Chapter 1447: The Night Before the Final Battle (Part 1)

Chapter 1447 -1356: The Night Before the Final Battle (Part 1)

December is passing, the time when it’s bitterly cold.

If it were in the Thousand River Valley, it would probably be snowing by now, while on Dawn Island, it’s freezing rain continuously.

Fortunately, several years ago, the Holy Alliance had already set up in the Dawn Island area, and this time, Jeanne, who is familiar with Dawn Island, leads the campaign.

Under the guidance of officers with local battle experience, the Holy Alliance’s army is equipped with oilcloths and cloaks, and doesn’t feel too cold.

In the dim tent, several braziers have been lit for warmth.

Sitting by the brazier, Horn spreads out a map and silently observes it.

After the order he gave the day before yesterday, the Holy Alliance army throughout the Winter Embrace River Valley began to gather.

Ten thousand soldiers from the Eastern Western Battle Army, and forty thousand from the Southern and Eastern Battle Army in the rear, all converging towards this area approximately 10 kilometers long and 8 kilometers wide.

According to the current staff reports, the Southern Battle Army is expected to arrive around noon, the Eastern Battle Army around evening, while the Western Battle Army might arrive by noon the next day.

As for the vampires, they continue to advance relentlessly.

Despite lacking a staff department and possessing far inferior coordination ability compared to the Holy Alliance, they have many elite officers in the style of Konyaz.

Especially in the Royal Palace army, there are a great many well-trained elite officers from various clans.

Perhaps, unlike the Holy Alliance, they haven’t undergone reliable military training, but they have gathered extensive wartime experience through their long lifespans.

Thus, their marching speed is slightly slower than the Holy Alliance’s, but not by much.

Based on the staff department’s assessment of the current Royal Court army’s marching speed, even with cavalry harassment, they are scheduled to arrive tomorrow morning, December 25th.

In reality, due to the large-scale mobilization of troops, both sides will be arriving in batches.

On the night Horn arrived, he could see many vampire cuirassiers scouting the terrain and enemy positions.

And early this morning, when Horn awoke, he heard quite a bit of gunfire, presumably the vampires launching a probing attack.

While having breakfast by the Muddy Ditch River just now, he even saw several majestic banners, probably indicating some high-ranking military leader scouting personally.

However, from Horn’s perspective, although vampires can arrive in the morning, they are unlikely to all arrive by then.

More likely, by noon today, December 24th, a portion of the forward troops will arrive to occupy and secure key positions.

On the 25th, upon arrival, the vampires will immediately rest rather than attack.

They will launch an attack in the evening.

Such speculation is not difficult.

Firstly, the night is the vampires’ domain, and secondly, upon discovering the Holy Grail Heights, occupying advantageous terrain becomes their primary goal over rashly attacking.

Evidently, the advantage of the Holy Grail Heights can only be fully utilized with greater troop strength.

December 25th night will be the time for the final fight.

“Your Highness?” Petier poked his head inside, “Did you summon me?”

“Send a portion of the cavalry south to check things out, the gunfire seems very close.”

“Alright.”

Petier nodded and was about to leave when Horn called him back: “Also, I’m preparing to draft a speech to motivate the soldiers, unless it’s urgent, please don’t disturb me.”

Excluding external noise, Horn sat alone at the desk, staring at the blank paper, unable to write a single word.

It’s not that there’s nothing to say, it’s just too complicated to write.

As they moved from 1463 to 1464, it meant Horn had been in this world for twenty years.

During the early days, he’d often dream of his past life, but now it’s becoming blurred.

Contrarily, throughout the past year, he’s frequently dreamed about Holy Grail Mountain and the Blood and Sweat Long Road.

A few villagers, an unexpected incident, and he was muddled into becoming the Pope.

Ascending at Gulag Monastery, marching through high platforms and mountains, crossing the Blood and Sweat Long Road, passing through Wild Spider Forest, and then reaching Joan of Arc Castle.

Finally, on that night on the long bridge, Horn drew his sword, determined to slay all demons. Nearly nineteen years have passed.

Afterward was the military training on Autumn Dusk Island, the decisive battle at Pavia, winning three battles to secure Langsande County, the rescue of Xiaochi City and Rapids City.

