The next afternoon, Claude received a messenger pigeon from battalion headquarters.
The commander of 1st Ranger Tribe, Lieutenant-Colonel Liedefonk, didn't make any decisions about the situation.
He only handed Claude the responsibility of dealing with the enemy situation in Squirrel Village. Be it the retreat or the defense, it was all up to Claude.
At the same time, he told Claude about the situation in the three southern prefectures and 1st Ranger Tribe's current predicament. It wasn't hard for Claude to come to the conclusion that the major wanted him to defend Squirrel Village and prevent the nobles' private soldiers from entering the three southern prefectures and causing more trouble.
Before the third month, the Aueran army seized every second to build a temporary mountain road in the Pikleit Mountains that could be used to transport heavy artillery and supplies. According to the plan, Bluefeather and two second-line corps were stationed in the three southern prefectures of Askilin, allowing them to survive the rainy season.
When the fourth month arrived, Bluefeather led a second-line corps to set up a defensive line at the border between the three southern prefectures and Rimodra, blocking off the retreat route of the hundreds of thousands of anti-Aueran forces in Rimodra.
The other second-line corps was stationed at the eastern border of Askilin to prevent the remaining forces of Askilin from attacking the three southern prefectures.
According to frontline command's original plan, ten or so local guard tribes were to be deployed to the three southern prefectures through the temporary mountain road in the Pikleit Mountains after the rainy season. They would be responsible for maintaining order and gathering supplies.
Unfortunately, the heavy rain during the rainy season had washed away the temporary passage in the Piklete Mountains. Neither personnel nor supplies could enter the three southern counties. It would take about a month and a half to repair and restore the temporary mountain passage.
That was why the Aueran troops stationed in the three southern prefectures were now isolated. The rear couldn't provide them with any more resources or reinforcements. Unless they could hold out for another two months or the entire anti-Aueran alliance in Rimodra was wiped out, they wouldn't be able to do so.
However, the current situation was that the Rimodra Duchy's anti-Austrian army was getting restless. Recently, they had been constantly scouting the frontlines and launching probing attacks on Bluefeather's defensive line.
On the other hand, Askilin didn't just sit there and wait. They knew very well that once the allied army stationed in Rimodra was outflanked by the Aueran army, the fall of Askilin would be imminent.
Therefore, they also gathered all the local garrisons and vigorously recruited new soldiers, forming two temporary legions in preparation to counterattack the three southern counties.
The second-line legion deployed in the east was already locked in a fierce battle with the enemies that were charging over. The current situation was that the defensive line could still be maintained …
As the Bluefeather Legion and the two second-rate legions were deployed at the frontline, the three southern counties lacked the manpower to suppress and maintain law and order.
Before the rainy season in the third month, the youths of the three southern prefectures were recruited to build temporary mountain roads in the Pikleit Mountains, resulting in a number of casualties. As a result, the people of the three southern prefectures were extremely dissatisfied with the Aueran army.
When the fourth month arrived, Askilin sent a large number of spies into the three southern prefectures to incite the people to rebel against the Aueran army's occupation and the gathering of supplies.
The three southern prefectures were in a state of chaos and riots broke out frequently. The garrisons of several major towns were exhausted and unable to quell the rebellions.
It was the same for the 1st Ranger Tribe stationed in Rosha. Thanks to Major Ledefonk dismantling some of the less important outposts, the tribe still had three platoons of reserve troops to deal with any rebellions or riots that might crop up.
Ledefonk told Claude in his letter that there was no way he could suppress the rebellions with less than a single platoon.
To put it simply, the three southern prefectures were like a volcano that was about to erupt. It was just that no one knew when it would erupt.
While Ledefonk left the situation at Squirrel Village to Claude to decide, the letter made it clear that he didn't want Claude to retreat. He agreed to Makki's suggestion to gather the troops at the entrance of the mountain path and set up a defensive line there until the enemy ran out of supplies and had no choice but to retreat.
