Chapter 397: Chapter 379: Who to Ask for Help?
The hot wind rustled the white gauze curtains, and inside the study of the Meigedi tower sat a group of men and women with bitter expressions.
They were either senior partners of the commerce association or citizen leaders of some guild.
The sweltering weather soaked their underarms and chests with sweat, forcing them to use feather fans to keep cool.
The large ice block they had before had been moved to the inner room, which was Catherine’s bedroom.
Even near the bedroom door, you could feel the bursts of cold air emanating from within.
However, no one dared suggest moving the ice block and ice skull outside, as the esteemed Governor Catherine was sleeping inside the room.
After repelling the Empire’s attack, Catherine fainted on the spot due to mana depletion.
Once the wizards present confirmed she was unharmed, she was taken to the headquarters of the Meigedi Commerce Association.
And the post-battle meeting, which usually wouldn’t be held, had to occur in the study outside her room.
"We have both good news and bad news." Petier sat by the window, growing hotter by the hot wind blowing from outside. "The good news is, the Imperial Army suffered heavy casualties and won’t attack for the next three to five days, giving us a brief respite."
"What’s the bad news?"
Petier did not speak but only looked at the door to Catherine’s bedroom, while the others tacitly averted their gaze.
"What about our casualties?"
"Still being tallied." Petier pulled a hardback notebook from under his backside. "But I estimate about five hundred casualties on our side, while the Empire left over two hundred bodies on the walls, half of which were Extraordinary Knights."
"Do you think the Order will regroup?" Carl had a handkerchief stuffed in his nostrils, tinged with crimson blood at the ends.
"It’s highly likely they will need to regroup..."
Putting aside the mercenaries and guards outside the city, the Empire still has the three primary Order companies.
Despite calling them three Order companies, only Edmund’s Order company is fully organized.
Not a single one of his hundred Imperial Knights perished.
Though a few Square Banner Knights and Squire Knights died, the Lingya Knight Arman quickly recruited local knights and mercenary cavalry to fill the ranks.
Additionally, there are the two half-strength Order companies led by Ailard and Balzsa.
Since the main Imperial Knights were not completely annihilated, these two Order companies were reduced to 90 to 120 Imperial Knights due to Moliat’s offensive.
With the support of locally recruited Extraordinary Knights and those mobilized from Langsande County, they barely formed two full-strength Order companies at the outset.
However, in the previous battles using Dragon’s Breath and a series of minor skirmishes, there was another significant loss of Imperial Knights.
Especially last night’s assault with the blood-sucking vine, Catherine eliminated at least 30 Imperial Knights.
According to Carl’s estimate, the Empire has fewer than 80 Imperial Knights left in the two and a half Order companies outside the city.
Thus, they are highly likely to form a new Order company.
After all, an Order company with less than half strength struggles to leverage the combat advantage of its Imperial Knights.
"Can we expect any reinforcements?" Petier, sitting by the window, turned to look at everyone in the room.
Even though Petier was a nobody more than a month ago, his importance has become evident over time.
Even though he interrupted the discussion, everyone still listened when he spoke.
Mitney, rocking back and forth on a chair, played a balancing game with just two chair legs: "After the last defeat, they’ve come to realize the situation. Currently, citizens of Xiaochi City are funding new recruits, though it’s unsure when they will arrive."
In fact, the first wave of reinforcements from Kasha County arrived over a week ago.
After half a year of bickering, in response to the evolving environment and political climate, the disposition in Kasha County is slowly changing.
Especially promoted by the Holy Path faction represented by exchange student Armand and native Martin, their ideology quickly spread among the lower-ranking monks.
A section of insightful individuals in Kasha County, including local citizens and knightly nobility, decided to aid Rapids City under this influence.
Unfortunately, the two commanders belonged to the citizen and knight factions, respectively. They quarrelled and split forces on the march, attacking from two different routes.
They even named it: a pincer attack.
As a result, they not only arrived three days late but were discovered by the Order company on the first day and defeated, resulting in over a thousand prisoners.
If it wasn’t for the Royal Constitution Knights of Falan causing disruptions and blocking paths, the remaining allied forces of Kasha County might have all been wasted in Rapids City.
Nevertheless, Rapids City took in several hundred Extraordinary stragglers from Kasha County, so at least Kasha County managed to provide some support.
Supported, but not completely.
