If Horn could hear Bether's inner thoughts at this moment, he would surely say that it wasn't the Holy Father's hand, nor was it fate's manipulation.

Bether thought everything was arranged, but in fact, it didn't matter even if it wasn't predicted.

If the Border Knight Order wasn't coming to attack, the Staff Team still had a plan.

If, after the mountain path was cut off, the Border Knight Order chose to retreat to Hotam County, the Staff Team still had a plan.

But Horn always executed the plan with the greatest possibility, and as a result, the Border Knight Order precisely fell into every trap.

So this wasn't the Holy Father's hand, but the Saint's Grandson being well-educated.

How does being well-educated manifest? It's always right in predicting the enemy's actions.

However, at this moment, Horn, usually composed and unflustered, had a slightly somber expression.

Because after driving the Rangers across the river, these Centaurs returned.

Horn ordered scouts to survey along the river and find a place nearby to set up camp.

But turning his head for a moment, he heard someone report that the Centaurs had returned again.

When he reached the riverbank, he saw the once-clear river now faintly tinged with red.

Shepherds and the Thousand River Valley people's garrison stationed at the Shattered Stone Plain were driven to the riverbank and killed in front of the Imperial Guard.

Rows of outpost troops and Mountain Knights were pressed to kneel on the ground, while the Centaur Batu wielded double-edged axes, one swing sending four or five heads rolling.

As for the Fired Reds, they rounded up groups of men, women, and children to the riverside as if hunting on the grassland.

Either they jumped into the river and drowned, or the Fired Reds shot them with arrows and kicked them into the river.

After several rounds, the river surface was filled with corpses and crimson, an eye-piercing red.

"Sindwind."

The unlucky City Guard of Ladan Castle wiped his sweat and stepped forward: "Your Grace, I am here."

"I ask you, wasn't it ordered to call back the outpost troops and Mountain Knights across the river?"

"They said that land was granted to them by Her Highness Moliat, and unless Her Highness Moliat herself orders it, they absolutely won't return."

"Stubborn!"

Horn cursed angrily.

These people won't return for the same reason—as a vassal's vassal, they don't see themselves as his vassal.

In their view, Horn ordering them to return seemed like overstepping his authority.

The Mountain Knights have the duty to defend the land. Her Highness Moliat entrusted the land to them, and Horn's call for them to return was seen as what? It was simply a desecration of the Mountain Knights' honor.

"What do we do now?"

"Have we captured any Centaur scouts?"

"...Man and horse united, too heavy, and extremely fierce in temperament, somewhat difficult to capture."

After pondering for a while, Horn turned around: "Bring the Spring Cannon, scatter them."

Allowing Centaurs to slaughter without some response influences both morale and the army's cohesion significantly.

Even if it's just for show, doing nothing at all is unacceptable.

The Centaurs had seen the Spring Cannon in Hotam County; this river was only two or three hundred meters wide, right within firing range.

After being blasted with a few shells, although only a few horses were grazed, the Centaurs cursed "despicable scoundrels" and left the riverside.

On the morning of May 22, the Centaurs arrived, and by the afternoon, the vanguard of the Border Knight Order had reached.

By evening, besides the rear army still setting up camp behind, most of the border knights were already nearby.

The sheep requisitioned from the shepherds turned into mutton and sheep's milk, becoming the meal for the border knights who had sprinted for three days.

This time, the tents were replaced with large wooden tents to accommodate more people.

Around several roasted sheep, nearly a hundred people sat in the camp.

According to the configuration of the Border Knight Order, every 20 to 50 knights and their subordinate soldiers form a banner team, commanded by a Banner Captain.

Every 3 to 4 banner teams would be overseen by a Knight Commander, with the total number generally around one thousand.

So within the camp were 60 Banner Captains, 18 Knight Commanders, along with the three giants—the Grand Master, Knight Commander, Priest-in-Charge—and accompanying priests and monks, making up the entire decision layer of the Border Knight Order.

Compared to the Empire's layered and cumbersome organizational structure, the Knight Order's top-to-bottom integrated organization was already quite efficient and executable.

Among the Leia people and Norn people, situations frequently arose where a certain Count with three soldiers and a certain Knight with two thousand soldiers sat at the same table.

"Our plan for a surprise raid across the river might be failing." The Grand Master said to the Knight Commanders seated around him, drinking sheep's milk wine.

The Knight Commander added, "The Thousand River Valley People are prepared."

