Chapter 187

More than half of the bullets, which numbered a thousand, missed their targets.

However, the half that hit pierced through iron armor, created holes in the massive horse’s body, and brought death indiscriminately to both man and beast.

As the horses and knights at the forefront suddenly fell dead and stopped, the cavalry behind them collided in a chain reaction, gradually amplifying the chaos.

In that moment, Count Laureant’s knights, who were leading an honorable and glorious charge, found themselves resembling nothing more than crawling snakes or beasts, splattering blood and flesh as they died.

“They thought their training in swordsmanship, horsemanship, chivalry, and the education necessary to live as knights… had all been reduced to naught by a single lead bullet from those lowly creatures.”

Yet, Colonel Frost, responsible for the mayhem, did not even watch the spectacle. He immediately veered to the right and took on the rear of the Franche knights.

The matchlock riflemen, instead of aiming to annihilate the enemy or inflict heavy damage, moved to tactically break the enemy’s momentum and speed.

Furthermore, the attack from the thousand matchlock rifles was akin to a magical staff capable of delivering tremendous blows, rather than just breaking the enemy’s spirit.

As the sight of soldiers preparing to fire was witnessed, a few knights positioned at the rear of the wedge formation quickly turned their horses to respond.

“You insane bastards! What’s so significant about knights dying on the battlefield that you can’t think straight? Your horses have stopped too, for heaven’s sake!!”

“If you don’t want to die, turn around and follow us!!”

“It’s much more likely to survive going backward than forward! I’ll take responsibility!!”

Nevertheless, even those few knights shouting this were not making rational judgments; they were instinctively acting based on their experiences of surviving wars until now.

However, following instinct was indeed a good response strategy that increased their chances of survival.

Yet, despite trying to respond correctly, the bullets were faster than their weapons reaching the enemy.

The riflemen used their two matchlocks and left the battlefield gracefully.

Meanwhile, Baron Frost of the Croilet Marquess’ Legion issued shooting orders to the knights, who were confused by the attack of the rifle battalion.

As the firing command was given, the soldiers with matchlocks pushed their way among the pikemen.

Then, all at once, they pulled the triggers of their matchlocks towards the knights.

Moments later, thousands of bullets ignited, and thunderous sounds erupted accompanied by black smoke.

It was as if dark clouds were rising over the ground, striking the Croilet Marquess’ enemies with lightning— a sight that would instill fear in anyone who witnessed it.

Count Laureant’s military fell into shock and horror upon realizing that their prideful knights’ charge had been thwarted by mere iron clubs shooting flames.

“Damn it, in front, rank-and-file soldiers are firing their weapons like crazy… and behind, riflemen are…”

“Oh God, Deus, are you truly abandoning us? Have we shown insufficient faith?”

However, the soldiers of the Croilet Marquess showed neither mercy nor compassion towards the terrified enemy on the battlefield.

After continuing to fire three or four more times, Colonel Frost commanding the rifle battalion and Baron Frost overseeing the infantry issued commands nearly simultaneously.

“It is the order of Your Excellency the Marquess. The rifle battalion will regroup here and immediately go to support our allies in the front.”

“I, Baron Frost, command that we leave only the wounded and some troops to protect them, and everyone else will move counterclockwise to defeat Count Laureant and Marquis Simon’s knights.”

**

As the rifle battalion and rear infantry massacred nearly 5,000 knights, the Croilet Marquess, leading his guard, continued to support the soldiers who were being pushed back in infantry combat.

As a result, the Marquess was able to preserve his troops to the greatest extent possible despite the persistent enemy reinforcements.

However, if the enemy continued to gain momentum like this, the legion was likely to collapse.

Thus, the Marquess ordered the rear troops to inflict appropriate damage on the enemy’s knights before turning to the enemy’s left to act as a hammer.

