At the third legion's garrison, Estes in the commander's command room was stroking the new pet he had just caught. This is a huge white tiger, at least five meters in length, about the size of a truck. But at this time, the tiger was firmly nailed to the ground by a large pile of iron chains, unable to move at all.
Even so, the tiger kept making low growls at Esdeth beside him, but this threatening roar had no intimidating effect on Esdeth at all.
Esdeth's smile showed that she was having a good time, and if this guy didn't resist, she would find it meaningless. But just as she was about to take a step closer, a female officer in military uniform walked into the room.
"Legion Commander." The other party stood at attention and saluted. After being transferred to the Third Legion, Esdeth also brought a lot of his own people over, and gradually made the Third Legion look like her. These female legions were obviously invisible in the previous imperial legions, but after Esdeth became the head of the legion, it was natural that they would be used regardless of men and women as long as they had the ability.
Because it is the only legion in the empire that uses female officers, Esdeth gathered a large number of talents at once. After all, there are quite a few military geniuses among women, they just had no connections before, but now they have a stage to realize their ambitions.
"Report to the regiment commander, as you expected, the number of the enemy is not so large, and the enemy has camouflaged." The female officer reported.
Just a few days ago, the intelligence unit of the Third Army discovered the movement in the place. The rebel First Legion and Second Legion chose to take the initiative to attack, gathering troops to attack the line of defense they built.
There are obviously 200,000 enemy troops, and their third army is about 100,000, so they must be at a disadvantage in terms of troops. But this is an active attack by the opponent, and they have a defensive advantage, so whether to ask for military support from the main city depends entirely on the judgment of the legion commander.
And Esdes didn't ask for any support in a hurry, but just asked his subordinates to prepare and observe the opponent's movements first.
So after waiting for a few more days, the Third Army here was ready for a defensive battle, and the enemy's combined army had also approached their line of defense. But from the investigation reports received one after another in the past few days, Esdes suddenly sensed something was wrong.
Yes, even though the First and Second Legions here have already prepared a disguise, a strategy of this level can only deceive those commanders who have no brains. Estes even felt that he was being humiliated again. The other party seemed to look down on him, the newly appointed army commander.
Quickly send someone to verify, and now it has been confirmed that the other party is secretly dividing troops. I don't know exactly what the division is, but the army in front of me obviously doesn't have as many as 200,000 people.
"Wither's trick." Esdeath said disdainfully. But the next moment, she quickly looked at the strategic map next to her. Now that the troops were divided, where did the troops that were divided go?
At present, the defense line of their third army is stuck in the key point of the northern march into the imperial capital. This line of defense matches the terrain and has locked all the surrounding roads. For the mountains next to them, it is impossible for large troops like the First and Second Legions to climb over without being harassed. As long as they dare to go up, Esdesh can directly surround them to death.
The only way left now is to break through the line of defense head-on, or to take a long detour.
However, the current defense line is stuck in such a terrible position, it is indeed possible to take a long detour, but it will really be a very long detour.
Even so, according to Estes' judgment, the opponent's plan should be to hold them back, and then separate troops to surround them from the side. As for whether to attack the imperial capital directly after bypassing, or attack them from the rear, Esdeth judged that the latter is mostly because there is still the Seventh Army stationed in the imperial capital, and it is obviously more reasonable to concentrate their forces if they can eat them.
But does the opposing commander think he is a fool? Detours are not just two or three days, he thinks he won't find out for such a long time? Estes was even a little amused by the other party.
"Notify the whole army, the whole army, I am determined to take the initiative to attack and face the opponent." Esdes directly waved his hand and ordered.
"What?" The female officer here was taken aback, and took the initiative to attack? She immediately said: "Legion Commander, Your Majesty's order is for us to..."
Before the female officer could finish speaking, she was interrupted. Obviously, Linton's order to them before was to defend with all their strength, just defend with all their might. Esdeth's order to take the initiative to attack is obviously a bit of disobedience.
The female officer wanted to persuade her, but before she could finish her sentence, Esdesi suddenly grabbed her by the neck and lifted her up with one hand. The female officer opened her eyes, and what she saw was Esdeth's cold and cruel eyes.
"Aisha, you are a talent I value. It would be a pity if you disappeared." Esdeath said with a smile.
