Chapter 137

As soon as he heard Frost Lieutenant’s orders, Architel Duke shouted in a loud voice.

“It’s Count Croilet’s trap! All forces, retreat from this place as quickly as possible!”

No matter how capable a general may be, when caught off guard by a sudden ambush in an open battlefield without any geographical features, they pause in confusion.

This is because, when faced with such a situation, one tends to freeze up and not act, driven by their survival instinct.

It’s much like when we’re walking along a road and unexpectedly feel that we are about to be hit by a car—our bodies become rigid.

However, while infantry might manage, knights will collide with each other the moment they suddenly stop.

This leads to immense casualties; thus, in such situations, the best way to minimize damage is to keep moving straight ahead.

When driving a car, it’s always better to hit a few nearby cars than to cause a head-on collision.

Surely, how could one make such a judgment when already in shock from being attacked on their weakest flank?

“Relay the command to the cavalry to the left and the infantry! After the Frost-controlled regiments fire, the horses will start to panic! Take that opportunity for the infantry to hit the enemy’s front, while our knights attack their right flank!”

“Yes, understood!! Helz! You must immediately request support from the rear and tell them to dispatch troops to strike the enemy’s front!”

After I relayed the orders, Beerman completely halted the horses when our knights were about 200 meters outside our own firing range.

At that moment, the enemy accelerated, trying to escape the front of the matchlock rifle regiment led by Frost, but it was already too late.

As black smoke, reminiscent of a dark cloud, rose from where the regiment was standing, thunderous sounds echoed, shaking the sky.

While it looked like the black clouds seen during a storm, it was not thunder and lightning that poured out from within …

But rather, lead projectiles cascading down like a rainstorm, more frightening than a thousand thunders.

As the projectiles flew, hell opened up among those who had just moments ago been confidently pursuing us, having fallen into the trap.

Horses and men struck by bullets were pierced through their thickly encased armor as if it were mere paper, and blood, entrails, and muscle scattered in the air.

Seeing this, the knights beside me couldn’t hide their shock and exclaimed.

“This is an unbelievable sight… how can the armor worn by knights be pierced so easily to cause death? And why do they die so brutally, scattering blood like that…”

I did not respond to those words.

Soon after, the blood spilled by the knights who were hit by bullets began to rise.

Their blood scattered as if watering the thirsty grass and weeds of the Wine Plain, and knights and horses began to collapse after they bled.

Witnessing this spectacle, the enemy soldiers and horses finally seemed to grasp reality, starting to scream wildly in madness.

Some knights began to wildly swing their swords in the air, making large movements that could be seen from a distance.

The horses, seemingly in shock, violently shook their bodies in all directions, throwing their riders to the ground and began to rear.

The rampaging horses, whether crushing their riders or not, charged recklessly at everything around them, intent on escaping this hellish place.

In that chaos, some knights tried to calm their own horses.

“Hey! Leon… calm down!! I am your master…”

“Ugh! Stop!! I am not an enemy!! Those over there are the enemies!”

Some drew their blades or flails, refusing to be killed by their out-of-control horses.

“You crazy beast! Even if you are a horse head, are you trying to trample your master to death?”

“Damn you, die!!!”

In that situation, Architel Duke and some knights drew their swords and shouted to regain control of the troops.

“Calm down! If we stop here, we will fall deeper into that wicked Count Croilet’s trap!!”

“Those who wish to survive, follow me!! We will break out of here and join the infantry!!!”

“Those who run away or are frightened shall die here, but only the knights who fight with the resolution to die will survive with honor!!”

Even if they shouted like that, horses continued to rampage and slaughter friendly knights, while gunfire could break out beside them at any moment, and only a few could act.

And in their frightened voices, who would listen and regain their courage?

Amidst that, Frost Lieutenant seemed to continue preparing to attack, mechanically following my commands.

A white flag signaling readiness to fire in rows one to three was raised, and the matchlock rifle regiment advanced again.

Seeing this scene, I tapped the shoulder of a knight standing beside me, who was dazed, and said.

“You must immediately go to Frost Lieutenant and tell him to conduct a single round of crossfire and then wait. After that, let him know we’ll hit their flank.”

“Yes, yes… understood.”

The knight I ordered quickly galloped toward where Frost Lieutenant was located.

Meanwhile, approximately 1,500 infantry were approaching at a speed barely able to maintain their formation toward our front.

What if the infantry crashed into the enemy right as we hit their flank?

The enemy knights would be completely routed, and the infantry witnessing that would think the war was lost and flee.

Waiting for that timing, if we set up even a simple trap, we could inflict maximum damage on the enemy infantry.

As I organized my thoughts, I began to see the enemy’s infantry closing in, establishing their formation.

“Command the messenger to tell Lieutenant Short’s unit to scatter caltrops about 500 meters behind the enemy.”

“Yes, understood.”

Also, it seemed that both horses and knights were gradually recovering their stamina and breathing easily.

I turned my horse’s head toward the direction of the enemy knights, drew my sword, and pointed it at them while saying.

“Even though they are dying from the fire of our matchlock rifle regiment, they are elite knights! This means that if Architel Duke and these knights return alive from this battlefield, it will only lead to greater sacrifices! So, comrades… we will launch a final attack against them, ensuring that not a single one returns safely from this place. All forces, follow me!”

After finishing those words, I spurred my horse and sped toward the right flank of the enemy knights.

Already, in this war, Architel Duke must have suffered so many casualties that it would be impossible to rescue even the most capable commanders in the world.

I had not received reports on the infantry’s situation, but no matter how they charged fiercely, once the vanguard was cut down, there was no way to defeat our forces unless a miracle occurred.

Thus, the infantry led by Balt must surely be achieving overwhelming victory.

And Architel Duke’s proud knights were also receiving an immense barrage of gunfire…

Surely, when combining the dead and wounded, it must exceed 30%, nearing total annihilation.

Even though they had achieved an overwhelming victory in the war, Architel Duke had already shown a willingness to command his mercenaries, ordering them to advance and shoot arrows at such great losses.

With that determination, someday he would persuade the knights and nobles to wage war against us once again.

And that timing would undoubtedly be the worst for us.

Therefore, we must ensure to kill as many of them as we can, instilling maximum fear.

Of course, there is a limit to that; I have no intention of committing any form of massacre after the war is over.

In any case, simply showing that the Duke is considering recovering his territory would cause his knights and serfs to go into convulsions, contemplating rebellion, making our rear secure.

Only by doing so can I avoid showing this horrific sight to Irina, Ela, and Victoria as a count.

Thinking such thoughts while riding my horse, the knight beside me said to me.

“Your Excellency, we are about to encounter the enemy.”

“I understand.”

Upon hearing that, I looked at the enemies before me.

They still hadn’t escaped from the confusion from moments ago, and the horses were still rampaging.

The knights were straining with all their might to control their rearing horses, but it was useless, and some had given up everything and were sitting down.

Moreover, the gunfire was clearly only coming from the left side…

The blood spilled by soldiers far off on the left was flowing like a river across to this side, the opposite of their formation.

I had not yet seen hell, but I couldn’t help but think this might be it if it existed in this world.

And the enemy knights, now realizing we were approaching, began to scream.

“P-please spare us!! We will surrender!!”

“We are knights!! We will pay any ransom you ask!!!”

“Aaaah!”

As we began to approach, some were so overwhelmed by fear that they fainted…

But war is inherently this terrifying and terrible.

To at least show them a modicum of mercy, I raised my sword emblazoned with my family crest.