Chapter 863 Andre stress tests Horn
The leaves were rustling, as if something was rushing through the night.

The sentry stood up alertly. The valley was extremely quiet under the moonlight, with only puddles reflecting the silver light.

Just as he was about to sit down, a dark cloud passed by, blocking the moonlight.

It was as if the stars in the night sky lit up one by one, and hundreds of tiny, glowing points of light appeared among the bushes.

That is a common feature of those favored by the Saint. When they are excited or meditating, a subtle white light will appear in their eyes.

It is not obvious in daylight or under lighting conditions, but it is so dazzling in complete darkness.

Groups of light spots floated like water waves, and before the sentry could see clearly, he heard a sharp sound of breaking through the air.

A lead bullet pierced his skull accurately, leaving a bloody hole in his forehead.

When the bodies of the sentinels fell from the sky, raising piles of wheat straw dust, seven or eight Holy Armor Guards had already jumped off their horses and broke through the broken fence.

“Disperse!” After breaking through the tattered fences and trenches, the Holy Armor Guards, who were not good at cavalry combat, dismounted one after another.

Half-kneeling on the ground, the Holy Armor Guards raised their heavy clockwork guns.

Lead bullets crackled into the tent, and soon the red glow stained the canvas and climbed up the tent curtain.

After firing three rounds, they put the clockwork guns on their backs and drew their sabers from their waists.

Unlike other legions, the Holy Armor Guards are required to be proficient in both close combat swordplay and spearmanship, as well as long-range holy gun and bow and arrows.

Therefore, in the Holy Armor Guard, there is no distinction between Holy Gunners and Pikemen.

In the tent, confused soldiers also poured out in large numbers and began to fight with the Holy Armor Guards.

But as soon as the battle started, these Holy Armor Guards felt something was wrong.

It’s not that I’m surprised at the weak combat effectiveness of the “Border Knights”. After all, those present are all infantry.

Instead, he was surprised that this group of knights had no horses, and the horses in the stable were all straw horses covered with horse clothes.

A shirtless officer with a goatee jumped out, putting on an armored suit and chain mail while giving orders loudly.

When he saw the iconic white armor of the Papal Guards, everyone around him could clearly feel that he was stunned.

That Pope, that Holy Grandson Pope, he actually dared… He really dared!
Not only was he daring, but he also arrived at such a timely moment. To put it in perspective, Pope Saint Sun reacted almost as soon as he released the news.

But normally, even if their identities are discovered, the first choice should be to gather nearby troops.

How dare he attack his camp of more than a thousand people with only three hundred cavalry infantry?
Isn’t he afraid of these thousands of people? Are they really border knights?

…………

As the battle progressed, these “border knights” suffered repeated defeats, and finally revealed their true nature as peasant soldiers.

No matter how much of a bastard Andre is, he would never really let the Border Knights in.

These so-called border knights were nothing more than a few Fran officers who were trying to bluff Horn with the remaining noble officers and peasant soldiers.

If it succeeds, and Horn is scared back to the sentry post, his prestige will be greatly damaged.

“Pope Saint Sun was frightened by fake border knights and retreated thirty kilometers” must be the front-page headline of the “North Mande Noble Newspaper”.

Moreover, this back and forth will take a lot of time, and there will be no time to split and absorb it because the Border Knights are coming.

But they didn’t expect that Horn, as the “king of a country” and the most honorable Pope, chose to go all in in this gambling game where there was no reward for winning and punishment for losing!
The bonfire was lit, and the ground was covered with kneeling soldiers.

Bonard and others were roasting dried meat around the campfire.

“…Andre’s army’s salaries were all funded by the Imperial Order, and the uniforms, insurance, welfare and subsequent pensions were all paid by the Imperial Council of Cardinals.

In the process of building the army and training, due to the use of the “Soldier’s Codex”, personal dependence was eliminated.

His Majesty has repeated many times that the soldiers of the regiment are not the soldiers of the officers, but the soldiers of the Holy League.

Of course, there are some who are inclined to support the chief officer, but most people are neutral and tend to maintain the current status quo.

