When the Saint comes, she does not collect food

"The iron gate is lost, and Killa Fortress is also lost?" Gilo, who was training soldiers here, widened his eyes when he heard the news. "Doesn't that mean..."

"Besides Greenleaf City and Stillwater Dock, there's no defense to rely on, so our battle line will be quite fragile," Horne explained, washing away the sweat from his journey with clean water.

"Holy Father," Gilo said after a long silence, making a cross on his forehead. "What should we do?"

"Given enough time, we need enough time to wait for the support from the Franks to arrive. Before that, Greenleaf City needs to hold on as much as possible..." Horne dried his face with a towel, took a deep breath, and walked towards the door.

His location was an unremarkable monastery outside Rapid Current City, which gathered nearly a thousand "students."

Looking out from the window, you could even see the climbing wall and crawling net used for training.

The square monastery enclosed the central courtyard, and the second floor formed a long corridor.

A semicircular terrace extended from the cloister, and Horne slowly walked to the white alabaster railing.

These Defenders were mainly from Hotam County, including farmers, lower-class laborers, artisans, and ordinary citizens.

They all shared a common characteristic: most of them came from the Holy Grandson's Volunteer Army and believed in the Holy Doctrine.

During the half-year training, each of them received Horne's holy favor and possessed the ability to drive alchemical items.

Moreover, with Horne's ample supply of meat, eggs, and milk, the average person had reached the level of the Second Stage Breathing Technique.

If they were placed on the battlefield, with the formation of the Galar phalanx, they could fill about two phalanxes of holy musketeers.

At this moment, they gathered here, waiting for Horne's speech.

"Yesterday morning, I received a message from Hotam County," Horne's voice echoed in the courtyard through the amplifying monks and the corridor. "Killa Fortress has fallen, the military reclamation area has been slaughtered, and Greenleaf City is in chaos.

We are probably going to lose Hotam County. To be precise, we are bound to lose it."

The originally quiet crowd instantly became noisy. Other things were fine, but Hotam County was their hometown.

"Wasn't everything fine the day before yesterday?"

"I said it, the Thousand River Valley War Saint Grandson is the main force in killing the enemy, and Melia is a lying-win dog!"

"It's not that bad. Without Melia entangling Prince Kongdai in the Mountain County, there would be no today."

"Your Majesty, has my hometown been occupied?"

"Order, pay attention to order!"

"Silence!"

The master of ceremonies shouted, and the nearby guards immediately fired their guns into the air, which stopped the noise.

They also elected a middle-aged man to speak: "Your Majesty, we have been training hard for the past six months. I think it's time for us to go on an expedition."

Looking at the faces of the surging crowd, Horne slowly shook his head: "As Defenders, you have been trained in assassination, sabotage, tracking, and disguise.

These are not skills used on the battlefield, but skills used behind the battlefield.

You are all the most steadfast believers of the Holy Doctrine, and some have even served in the army. I know you want to go to the battlefield.

But I have to tell you that our army has not yet assembled, and the supplies have not been prepared.

Not to mention Melia, even if I were sitting in the position of Greenleaf City, I couldn't turn the tide.

Therefore, the place you are going to is actually the enemy-occupied area.

The Loyal Succession Checkists will go with you to help you complete your mission.

And the battle mages of Black Serpent Bay will hide in the reeds and swamps to provide you with support."

The crowd gradually quieted down.

The black short cloaks of the Defenders blended with the golden thread chrysanthemums, like black roses inlaid with gold edges.

Looking at the calluses on the knuckles and the frayed collars of these Defenders, Horne pursed his lips and continued: "You will be under the leadership of the Miracle Priest Seromis of Black Serpent Bay, Lord Pasrik, and Lord Valentayler, whom you are familiar with, and form teams according to the hundred-household district or township.

After returning to your hometown, blend in and don't act rashly.

When the Lia people invade, do not resist openly.

Not only that, but you must also actively participate in places where the Lia people exist, and even help them work.

At the same time, your task is—to disturb the enemy, steal information, and develop members of the Holy Doctrine while ensuring your own lives.

Many of you are former members of the Holy Grandson's Volunteer Army. You are most familiar with fighting around small river streams and reeds."

The Defenders looked at each other, and soon dozens of hands were raised.

Horne casually pointed to a young man.

The young man raised his head and asked loudly: "Your Majesty, why do we have to do this? It doesn't seem to be of much use?

Forgive me for speaking frankly, I would rather die gloriously on the battlefield than help the Lia people work in a cowardly manner."

The other Defenders around him immediately echoed, but there were also Defenders scolding them.

Looking at these enthusiastic faces, Horne couldn't bear it, and even his nose felt a little sour.

He knew how dangerous these actions were, but they would not get the honor they deserved.

It's just that these things have to be done by someone.

"Because we need time. Even if we want to mobilize a sufficient number of combat-capable troops, it will take at least three months.

The Lia people have the help of local nobles and can quickly maintain the stability of the lower levels, providing them with logistics and supplies.

Your actions cannot directly bring victory, but they can buy us enough time.

As for whether it is useful or not, I dare say it is useful."

Horne knocked on the podium in front of him and said firmly: "It is useful, it must be useful.

Currently, the Lia people have a large force and are expected to send six to ninety thousand troops to encircle us.

And our current strength is only less than thirty thousand troops, not to mention the combat power and number of those extraordinary knights.

Yes, you are indeed no match for extraordinary knights, but that doesn't mean you are powerless in front of extraordinary knights!

Who made the weapons and armor of the extraordinary knights? Who made the potions and holy water of the extraordinary knights?

Who grew their rations? And who transported them?

An extraordinary knight can travel hundreds of miles to fight, but cannot fight on an empty stomach.

On the contrary, they need more food and better armor to发挥出该有的效果.

Knights step on the backs of civilians to have glorious charges.

But if the civilians look up, although they will die, they can make the knight fall hard.

If all of us look up, then the knight will never be able to charge!"

Speaking of this, Horne slammed his hands on the podium, his half body almost stretching out of the terrace, his eyes sweeping over the faces that were either young or vicissitudinous.

"We, we were once kneeling people, but from March 22, 1446, we have already raised our heads.

Then, no matter what kind of iron hooves, don't even think about making our heads bow down again!" Horne's eyes burned with anger, and his voice was almost roaring, "Don't even think about it, I said don't even think about it!"

The original whispers completely stopped, like a rest in jazz music. The next second, a fist was raised over the head.

"No kneeling, no bowing!"

Almost instantly, all the Defenders, along with the guards next to them, raised their fists.

"No kneeling, no bowing!"