Chapter Ninety-Five: The Task of Seeing Ghosts

  Chapter 95: Encounter with an Evil Spirit

  The departure of Odin's people was without warning.

  It was almost in a short day. The big camp that was besieged by the black pressure outside became empty. The shouts of people and horses, the loud roars and angry bellows that didn't stop all night, the huge bonfires that could be lit at any time of the night, all disappeared.

  Standing on the platform, watching the Odin people's army depart in waves. The last batch of Odin people's army, those rough Odin men, even jumped off their horses and reindeer, standing in the wilderness, facing the direction they were heading, pulling down their pants to urinate, shouting loudly.

  These scenes left a deep sense of humiliation in the hearts of the Byzantine soldiers behind the walls.

  But however humiliated they may be, they can only be forced to face reality: this war. They lost.

  In response to this invasion of Otranto, the Byzantine Empire deployed five regular tagmata. This was already one-third of the empire's regular military strength.

  But the second ninth army was thoroughly defeated by Hastings' beautiful pincer movement. The fate that awaited them could only be to return home and rebuild. And the meritorious Iron Army, the 13th corps lost two of its flag teams, more than half of its main combat power. One flag team commander Sosia died in battle. Another flag team officer was injured (the silver-haired man Butler). In any case, from the point of view of military losses, the Byzantines were utterly defeated.

  What's most suffocating is that the 13th Regiment didn't even have a chance to exert their powerful combat strength. They were first drawn north by Kokoaland's troops, and then after their old nest was raided, they were forced to rush back to reinforce. Their strong combat strength was wasted on back-and-forth rushes. The warriors' physical strength wasn't consumed in battles with the enemy, but rather in the repeated urgent marches...

  It doesn't matter. The losses are even greater. This war for the Byzantine Empire has achieved its most important military objective: to keep the enemy at bay outside the national gates.

  The Ao people never really set foot on the territory of the Byzantine Empire for war. It started in Ye Huo Yuan and also ended in Ye Huo Yuan.

  However, the initiative was in the hands of the Odin people. They did not further expand their gains. Not that they couldn't, but it seemed... they just didn't think so.

  They devoured two and a half legions of Byzantine troops. It was enough for the Ottomans to return home with glorious songs.

  One twist is: contrary to what Xia Ya had guessed earlier. Hastings never occupied Wildfire Town!

  From start to finish. This general never even sent a small team of people to Ye Huo Town! It seems that from the beginning, he didn't plan to push the Third Army to desperation! Or rather, from the very beginning, he never planned to fight to the death with the Thirteenth Army.

  Got it. Xia Ya was silent for a moment, then cursed with a smile, and didn't show any signs of frustration at all.

  He's Hastings. The most formidable Odinian. What am I? Just a small soldier. It's not strange that I couldn't guess his intentions either.

  Auden's troops retreated for three days. Three days of heavy reconnaissance were scattered and searched carefully. It was confirmed that Auden had indeed retreated. This news made General Adrick's face gloomy, but let Fatso Lu breathe a sigh of relief.

  Just as Adrick was humiliated and enraged by his defeat, the fat man had already ordered his troops to pack up and prepare to return home with joy.

  For Shaya, he experienced the end of his first war, although neither side was his home country. However, this war left a heavy mark on his life trajectory. In this war, he met his first friend in life and also lost his first friend. Due to his bravery and outstanding performance in battle, Adrik promoted Shaya to Knight - the highest rank of low-ranking officers in the Byzantine military system. According to the composition of the Byzantine cavalry, ten people form a team, five teams form a ride, ten riders form a battalion, five battalions form a flag, and five flags form an army.

  Xia Ya was a cavalry captain, already a low-ranking officer who could lead fifty cavalrymen - in fact, for most civilians-turned-imperial-soldiers, this step was the highest position they could possibly reach in their lifetime.

