Chapter 409: Chapter 391: Save Rapids City in 10 Days!
Standing in a corner of the Saint Sun’s Study in the Holy Arrival Hall, Harbin stared idly at his toes.
Sitting on a plain chair cushioned with straw, Horn handed the last letter to Duvalon, "This is for Hilov. Tell her I’m well and will return soon, so she need not worry."
"Yes, Your Eminence." Holding a stack of letters, Duvalon hurried out of the study.
Only then did Horn gesture for Harbin to come closer, "Why are you hiding so far away? It’s not like you don’t know me."
"Hehe, you are the Saint’s Grandson descended to earth; looking at your face feels like blasphemy to me."
"Enough, enough, you’re getting more and more outlandish." Horn made a feigned grimace, pretending to cover Harbin’s mouth.
Harbin chuckled and bowed to Horn, "Your Eminence, what are your orders?"
Horn put away his smile and got down to business, "How is the situation at the Gray Furnace Town Armory Workshop currently?"
"Each armorer can finish a set of armor every four days, including a breastplate, a brimmed helmet, and a neck guard," Harbin promptly replied.
Contrary to Horn’s previous impression, armor and the like were not crafted by blacksmiths as in many novels of his previous life, but by specialized armorers.
Crafting armor is a delicate task; an armorer must not only know blacksmithing but also leather processing, engraving, sheet metal work, assembly, riveting, and even design and drafting.
An armorer requires an apprentice period of at least five to eight years before becoming proficient, always a high-paying and high-end profession.
The difference between a blacksmith and an armorer is like that between a carpenter and a furniture maker, belonging to a higher echelon of occupation.
"What is the monthly output of the Gray Furnace Town Armory Workshop?"
"They complete 80 to 100 sets per month, depending on the yield rate," Harbin explained further, "Since the armorers craft each set by hand, up to 30% of armors and semi-finished products occasionally require remelting."
"How many defective, semi-finished, and uninspected sets of armor are currently in the warehouse?" With one hand resting on a geographical atlas, pressing it onto a map, Horn asked while studying the map.
"95 sets, some were backlogged from before, others are this month’s yet-to-be-issued stocks." Harbin, being a businessman, was acutely sensitive to numbers, giving the figure without hesitation.
"Bring them all out and issue them to the new recruits of the two guard corps, departing by noon tomorrow." As he spoke, Horn snapped his fingers, and his secretary promptly placed a prepared order on the table.
After reviewing and confirming it was correct, Horn signed and stamped it with pleasure, handing it to Harbin, "When you leave, ask the Armory Workshop to send a few daring armorers to accompany the army."
"Yes, Your Eminence." Harbin placed a hand on his chest and bowed, taking the order as he left the room.
However, Horn’s work was not done; after Harbin, he successively met with seven or eight minor or significant figures and officials.
While meeting them, his quill pen never ceased writing.
Based on these reports, Horn signed five or six orders, such as the "Command for the Recruiting of Mules and Horses," "Night Curfew Order," "Holy War Bonds Issuance Order," "Boots and Leggings Recruitment Order."
It wasn’t until deep into the night, with the silver moon high above casting its light through the shutters onto the dying candle, that Horn finally straightened his aching back.
On the desk before him lay a strategic map filled with various red and blue marks and lines of attack.
"Squeezing and squeezing, it’s still only 5 days’ time."
Rubbing his temples, Horn took a sip of cooled red tea, forcefully suppressing his drowsiness.
It was approximately 140 kilometers from Black Pottery Town to Xiaochi City via the King’s Path instead of the old Ancient Aier Path, making it closer than Joan of Arc Castle.
Currently, Salvation Army Infantry march at about 20 kilometers per day, meaning it would take around 7 days to arrive.
But that’s clearly not enough, as indicated in the letter from Catherine in Rapids City: they could only hold out for another two weeks at most.
Traveling the Xiaochi City route at regular marching speed would take 7 days to reach Xiaochi City, 3 days by boat to head north, around 10 days in total.
It seemed like there was plenty of leeway, but in reality, it wasn’t the case, as three days had passed from Catherine’s letter to Horn dispatching the troops.
Thus, Horn actually had only 11 days at most.
Currently, in Kasha County, the Church Faction and the Juanist Faction were completely at odds. Fortunately, the nobles dared not provoke the vast monastery system backing Blago Monastery.
But Xiaochi City, as the Juanist Faction’s stronghold, was different, with thousands of Noble Alliance Army advancing towards it.
Defeating the Noble Alliance Army would take time, and assembling the fleet to advance north also required time. All things considered, according to Jeska and others’ estimates, it would take more than two weeks to reach.
So Horn dispatched Jeanne, ordering her to lead almost all the cavalry to arrive in Xiaochi City within 2 days to ensure it wasn’t lost, and to recruit ships and horses on-site.
When Horn was sitting in the Holy Arrival Hall, aside from the two new recruit corps of the Third and Fourth Imperial Guard Corps, all corps were already marching towards Xiaochi City.
They must reach Xiaochi City within 5 days, defeat enemy forces within 2 days, and reach the key stronghold Biqi Castle within 3 days.
There, they would constrain the enemy’s main forces and restore morale and organization.
Following this schedule would mean the Salvation Army’s two battle groups, encompassing twelve infantry regiments, would need to march at least 28 kilometers per day.
This meant increasing their previous marching speed by at least forty percent.
Even with over a hundred carts for transport, many still had to march 140 kilometers in 5 days, wearing 10 kilograms of armor.
Bear in mind, in the Divine Ai Empire, a daily marching speed exceeding 25 kilometers was already considered a forced or rapid march.
This differed from Horn’s prior fortified advances, which involved setting up waystations along the route for horse changes and fodder replenishment, with extra personnel sent back on the spot.
This time was akin to going abroad on a rough mission, lacking the time to set up waystations, yet it was unavoidable.
Horn returned to Joan of Arc Castle to requisition a large number of mules and the Defensive Army, joining the Third and Fourth Imperial Guard Corps in their expedition.
They would first reach Black Pottery Town, join up with mules provided by the Ibe Knights, carry seven days’ worth of food, then hurry to catch up with the ten infantry regiments ahead.
Using the mules, they would continue to transport armor and food, aiming to reach ahead and quickly defeat the Noble Alliance Army at Xiaochi City.
Reaching Biqi Castle within 10 days, and potentially having a one-day margin for error.
But can Rapids City really hold out for these two weeks?
If Rapids City were to surrender early, Horn would be stuck at Biqi Castle, unable to advance or retreat.
If Rapids City withstood, could their side truly defeat the Kasha County’s Noble Alliance Army in 2 days?
Despite his confidence in the Salvation Army, if the opponent managed to drag things out, taking three to five days to resolve, the plan would still fail.
Time is too tight, way too tight.
A previous letter from Rapids City, sent half a month ago, confidently claimed they could hold for another half year, advising him and the Ibe Knights to take their time, not to rush.
How did the situation reverse so drastically after just a week, now seemingly unable to hold out for even half a month?
Could they have lied about such a life-and-death issue before?
Could a massive fire cause such severe consequences, or had something unknown to him occurred?
Putting down his quill, Horn exhaled heavily.
War, truly the most thrilling gamble in the world, its variables exceeding any other gambling game.
All he could do was to strive not to make mistakes, holding on until the very last moment.
"You’ve endured blood and tears, whereas this fake Saint’s Grandson takes all the glory," turning to look at the Blood Covering Cloud hanging on the wall, Horn chuckled lightly and snuffed out the candle with an iron spoon.
"But I can’t let you die in vain, can I?"