Reflecting on the current battlefield situation, the Marquess commanded his guard to save another company’s crisis and, with his ear to the ground, said, “I can hear the footsteps of the infantry approaching! This means that the rear troops are coming to support us! Everyone, spread this news as far as possible!”

As he said, the sound of over ten thousand infantry marching came from a distance.

However, just from the visible battlefield situation, it seemed that Elaline’s Eastern Expedition Army was collapsing with a force that felt like paper tearing, and only the Croilet Marquess’ army appeared to be holding out.

Marquis Simon took advantage of this opportunity and ordered to annihilate Elaline’s Eastern Expedition Army.

“Let’s crush the enemy with the momentum! Press and kill them! Anyone who beheads the Croilet Marquess will be granted the title of nobleman and lands, regardless of status!”

Then, the Marquess encouraged his soldiers with that momentum and personally joined the front lines to fight alongside them.

Thus, Simon was lost in a brief moment of bliss…

However, it wasn’t long before a messenger rushed to Marquis Simon with urgent news.

“Count Laureant has been severely wounded! Of the 5,000 knights, 2,000 have been captured or killed! Currently, Baron Franche, under Count Laureant, is leading the knights in retreat.”

“The Croilet Marquess is surely focused on fighting us while leading his guard… There’s no way a commander of a legion would fight at the forefront unless it’s really necessary!! How did they manage this!!”

Yet, when life begins to unravel, disasters strike in waves, and another messenger hurriedly approached to report.

“The enemy has attacked our rear with 3,500 knights under the Croilet Marquess! Furthermore, as they withdrew, now the cavalry with matchlocks, as mentioned by Count Architel, is repeatedly assaulting the rear! Our retreat route is blocked!”

Upon hearing this report, the Marquess seemed to realize that he could not possibly win this battle, laughing hollowly…

“Report!! About 10,000 soldiers from the Croilet Marquess’s troops are approaching our right flank!!”

The heavens had already denied Marquis Simon any chance of recovery, as his army faced an encirclement from all sides by the enemy, with one flank also blocked by their own soldiers.

In such a situation, even a historical general could never achieve victory.

Conversely, the Croilet Marquess, having received the same report, commanded his soldiers.

“A rat cornered may bite the hand of a cat. Moreover, that cursed rat is much larger than us, so it’s strategically better to provide an escape route and beat them! Withdraw the rifle battalion to regroup and order them to support His Excellency the Duke of Orleans!”

Even if the soldiers were composed of serfs with low morale, when faced with death, they fought back with a “you die, I live” mentality.

And in the face of such resistance, the Croilet Legion, which would have to continue fighting with fewer soldiers against the enemy, could incur catastrophic losses.

After about 30 minutes, the rifle battalion ceased holding the enemy’s rear with firearms and mounted their horses to retreat directly.

The Croilet Marquess, taking advantage of that momentum, incessantly committed massacres from the front and left.

Tens of thousands of serfs, fighting to survive, began to overdue their retreat by pushing back the elite soldiers of the deserter squad.

Rather, some of the leaders of the deserter squad shouted towards the serfs.

“We too have been wounded, so we will retreat alongside you! So, don’t worry!”

Thus, with the troops completely disintegrated, unauthorized retreats continued…

Eventually, Marquis Simon ordered a full retreat of his entire army.

“Damn it, all forces retreat and regroup! That cursed Duke of Orleans, Izza, and Count Ilerias have all been caught… but the Croilet Marquess has ruined everything!!”

At that moment, all the soldiers and knights began rushing towards the rear, which appeared safe, as if they had been waiting for that very instant.

Fortunately for them, as long as they managed to get past the soldiers of the Croilet Marquess, who were surrounding them from the front and right side, no one pursued them.

Thus, the battle, which had started at dawn with a one-sided victory for the Croilet Legion, came to an end as the sun began to set.

And on this day, excluding the Croilet Marquess’ army, almost all units suffered damage that made it difficult to maintain their function as a military force without reorganization.