  This appointment was not questioned by anyone. After all, Xia Ya's performance on the battlefield is obvious to everyone. Whether it was the courage that made people sigh in defending the city, or the bravery of being injured by Hastings on the battlefield, everyone in the 13th Legion admired him - especially when he led two hundred miscellaneous cavalry out of the city and rushed into the enemy group to support the rear team, showing fearless courage, which is even more heartbreaking.

  Adek highly appreciates Shaya. Promoted Shaya to Riding General. Not demoting him to the lower combat troops, but... the Imperial Guard!

  With the special position of the Imperial Guard, each Imperial Guard can have a dedicated attendant. So, counting down, Xia Ya's 50 cavalrymen, plus another 50 attendants, and most attendants also have certain combat capabilities. Therefore, he actually has 100 people under his command! Combat power doubled out of thin air!

  Uh... Of course. If every vassal were like Duōluó, I'm afraid the combat effectiveness wouldn't just double, but would instead decrease due to carrying a bunch of useless burdens on their backs.

  As the commander of a legion, Adrick's personal guard had a battalion-sized organization. The highest military rank in the personal guard was the Captain of the Guard - however, what made Shia suspicious was that it seemed like the position of Adrick's Captain of the Guard had been vacant since he arrived at the 13th Legion.

  In the past, it was all bald-headed Kevin who played the role of Captain of the Guard. Exercising the duties of the Captain of the Guard. However, bald-headed Kevin himself was just a cavalry captain.

  Xia Ya quietly asked others in the Imperial Guard, but found that everyone avoided talking about it. Occasionally, when Xia Ya asked too much, they would reveal a bitter smile and whisper to him: This is a taboo topic in the Imperial Guard. General Adrick ordered not to discuss this topic.

  A name he had heard several times again reached Xia Ya's ears:

  Weiya... It is said that this person was the former captain of the Imperial Guard. However, what he is doing there now, Ya does not know.

  One time, Sharba got drunk and casually said a couple of sentences: I heard that Vaya is a very formidable guy. He's the only one in the entire 13th Legion who dares to slam his fist on the table and glare at General Adrick.

  In the 13th Legion, who dares to slam their fist on the table and glare at General Adrick? This statement made Shia very skeptical. As far as Shia knew, in the 13th Legion, from top to bottom, almost every order given by General Adrick was obeyed unconditionally. Adrick's prestige in this army was unparalleled - so much so that even if there was a huge fire pit in front of him, he would still...

  "One word: 'Jump'! Then the entire 13th Army with tens of thousands of soldiers will jump forward, even if it means using their own bodies to fill this pit!"

  Even if it's the 13th Legion, everyone assumes that Sosia is General Adrick's successor. To Adrick, he is also a small and respectful guard. How dare you argue with the general?!

  They stayed in the garrison for a few days. During this time, General Adrick met with Xia several times. Xia's merits this time were great, and the general had already clearly stated that there would definitely be a report of Xia's merits in the military newspaper. As for the rewards, it was necessary to wait for the final decision from above before they could be issued.

  However, there is one thing: the achievement of defeating and wounding Hastings in a duel on the battlefield cannot be credited to Shaya. After all, nominally speaking, it was "Imperial First-Class Knight Lord Bonfret" who dueled Hastings at that time.

  Xia Ya was uninterested in this achievement and readily accepted this seemingly unfair decision.

  To put it bluntly: accepting this credit is equivalent to being targeted by Hasting! What kind of credit is this? It's clearly a huge scapegoat. Who backs who dies!

  However, Derek readily agreed to several of Shaya's requests. Including transferring Sharuba and Kato to the cavalry where Shaya was located. Sharuba was originally the deputy commander of the cavalry. This powerful man came over just in time to serve as Shaya's deputy. As for Kato... his arrival made the fifty cavalrymen who were originally transferred under Shaya's command extremely happy. Everyone knew that with the arrival of a smuggler like Kato, it would be much more convenient for the people in this cavalry to obtain some contraband.

  Xia Ya had another request, which was to transfer a person named Soyet (SOLLEATER) under his own name as his second attendant. Although Xia Ya was just a small cavalry captain, having two attendants was somewhat too ostentatious and not in line with military conventions. However, Adelric still approved it without hesitation.

