Rod-dick sucked in a breath of cold air and said: "If this is how we fight this battle, it will be troublesome. The Uruk legion will attack first and then defend, pushing the frontline to the most advantageous terrain before retreating. As long as they can hold on, it will be equivalent to opening up a new territory, and the entire Syah Desert will be under their control. "
Amon nodded. "From Uruk to Cape States, the east and west ends of the Syah Desert are under the control of the Kingdom of Bablon. Whether it is advancing north or attacking the Plains of Duc from Kish in the east, there will be no more worries. This is a very ruthless move. Even if they cannot occupy a corner of Cape States forever in the future, they can take the opportunity to control the Plains of Duc and gain the greatest strategic benefits. "
Rod-dick opened his mouth wide. "If all these plans can be realized, the Kingdom of Bablon will replace the Empire of Eygut as the most powerful country on the continent, and there is no doubt that Gilgamesh will also become the greatest hero in history, his fame will even surpass that of the gods.
Amon shook his head. "This is just a grand aspiration, a dream in their hearts. In order to realize this distant dream, the first step is to complete the goal of conquering the Cape States, and this is what we are trying to stop today. "
George frowned and sighed. "There is no way we can fight this battle. Pharaoh ordered us to stop the Uruk legion at the border. They came from afar, and we are relying on our defensive positions, so we should have the advantage. But now our military strength is far inferior to the enemy, and there are no fortresses on the border of the Cape States that we can use. Governor Dick, in all the years you have been in charge of the Cape States, have you not thought of this? "
Rod-dick smiled bitterly. "How could I not have thought of it? My father had already considered it when he was in office, but look at the terrain, the long border is spread out in an arc, and it is an endless desert plain. There is no defense at all, and it can be easily broken through from any point. Building fortifications on the edge of such a long desert is not only a waste of manpower and money, but also meaningless.
Besides, with the Syah Desert as a barrier, this place has been peaceful for hundreds of years. What reason do I have to exhaust the city's manpower, material resources, and financial resources to build meaningless fortifications? I've also made a lot of preparations over the years. I've built the most important fortress in Khenmet, which is also where I've stocked up the supplies for the expeditionary army. The location is in the middle of the line drawn by Commander-in-Chief Amon. "
After discussing for a long time, they came to the conclusion that they would definitely lose the first battle. There was no way they could stop the Uruk legion's advance at the border. Just as he was at his wits' end, Amon noticed that Aristotle had been silent all this time, so he asked, "Sir, you've also heard everyone's analysis. We'll definitely lose this battle. Do you have any suggestions?"
Aristotle finally said, "I'm just an outsider, so I want to talk about the perspective of an outsider. It was a tough battle, and Eygut's army was at a disadvantage. Direct resistance on the national border would lead to defeat. Knowing this, why bother with the gains and losses of a single place? It was better to take the initiative to retreat to Khenmet. That way, they would be able to gain a strategic advantage.
Rod-dick was taken aback and asked, "Do you mean to give up a large portion of the city's territory?"
Aristotle spread his hands and said, "Although I don't know much about military affairs, everyone here has come to the conclusion that the Uruk legion will occupy this land no matter what. There are only two possibilities. Either they will advance after defeating you, or you will take the initiative to build a more stable line of defense and let them in temporarily. I think the latter outcome is much better. "
Amon also asked, "Pharaoh's order is for us to resist the enemy at the border. Taking the initiative to retreat is not in line with the order."
