Chapter 46: The Great Battle Of Branov Plains (3)

Chapter 46: The Great Battle Of Branov Plains (3)

Soldiers wielding spears were lined up in a long rectangle, with the crossbowmen and mages positioned at each corner. This formation of my battalion was known as Tercio.

This specific formation was often described in historical texts, such as:

‘As imposing and formidable as a moving wall of stone, capable of fending off even a battalion of knights.’

Due to the tightly packed spearmen, who could effectively attack the advancing enemy infantry from a distance, this formation boasted an incredibly high defensive power.

This aligned with numerous scholarly articles, dramatic portrayals, and films.

In actual history, knights seldom dared to breach this formation. This led to the evolution of the ‘Caracole’ tactic, where they would fire their pistols from a barely reachable distance.

“Perish, you vile Chekovians!”

“You must be pitifully weak to succumb to such a minor attack!”

“Flails, advance! Urajcha!”The roots of this story extend from novell bìn origin.

Spearmen, who couldn’t afford nearly 100% protective armor like knights, could be easily defeated, depending on the commander’s capabilities.

However, if one relinquished the formation to attack as the enemy faltered, it would increase the damage inflicted on our battalion.

“Each infantry captain is to take command of their soldiers. Gradually crush the enemies like a constricting wall.”

As a Battalion Commander, it was my duty to ensure that my soldiers maintained our strong formation and refrained from unruly behavior.

Upon delivering the command, I could hear the captains issuing their orders from a distance.

“The commander has given the order! 1st company, revise the formation!”

“Coordinate your spears’ movement! Strike and retract with precision!”

“Do not go too far, for Deus’ judgment awaits! Be vigilant!”

The soldiers who ventured too far hastily restored the formation and began to press forward slowly.

Meanwhile, the Chekovian infantry managed to recollect their bearings, but they had already suffered at least a 20% loss of their battalion.

Therefore, it was time to give my ever-loyal lieutenant an opportunity to prove his worth.

“Lieutenant Laura von Benner, lead a platoon from my direct command to support the 3rd Company now. If you apply what you’ve observed and learned from me, the enemy won’t stand a chance.”

With gratitude etched on her face, Laura responded to me.

“Thank you for this opportunity, Captain!”

She stepped away from me, unsheathed her sword, and took the command.

“1st platoon of the direct command, follow me to aid the 3rd Company! Move out!”

Laura, who played a significant role even in the original novel, would undoubtedly demonstrate her expertise here.

At that moment, a signal arrived from the vanguard cavaliers.

Upon making this statement, the battalion’s morale started to return, trusting in my assurance that the brilliant battalion character that I had portrayed would prevent them from dying.

“All companies, focus on containing the Chekovian infantry at this stage. Do not push too far ahead and strike. Maintain the formation, and when signaled with a horn blast and a flag, move to the left and lower your spears!”

Having said that, I moved to the left towards the enemies along with the main battalion.

I wanted to turn our formation towards the advancing knights, but the Chekovian infantry was in front of us, and our movement was restricted due to the presence of the allied infantry on our flank.

So, for about five to seven minutes, we readied ourselves for their arrival, pretending not to notice them.

And they arrived with the thunderous noise of more than fifty knights’ battle cries and their horses.

“Kill all the dogs of the Reich Empire!”

“We will send you to Deus!”

“Long live the Duke of Chekovia! Long live Chekovia!”

Seeing the heavily armored figures charging towards us with giant spears over three meters long, I felt a momentary fear.

Even so, these armored knights had their vulnerabilities, which we, as mere infantry, could exploit.

“Magicians and crossbowmen, only target their horses! The knights are too heavily armored. Aim for the horses’ flanks!”

Even these knights, who were like human tanks made of steel, only enjoyed their metallic protection on top. The horses they were riding were not equally shielded.

The horses only wore frontal armor, similar to breastplates, and even heavily armored cavalry horses were mostly covered with a single layer of chain mail.

Thus, an arrow could fatally wound a horse.

Aware of our readiness, the Chekovian knights continued their charge. They pressed on, both to save their fellow knights and for the honor of their order.

As they quickened their pace, adopting a wedge formation, they continued their approach.

“Now! Spearmen, face to the left! Crossbowmen and magicians, aim for their horses!”

With the release of magic and arrows, the knights’ horses began to collapse after taking a few hits.

Those who managed to endure and reach our lines were unable to penetrate our battalion’s wall of spears.

I was not certain about the extent of our damage, but I knew that those who had fallen would not rise again.

“Flail soldiers, aim for the dismounted knights and make them pay! Kill them all!”

At my command, each flail soldier began to strike at the knights with their flails.

The armored knights managed to endure to a certain extent, but those who were attacked by two or three soldiers inevitably fell and died.

From their ranks, some immediately retreated upon being dismounted, but they were eliminated by the magicians using fire-based magic like fireballs.

For the remaining knights, a nightmare of death unfolded.

Then, not long after, when almost all the knights had been vanquished, the order to retreat came for our battalion.