Translator: Cinder Translations
...
On the plains near the Duke's territory, the Alden army, under the command of Schroeder, faced off from a distance with the Duke's forces.
He ordered his troops to form tight, defensive formations and positioned two-thirds of the cannons on the nearby high ground. Once the enemy entered effective range, they would open fire to disrupt the enemy's deployment. The Alden army was significantly outnumbered, so it was crucial to prevent the enemy from getting too close with their attacking formations.
"Do not move until the rear units arrive. We will wait before launching our attack," Schroeder directed the assembled officers.
Across from them, the mercenary captain Fergus was observing the enemy with interest.
He glanced over and remarked, "Their formations are quick to change and well-organized. They're leagues ahead of those so-called 'armies' from the Northwest Bay. No wonder you're so afraid of them."
Emerson, standing beside him, sighed. "Captain Fergus, less talk and more action. We need to figure out how to deal with the army in front of us."
Fergus grinned. "Fancy formations don't win battles. It's the solid skills that count."
He waved his hand. "Stick to the plan."
...
"Cavalry! The enemy cavalry is charging at us!"
An officer with a telescope shouted urgently. The second and third battalions were engaged in their first direct confrontation with the Duke's army, and tensions were high.
Schroeder ordered, "Stay calm. Notify the artillery to open fire and delay the enemy's advance. Infantry! Form up in squares to meet the enemy!"
Following his command, two infantry battalions quickly formed a large hollow square.
A rumbling sound filled the air as the artillery on the hillside and near the square fired, targeting the advancing cavalry with crossfire.
The Kent family's cavalry had learned their lesson and avoided dense formations this time. They spread out to reduce the hit rate of solid shot.
However, casualties from the artillery fire were still significant, with many horses and riders injured by the bouncing cannonballs.
The cavalry closed in on the square, and the soldiers facing the enemy immediately opened fire. The battlefield was a cacophony of shouting, gunfire, and cries of pain amidst the smoke.
"Fire only when they're within 50 meters! You fools!"
Baron Andrew, the commander of the Byerldine Battalion, lashed out at the soldiers who prematurely fired. The soldiers, nervous and inexperienced with firearms, fired too early. While bullets had power at this range, accuracy relied heavily on skill.
The first volley from the Byerldine Battalion was ineffective. Andrew glanced at the second battalion across the field and saw that they had downed far more enemies. He felt frustrated and embarrassed.
These troops were a disgrace to himself, to Earl Ganard, and to the Byerldine Battalion.
The Duke's cavalry continued to press the attack. Some knights, armored and wielding lances, poked at the square. Many soldiers were impaled by lances, which, despite not penetrating their armor, still caused severe injuries.
The constant crackle of muskets could be heard from within the square as cavalrymen fell to the ground, unable to rise. The Duke's troops used a loose formation to approach the Alden army, reducing their chances of being hit but also diminishing their impact.
The cavalry charge yielded no remarkable results. Fergus and Emerson's faces were grim. Many officers, new to fighting the Alden army, were stunned. They had expected a battalion in a square formation to collapse quickly.
"These are no ordinary troops!"
Fergus's expression grew more serious. Despite his arrogance, he never underestimated any enemy; otherwise, he would have been eliminated long ago in his brutal career.
He looked towards the distant hillside, hoping things were going well there.
...
"Where are the cannons? Why aren't they firing?"
After nearly an hour of cavalry charges and harassment, the enemy cavalry withdrew to their starting position, and the Alden army resumed their line formation.
Schroeder's tense nerves relaxed slightly, but he quickly became alarmed again—there had been no activity from the cannons on the hillside for a while. A sense of dread filled him.
Unfortunately, his fears were confirmed when a group of men ran down from the hillside. He immediately ordered his troops to assist.
The situation was clear; Schroeder was furious and confused. How could the cannon positions have been lost? With the elevated position and powerful firepower, what enemy could possibly capture it?
"Lord Schroeder, the position... the position has been lost," a red-faced artillery officer reported, deeply ashamed.
"Tim! Where is Tim? Get him out here!"
The old knight was enraged, searching for the artillery commander. It was unacceptable for them to retreat without orders, especially with so many men still on site. The responsible party needed to face immediate justice.
The critical issue was that nearly 20 cannons were left on the position, essentially handed over to the enemy.
An officer, nervously, answered in a low voice, "Lieutenant... Lieutenant led the rear guard and has been killed."
Schroeder fell silent. He could not blame the dead. Moreover, artillery was a valuable technical asset, and Tim's decision must have been made with that in mind.
After questioning, Schroeder learned that while the artillery focused on the cavalry, another enemy force had quietly approached the high ground using the cover of trees and grass.
"It was longbowmen. It's clear now—accurate, fast-shooting. Many of our men were struck by arrows, and the infantry defending the position was quickly suppressed."
"You had scatter shot, why didn't you use it at such close range?"
No one answered Schroeder's question.
"You! Speak!"
The old knight roared at a lieutenant, causing nearby soldiers to flinch.
The lieutenant, instinctively standing straight, answered loudly, "Sir! We didn't anticipate a large number of longbowmen and didn't bring enough scatter shot to the high ground as required."
Schroeder was at a loss for words. While the first and third battalions fought fiercely outside, the second and fourth battalions stationed in Alden and Byerldine had grown complacent in their relatively easy duty.
Discipline needed to be enforced, but the most urgent task was to recover the artillery position. Firearms were the Alden army's greatest reliance and could not be casually left to the enemy.
Fortunately, during the retreat, the artillerymen had brought back the draft horses and gunpowder. The enemy couldn't immediately transport the cannons away or obtain the gunpowder for analysis.
(End of the Chapter)
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