The female officer named Aisha felt her back go cold, and Esdesh let go of her hand the next moment. Aisha fell directly to the ground, clutching her throat and was so scared that she couldn't speak for a while. "Go and pass the order." Esdeth said with a smile.
"It's... the commander of the legion." Aisha stood up from the ground immediately and quickly backed out.
Esdeth's order was quickly conveyed, and the whole army began to prepare. Yes, although Esdeth has not taken over the Third Army for a long time, his control is quite amazing. Even though the order to take the initiative to attack somewhat violated His Majesty's will, there were not many people who questioned it when it was implemented.
The attack time was set at night, after all, there was still a little distance between the two sides. The later the attacking opponent discovers at night, the shorter the natural preparation time will be.
Although the night attack plan formulated by Esdeth sounds a little reckless, it is actually a very good plan. Most importantly, it is almost impossible for the other party to think that they will be raided.
From the very beginning, the Third Army had shown itself to be fully prepared to defend. After they arrived here, they have been building the city walls and fortifications, and they have assumed a posture of defending to the end. In the face of an elite army of 200,000, it is obviously a very logical approach.
But now you suddenly go out of the city to take the initiative to attack, isn't this giving up the advantage of the fortifications that you have built for a long time? Then what were you doing so desperately to repair it before?
And there are 200,000 elites outside, if you give up your advantage and go to the field with the opponent, no one will be so stupid.
And Esdeath is very sure that the other party's commander must not have thought of this. After all, the other party still thinks that they can confuse Esdeth head-on, making him feel that there are 200,000 people on their side, and he has not noticed that the other party is going around. What about the troops on the road. The commander on the opposite side was so confident in his plan, how could he have thought that Esdes would take the initiative to attack?
In Estes' view, this is also the best response to the opponent's contempt for himself. Don't you think I can't see through your plan? I will directly charge you directly, and let you know in an instant that your little tricks are not worth mentioning in front of me, just like slapping you in the face.
So soon, the time came to night. At this time, the moon is dark and the wind is high, and it is the night of the murder. At this time, the whole regiment of the Third Army had been prepared, and the main force of more than 50,000 people was almost dispatched. Of course, the remaining reserve troops and logistics troops still remained in the fortress.
Esdes led the team himself, without making any passionate speeches, got on his horse, led the army out of the main gate, and went directly to the north where the first and second legions were stationed.
Under the cover of darkness, the troops gradually approached the station. Soon, the troops of the Third Army could already see the fire of the station ahead.
But at this moment, a messy sound was heard ahead, followed by the alarm bell of "ding ding ding". Apparently the Third Army has been discovered by the opponent.
After all, it was the elite troops of the empire. Although the First Legion did not expect the opponent to take the initiative to attack at all, they still had a minimum of vigilance. At this time, it was the troops in charge of security who discovered the army moving in the dark, and hurriedly told the situation to the legion commander Tommen.
Then the alarm bell rang, and Tommen was in a daze at this moment. Obviously, he didn't expect to be attacked at night at this time, and he didn't even understand what kind of troops attacked him. But even so, he organized defense immediately.
Although the third legion was discovered, the distance between the two sides was close enough at this time. Estes here waved his hand, and the night attack began, and the whole army attacked.
The soldiers of the third army immediately dispatched and rushed directly to the opponent's garrison. When the garrison of the First and Second Legion was obviously built, they did not consider that they would conduct defensive warfare. It can only be said that the defensive effect they can play is really limited. Before the defensive soldiers here were in position, the army that rushed in had already torn a gap in the defense line.
The direction of the battle was very clear, and the troops of the First and Second Legions, who were completely unprepared, were caught off guard and immediately stunned. The effect of the third army's charge was very obvious. Coupled with the constant ignition everywhere, the flames quickly illuminated the dark sky. In an instant, the troops of the first and second army seemed to be facing the situation of bombing the camp.
It's just that there was no bombing of the camp, and gradually, the troops of the First and Second Legions stabilized slowly by themselves.
Yes, although Esdeath's plan is very good, but it is a bit too underestimated the elite level of the First Legion. As the most elite troops in the empire, they are not like motley troops who can blow up the camp as soon as they charge. After the panic at the beginning, they started to stabilize themselves by playing and fighting.
But at this moment, the situation on the battlefield suddenly changed.
"Report to the head of the army, there are a large number of troops on the side, and they are encircling us!" The female officer Aisha urgently reported to Esdeth.