Translator: Cinder Translations
...
"On the 26th, scouts reported that the Kent family's army was advancing towards us. According to the intelligence we received, they had about 5,000 men, while our army numbered over 8,000. The disparity in numbers made everyone confident that the upcoming battle would surely result in victory."
In the lord's reception room, Viscount Derrick Heller was recounting the previous battle to Paul. Present were also Chief of Staff Schroeder, Intelligence Chief Cecil, and others.
"We arranged our formations and gradually advanced towards the enemy. Upon encountering them, their numbers were indeed much smaller than ours. However, unlike before, the Kent family's army had a large number of soldiers equipped with a special type of bow—the longbow. These must be the mercenaries Maltz hired from the south, as training longbowmen isn't something that can be done in just a month or two."
"It was late in the evening when we encountered them, so neither side was inclined to fight. We set up camp and sent a challenge letter to the enemy, agreeing to a decisive battle the next day. Although it rained heavily that night, the morale of our troops was high, filled with confidence for the battle the following day."
"On the 27th, morning arrived, and the two armies faced their fates. The enemy deployed most of their forces in a horizontal line formation, with the vanguard on the right wing and the rear guard on the left. Archers were positioned in the gaps between the formations, with the wings primarily composed of archers, arranged in a diagonal line. It seemed they had no reserve troops."
"We had also devised a battle plan: Earl Melken and Viscount Johnston would lead one cavalry unit each to charge the enemy's flanks, while I would lead another cavalry unit to encircle the enemy's rear camp and attack their supply wagons. Earl Parker and other commanders would advance infantry to attack the enemy's center."
"If the plan had proceeded as intended, the enemy would have undoubtedly collapsed under simultaneous attacks from our multiple fronts."
At this point, Derrick's face showed a mix of anger and regret. He took a large sip of wine to steady himself.
"However, the recent string of victories had clouded the minds of many. Many officers of noble birth, due to their similar statuses, were unwilling to yield to one another, causing the originally orderly plan to be messed up by these nobles eager to take credit. As a result, many units ended up in inappropriate positions, leading to a series of tragedies after the battle began."
"Another reason was the damned terrain. Due to the heavy rain the night before, the ground was extremely muddy, severely affecting the performance of our cavalry. Combined with discipline issues and road conditions, we couldn't form a proper formation, while the enemy waited calmly for our attack."
"The Kent family's army had about 3,000 longbowmen. They raised their longbows and unleashed a volley of arrows. The arrows were so dense, it was like rain—intense and rapid. Their force was so great that they could penetrate some metal armor and pierce flesh. Our army was constantly filled with the tragic cries of soldiers hit by arrows, and the panicked and injured war horses went wild, losing control. We were thrown into chaos, with men and horses in disarray."
"Wave after wave of arrows and the muddy ground severely delayed our charge. The damage caused by the longbowmen mainly affected the lightly armored retainers, with little impact on the heavily armored knights. However, due to the mud, many chose to dismount and walk. The heavy armor, designed for cavalry charges, exhausted their stamina and severely affected their agility. As a result, many were killed by the lightly armored enemy with maces and daggers after reaching the enemy lines."
"The first cavalry charge failed, but our main infantry continued to advance with shields up. At about 50 yards from the enemy, their longbowmen ceased their overhead shooting and began aiming directly. The injured in front fell, while those behind were tripped. In this constant struggle, our troops exhausted their stamina."
"In such a situation, the reasonable countermeasure would have been to use similar long-range tactics. However, our archers and crossbowmen were positioned behind the infantry and cavalry, and their range could not cover the enemy. If they had fired indiscriminately, they would have hit our own men in the front."
Derrick Heller spoke with a mix of shame and regret: "Thus, our attack failed. Earl Parker had to order a retreat, and the enemy took the opportunity to pursue us. Our men were terrified by the enemy's longbowmen and retreated in chaos, unable to mount an effective resistance."
"After that battle, out of over 8,000 troops, only about 3,000 remained. Once again, the advantage shifted to the Kent family. We regrouped the remaining troops and fought the enemy again, but were defeated once more. The enemy's longbowmen were too formidable, instilling deep fear in our soldiers."
Derrick Heller covered his face.
"And so, we retreated all the way back to Biddeburg—the place where we had regrouped before. We lost all the land we had gained, and a month's worth of gains vanished."
After hearing Derrick's account, Paul shook his head with sympathy.
"Oh, Derrick, I'm sorry things turned out this way. Have you come to seek any help from me?"
Derrick looked at Paul eagerly: "Yes, Lord Grayman, only you can turn our situation around now. We need your firearms and cannons back on the battlefield. Only those firearms can counter the enemy's longbowmen."
Paul frowned: "Derrick, you know my territory has been quite unsettled recently."
"The riots have been suppressed for a long time, haven't they?"
"Perhaps there are still mice lurking in the dark..."
"You've punished so many people; they wouldn't dare start a second uprising so soon."
Paul had no choice but to say: "Alright, Derrick. But I need to discuss it thoroughly with my commanders."
Derrick gratefully said: "Thank you, Lord Grayman. Please act quickly. Additionally, if possible, sell us a batch of firearms, even if they are outdated; we are willing to pay a high price for them."
"Well... I also need to discuss this with my subordinates."
In truth, Paul had already made up his mind. He did not want to be part of a failing alliance.
(End of the Chapter)
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