Originally, their plan was for the Centaurs to arrive at the riverbank first, suppress the locals, cut down trees, and build rafts and sheepskin air sacs. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

They would then wait for the main army to arrive, use the rafts and air sacs to create a floating bridge, and cross the river.

Under normal circumstances, for a two to three hundred meter river, a day and night would be enough for them to build a bridge and cross.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the Centaurs reached the riverbank, they encountered the Holy Alliance's Rangers.

Then, they spotted a sizable Holy Alliance Corps on the opposite riverbank.

The current problem was that if a surprise attack couldn't succeed, should they still try to forcefully cross the bridge?

"Even if the Holy Alliance can mobilize troops quickly, can they outrun us? It's probably just a Holy Alliance noble patrolling the border. If we retreat in fear, that would be embarrassing."

"Do not underestimate the Thousand River Valley People. Even if they are ragtag local troops, they have Spring Cannons at their disposal; forceful crossing is inadvisable."

"Since neither a surprise attack nor forceful crossing will work, we can only continue north to the Shattered Stone Noble's territory, then cross the stone bridge and head south... or just retreat."

"Emmerick, where is this army coming from? Are there no reports from spies within the Thousand River Valley?"

The Grand Master could only shake his head, "No news for now."

"I thought the Mad Pope sent his wicked spies to the Hotam County front line and Mountain County?"

The Priest-in-Charge, responsible for intelligence connection, impatiently slapped the table, "Even if the intelligence is coming, it takes time!"

As the Banner Captains continued eating and drinking, gnawing on lamb, the Knight Commanders gathered for discussion.

"Perhaps we should set up camp here and confront them, waiting for information before making a decision?"

"No, not advancing or retreating is a grave mistake." The Grand Master rejected the idea, "The Thousand River Valley People excel at large-scale army mobilization. If the Iron Fist Battle Group or another battle group arrives, it will likely end up like Bear Chomping Castle."

Unlike Bear Chomping Castle, the route from Ladan Castle to within Shangruifo County is a wide valley path, without André's bridge-breaking tactics.

However, Ladan Castle is a large fortress, and attacking it would be more difficult and time-consuming, allowing for reinforcements from larger corps at the rear, potentially replicating the Battle of Malenborough.

"Advance or retreat, at least a decision must be made." The Priest-in-Charge rubbed the cross sign on his chest with a thin hand.

"Let's attempt to forcefully cross the bridge, if that fails then circle north and continue the attack." Knight Commander Cosme finally spoke up after a night of silence, "Even if the Thousand River Valley People gather a large army, we can detect it first."

He glanced at the Priest-in-Charge, "Give an account to the Pope."

A Banner Captain, full and burping, wiped cheese from the corner of his mouth, "What if the Thousand River Valley People really gather a large army, then what?"

"Are you stupid?!" A nearby Knight Commander kicked him in frustration, "You ride a dog every day? That's a war horse!

If a large army really comes, we'll just run. It's a vast plain; do you think they'd dare chase us out here?"

"Hahaha." The tent filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

Within the Border Knight Order, where even infantry had at least a mule, mobility was their greatest confidence.

If I can't beat you, surely I can outrun you?

......

"Boom!" The stone projectile splashed a huge wave as it hit the water, making the floating bridge of sheepskin sacs and rafts wobble unsteadily.

The soldiers and infantry of the Knight Order let out screams, falling into the turbulent river.

No matter how much the Knight Commanders roared, these Banner Teams were unwilling to advance any further.

This bunch of cowardly Thousand River Valley People, known only for using Spring Cannons, were shockingly accurate, far more precise than the artillery from Leia's side.

From morning till evening, they tried to construct floating bridges at several locations, none successful.

By nightfall, they attempted one more time secretly at night, managing to build a third, but were stopped by Spring Guns and scattered gunfire.

The standoff continued till dawn when Spring Cannons arrived, six shots broke the floating bridge into three segments.

Afterwards, until midday, there was no sight of them from the opposite riverbank.

Rangers cautiously crossed the river by boat, bringing back news shortly after.

By early morning, the Border Knight Order had retreated, judging by the tracks and hoofprints, heading north.

Standing on the earthen slope and confirming the Border Knights' movements and whereabouts repeatedly, Horn suddenly turned to Bether and shouted, "Bether."

"Here, Your Eminence."

"I have a task for you."

"Please command, Your Eminence." Bether became excited.

"Dig the soil."