Andre has been in charge of the Iron Fist for less than two years. It is impossible for his prestige and connections to increase dramatically in two years to convince most people to join him in rebellion.

His real supporters are actually those overstaffed troops.

But these troops gradually separated from him after the promulgation of the Reverend Valentin Taylor and the Settlement Law.

Chief Pastor Valen Taylor was able to take over from Andre when he offered soft resistance.

He brought enough talents and had enough prestige in the Iron Fist. The Land Settlement Law dug up Andre’s real roots, and the current military settlement soldiers were only in a temporary state.

At most, Andre gave them the right to use it, but he also asked them to serve in the military in exchange.

But Horn directly gave the land to them. No matter whether Andre tried to stop him or not, the military settlement manor would fall to Horn.

Horn has been building his legitimacy for so long, convening parliament, drafting the constitution, holding big debates, and giving speeches everywhere to make his presence felt.

That’s not in vain. In the eyes of most people, Horn is Andre’s superior and the object of their “loyalty”.

The Guards Regiment intervened in River County’s defense at just the right time, and Andre had not yet been able to really manage this piece of land well.

“We thought that His Majesty was acting too hastily, but we were too naive.” Bonard couldn’t help blushing when he recalled his previous thought that Horn was too proud and insisted on attacking.

Laurent followed with a sigh: “Yes, such an obvious loophole, we can’t see it, or we are covered by fear.”

“Your Majesty, you are so powerful.”

Everyone cast their admiring eyes on Horn.

After working at his desk for a long time, people always compare Horn with those scholar popes or philanthropist popes in history.

But 1445 was only four years ago, and people almost forgot that Horn personally fought in the battlefield and defeated all the powerful soldiers and generals, including Prince Condé.

When people in the private sector or the military evaluate famous generals, they are always ranked between Jeszka, Prince de Condé, Jeanne and others.

But they forgot that the number one general in Thousand River Valley, who was truly tempered in blood and fire and defeated or cultivated all of the above people, was Horn himself.

“I want to see Horn, I want to see Horn!” The hoarse voice attracted everyone’s attention, especially the rude calling of his name.

“I’m Horn.”

“You, you are Saint Sun Horn, the crazy Pope Horn?”

“Aren’t you looking for me? Here I come.” Horn pointed his sword dripping with blood at the man’s forehead.

The goateed officer looked at Horn in white armor and felt that he was even shorter than the other members of the Holy Armor Guards.

Just now he personally led the other white-armored soldiers to charge into the battle, and the officer with the goat beard saw it with his own eyes.

This person who charges forward like a soldier is actually Pope Saint Sun?

“Where did I reveal my flaws that make you so sure that we are not from Leia?” asked the goateed officer in a thick French accent.

Horn picked up the silver pot and took a sip of cold coffee: “I’m not sure.”

“Not sure… You’re not sure?!” As if he had heard some huge lie, the officer took a step forward, “Then you dare to charge our camp? Aren’t you afraid that Mr. Andre will really betray you?”

“no difference.”

“What did you say?”

Glancing at the officer, Horn slowly screwed the lid of the silver kettle on and said, “Do you think my position as Pope was randomly elected by a few bishops who were starving and dizzy in a small dark room?”

The officer was stunned. He suddenly remembered the figure of Andre pacing back and forth in the room every day when he heard that Horn was coming.

When the Border Knights arrived, Andre simply ate one less piece of bread for dinner.

When Andre heard that Horn had arrived, he didn’t eat for a whole day.

At that time, he was still confused. He was just a weak priest. What was there to be afraid of?

When the blood-stained gun was on his neck, he finally understood Andre’s fear.

Horn has never been defeated in a battle so far.

All the battles he personally presided over were victorious without exception.

“Kill me, it was me who started the rebellion.”

Even though the Blood Cloud was already on his shoulder, Horn retracted his sword.

“Knock him out, put him on the boat and take him away.”

After getting back on his horse, Horn turned around and shouted to the many Holy Armor Guards, “Andre gave us a big surprise. It would be rude if we don’t return the favor. How about we give him a big gift as well?”

(End of this chapter)