Chapter 238: The Hollow Square Formation 1

Chapter 238: The Hollow Square Formation 1

TL: Etude

Fix bayonets! Fix bayonets!

With a rustling sound, the soldiers of Alda drew their bayonets and fitted them onto their rifles.

Officers to the front!

With a loud yell from Bryce, his deputy commander Joyce immediately repeated his order: Officers to the front!

No one moved, as the officers of each company, platoon, and squad were already at the forefront of their formations.

The cavalry of the Kent family was closing in rapidly, now less than 500 meters away from the square formation.

Ready! Ready!

The soldiers on the outermost rows of the square formation, facing the cavalry, immediately knelt on one knee, while the second and third rows remained standing. The soldiers in the third row threaded their muskets through the gaps in front, aiming forward with their weapons.

Hold steady, hold steady!

Dont fire without an order!

Makarov whispered to those around him, reminding them that many soldiers, especially the green recruits who had never been on a battlefield, tended to fire prematurely when faced with a rapidly advancing enemy, regardless of whether the enemy was in range or not.

Joshs nervously wiped the sweat from his left palm onto his body, then gripped the trigger again. Initially, he was a left-handed shooter, holding the rifle with his right hand and pulling the trigger with his left, unlike others. However, his habit was forcibly corrected by Sergeant Makarov, who strictly adhered to the 1991 Infantry Training Regulations issued by the Staff Department. In the tense moment of facing a formidable enemy, however, he unconsciously reverted to his old habit.

He was positioned in the third row, a measure of care for the new recruits. However, as a consequence, their protective gear was not as substantial as that of the soldiers in the first two rows. Joshs only wore a leather cuirass, while the soldiers in front mostly wore armor with metal components at key areas. After all, it was an era dominated by melee weapons, and Paul, who could produce a large amount of iron, did not skimp on improving his armys armor coverage to prepare for potential hand-to-hand combat.

Jaces lips curled up in a sneer of contempt.The source of this content no/v(el)bi((n))

He recognized the flag of the obstructing army ahead it belonged to the Grayman family, the minor lord who nearly clashed with the Kent family last year.

Paul Grayman! I was merciful to spare you last year, and yet youre ungrateful and continue to oppose us!

Grayman, look at your army! A mere thousand or so conscripted farmers, holding laughable weapons that are neither proper sticks nor guns, and those horses are nothing but nags fit for pulling carts. Oh! The formation is neatly arranged, but what good does that do?

A large hole the touch sent a shock through him; whatever it was had penetrated his thick armor!

What followed was even more terrifying.

Pain an increasing agony replaced the burning sensation, radiating throughout his body.

Damn it! It hurts!

The knight grabbed a handful of grass from his side and threw it into the air in frustration.

A horrifying sight met his eyes the yellowing dead grass leaves were stained red.

Front row, second rank, fire!

The following Kent family cavalry suffered the same fate as their predecessors.

The two battalions that had gone out on the campaign had already switched to flintlock guns. Without matchlocks, the soldiers could line up shoulder to shoulder in tight ranks, significantly increasing the density of their volley fire.

The charging cavalry were hit, some riders, some horses, and some both. However, thanks to the inaccuracy of smoothbore guns, many were fortunate to escape harm. Some horses, startled by the gunfire, ran uncontrollably with their riders.

But still, some lucky ones managed to get within throwing range of their javelins and hurled them with all their might into the square formation.

Under these few knights attacks, the Alda army suffered casualties.

The wounded were immediately dragged to the central open space of the square formation, where newly trained medics with basic knowledge of disinfection and bandaging skills swiftly tended to them.

Front row, third rank, fire!

Bryce issued the order bitterly, pained to see the soldiers he had trained so hard getting injured.

The third rows gunfire rang out, sweeping away the Kent family cavalry who had thrown their javelins and were trying to turn their horses to escape.

The first volley resulted in nearly 50 enemy cavalry losing their combat capability.

Join my Discord: https://discord.gg/jUm4wCfDxd

Consider supporting me on kofi! /etudetranslations