Eagle’s Glory

As the Turkish army retreated and fled, this short and fierce battle came to an end.

The artillery fire that was still shocking just now has suddenly disappeared at this time, but the sporadic gunfire, the dead bodies scattered everywhere, and the dying moans of the seriously wounded are shocking proofs of all the tragedies that happened just now.

Aigron stepped down from the high platform of the ancient castle, and strode into the valley amid the cheers of the soldiers. This was the most fierce battlefield just now. At dawn, this place was still a beautiful landscape and trees. The dense valley, but after just two hours, it was already a **** filled with corpses, and there was choking smoke and dust everywhere.

Through the smoke and dust, Aigron clearly saw that many guns and guns were lost on the ground, and many animals pulling carts were also moving blankly in the smoke-here were the things left by the defeated soldiers just now when they were defeated and fled. , but at this moment has been completed and become his trophy.

The victor wins everything. This is the eternal law of war.

He won.

There is no evidence to prove this fact better than the present scene.

However, Aigron's mood has calmed down now. He has overdrawn his excitement on the high platform just now, and now, what he needs more is calm.

Victory brings not just ecstasy, but also hesitation about the next move.

The incessant cheers around him did not interrupt his thoughts. His attention was very concentrated right now, and his brain was running at a high speed.

Should he pursue ruthlessly and expand the results in order to completely destroy the enemy army that had just retreated? Or should we just quit, return to Nafpaktos, and defeat another enemy army?

As far as his personal nature is concerned, he has always advocated being as ruthless as the winter wind to the enemy. Since he won now, he must continue to raise his bets, and he must smash all the resistance and will of the opponent.

However, although doing this is fun, it will delay time and put more pressure on Andre Davout. Although he trusts Andre's ability, it seems that he should not take any more risks.

Moreover, the biggest problem is that he does not have an organized cavalry, so it is difficult to carry out a brutal sweep when the enemy is retreating on a large scale, turning the repulsion war into an organized annihilation war, and completely erasing the threat of this enemy army.

The safe way is to return to the teacher immediately, but giving up the pursuit really makes him feel a pity, and it will leave hidden dangers.

Because it was difficult to balance in his heart, Aegron silently walked on the grass, his brows furrowed.

"His Royal Highness!" At this moment, a greeting from the side broke his contemplation.

Agron turned his head and found that this person was Major Henchy.

At this time, his body was covered with dust, and his face was blackened, but there were no wounds on his body, and his eyes were as murderous as before, making it difficult to look directly at him.

Aegron completely saw the bravery and composure he had led the phalanx to charge just now, and when he faced him again at this time, his heart was filled with admiration—what a majestic soldier!

It's a pity that he will only serve himself for this period of time...

"Thank you, Mr. Major." Aigron put down the sigh in his heart, and then patted the other party's shoulder, "I will never... never forget your posture just now, and I am grateful for your help to me."

"This is my duty, Your Highness." Major Henchy replied indifferently, "If you want to thank you, it's better to thank the Archduke and His Royal Highness Theresa for their love for you."

Until now, he has not forgotten to emphasize his true allegiance... Aegron could only shrug in embarrassment.

"I understand. What advice do you have now?"

"We have won the victory now, but it's not the time to stop, and we should continue to act quickly." Major Henchy expressed his judgment, "I personally recommend that you directly order your return to the division and help your captain of the guard solve other problems. enemy on one side."

"You mean to give up the pursuit?" Aegron immediately understood what he meant.

Major Henchy nodded slightly, but it was enough to show his will.

"What if the tragedy of 1815 was repeated?" Aigron whispered. "Don't forget that Blücher was also defeated, but he still got to that damned Waterloo and ended it all."

