Chapter 326 Ping Ping Wait

The wheels rolled rumblingly on the endless plain.

Nearly a thousand Black Hat soldiers formed four columns and marched slowly forward in neat steps.

The cowhide boots trampled the ground, shaking up dust and gravel.

The spears carried on the shoulders collided with each other, making crisp clinking sounds.

Behind them, nearly a thousand strong-armed engineers followed.

Sandwiched between the engineers and the Crusaders were nearly a hundred covered wagons loaded with food, fodder, and mortar.

These auxiliary troops followed the Black Hat Army in a crowded and chaotic manner, making the originally orderly team like flowing water appear weird and bloated.

There is nothing that can be done about it; the food and fodder must be sent before the troops move forward.

Despite Horn's streamlining, the ratio of military to civilian personnel remained at 5:2.

That is to say, an army of 500 people needs at least 200 people to ensure logistics.

Horn added a large number of engineers, resulting in the two legions of 1000 men being followed by less than 800 men.

The huge convoy advanced along the road like a stream of water. Fortunately, at least so far, they had not been attacked by the knights.

"The last five miles." Jourdan still shouted behind him.

The war-brothers of the Fourth Legion complained in a formulaic way: "I just left the house this morning and you said there were only five miles left to go."

But Jourdain did not lie this time. There were really only five miles left from here to Moncruz Estate.

The distance between Heitao Town and Moncruz Manor is about twenty miles, and even with civilians, it can be reached within one day.

They could already see the farmers belonging to the estate working.

As for their master, he disappeared without a trace about three days ago after leaving behind a housekeeper and a few servants.

The stream flows slowly, and among the golden wheat fields, occasionally a farmer would look up over here.

However, most of them just took a look, lowered their heads in fear, and continued with the work at hand.

Even though the lord has fled, they are still doing their farm work step by step.

Even though the Ibe Knights and the Salvation Army fought to the death, for the farmers in Jinhe Township, it was a "war of gentlemen."

What does it have to do with the fact that the masters beat the brains out of dogs and they harvest 3,000 pounds of grain a year?

This idea is slightly better in the Pious Zone, and is particularly evident in the Jihad Zone and Jinhe Township.

With a stern face, Laurent walked quickly to the side of the road, stretched out his leg, and kicked a lazy engineer, making him scream.

"Rishan..."

"Which team are you from? Did you get a break?"

The beaten engineer glared at him with resentment and fear, and when he saw Laurent pull out the cane, he fled back to the team.

Fanning himself with a straw fan, Laurent complained to Jourdan: "These engineers are all untrained civilians. I don't understand what's the point of sending them to the front line."

"Weren't we civilians before?" Zhu Erdan didn't complain and continued to move forward happily. "Those new recruits were not much better than them when they were just training."

"How can that be the same?" Laurent stretched out his hand to drive away a few gadflies that flew over. "They are untrained. It will be difficult to protect them on the battlefield."

"You talk as if you're not a new recruit." Jourdan reached out and punched him on the chest.

Laurent blushed immediately.

After enlisting in the Black Hats, Laurent was soon blessed by God and became a Holy Gunner.

Since most of the Holy Gun's men are veterans, he naturally considers himself a veteran.

After the Battle of Pavia, a large number of wounded soldiers, including disabled veterans, suffered from varying degrees of Saint Favor after their wounds became infected.

These veterans joined the ranks of the Holy Gunners, and most of the new recruits who came in were spearmen.

As a result, the number of veterans in the Holy Gunners' ranks is several times higher than that of the Pikemen.

Noticing Laurent's embarrassment and hidden anger, Jourdain couldn't help but shake his head.

Laurent is a tailor apprentice and Jourdan is a cloth merchant. They have known each other for a long time, but Laurent's personality is a bit hard to describe. Compared with the optimistic and easy-going Jourdan, Laurent's personality is relatively gloomy and sensitive, perhaps because of his father's long-term beatings and scoldings, and it is easy to have conflicts with others.

