Chapter 109
Chapter 109
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Battle of Hatin Forest (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
And the next day.
While the 12th Brigade under Peter Jaeger's command had set up camp at Hatin, fully prepared to meet the enemy and waiting...
Deputy Division Commander of the Franco Republic's 24th Division, Colonel Elang, spoke to the Division Commander.
"Division Commander, even if the enemy only has about 4,000 men and we have over 10,000, our opponent is that Brigadier General Peter Jaeger. You need to scout the surrounding terrain even more thoroughly."
Normally, Division Commander Jean de Pontpadour of the 24th Division would have accepted the suggestion to scout again or been convinced by reasonable grounds.
But right now, the entire Franco Republic had been excommunicated by the Pope, and the military's morale wasn't just at rock bottom—it had burrowed straight into the underworld.
Not only the Republic's congressmen but also high-ranking officials like himself were in a situation where, if the Vatican didn't lift the excommunication soon, enraged citizens would drag them to the guillotine.
"What nonsense are you spouting? We've already scouted three times, and those bastards number only about 4,000! Sure, they've built a fortress on the plain, but it's just a few wooden barricades. No real traps or anything."
"That's true, but..."
"Besides, the knights of our Franco Republic are the strongest on this continent of Europa! You don't seriously think we'll lose to those sniveling Reich Empire pigs cowering behind wooden fences, do you?!"
As the Division Commander brought up the strength of Franco knights, the other nobles chimed in with loud voices.
"Deputy Division Commander, Jaeger Brigadier General is indeed an enemy we can't ignore. But we won't fall for the same tricks as at the Rhineland Front."
"We're plenty wary of the enemy right in front of us, and our numbers are 2.5 times greater."
"Let's claim victory here and take Jaeger Brigadier General's head while we're at it!"
At those words, Elang could say no more, and Pontpadour smirked as he spoke.
"That's what they say. So shut up and follow orders, you coward."
Having thus silenced the Deputy Division Commander who opposed the hasty attack, the Division Commander raised the baton in his right hand high, then brought it down.
And at the same moment, he shouted in a voice loud enough for all to hear.
"The 400 knights under Colonel Charles—attack the enemy's right flank! Show those cowards trembling behind their barricades the might and dignity of the Franco Republic!"
At that, the 400 knights, as if they'd been waiting for this very moment, gripped lances in their right hands and shields in their left, slowly urging their horses toward the Reich Empire forces.
With the knights on the move, Brigadier General Jaeger's head—who commanded only 4,000 weaklings—was practically theirs already.
Their commander, Colonel Charles, bellowed loudly.
"We've already won! We'll bring divine retribution upon those Reich scum who falsely claim Deus's will, blind His Holiness the Pope, and drive us to excommunication!"
With that, to lead by example, he took the vanguard, his conspicuous armor and banner-adorned lance standing out as he charged ahead.
His display of aristocratic arrogance and bravery worthy of a Franco noble began to stir the hearts of the other knights.
Firmly rooted in their minds was the conviction that their nation's excommunication was nothing but a Reich conspiracy.
"Long live the Franco Republic! Eternal be the great republic of the people, by the people, for the people!"
"Knights of the Republic never lose, no matter the odds!"
"Let's go kill those cowards relying on toothpicks for barricades!"
Brimming with confidence, they began charging toward the Reich Empire forces' right flank, about 1.2 kilometers away.
At this speed, they'd clash in roughly 15 minutes.
Colonel Charles imagined that this charge would secure victory in the first battle against the Reich Empire, proving that Jaeger was just a lucky upstart.
He'd capture enemy commander Peter Jaeger alive, get officially promoted to brigadier general with his own star... and pave the way for his meteoric rise.
'Jaeger may be called a brigadier general, but in our Republic, we rate him at least as an enemy deputy commander. Capturing him could open the path to a seat in the Noble Assembly for me.'
"Argh, shit! Why the hell are they shooting arrows from horseback?!"
"You cowards! If you're knights, come at us fair and square with lances up front!"
"Stand still!! Stay there!!"
His daydream shattered at those cries, and a knight beside him urgently reported.
"This is bad. Those wicked Reich pigs are cowardly shooting arrows from horseback!"
"What? How can anyone ride that fast and still shoot arrows?!"
"Look to the side! They're circling us now, raining arrows!"
As vanguard, Colonel Charles couldn't look around, but the Reich Empire's cavalry archers were already flanking the left and rear of the Franco knights' wedge formation, unleashing volleys.
Even heavily armored knights had weaker side and rear plating, so nearly 20 had already fallen or been pierced dead.
But worse still: they were 800 meters—about 10 minutes—from the Reich right flank.
In that time, the archers could loose over a thousand arrows, mounting casualties.
Their charge momentum was waning from mid-attack harassment, leaving no confidence they could break through the enemy spearmen on collision.
"Colonel, shouldn't we deal with those cowardly archers first? They look like small horses with just chainmail—our lances could wipe them out in one go."
Hearing this, Colonel Charles flipped up his visor and shouted.
"Sure, those scrawny horses and riders would melt under one lance charge. But they're far lighter armed than us! Our heavy warhorses will tire chasing them first! Keep charging! Pursuing will just get us all killed."
Indeed, the cavalry archers' swift, long-distance mounts outpaced the muscle-bound knight chargers built for impact.
The major who'd urged pursuit bowed his head and gripped his lance anew, charging toward the visible Reich right flank.
"Spare me! Ack!!"
"Don't trample!! Don't!!"
In the chaos, horses in thinner armor than their riders fell to arrows, and dismounted knights were trampled by comrades' mounts.
Crushed by over 500 kilos of horseflesh, they died the moment they hit the ground.
Regular soldiers might panic and flee such a scene, but among knights, such deaths were commonplace.
Ignorant, the Franco knights pressed on toward the enemy ahead.
Marco Lieutenant Colonel, commanding Jaeger Brigade's right flank, watched and seized the moment to order.
"Crossbowmen and mage battalions, advance 20 paces forward, 300 paces right! Form a diagonal line facing the enemy approach and fire the instant their knights' flanks are exposed!"
At his command, crossbowmen and mages began shifting into position to meet the foe.
Spotting the ranged units' movement, Brigadier General Jaeger issued an order.
"Tell Lieutenant Colonel Werner's knights to prepare to charge! Swing left around the right flank and hit the enemy knights in their sides!"
At the same time, Major Anastasia slung her bow on her saddle and commanded.
"Cavalry archers, disengage per plan! No idiot here will die to Franco knights who can't do anything but eat snails, right?"
With that, the archers—with nearly 50 knight kills from arrows alone—leisurely withdrew from the field.
Meanwhile, Colonel Charles of the Franco Republic gritted his teeth, eyes bloodshot with rage, leveled his lance at the enemy, and roared.
"Those evil, cowardly Reich pig bastards defiling the Republic in the name of God—kill them all! Not one spared! I'll take responsibility, so slaughter everyone except Jaeger Brigadier General!!"
Then, the signal dropped for the crossbowmen and mage battalion on the Empire's right flank.
"Annihilate the foolish enemy."