When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist

Chapter 320 - 302 Horse Bandits, Must be Exterminated at All Times

What it means to take responsibility yourself is that Horn has to deliver the goods to the doorstep.Martin previously mentioned that Kush Territory and Kasha County actually border each other.

However, the two main roads leading to Kasha County are blocked, one on land by the Ibe Knights of Jinhe Town and the other by the Church of Lower Reif County on the water.

Among several possible transportation routes, Horn proposed three conditions:

First, it must be capable of large-scale transportation.

Second, it must not be easily harassed by the Temple Knights of Lower Reif and the Ibe Knights from the south.

Third, it must be close enough to reduce detours and facilitate quick transport and passage.

The Holy Gun Cavalry scouted around and finally found the only route that met Horn's requirements—the El Ancient Path in the cave forest to the southwest of Kush Territory.

If you travel this ancient path, from Joan of Arc Castle to Xiaochi City, the total distance is just 250 kilometers.

At the speed of a fully loaded carriage, it would take four to five days to reach the destination, with a round trip taking no more than ten days.

The reason it became abandoned is mainly that after the canal was built, the safety and capacity of water transport were much stronger than this ancient path, leading to its neglect.

After decades of being abandoned, it has become a base for refugees, horse thieves, and bandits.

Every year, they set out from this base to pillage manors and villages in the surrounding three counties and also rob passing merchants.

Several purges by nearby lords have failed to eliminate them completely, as they manage to escape each time and quickly regroup.

Later, these bandits became cunning, identifying market niches and transitioning from robbery to collecting protection fees.

Over the years, they have lived quite comfortably by unsustainably exploiting nearby manors and passing merchants for over a decade.

But this comfortable life is about to come to an end.

Because Horn does not allow such bold people to exist in Kush Territory!

"Have the recruitments for the Black Hat Army been completed?" Despite Horn's usual lazy tone, Busak could clearly hear a certain firm resolve in it.

"It's all finished, all eight army corps are fully recruited, and two new corps are currently in training." Busak replied without delay after a brief consideration.

Horn nodded: "Were they all recruited according to my requirements?"

"Yes." Busak nodded, "They are all with a clean background from the Defensive Army, physically exceptional and very close to the Saint Father's Association.

Mixing these new recruits with the two Old Guard corps should form about four Imperial Guard corps, though some time will be needed for integration."

Currently, Horn has 200,000 men at his disposal, giving him the luxury to select carefully, unlike in the past when he accepted anyone available.

Therefore, all new recruits near Joan of Arc Castle were recruited following the standards of the Imperial Guard corps.

According to Horn's plan, under the banner of the Salvation Army, it might be necessary to split into two battle groups, namely the Black Hat Battle Group and the Guard Battle Group.

Currently, the Black Hat Battle Group already has six corps; adding two more will fulfill the quota.

As for the Guard Battle Group, it only has two corps and is far behind, so Horn decided to reinforce it first.

"So the Black Hat Army and Holy Gun Cavalry are still available, right?"

"The Black Hat Army is available, but the Ibe Knights to the south have shown some activity recently, so the Holy Gun Cavalry needs to monitor them."

"Then let's have the North Mountain Knights replace the Holy Gun Cavalry in monitoring them." Horn casually assigned.

René, who was nearby, suddenly approached Horn's ear and whispered, "Your Excellency, the cave forest is a valley and forest terrain, unsuitable for the deployment of Holy Gun Cavalry, and is instead suitable for the North Mountain Knights.

Moreover, these bandits number at most a thousand, making it unnecessary to mount such a large-scale campaign..."he bandits in the mountains are eliminated, but those in the villages remain.

You think the mountains are a good place? They need to live somehow; who handles their stolen goods?

The necessities and daily items in life aren't going to fall from the sky."

Lazily wanting to rest his elbow on René's shoulder, Horn couldn't succeed.

Turning his head, looking at the remnant of René's ear, he realized the young man was almost as tall as himself now.

Reluctantly pulling back his hand, Horn said in a deep voice, "Two monks from the Saint Father's Association died near there; perhaps you can start from this point."

René gave a slight bow: "Yes, Your Excellency."