In the dense forest and weeds on the hillside, Tuba watched all the Lombards in the farm below the mountain climb up the wall, and all the sentries patrolling the surrounding areas retreated behind the stone wall of the farm. It looked like a war was coming, and he couldn't help but whisper to

Art beside him asked: "Sir, shouldn't this be happening? The surrounding area is in chaos. Don't the people here know how to send reinforcements? Our plan was discovered by the defenders in the manor?"

When thick smoke rose from the northwest and the defenders in the farm remained unmoved, Art already knew that his plan to lure the enemy out of the city and divide them to attack had failed.

Apparently the Lombard garrison commander at the farm was not so easily fooled.

"Tuba, call Lord Balian's sentry over."

Tuba retreated slowly, then stood up and called the two sentries sent by Viscount Balian to assist Art's army.

"Lord Art?" A sentry climbed up behind Art.

"My plan failed, and the enemy chose to defend and not come out," Art said.

"I need you two to help me bring a message to Lord Balian, saying that I want to attack this farm. I hope Lord Balian can help me resist the Lombard reinforcements coming from Solburg and other directions." Art said to the two.

The man ordered.

"Lord Ater, how long do you need us to resist? We now have to deal with the Genoa mercenaries in the southeastern hills. We don't have enough troops at hand to pull the army all the way to Solburg." A sentry pointed out the difficulty.

"Tell Lord Balian that if I capture this place, I will immediately set off the smoke. If I fail to capture this place, Lord Balian's army can retreat on its own at noon the next day.",

"Okay, we will return immediately." The sentry replied, and then hid towards the place where the horses were hidden.

"Tuba, take people to guard all the entrances and exits of the roads around the farm and cut off the enemy's contact with the outside world. Also tell everyone that there is no need to hide."

"Send someone to find the sentry team and ask them to patrol within a three-mile radius of the farm to screen out all enemies in the surrounding area."

Tuba took the order and got up to get busy.

"Spencer, Spencer!" Art shouted at the baggage train down the mountain.

Spencer didn't react when he heard someone calling him. He stuck out a head from the bushes where he was hiding, "Didn't you say you can't speak loudly? You roar so loudly~"

"Sir, my lord seems to be calling you~" a soldier beside Spencer reminded.

Only then did Spencer realize that Art was calling him. He quickly tore off the dead vine branches and leaves on his body, spit out the grass roots in his mouth, got out of the bush and ran towards the hillside.

"Sir, why don't you hide it anymore?" Spencer asked breathlessly.

"The enemy has noticed our strategy, there is no need for us to hide it. Spencer, you take the baggage team to find a place to make a fire and cook a sumptuous meal for everyone to have a good meal. Then you bring

I'll rush to make a batch of siege equipment and start a frontal attack in the afternoon." Art glanced at the farm down the hillside and ordered Spencer, the baggage officer.

Spencer took a look at the terrain around the farm and replied: "Sir, the farm where the Lombards are stationed is surrounded by streams on three sides. It may be difficult to build a wooden ladder to climb up to the city from the front. We may have to go in front of the stream.

It left many lives behind.”

Art turned his head and glanced at this baggage officer in surprise, who was always responsible for the legion's baggage and miscellaneous tasks. Perhaps he had watched too many battles, and he could analyze some of the ways of fighting.

Art glanced at Spencer, nodded and replied: "I also know that the stream blocked our attack, but now that the enemy is hiding behind the stone wall of the manor, I am afraid they will not easily come out to fight us. In addition to a strong attack,

We have no other better way."

"Of course, your previous plan can no longer be implemented. We can only attack by force. However, can we change the direction of the attack?" Spencer said.

Art turned to look at Spencer again, looked around, and asked thoughtfully: "You mean from behind?"

"Yes, from the back. I don't know if these Lombards are stupid or they despise the enemy. They did not set up a waiting platform on the hillside at our feet, and the part of the hillside closest to the farm is higher than the tallest tower in the farm.

Moreover, the closest point on the hillside is less than fifty feet from the stone wall of the farm. This distance can be reached by relying on wooden ladders or even directly cutting down trees to make wooden bridges. Although the hillside is relatively steep, it is still easier to carry siege equipment down than on flat ground.

Save some effort, besides we may not be able to successfully cross the stream that lies in front of us."

After listening, Art carefully observed the points Spencer mentioned. He had never thought about attacking by force before, so he didn't pay attention to the distance between the farm and the hillside. Now after Spencer reminded him, he decided to

It's really a method worth trying.

"Spencer, what you said makes sense. A strong attack on the front will definitely kill a lot of men. Let's try this method you mentioned."

"Instruct all legionnaires who have no combat missions to cut wood on the back of the hillside to make equipment for climbing the city after lunch!"

At the farm below the mountain, the Lombard garrison commander was holding a glass of wine to celebrate the fulfillment of his wise decision.

The exposed figure on the hillside behind the farm shows that the Provence army is indeed preparing to attack the farm outpost. If he takes the army out at noon to reinforce the several small outposts that were attacked, then they will definitely fall into the Provence people's plan. More than thirty people

It is basically no problem for a garrison to garrison a farm with a stone wall, but if half of the troops are allocated to reinforce it, there is no guarantee.

"What? I say this is a conspiracy of the Provençal people, right? They want to lure us out of the farm and fort wall and then attack the foreign soldiers or take advantage of the opportunity to invade the manor. Before departure, the count repeatedly told us that we must hold on to the perimeter of Sauerburg.

We must not be careless at the waiting station."

"Please remember, if the enemy's plot is discovered, they are likely to attack us head-on. Although we have traps, holes and streams blocking our front, you must not be careless. You must defend the sections of the wall you are responsible for.

Unless absolutely necessary, neither side is allowed to randomly allocate troops to reinforce other places. Guarding your own section of the city wall is the most important. I will take my guards and retinue as a reserve when the time comes..."

Just when the Lombard garrison commander was assigning the task of defending the city to the chief officers, a Lombard soldier on guard duty rushed in.

"The enemy started attacking so soon. Should he attack from the south or attack the city from the flank?" the Lombard commander asked.

"My lord, no, the enemy troops did not gather on the front and flanks to prepare for battle. They stopped and watched for a while on the top of the mountain and then disappeared," the sentry replied.

"Did they retreat?" asked another leader who looked like an officer in the tent.

"They haven't retreated yet. Their sentries are still watching."

"Then why did you come in here if you didn't just keep a lookout?" The officer was a little impatient.

"Sir, we heard the sound of logging coming from behind the hillside and near the top of the mountain."

"What are they doing logging behind the mountain?" the Lombard garrison commander was confused...

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Chapter completed!