The morning fog in the wheat fields gradually dissipated, and the morning sun slanted from the right-hand side of the church soldiers.

On the ground, the soldiers haphazardly bore the shadows of food, layer upon layer, and from time to time, there were a few cries of surprise.

At the forefront of the marching column, the terrifying image of the Evil God on the Beastman Cavalry dangled, occasionally firing some arrows to disturb.

As Domenico approached the previous marching route, he was still blocked by the chaotic flow of people, so he had to dismount and lead his horse forward.

"You finally returned. Zelaken, sir, requests all level commanders to gather on the hill over there." His attendant pushed through the road-blocking farmers, panting heavily.

"Let's go, take me there."

Squeezing through the columns formed by Night Guards and Mercenaries, Domenico tied his warhorse to a hitching post.

He first scooped up the cold stream water to wash his face before collecting himself and stepping up the not-so-high hill.

This hill was about seven or eight meters high, and Zelaken, the Archbishop of Jinhe Town, and a group of leading Noble Knights were gathered at the summit.

"Are they the harassing Beastman Cavalry?" Count Domenico quietly asked a noble.

"Yes." The noble, eyes fixed on the arguing Archbishop of Jinhe Town and Zelaken, turned his head and quietly replied, "Our scouts have discovered rebels ahead in Black Mountain."

"What are they arguing about?"

"Who knows? It seems they mean the same thing, just arguing over phrasing," the noble sneered with a chuckle.

"Oh, what does Nidesar, sir, think?"

Due to the large number of people and the narrow road, they were moving forward on two parallel paths, separated by a mile.

"I don't know, waiting."

"I'll go up and take a look. If Nidesar sends orders, remember to inform me."

Unlike others who gathered to watch the two grandes argue, Domenico quietly climbed a few more steps, standing on the north slope of the hill.

Crossing a patch of myrtle, Domenico waved away butterflies and bees, squinting toward the direction of Black Mountain.

Stretching across the wheat fields, Black Mountain was not black at all; instead, it was lush with green sage, pale red snakeberry trees, and varying heights of sour cherry fruit trees.

Black Mountain got its name from the black flint mine on the mountain, with its ridge extending southeast to northwest, about 2,000 meters, with an average relative height of about 40 meters, and the highest point not exceeding 50 meters.

The northwest end of the ridge connected to a tributary of the Elbe River.

Behind the low hills and woods, Domenico saw a blurred shadow of sails, estimating that the Salvation Army had come by boat in the morning.

Standing on the hill, roughly level with the Salvation Army on the hill, although Domenico couldn't make out faces, he could see the dazzling sunlight reflected off helmets and spears.

After watching for about five minutes, he heard shouting behind him.

"Sir Domenico? Is Sir Domenico here?"

"Coming, coming, I'm here." Hearing the shouting, Domenico quickly turned to return to the crowd.

Seeing Domenico descending the hill, Zelaken immediately said upon seeing him: "Nidesar, sir, has sent word, saying not to fight, circumvent them, and we'll advance along the river, cutting off their supply lines and rear."

The eyes of the nobles present immediately focused on Domenico.

"Ahem, since Nidesar, sir, says so, then..."

He coughed, facing the crowd, and the muscles in his eyelids twitched unnaturally.

In the direction Domenico was facing, several thick-bearded Kush Knights exchanged glances, and one suddenly stepped forward: "Why not fight?"

"Indeed, if we circumvent, what if they seize our rear?"

"Maybe Nidesar, sir, is afraid? Or perhaps the Messenger didn't clarify? This courage doesn't seem like Nidesar, sir."

"Sooner finished, sooner back home. I brought so many people out, the wheat won't be harvested in time."

Provoked by several Kush Knights, other nobles and knights started to voice their thoughts loudly.

After much conversation, it wasn't really useful. Mainly the issue with the estates was too critical.

Now, it's early July, the peak of the farming season.

After early July, harvesting the rice and wheat, by early August, they needed to plant soybeans before the rainy season arrived.

Unlike Horn's regular army that could harvest regardless of drought or flood, the Ibe Knights of Jinhe Town were still working with the farm economy, waging war only as service and for spoils.

To fight this battle, they brought out nearly ten thousand Armed Farmers and farm soldiers.

Additionally, due to transporting grain and forces, they pulled out over ten thousand laborers and various carts and boats.

This resulted in varying levels of labor shortfall and transportation difficulties in each estate, struggling to harvest wheat, let alone plant soybeans.

Last year's floods already caused famine; everyone was hoping to recover this year.

Especially those knights whose estates were divided by the Salvation Army, they were anxious and drifting in circles.

The shared sentiments of these nobles, big and small, were to fight promptly, finish before August, or face bankruptcy!

"They are only four or five thousand; we have over ten thousand. Why avoid?"

"Zelaken, are you, boy, timid, misrepresenting Nidesar's intentions?"

Questioned roundly by nobles, Zelaken's face turned blue and then white.

If he were purely on Nidesar's side, it would be easier, but unfortunately, though his territory was near Red Copper Fortress, he was part of the Jinhe Town nobility.

"Stop shouting, stop shouting, Nidesar, sir, is on his way. Things will be clear when he arrives." Zelaken could only weakly make a downward pressing motion.

The Archbishop of Jinhe Town shook his white beard: "Don't wait for him. Go and ask, we need to decide quickly so as not to miss this opportunity."

Egged on by the nobles, Zelaken had no choice but to personally mount his warhorse, cross the wheat stalks in the fields, and run toward Nidesar's direction in the wheat fields.

...…

"Request to fight?" Nidesar coldly snorted, "No permission! I said circumvent, not to fight a positional battle."

"But, won't this dampen their enthusiasm too much?" Zelaken delicately chose his words to ask.

Nidesar fell silent. One purpose of this trip was to gain command through war, yet doing nothing seemed not ideal either.

After pondering this for a long time, as the horse trotted through the field paths, Nidesar raised his head, wanting to speak but suddenly froze in place.

"What are they doing?" Pointing to a direction ahead, even Nidesar's index finger trembled.

Following Nidesar's gesture, Zelaken also froze.

Between the hill and Black Mountain, the nobles' army had self-deployed into marching formation!

"Damn it!" Nidesar was so angry he stood up in the saddle, trembling fingers pointing forward, "See for yourself! Quickly go ask what's going on?"

Before the overwhelmed Zelaken could run over and find out, his servant was riding a donkey, rushing in from the bumpy dirt road.

"What's going on?" Bypassing Zelaken, Nidesar directly asked the servant, "Who ordered it? Who let them form ranks?"

"Reporting to honorable Nidesar, sir, it was decided by the nobles themselves, guaranteed by the Archbishop of Jinhe Town."

Nidesar defiantly cursed: "Old undead bastard! A damned bug destined for the Fire Prison!"

After cursing a few times, he stopped his mouth, forcing himself to calm down.

With their formation now set, these Ibe Knights would demand to fight, aware that reversal was impossible, Nidesar could only accept this reality.

"Let's go over there, seize the command, and prevent that old man from instigating chaos."

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