In his letter, Major Ledefonk pointed out the fact that the 1st Ranger Battalion had deployed three companies to guard the mountain path.
The one at the front was Claude, followed by Moriad's platoon at Blackrock Village and the last platoon at the entrance of the mountain path.
If Claude decided to retreat, there would be no need to guard the mountain path.
If Claude decided to retreat, Moriad's platoon at Blackrock Village wouldn't be able to defend either. The terrain there wasn't suitable for defense and wasn't as strategic as Squirrel Village.
It would be easy for the enemy to circle around the hill and launch an attack. Moriad's band was stationed in Blackrock Village to provide support. If Claude's side was attacked by the enemy, they would cut off the mountain path in front of Squirrel Village and prevent the enemy from crossing the mountain path in front of Squirrel Village and flanking Claude's troops from the rear.
As for the entrance to the three southern prefectures, while there was also a platoon stationed there, the terrain there wasn't suitable for a defensive line.
That was because the terrain at the entrance wasn't particularly strategic. Even if they managed to block the enemy's advance, the enemy could easily make a new path around the defensive line and enter the three southern prefectures.
The entrance to the mountain path was filled with sparse trees and small mounds. Even if Claude gathered three platoons of troops, they wouldn't be able to guard such a long defensive line.
If he wanted to block the entrance, he would need a battalion of troops.
But 1st Ranger Tribe was split up and split up to guard the various strategic points. Major Ledefonk didn't have the strength to do so.
He didn't have many men on his own and he had to guard Rosha as well.
So, Major Ledefonk hoped that Claude could defend Squirrel Village against the invasion of the nobles. Of course, he didn't want Claude's men to be sacrificed for nothing.
He wanted Claude to make his own decision whether to fight or retreat.
It would be best if Claude could hold his ground. He could squeeze out a platoon of troops and send a batch of ammunition, rations, and other supplies to Claude.
The only regret was that the battalion could only provide Claude with one more light infantry cannon. They really couldn't gather two.
A messenger pigeon was placed on the table. Claude rapped on the table and said, "I've decided to fight a defensive battle here to stop the enemy's advance.
The signalman will send a messenger pigeon to inform the battalion of my decision and request for reinforcements as soon as possible.
Sergeant Makqi, you will be in charge of Squad One. Send some men to scout out the enemy's strength and equipment and confirm the date of their attack.
Squad Two and Squad Three, you will be in charge of fortifying the defensive line. I want you to dig up the mountain path in front of us and set up wooden rafts for passage.
That way, even if the enemy attacks, we'll be able to delay them. Even if they can fill up the holes in the path, they'll still be within our firing range.
I'd like to see how many casualties the enemy will pay to repair the path.
Squad Four, you will be in charge of building a wooden fence between the camp and Squirrel Village. Dig a trench to prevent the enemy from attacking us from the back of Squirrel Village.
Squad Four, you will be in charge of setting up the cannons and concealing them.
Myjack, make a trip to Blackrock Village in the afternoon and have Sergeant Moriad come over immediately.
I need to discuss with him about the situation. If we really can't stop the enemy's advance, I'll need his platoon to ensure the safety of our retreat route. "
Makqi was the last to leave. He looked at Claude in despair. "Sir, are you really not going to retreat?"
After all, there were more than two thousand enemies. Even with the platoon sent to reinforce them, they had less than 120 men.
That was a ratio of twenty to one. The way Makqi saw it, Claude's decision to defend here was akin to digging his own grave. The countdown to everyone's lives had already begun.
Claude patted him on the shoulder with a smile. "Even if we retreat, is there anywhere more dangerous than this place at the end of the path?
There isn't.
Since we can't avoid fighting, let's do it here. At the very least, we have the advantage of the terrain.
Even though there are many enemies, they're all private soldiers of the nobles and aren't that strong.