"What should our next move be? Do any of you have any thoughts?" Mitney rocked his body back and forth, causing the chair under him to creak sharply. "After all, it will be mid-August at the earliest before the second wave of Kasha County reinforcements arrives."
The partners looked at each other, yet no one spoke.
Occasionally, someone would offer their opinion, which would make Carl’s blood pressure soar, angrily admonishing, "Absurdity, nonsense."
For example, poisoning the river to kill the Imperial Army outside the city.
For example, writing a letter to the commander outside the city with Dragon’s Breath placed in the envelope to blow them up.
Others suggested opening the gates to scare away the enemy forces.
Most of them are drawn from various knight novels and folk tales, or involve poisoning and assassination.
After all, these are the aspects they are more familiar with in their daily lives.
Unlike Horn and Moliat groups, both of which rose through bloody wars, Catherine’s military and political group is about usurping and seizing power.
They haven’t experienced too brutal wars, nor have they fought many decent field battles, so naturally, they have little experience.
When it comes to how to develop commerce, govern cities, and manipulate markets, Catherine is quite knowledgeable.
But as for how to fight wars, it’s likely her skills aren’t even half that of Horn or even a quarter of Moliat’s.
It’s known that Horn and his group have emerged from blades and swords, rarely losing face except in the early days.
"I think, as long as we have Lady Catherine, all we need is to cooperate with her, right?"
A cautious leader from a sub-association of the Meigedi Commerce Association said.
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone around fell silent.
Everyone could see what Catherine did last night, surviving narrowly while raising some questions.
If Catherine is a witch, is their uprising truly right? Might it be a devil’s conspiracy?
"In fact, yesterday the reconnaissance cavalry gathered some information." With a cough, Carl shifted the topic, "Several hundreds of Extraordinary Knights have been dispatched by the Imperial Army outside the city, but their whereabouts are unknown. They might be attacking Xiaochi City or heading east."
"The defenses at Joan of Arc Castle are weak; they probably went to Joan of Arc Castle..."
"Not necessarily, Xiaochi City is quite vulnerable too."
Mitney stopped the annoying sound from his chair with irritation: "Earlier someone mentioned, the Salvation Army defeated the Ibe Knight in Monkulus? Who has the latest update?"
The leaders and senior partners whispered among themselves until one raised a hand.
"I heard they left for Black Mountain Castle a week ago."
The room’s whispered discussions grew louder.
"Black Mountain Castle? I remember that’s in the center of Jinhe Town, right?"
"Impossible, did they advance so quickly?"
"But even Nidesar of Red Copper Fortress has offered aid..."
Carl impatiently tapped the table: "Quiet! Quiet!"
Seeing everyone quiet down, Carl didn’t continue speaking; he looked at the floor a short distance away, his fingers constantly scratching the tabletop.
The rapid rate and force created a sound reminiscent of wood being sawn, but this sound ceased when Carl’s fingernail flipped back.
"I think we should ask for aid from the Salvation Army." When Carl said this, he seemed entirely dejected, "At least, at least they truly have defeats against the Imperial Knight forces outdoors, whereas we... we... are not as strong as imagined."
This opinion was one many partners were reluctant to mention, due to Horn’s Salvation Army Government’s strong control attitude towards merchants.
They not only often enforced mandates on workshops but also increased various taxes like consumption tax and property transfer tax.
A ludicrous 50 Dinar per barrel is levied on wine and other high-percentage alcohols, with double property tax on unoccupied real estate annually.
Especially the prohibition on usury seemed to be a death sentence for the merchants.
"Hiss, I think there’s no need to rush to that extent yet?" A guild head ventured tentatively.
"A group of farmers forming an army, what support?"
"Besides, I doubt they’ll conquer Jinhe Town in a month even if we overestimate their prowess. They’re probably still fighting the Ibe Knight!"
"At such a time? How are you still thinking of your little jars?" Carl looked at them unbelievingly.
"One cannot speak so lightly." A senior partner expressed devotion and sincerity, "I’m considering Catherine’s governance."
"Indeed, when the time comes for them to save us, we’ll have to accept whatever terms they propose."
Amid the bickering of partners and city councilors, a weak but resolute voice emerged from one side.
"Ask for help from the Salvation Army."
Despite the weakness of the voice, it abruptly silenced all other sounds on site.
It was the voice of the esteemed Governor Catherine, leaning against the door frame, her face pale as paper, saying firmly, "My opinion is to ask for aid from the Salvation Army."