บท 241: Hollow Square
Translator: Cinder Translations
...
"Fix bayonets!" "Fix bayonets!"
A clattering sound filled the air as the Alden soldiers fixed bayonets onto their rifles.
"Officers forward!"
Colonel Bryce's roar was immediately echoed by Deputy Commander Joyce: "Officers forward!"
No one moved, as the officers of each company, platoon, and squad were already positioned at the front of their respective units.
The Kent family cavalry was drawing closer, now less than 500 meters from the square formation.
"Prepare!" "Prepare!"
The outermost row of soldiers on the two sides of the square formation knelt on one knee, while the second and third rows remained standing. The soldiers in the third row aimed their muskets through the gaps between the soldiers in the front rows, with all three rows pointing their rifles forward.
"Steady, steady!"
"Do not fire without orders!"
Markalov quietly reminded those around him. Many soldiers, especially those new to the battlefield, might not be able to resist firing prematurely when facing rapidly advancing enemies, regardless of whether the enemy was within range or not.
Jos nervously wiped his sweaty left palm against his body, then re-cocked the trigger. He had originally been a left-handed shooter, holding the rifle in his left hand and pulling the trigger with his right. After some training, Sergeant Markalov had forcibly corrected this habit according to the "1991 Infantry Training Regulations" (compiled and issued by the General Staff). However, in this tense moment, Jos had subconsciously reverted to his original habit.
He had been placed in the third row, which was a "favor" for them as new recruits. Consequently, his protection was less than that of the soldiers in the first two rows. Jos only had a leather breastplate, while the soldiers in the first two rows were equipped with armor made of metal for crucial areas. After all, this was an era dominated by cold weapons, and with their ability to produce large quantities of iron, Paul had been generous in enhancing his troops' armor to handle any potential close combat.
...
Jaius smirked, his lips curling in disdain.
He recognized the flag of the blocking force ahead—it was the Grayman family, the same small lord family that almost clashed with the Kent family last year.
"Paul Grayman! Last year, sparing you was already showing great mercy. I didn't expect you to be ungrateful and continue to oppose us!"
"Grayman, look at your army! Just over a thousand conscripted farmers, with laughable weapons that are neither proper sticks nor proper guns. Those horses are merely draft horses for pulling carts. Oh! The formation is quite orderly, but what good is that?"
He signaled his subordinate with a flag to direct another group of cavalry—one to the left and one to the right—to disperse the square formation. With nearly 300 cavalry, including knights and attendants, Jaius was confident that dispersing this formation would be effortless, despite the number of soldiers being far less than the Alden army.
The combat capability of knights compared to farmers was like heaven and earth.
The leading knights brandished their javelins—unlike Earth, knights here did not consider using ranged weapons dishonorable. According to Jaius's past experience, if he and his companions threw their javelins, the newly conscripted farmers would scatter or cower on the ground, allowing them to trample the enemy once their formation was disrupted.
Moreover, the fact that there were no archers or crossbowmen in the opposing square made them even more confident. They could "tease" the enemy without restraint. Even if there were archers or crossbowmen, their low-quality weapons would struggle to inflict significant damage against the thick armor worn by his cavalry.
Closer! Closer! Colonel Bryce raised his command sword high.
In the Alden army, the hollow square formation was referred to by its four sides as front, rear, left, and right. The four battalion commanders each took responsibility for one side, with Bryce commanding the front.
Finally, the first enemy cavalry reached about 50 meters from the square formation, their javelins raised and ready.
"First row, fire!"
The command sword came down swiftly, and Bryce's order rang out across the entire formation.
"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!"
A series of musket shots rang out, and thick smoke immediately enveloped the front of the square.
The knights at the very front were immediately thrown from their horses, their javelins still raised as they toppled backward and fell to the ground.
...
"This is bad!" The fallen knight instinctively tried to roll aside, not wanting to be trampled into the mud by the uncontrollable hooves of the cavalry behind him.
But he felt something was wrong—his strength seemed to have been drained all at once, making it hard to even turn over.
Wait, what just happened? The knight's mind realized something was off.
He had only heard a loud noise, then it felt as though he was hit by something hard, and the next thing he knew, he was on the ground.
What was that thing? He hadn't seen the trajectory of the attack at all.
Suddenly, a burning sensation began to rise in the right side of his abdomen. He instinctively touched it with his hand.
A large hole—his hand's touch sent a shock through him. That thing had pierced through his thick armor!
Then came something even more terrifying.
Pain... an increasing pain... replaced the earlier burning sensation, spreading outwards from his body.
"Damn it! It hurts so much!"
The knight grabbed a handful of grass from his side and threw it into the air in frustration.
The horrifying sight that met his eyes—what should have been yellowed, dried grass was stained red by something.
...
"Second row, fire!"
The following Kent family cavalry met the same fate as their predecessors.
The two battalions deployed had replaced their flintlocks, no longer using matchlocks, allowing soldiers to line up almost shoulder to shoulder, greatly increasing the density of their firepower during volleys.
The charging cavalry were hit in various ways—some were shot, some horses were shot, and some were hit along with their riders. However, due to the inaccuracy of smoothbore guns, many managed to escape unharmed. Some horses, startled by the gunfire, ran amok with their riders.
Yet, a few fortunate ones reached within throwing range for their javelins, putting their full strength into hurling them into the square.
As a result of these few knights' attacks, there were casualties among the Alden forces.
The wounded were immediately dragged to the central open space of the square, where some newly trained medics, familiar with basic disinfection and bandaging techniques, quickly attended to them.
"Third row, fire!"
Bryce gave the order with a sense of anger, feeling a pang of pain seeing his hard-trained soldiers get injured.
The third row's musket fire swept away the Kent family cavalry who had thrown their javelins and attempted to disengage.
The first round of firing had rendered nearly 50 enemy cavalry incapacitated.
(End of the Chapter)
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