On July 10th, after regrouping, the two corps departing from Kenke Town finally arrived near Polta Manor.

This is where the Legion Commander of the Third Corps, Duke Nava of Eagle's Claw Bay, is stationed.

So many troops naturally could not gather at a small manor for resupply, and were instead dispersed around the area.

The furthest camp is even more than ten miles away from Polta Manor.

Of course, this comfortable residence at Polta Manor is definitely for His Majesty the King to occupy.

Many soldiers now finally see the King whom they had not seen for several days.

Since several days ago when the order to march was issued, Ginijis has hardly appeared, traveling every day inside a carriage.

Ultimately, he just didn't want to hear complaints from the soldiers and knights.

This time during the march, the three Legion Commanders didn't say much, but all the vassals and knights under them had grievances.

Having complaints during a march is quite normal, but this time the grievances weren't aimed at the march itself.

This battle has reached a point where Leia's side cannot hide its decline anymore.

From September 1448 when the Thousand River Valley war officially began, the Noble Alliance Army he sent and the 12 Imperial Legions led by Raffel reached Thousand River Valley.

From September to December, important fortresses like Iron Gate Town, Qila Castle, Stone Hand Castle all fell, victory seemed within reach.

At that time, the great Leia Army had a total strength of fifty thousand in Thousand River Valley and besieged Xia Lvcheng.

Unfortunately, one Xia Lvcheng stopped the entire Leia Army at the brink of entering the most prosperous three counties of Thousand River Valley.

Next came the Battle of Marlen Slope and the seesaw bloody stalemate at the Nao'an River defensive line, coupled with winter cold causing troop reduction.

Annoyingly, winter didn't cause much troop reduction for the Holy Alliance Army, thanks to their all-season uniforms with winter gear.

In total, nearly twenty thousand were lost.

If Ginijis hadn't arrived promptly, it would only be a matter of time before the remaining thirty thousand vanished too.

With reinforcements reaching eighty thousand soldiers, they should have completely suppressed the Thousand River Valley People, right?

Yet they could not.

First, Thousand River Valley somehow inexplicably increased forces to forty thousand, then the Border Knight Order was utterly defeated and fled.

At this time, the Leia Army was only left with about seventy thousand, meanwhile the Nao'an River defensive line sapped nearly ten thousand more.

By mid-June, Ginijis had only little more than sixty thousand troops remaining.

Then came the bad news, the coup on the eighteenth had no effect, Bear Castle Territory reinforcements stalled along the way.

A five-thousand Iron Fist Battle Group held back nearly twenty thousand from Bear Castle Territory plus the Shattered Stone Plain Noble Alliance Army.

The Mountain Cavalry Regiment even had the spare strength to attack Thorn Garden, holding back nearly another twenty thousand troops.

Under the premise of two-front warfare, Horn's side forcibly drove Leia people into only about forty thousand soldiers.

And at this moment, Ginijis couldn't retreat.

Retreating now wasn't simply stepping back, it meant the entire Lanfeng Dynasty's rule over Leia would crumble.

Putting aside other matters, even the issue with the Blood Knights was enough to drive the new Pope and Ginijis to exhaustion.

They must achieve victory, they can only achieve victory, and Horn hasn't left them much time to obtain it.

Final showdown, only the final showdown!

Since the Pope's Guard and part of the temple knights are protecting the Pope at Xia Lvcheng, they couldn't arrive in time. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

He could only mobilize the Kingdom Army's First and Second Corps from Kenke Town, along with the Third Corps initially attacking Haji Castle.

Plus some remaining defeated noble forces, and the Fourth Corps composed of mercenaries alongside peasant soldiers.

Leia's three corps and the newly-formed peasant corps totaled over thirty-nine thousand people.

This was Ginijis's last force.

His final resources!

Standing at the entrance of the manor's mansion hall, Ginijis hesitated to enter.

The servants didn't dare raise their heads, while the King kept his head down, staring at the bulging veins on the back of his hand: "A win is absolute victory, a loss is total defeat."

At this point, even Ginijis began to question his own decisions.

Who wouldn't question? How could one not question?

The outcome of this battle determines the course of so many fates.

In one fleeting moment, Ginijis himself wavered.

