Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Battle of Hatin Forest (3)
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“Viva Franco! May Deus's blessings be upon the Franco Republic!”
“Slaughter the pig bastards of the Reich Empire who dare impersonate God's will!”
“Now it's our turn to counterattack! Honorable citizens of the Republic, muster your strength!”
Normally, when officers tried to rally troops who had been getting one-sidedly pummeled by the enemy just moments ago, it rarely worked.
Was it because the Republic's soldiers were seething with rage at having been unilaterally toyed with by the Reich Empire's cavalry archers—riding in on horseback, sniping from afar with sneaky arrows, and vanishing?
The Franco Republic's soldiers responded with a ferocity far exceeding what their officers had hoped for.
“Let's go slaughter those cowardly scum who joined hands with the barbarians!”
“Long live the Republic! Long live the Republic!!”
“Charge in and cut down that coward Jaeger the Brigadier General!”
Division Commander Pontpadour inwardly breathed a sigh of relief at the soldiers' morale soaring higher than expected.
He dismounted his horse himself, gripped a spear, raised his right hand high, and shouted.
“Viva the Franco Republic! The army of the nation of freedom and revolution shall always triumph! Forward, to battle! Let's crush the oppressors who threaten the Republic's peace!”
His officers, upon hearing this—as nobles and chosen citizens of the Republic—felt their respect and pride for their ancestors who had overthrown the tyrants reignite.
The soldiers, meanwhile, were less stirred by talk of oppressors, revolution, or freedom. What moved them deeply was that a lofty figure like the division commander himself was grabbing a spear and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with them to fight.
“Long live Division Commander Pontpadour!”
“Long live the Republic!”
Just as the division commander intended, the Franco Republic army's morale surged in unison. Their roars echoed all the way to the Imperial forces 1 km away.
“Excellent! Now, we're reorganizing the formation! Crossbowmen, archers, and mages up front—engage and counter the enemy's ranged attacks with fire! The infantry will advance behind them! Fear not death. Our excommunication is merely their scheme to blind His Holiness the Pope! Even if misfortune claims you here, your souls shall ascend to heaven and rest in His embrace!”
With that cry, the Franco Republic army began preparations to advance, placing their ranged troops at the vanguard.
Having witnessed Colonel Charles's knights routed without a follow-up assault, Brigadier General Jaeger thought:
'Looks like these damned bastards are gearing up for a reckless charge, sacrificing as many as needed. Shit.'
This assessment stemmed from the fact that, despite the Republic knights' charge failing utterly, the ripple effect had somewhat disrupted the Imperial right wing's formation.
In such a scenario, the textbook move for a commander was to concentrate part of their vastly numerically superior forces on the Imperial right wing and attempt a breakthrough.
Granting the Imperials time to regroup was tantamount to openly signaling a full-army assault.
Without even sending scouts, Jaeger read the situation perfectly. He gripped the Emperor's ceremonial sword tightly, ground his teeth, and muttered.
“I set up the perfect scenario, mirroring battles and tactics from the Hundred Years' War for an easy win... but the enemy commander still has nearly 600 knights left. Scrap the original plan—time to reformulate.”
Of course, this meant the enemy knights—heavy elite shock troops—wouldn't lead the infantry charge.
This made it far easier for Jaeger's infantry to hold against the assault, so it wasn't a bad development.
No—considering the common wisdom that blocking a charge from an infantry vanguard bolstered by even more numerous enemy infantry would be tougher.
This shift actually favored him more.
Yet attempting to annihilate the enemy's ranged units—like crossbowmen—when they coordinated cavalry archers and knights for a total assault introduced a variable: the Franco knights surging out to protect their own crossbowmen.
“They say in battle, plans are trash after five minutes. Guess that's literally true.”
For such pessimistic words, Jaeger's face showed no despair or defeatism—only ironclad confidence in victory.
He issued orders to the brigade's messengers around him.
“Relay to all company commanders and higher in the left wing, right wing, and center: Prepare thoroughly for a full Franco assault. Also, we might burn through every crossbow bolt we have, so hurry 1/3 of the remaining stocks from the left and right wings to the center.”
The messengers galloped off to deliver the news. Just then, Lieutenant Colonel Laura's messenger arrived, sensing the battlefield's ominous shift, and reported to Jaeger.
'Since the enemy knights aren't moving, we must adjust the plan to strike their rear with knights while using cavalry archers to pin their knights.'
As Jaeger inwardly marveled at Laura's sharp insight, another messenger arrived.
This one was from Major Anastasia's cavalry archers, requesting permission to sortie and harass the enemy infantry.
“I can't grant sortie permission. Tell Colonel Werner and Major Anastasia the tide's turning slightly in our favor, but we're scrapping the original plan. Bring them both here.”
“Understood, Brigadier General!”
With that, the cavalry archer messenger departed swiftly. By now, the enemy's roars reached Jaeger's ears.
“Long live the Franco Republic! The goddess of victory is blowing us kisses!”
“Can you see her? I see her—Nike spreading her arms to embrace us!”
“We're 10,000 strong, they're just 4,000!! Victory is already ours!”
As the enemy advanced with their cheers, Jaeger in the center, Lieutenant Colonel Laura on the left, and Lieutenant Colonel Marco on the right ordered their briefly resting troops.
“Rest's over! Crossbowmen, load bolts and set pavises upfront!”
“Infantry, keep spears up and shield your faces with your left arms! Covering your face halves your odds of dying! Set up plank shields in front of the stockades too!”
“Follow the Brigadier General, and we'll win no matter what!”
From battalion and company commanders under them to the NCOs, they bellowed encouragements, rousing the troops.
The Reich Empire forces prepared for a head-on clash with the 10,000-strong horde.
At that moment, Werner and Major Anya arrived. Amid the urgency, Jaeger clapped their shoulders and said.
“Without you two, this brigade might've been annihilated or on the brink of rout by now.”
Both looked deeply moved by his words.
“I'd love to spend till nightfall praising your merits, but no time for that. Straight to the new plan.”
With that, Jaeger—anticipating the ranged battle would kick off in minutes—explained the revised strategy as swiftly and precisely as possible.
“First, scrap the plan for you two to link up and wipe out their mages and crossbowmen. Instead, split Colonel Werner's 300 knights into two groups. Have them repeatedly hit the ranged attackers behind the enemy left and right infantry wings, plus the infantry in front.”
Werner nodded in understanding.
Jaeger then placed hands on both of Major Anya's shoulders, fixing her with an intense gaze that said she was the only one he trusted, and continued.
“Major Anya, tie down their 600 knights with your 200 cavalry archers, by any means necessary. I've heard Ludwig's horse archers can cook knights several times their number if they successfully lure them.”
It might sound absurd, but veteran slaves who'd fought under Ludwig testified that during a past border skirmish with Swedia, his horse archers had lured knights, pinned them at range with arrows, and neutralized over four times their number.
'A knight charge means nothing if you don't clash head-on. And Major Anya's horse archers have the fastest, most enduring mounts in the world. It's doable.'
“So bind their feet however you must. The cavalry archers will be the top heroes of this victory.”
Major Anya nodded firmly at the daunting order from the general stronger than her father, who had personally slain her tribe's blood enemy.
“I shall deliver victory to you, General.”
As the briefing ended, a trumpet blared across the Reich Empire lines, signaling the crossbowmen to take aim.