After a fierce battle, the Kingdom Army achieved a decisive victory over Greedy Wolf Grand Duke's rebel forces.
According to statistics from the cleanup of the battlefield, the Royal Army killed more than 2,000 enemies, captured more than 3,000, and suffered more than 2,000 casualties.
The losses did not seem disparate in terms of ratio, but since it was the first time the new army had experienced such a tough battle, Commander Harrison was generally satisfied.
He compiled a detailed account of the battle into a battle report and sent it to Crystal Radiance as quickly as possible.
Upon arriving at Thorn Fortress, the messenger first sent out a brief message via the Telegraph station, then mounted a fast horse and continued northward with the full text of the battle report in his arms.
The Telegraph system had also been extended from Crystal Radiance to Thorn Fortress, the southernmost point of the royal domain.
As a follower of many things in Northwest Bay, how could Rodney XVIII ignore such a fast means of information transmission as Telegraph?
After Princess Irene, who had run away from home, returned to Crystal Radiance, she described the wonders of the Telegraph to Rodney Seventeen, who was still alive at the time.
This piqued the old king's interest, and with his consent, Erin directed the construction of a Telegraph node path leading north, connecting Crystal Radiance with Lakeheart Town.
The time it used to take Crystal Radiance half a month to travel by fast horse to deliver a message to Lakeheart Town has now been reduced to half a day.
Undoubtedly, the Telegraph was a powerful tool that would strengthen the ties between Crystal Radiance and her vassals across the land, a feature welcomed by Rodney XVIII.
Since his accession to the throne, the work of expanding the Telegraph system within the royal domain has never stopped, with communication routes radiating outwards from Crystal Radiance as the center.
If it weren't for the dissuasion of many people, Rodney XVIII would have even wanted to install cell towers in every city.
As the driving force and decision-maker behind this southern campaign, Rodney XVIII kept a close eye on the Kingdom Army's movements.
The king's office was filled with the scent of cedar and parchment, and sunlight streamed through stained glass windows, casting dappled shadows on the huge sand table in the center of the room.
The sand table occupied the entire oak table that supported it, meticulously depicting the mountains and rivers of the southern border of the Kingdom of Aldor. A silver-plated castle model stood in the location of the capital, while black soldier models representing the rebels were scattered across the hills and mountains of the southern border.
The king's fingers were unconsciously tapping the edge of the sand table, his gaze never leaving the red-painted Soldiers models.
This is the southern expeditionary force led by General Harrison, and they are located in the Firewoods.
"What's going on? Why haven't any new messages arrived yet!"
Rodney XVIII suddenly complained, his eyes fixed on the models on the sand table: "They haven't been moved in a long time."
No sooner had he finished speaking than a series of hurried footsteps came from the corridor outside. The king recognized the rhythm of these footsteps; it was his chief attendant, Wayne. And the thing that could make him so anxious must be news from the front.
Rodney XVIII was both excited and worried, hoping it wasn't bad news.
"Your Majesty, the Telegraph has just received a message from General Harrison!" Wayne practically rushed into the office, just as the King had predicted.
"Our army clashed with Giles fifty miles north of Phantom Wing Fortress and won the battle. We suffered 2,381 casualties, killed 2,450 enemy soldiers, and captured 3,260. Giles has fled toward Phantom Wing Fortress."
Wayne finished reading the contents of the note in his hand, slightly out of breath.
"God bless us, this is a great victory!" the king cried out, already overwhelmed with joy.
William, the attendant on duty, tiptoed to the sand table and began moving the red and black model soldiers.
Under his control, the red soldier model representing the Royal Army occupied the Phantom Wing Fortress, while the black soldier model representing the rebels was moved to the road leading to the Rainbow Fortress.
"Yes, yes, that's it!" Rodney XVIII laughed heartily as he looked at the sand table, as if he were witnessing the Kingdom Army marching triumphantly south while Giles was making a hasty retreat.
...
For Giles ' current army size, the loss of five thousand men is considerable.
According to the Kingdom Army's reconnaissance, Grand Duke Greedy Wolf appears to have led his army in a southward escape.
Unfortunately, Harrison will not be able to witness the embarrassing scene of his opponent's hasty retreat.
Grand Duke Giles's cloak had long lost its former splendor; the deep purple velvet was torn to shreds by thorns and stained with mud and blood.
His mount—a white warhorse that had won countless accolades in the tournament—was now limping along the muddy path, its front leg limp.
A commotion suddenly arose at the rear of the column. Giles turned to see several soldiers scrambling for a piece of rations. The officer tried to maintain order, but his voice was hoarse and barely audible. The commotion attracted more and more soldiers, and the noise startled crows in the woods, their black wings gleaming in the twilight.
"They dared to do this right in front of me! They have no respect for me at all!" Giles was furious. He pointed his riding crop at the commotion. "Zigmont, tie them all up and give each of them thirty lashes."
"Yes, Your Highness!" Giles's captain of guards responded and spurred his horse to ride off.
Giles's gaze fell to the side of the road—where lay the bodies of several civilians, arrows still lodged in their backs. The Kingdom Army hadn't reached this point yet; it was clearly the work of his troops.
"My lord, the ferry crossing is just ahead." Baron Samar rode up to report to Giles, his brocade coat covered in dust, and his once meticulously styled curly hair now stuck messily to his forehead.
"Cross the river quickly, then confiscate all the boats upstream and downstream, and destroy them all!"
...
"It is speculated that Giles ' army should still have some strength, and his vassals will continue to provide him with soldiers."
"Just received word that he has stopped in Raleigh Woods."
Inside the Phantom Wing Fortress, Harrison convened a meeting of high-ranking military officers to discuss the next operational plan, with Alda's advisors also present.
Looking at the map, Claude commented, "The terrain becomes increasingly complex further south. Giles might use his familiarity with the geography to evade our pursuit, or even lure us into a trap. We must take care of him here, or at least make him suffer a great loss."
Harrison nodded in agreement, saying, "I agree with Lord Claude's point of view. We can't let him continue to escape."
Claude pointed to a spot on the map, "Perhaps we can detach some troops and outflank Giles from here, blocking his retreat..."