Aristotle shook his head and said, "Supreme Warrior Amon, you are the Commander-in-Chief of the battlefield. In your position, you have the authority and authority to mobilize the army according to the actual situation. You can report the results of today's discussion and analysis to Pharaoh, and then carry out your duties as the Commander-in-Chief. If you can't do this, you can ask the Pharaoh to change the commander-in-chief of the battlefield. Why do you have to accept this unworthy position? "
Amon thought for a moment and finally nodded. "Thank you for your kind words, Sir. I understand what you mean. However, retreating is not the same as running away. We need to set up a few lines of defense alternately and delay the advance of the enemy as much as possible. The most important thing now is to evacuate the residents and cattle to the west of Khenmet to avoid being pillaged by the Uruk legion. I will immediately report this battle plan to His Majesty Pharaoh, and Lord Dick will immediately organize the evacuation of the residents and cattle. "
Rod-dick looked at the sand table in a daze and did not reply for a long time. Medanzo nudged him with his elbow and said, "City Lord, what are you thinking about?"
Rod-dick had a strange expression on his face and said with a regretful tone, "My private territory is also in this area. The servants and cattle can be taken away, but the farms and many other things will be left for the enemy. "
Aristotle smiled faintly and asked in return, "City Lord, are you planning to mobilize the legions under you to defend your territory?"
Rod-dick raised his head and said, "Of course not. Not to mention the fact that we can't defend it, even if we can defend it, we have to consider the bigger picture. The Commander-in-Chief has already formulated a retreat plan. I will temporarily give up my farms and territories. If Eygut wins, they will eventually be mine. "
In his position, Amon had made the decision to retreat and ordered the Horus Legion and Legion of Isis to rush to Khenmet to set up a defensive line to support the retreat of the An-Ra Legion and Legion of Sète. However, he took the initiative to give up the strategic depth of nearly two hundred miles from the border to Khenmet. It was unclear if Pharaoh was satisfied with Amon's decision, but Pharaoh did not change the Commander-in-Chief. At this juncture, the war was more important.
Amon set up a few defensive lines along the way. He did not require the soldiers on the defensive line to defend to the death, and they could retreat after the battle. The defensive line at the back was responsible for covering the retreating vanguard army. In this way, they would slow down the advance of the vanguard army and cover the transfer of personnel and supplies to the rear. Amon himself took the lead and rushed to Khenmet to direct the deployment of the real main defensive line.
… …
The vanguard of the Uruk Legion was like a hot knife through butter, easily breaking through the border passes of the Cape States and marching straight into their territory. The interception along the way was naturally carried out by the An-Ra Legion. Although Amon did not require them to defend, the soldiers still fought bravely. This elite division that had been honed on the battlefield suffered heavy losses.
Amon set up three defensive lines to the east of Khenmet. After blocking the enemy, they retreated in turn, paying the price of nearly a thousand casualties. Even John, who was in charge of the interception, was seriously injured. But they succeeded in slowing down the advance of the Uruk Legion and covering the transfer of personnel and supplies in the rear. Only a small portion of the residents who could not retreat in time fell.
After advancing for nearly two hundred miles, they occupied large tracts of land. After the Uruk Legion broke through the defensive line several times, the unstoppable momentum was contained. By the time they reached the Khenmet defensive line, the two armies were already facing each other.
At this time, the reorganized Horus Legion and Legion of Isis had already arrived at Khenmet, while the Legion of Sète had transferred a large number of supplies and people from the front. Amon led the retreating An-Ra Legion to rendezvous with the main army and guarded the defensive line.
Khenmet was located at the narrowest point of the land between the two seas in the Cape States, and it was the throat of the hinterland of the Eygut. A small mountain range ran through the north and south of the town. The hills were overgrown with trees and jagged rocks, like a natural barrier. Khenmet was located at the mouth of the relatively flat mountain range, and it was a place that caravans had to pass through. Many years ago, it had spontaneously formed a sizable town.
Later, Rod-dick built a fortress and walls here, making it look like a small city-state. When the Pharaoh Empire's army went on an expedition, this fortress served as a logistics base for stockpiling supplies. On the north and south sides of Khenmet, stone was mined along the small mountain range, and fortifications were built. Rough wooden fences were also erected in the open areas.
