"Why aren't they staying put in Gray Furnace Town and instead roaming near Joan of Arc Castle?"

Upon hearing the news brought by the servant, Monte Yac, wearing silk pajamas, jumped straight out of bed in shock.

Isn't this asking for trouble? What on earth is the commander thinking?

Despite having already informed Horn of the specifics of the Imperial Knights' strength, anyone with a brain should know they are no match for the Imperial Knights.

The best choice should have been to hold fast in Gray Furnace Town, await the North Knights' arrival, and gradually weaken the Imperial Knights' forces.

"What should we do now, sir?"

Monte Yac removed his silk pajamas and tossed them casually on the ground.

He fished out a fairly clean linen shirt from the chaotic heap of clothes, putting it on while speaking, "Leave 100 men to garrison Joan of Arc Castle, the remaining 250 will come with me."

Under the gloomy sky, a mixed troop of 3,000 infantry and cavalry marched briskly along the muddy road.

The foremost banner was held by two flag-bearers accompanying Bo Ao Lie.

When Monte Yac appeared on the left side of the troop with 250 Royal Constitution Knights, Belard noticed immediately.

He did not act rashly but approached Bo Ao Lie, "Company Commander, Mr. Monte Yac is here."

Bo Ao Lie had noticed already, he turned his horse to face Monte Yac directly, "Mr. Monte Yac, why have you come out of the city?"

"Didn't the Archbishop say? These savages must be eradicated, no room for compromise!" Monte Yac, helmetless, let his greasy brown hair drape behind his ears, "I'm here to help."

"You'd better actually be here to help." Bo Ao Lie snorted coldly and returned to the troop.

Ordering his men to "pay extra attention" to the Royal Constitution Knight, Bo Ao Lie made no further moves, continuing the march.

After all, the Royal Constitution Knight and he were not part of the same system, he couldn't command them to do anything.

Moreover, the battle opportunity was rare, he had no time to waste with the frivolous Falan noble.

"Have we figured out the situation with the savages? How many troops do they have, and where are they positioned?"

"Yes, we have." Belard beckoned, and a Squire Knight raced over.

"Company Commander, according to current intelligence, the savages have five to six companies, roughly over 100 cavalry, and about twenty logistical carts, totaling approximately 2,000-3,000 men, currently about 10 miles from us."

Belard sneered, no wonder it's a farmer-assembled army, even a night raid, they carry their pots and pans.

Bo Ao Lie asked, "Where is Demon Horn?"

"He's with the troops."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely." The Squire Knight replied firmly, "I saw him with my own eyes."

Bo Ao Lie nodded, "Confirm their position again, don't let them escape, be sure to catch them before they return to Gray Furnace Town."

"Understood, sir."

The Squire Knight departed with several Rangers, while Bo Ao Lie turned back to quietly count his troops.

They had 100 Imperial Knights, 150 Square Banner Knights, 200 Squire Knights, and 100 non-tier Ibe Knights and Temple Knights.

Totaling 550 Extraordinary Knights.

If they included the 250 Royal Constitution Knights not pulling them back, they'd have 800 Extraordinary Knights.

But Bo Ao Lie estimated he must reserve 50 Extraordinary Knights to prevent Royal Constitution Knights' disruptions, so he could actually deploy only 500 Extraordinary Knights.

Back then, Falan's 900 Extraordinary Knights crushed the 300,000 Blood Winter Mass Revolt, and thus Bo Ao Lie saw no problem in quelling 3,000 farmers with 500 Extraordinary Knights.

Moreover, he had 2,000 Night Guards and 300 Armored Soldiers.

Joan of Arc Castle has essentially mobilized all its forces to capture Horn.

"Company Commander." The Squire Knights who had just rushed off came back suddenly, "Company Commander, the savages suddenly changed direction, heading towards our diagonal flank."

"Changed direction? Diagonal flank?" Bo Ao Lie drew the scroll from the wooden cylinder at his waist, unfurled the map, his finger sliding continuously across it, "Are they heading to that abandoned Pavia Village?"

Bo Ao Lie clicked his tongue.

Years of battlefield intuition made Bo Ao Lie uneasy.

This looks like a bait tactic.

But on second thought, what's the use of baiting?

Did they ambush the other battalions in that abandoned village? Even if they all come forward, what's the advantage, even in an ambush?

Winning won't catch the knights, losing they can't outrun them, and even in a stalemate, can they withstand the endurance of knights?

Though pondering this, Bo Ao Lie's expression remained unchanged, he shouted into the crowd, summoning a captain from the Lance Cavalry.

"Deploy ten Lance Cavalry to pursue them, interfere with their marching speed."

30 Extraordinary Knights swiftly departed, rushing towards the Salvation Army's advancing direction.

"Grab a few nearby farmers, ask if they saw the Salvation Army last night."

"Yes."

Shortly after, five farmers were brought, thrown before Bo Ao Lie like some objects by the knights.

"Let me ask you." Bo Ao Lie placed the Knight's Sword on the first farmer's head, "When did you see the savages?"

"No, I haven't seen them."

The cold flash struck, a head rolled, still wearing a shocked expression.

"Even if you didn't see them coming, you should have seen them just now, still nothing!" Bo Ao Lie pressed the bloodied Longsword against a shepherd's neck, "When did you see them?"

"Last night, I saw them while herding sheep."

"I was sleeping at night, just saw them."

"At dusk, I saw their cavalry, I slept at night, but I heard their marching."

Bo Ao Lie and other knights dragged and questioned, interrogating more than a dozen nearby farmers, the earliest answer was dusk yesterday.

"Company Commander, why ask them this?" Belard inquired.

"Because this confirms they arrived around that time, so they lacked time to build earthworks or fortifications."

Bo Ao Lie concluded firmly, "They're in a rush, it's a confrontation battle! Order the entire army to march swiftly, engage near Pavia Village!"

Between winding streams and blue-green shrubs, hundreds of knights jostled, helmet reflections sparkling with torchlight.

Behind them, thousands of conscripted mercenaries, Night Guards, and Armored Soldiers raised torches, the scent of burning pine resin filled the moist air.

In the rearmost cart, about a dozen monks, clutching Holy Oil Jars, kept praying to Miseria and the Holy Father, hoping not to perish in battle.

After nearly an hour of redirected march, around ten in the morning, they finally reached the planned battlefield at Pavia Village.

Fierce fighting sounds came from behind sparse woods, a dozen irritating cooking smoke plumes rose.

Ditches, these farmers are actually cooking? Bo Ao Lie was almost amused.

Rounding the woods, the abandoned village on the earthen mound finally revealed itself.

It sat on a gently sloping mound, covered in shrubs and sparse low trees.

Nearby, four to five streams and riverbanks cut through, enclosing the entire slope within the stream network.

For ordinary cavalry, such natural ditches pose great challenges.

But for blessed Extraordinary Knights, water depth within a meter isn't an issue, merely slowing down a bit passing through.

On the open space before the slope, Belard led rural knights, charging back and forth, scattering Beastmen Stragglers.

On the gentle slope, three companies of 500 men each formed a front 60-man line, arranged in reverse V-shape behind the shrubs.

Further back, seemingly due to limited battlefield width, two reserve units remained inactive.

Bo Ao Lie squinted, in front of the gentle slope lineup, were skewered several local minor nobles or Knights' Stewards.

Stripped bare, impaled from behind, pierced out from throat or mouth.

"Belard, lead 150 Ibe Knights and Temple Knights of squire rank for a flanking charge."

"Monks, kindly grant your blessing of walking unstressed!"

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