Perhaps the knights' grievances were correct, perhaps they should withdraw instead of continuing with the final showdown.

However, this thought, as soon as it arose in his mind, was scattered by himself.

Reaching this stage, even if others don't believe, he must believe in himself.

Pushing open the large door, the three Legion Commanders were already inside.

"Your Majesty!"

The three people stood up to salute, but Ginijis nonchalantly waved them down, indicating they should sit.

In the scorching summer, a water bucket filled with ice was placed by the long table.

The cold mist dissipated around, driving away the fatigue brought by the heat.

Although they had been sitting in a carriage for three days, when Duke Navarra, Duke Barry, Great Knight Bodman, and Duke Alaric met the King, they actually felt he looked somewhat better than before.

Sitting beside the ice bucket, the pale, beardless, and frail King sat upright in the main seat.

The noble commanders, on the other hand, were elegant in their demeanor, looking either rugged or spirited.

In their cheerful conversations, they indeed had a bit of the court's renaissance demeanor.

But just thinking about their current predicament, the excitement quickly vanished.

"Are the troops settled in?"

This question had already been discussed by the commanders before the King arrived, and they naturally replied, "Everything is settled."

"Are there still many rumors in the army?"

Alaric tentatively asked, "Do we need to execute a few to restore order?"

"No need, the battlefield is ever-changing, the strong and the weak exchange places in an instant.

There are cases where a panicked army defeats a unified army, and ragtag troops defeat elite forces."

Coughing, King Leia glanced around.

"People always believe that the victor is inherently stronger in every way than the loser, that victors are bound to win.

But the truth is, before a battle, victors feared just as much as losers about whether they would win.

Before a battle, never hold onto thoughts of certain defeat, just take Horn as an example.

In the Battle of Pavia, they too were anxious before the battle, yet didn't they defeat the Imperial Knight Order during the combat?

Why can't we achieve what they did?"

Though Ginijis was frail, his speech at that moment was powerful and resonant.

Then, his tone shifted to a softer one, "As for the Blood Knights, please rest assured, the day the war ends is when the Red Knights perish.

This is certified by the Pope, for to resist evil, we must take up evil weapons.

I firmly believe that I am pure and noble and will surely achieve victory."

Though he said there was no need for purging and had firm self-belief, Ginijis still unconsciously began to justify the present situation.

The commanders naturally agreed repeatedly, but what they truly thought inside, they were uncertain.

"I summoned everyone here urgently, not only to stabilize your morale but most importantly to announce our next battle plan."

Without much preamble, Ginijis directly pulled out a map, "Time is not on our side, so we must seize every moment.

Hasn't Horn often used rapid marches and surprise attacks to gain the upper hand?

This time, we won't give him the chance to choose his advantageous battleground, what he can achieve, so can we."

"You mean to attack?" Alaric inquired softly, "When?"

"Tonight."

"Tonight?" The chair under Duke Barry emitted a jarring sliding sound.

Ginijis was unlike Prince Kongdai in his manner, responding gently, "Yes, we have just arrived, they will surely think we will only take action tomorrow.

Their camp is not far from here, we will attack under cover of night and trap them at Grey Robe Hill by dawn."

"Will the soldiers be willing?"

"Hahaha." The golden-red setting sun cast a slight redness on Ginijis's cheeks. "The Imperial Knights and Red Knights need no rest."

At this point, Ginijis no longer bothered with pretense, not mentioning it directly, but leaving clear hints about the Red Knights.

As for the origin of these Red Knights, the young King did not say a word.

"Alaric, Barry, I am naturally frail and not skilled in military matters, unable to personally engage in battle." Ginijis grasped both of their hands, "I rely on you two to lead the First Legion, advancing north under the night's cover, to attack the camp of the Thousand River Valley people."

"Yes."

Both men firmly grasped the King's hands, nodding with determination and excitement.

Releasing their sweaty hands, Ginijis snapped his fingers.

The maid gracefully entered, offering a glass of wine to everyone present.

Looking at the bluish-purple liquid, Alaric gazed blankly at Ginijis.

"This is the last bottle of Blue Blood Wine in storage." His Majesty the King raised his glass high, "But I believe we will soon acquire more, may the Lord bless us with victory!"

"Victory!"