As soon as Amon arrived at Khenmet, he realized that this was a place that would be fought for. Retreating further, the terrain became open and flat again, and the main city of the Cape States was less than a hundred miles away.
The mountain range here was not very high, and the side facing the Cape States was relatively steep, while the side facing the border was relatively flat. If Khenmet and this line of defense were to be captured by the Uruk Legion, the enemy would have a great advantage in resisting the counterattack from the hinterland of the Eygut. Therefore, this line of defense must not be lost.
However, it was not easy to defend it either. They could not just hide behind the castle and fortifications, and once the mountain range on the left and right sides was breached, Khenmet would be surrounded by the army. This was just a small town, and the walls were not very high. It would be difficult to defend against continuous attacks. Although the town could be garrisoned by an army, it would be too crowded if they were trapped inside. If they did not set up a battle formation, they would lose the advantage of a large army.
Therefore, the battle plan formulated by Amon was to set up a battle formation outside the town, relying on the castle and fortifications behind them as support and cover. If the battle was disadvantageous, they could retreat calmly, and after a solid defense, they could attack again. It would be a tough battle of offense and defense.
Amon unexpectedly met Gabriel in Khenmet. This supreme warrior was sent to replace the injured Dragon Shadow, the commander of the Legion of Isis, who had returned to the rear to recuperate. During the battle between the Pharaoh army and the Hittite army, there were also many casualties in the army. For example, the supreme mage Sézanne and the supreme warrior Vega, who delivered the message to the Legion of Isis, were seriously injured and could no longer participate in the battle at this moment. The Adoratrice had also sent Gabriel to the front line, which showed that she attached great importance to this place.
Amon said to Gabriel: "You came at the right time. My front commander, John, was seriously injured in the battle and is no longer able to go to battle. The lineup of the Legion of Isis is currently incomplete. I want to organize the elites of the three legions into a vanguard battle formation, and you will be the front commander. This task is very dangerous, would you like to accept it? "
Gabriel put his hand on the hilt of his sword and bowed. "You are the commander-in-chief of the battlefield. Since it is a military order, why ask me whether I accept it or not? This is an honor for me, thank you for your trust. "
Of course, Amon trusted Gabriel. He knew very well the loyalty and courage of this supreme warrior. Back then, when Maria recommended Gabriel to be the frontline commander of the An-Ra Legion, Amon did not accept it and chose John instead. On one hand, it was because he did not want to take away the most important helper of the Adoratrice. On the other hand, it was also because of his position. He needed absolute authority to command his subordinates, and John was obviously more suitable.
But now, he was the commander-in-chief of the battlefield, and he naturally had to appoint someone he understood and trusted for a position of great importance to the frontline. Since Gabriel had gone to the frontline, it meant that she was in charge. This mission was also very dangerous, because it was very likely that she would have to face the number one warrior of the continent, Enkidu.
Gabriel had just received her new appointment when the Uruk Legion arrived at the gates of the city. Gilgamesh also understood the situation and did not directly attack Khenmet. Instead, he set up camp a few dozen miles away and sent messengers to deliver a declaration. Of course, an army had to send out a declaration to declare why they were going to war and what the purpose of the war was. This was not only to take the moral high ground, but also to boost the morale of the army. The contents of the declaration were as follows:
The great, dignified, and merciful god Marduc,
Heaven and earth will bend to your will,
The offerings of future generations will never be forgotten.
The harvest of the land granted by the gods will fill the granaries,
Please accept the eternal offerings of men.
I hear your call, I look up to your glory,
Your radiance will shine upon our army.
Advance to the gate of earth and sea.
The fabled land of Marduc,
Will welcome the return of glory,
Once again basking in the glory of the gods.
Your people will punish Eygut. Their Pharaoh insulted the gods, oppressed foreigners, and was greedy and cruel …
At the end of the declaration was a long list of incomparably luxurious titles. Fifty titles were used to praise Marduc. The name of this god was really long.
