After having done this he got on his horse and together with the rest of his sides, he began to head towards a small slope where his father was waiting for him.
Gautier was looking at the future battlefield where he was going to have to face Germanicus.
He raised his hand and began to guide his commanders to prepare some traps and defenses for the direct confrontation that they were going to have in a few hours.
"What do you think of this place princess, you do not think it is beautiful enough to stain it with blood from your traitorous brother's army.
If you think you could have been attacking my land without suffering any defeat or punishment, you are wrong.
I will take care of making him pay for every death he has caused and for every family, he has destroyed, your brother is going to pay dearly for the debt to my people.
I only hope that so that he can pay the debt princess, he allows me to have it a few days before you end your life, I can promise you that I will take care of making you suffer for as long as necessary.
For you to just give him the coup de grace and thus carry out your father's orders. "
Adelaide smiled and took a deep breath "You can do whatever you want with him but just remember that I will be the one to end his life that the imperial family can only be killed by the imperial family.
Also when you capture him, do not forget to ask him who his relatives are and where he maintains a large amount of budget with which he is financing this stupid war.
I think it will be a good resource to hand over to my father if we can recover those blood-stained gold coins with which he is killing the citizens of the empire. "
Gautier laughs and puts his hand on the shoulder of the princess "You can be sure princess that we will obtain all the information we need about your brother.
He is not going to stop telling us of his own free will where he has the silver and gold as well as who are those traitors who have been supporting him to rebel against your father.
I can be sure there will be quite a few since otherwise, I could not imagine that your brother is so stupid as to declare war on your father if he does not have the support of someone else.
But changing the subject princess, you are ready to lead the troops through the forest to attack the rear. "
Adelaide nodded and looked at the beautiful plain as she took a few steps "You just take care of keeping my brother's army mainly occupied on the front line.
I will be in charge of attacking him from the rear, hoping that with my attack I can capture him or at least make him return to his lands so that he can hide like the cockroach that he is."