  Because. This is the house of Soite. He was a subordinate of the bald-headed man Kevin. After Kevin's death in battle, Soite should have either retired and gone home or entered the auxiliary camp to work as an artisan or groom, etc. However, Shaya specifically wanted this person for himself.

  Suoyi Te is a groom. He knows some simple blacksmithing skills. He is a sturdy and robust man. He can ride horses. His strength is not small either. He has even learned a bit of cavalry combat techniques passed down in the military. Unfortunately, he was born with a slightly slow reaction. Whether speaking or doing things, he is always half a beat slower than others. So he has been stuck in the position of attendant and cannot progress further.

  His reactions are a bit slower. For example: if everyone is listening to the same joke together, after the joke is finished, everyone bursts out laughing, but Soirot's face remains calm and expressionless. Then half an hour later, when others have already started talking about other topics, this guy will suddenly burst out laughing. Similarly... if you punch him in the face, he'll look at you with a completely expressionless face, then half an hour later, he'll suddenly start wailing in pain.

  One of the main reasons why Ya wanted to get him under his command was that Soyet was Kevin's fellow countryman.

  The arrival of Soyet. Made Doro a little excited. The noble magician thought with joy. He finally could get rid of his humble and menial life. This newcomer looked silly. With his own clever brain, he couldn't play this guy around his fingers?

  It can be very fast. The magician has brought about his own tragic end...

  Suoyite is diligent and hardworking. He can do the same job, brush the horses clean, whether it's shoeing or repairing armor and weapons, he can handle it, and do it quickly and well.

  The common saying goes: It's not that I don't know the goods, it's just that the goods are comparable.

  Originally, Dororo was under Shaya's command. Although he worked a bit slowly and roughly and lazily, he ate more too. But Shaya thought it was still passable. However, after Soite came, upon comparison, the magician seemed especially useless... As a result, poor Dororo would be scolded harshly by Toto for his low work efficiency.

  On the third day, Soyet took the initiative to find Doro and put forward a suggestion: "Divide your wages into three parts, one of which will be given to me. In the future, I can do things on purpose slowly."

  Duoduo is indignant and resentful!! He wanted to expose him, but after careful consideration. Comparing the guy's honest and simple expression with his own treacherous and sinister appearance... even thinking about it with his heels, he could guess who others would believe!

  The reluctant contribution was one-third of his wages. The magician looked up at the sky with a sorrowful expression.

  "My god! Who's the idiot!!!"

  After several days of preparation, the newly appointed cavalry commander, Xia Yalai, was summoned to General Adrick's large tent. He received a mission: to deliver a detailed military report to the war zone headquarters.

  At the same time, because of his outstanding performance in battle, Shaya was awarded the Imperial "Eagle Head Medal". After returning to the military department in the war zone, he himself could receive the medal from the commander-in-chief. Moreover, he could also receive a generous reward.

  This is considered a good errand with no danger and can also bring both fame and fortune.

  But apart from this task, there is an additional small task.

  Xia Ya will lead his 150 cavalrymen south. They will escort a noble person back along the way. As long as they send him back to the military department in the war zone, their mission will be accomplished. And this precious guy being escorted is...

  It was this time on the battlefield. Single-handedly defeating Odin's War God, Hestin. And with his own strength, he recreated the Empire's new meritorious subject. The noble Empire's First-Class Knight, Lord Bonfret...

  Hearing this order, Xia was thoroughly stunned.

  He stared intently at General Deak. From his serious expression, he confirmed that the general was not joking.

  But... let me escort Bonfre's little white face?

  What's going on? The whole 13th battalion knows that I have a grudge against that little white face Liang Zi!

  Hesitated for half a day. Xia Ya's face was red. He smiled bitterly and said: "That... General, I dare to ask you something. You... uh... You..."

  "Let it rip!" Adrick jeered.

  "Hmm... You're sure. You're not implying that I... take advantage of this and get rid of the old man?"

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