Outside Nottingham, there was a mess, and the king's army's flags were varied. The nobles and militia recruited from various counties were planning to make strategic transfers to the southwest where the royal power was stronger.

"The Earl of Essex, the commander-in-chief of the parliamentary army, led a large army to march north from London. Now that the parliamentary army has arrived in Northampton, it is only about 50 miles away from us. According to the information obtained by our spies, their number has increased from 10,000 to nearly 20,000..." Astley, the leader of the Royal Guards, compared the location of the parliamentary army and the location of the king's army on a parchment map.

Because Britain is not large in size, both sides were accumulating strength before, the war came late. When military operations were really started, the military operations of both sides were very fast. It only took a few days for 20,000 parliamentary troops to form a formation in Northampton, demanding that the king "change his mind" and accept the parliamentary treaty.

"Why are so many people willing to support Pim, Hampton and the others... They had 20,000 people at once, while we only had 6,000 people?" Charles I made up the bill verbally, and felt something was wrong.

The speed of mobilization of the parliamentary army's war is too fast!

The nobles and officers of the royal school couldn't help but think in their hearts, isn't it because of the king that you beat a good hand of cards that caused the parliamentary army to expand so quickly?

"If we march to Shrewsbury in the west and recruit soldiers locally and Wales, our number of soldiers may be similar to that of the parliamentary army, and we will have the opportunity to win. The people of the western counties will support your rule." Astley said, pointing to the western region.

"Retreat to the west for the time being." Charles I was also afraid of being defeated by the parliamentary army and being captured by the parliamentary army.

Although the combat effectiveness of the Royal Guards was stronger than that of the parliamentary militia, Charles I was indeed unsure of using the King's Army of 6,000 to deal with the 20,000 parliamentary army.

The next day, Charles I knew he was weak, so he led his soldiers to leave Nottingham and arrived in Shrewsbury to camp in 7 days.

The commander-in-chief of the parliamentary army, Earl Essex, left Northampton after hearing the news and also led his army westward. He followed Charles I's actions, but was unwilling to break out in a decisive battle. He wanted to make Charles I take the initiative to seek peace through deterrence.

In other words, the parliamentary army led by the Earl of Essex always kept a certain distance from Charles I and kept sending envoys to demand that the king accept the "Great Protest" of the parliament.

Sun Chuanting followed King Charlie to Shrewsbury, where the king continued to recruit soldiers in some counties and Wales in the Midwest. More than half a month after Charlie I arrived in Shrewsbury, the situation began to change.

King Charles and his ministers made no mistake in their judgment. The king was supported by many counties in the central and western regions. With the king's shouting, feudal landlords, Catholic nobles and their entourage cavalry came to surrender. The number of kings quickly rose from 6,000 to 15,000, and the number was still rising.

After these people arrived, they were organized into the royal army, according to their noble status and the appointment of King Charlie.

"The commander-in-chief of the parliamentary army is indecisive and delays the best opportunity for combat. If they choose an elite force to pursue us when we retreat from Nottingham, our army will not have a chance to grow." Sun Chuanting said to Astley, the leader of the Royal Guards, while patrolling the king's army.

Astley was also the king's chief military officer and Prince Rupert's teacher.

"Mr. Sun, do you know what our king's greatest reliance is?" Astley said.

Sun Chuanting frowned. What is the biggest advantage of the King's Army?

"Is it the king's identity?"

"Yes, the king has failed for a hundred times, and Britain cannot be without a king. Even if the king is defeated, as long as he raises his arms and shouts, then there will be a group of nobles and knights supporting him. He can constantly declare that the other party is rebellious and call on the kings from all over the country again and again. That is to say, the king can fail countless times, but the parliament can only fail once. The Earl of Essex, who is stationed not far away, must also understand this truth. Therefore, even if he has the advantage of military strength, he cannot beat the king very badly, otherwise the king will settle the score in the autumn and he will not be able to escape. The only way is to force the king to personally recognize the "Big Protest" so that they can consolidate the results of their victory in the spirit of the contract." Astley explained.

Sun Chuanting did not expect that the British were so entangled with the existence of the king. If they were placed in the Central Plains, once they declared war on the emperor, they would be to the death. How could they defeat the emperor and let him be the emperor for generations?

The parliament's entanglement about the king is simply giving Charles I a chance to turn the tables. The parliamentary army is completely restrained. They can defeat the king, but they cannot completely defeat the king.

This is no longer a military matter, but a decision made by thoughts and traditional culture.

"I just look at this war from the perspective of a marching array... Since the parliamentary army is bound by hands and feet, and the king's troops are increasing, can we organize the main force to secretly leave Shrewsbury, launch a raid with the city of London as the goal, and capture the place where the parliament is in one fell swoop?" Sun Chuanting put forward a bold idea.

"I have the same idea as you. Our troops have exceeded 15,000. Eliminating the old, weak, sick and disabled, we can organize 11,000 infantry and nearly 3,000 cavalry to quickly march towards the City of London. If we set out from here, and siege and village along the way and solve the pursuit, it will only take one month to conquer the City of London." Astley said.

"The heroes have similar views, so let's go and visit the king now." Sun Chuanting also wanted Charles I to win the war as soon as possible and restore order.

Sun Chuanting and Astley formulated a plan to quell the rebellion for a month. The content of the plan was very simple. The main force secretly left Shrewsbury, leaving thousands of elderly, weak, sick and disabled people to deceive the parliamentary army. When the parliamentary army reacted and chased after them, they had approached the city of London, putting huge pressure on the parliamentary army, and then defeated the parliamentary army who was hurrying back to help in the field battle, and then calmly encircled the city of London, forcing the parliamentary surrender.

After hearing the suggestions of the two, Charles I shone with his eyes and made a quick decision to implement the plan to attack the city of London!

Just as Essex, the commander-in-chief of the parliamentary army, was waiting passively, the already growing main force of the King's Army secretly left Shrewsbury and quickly marched towards the city of London under the leadership of King Charles, Prince Rupert, Astley and Sun Chuanting.
Chapter completed!