บท 243: Hollow Square 3
Translator: Cinder Translations
...
Just as Jaius's horse had raised its front hooves, several cannonballs whistled through the air. A 6-pound cannonball flew past his face, barely missing him. The cannonball struck the ground not far away, sending a spray of dirt into his face. The still-powerful cannonball bounced back up.
"Whoosh—"
The left front leg of a nearby warhorse was shattered by the ricocheted cannonball, emitting a pained cry before collapsing on the ground, unable to rise again. The rider on its back was thrown to the ground, eating dirt.
The cannonball continued to bounce across the ground, as if plowing through the field, wreaking havoc wherever it went. Cavalry and horses in its path were in dire straits—some were injured by a near miss, others by glancing hits, and some were outright killed.
The first round of cannon fire was just a trial shot. The Alden artillery fired 6 cannonballs, hitting the target only twice. However, due to the enemy's dense formation, they still managed to kill two men and three horses, and heavily wound four men and five horses.
"Scatter! Scatter!"
This time, Jaius didn't need to remind them. The Kent family cavalry unit fell into chaos, their once-tight formation breaking apart in a noisy disarray. Even without the knights urging them, the frightened warhorses began to run amok.
"Run! Speed up!"
To avoid being targeted by the "Thunder Hammer," the cavalry urged their horses to run faster.
Jaius, nearly scared out of his wits, was drenched in cold sweat. The recent close call had left his right cheek still feeling a burning sensation.
Not far from their last position, several more "boom" sounds erupted as the artillery stationed at another corner of the square opened fire!
This round of cannon fire achieved no results, but the immense threat of the artillery further unsettled the cavalry.
After several rounds of artillery fire and the loss of a few more men, Jaius finally realized the situation he was facing—he had no way to deal with the square formation in front of him!
His cavalry could not get close to the enemy, while the enemy's "Thunder Hammer" could chase them down. Moreover, the "Thunder Hammer"'s firing rate, range, and power far exceeded those of similar weapons like catapults and crossbows.
"Retreat!"
Resigned to reality, Jaius decisively gave the order to retreat, leading his knights and attendants in a loosely formed group back in the direction they came from.
The Alden "Thunder Hammer" followed them closely, "sending them off" until they were out of range.
...
Bryce watched the enemy's retreat through his telescope.
"It seems the enemy isn't pretending to retreat!"
He then ordered the hollow square formation to be disbanded, with one battalion and the artillery company maintaining vigilance around, while the second battalion and the transport company cleaned the battlefield.
After the order was given, the battlefield suddenly fell into an eerie silence.
This silence lasted only a few seconds before being shattered by the sudden uproar.
"Victory!" "Victory!"
All the officers and soldiers erupted in ecstatic cheers.
"We won!"
Everyone's face was lit up with excitement, filled with a sense of pride.
New recruits were naturally jubilant, and the veterans, too, despite having participated in the eradication of pirates and the suppression of the Baird rebellion, found the thrill of the recent battle unmatched.
Just now, I faced nearly 300 knights head-on!
When I return, I can boast about this for a lifetime, and pass down the glory of my deeds to future generations.
Strictly speaking, nearly half of the Kent family's cavalry were knightly retainers, but to the earlier rank-and-file soldiers, they made no difference. As long as they rode majestic—what they considered majestic—horses and wore splendid—what they considered splendid—armor, they were regarded as untouchable big shots.
Now, over 200 of these formerly untouchable big shots had been driven away in disgrace by me and my companions, leaving many dead bodies behind.
"Lord protect us like the wind, thunder, and lightning~ Who doesn't know Lord Grayman and his soldiers~"
"Lord Grayman~ My lord~ Hero with the shining laurel~ Your soldiers are forever the most loyal~"
"As long as you continue to lead us in sweeping away the enemy~ We will turn the whole world upside down for you~"
The soldiers spontaneously sang the song they had sung during their march, growing more and more enthusiastic.
What had earlier seemed a bit boastful now felt completely heartfelt after the recent battle. The officers and soldiers were fully immersed in the moment.
"Bang!"
The sudden gunshot stopped everyone from continuing their celebration.
Deputy Commander Joyce, with a stern expression, held a smoking pistol in his right hand and said coldly, "If I had slightly adjusted the aim of my gun earlier, one of you would be dead by now."
He then exchanged a glance with Bryce.
Bryce was first taken aback, then quickly realized, his face briefly showing a hint of embarrassment—he had been caught up in the excitement with the others.
"Ahem!" He cleared his throat, adopting a serious expression and commanding loudly, "Reconnaissance team, send someone to chase after them to confirm if they have truly retreated!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, several riders emerged from the formation and sped off towards the direction of the Kent family cavalry's retreat.
Bryce said solemnly to everyone:
"I understand the excitement you all feel right now, but we are still on the battlefield and must prioritize vigilance. Such situations are not to happen again! Immediately execute my previous orders!"
"Yes, sir!"
Everyone composed themselves and responded in unison.
The First Infantry Battalion and the artillery company continued their vigilance, while the Second Infantry Battalion and the transport company dispersed into teams to search and clean the battlefield.
"Look! This horse is tall and strong! Perfect for pulling cannons!"
"This armor looks valuable! So shiny... Oh, and a bag of money!"
"I must remind you that all spoils of war must be reported!"
The battlefield was filled with laughter and chatter. Despite being briefly intimidated by Major Joyce, the joy of victory had not diminished at all.
Many of the Kent family's cavalry had become prisoners of the Alden army. They were either injured and unable to move or had lost their horses and were caught after fleeing on foot.
Alden soldiers gathered the remaining prisoners who could still walk and ordered loudly, "Line up and stand still!"
Some of the prisoners, being knights, tried to put on airs:
"I must remind you, commoner! I am a noble knight… Ow! How dare you hit me!"
"Go to hell! You still have the nerve to act proud!"
"I protest! You cannot treat a knight like this! Bring your commander over here!"
"Protest? Shut up or I'll have you shot!"
Seeing the "Thunder Hammer" in the soldiers' hands, the prisoners quieted down.
As the Alden army busied themselves, dust rose again on the northern road, and the soldiers cleaning the battlefield immediately became alert.
"It's the cavalry of the Heller family from earlier!"
An officer with a telescope recognized them.
(End of the Chapter)
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