"The situation in 1815 is completely different from this time." Major Henchy replied decisively, "Blücher was in charge of a Prussian army that had a deep hatred for the French, and the establishment was not destroyed, but only For the time being, you have retreated; and now the enemy you are facing is an allied ally, none of them have any hatred against you, and none of them have the determination to fight to the death for their allies. Once they are defeated by you, they will be defeated in a short time. I only dare to shrink back and lick the wounds, and I will never have the courage to assemble and continue to attack you... so you can return to the division immediately and rescue your captain and Nafpaktos."

Major Henchy's words made sense and instantly made Aegron make up his mind.

"You're right, it doesn't do me much good to chase such a retreating defeated army." He nodded, then clenched his fists. "After lunch, we will return to the division immediately!"

Judging from his journey here, it would take about a day to return to Nafpaktos at the normal marching speed, but if he forced the march to speed up, he would be able to arrive at night.

Although the soldiers were very tired from the two days of marching and fighting, with the morale bonus brought by today's victory, this is not impossible.

If so, why hesitate?

Major Henchy didn't reply immediately, but looked at this young man who was willing to accept advice and make decisions with gratified eyes.

"I will write a report in the future, detailing our experience to His Highness. I think His Highness should be very pleased with your performance - at least so far."

"I will only be better in the future." Aegron replied with a little pride.

Seeing the young man's competitive and ambitious face, Major Hench couldn't help but smile in his heart.

He fully understood why Archduke Karl, who had always looked above the top, valued him so much and was willing to accept this sinner's son as his son-in-law.

"Yes, I have no doubts about that." He answered leisurely with his head held high.

After making a decision, Aigron asked his guards to call Michel Ney to his side.

"Your Majesty, congratulations!" As soon as he saw him, Michelle Ney saluted respectfully, "You have led us to victory!"

"This is also what you paid for with hard work and bloodshed." Aegron replied with a smile.

Then, he said his decision again, "However, this does not mean that we have to stop, on the contrary, we have to continue to act! You give the order, the whole army will hurry to lunch, and we will march immediately after eating, Go back and free Nafpaktos...as fast as you can."

Although he was a little surprised that Aegron did not order the pursuit, Michelle Ney thought about it, and His Majesty's decision was the safest choice at present, so he did not raise any objection. "Okay, Your Majesty, I'll give you an order right away... But, why don't you show your face in front of the whole army? Everyone is so excited now, just waiting to see you."

"Of course." Agron couldn't help laughing.

Now that we have won, the morale-boosting thing still has to be done.

"Also..." Michelle Ney hesitated again.

"What else?" Agron asked.

"We took hundreds of prisoners this time," Michel Ney replied. "If we return to the division immediately, what will they do?"

This is indeed a problem. It is obviously impossible to force the army with prisoners. If he is detained here, he will not have enough rations to feed them.

As for killing them all, it would be pointless and detrimental to his own reputation.

"We don't have time to contain them, so collect their weapons and let them go... and let them take their wounded." Aigron hesitated and replied, "Hundreds of people can't change the balance of victory and defeat, they even Go back, I don't have the guts to fight against us for the time being."

"Yes!" Michelle Ney immediately accepted his order.

Aegron can clearly feel that as he leads his knights through battles and victories, his prestige is gradually being established - in the past his authority came from the name; now his authority is more It comes from trusting him personally.

No matter what order he gives, as long as it is his will, it will be obeyed by his subordinates.

This is the result he wants to see.

Now, it is time to continue to consolidate that authority.

"After we leave, you leave one or two hundred people to guard the castle, monitor the movements here, collect the captured weapons that we didn't have time to take away, and take care of the seriously wounded who couldn't take them away." Aegron added his final order. "Be sure to leave them with the most adequate provisions."

Although limited by his current resources, most of the wounded will definitely not get enough treatment, but he must not show any idea of ​​voluntarily abandoning them.

"Yes!"

Michel Ney quickly communicated Aigron's order to the entire army.

Although everyone was exhausted after the fierce battle, the joy of victory made them gladly accept His Majesty's order.