When Amon saw this declaration, he realized that the Kingdom of Bablon also had an oracle of Marduc, which was the same situation as Hittite and Eygut. Gilgamesh sent out troops in the name of the oracle, which had two main contents: one was to punish the Pharaohs Of Eygut for their disrespect, greed, and cruelty for daring to covet the legendary land of Marduc; the other was to guide the people to restore the glory of the land of Marduc.
The implication was that the Kingdom of Bablon would also participate in the struggle for the Duc Plains, and it was very ambitious, wanting to control the entire Syah Desert and the Duc Plains. Just as Amon and other generals had analyzed before the war, if all these goals were achieved, Bablon would become the most powerful country among the surrounding countries, and Gilgamesh would also become an unparalleled hero on the continent.
Amon had read the ancient documents collected in the Archives of the Shrine of Isis, which recorded the battle of the ancient gods that took place in the area of the town of Duc. Enril and Marduc, who were both on the victorious side, broke up, and the Anunnaki gods were split into two groups. The land of Marduc, which made Marduc famous after the battle, was still in the realm of Enril. Therefore, the "return of glory" mentioned in the declaration should be referring to the Bablon army's eventual recapture of the Duc Plains and the construction of a shrine for Marduc.
Just as Goliath once said to Amon, "It can be foreseen that the dispute there will also be a dispute between the gods, and the people will drive their desires in the name of the gods." But whether it was Goliath or Amon, both were involuntarily involved in this chaotic war.
The objective of the Uruk legion was also very clear in the declaration. They wanted to occupy the territory of the Eygut east of the defensive line at Khenmet. The "gate of the earth and the sea" mentioned in the declaration referred to the location of Khenmet.
Due to Amon's strategic retreat, the territory that the Uruk legion wanted had already been conquered, but there were still two things that had not been completed. Militarily, they had to capture Khenmet and the fortifications on both sides of the mountain range in order to defend this place. Politically, they had to force the Empire of Eygut to cede land and sue for peace, officially admitting that they had ceded this territory. These were all things that the Pharaohs Of Eygut would never agree to. Therefore, they needed to fight for an answer.
Amon sent someone to deliver the declaration to the Pharaoh, who was at the rear, and then replied with a letter of challenge. He did not talk nonsense about the gods. Although he was proficient in the various languages of the continent, Amon himself was not very good at writing poetry. His reply was very simple, and it was to meet on the battlefield three days later.
… …
Three days later, on the plains to the west of Khenmet, the armies of the two kingdoms set up their battle formation. Under the scorching sun, the reflection of the armor and weapons was blinding. The soldiers gripped their weapons tightly as they faced the mighty and majestic enemy formation. Their knuckles turned white, but everyone stood ramrod straight, forgetting to wipe the sweat off their faces.
The Uruk legion had always relied on their strength to win battles. Their formation was very formal, with a chariot at the very front. On the chariot was a driver, a warrior with a spear and a shield, and an archer wearing leather armor and a long sword. The heavy cavalry was at the two sides of the vanguard, and behind them were the infantry.
Amon met Gilgamesh once again. The young and handsome city lord was still as arrogant as ever. He sat in a luxurious carriage with a large purple umbrella in it, right in the center of the battle formation. There were no guards on the carriage, and there was not even a single personal guard on either side of the carriage. He sat calmly in the middle of the battlefield, as if he was on an outing.
It was almost the same as the last time Amon saw him. The only difference was that Gilgamesh was not holding a cup of wine, but a scroll made of sheepskin. Beside the seat were a bow, a weapon, and a staff. This hero was wearing a gorgeous cloak, and he did not even wear any armor.
Gilgamesh sat at the very front of the battle formation. He did not seem to be hiding, but no one dared to underestimate him. There was a driver sitting in front of his carriage, and he was as burly as a giant. On the shaft of the carriage was a huge shield and a heavy broadsword. These were the weapons that Enkidu had used to kill Humbaba.
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