Empire 1449, June 14.

East bank of Nao'an River.

On the distant blue-gray mountain peaks, a touch of silent fish-belly white brightened half the sky.

A long marching column slowly advances on the narrow dirt road of Shattered Stone Plain.

Horses neigh, crowding together, stepping and swaying alongside tired soldiers and knights.

Compared to the bright knight order flags of half a month ago, today's piles of swallow-tail flags are quite dull.

At one side of the crowded marching ranks, Knight Commander Cosme wears a sullen face.

Scanning the knights and soldiers, fatigue, disappointment, and reluctance are evident.

Since their departure in March, they carried three thousand knights, nine thousand soldiers, and a Centaur Cavalry to Golden Horn Bay, then turned towards Thorn Garden and reached Thousand River Valley.

In May, when attacking Bear Chomping Castle, their spirits were high.

But by June, those three thousand knights and nine thousand soldiers had become two thousand three hundred knights and over six thousand soldiers.

Even the Centaur Cavalry dwindled from over five hundred riders to over four hundred, as many fire archer centaurs were sniped by Guerrilla Hunters with Helical Guns.

The core combat strength of over 12,000 now barely exceeds 8,800, with almost 2,000 unable to fight due to injuries.

More than three thousand losses, already close to a quarter casualty rate (excludes farm soldiers).

In about half a month, the Border Knights launched countless fierce attacks, yet couldn't even break the first breastwork defense line.

Most Border Knights still believed they had a chance.

However, after the Knight Commander and the Grand Master calculated the costs, beneath their initial fervor, the knights gradually came to their senses.

The broken bridge is a bait, the disguise is a bait, and maybe even the Saint's Grandson inside Ladan Castle is a bait.

The sole purpose is to lure them away from areas convenient for supply transport, forcing them to bleed at Ladan Castle.

Otherwise, how to explain that even before they reached there, the Thousand River Valley People had already prepared fortifications near Ladan Castle?

This was well-prepared; the Thousand River Valley People are too treacherous!

But, riding on the back of a big black horse with scorched tail hair, Cosme clenched his teeth in unwillingness.

As a Knight Commander and a Border Knight, he lived purely for knightly honor.

Since entering Thousand River Valley, he hadn't fought a decent battle, suffocated!

Though unspoken, Border Knights including Cosme believed in their hearts that they were true knights.

Regarding the knights inside the Empire, they were deemed fraudsters, robbers, and degenerates merely bearing the knight's title.

While the Empire Knights disregarded knightly honor, Border Knights not only cared but cared immensely.

This is the source of their combat strength and cohesiveness, losing this long-maintained belief, Border Knights would quickly degenerate to the Empire Knights' state.

However, the Grand Master didn't think the same.

The loss of numerous warhorses clearly touched his sensitive nerves.

The previous situation was that the Border Knights couldn't break through but could escape, and the Thousand River Valley People could defend but couldn't pursue.

Both sides were undefeated, so Emmerick dared to persist.

Having lost the horses, Emmerick lost his reliance, naturally fearing being encircled by reinforcements like the Battle of Marlen Hill.

Two days ago, he argued strongly, managing to finally achieve the current result—

If the Thousand River Valley People leave their positions to attack, then the Border Knight Order will stop retreating and fight them on the plains.

This request was humble enough, yet the respected Grand Master took a long time considering before reluctantly agreeing.

Cosme sighed, noting that the Grand Master was still corrupted by power, choosing personal status over knightly honor.

But what could he do?

Looking back at the barely visible Ladan Castle and the leftover farm soldiers' camp, Cosme only felt the spring breeze on his face turned cold.

The only hope was for the defending troops in the castle to come out and fight openly.

Win or lose, just fight; even if losing, at least they'd accept it.

Just hanging like this, unwilling!

But, would the Thousand River Valley People really come?

Holding this doubt, Cosme waited from morning till noon, from noon until dusk.

Until the rear army had set up camp, yet still no news came.

Sitting on a big stone outside the camp, he idly stirred the meat soup with a spoon.

Watching the red glow gradually disappear over the mountain side, Cosme set down the spoon: "Dopke, do you think we won or lost this battle?"

"We won." Dopke asserted, "It's just a bit tough."

"Ha, we won." Cosme gazed in Ladan Castle's direction, "Maybe twenty years from now, oh no, ten years from now, such wars will be everywhere in the Empire."

"Will, will it?"

"Why wouldn't it?" Cosme set down the stirred cool soup, "The world forgets the spirit of knights, forgets the monks' piety, only knows trickery and cunning.

Instead, it's the Thousand River Valley People of civilized borders, and us, who still remember some of the past glory...

It's time for this Empire to change."

Dopke was sweating, could a mere soldier discuss such matters?

He hurriedly switched topics, pointing far away, laughing: "Cosme sir, look, another rider returned to camp, maybe the Thousand River Valley People have dispatched troops."

"Haha, is that so..."

The rapid hoofbeats approached nearer.

"Knight Commander, Knight Commander." Before the horse even stopped, the disheveled knight jumped off.

Even before the knight spoke, Cosme's heart was pounding.

As if sensing a revelation, he seemed to foresee something.

Standing from the big rock, Cosme tentatively asked: "Is it..."

"The Thousand River Valley People, the Thousand River Valley People have dispatched troops!"

...

The sunset and dusk respectively dyed the air half gold-red, half blue-black.

As early as noon, in units of hundreds, Imperial Guard War Monks filed out from Ladan Castle gates.

Carrying Holy Guns, the Holy Gun Team; holding long spears, the Long Spear Team; carrying heavy Spring Cannons pulled by horses.

The castle's most elite troops all left Ladan Castle.

On Dusk Bell Mountain, most Guerrilla Hunters descended the mountain, gathering surrendering farm soldiers while still overseeing Ladan Castle.

All afternoon, Horn calmly received farm soldiers and sent them across the bridge.

As for Horn's central army camp, it was set at the former camp site of the Border Knights on Crow Feather Hill.

And the Guard Eighth Vanguard Corps dispatched earlier, followed Guerrilla Hunters at night to the old position at Dusk Bell Mountain pass.

From a tactical perspective, Horn incurred less than three hundred losses yet drained the enemy's three thousand, already achieving a great victory.

Confronting these Border Knights on the grassland was unwise, shouldn't have dispatched troops.

But from a strategic standpoint, Horn's goal was to break open the situation on Shattered Stone Plain battlefield.

If satisfied with such victory, this battle equals wasted.

According to Andre's current progress, it will take at least fifteen days for him to reach the east bank.

The gap in strength has narrowed, allowing them to attempt slowing the enemy's advances without jeopardizing themselves.

Of course, Horn wouldn't truly engage at the enemy's advantageous location but chose a pre-arranged battlefield.

You don't want to fight a positional battle? Playing house?

No retreat but no recklessness, this was Horn's plan.

After arranging the entire battlefield and explaining all plans, amidst the chorus of agreement from numerous corps commanders, Horn straightened his back: "The plans are all explained, are there any objections?"

"None." The corps commanders stood straight and shook their heads.

"Good." Changing from his earlier severe demeanor, Horn smiled, "I've prepared roasted lamb head and lamb soup, if you don't mind, let's eat here."

"Dare dislike such good stuff? An invitation from the Pope is rare indeed, definitely coming."

"Brune ran off, he's missing a good meal."

"Better he's not here, or he'd eat half the pot."

"Otherwise, how would he grow such a big tall frame?"

"Hahahahaha."