The battlefield was quickly swept away, all sporadic resistance was smoothed out, and before lunch, under the organization of the officers, all the soldiers who were still able to move, even if they were slightly wounded, were organized into a neat order. The square array, arranged on both sides, leaves a passageway in the middle.

Aigron in military uniform strode across the middle road, waving to the soldiers from time to time.

When he came to the end of the last phalanx, he suddenly took off his hat, raised it high, and waved his hat to all the soldiers who just fought for him.

"Long live!"

"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"

"Long Live the Empire!"

The young man was answered with deafening cheers.

The cheers echoed in the valley, and it seemed to shake the earth. At this time, Major Henchy was in an inconspicuous corner of the battlefield, quietly watching the young man who was in the distance.

It's that familiar voice again...

Having served in the Austrian army for many years, he has heard this cry in too many places. At this time, the old dream is rekindled, how can he not let him evoke those memories of the past?

Twenty years of unquenchable war, and the blood that permeated the entire European continent...

Forget it, let's talk about it later.

He cut off his own thoughts.

At the same moment, in another corner of the wilderness, there were two other people silently watching the glorious scene in the distance.

Edgar looked at his loyal Majesty and the soldiers who were celebrating with great interest. His fingers were shaking unconsciously, as if he was thinking of a new painting.

And Agnes, who was dressed in men's clothes but couldn't hide her beauty, was also staring at the young man who was clearly handsome but inexplicably full of majesty.

She had never seen such a dazzling peer in Paris - and she was sure she would never meet again.

Her eyes flashed with light, it was admiration, she was dissatisfied, she finally saw the excitement of a strong man, her admiration for the nature of a girl...or something else?

Maybe she couldn't tell herself.

"Your Majesty, he is handsome enough," Edgar said coldly at this moment. "Well, even if he can't be emperor, he will be enough to fascinate all of Paris - I bet."

"Maybe." Agnes replied with a lack of interest. "If his fame and fame were not so important, he could have become a swordsman who could shine for the entire era."

"Being an emperor is much more interesting than being a swordsman!" Edgar retorted with a smile.

This is true, so Agnes can only be speechless.

"Hey... I'm really sorry for you." Edgar narrowed his eyes slightly, then sighed regretfully, "Also for Alice."

Agnes was initially puzzled, but soon understood.

Then her cheeks turned crimson, and she gave Edgar an angry look. "Didn't I tell you not to mention this again?!"

Although he knew that the other party could tear him to pieces easily, Edgar was not afraid at the moment, instead he asked the other party instead.

"Agnes, are you so angry because of shame or regret?"

Agnes paused for a moment, then answered sharply. "It's none of your business!"

"As your brother-in-law, how can I not care about you?" Edgar sighed again, "To be honest, I am really regretful, after all, Your Majesty has no one to replace... It's a pity that Her Royal Highness Teresa got there first! For this, I want to curse the Austrian Emperor!"

Agnes was so angry that she was about to make a move.

"In fact, nothing is a foregone conclusion," Edgar said suddenly. "After all, they haven't gotten married yet. The marriage contract can be changed at any time, right? Your Majesty is a poet, and he will always act with anger."

He knew in his heart that once a person with such a temper of your Majesty made any decision, he would never change it easily, and even now, the situation would not allow this young man to go back on his words—

Teresa worked for him in front of and behind the stage, and used her identity to seek help for young people in various ways. On the one hand, she was kind to His Majesty; on the other hand, she was also in this situation, in the whole The organization has great influence. If His Majesty really dares to break the contract, if nothing else, the Austrians around him will not spare him.

Therefore, no matter from an emotional or utilitarian point of view, this marriage is already a certainty, and it is absolutely impossible to change it.

But that didn't stop him from spreading false information about Agnes.

"But what does this have to do with me?" Agnes finally refrained from doing anything to her brother-in-law, but she didn't want to listen anymore, so she turned her head and walked away.

Edgar silently watched the slender back of his wife and sister, then shrugged slightly.