Chapter 257
Chapter 257
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 257
Chapter Title: Battle of Glopino Plains (6)
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The Reich Empire's mounted archer brigade, scattered in platoon-sized units, launched their charge to harass the enemy infantry by clinging to them tenaciously—like flies that stuck no matter how hard you tried to shoo them away.
The Warsaw army was thrown into no small amount of panic by the sudden appearance of enemy forces at their rear.
In truth, Anastasia Kerzhit's mounted archer brigade numbered only around 4,000, but from the perspective of the Warsaw soldiers—who couldn't survey the battlefield from on high—it was hard to gauge their exact numbers.
On top of that, the chaotic movements of small units scattering while mounted made it confusing where to even direct their attacks.
Moreover, the junior officers—who hadn't expected the enemy to target their rear despite their own superior numbers—had grown a bit lax in their vigilance...
"Damn it, archer units! Shoot those bastards down! Kill as many as you can!"
"What bullshit is that? Ignore those spear-wielding pricks and send out the spearmen first! Form a wall with spearmen up front, then rain arrows and spells to hold them off!"
"The enemy will definitely charge straight at us! Don't worry about arrow casualties!"
With platoon leaders' and company commanders' orders clashing, confusion arose among the troops due to differing directives, leading to tangled movements between armed spearmen, archers, and mages.
This sparked unease creeping back into the hearts of the soldiers stationed at the rear.
They couldn't openly voice it in wartime, but...
'Damn, I heard the higher-ups are fighting among themselves like crazy. No way we're getting dragged into this too...'
'No wonder the company commander and platoon leaders were at each other's throats.'
'Goddamn it, I knew it. These officer clowns giving all sorts of conflicting orders.'
The realization that the generals' divisions had trickled down to their own company and platoon commanders filled the soldiers with dread—wondering if they'd even survive to see home.
As a result, the Warsaw troops' movements slowed compared to normal, and Brigadier General Anastasia Kerzhit didn't miss the opening.
"The enemy's spearmen, archers, and mages are all tangled up! Now's our golden chance!"
With those words, she led her own platoon straight into the enemy lines, mounted and charging.
Her thirty-odd subordinates targeted the platoon and company commanders of the confused units first.
They loosed arrows at the enemy soldiers as if firing haphazardly wherever their hands could reach.
It would have been a losing strategy in an archery contest aiming for targets, but with countless living bullseyes scattered everywhere, every shot was a perfect ten.
Every arrow found flesh.
"This is Northern tradition at its finest. Captain Jaeger's got that Khan-slaying vibe—commands like no one else."
"And the Great Khan who commands someone like that? Even greater!"
"Every shot's a kill! Die, you bastards!"
The Northerners cheered at the sight of enemies dropping with every arrow, and as they closed in, they drew swords and plunged into the fray.
The Warsaw soldiers—archers, mages, and spearmen all mixed without a proper formation—gave the 4,000 mounted archers plenty of gaps to exploit.
They poured through, slashing whatever was within sword's reach and trampling as many as their horses could crush.
"Damn, these Northern barbarian lunatics!"
"Spare me! You bastards!"
"Mommy, Mommy!!!"
Without proper elite training—like knights or officers—combat was impossible without formation.
The Warsaw soldiers began dying en masse, while the mounted archers killed as many as they could.
The news that their rear had cracked under just 4,000 attackers quickly reached Warsaw army commander General Tateusz.
"Our rear's cracked? How many bastards came from behind?! What the hell are those division and legion commanders doing?!"
The general clutched his head in rage, but denying the reality unfolding before him only made him realize he'd truly fucked up.
'Damn it, at this point, I have to abandon either the front or rear lines. Turn it into a bloody stalemate with heavy losses on both sides. Then clash again tomorrow.'
As he thought, holding out a few more hours would bring sunset, when nightfall made distinguishing friend from foe impossible and halted most fighting.
Plus, with their numerical advantage, common sense dictated the enemy general—outnumbered—would focus solely on the front.
Tateusz decided on a desperate measure to avoid defeat.
"Pull the rear infantry, archers, and mages to support the front! Anyone who disobeys will face military tribunal under my commander authority after the battle!"
His orders spread through the army, forcing rear commanders to support the front lines.
From Warsaw's tactical viewpoint, it was the best move—but too late.
Meanwhile, 4,000 mounted archers alone couldn't keep piercing the Warsaw rear, so Anastasia reassessed and issued new orders.
"Lingering here will let those Warsaw idiots regroup! Everyone, pull back fast! All units, rally to me!"
Her declaration that it was time to withdraw drew some regrets.
"Three more kills and I'd hit ten..."
"Shut up, idiot. Sniper kills from horseback only count from major rank up, you know?"
"Fall back. Disobey and it's tribunal instead of rewards."
Parting from these obliging Warsaw "friends" who practically offered their necks was a shame, but defiance meant losing their own heads.
The mounted archers swung wildly, harvesting necks from dazed Warsaw infantry.
This naturally opened escape routes, letting most slip away safely.
The escapees twisted in their saddles, unleashing their remaining arrows in a mad barrage at the enemy.
Once rallied per Brigadier General Anya's orders, some pondered immediate retreat or waiting.
But Anastasia's nomadic sharp eyes and keen mind spotted Reich Empire ambush units nearby.
"Major Ibrahim, what exactly were our mounted archer brigade's orders?"
"Hit the rear to disrupt the lines, right? And act autonomously afterward."
"Autonomous action—perfect. Then let's do this."
She scanned around, then commanded.
"Captain Jaeger's reinforcements will soon strike the enemy rear. Instead of heading straight back, let's make this count more."
The brigade perked up at her words.
They'd earned plenty already, but more exploits meant better promotions.
"Our infantry reserves will hit the enemy rear soon. We'll empty our quivers to provide ranged support for our infantry."
No romantic charge this time—they were a bit disappointed, but better than returning empty-handed.
They accepted, albeit reluctantly.
"Send a messenger to Captain Jaeger on our plan, then dismount and prepare volley fire!"
At her command, the mounted archers dismounted and formed firing lines.
Warsaw archers and mages fired arrows and spells, but per Anya's orders, they held firm.
Soon enough, as predicted, the infantry reserves emerged right before the Warsaw legions' rear.
Brigadier General Anastasia's command rang out.
"All units, volley fire! Don't leave a single one alive!"