Chapter 703: Uncle Khalid
Giovanni paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and continued. "This role itself is, indeed, addictive. Trust me, no man can withstand the sheer blood-boiling thrill of leading a hundred cavalry charging down on opponents. No one can resist the temptation of that honour and prestige of marching through cities in parades. And no one can forget the scene after witnessing the catastrophic destructive capabilities of having tens of artillery pieces opening fire at once or the rain of hundreds of arrows forming a shadow that blocks out the sunlight."
"I feel like I am born for the army."
"Just like my father."
"Both of my fathers."
Leo glanced at his brother, who seemed lost in thought, reflecting on his time in the service. From his father, Leo knew that some men were destined for the regimented life of the army, and his brother Giovanni Junior was undoubtedly one of them.
The commander was already waiting for them. As soon as the young prince arrived, the commander and the group of officers bowed deeply before him. "As you command, Your Highness, the exercise will commence the moment you give the order."
Leo nodded. "Commander, may I know the details of this exercise?"
"Yes, Your Highness," the commander acknowledged, leading the prince to a freshly made map. "This exercise is held on an inter-regimental scale to test if our infantry regiment is adequately trained against large cavalry assaults. Our infantry is positioned here, on elevated terrain, setting up a defence. The enemy, a group of cavalry numbering around four hundred, will approach from this direction, if our scouts’ information is accurate."
"So what tactic are you going to use this time, Commander?"
"Well, in the old days, like when I first joined the army, we used a pike and spear formation against the Ottoman cavalry, similar to how the emperor countered the Ottoman Janissary cavalry decades ago beneath the Theodosian Walls. But now, with significant changes in our army, especially with the evolution of our newest weaponry, we’re here to try something different this time."
As they spoke, the men on the front began shifting into their respective formations according to their specialties and ranks. Shield men took the front, pikemen filled the middle ranks, and gunners positioned themselves on the upper ranks, forming a combined formation with several reinforced lines. Artillery units set up at the back on elevated terrain, while soldiers crawled through the muddy summer roads, bringing in carts loaded with training ammunition.
Leo observed with keen interest as the infantry moved into position. The shield men at the front created a solid barrier, ready to absorb the initial impact of the cavalry charge. Behind them, the pikemen prepared to thrust their long spears forward, creating a deadly hedge of spikes to deter any cavalry that managed to break through the shield wall. The gunners, positioned higher up, had a clear line of sight over their comrades, ready to unleash volleys of gunfire upon the approaching horsemen.
The artillery, with their cannons carefully positioned, waited for the order to unleash their destructive power. The soldiers moved with precision, displaying the discipline and training that had been instilled in them. Leo felt a surge of pride as he watched the regiment prepare for the exercise, knowing that these men were the backbone of the empire’s defence.
Slowly but surely, the sun began to climb higher towards its zenith, casting a blazing heat upon the soldiers assembled below. The commander, along with junior officers, moved among the troops, issuing commands and ensuring everyone was in position. As the sun reached its peak, casting scorching rays on every head, a faint tremor could be heard from a distance. Leo felt the ground beneath his boots start to vibrate, the intensity growing with each passing moment.
"They are here," Giovanni Junior announced with a stern face. He moved to the front of his brother, his blade ready in his hands.
Leo gulped, anticipation mingling with anxiety. It was his first time witnessing a large cavalry movement, especially one directed towards him.
He didn’t have to wait long.
Soon, scouts came rushing back. "The enemies are imminent!"
Just minutes after the tremors began, the cavalry appeared on the horizon. Hundreds of them, forming a spearhead, charged relentlessly towards the seemingly unprepared infantry. Even though it was just a military exercise, the sight of heavy cavalry charging straight at them was terrifying for the soldiers. Leo noticed many of them fidgeting, gulping nervously, their eyes fixed on the approaching cavalry.
His father had always told him that it took immense courage to face a cavalry charge. Leo hadn’t fully understood why until now. Standing in the middle of the formation, he felt the fear that gripped the infantrymen around him. The sight of a tidal wave of steel, almost twice his height, charging towards his position was overwhelming. The pride he initially felt was replaced by a more common emotion shared by all the infantrymen—fear.
In this moment, Giovanni Junior managed to sneak back to his brother, grabbed him by the wrist, and roared in his ear. "Are you afraid!"
The young prince shook his head vigorously. "No! Brother!"
"Remember, my brother! This is the life of infantrymen! It is to use the number of men, the amount of courage, and the level of discipline to achieve what can be said to be the impossible!"
After saying that, Giovanni Junior gave a hard pat on the back of his brother, which almost felt like a full-force punch, and rushed back to his men, his roars still audible. "Hold the lines! Remember what you are trained for! Hold the lines!"
Leo gulped and stood rooted to the ground.
Though he was in the safe area, standing in the spectating zone without the worries of being clashed by the cavalry, even on this simulated battlefield, anything could still happen.
The artillery at the back started firing on the command of the commander, with smoke pouring out but no actual shells being fired, of course, as the directors of this exercise immediately marked down the firing, noting the simulated casualties of the cavalry. The gunners, at the sight of the approaching cavalry with their blades, opened fire on command, the white smog instantly blocking the view of the front. The cavalry, coming to a halt, diverted just before clashing violently with the infantry with a gracious curve, as they split into two lines, and then galloping back to where they came from.
As specified earlier, this was just an exercise, with no one intended to get hurt. All the spearheads were covered in cloth, blades were made of wood, and firearms used training rounds with no damaging projectiles. All of this was to test if this infantry regiment could withstand the charging power of the cavalry.
Judging by their performance, they succeeded.
The cavalry revealed themselves, lining up before the infantry regiment. The leading knight dismounted and revealed his face as he approached Commander Aurelian.
"Great job training the regiment, Aurelian! I’d give you a pass for this exercise! If this were real combat, half of my cavalry would probably be dead by now!"
Feeling the voice was familiar, Leo tiptoed from a distance, trying to see the cavalry leader but failing.
"Thank you, general. It’s not just my effort, of course. It’s the effort of all my men who trained day and night to build up their discipline and techniques. I’m merely a coordinator."
"You’re already one of the youngest regimental commanders we have. Remember, our army is now on the fast track to transforming into the new army. You must ensure this regiment is ready in no time. Our enemies won’t give us the luxury of adapting slowly."
"Yes, of course, general..."
At that moment, Giovanni managed to sneak back to his brother’s side, dragging him forward to the front of the formation. Leaning forward, Leo accidentally tripped over a rock near the front lines, causing a sudden fall that thumped onto the ground, knocking through a few infantrymen and creating a loud noise. This commotion attracted the attention of almost everyone, including Commander Aurelian and the cavalry general.
Leo hurriedly stood up and looked at the two commanders before him, realizing that the leader of this cavalry force was...
"Prince Leo!" The general, with a slightly hoarse voice, exclaimed in a tone of both surprise and shock as he hurriedly marched towards the young man. "What are you doing here! In full armour, among the infantries!"
"Hi there, Uncle Khalid." In a mixture of shyness and embarrassment, Leo stood up, patted the dust and dirt off his armour, and made a shy grin. Just then, Giovanni Junior rushed to his brother’s side, lowering his head as he, too, faced Khalid.
The good mood that had been on General Khalid’s face vanished, replaced by a look of anger as his wrinkled face turned red, as he continued to stare at the two youngsters beneath him, with eyes of disbelief.