I believe there's a high chance we can stop the enemy's advance. Perhaps after we win, your epaulette will be the same as mine. "
A wily old soldier like Mazik was purely frightened by the enemy's strength. From his experience, the side with ten people to one would definitely obtain victory.
But now, the enemy's ratio was twenty to one, so he believed that this was definitely an outcome of death.
He wanted to retreat so that he could live a little longer. Even if he retreated, he wouldn't be able to avoid the inevitable outcome of a defensive battle.
The reason he decided to defend Squirrel Village was because of the terrain. Even if he retreated in the end, he wanted to deal a heavy blow to the enemy and kill as many as possible.
Makqi grit his teeth. "Forget it, I'll go along with your madness.
If I really die here, it'll be my fate to have a second lieutenant like you as my superior. "
Makqi led the first squad on a scouting mission.
Claude smiled and shook his head. He said to Gum, "Let's go to Squirrel Village and meet the village elder."
With the war at hand, Claude wouldn't let the villagers stay in Squirrel Village. He decided to have the village elder move them to Blackrock Village first and return after the battle was over.
The village elder was rather understanding and agreed to Claude's request to move. However, he also offered to use some of the village's manpower to help Claude with the construction of the defensive formation.
Claude was delighted and decided to provide the villagers with some rations as compensation.
Everything was carried out in a hurried and orderly manner. But as time passed, there were no signs of the so-called nobles' private soldiers invading the city.
Enraged, Makqi went to the temporary prison and interrogated the spy again and gave him a good beating.
The spy swore that everything he said was true. Before he left, the lord said that he would send out his troops as soon as he returned. The lack of movement meant that something must have happened.
Four days later, the platoon sent by the battalion arrived at Squirrel Village.
What surprised Claude the most was that the platoon jarl was Dyavid. He said that he volunteered to lead his platoon as soon as he received the news.
Claude now had two platoons of around a hundred men under him. Dyavid's platoon wasn't at its full strength and only had 45 men.
His platoon had suffered nine casualties during the riot in the three southern prefectures. Six of them were in the infirmary at the moment.
Makqi's platoon was at its full strength. Adding on the 15 men from the three cannon crews, Claude, Myjack, Gum and a signaller from the battalion, there were 118 men in total.
That gave Claude a little more confidence in fending off the enemy.
But even after all the preparations were completed, the enemy still hadn't arrived.
Makqi no longer feared death after giving up on the thought of retreating. He took the initiative to infiltrate Count Roykaid's territory to spy on the enemy and was nearly seen through.
When he returned, he brought Claude good news and bad news.
The good news was that Roykaid's private army was indeed a motley crew. Apart from the two platoons that were armed to the same level as the local garrison, the rest were mostly made up of farmers and herdsmen.
The rest were mostly farmers and herdsmen. Their weapons were uneven. The better ones were armed with hunting rifles or old-fashioned muskets, while the worse ones were armed with broadswords and spears. There were even some who were prepared to go into battle with dung forks.
The bad news was that Roykaid's men weren't just a battalion, but a regiment of 4,000 men.
The main reason for that was because some of the Canasian nobles heard that Roykaid was going to the three southern prefectures of Askilin to reap some benefits. So, they rushed over to join in the fun and earn some extra income for themselves.
So, the reason why the enemy hadn't attacked yet was because some of the nobles hadn't arrived yet. They would probably have to wait for a while longer.
As for the Askilin side, the nobles and the army were wrangling with each other to the point of delaying the attack.
It was said that Askilin and the army requested the nobles to send their private soldiers to the eastern front in an attempt to take back the three southern prefectures as soon as possible.
However, the nobles weren't willing to send their private soldiers to the eastern front and waste them for nothing. So, they requested for their own troops to attack the three southern prefectures from the mountain path in order to tie down the Aueran army.
Well, since both sides had delayed their attacks, Claude and the others could only wait anxiously for them to arrive.