Chapter 685 Crossing the River

On the road leading to the east from Duchy Manda, a large number of soldiers formed a long queue, winding like a giant snake.

The 3rd Infantry Battalion of the Arda Army headed lightly to a strategic location called Silvermoon Castle under Schroeder's order.

Schroeder will lead the main force and baggage at a slower pace and will arrive later.

According to intelligence, a large number of defeated troops from the Kingdom have gathered in Silvermoon Castle, which may be used by the Arda army.

Battalion Commander Joyce was thinking about defensive strategies while riding his horse, but the stop of the front troops interrupted his thoughts.

"Why did you stop moving forward? What happened ahead?"

A soldier came to report, "Battal Commander, there is only one bridge over the river ahead, but it is already crowded with refugees and we cannot pass."

Joyce frowned tightly, how could he encounter such a thing.

So he raised his whip and whipped the horse's buttocks, then spurred the horse towards the river.

Before arriving, he passed large numbers of refugees.

Refugees from the east carried their young and old carefully, carrying their few belongings with them carefully, and entered the northwest bay area in panic all day long.

Some people have been devastated by the war. Some of their sufferings come from the orc army, and some come from the rebels of the kingdom.

Others plan in advance and start setting off before the war approaches.

Judging from their tired faces, they all had a not-so-splendid journey.

Joyce rode to the river. On the other side, there was still a dark crowd of people, all waiting - perhaps fighting would be more appropriate - to cross the only wooden bridge.

The entrance to the bridge becomes more chaotic, with quarreling, pushing, fighting, and crying, making the already unpleasant traffic even more inefficient.

Joyce was anxious. If this situation continued, his army would have to wait until tomorrow to cross the river.

But judging from the map, there is only such a bridge here.

Anxiously, he noticed that there was a group of knights on this side of the bridge maintaining order, commanded by a man dressed as an aristocrat.

Joyce rode over and took off his hat.

"Good afternoon sir, Lieutenant Colonel Joyce of Alda salutes you."

"This damn river!"

The noble man cursed hard with his hoarse voice, but he quickly reacted and turned to look at Joyce.

"Are you... the lieutenant colonel of the Arda army? Sorry, I was scolding the river just now."

There was a hint of caution in his tone.

"Joyce... Lieutenant Colonel, I am the local lord, Viscount Jefferson Rossi. It is an honor to meet you."

Viscount Rossi is about forty years old, with a thin figure and a delicate mustache on his face. He looks elegant.

He spread his hands with a look of helplessness on his face, "Your subordinates have just said that the army must pass through this river immediately, but you have also seen the current situation."

"Viscount, I have to remind you." Joyce said seriously, "The longer we stay here, the closer the orc army will be to your territory. We must stop them before tragedy occurs."

Viscount Rossi's expression was very broken, "Lieutenant Colonel, of course I know this. All my knights have been transferred here to maintain order, just to let you pass quickly."

"No, that's not enough!"

Joyce suggested: "Let the people on the other side who are squeezing towards the bridge stop immediately. The so-called people who have not yet crossed the bridge wait there until we have passed and then they can cross."

"But..." Viscount Rossi glanced at the crowded crowd, "They are very irrational now, and no amount of persuasion is of any use."

Hearing this, Joyce frowned and stared at the other side for a while.

"Lord Viscount." Joyce pointed to a row of things not far away, "Did you see that? Do you know what that is?"

Although it was covered with cloth, Viscount Rossi still recognized it.

He swallowed, "That seems to be... what Alda calls "artillery"? "

"Yes, Lord Viscount." Joyce said, "The order I received is to reach the predetermined place within the predetermined time. I will remove any obstacles in order to complete the task."

There was a hint of coldness in his tone, "If the bridge is still filled with refugees in another hour, then I will use artillery to clear a path."

"You...you can't do this!" Viscount Rossi was frightened by Joyce's words, "They are all subjects of the kingdom."

"I did this to prevent a bigger tragedy!"

Joyce's piercing gaze made Vicomte Rossi feel like this stupid young man would do this.

"Please wait a moment!"

He immediately turned around and ran to his group of knights. "There is no need to continue to divert the bridge. Ask them to let the bridge out immediately. Huey and Duen, you ask a few more guys to swim to the other side and tell people that the army is going to cross the river. Those who have not yet boarded the bridge should stay where they are. Don't move."

"But..." The leading knight was a little embarrassed, "Will they be so obedient?"

"Then defeat them!"

There is no mistake. One post, one content, one 6 one, one book, one book, take a look!

Viscount Rossi suddenly shouted loudly.

"It's better to get a beating than to be blown to pieces."

"Yes!"

The knight hurried off to find someone.

Joyce and other officers waited anxiously by the river for the results.

Those who were already on the bridge continued to pass, but there was a sudden commotion in the crowd on the opposite side, apparently the lord's order had been passed on.

The originally dense crowd began to loosen, and the entrance of the bridge was suddenly empty.

"Bugler, blow the horn and assemble, we will cross the river now!"

The bridge was finally free of obstacles, and the third infantry battalion quickly crossed the wooden bridge and came to the other side of the river, and continued to set off to the east.

On the second day, they finally arrived at the destination of this trip, Silver Moon Castle.

Only then did they discover that the so-called Silver Moon Castle fortress had been abandoned, with only a piece of broken walls and ruins left.

It was obviously impossible to rely on this abandoned fortress to resist the orcs.

Retreat?

No, there are lush and ferocious forests on both sides of Silver Moon Castle. Only by passing through here can we continue to the northwest bay. I must defend this place and cannot give it to the enemy.

Joyce was once Schroeder's squire. He vowed not to damage his knight's reputation, and he must help him win this battle.

At this time, the scout came to report.

"A large number of troops appeared ahead! I don't know if they are fleeing soldiers or orcs' vassal troops. They will hit us in another hour."

"What? So soon?"

The officers and soldiers of the entire third battalion were in chaos.

"Don't be afraid!" Joyce shouted, "Everyone just needs to perform according to the usual training."

Under his strict supervision, everyone quickly stabilized and quickly set up their positions - three rows of front, back and center.

Just like that, they quietly waited for the enemy to come.