Chapter 172

Just moments ago, the sound of galloping hooves from the horses, which had seemed almost tranquil, began to grow louder.

The clattering sounds of hooves, echoes of the horses and the knights atop them became clearer and more distinct, but…

Strangely, I did not feel fear or nervousness that made my hands tremble.

This is because their target was not us, but the poor serfs of the Orleans Duke, who were too busy fighting the enemy ahead.

The lower-ranking commanders of the Orleans Duke, realizing the approaching knights and their lances, began issuing commands to the infantry as if fire had suddenly lit under their feet.

“Rows 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8—six men across, quickly turn your lances! Then kneel and plant the spear handles into the ground!! Don’t you want to live?”

“What are you doing? Turn your lances!! Kneel and drive them into the ground!! Deep! As deep as if you were hammering in a stake! Don’t you want to die?”

“If you follow orders, you can return alive!! Move as instructed!! Act like stakes—no, just act like living stakes!”

Though this was the wisest course of action they could take, the hastily conscripted serfs, who had not received proper training, were unable to follow the orders correctly.

“Ahhh… knights… the mounted knights are coming to kill us!! What is that? Why are chunks of iron coming towards us, sparkling with eyes as if they want to kill lowly Zackris like us?”

“Jack, do you want to die? You said you were going to propose to Maya back home! Then follow the orders and turn your lance!! The other veterans are already sitting and turning their lances, and you and I are the only ones left like this!”

“Shall we just run away? If we flee, we might survive. If we can just make it to Architel…”

If my goal had been to save them in this battle, I would have hurriedly covered the flanks to prevent the knights from approaching as much as possible.

However, in this war, our goal was to win with maximum losses inflicted on everyone except my family’s soldiers.

So, they would meet their deaths for the crime of having a misguided lord.

Instead, if later on they try to desert and come over to our territory, I would at least think of giving them minimal help or turning a blind eye.

And right now, I have no time for such trivial thoughts.

“All troops, maintain your positions and move back twenty paces. After that, when the third row of the enemy’s lance charge passes to the left, fire in unison. Ensure we can shoot off at least five rounds before they retreat. After that, just pretend to hold them off with your lances.”

As soon as my command was issued, the battalion commander, company commander, and squad leaders echoed the orders.

Before long, as I expected, the knights ignored us and began charging at the infantry under the Orleans Duke.

The conscripted infantry awkwardly set up a defensive formation; however, the first row of knights, clad in armor themselves, was unable to inflict significant damage.

At most, only one among twenty was killed.

But, the infantry of the Orleans Duke began to crumble like a cookie crushed by a hammer.

Even with only one or two rows having breached the enemy’s dense formation, one-third of the 200 to 300 soldiers that comprised the defensive formation completely collapsed.

As a result, shards of cheap armor the infantry wore, entrails trampled under horse hooves, and human flesh, along with red blood, burst forth like fireworks.

“Where are the reserves!! Lord Mile said we had reserves, so there wouldn’t be a problem!”

“Idiot Jack!! You can’t die yet!!”

“Smith!! Malfoy! Potter!! Uhh…”

Their screams echoed painfully even 200 meters away.

I calmly observed the enemy knights creating breaches in the infantry’s lines, calculating the optimal timing for our fire.

As the third row breached the defensive formation created by the infantry of the Orleans Duke, I raised my sword to the sky and commanded,

“Now! All forces, fire! Do not wait for further orders, just shoot wildly!!!”

“Kill them all!!”

“Let the noble knights’ blue blood flow like watering the grass!!”

With loud bangs, gray smoke filled the air, darkening my vision, and through the gaps, I saw the once gleaming silver armor of knights punctured and stained with blood.

The horses, like their riders, fell to gunfire, but unlike before, there were hardly any that panicked from the deafening sounds of gunfire.

Horses are timid animals that can be spooked just by distant thunder, yet these horses stayed calm amidst the thick black smoke and booming sounds…

It must be true that Count Architel had devised measures to train them, or perhaps he had blocked their ears to muffle the noise.

He had shown extraordinary prowess in the last battle at the Waine Plains, and here he was demonstrating similar feats…

Thanks to this, the tactic of instilling fear in the enemy’s mounts using firearms was effectively sealed.

“Cease fire! Pikemen, protect the soldiers with matchlock rifles, and those with matchlock rifles should scrape off any lead or powder residue stuck in their barrels!”

As those words were spoken, a refreshing breeze blew from the west and the acrid smoke began to clear.

When the smoke dissipated, there remained horses still dying, blood pouring from their wounds, and knights gathering their spilled entrails, with cadavers strewn everywhere.

Moreover, because they had been attacked from the side, the knights did not collide with the infantry with full force and were seen retreating, switching to secondary weapons instead of their broken lances for reorganization.

They trampled over the dying or already dead horses and knights of their comrades as they passed.

Having fired five rounds, our musket barrels were clogged with lead; without cleaning them, accurate shooting would be difficult.

“Return to the battalion! Move calmly, and be prepared to form a defensive line with lances at any moment!”

Among the 2,000 soldiers I had personally led, the pikemen held their long lances at right angles with both arms, while the matchlock riflemen held their firearms obliquely with both hands as they began to march.

As we retreated, I stopped a passing messenger to ask,

“Are Counts Ilerias and Izza still fighting on the left flank? And what of Counts Balt and Beerman, whom we sent to support them?”

“Your Excellency Count Ilerias and Count Izza have led their knights to strike at the enemy’s main forces and supply lines upon hearing that the enemy knights were charging to break through the infantry’s formation. Meanwhile, Count Balt is utilizing his matchlock rifles to repel the enemy’s attacks as best he can. The situation with Count Izza’s flank is…”

The fact that Balt was actively moving to the front confirmed that my orders to manage the damage to ensure Count Ilerias’s army did not get annihilated were being executed properly.

If that were not the case, he would have mentioned that he wasn’t fulfilling his role or requested further support.

Also, it seemed that the two Counts Ilerias and Izza had the competency to strike when the opportunity presented itself.

Otherwise, they would have sent a messenger to push for an attack much earlier…

Outwardly, our forces seemed to be in a difficult situation due to intense combat, yet everything was playing out as I had planned.

Satisfied, I handed a jeweled dagger seized from the enemy to the messenger and said,

“I understand, and I thank you for fulfilling your duty even in such circumstances.”

“No, Your Excellency. I was just doing my job.”

“Very well then. Convey to His Excellency the Duke of Orleans that the two counts have commenced their attacks, so the main army should intensify their efforts to draw attention this way. Also, tell him that I will mobilize the reserves in the rear to assist.”

“Yes, I’ll go right away.”

Just moments ago, he had looked like he was about to faint, yet now he was brimming with energy, riding away…

Indeed, valuable items and money have an undeniable charm that can push people beyond their limits.

Otherwise, there’s no way such a weary messenger could recover his stamina so quickly.

“Once we return to base, we’ll split our forces to penetrate the gaps in the formation at the company level, using pikes and firearms to ambush the enemy units and retreat repeatedly. As long as the Duke’s infantry is not in danger of annihilation, never launch reckless attacks. If you disobey my orders, I shall punish you even if we capture the enemy’s commander, Marquis Simon!”

Now, it’s time to slowly draw attention to His Excellency the Duke of Orleans in the central army.

Specifically, he should be credited for the accomplishments of three people while ensuring it’s not too blatant.