Chapter 182

Certainly, from a tactical perspective, this is not a bad choice.

Because if we anticipate the impact on our bodies when hit with a punch, we can sustain only minor injuries, but if we are caught unaware and hit unexpectedly, it can even lead to death.

In particular, the military tends to suffer much greater shocks from unforeseen impacts than individuals.

Sometimes, even if an army of several thousand can withstand an attack from tens of thousands of enemies, if a few hundred soldiers launch a nighttime surprise attack, they can very often collapse without being able to respond.

Usually, such ambushes are strange because they are a method employed by a smaller force to defeat a numerically superior enemy… However, if we cannot respond properly, we may find ourselves unable to do anything and be overwhelmed.

“Inform my barons and the Iris, Ilerias, and Orleans battalions that the threat of enemy ambush is high, and that they should thoroughly guard the flanks and rear.” “Yes, understood.”

However, if someone foresees an ambush and warns us to prepare, then the ambush becomes a mad act that simply throws soldiers and knights into chaos.

Taking great caution to sneak in to strike at the enemy’s weak points means… conversely, exposing just as many of our own vulnerabilities to avoid being detected by the enemy.

After giving such orders through a messenger, I immediately headed toward the front lines of our troops.

At first, we were steadily pushing back the enemy as trained, but our forces now showed clear signs of exhaustion.

Soldiers wielding pikes had their spear tips beginning to waver, and the matchlock gunners were visibly struggling with the weight of their guns, finding it hard to load powder and ammunition.

“Now’s our chance!! If we can break through the front line, the knights will soon support us!! Long live the Franche Empire! Long live His Excellency Marquis Simon!!” “That one gun is worth five silver coins! So kill those bastards and grab their guns instead of armor!” “Now it’s our turn for revenge! Peasants, muster your strength!”

No matter how excellent our weapons are or how well-trained we are, everything ends when our stamina declines.

According to our original plan, we were supposed to issue a rotation order in about five minutes, but since the enemy outnumbers us so greatly, we need to move the timing of the rotation up…

Changing the order to rotate every 45 minutes instead of once an hour is appropriate, and we should bring ammunition supplies nearby.

“Send the order for a rotation throughout the army. Signal with flags to prepare to deploy the second line.” After a while, as the flag signaling the rotation went up, the commanders leading each unit raised their voices.

“Finally, the rotation order has come down! Prepare to rest!” “Those with matchlocks, stop firing and load your weapons! Load from ranks one to six, and then fire simultaneously!” “Pikemen, hold for one minute! Just one minute!!”

“One minute from now, we’ll have concentrated fire with the matchlocks, and those with pikes should run with their spears at a right angle until I tell them to stop!!”

Despite fighting hard against the enemy, the soldiers under my command cheered at the prospect of soon getting a break.

“Hooray!”

“Damn, we survived!!”

Then, the soldiers with pikes, trusting in their armor, pushed forward with much more aggressive spirit.

The untrained enemy soldiers, caught off guard by the sudden escalation of attacks, were pushed back, while in the meantime, the matchlock soldiers calmly went through the loading process.

They cleaned the inside of the guns with a cloth patch, loaded powder and bullets, inserted the ramrod into the muzzle to pack it down, and filled the powder pan with gunpowder. Completing all this within one minute, the matchlock soldiers shouted loudly.

“Ready to fire! Return to position!!”

Hearing this, the pikemen swiftly disengaged and stepped back, smoothly returning to their original positions while in a posture ready to strike.

As soon as they returned, they took a knee, like they were facing knights, anchoring the spear tips into the ground.

The enemy soldiers, witnessing this scene, seemed to shrink back, sensing some crisis…

But while moving individually may allow for some flexibility, a large army that advances in tens of thousands must march in one direction once it begins to move, much like a falling domino.

“Matchlock troops, fire at will!!”

As the firing command echoed, the sound of explosions and black smoke enveloped the field, countless lead projectiles flew toward the opposing enemy.

The bullets tore into the bodies of the unfortunate soldiers under Marquis Simon and Count Louis, and screams rang out from those hit by the gunfire.

Then, the pikemen, who had been kneeling, stood up in unison, shouting “Charge!” as they charged toward the area they expected the enemy’s necks to be located.

Normally, in extreme situations where breaking a siege is required, such a reckless act wouldn’t be undertaken, but under circumstances where smoke nearly completely obscures visibility, it can yield tremendous results.

This is because our armored pikemen can stab wildly without being seen by the enemy soldiers, making it difficult for them to inflict injuries, while we are bound to strike some part of the enemy’s body.

“Mom…”

“How can those guys run at us so fiercely when they can’t even see in front of them?”

While the enemy was bewildered and paralyzed by fear, our soldiers began to move to start the rotation quickly.

First, the second line moved forward, penetrating the gap created by the spacing between the first line’s gunners and pikemen.

As the soldiers orderly joined the ranks, we positioned the rest of the pikemen in the first two lines and the matchlock soldiers in the remaining six lines.

Then, I called over the messengers beside me and ordered.

“Relay to all field commanders above the rank of captain. The rotation period for the lines is 45 minutes, and they must be thoroughly prepared for immediate replacements after that.” “Yes, understood.” “Also, have there been any reports of enemy knights moving?”

“None yet. According to the reconnaissance troops, it seems they are lazily waiting as if they won’t move at all today.”

If the Duke of Orleans has experienced war many times, he surely wouldn’t have let his guard down even now.

However, considering how long this situation has persisted, rookies like Ilerias and Count Izza are likely to let their guard down, thinking that they wouldn’t be attacked today, unlike on other days.

Moreover, observing that the enemy continues to focus solely on infantry suggests they might not think we, with fewer numbers, would launch a surprise attack first…

Taking advantage of this moment to strike preemptively could result in significant damage and confusion on their part.

“Order Baron Beerman to split 1,200 knights into groups of 30 and attack the enemy’s flanks and rear. However, instruct the rest to stay absolutely still, as we cannot be sure when the enemy’s knights will attack. Also, inform Counts Ilerias and Izza to strengthen rear defenses.”

As we gradually whittle down the enemy numbers unexpectedly, like a rat gnawing at a massive wooden pillar, those on the receiving end will experience irritation and pain akin to being stung by dozens of wasps.

Eventually, they will flip the preparations they had in place to bring the situation slightly to their advantage.

And the moment they flip their cards…

“While we may not be able to overwhelm the enemy without using cannons and gunpowder right now, we can at least grind down their forces like sandpaper.”

**

The front lines of His Excellency Marquis Croilet are extremely congested with fighting against the enemy, but my rear line, which I, Count Iris, am in charge of, has yet to suffer a single attack.

So much so that among the conscripted peasants, some are even dozing off, thinking that they might as well take a nap today since there wouldn’t be an attack. However, my experience from previous wars warned me that this is precisely the time we are most likely to be ambushed.

Thus, I ordered the soldiers and knights to rest in a stance that would allow for immediate combat.

After about an hour of keeping watch for the enemy, doing nothing in particular…

“Count Ilerias! His Excellency Marquis Croilet has begun attacking the enemies with 1,000 knights split into groups of 30. He instructed you to prepare well as enemy knights may arrive shortly!”

A few days ago, during a military meeting, the Marquis advised that if he mobilized the knights first, it would further strengthen our defenses.

And I have never regretted following his advice even once…

“Wake the dozing peasants and strengthen the defense. If we hold out, there will be another opportunity… So let’s wait for that moment.”