Laurent still has no good popularity in the legion.

However, it is undeniable that Laurent himself is indeed smart and capable, and he got first place in all subjects.

In the St. Tangier War College, it has always been ranked among the top five with its excellent training results.

But the army is a place that worships the strong. As long as you can bring victory, everyone will be willing to follow you even if you doze off and have diarrhea in public every day.

"You are almost like a veteran." Jourdan hooked his arm around Laurent's neck, "After this battle, you will be a veteran too."

The crimson color on Laurent's face gradually faded away. He was about to speak, but suddenly turned his head to the side.

"what happened?"

"There's the sound of horse hooves." Without further ado, Laurent climbed onto the carriage and looked around. He pointed in one direction and said, "There!"

Jourdan immediately blew the whistle, and several hussars accompanying him rode out in that direction.

The previously peaceful convoy fell silent, with everyone nervously clutching anything they could hold onto.

After all, they were marching in enemy territory, and who knew what might happen.

But soon, an orc hussar returned and reported: "Your Excellency, the legion commander, it is the representative of the people who came to greet you."

Hearing this, the people around him breathed a sigh of relief.

They are said to be representatives of public opinion, but in fact they are the former head of the manor and the steward.

Most of these people were the second sons of knights or armed peasants. Among the armed peasants there were both poor and rich ones. The wealthy class among the armed peasants were the village heads and stewards.

A knight's manor has about 2000 to 3000 acres of land, with six or seven villages scattered on it. It is impossible for him to directly govern every village.

Therefore, most of the time, the manor head and the steward were responsible for it, and the knights rarely participated in the production and life of the manor.

Most of their time was spent on parades, arenas, and currying favor with noble lords.

After Horn issued the order for the Great Judgment, on May 1445, 5 in the Imperial Calendar, Saint Jeanne led four Black Hat Legions into Heitao Town.

After occupying Heitao Town, Jeanne's first order was to have the Black Hat Fifth Legion advance another twelve miles to occupy Moncruz Manor.

The Black Hat Fifth Legion did not encounter any decent resistance, and the manor simply surrendered.

Those housekeepers and village heads repented and changed their ways in time, welcoming the new dynasty's elegant policies. Each of them hung a wooden gear on his body and always mentioned "freedom and equality" in every speech.

"Freedom and equality! My lords, the pariah is called Deklama." The man named Deklama led a nag and smiled flatteringly at the black-hatted war monks. "Master Coleman asked me to greet you and lead you into the camp."

Obviously, those wearing white shirts, black and red jackets, grey breeches, and red ribbons around their waists must be masters.

Deklama recognized that cold spirit at a glance.

No matter which master it is, he has the ability to take their lives easily, so Deklama naturally dare not neglect it.

Most of the Black Hat Army came from poor backgrounds, and they were never very interested in these small country gentry like the housekeepers.

Laurent's disgust was written all over his face, and he just snorted lightly.

Zhu Erdan felt disgusted in his heart, but his expression remained unchanged: "Then I'll trouble you."

Deklama turned around with a flattering smile and began to lead the convoy forward.

"I think we should arrest them all," Laurent said as he looked at Deklamat walking towards the engineers.

"We still need them, otherwise these villages will be in chaos."

"I was just wondering why we suddenly have to move to this Moncruz Manor."

Just as Jourdan was about to respond, he heard a scream of "Ah".

Looking at the end of the convoy, Deklama was showing a completely different ferocity from the one he showed in front of Jourdan. He kicked an engineer in the chest with a sudden kick.

The engineer was kicked and fell on his back on the spot.

Landing lightly on the ground, Deklama pointed at him and cursed fluently: "I've been watching you for a long time, but you're still dithering. Do you think I'm blind? Hurry up and leave, don't delay the master's freedom and equality!"

(End of this chapter)