Then came the Duke’s Army’s invasion in Thorn Garden, Vine’s strategic surprise at Sentry Fort, and the Battle of Cheese Bay that killed Prince Kongdai.

Horn still remembers the dusk, like dawn, when golden-red banners rose across the mountains and hills.

Thousand River Valley was free from that day!

After the war came construction, enthusiastic constitutional assemblies, vigorous land reforms, economy, research, culture, infrastructure, industry…

In the wave of this era, Horn admits to having done some insignificant work.

When the rise of Thousand River Valley was just beginning, King Jiji came attacking with one hundred thousand troops.

The defense of Xia Lvcheng, the offense and defense at Haji Castle, the rescue of Xia Lvcheng, the grand parade at Rapids City… ultimately leading to Moliat stepping down.

Then came the battle at Maren Slope, which turned the tides, and the second army reform. After the reform, the battle at Dusk Bell Mountain and the battle at Grey Robe Valley.

In the battle at Grey Robe Valley, the Holy Alliance army finally stepped out from under the Saint’s Grandson’s wings and raised their own flag.

From that point on, Horn felt at ease starting his abdication plan.

Because he realized, even if he left, though the Holy Alliance may face some setbacks, it can still continue on its own.

After two battles in Thousand River Valley, the Holy Alliance finally formed a national consciousness and built its own state.

The Holy Alliance was finally established.

In the following ten years, the Holy Alliance developed its economy while exporting revolution.

The believers’ food shifted from tuber roots to bread through the four-garden system, attire went from linen to wool through the wool economy corridor, travel upgraded from foot travel to horse-drawn trains, and hand tools transitioned from sponge iron to steel via the lightning furnace.

And the sixth Great Duke meeting further perfected the ideology of the Holy Sect.

Later, the Holy Mechanism Court initiated the clockwork revolution, inventing the ether clock, which officially started the industrialization process.

Regarding the 1457 Holy Mechanism Court World Exposition, it introduced the glass palace and clockwork trains to everyone’s view.

Since then, in the East Continent, the Holy Mechanism Court earned a significant title, the City That Never Rests.

And that was already six years ago.

Looking at himself in the mirror, with a beard lining his face, Horn felt a moment of disorientation. Has it truly been twenty years?

So much has happened in these twenty years, time seems slow yet fast.

In a daze, he’s transformed into a father, the husband of four wives, owning a small family in this world.

If given another twenty years, Horn is confident in completing the initial phase of industrialization in the Thousand River Valley.

With another twenty years, he is sure to realize a fair world in Danji where knights aren’t needed, ensure a world in Frick where children can learn and smile, and fulfill Kosse’s wish for families to remain whole.

Unfortunately, Serafe hasn’t given him that chance, countless vampires arrived from overseas, swiftly engulfing nearly a third of the territories west of the Dragon Sleep Mountain Range in the East Continent.

Massacres in Geru City, Fat Cow Castle, Changge City… countless believers’ lives perished under the vampires’ blades.

This led to the Holy Alliance dispatching troops, culminating in the Battle of Bin River, the Battle of Fat Toad, the Motter Meeting battle, three battles shattered the invading momentum of the Royal Court.

Serafe isn’t cowardly; she understands Horn’s methods, and knows her lifespan isn’t long.

So taking advantage of the troops and morale not fully declined yet, she immediately deployed to gamble a life-and-death battle with the Holy Alliance.

Honestly, Horn himself has no certainty about winning this battle, given so many uncertainties on the battlefield.

If truly compelled, he’ll use the final hand, directly assail Serafe, and then ascend the Brass Throne.

Twenty years have passed, his gains and losses seemingly balanced, yet he never regretted it.

Since drawing his sword at the long bridge, he has not regretted a single moment.

Though originally a hesitant and unready Pope, his heart now resonates with all Holy Alliance members.

Does he solely bear Danji Frick’s wishes?

His greatest burden, actually, is his own aspiration and regret.

The original Thousand River Valley war was due to blue-blood wine left by the vampires, and now must conclude with the vampires.

Once again, removing Blood Covering Cloud from the wall, Horn fondly stroked the sword’s sheath, hilt, and blade before fastening it at his waist: “Old friend, you’re coming out again.”